A New Dawn in Lighting Design

When at the base the sliding light head sits in an off position, and then as it is moved upwards it activates a low intensity red hue, which transitions into orange, then 2700k white light as slid upwards. This custom LED light array, developed by Rigby and his team, replicates the transition of light from the deep, rich red of the late evening to the white light of midday. The light is also capable of rotating 360 degrees around, providing a range of uses from outward facing task light through to a backward-facing ambient light, creating a subtle wash.

Dawn to Dusk is meant to not only showcase a naturally beautiful occurrence but to also utilize this power to support our natural rhythm throughout the day. The high-quality white light helps users to wake up more naturally, while the richer, relaxing red colors help regulate the circadian cycle and prepare for sleep.

“haberdashery believes light is a transformative power in the world; we challenge what is possible with light, and through our products are defining a new category of contemporary lighting,” says Rigby.

All photos & video courtesy haberdashery.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Artefacto is committed to designing with function and style in mind, while blending global influences from Italy, France, Brazil and beyond. The new collection arrives this month to the U.S. and embodies Artefacto’s signature contemporary aesthetic, now with a tribute to cinema and technology.

The pieces are all inspired by classic movies, with textures and finishes like exotic marble, stainless steel and sophisticated fabric. Every piece in this new collection features a star-studded name straight from the silver screen, like the Harrison Chaise Lounge, Carrie Lounge Chair, Indiana Lounge and Lauren Chair.

Paulo Bacchi, CEO of Artefacto, feels the new collection perfectly blended the old with the new. “Artefacto borrowed the styles of classic old Hollywood to create a timeless new collection that is simple yet elegant,” he said, “Completely customizable, these pieces have a refined versatility that will add a touch of character to any space.”

As for the Hollywood influenced pieces, Bacchi said, “Hollywood represents an eclectic industry that is all about glamour, sophistication and lasting style. Rich textures, satiny finishes, polished metals and deep colors are central to our new collection.”

Deep, rich tones like navy, dark brown and black inspired this collection, according to Bacchi. evoking luxury and dramatic glamour. His favorite pieces include the Float Shelf and Carrie Swivel Lounge Chair. “Their smooth shape, polished finish and subtle, metal details make them timeless, sophisticated pieces,” said Bacchi.

Carrie Swivel Lounge Chair

This gorgeous swivel chair is made of a stainless steel base and upholstered fabric with leather option. The swivel base of the chair is also equipped with a return system.

Hara Chair

This stunning chair is made of natural, woven Brazilian Burati palm fiber with stainless steel base. Legs and backrest are available in a variety of colors.

So, I created White Space to fill this void.

At the heart of our model is a new infrastructure that delivers a custom-built supply chain for every project. We work with — and manage — the factory best suited for the task, no matter where in the world it’s located. This is the big change the industry needed — the ability to manufacture the highest quality furniture, casework, lighting fixtures and flooring with scale, efficiency, and attention to detail.

To put it another way, my inspiration for starting White Space was identifying that there was a white space in my industry — a gap that we could successfully fill.

What is the big change you’re bringing to office spaces?
We’re eliminating the false choice that existed in the market: that you have to choose between quality and affordability, or creativity and efficiency. Buyers and purchasers of all kinds were resigned to picking out generic furniture from a catalogue, because that’s the way it had always been. Now no one has to make that choice.

Those connections also mean that we can bring our own quality-control teams on site: they’re there at every stage of the production process to make sure we’re delivering exactly on our clients’ specs. Because of our ability to deliver the highest quality on time, within budget and at scale, we’ve been able to mature very quickly and work with some of the biggest names in the hospitality industry — from Disney to the Ritz-Carlton.

What are some of your favorite projects?
One of my favorite projects is the work we did for the Nakoma Lodge. I feel particularly proud of this — not only because it came out so well, but because it is an honor to be associated with a Frank Lloyd Wright design. That we were able to successfully and seamlessly extend his aesthetic speaks to the power of the system we’ve built, to fully realize even the most complicated and nuanced of visions.

