Great Skin-- For Life

Don't get weirded out about the title, we are talking about leather sofas and sectionals, from our new line Cierre. Yes, you can have a piece that lasts a lifetime and also have it your way. The leather is simply superb and top quality. It simply lasts more than you want it to last. That is the good news, but the great news is that it is comfortable too. It is also made to match any style you want. The arm rests can be made the way you want them: traditional, modern and sleek, art deco. you get the picture.






You name it, we make it. You want the back to lift open for comfort so you can slouch on the couch? We can make it. You want lumber support and not have your couch look like a La-Z Boy, we can make it.




As far as cushiony feel: we have it all. Pillow top, feather, foam, square cut. Again, this is all about choice- a choice you make once and happy to live with it the rest of your life.

You can see more of the Cierre line live at Chez Moi in San Francisco, or on the web at http://www.chezmoisf.com/cierre-sofas-sectionals.html.

Go beyond Ornaments!

Areaware is a New York City based company renowned for unique design products with an emphasis on forward thinking technologies and original expression. Their products are decorative but go beyond ornament. Each has an underlying meaning which they believe can deepen the relationship people have with the everyday objects in their lives.

Torch

War Bowl

Sport Light

Roller Stop

Peanut Bowl
Forget Me Not Ring

Number Clock

Water Proof Vase

Book Shelf

Banana Bowl

Visit Chez Moi for more creative designs.

Light is Life!

As we continue to expore lighting elements, we always look for designers who encapsulate self expression in lighting fixtures. It is hard to do so, without talking about Viso.

Viso explored a variety of materials to capture emotion and expression in a product and still get an edgy final product.

The "Marini" collection of suspensions brings a touch of the mastery of the ocean coral to our interior decor. The marriage of the color printed fabric shade with a silver interior and Swarovski starfish crystals suspended inside creates this unique and distinctive family

Over the years, the range of materials used by Viso has expanded: with the use of crystals, ceramics, fabrics and glass, as well as polycarbonate and mylar, Viso extended it's offer to individuals who appreciate unique and contemporary comfort through light. The spontaneous use of hand made and industrial synthesis material enriched the intrinsic quality of the collections, interpreting the forms and functions of light into strong objects of character.

New materials and classic beauty: Hollywood collection is able to create an enigma. when the light is off, a mirrored Mylar shade with the reflection of its environments floats in the room and as the lamp is turned on, it reveals the interior dressed in crystal that shimmers and give the space the extra "bling".

Inspired by the space travel capsules of the 70's and 80's Nanoo gives your decor futuristic and unique qualities.Rotationally molded ceramic milk is used in the creation of this model."Mark and Mindy would have approved, Nanoo Nanoo..

The philosophy behind Viso is to drive us to design unorthodox collections that will elaborate on elegance through simplicity and desire for individuality.

Zebra incorporates technology and engineering in the production of this model: high quality polycarbonate and silver metallization are the key to this exclusive series. Like no other product on the market, Zebra enhances a modern setting with it's clean exhibition.

The collection "Bolio" is made with high quality polycarbonate with a metalized interior and polished aluminium metal components. Very comprehensible and non-pretense.

Fort Knox: the ambiance of this light gives out a warm and comfortable glow. To obtain maximum effect, it is advised to use the suspension in sets or clusters for a very powerful and rich effect.

Visit Chez Moi for more creative designs.

Lighting -- The Nature Way

Nature has inspired many artists from singers to authors and composers to painters. It is now inspiring lighting designers. Many chandeliers, floor lamps and even light bulbs are now inspired by elements of nature. Hive, a design and manufacturing firm is now leading that trend.

Hive traces its origin back in 2001 when a group of friends acted upon a vision producing lighting and accessories. Hive developed into design and manufacturing facility where various designers can create objects for production under one roof.

Inspired by colors taken from spiders and insects, rattan vines are hand dyed, painted and tied to a metal frame

Hive products exude the beauty inherent in nature with the freedom and creativity of the human mind. Examples of some design influences include the fascination with creatures of all shapes and sizes, gargantuan mythical dragons and microscopic bacteria, and quirky technologies born out of raw imagination like mummified branches and exploding twigs- all indicative of nature’s wonders in both the real and imaginary worlds.

