Needing, Wanting, Loving: Terrazzo Floors

I've been working on gathering some flooring ideas for various projects at work, and in my research I've rediscovered the beauty of terrazzo.  "Terrazzo" is the Italian word for terrace, and the material was originally invented in the 15th century by workers in Venetia, Italy, who were using discarded pieces of marble to decorate the floors in their own homes.  To smooth out the finish they would rub over them with hand stones, buffing them down to a beautiful, walkable surface.

{photo of Italian stone workers laying out a terrazzo floor}

These days, the terrazzo often used is composed of chips of marble, quartz, granite, and glass that is then poured and mixed with a concrete or resin binder.   Variations of acrylics, latex, polyester, and epoxies are added to create different looks and applications.  Once sealed properly, it is impervious to liquids and doesn't chip away like other stones can- and can last up to 100 years if cared for properly.  Because of the material's durability, it has often been used in commercial, high-traffic areas like schools, airports, hospitals, bars, and restaurants:

{Statewide Stone Care}

Terrazzo seating at the Toki Cafe in Amsterdam:

ASH NYC's creative director, Will Cooper, discovered original terrazzo floors inside the Detroit building the firm was designing that would ultimately become The Siren Hotel.  This inspired him to create his own pattern of terrazzo for the hotel's bathrooms:

{domino}

Will's line of terrazzo, fittingly dubbed "The Siren" collection, is available for purchase through Balineum UK here:

I am happy to see terrazzo becoming more and more popular as a surface used in residential design projects.  I also noticed while browsing through some of my favorite stone and tile sources online that many offer a range of terrazzo styles and colors, making this a fun element to design with and incorporate.  And who doesn't love something not only beautiful but also durable?

Terrazzo officially got the kiss of celebrity approval after Mandy Moore used it in the renovation of her Pasadena home, featured in Architectural Digest.   Moore worked with architect Emily Farnham and interior designer Sarah Sherman Samuel to redesign the 1950s home with views of the San Gabriel mountains and valley. Mandy gushes, "Terrazzo is a dying art, costly and laborious, but so worth it."  Her guest bathroom floor features custom triangulated brass inlay set in terrazzo:

{Architectural Digest}

"Like most aspects of the renovation, the terrazzo treatments were a group effort: Samuel designed the jaunty pattern of triangulated brass inlays in the floor of a guest bathroom, while Farnham obsessed over the specific stone aggregate for the hefty fireplace ledge in the family room" (Architectural Digest):

{Architectural Digest}

Terrazzo took the NY design world by storm in 2016 when Sawyer Berson featured a floor of terrazzo in their petit salon at the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse:

And it officially got the designer kiss of approval when Bunny Williams used terrazzo in her own Manhattan apartment kitchen.  Williams was inspired by the terrazzo floor used by Sawyer Berson above:

{Quintessence Blog}

Bunny worked with Durite to custom design her terrazzo floor.  Here is an image of it laid out at their facility before it was installed in her kitchen:

Here are a few more terrazzo floors I found that are absolute works of art:

White onyx, brass inlay, and terrazzo floor by Mosaique Surface:

Although technically not terrazzo,  I had to share this floor installed by artist Michele Oka Doner at the United States General Administration Center in Laredo, Texas.  Featuring embedded green glass and mother of pearl, the floor is meant to resemble the nearby Rio Grande River and the geography of the area:

{Culture Now}

Lastly, I will leave you with links to the terrazzo offerings from some of my favorite stone and tile sources:

Ann Sacks

Artistic Tile

Tile Bar

Waterworks

XOXO,

Sam

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Industrial Pendant Lights

Selecting light fixtures is one of my all-time favorite things to do for any design project, and lately I’ve been very drawn to factory-style pendants.   Although visualizing industrial lights hanging above crowded factory workers in the early 1900s isn’t ideal, these lights did ultimately stand the test of time- both in style and function.  I love to see them in unexpected areas, like kid's rooms:

{Vogue}

And in entryways:

Of course, we have most often seen them hanging in kitchens over islands, which I've always loved:

{Luxe Daily}

What we don't often see is factory-style lighting in large living rooms, like Steven Gambrel did here in this funky barn he designed:

{Steven Gambrel}

Love the look, too?

Here are a few of my favorite sources for great factory-inspired lighting:

Schoolhouse Electric

The Urban Electric Co.

Ann Morris

YLighting

New Wine Old Bottles on Etsy

XOXO,

Sam

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Rattan

How is everyone’s week going?  Yesterday evening I went to a very insightful talk at MNDFL given by Sharon Salzberg about mindful connection.  I’ve been to a few meditation classes at MINDFL and have always gotten so much out of each one.  They have a studio in the Upper East Side (which I usually go to) but also have a location in Greenwich Village and Williamsburg.  Last night’s talk was at the Greenwich Village studio and Sharon spoke about her new book, Real Love.  It felt like an appropriate discussion during the month of love and I've added it to my reading list after hearing her speak.   Today I wanted to discuss a material I love-  rattan.  Rattan is the thin, pliable stems of a palm.  It is often woven together to construct furniture in a variety of styles.  Woven construction in general has become popular again over the past year as woven handbags have been all the rage ( I personally can't get enough of these).   I love the ease and relaxation rattan furniture naturally evokes.  It's Cali boho at it's best:

Just a few rattan pieces I am loving right now...

