Victoria and Albert, manufacturers of extremely desirable baths, were one of the sponsors of the recent Modenus BlogTour during London Design Festival. Bob Borson of Bernbaum-Magadini Architects, and author of the much celebrated and highly entertaining blog, ‘Life of an Architect’ , was one of the participants of the aforementioned adventure. So when we discovered that Bob is a fan of Victoria and Albert, having specified it for more than one of his recent projects, we thought it made sense to ask him about it.
The project in question is interesting for a number of reasons, not least because of what it reveals about Bob’s approach.
It all started when a client wanted a space for a grill, a bathroom with a shower and a seating area. And as the client started talking to Bob they found someone who was receptive to their ideas and encouraging their questions and visions.
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Dwell on Design opened on June 24. In amongst the 200 exhibitors are a good many old friends and some new faces we feel the need to introduce you to. Here’s our top picks all in one place!
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Modwalls
Booth Number: 1030
www.modwalls.com
On Modenus
‘Making tile modern’, they say. Well they certainly make modern tiles. When you see their range, including their gorgeous glass tiles, a personal favourite, you can see why this is the name that springs to mind when so many designers look to source tile for client’s projects. We’ve heard rumours that they are bringing a couple of new lines with them to Dwell. Always good people to seek out. Say ‘hi’ from Modenus.
Native Trails
Booth Number: 220
www.nativetrails.net
A good tub is a guarantee of a place on any Modenus preview list. And this, my friends, is a very good tub from what appears to be a very good company. The tub is called Aspen and, like other Native Trails products, it is handcrafted using recycled material. I know I should be writing a little more about Native Trails here but, if it’s ok with you, lets just look at their lovely tub for a while instead. Ahhhhhhhhhh. Thank you.
Peter Francis
Booth Number: 715
peterfrancisdesign.com
According to the Dwell on Design website ‘Peter Francis furniture is designed by Peter Saloom’. So why isn’t it Peter Saloom furniture? If you go to the show you’ll have to ask. His, let’s just say Peter’s, furniture is made from solid Maple, it is uncompromisingly modern but has a simplicity and confidence about it which is appealing. Unmistakably American, there are traditional woodworking techniques deployed here.
This is the second of our Dwell On Design previews. Our top picks from the show out West. More soon.
The Salone del mobile is great fun, overwhelmingly huge and a place of pilgrimage for enthusiasts of design and furniture. But when the Campari, Grappa and Espresso have been drunk, the gelato sampled and even the occasional solid food considered, what is there to be learned from rubbing shoulders with more than 2,500 manufacturers and half a million visitors? The daybed above, is ‘Jeanne’ together with corner unit ‘Belisaire’. The day-bed is in “moss” velvet with “praline” leather mattress, corner arabesque backrest upholstered in turquoise velvet and brocade with large motifs of “chocolate” and “moss” palm leaves. It is extended by a corner seat covered in same brocade, with arabesque backrest upholstered in turquoise velvet and “praline” leather decorated with a “passementerie” cord holding two tassels. And where does such confident, opulent design come from? Well it is a collaboration between a certain Mr. Christian Lacroix and equally legendary Italian Glass Mosaic Artists SICIS. It will be in their showrooms from July.
These are my musings from Milan .
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I happened upon a discussion on Twitter the other day that was lead by Cindy Frewen Wuellner @Urbanverse who had asked about the purpose of design. My immediate reply was the creation of serenity, a space that is a refuge from noise, both physical and emotional, that allows us to rest and gather energy to face our daily tasks with renewed vigor. As with all things design related my interpretation of calm and serene is likely to differ from other tastes and styles and I welcome your input via comments or you can send us images (talktous@modenus.com) of interiors that to you are the most peaceful, relaxing, soothing or just the opposite, invigorating and inspiring. But for now please forgive this personal indulgence while I explore wood and water. Continue Reading…
We’ve expressed our affinity for bath tubs before. No one works in the tub just as no one drinks martinis in the shower. We’re not even convinced that tubs are about washing any more than silk lingerie is about keeping warm. They are for pleasurable lounging, yes, luxury.
Now we have more tubs to add to our list of the highly desirable. Bagno Sasso was founded by Rolf Senti a man who, before he started creating beautiful bathrooms, rode, or rather raced on, bicycles for a living. You can’t help wondering if creating such wonderful tubs was in someway an consequence of being perched on a sharp saddle for many an uncomfortable hour.
Whatever the inspiration, we are very grateful to Mr Senti and, like customers from around the world, are true fans of his work. The illustration above shows a bathroom designed by Bagno Sasso featuring one of their wonderful wooden tubs. More to follow.
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It is slightly unnerving to find oneself chatting to a very charming gentleman while he sits on a a toilet. Fortunately, however, this was the Catchpole and Rye stand at Decorex, an exhibition associated with London Design Festival. Catchpole and Rye restore and manufacture bath tubs, toilets, sinks and other bathroom associated paraphernalia. They do so with infectious enthusiasm and undeniable attention to detail that their products should be considered by anyone seeking something a little less ordinary. We will return with a full blog as soon as the dust settles on our adventures over the last couple of weeks but in the meantime enjoy the images we have collected for you. By the way, should you desire your own address, or message on a WC cistern like the example above then Catchpole and Rye are the people to talk to.
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Opinion is split on tubs. Some people imagine that they are unhygienic ways of sitting in your own grime. Others know that they are the epitome of luxury as they relax in a warm soapy tub sipping a cup of tea and munching on toast. Maybe that’s just the Brits. Pictured above is one of our Transatlantic friends doing something glamorous with a bottle of champagne. Good girl!
The bath is the Amalfi from Victoria and Albert. They describe it as ‘A slipper bath for the twenty first century’. We think it would also look good inside a bathroom.
We were going to publish a picture of Tim in his tub reading his paper, drinking his tea and admiring his ever expanding physique, but there is such a thing as good taste!
But actually, that’s the glory of a tub. It can be glamorous or cosy. Comforting or exciting. Even if you insist on a shower for getting clean, surely you need a tub for wallowing? And if you don’t have a tub, where do you keep your rubber duck? Continue Reading…
