What's behind that door?

"Doors speak a story and convey a feeling, a presence. They are the Eyes to the Soul of those who lived behind them, representing the history and experiences they have witnessed. Some doors are proud; others are tired or worn, but tenacious. Some are welcoming and beckon entry and exploration, whilst others tease and tempt with mystery, encouraging the visitor to take the journey through. "

These are the words of Amy Karam, a local San Francisco artist. Amy has traveled to over 30 countries and has been passionate about capturing her experience through photos. In particular, she has consistently been drawn to taking photographs of Doors for the last 12 years. Her art is very expressive and adds a lot of open space to any room.

Her "Doors" collection includes shots from Tunisia, Morocco, China and many more countries.

Amy's work is on display at Chez Moi in San Francisco. Come and open one of these doors!

Design Between Tweets

When I joined this industry, I was surprised how low-tech it was. It felt like the interior design industry was still stuck in the brick and mortar, pen and paper world. It felt like HighPoint, North Carolina was still the center of gravity of the world of design.

That was two years ago... I have to admit that I have seen a major shift in the industry.


The designers are coming out and in full force in social networks. It is happening, on facebook, on decorati and on Twitter. Designers are watching each others- sharing quick trends, getting minute by minute updates from trade shows and more importantly building a great community that they always lacked. Everyday, my Twitter following is increasing.

• Retailers are there pushing latest products.
• Design Magazines are there waiting for the latest headlines on design
• Designers are there sharing design ideas
• and clients are there, selecting their clients.

But is Twitter the holy grail of interior designer marketing? the jury is still out.

Is Twitter a good way to network with designers? Yes.

Is Twitter a good way to get new trends in design? Yes

Is Twitter a good way to reach out to the press and coordinate design events? Yes

Is Twitter the way to reach customers? That is where I believe it falls short! I haven't or heard of anyone that has bought or sold something on Twitter- Not a product and not a service. So I have to say no.

Can Twitter give a fake sign of fame? You might be tweeting, but who is listening?

Does Twitter have the potential to waste time? Sure it does. After all, it is a fad and it might simply be absorbed into something else.

In the meantime, here are a few tricks to not to fall into the wasteland on Twitter:

Select your followings and followers carefully. Make sure they are either designers, trade rags, customers or retailers

• Don't post useless tweets: forget the "great burger", "heading to lunch", blah blah tweets. Focus on what will make the industry better: A new line, a new trend, a new fabric combination- Project a highly professional image of yourself
• Maintain a consistent presence: Tweet at the pace of the industry (example: if designers are tweeting once a day, then tweet once, if they are tweeting 10 times a day, then do the same- Bottom Line- Don't be the quiet one, nor be the babble mouth in the crowd
• Make your Tweets an event followers wait for. Tweet an article, a blog or any piece of content that you are an expert in. That is what people are looking for
• Last but not list: Maitain your brand. Make sure you let people know who you are, what you know and what you want to know. After all, this is what a community is all about.

Don't miss out on any trends, follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ChezMoi_Design or at Chez Moi and design between tweets... or should it be Tweet Between Designs ?

Out of the catalogue and into a... social network

These days there social networks for almost every community, from Dog lovers to whale watchers. It seemed like the design community is missing out on these trends and using mass market networks like Facebook and Twitter and doing a poor job at it. No more. The interior design industry is finally catching up and several social networks focused solely on passionate interior designers are emerging. Last night, I had the chance to meet a new one, homeanatomy.com.

They are about to launch later this month, and they are focused on building a community around interior design. Designers will join, discuss trends, shop for products that are not mass market and share design ideas. Home anatomy is all about design and in their words :

"At HomeAnatomy we believe that a home is more than just the objects that fill its interior; it is about comfort, personality, lifestyle, and family. We hope to help our readers achieve these qualities in their homes by facilitating creativity though a vibrant and social networking community. Our design network will connect modern interior design enthusiasts with all the resources they need to make their house a home. "

This is exactly what Chez Moi stands for. A place that turns a house into a home, a place where your style, your personality and not that a production line somewhere in China, is reflected.

Homeanatomy.com is not the only one, already decorati.com has launched and features over 300 design only companies and many passionate interior designers.

The more the merrier. Let the era of catalogue living end and the era of personalized living begin!

Puff Up That Comfy Style

Now that the Milan show is over, the new focus is on New York's ICFF show in Mid May. Curious minds want to know whether the new "comfy style" that was prominent in Milan, would cross the atlantic and make it to New York city. We are not talking about Bean Bags, we are more talking about cushion, pads, comfort ... everywhere, especially in sofas and sectionals. Living rooms are more like kid play rooms, for the adults. Sit, lounge, channel surf, nap, even sleep - Couches look more like sofa beds with great pillow tops.

The Peanut Collection from Designer Bonaldo looks more like a grown up kids room with plenty of style.

The Nuvola collection, also from Bonaldo, mixes modern design and old style comfort. Great padding everywhere and kind of a "laissez aller" - put your hair in a scrunchy look.

The abbracio collection from Cierre is no exception- The leader of living in leather is more like "relax in leather".

