More From Milan 2012: Sophisticated Wares- Nature Included!

Although it’s been a considerable amount of time since Salone del Mobile concluded in Milan, I’m anxious to share some of the wondrous sights I saw there.

Every year the event has a different feature emphasis, and this year it was “Euro Cucina” so Kitchens and appliances figured prominently in what I saw. One of the trends I noticed with many exhibit spaces was an overt display of plant life and nature…it was everywhere and the scale of these features were impressive.

Huge plant walls, ancient olive trees and even a wall of tomatoes made up these references to nature. Here are some of my favorites:

An enormous Olive tree at Liebherr…

A “green wall” at Stosa…

Another “green wall” at Rimadesio…

Yards of blooming Jasmine at Smeg (featuring a denim clad refrigerator)….

 

The most impressive by far was the booth for Minacciolo, which featured enormous walls created with crates of real tomatoes…

More dispatches from Italy (and the Design world) to come…

Ciao!

David J. Hansen

First Impressions: Milan 2012

Although it's been a few days since first arriving in Milan for iSaloni and Design Week, I'm still reeling from my first trip to the design capitol of Italy!

Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I'm trying to process everything I've seen since my arrival. Milan seems to conspire to take the past and collide it into the future to create the present. Of course the city is beautiful and bustling, but there seems to be more to this city than the sum of it's parts.

This is a little of what I saw around Milan during our first couple of days...


David J. Hansen

All photographs by David J. Hansen for Ashfield Hansen Design Inc. / Copyright 2012

Italy Awaits!

I'm headed to Italy this week...One of my favorite places on the planet! It's been many years since I was last there, so I'm looking forward to some new adventures.

I'll be starting out in Milan by attending the Salone Internazionale del Mobile, which is one of the largest contemporary furniture exhibitions in the world. I will be sending updates from the road, so stay tuned.

After Milan I'll be doing some sightseeing, visiting with family and lots of eating!

Please check our Facebook page for the latest updates from the road!

Buon Viaggo!

David J. Hansen

Farewell Mr. Hadley

On Friday the world learned that iconic Interior Designer Albert Hadley passed away at the age of 91. His name is as synonymous with the industry as “chair” or “window covering”, and his iconic status as America’s preeminent decorator is no accident. He was one of my Interior Design idols, and his presence and example will be sorely missed. When I decided to become an Interior Designer, I could not think of a better person to try to emulate than Mr. Hadley.

By all accounts, Mr. Hadley’s career, was not so much envied and coveted, but admired and aspired to. He did more for the Design industry as an ambassador than could ever be imagined. 

I learned much about him when I bought the Rizzoli book about his life that is in his own words, with commentary by Adam Lewis. His career is nearly mythic in who it cross-references along his journey. When moving to New York he sought out mentors in design legends like Rose Cumming, Billy Baldwin, Van Day Truex and of course he is best known for his collaboration with Sister Parish at their eponymous firm Parish Hadley.

Although I never met Mr. Hadley, I have admired him and his work since before I became a designer. In the Rizzoli book he is quoted as saying:

“ Decorating is not about making stage sets, it’s not about making pretty pictures for magazines; it’s really about creating a quality of life, a beauty that nourishes the soul. Design is coming to grips with one’s real lifestyle, one’s real place in the world. Rooms should not be put together for show, but to nourish one’s well being.”

Thank you Mr. Hadley for showing us how it’s done.

David J. Hansen

*All photos are from House Beautiful and were photographed by Fernando Bengoechea.

Tulip Tulip How I Love Thee On A Tree

This time of year makes me happy.  Just about everywhere I am seeing my favorite Saucer Magnolias with their grand sweeping bows laden with those gorgeous purple and white blooms.  

The buds make me think of Nina Campbell’s tertiary color palette particularly her combination of celery greens and pale purples.  Lovely.

Barbara Ashfield

The Look Of Love

In our vocation we use furniture, fabrics, accessories and lighting to express a mood or feeling. In honor of St. Valentine’s Day, we wondered what it might look like to express the feeling of love using these tools. Here are a few examples of what the “Interior of Love” might contain…

  

A Fornasetti tray...

A contemporary "Tete-a-tete"...

A Chinoissiere bed frame from Anthropologie...

A fabric from Donghia...

A red Parsons table...

A silver Champagne bucket...

A red coral chandelier...

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

David Hansen 

Inscribed With Light

Ever since my post on Holiday Illumination (which can be found here), I’ve been obsessed with light and how it photographs. Imagine my joy when I learned about collaboration between two European artists that involves just that.

Tabarly-Nantes 2011

Julien Breton (aka Kaalam) is a French artist who is inspired by Calligraphy. He melds Arabic and Old English styles in light using long exposures to create focal points that are seemingly familiar. He collaborates with photographer David Gallard (aka Mr. Guep). Together they create landscapes that they have dubbed as “abstract Calligraphy” using unique light accents, which are unlike anything I’ve seen before.

Under The City-Nantes 2011

Intimite-Dampsmesil 2011

The Movement Abbaretz 2011

All hail the marriage of photography and light!

David Hansen

Top photo:
Aerial-Dampsmesil 2011
All photographs taken from Julien Breton’s artist site here.

Visit Kaalam’s Flickr page here.

Feast For The Festive

With New Year’s Eve upon us, many of us will be celebrating with friends over supper – whether it be elaborate or simple, no matter.  It’s the thought behind the menu that keeps it interesting, and, of course, the company. 

I’m ringing in the New Year with dear friends at a sit down dinner party that promises to be nothing short of divine.  Boef Bournignon has star billing, the hostess is trés chic and I’m certain the table will be just as glorious as the meal.

Take a look at these fabulous table settings – giving truth to the adage “a picture is worth a thousand words”  --I wouldn’t mind being a guest at any one of them, would you?  The range is marvelous and each one sublime.

Cheers,

Barbara Ashfield

Photos from top:

1.The Beatles from ticklebitz.com

2.Black and White from Housetohome.co.uk

3.From everythingleb.blogspot.com

4.Queen Elizabeth from the dailymail.co.uk