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Rattan 

(Top to Bottom, Left to Right)

1.) Handmade White Rattan Handbag, $63/

2.) Rattan Table Lamp, $129/

3.) Anguilla Rattan Coffee Table, $798

4.) Woven Malawi Chair, $399/

5.) Round Rattan Placemat, $28/

6.) Pari Rattan Daybed, $998/

7.) Yala Mirror, $198/

8.) Caterina Chair, $898/

9.) Flynn Single Wall Sconce, $228/

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Burl Wood

Thank God February finally came!  Does anyone else feel like January was never going to end?  What a depressing month.  A few of my close friends have birthdays in February, and the month is short anyway- so before we know it, it’ll be March and nearly springtime!  While it’s still cold outside (especially in Manhattan), I thought it’d be appropriate to talk about one of my favorite warm materials to decorate with - burl wood.  Burl wood furniture is different from normal wood furniture because it has that lovely, swirled look to it.  While most wood for furniture construction  is cut in a long, linear manner from a tree trunk, burl wood is different.  Occasionally, a gnarly looking growth will appear on a tree’s trunk as the result of the tree undergoing some sort of stress- typically insect infestation or mold.  Cute, right?  But, the beauty inside once the burl is cut is fascinating.  The normally straight-running grains of the tree go crazy inside the burl, twisting and turning to create all sorts of irregular and interesting patterns.  Burl is fabulous because it has such a rich, layered look to it and adds pretty depth to a space.  I believe mixing colors and materials appropriately is what gives a space warmth and interest.  Adding in a piece of burl wood furniture undoubtedly gives a space that bit of “oomph” we all crave:

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Hans Wegner Rope Chairs

Today’s blog post is all about Hans Wegner’s rope chair.  You’ll certainly recognize this iconic chair in the photos below as it has remained a staple since it was originally created in 1950.  Like most modern furniture designers, Hans believed in the principle of “form follows function” and his pieces were known for their organic functionality.  Wegner spearheaded the Danish modern furniture movement and is famous for integrating perfectly executed joinery with exquisite shapes and combining them with wood and its natural characteristics (Carl Hansen).  When constructing the easy chair, it takes a craftsman roughly 10 hours to weave paper cord across the curved frame. This piece perfectly represents Wegner’s keen ability to meld design and material without unnecessary fuss:

{Markham Roberts}

{The New Design Project}

{Studio Lifestyle}

{Victoria Hagan}

Here are a few Hans Wegner Rope chairs- both authentic versions and those that are crafted in the style of his design:

2.) Lumens Hans Wegner CH25 Lounge Chair in Black

3.) Wegner Style PP512 Folding Chair 

4.) Design Within Reach Easy Chair - Authentic (another authentic version here).

5.) France & Son CH25 Lounge Chair

6.) Chairish Hans Wegner Style Rope Chair

In 1949 Hans Wegner became an honorary member of the Royal Danish Academy for the Fine Arts in 1995.  Almost every major design museum in the world features Wegner’s furniture- from the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) to Die Neue Sammlung in Munich, Germany.  

Needing, Wanting, Loving: Channel Tufting

Furniture with channel tufting has had a serious moment this past year- and if High Point Market is any indication, this element won't be going away anytime soon.  Baker, Henredon, Four Hands, and Modshop all debuted collections at this year's market with channel-tufting details present.  Before we call this upholstery style a "trend", let's remember it originated in the 70s.  I managed to track down a few 70s design photos where channel-tufting was utilized in the design:

How great are those channel-backed bean bag chairs?  Can't you imagine a fondue party in full-swing in that living room?  That's a party I wouldn't have missed.  You've got to love the 70s.  If you're in Manhattan and want to be transported to a mod 70s-esque environment, head straight to the Boom Boom Room on the roof of The Standard Meatpacking:

Designed by Roman & Williams, this glittering bar is "groovy mod" at it's best.  The channel-tufted sofas snake around the perimeter of the bar and provide numerous seating arrangements.  

Also, how could we have a discussion on channel tufting without including the oft photographed Sketch restaurant in London?  Their bubblegum pink tub chairs are channel tufted and remind me of a clam shell:

{Sketch London}

Leave it to Lauren Santo Domingo of Moda Operandi to be impeccably on-trend.  Last fall, the online retailer opened a brick-and-mortar showroom in the Upper East Side that is styled as a sleek townhouse.  It's high style and high tech- before a customer walks through the door, the store has her style preferences and sizing, so the appointment is tailored with just her in mind.  Domingo infused the space with statement-making modern furniture from her numerous residences, including this on-trend channel tufted sofa:

{Architectural Digest}

Before you begin to think channel tufting only works in commercial spaces, let me share a few photos of my favorite homes that include channel tufted pieces: 

{Emily Johnston}

Carmel leather on a sofa almost always looks chic.   The thinner channels on the sofa shown above feel more masculine and streamlined.

{Azzedine Alaia}

{Matthew Buck}

{Lonny}

I also really dig this chair makeover Janine Morrison of Tonic Living posted on Instagram:

{Janine Morrison}

Here are a few of my favorite channel tufted furniture pieces currently for sale:

Jonathan Adler Pompidou Chair:

CB2 Reign Velvet Bed:

Wayfair Corrigan Studio Chesterfield Sofa:

One Kings Lane Manhattan Sofa in Black Velvet:

Roger & Chris Harley Chair:

So what say you?  Is channel tufting rightfully securing it's place as a 2017 design trend?  Or, is it better left in the past?

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave
SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave