Today's Stroll Thru the Design Center - 4 Fabulous Finds

Having an office at the San Francisco Design Center is like hanging out in an art studio.  Whenever there’s a break in the action I can walk around and look for fabulous new things.  Here are the 4 amazing things I found during a free hour today.

1.  Just Love John Pomp Lighting...

John Pomp creates organic glass pendant lighting that is perfect for so many interior styles.  Each globe is hand blown with a slightly “off” shape, and grouped together they are to die for.  The clear versions have been around for awhile.

 

Now De Sousa Hughes is showing a group of colored shapes hanging over a dining table, giving off that wonderfully warm, comfortable elegance we’re always looking for.  Gotta love John Pomp Lighting!

2.  Lincoln Park Sofa at GaulSearson

Strolling through GaulSearson I came upon the Lincoln Park sofa done up in gray-brown glove leather.  Oooooh la la.  This piece is so comfortable and it has such clean architectural lines.  This is my new favorite sofa of all time.

You have to float the Lincoln Park sofa in a room because it’s just stunning from the back.

3.  McGuire

Then there’s McGuire.  What can we say about their unique style that adds classic elegance to every décor?  I always stop at McGuire for inspiration.  Today they were showing a pair of chairs in red-orange sitting on a graphic patterned black and white rug from Lotus Bleu.  Pow! 

4.  Janus et Cie Chair

As I returned to my office I came upon a display of outdoor seating from Janus et Cie and I fell for this chair which looks like it’s swaying in the wind.  It invites you to sit and once you’re in it you don’t want to leave.  It even cushions your neck and head.

Ok, that’s enough browsing for today.  If you’re looking for inspiration and you want to poke around the Design Center with me, give me a call.  Right now I’m back to work!

5 Reasons Why My iPad is Like My Coffee Pot

1. Because Apple’s iPad and Sowden’s Softbrew are both brilliantly designed 
2. Because both were created by people who thought of absolutely everything that matters to the person who is going to use them
3. Because both look great and function better than anything else like them
4. Because I use them both every day and they’re both so perfect that they make me think about how much design matters
5. Because they make me want to emulate the focus and attention to detail that went into creating them

The Sowden Softbrew

The Sowden Softbrew hails from Milan, home to so much brilliant design.  It was created by George Sowden who is as much a genius at housewares as Steve Jobs was at electronics.  Sowden has thought of everything with this product, from the patent pending filter to the angle of the handle that is perfect for your thumb.  And the pared-down design with its combination of straight and curved lines makes every morning brew both a visual and gustatory pleasure.

The New iPad 3

Then there’s the iPad 3.  We purchased it from Verizon so I can be on the Internet whether there’s wi-fi or not.  The screen is so beautiful that every single image I show clients is totally seductive.  I can take photos with this beautiful thing, answer email, read the paper, play Wordle, source products, listen to music.  The iPad is so useful in so many ways and it is effortless to use. Like almost every product Apple has produced over the years, the iPad design is utterly simple, pared-down and elegant.

I’ve recently read Steve Jobs’ biography and I experience his loss in almost a personal way when I use the gorgeous and amazing iPad.  I wish Steve had been nicer to his sister and not so prone to hurting people.  But there are few such product geniuses around and the iPad is absolute proof of that.