Handmade

I'm thrilled to currently be working with the talented duo of John McDonald and Ivan Sokolov from Handmade, a custom furniture and cabinetry company right here in Los Angeles. There's not a single element of this project that's not customized for the space, so they have their work cut out for them, but it's going to be totally stunning when it's finished! Stay tuned for photos on the results. In the mean time, check out these other examples of their work:

I took the photo above and it was featured in my recap of CA Boom 2008. There are many great features showcased here, from the upper sliding doors to the cookbook niches.

The following photos are all from Handmade's website:

CA Boom Review + Coolhaus

Our visit to CA Boom was relatively short and sweet (something about the U.S. playing in a soccer match that Cezanne just HAD to see), but I did find some noteworthy products to share.

Moduture had three products to unveil that will be going into production this fall. The most interesting was this coffee table called 'the puzzle' table. The two halves slide apart to reveal the puzzle in construction, so you no longer have to feel like you have to finish that 1000+ piece masterwork in one evening. If puzzles aren't your thing, there are plenty of other objects you could store below and they're also working on a similar dining table, which means plates, placemats, even flatware, can be stored right below the eating surface - smart for small space dwellings.

Although it's not even close to the holidays, I couldn't help but fall in love with these mod ornaments from 9 Mile Schoolhouse. The Montana-based company integrates traditions and cultural influences from all over the world into their holiday collections and they have recently expanded to gifts and home decor, such as pillows and mobiles.

Harbour Outdoor, which made it's debut in the U.S. at ICFF this year, had its West Coast premiere at CA Boom.

Ronan + Erwan are certainly having a stellar year, with 'Kvadrat Clouds' for Ligne Roset showcased at Dwell On Design and the Vegetal chair (top) and this amazing sofa, the 'Alcove' for Vitra, on display at CA Boom. The Vitra booth (in conjunction with Magedman Modern) even had a child sleeping on the sofa just as in the photo above! Completely unintentional, but oh so cute! I didn't take a photo, as I didn't want to wake him.

Last, but not least, we finished the day off with an ice cream sandwich from Coolhaus. These cool treats are built to look like modern homes, and wrapped in edible rice paper to hold the miniature work of art together. And check out the names - 'Orange Julius Shulman', 'Frank Behry', 'Mies Vanilla Rohe' and many other creative flavors not only taste great, but also make you smile.

Also coming up this week, more on Dwell on Design including Unison Bedding and Charley Harper, photos from my discovery of a mid-century enclave in Gardena, and products from the Rug Company and Blu Dot. Check back daily!

This Weekend in Los Angeles

The rest of the week is going to be a busy one. I wouldn't normally try to pack two events into one evening, but tomorrow, from 4-8pm, I'm stopping by B&B Italia for the opening of Burton Machen's 'Urban Evolution'. Then at 7pm, I'm headed just a few blocks away to meet with the Designer's Networking Group. Herzog Wine Cellars and Design Hardware & Hardwood Flooring join together to host this month's DNG.

The two big events of the weekend are Dwell on Design and CA Boom. Check out their websites for a schedule of events and ticket info.

Trade day for Dwell on Design is Friday, and your free pass will get you in for the whole weekend (excluding special events). Don't miss mid-century architect, William Krisel, relish in the much deserved spotlight at Friday night's soiree.

CA Boom is going to be held in the old Beverly Hills Robinson's May department store, which I believe was threatened to be demolished, but I guess, at least for this weekend, it is getting a new lease on life! Mod Com (The Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee) is sponsoring an installation of Julius Shulman's work (the 98-year-old infamous architectural photographer) and Alan Lieb, chairman of the committee, will be there on Sunday at 3pm to speak about 'Saving Civic Modernism'

If only I could be in two places at once, I would love to go to this event too! Check out the Neutra exhibit at the LAPL. At 3pm on Sunday, the ALOUD lecture series presents "Hollywood and Uncle Sam: Richard Neutra and the Great Depression", hosted by exhibition curator, Thomas S. Hines.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

The Best of CA Boom '08

From handmade to high tech, CA Boom showcased a range of unique products this year.

Custom furniture makers exhibited some amazing pieces like the ones shown here. The credenza by Sidecar is fabulous because it has smooth gliding sliding doors, mesh wood panels on the back that provide great ventilation and can easily be removed for cord management, and has plenty of space inside for media equipment.

The kitchen cabinetry by A Handmade Home is the definition of quality and has great features, including small cookbook niches so all your favorite recipes are at your fingertips.

The Hollywood coffee table by Studio Roeper had a beautiful brass inlay and an unbelievable finish. Keep all of these artists in mind for you next project. It’s not as expensive as you might think to get custom furniture and the quality and detail is unmatched.

Next up, the rugs from Della Robia. Check out all the plush patterns and any combination of colors can be ordered. The roses rug was especially showstopping. It's like walking on a masterpiece!

The Modern Parenting Zone featured some clever children's products like this bunk bed from Color and Life. It had smart storage built into the staircase and a large drawer to store bedding. Other products reflected more of a sophisticated look, like the desk from Duc Duc with a very kid friendly surface and say goodbye to the Disney princess bedsheets and opt for bedding from Boodalee. It's cheerful and age appropriate, but still designed with a stylish parent in mind.


Wallter has a new product on the market I hadn't seen yet. We all know and love the paintable, stickable shapes they introduced a few years ago for walls. Now, they have mobiles where you can adjust the shapes along the cord and customize the look.

Last, but not least, check out this clever stool from Go.Lo.Gor.Sky.Studio (Try to say that 3 times fast!) Flip the stool on different sides to create different surfaces. One way it's a rocker, the other way it's a stable seat with a backrest, and the other side allows it to be used as a small end table. Available in red and white, also.