Salago fiber coated shapes of little people entwine around this lamp, embodying the playful nature of design

Birds nest made from sustainable coconut coir fiber perched on a chrome metal branch

Inspired by sea anemones and jellyfish, Moly is made of synthetic colored ribbons woven over a frame of light steel housing a fiberglass light diffuser

Visit Chez Moi for many more creative designs.

Will 'Staycation" create the next furniture boom?

Air travel is guilt-ridden, the dollar is weak and the recession shows no sign of abating. It’s all about the "staycation" this year; a growing number of Americans are canceling trips abroad and deciding to spend their summer vacation at home.

Furniture and accessory designers are capitalizing on this trend with new products aimed at home vacations and home entertainement. The slumping travel industry is offering home brands and retailers a big opportunity. The ‘"staycation" trend is proving to be a very welcome marketing demon.

New deck chairs, indoor-outdoor dining chairs and dining tables, the new shiny BBQ are all products being touted as the cornerstone of the "staycation" economy.

The poly chair by designer Karim Rashid is a great indoor-outdoor dinng chair

Home picnic products, like baskets, fun outdoor plates, blown-glass marguerita pitchers and glasses lead the accessory market as well. Anything that introduces the concept of vacation at home. "Why fly first class to an expensive resort when you can create vacation-style on your doorstep?" After all, you can upgrade your entire dining room for less than a stay at a resort and for once, you can enjoy it.

The global recession may have suppressed our readiness to spend but it hasn’t removed our creativity. Americans would rather give-up their trips abroad and spend on their garden and living room - which is only good news for interior and garden retailers. As a great designer puts it in his summer campaign, "Staying at home is the new going abroad - without the hotel bill at the end."

Visit the ChezMoi website and enjoy several "staycation" products and have a safe journey.

How are Yoo?

When we spoke about the "Boutique Home Experience" a few blogs back , we didn't know that we uncovered a trend started by no one other than Philippe Starck. Under the Yoo Residential Company banner, Mr. Starck is bringing his boutique hotel experience into appartment buildings and homes, throughout the world.

The picture above is from the lobby appartment building close to Wall Street. It simply looks like an Ian Schrager/Starck creation. Funky styles, minimalistic and yet very functional. It is a really creative concept. If you liked the boutique hotel experience, why not live it every day. Needless to say that these residential buildings are also entertainment centers as well, with trendy resident bars and spas.

... and for those who love to bring the baroque style to modern times, Yoo created an appartment building in Argentina, shown below.

The picture is no different in Panama City, in this high rise. A lovely Murano chandelier imposes itself over a funky dining table and a modern leather sofas. A lot of empty space, a lot of modern-meet old, antique gone young, styles.

The picture is almost a post card from the Gramercy Park hotel in New York city. Baroque styles meet modern living.

This was and remains our style at ChezMoi. Blend modern with old, antique with new, a sleek leather sofa from Italy with a 400 year old credenza from India, you get the point, because Yoo gets it.

Mirror, mirror not on walls...

... who has the best lights of all?

If you attended the ICFF design show in New York last week, you probably noticed the introduction of several lines of cluster ball lighting. For those of you who haven't, what we are talking about is a new design in lighting fixtures made from hanging or loosely spread balls (blown glass, polycarbonate, etc.) with lighting fixtures in them.

Very interesting designs- full of depth and reflection at the same time.

Tom Dixon's Mirror Ball pendant shown below adds brightness to rooms and give them a great amount of space. It is hard not to stare at them for a bit, but they are pieces that eventually melt in rooms and become an extension of it. It is hard to imagine a hanging ball mirror giving "space" to a room, but you just have to experience it and see for yourself.

Copper balls were also popular at the show. Several designers displayed them. At first look, they remind you of old copper pans hanging from an old french provincial kitchen. But a closer look reveals a trendier flare- great with contemporary furniture. It is hard to imagine "copper" being trendy, but I guess it is that modern antiquish look that is intended, especially when the light balls are made from highly transparent polycarbonate with a copper film inside.

For those who venture in bright colors, fire balls were also big at the show. An extra set of orange eyeballs with bright pupils were also displayed by Tom Dixon designs.

All in all, a light in a ball ... that is what I got out of ICFF.