Nanimar....Que?

 Based in Barcelona (<3), Nanimarquina http://www.nanimarquina.com/ is a textiles and ceramics company that creates astonishing pieces of art.  I have a feeling that if I ever found myself in their showroom in Barcelona (see image below) my inner feline would come out wanting to touch everything to my face.  The vibrant colors and intriguing textures are so much fun,  I especially love the idea of using one as a headboard!! The ceramics are simple, rustic and beautiful; these pieces could definitely stand alone sans arrangement. Also, based on the info on their website, the company seems very self-aware and intent on taking a stand on honest production practices and distribution. Check out their website to find a local distributor. OR, if you decide to take a trip to Barcelona for an authentic Nanimarquina experience, call me, I'm a great travel buddy.

Wired!

Currey and Company is a lighting company that Lunada was just recently introduced to by our fantastic Lighting Rep., Tamarie at The Lighting Zone. They make fantastic furniture, accessories and light fixtures, but I specifically and I fell head over heels in love with their Parker Pendant!!!! I desperately wished they had color options to choose from, but such is the life of a designer.  Be sure to check out their website,  http://www.curreycodealers.com/index.aspx, to see everything they have to offer! 

In the meantime, here are some pretty pictures.......

Advantageous Ambiguity

Question: Is it a bench? A sofa? A table? An ottoman?
Answer: Depends on the application.
Question: Does it?

OK, most of the time it does depend on the application, but basically it is the same fundamental design.  The first piece of furniture that I learned about in college was a 3-legged stool used for milking animals (or something); 2 Legs were too unstable so a 3rd leg was added and voila! Stool.  And then there were tables, aka bigger stools with 4 legs. Skip ahead thousands of years and here I sit at a "desk" with a "printer table" next to me.  In your home you probably have a "dining table", or a smaller version but same application (mostly by college students) a coffee table.  Or is it an ottoman?  Where is it?  Is it in front of your sofa, next to it?  Is it in your entry or at the foot of your bed?

For the sake of writing a blog and not philosophy paper, I will call these ambiguous furniture pieces benches.  I love benches, they are low, linear (sometimes) and have millions of different uses.  They can define a space, they can be completely utilitarian, decorative, or dare to say.....both? Formal, informal, playful or interactive, benches are probably the most versatile piece of furniture.  If you don't already have one, here are some images to inspire you! Ah, the beauty of a good bench.

Traditional

Modern

Conceptual

Architectural

My new must have, gossip chairs!!!!

Happy Holidays From The Lunada Team

Best Wishes & Happy Holidays!

Sneak Peek!

Lunada, literally, just finished a bathroom remodel and couldn't wait to show off some of the pictures.  We couldn't be happier, and I can't wait to go back and shoot some real photos with the right staging and lighting!

Before:




















After:

Check back after to holiday to see more photos!!

Lunada's Favorites!

Lunada has recently installed El Dorado Stone Veneer at a job site and couldn't be happier with the results.  It's lighter, thinner and cheaper than real stone and can be installed in any location.  There is also much less waste than natural stone, contributes to the thermal mass of walls (green!), contains recycled content (green!) and comes in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes which helps with achieving a natural and varied look. You will not believe your eyes when you see and feel this stone veneer.!

Installation at a job to be completed 12/10!!

Concept for a new client's shower wall, instead small openings for candles, create larger and longer niches for bath products! So versatile!

For more product information visit their website: http://www.eldoradostone.com/flashsite/

Lunada's Favorites!

Trough sinks!  Old concept, modern application.  Are you having flashbacks to the sinks in your grade school classroom?  Don't worry, the designs have evolved beyond the huge white porcelain monstrosities;  undermount, flush or vessel, these sinks add nostalgia with a sleek and sexy twist to any bathroom whether it's traditional, transitional or modern.  The design is elevated when you install 2 faucets, but if large scale is what you desire, 1 faucet per trough sink is very dramatic!  Lunada might have finally found the perfect client to install one, so let's keep our fingers crossed!  Here are some images to inspire...

I had a "trough" time (sorry, that was horrible) during my initial research of the product, but my plumbing rep pointed me in the direction of Lacava and Duravit as great products at good price points.  But I have to say, the sinks from a company called Wet Style are so beautiful, by far my favorite.  Made is Canada, eh.

Interior Design Magazine & Electrolux Competition

Recently Lunada entered Interior Design Magazine & Electrolux Kitchen Design Competition. Without boring you with design statements and goals, I will just give you some pretty pictures to look at and you can draw your own conclusions!

Requirements:
-20'x30' in size
-Use of at least 5 Electrolux Icon Appliances
-$100,000 budget, including materials
-Incorporate typical kitchen elements (but is not limited to)

Judging Criteria:
-How thoughtuflly & boldly the kitchen meets the needs of modern families
-Visual appeal
-Creativity
-Elements/principals of kitchen design
-Innovative integration of appliances

Design Adaptations

This happens all the time in home remodels/new construction; items get placed on back order, get lost or even worse - discontinued or arrive damaged.  In Lunada's most recent project, a bath tub of ours was delivered 3 weeks late and with so much damage to the exterior enamel that we had to reject it at delivery!  This was an especially sad realization because this tub is what sparked an entire bathroom remodel for our client.  The tub I am speaking of is the Kohler Highbridge, a beautiful fixture.  It has a finished apron recessed about 6" improving the accessibility of the tub by allowing the user to step closer to the basin or the space can be used for custom cabinetry, which is what Lunada decided to do. Lunada planned to highlight the tub's finished apron (let's get the most bang for the buck since the tub is pricier than a regular drop-in) by building an open shelf where the client could place decorative soaps, towels, what have you.

 

 This design was so thought out and happily embraced by our client, it was heartbreaking to think that we would have to reselect another tub that really wasn't comparable to the Highbridge. (You might be thinking to yourself, "Why not just order another one?" Well, lead time on a new Highbridge was 28 days, and we certainly couldn't allow our client to wait that long after the original 3 week delay.  This project should have been finishing up by now!!) Eventually the damaged tub was installed and the design was changed eliminating the open shelf and adding cabinets all the way across similar to this image:

Another option: tiling the front of the tub takes advantage of the 6" under the ledge increasing accessibility to the tub.

My point is, that even when there are setbacks within of home remodels and design, it isn't the end of the world. Good designers are all about adapting to situations that are out of their control and still producing beautiful design that their clients will love.  It's also about having good plumbing reps who will take care of you in times of minor crises like this. Check our website www.lunadaconsulting.com for progress pictures!

Lunada's Favorites!

When you think of a fireplace screen, what do you think of?  3 panels, metal (brass-yikes!), mesh? There aren't really that many options out there for unique and functional fireplace screens.  See, this is one of the things that, as a designer, I appreciate.  Everyday, designers are faced with the challenges of needing or wanting something that doesn't exist (don't even get me started on tile lines that don't offer trim pieces, ah!).  For L.A. based designer Philip Nimmo, he decided to take action by designing a line of screens that has since evolved into furniture and lighting lines.  Every piece is hand-made and offered in a variety of finishes, materials and sizes, hence the steep price, but beautiful none the less. And when paired with the perfect client in the perfect room, these fireplace screens can really stand alone as works of art! 

For more information visit the website: www.philipnimmoironworks.com