Remodeling and Home Design

Monday, June 9, 2008

sophistication by Dwell

'dwell on design 08' (DOD) graced LA with 2 1/2 days of an exhibit that was more sophisticated than the usual. not only was the space void of the usual trade show carpets to reveal very cool concrete, most vendors presented their wares in a more sophisticated way than typically shown.

towards the back, just beyond a lovely display by monrovia gardens, was a magnificent discovery of a company called hom who was launching their lifestyle business at DOD. hom displayed an actual 2BR 2BA manufactured home that was very different than the usual prefab out there for many reasons. one is that it has a gable roof which adds an element of warmth and charm. the home has many ecological components including its own beautiful line of furniture, lighting and accessories. they offer 3 floor plans which go all the way up to a 6BR 4BA 3600SF home which cost about $200/SF which is much more affordable than the typical prefab.

there were several architects and design/build firms exhibiting who showed us some stunning examples of their work. to help illustrate that, often there were models and the most strking models i saw were at demaria design associates' booth. they're made from wood and at a quick glance, this close-up view looks like the real thing!





it was extremely exciting to meet several of the designers behind the gorgeous exhibited products. this included teresa grow, the designer behind the eco-friendly luxury wallcovering company madison & grow, who with her business partner erin yasgar, launched their product at DOD! the designs are inspired by many of my favorites, dorothy draper, david hicks and dwell. their product works well in a myriad of settings whether with antiques or modern pieces and it's also eco-friendly! their wallcoverings are non-toxic and hand-screened with water-based inks on clay-coated paper.





another designer, daniel ogassian, shared his innovative exterior cladding solutions. daniel began his design career on a potter's wheel 15 years ago and making ceramic tile (pictured next to him). while his business still offers ceramic tile along with the cladding, he also makes concrete (see detail image), precast and custom solutions.








yet another designer, brook bannister of mccloud design, makes some of the most beautiful waterfalls i've seen! brook, like many of the designers, has a quiet and modest demeanor despite his gifted talent. his water features are quite sculptural and are set against different metal finishes like patina, perforated and corrugated.






some other great treasures from 'dwell on design 08' include vintage and re-used furniture. for example, fusion furniture displayed clever pieces re-designed by tim george. george takes industrial pieces that have been discarded and converts them into something very suitable for the home. for example, this metal bar cart with wood interior was originally a medical cart (without the wood of course)! what a great way to contribute beautifully to the sustainable design cause.





there was also eco-intelligent furniture from animavi who uses a cradle-to-cradle methodology. the sustainable components of this beautiful product include hand-polished steel, soy based foam, 3form ecoresin shell, 100% natural flame-retardent wool felt liner, solvent-free water based adhesive, durability and timeless quality. the un-upholstered version is great for outdoors!







i was delighted to see that rugmark foundation exhibited at dwell and to learn that not only is dwell a sponsor of rugmark, but the publisher and president of dwell, michela o'connor abrams, is on their board. rugmark was established in 1994 to help end child labor in carpet manufacturing. today, more than 4 million rugs have been sold with the rugmark label! however, ALL imported rugs should be sold with this certification so there is still much work to be done. before looking at a rug's cost or sustainable qualities, please make sure it's rugmark labeled to be sure it was made without child labor. to find a rugmark rug near you, go to the search option on the rugmark website.

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