Designer whose work I like: Jonathan Adler

Designer whose work I like: Alexander Gorlin

Gorlin has designed the home of Libeskind, who is choosen architect for the new to be built world trade center. He is definitely a modernist.
http://www.gorlinarchitects.com/index_content.htm

Fix up old light fixtures.

Take old fashioned light fixtures and give it a coat of modern color (black, white, or red), it can look very similiar to high end light fixtures.

Louis whatever is given new looks

In an earlier post, I used examples to illustrate the difference in styles of chairs from different Louis's.

Seems ever since Phillip Starck reinterpreted the Louis XVI chair with molded plastic, seems a lot of modern furniture designers are taking that cue, and take the shape of the Louis whatever chair styles and start reinterpreting them using modern materials or finishes, and of course selling them at super expensive prices. yes, they are worth it.

You can also achieve a similiar cool post modern look without spending a lot of money, you can use a bit of creativity. If you go to used/thrift stores, you can still often find Louis whatever style chairs usually for cheap. Take it home, give it a wild paint color, reuphulster it in a modern graphic fabrics. If you can't find modern graphic fabric for cheap, then you an even just get plain fabric and use silk screen or stencil to create a dramatic oversized graphic modern image. It is hard to make it all clear plastic, but the result will still look cool and post modern.

Cool vases

Shower Curtains

To find the right shower curtiains has been really difficult. Most shower curtains either doesn't look good in a modern environment, or looks too childish. Simple clear vinyl looks cheap. Hotel style curtains can look boring. Besides, I want to have a relatively clear curtain so that it makes the space look bigger.

I finally found a shower curtain which is clear with black pin stripes that goes well with the bathroom that I am doing.

however, I just saw this website for shower curtains that has quite a cool collection.

http://izolashower.com/

Most intriguing lawn chairs I ever saw

http://www.jienshu.com/pdt_dreamers.htm
I saw these lawn chairs, my heard skipped a beat. What a cool concept!!!

recessed lights can totally transform a room

We just installed some recessed spot lights from Ikea. The Blix is only 20 bucks for set of 3. We installed two in the new bathroom. We like it so much, we deciided to install 7 more in the living/dining room to light up all the art/sculptures we have. It totally transformed the living room.

Fireplace surround

We currently has this nasty look old brick fireplace toped with a wooden mantel that really didn't fit in the architectural. This is a fifty's house. We really want to replace it with something cool looking, yet fit the architectural style of a 50s mid-century house. I think we are going just do a simple shadow box, with mosaic tiles like this:

Ralph Lauren's Black Mountain Collection

Ralph Lauren's clothing is usually not my style. Ralph Lauren's new collection is quite slick and quite a departure from his usual image/style.
The collection looks like something from a super spy movie.