.. .and finally the Nick collection from Cierre lays out that cushiony feeling too.

It looks like Italian designers are sending us a message to chill and relax. Would New York listen? I guess we will wait and see at ICFF. In the meantime, you can enjoy these lines and many more at Chez Moi in San Francisco.

Mother of Pearl on Mother's Day

When it comes to mother's day gifts, it is hard not to think about Mother of Pearl products. The Capiz shell, which is mother of pearl, is now used to create great tableware and bathware in addition to great accessories. Chez Moi has a great collection of Capiz accessories designed by a Seattle-based artist and manufactured in the Philippines.

Great Tableware

A blend of style and nature. The Capiz line of tableware comes in a variety of styles and colors. From white and silver, to Gold, to a collection of spring colors ideal for outdoor parties. Come and see for yourself.

Great Bathware

Put great styles in your bathrooms. A Great collection of bathware and in many colors: white, silver, gold and sea-blue. A complete gem.

Designers with emotions, tables with atttitude

When you throw designers with emotions at a problem, you get more than pieces of furniture. You get an experience. Check these tables out and judge by yourself.

Glam_Glam glass - design by Gino Carollo

Glam is available in pouf or coffee table version. The structure is in wood, with polyurethane padding. Glam can be covered in shiny technical fabric or in leather. In the small table version, Glam glass has a glass top.

Folio design James Brönte

Small glass tables, square and rectangular. Various finishes are available.

Exell design Gino Carollo

Small table with etched, chequered-pattern glass top, available in various finishes

Miami design Gino Carollo

Small table. Top in transparent plate glass. Base with gloss lacquered finish.

Amble design Mauro Lipparini

Small table. Chromed frame. Top in smoked plate glass

Lux Design Gino Carollo

Small tables with chrome-plated steel base. Top in extra-light mirror glass with etched chequered-pattern.



Oscar design Dondoli and Pocci

Rectangular leaf table with central extension. Frame in steel. Legs in die-cast aluminium. Top in plate glass.

H2O Design Massimo Iosa Ghini

Round fixed top table. Frame in chromed steel. Top in transparent plate glass.

Jamesdesign Peter Ross

Extending table with side extensions. Wooden structure and glass top available in various finishes.

Jamesdesign Peter Ross

Extending table with side extensions. Wooden structure and glass top available in various finishes.

Jamesdesign Peter Ross

Extending table with side extensions. Wooden structure and glass top available in various finishes.

Twice design Mauro Lipparini

Fix or leaf table with side extension. Frame in steel. Veneered wooden or lacquered legs. Top in plate glass or veneered wood.


Twice design Mauro Lipparini

Fix or leaf table with side extension. Frame in steel. Veneered wooden or lacquered legs. Top in plate glass or veneered wood



Tomdesign Peter Ross

Extending table with side extensions. Gloss stainless steel structure and glass top.

Lingotto design Gino Carollo

Lingotto is an extending table with etched, chequered-pattern glass top, available in various finishes. The structure is in steel

Lingotto design Gino Carollo

Lingotto is an extending table with etched, chequered-pattern glass top, available in various finishes. The structure is in steel

Laud

Rectangular or round fixed top table. Veneered wood, gloss lacquered or gloss stainless steel legs. Top in plate glass

Dry design Donodoli Pocci

Leaf table with side extensions. Frame in steel. Top in plate glass

Vision design Gino Carollo

Swivel TV stand for plasma or LCD television sets. Base in chromed steel. Frame lacquered. Size of plasma or LCD TV: 70x51 cm minimum, 102x60 cm maximum. Maximum capacity 50 kg.

Some of these tables are displayed at ChezMoi in San Francisco

Design with Emotions

When you combine experimentation, unique design and emotions you get more than contemporary furniture- You get Bonaldo.

The Lingotto Table- A recent introduction

Since 1936 Bonaldo has produced creative, elegant, quality furniture that convey a profound sense of the experience that they fully embody. The company has always been involved in experimentation. Sixty years ago it began with its range of tubular metal applications and today it conducts wide-ranging research into plastics, the use of different alloys and the use of materials such as pressure cast aluminium, flexiblec old-pressed polyurethane and propylene. The company has a high-tech focus, however it entrusts fundamental planning and production stages to human skill.

The Nuvola Sectional- A game of comfort and Style

The result: a great line of furniture that totally reflects Italian tastes and lifestyle, something unique to Italy that cannot be reproduced elsewhere, but which interacts with various international trends in contemporary design. The company has partnered with great designers such as Ron Arad and Karim Rashid, Mauro Lipparini, Toshiyuki Kita and Denis Santachiara, D’Urbino and Lomazzi and Giuseppe Viganò- to create lines of furniture than span the globe and time.

Glass, wood, chrome, leather and more all blend artistically well under the Bonaldo umbrella. The company continues to receive international design awards.

The Fluff Bed- Elegance and a great night sleep

Bonaldo is now shown at Chez Moi in San Francisco. Come and experience it.


Tables, sofas, side chairs, dining chairs and TV stands. A great line up of designers, a great collection of designs and so many awards. That is Bonaldo.