Also, I feel very proud of the work we did with WeWork to open their Tel Aviv flagship. They are clearly changing the workplace and it’s a thrill to be part of that change. They also have high standards and a sophisticated vision for their brand, that’s always extended to the spaces they design, so it was extremely gratifying that they chose us. It’s also always fun to work on such a cool, trend-setting project.

How is White Space innovating office spaces today?
We’re helping to kill the cubicle — and more broadly, the fluorescent-lit, colorless, isolated environments that employees were almost universally forced to work in a few years ago. A lot of modern corporate offices are taking cues from the hospitality industry, surprisingly enough: the shared spaces that encourage socialization and collaboration are increasingly a focal point in corporate office design, as we come to realize that happy, healthy employees who actually like each other end up more productive. People do more when work when it doesn’t feel like work — and creating that vibe and work ethic starts with the physical environment. It’s the main reason people come to us to make their offices feel less like offices.

What are your future aspirations for White Space?
I aspire to continue to expand globally, both within the hospitality industry and within adjacent industries, including co-working spaces. We want to continue to work with creative brands who have expansive visions, and with designers that share these qualities. We’re here to support anyone who has an envelope they want to push.

The system we’ve created is agnostic to the project, and we want to work with people who’ve been boxed in by their previous vendors, that couldn’t deliver as fast and as fully as we can. We help those companies compete through innovative design. Design is a true competitive advantage today.

Photos courtesy of White Space

Meant to add that perfect finishing touch, accent pieces carry an important weight when it comes to completing a room’s design, from the size of a mirror or its frame to the brightness of matching lamps. High-end brand Frontgate understands the impact these items have on a space and offers an assortment of essential furnishings that bring that space together.

Mirrors

Finding the perfect accent mirror means finding the balance between functionality and beauty. If function is the priority, Frontgate offers pieces that keep this balance in mind. From the tropical Marigot Shell Mirror or the Temple Chinoiserie Wall Mirror, both optimal for spaces like bath vanities or entryways, beauty no longer has to be sacrificed.  

For Frontgate it’s all about making a statement, according to a brand representative, while also working with the space given. A perfect example is the Duchamps floor mirror. From the dressing room to the living room, this large floor-to-ceiling mirror with additional storage opens up a space with its reflective surface and creates a visual impact. For even more creative displays, art-inspired pieces like the Intermix Beveled Mirror also open a room and add a bit more interest to a simple space.

Geometric Pendant Lighting

Symmetry is key when it comes to lighting, particularly with pendant lighting options that usually come in twos. Geometric pendants are popular for a number of reasons. The variety of finishes and materials used to create them fit easily into almost any space. From the simple and elegant Maxwell and Tillary lights with metallic gold and brass finishes to the glamorous Aurora pendant, these fixtures have the ability to create a dramatic focal point in rooms that are purposeful on their own.

All photos courtesy Frontgate. 

Offering a one-stop shop for high-end design — architecture, landscape architecture and interior design services under a single roof on Los Angeles’ famed Miracle Mile — is Studio William Hefner.

The office’s location on this stretch of Wilshire Boulevard, lined by Art Deco masterpieces and many of the city’s museums, is clearly inspirational for designers.

Originally from Northern California, Hefner arrived in Los Angeles to earn a graduate degree in architecture from UCLA and founded his current practice in 1989. He oversees a highly collaborative staff of about 35 in L.A. and maintains a smaller office in the idyllic coastal community of Montecito, outside of Santa Barbara.

Hefner, who studied art history in college and appreciates a diversity of design, draws inspiration from landmark residences scattered throughout Southern California. He is appreciative of traditionalists like Wallace Neff and Paul Williams — their Mediterranean estates have long been popular with Hollywood celebrities — as well as Mid-Century Modern masters Rudolph Schindler and Richard Neutra. As a result, Hefner’s practice encompasses a wide spectrum of architectural styles and his firm adapts to evolving preferences.

