Modern Design Blog

Dress up Your Modern Home for Valentine’s Day

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways…in modern design!

When it comes to style, the bold colors of this romantic holiday are quite inspirational and what better way to put us in the spirit of Valentine’s Day than to look at some seasonal modern designs! Here’s a collection of furniture and accessories I found to celebrate this loving holiday.

Via NOTCOT
Via Apartment Therapy
Via Trendir
Via CB2

Mary Jurek Design: Timeless Tableware

Aside from the bathroom, I think it’s safe to say that in most homes the kitchen is the hardest working room. Where there’s a kitchen, there’s food and where there’s food, there’s people! Just as with any other room in the home, adding décor can be the easiest and most effective way to add style. If you’re looking to add a chic design to your tabletop, take a look at the refreshing collection of hand-hammered stainless steel tableware by Mary Jurek Design. Not only is her array of handmade bowls, serving dishes, trays, and tableware accessories unique, but each are dishwasher-safe and eco-friendly.

Mary Jurek, founder of Mary Jurek Design, started on this successful business venture in 1998 after winning a number of international awards for her jewelry and watch collections. Her stunning designs have been featured within a number of prestigious company collections including Tiffany and Co., Cartier, and Piaget, among others. Mary's "old world meets modern day" style translates to a timeless collection that anyone would enjoy in their home.

“In designing my tableware, I set out with a clear goal in mind – to unite imagination with craftsmanship, and inject artistic value into the most common expressions of everyday living”
– Mary Jurek, Founder

Wine Racks: The Gift That’s Always in Style

Last weekend I went to the Boston Wine Expo for my second year in a row and I couldn’t believe the enormous crowd that attended! For me, the idea of traveling the world of vineyards in one afternoon is amazing and I couldn’t have asked for a better event. Even though I’ve had my fair share of wine, I began to really appreciate the work and expertise behind making each bottle when I lived in Spain for six months. For them, wine is just as important as the food. Gustavo, one of the Chilean wine reps at the Expo couldn’t have had a better response when I asked what his favorite wine at the table was: “Your choice of wine depends on the food, the mood, and the company.”

Wine is a beautiful thing and it never goes out of style which is why adding in a unique wine rack for your kitchen or bar area is a smart investment. I know I’ve touched on the topic of wine racks before but I felt the need to highlight a new collection that I pulled together. Cheers!

Knot Wine Rack, $110


Wave Wine Rack, $58


Crate & Barrel Shesham Wine Rack, $24.95

Passing the Time with Modern Clocks

As much as we don’t like to admit it, time really does control our lives. Whether you choose to measure your life by the time spent with loved ones, by the number of vacations you take, or by a countless number of different standards, it’s safe to say that we all depend on time in some way. Now that that’s settled, why not measure our time in the way we choose with a stylish, modern clock on our wall or mantle? Dwell featured a fabulous slideshow of modern timepieces that are perfect for modernizing your home in the most classic way.

How do you measure your life?

Museum of Modern Art Online Store, $50
Alessi Blow Up Clock, $220

Extra Normal Clock, $210

Vitra Asterisk Clock by George Nelson, $299

Swiss Ski Chalet Designs Meets Modern Architecture

It’s been a while since I’ve fully enjoyed myself during a New Year’s Eve celebration. Since I live in a young area of the city and work at a company filled with energetic twenty-somethings, there’s always been talk of the latest open bar special or New Year’s party. Don’t get me wrong – I love to go out and have a good time, but I just can’t justify the fact that I’m going to be spending over $100 just to get in some bar that I could go to any other weekend night for free. Once that idea was settled in my mind, I was beyond excited to hear that one of my best friends was offered a ski house for the week of New Year’s. Once I got the call, all I heard in my mind were the words "road trip", "Vermont", "skiing", "fireplace", and "ski village bars". Done and done.

Since I went to college in northern Vermont, I’ve always held a soft spot for the bitterly cold state. There’s just something about being tucked away in a chilly ski chalet in the high hills of Vermont and sipping wine by the fire. Needless to say, our New Year’s was a blast. Just a few friends around the overrated holiday were all I needed. That very trip inspired me to do a little research on swanky ski chalets partly for my blog and partly for my own real estate fantasy. After a little digging, I came across a gorgeous modern home in San Francisco that was designed by John Hans Ostwald, a European architect that was born in Berlin and educated in Austria. Shortly after World War II, Ostwald ventured to the United States and created a unique architectural portfolio like no other. Architect Walter Thomas Brooks once described Ostwald’s ingenious work and explained how the Vienna educated architect “married the Swiss chalet architecture with modern architecture”. Modern homes designed by Ostwald carry a unique and complex floor plan which often includes exposed beams, exaggerated wraparound decks, pyramidal roofs, spiral staircases, and freestanding fireplaces. Could you see yourself living in an Ostwald home?

Cool Your Computer Off With a Designer Laptop Pillow

If we were asked what three things we can’t live without, I’m willing to bet that 90% of people would say their computer. There have been very few days that have gone by where I don’t log on to my laptop to check bills, emails, weather, shopping sites, and whatever else I feel like exploring that day. Unfortunately, most nights when I choose to play around with my computer while watching TV or flipping through a magazine, I’m forced to place it back on my desk within 15 minutes since the intense heat coming from my laptop gets too uncomfortable for me to stand!

Now there’s a solution for overheating laps and laptop computers from Intelligent Forms Design Inc. (iF). The Log Pillow is constructed of natural fiber fabrics which includes hemp canvas and organic cotton. Within the Log Pillow design, buckwheat hulls are used for padding and insulation, protecting you from the strong heat that can develop after using your computer. Aside from the creative design, iF’s pillow provides an elevated foundation for your laptop to rest on top of allowing you to work comfortably for extended periods of time. The days of overheating are now over!

Now at a new price! $56 (CAD $69)

Boston’s Boylston St. Apple Store

Unfortunately my iPod has started to die after three years (is that normal?). It’s come to the point where it just won’t hold the charge for more than 15 minutes and I’ve already been faced with the fearful battery/lightning symbol across my screen. I think I felt even worse when I pulled it out of my purse and the Apple guy greets me with: “Ohhh, you have THIS iPod. Wow I haven’t seen one of these in a long time!” Ok buddy, its 3 years old; it isn’t ancient. Although, who am I kidding? I’m standing in one of the most innovative stores in the world in terms of technology where the most exciting gadgets and gizmos get cranked out every few months!

After spending some time picking out a new iPod for myself, I realized that I never even blogged about the new building that houses these amazing toys! Boston’s Boylston Street opened a new Apple store and the architecture is truly incredible. On the store’s Opening Day, I remember walking past it on my lunch break and was amazed by the immense crowd camped out in front of the newly attached glass doors. The three-story glass building along with the central glass spiral staircase is a sight to see and will impress you just as much as the products inside.

HGTV’s Masculine Bathroom Makeover

Everyone has their guilty pleasures when it comes to TV whether it is the Food Network Challenge, MTV’s The Hills, or any other program out there. For me, I can always count on HGTV to satisfy my craving for interior design and I strongly suggest you give this network a go if you haven’t already. On their website, I found a featured bathroom that underwent an amazing, modern transformation complete with updated fixtures, a shower enclosure, a bold pair of bathroom mirrors, and a chic storage unit that will keep this space looking decorative. Since we’ve taken the plunge to make our bathroom better, I thought this would serve as a great guide to apply to our homes!

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