“In my practice, I try not to have a ‘signature’ style but strive toward quality design and execution in different genres, from very traditional to contemporary,” says Hefner, who reports about 60 percent of his current commissions are modern, a share that has doubled in the past decade. “Modern residential architecture has come in and out of style over the past 30 years but is finally becoming more of a lifestyle, not just a fashion or trend,” says Hefner, who adds, “I think it’s here to stay.” In Los Angeles — where so many high-end homes are in the hills or along the coast — modern design maximizes views and suits the region’s indoor-outdoor lifestyle. 

Commissioned to design a massive residence on 10 precious acres in L.A.’s opulent Bel-Air neighborhood, Hefner created a formidable French-style estate known as Château des Fleurs. The client’s original inspiration was the majestic Hôtel du Cap on France’s Côte d’Azur, and Hefner conducted extensive research in Paris, Versailles and the Loire Valley to ensure that every detail was authentic. “We wanted to make sure each room was special and unique,” explains Hefner of the house, which has 31 bathrooms. Despite the scale of the project, the architect took care to create intimate, family-friendly spaces throughout the home in addition to grand rooms for entertainment.

When the 60,000-square-foot residence was completed in 2013 after five years of construction, it was the largest home in a city famous for conspicuous consumption. In his lavishly illustrated book Château des Fleurs (Pointed Leaf Press, 2016), Hefner explains a progressive approach to classic French design. “The balance of this house was to create a powerfully simple structure that would feel timeless and not imitative, while inviting an Old World opulence to the fit and finish of the architecture in a way that would be both decorative and something more: modern,” he writes.

Another more classically inspired design from Hefner is an oceanfront home in L.A.’s Pacific Palisades, a celebrity-favored enclave with a rich architectural history. This home features an Italianate design, dazzling spiral staircase and lush landscaping. In the very same community, in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, Hefner authored a sprawling modern residence in which the floorplan was meticulously oriented to ensure optimal views from every room.

An approximately 7,000-square-foot home in Beverly Hills’ coveted Trousdale Estates is one of Studio William Hefner’s most notable expressions of modernism. Reminiscent of L.A.’s influential Case Study Houses from prominent Mid-Century Modern architects, it was commissioned for a client with an extraordinary modern art collection. “Accommodating art is always a challenge in a view house,” says Hefner, who notes the requisite expanses of glass tend to limit available wall space.

In suburban Sierra Madre, a considerably more rustic community than Beverly Hills, Hefner created a thoroughly contemporary residence in an environment where Craftsman bungalows and Spanish Revival homes are the prevailing architecture. But through a generous use of stone and wood, he was able to infuse the property with considerable warmth, softening the impact of its modernist theme. 

Like New York’s idiosyncratic Peter Marino, a talent he admires, Hefner is an architect who has expanded his practice to incorporate interior design. “I always had a strong interest in interiors and was disappointed when some of my early projects were not finished the way I had envisioned them, so I began designing interiors myself,” recounts Hefner. Now heading up the interior specialty at the firm is his wife, accomplished designer Kazuko Hoshino, and the firm produces custom-made furniture and accessories that enhance the interiors she creates.

Among Studio William Hefner’s custom-made products are the Infinity console, a plane of wood supported by two circular bands of steel, and the strikingly contemporary Halo mirror with its echoes of Mid-Century Modernism. Featuring a modern simplicity are the Capri lounge chair and distinctive Willow nightstand. Even the most contemporary of these pieces can complement vintage architectural settings, as Hefner and Hoshino have demonstrated in their own 1920s residence in L.A.’s fashionable Hancock Park neighborhood.

Before Hefner founded his own company, he worked for Skidmore Owings & Merrill, one of the world’s largest and most influential architecture firms, designing high-rise commercial buildings. “It was difficult to establish a personal connection with the ultimate users of the spaces,” laments Hefner, who appreciates residential design because of the more intimate relationship it forges between architect and client. Hefner encourages clients to fully participate in the design process, stating, “I think we do a better job when they’re more involved.”

The firm’s projects continue to be concentrated in Southern California, where Hefner believes the Mediterranean climate and the indoor-outdoor lifestyle it encourages affords him a genuine freedom of creativity. However, Studio William Hefner has designed residences in countries as disparate as South Korea, Turkey and Israel, and is currently undertaking projects in Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area and Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Photos courtesy of Laura Hull, James Ray Spahn, and Tyler William Parker

Ditch overused gold and silver trends for charming copper hues that will add to your home’s modern, yet cozy atmosphere.

Product: Cast Shoe Copper

Copper’s versatility is why you should incorporate it into your decor this year. The range of shades, from pale soft tones to rich and deep copper allows for designers to work with a material and color that is complex. Silver and gold are classic, but copper is an exciting touch of diversity amongst tradition.

Copper Can Be Functional
The Hex Copper Bowl with a textured look and feel creates an eye-catching item that is unique and functional. The less-than-perfect surface of the bowl is what makes this piece interesting. The dents and bends in the metal create more than one shade of copper, which makes it more interesting than one smooth item.

Product: Hex Bowl Medium Copper

Copper as a Conversation Starter
The Tom Dixon Cast Shoe Copper is the perfect example of a playful way to bring copper into your decor. A conversation starter such as this would stand out perfectly against a navy blue wall or door. The item is cast iron, copper colored, and designed to be a door stop. This small accent piece could also help tie together other copper aspects in a room, including other shades of copper.

Product: Cast Shoe Copper

Ultra Sleek
The Copper Round Pendant is a perfect contrast to a rough copper bowl. The ultra sleek exterior of the pendant proves that copper is not restricted to a rustic feel. Reflective and chic, the pendant is also a conversation piece that will undoubtedly bring a modern feel to any room. Smooth and rough pieces can work together in the same space. Pairing these items is a creative way to reveal copper’s multiple layers.

Product: Copper Round Pendant

Eclectic Addition
If you are interested in using new materials or fresh colors in a room, you don’t have to commit right away. Small items, such as these Eclectic Candle London Large are easily removed or changed if you’re undecided. Candles can also accent and play off of larger copper tones that you may integrate later. Small details are what makes a room feel complete and thoughtfully put together.

Product: Eclectic Candle London Large

Photos courtesy of Tom Dixon. Where to buy: tomdixon.net

Handcrafted in America since 1945, True Residential’s commitment to American-made products goes all the way back to its beginnings as a commercial refrigeration company in St. Louis.
In today’s world, where design is specialized and unique for every home, particularly in the kitchen, the brand remains vital to the industry.
A team of designers at True Residential spoke with Unique Homes about the brand’s influence on kitchen design, both in the home and commercial spaces.

Statement throw blankets are the perfect way to seasonally decorate, soften a space, and bring a personal touch into any room.

Is there anything quite as tempting as curling up on the couch with a soft blanket?

Stretching a few plush throws across any bed or couch can add layers and a decorative touch. Layering is a great way to mix and match designs and add complexity to your room. The additional warmth is an easy way to spruce up your everyday furniture. Pairing throw blankets with metal furniture or placing them against other sharp surfaces can create a contrast that will entice visitors to stay awhile.

Choosing different fabrics are another way to make a statement when selecting a new throw. Ultra soft or simple comfort can help set the atmosphere of a room.

Massimo Alba’s ‘Yes Yes Yes’ blanket and Coralie Miessen’s ‘Home’ blanket are fun ways to personalize your home.

And Oyuna offers a cashmere option known as the ‘Uno Throw’ that will encourage a lazy afternoon full of lounging. After relaxing, the ‘Uno Throw’ can be casually folded across bench seating to invite guests.

Photos courtesy of WallpaperSTORE*  store.wallpaper.com

Photo courtesy of Woodland Creek Furniture

             Stone Forrest Natural Bathtub

Residences at Prince Street. Photo courtesy Aaron Thompson.

Outfitting homes with an artistic ceiling creates a complete, dynamic space, often tying assorted aspects of home design together, from art to functioning space. In these examples, designers inspired to use interesting techniques have created complex designs that demand people to look up.

Photo courtesy Barry Grossman.

Photo courtesy Brickell City Center.

Photo courtesy MNS.