Tamara Codor FURNITURE DESIGN
Some of the most innovative, beautiful, contemporary furniture designs are not mass produced, seen in design showrooms or retail stores. These works of art that happen to be furniture are developed by furniture designers who work with specialty crafts people to realize their own designs. INSTUDIO Design Directors were thrilled when they reviewed a portfolio [...]
The Art of Caryne Havican-Mender
Miami artist Caryne Havican-Mender creates artifacts pulled from the urban landscape. She finds discarded man-made objects in abandoned houses, junkyards, and flea markets and allows the viewer to re-discover the discarded in her works of art providing hints of traditional art subject matter such as landscapes, as well as contemporary abstract works. The art is [...]
INSTUDIO Directs Design at MISSION PICTURES
The unassuming vine covered building at 1500 Seventeenth Street on the northwest corner of Arkansas looks plain on the outside but it is the home to three creative businesses. Buddy Rhodes is an artist and the innovative design force for concrete products. INSTUDIO Design Directors/Artists develop their ideas for art and interior design projects. MISSION [...]
In a Pipe Wrench, the Artist Sees a Table
Artist, craftsmen and furniture designers contact the INSTUDIO Design Directors with their new products. Jonathan Niemuth refers to himself as “creative” because he encompasses art, craft and design in his varied work. Creative people have the vision to see beyond what things are to what they can be. In big red pipe wrenches Jonathan saw a [...]
Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park
San Francisco Design Directors Samuel Lewis and Stephen Kladder of INSTUDIO while visiting Grand Rapids, Michigan over the holiday break spent an afternoon at the Frederick Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. Recognized as one of the finest sculpture parks in the country and named one of the top 30 must-see museums in the world by [...]
Create Gold and Silver Glittered Pinecones
Nature provides perfect holiday decorations from majestic pine trees. Natural pine cones remind us of the season and add sculptural beauty to any style of interior design and décor. While the Design Directors of INSTUDIO think that “gilding the lily” would be a bad idea, they think that glittering the pinecone might be a good [...]
Charlie Brown Trees Get Holiday Bling
The Design Directors of INSTUDIO give a new look to holiday décor. Relying on their artistic nature, they recycle craft and style fallen tree branches into surprising Charlie Brown style trees. Gold and silver are foundation colors that can accent the design of any room. The golden tree is a branch that is first spray [...]
Atmospheric Paintings add Splendor to Decor
Selecting art that you enjoy is one of the best ways to bring your personal style and taste into your decor. INSTUDIO interior Design Directors recently accompanied clients to San Francisco’s Naval Shipyard for Open Artists’ Studios in the quest to acquire art for their home. Seeing where art is created, meeting artist and viewing [...]
You’ve Got Style!
The Design Directors of INSTUDIO often hear from clients when we ask them what their style is that they have no style. Not true! Everyone has their own style; they simply may not know how to translate it into their interior spaces. Everyone dresses themselves in a manner that suits them (their style). We all [...]
Artists are Opening their Studios
Year round artists are busy creating interesting works of art behind closed doors in lofts, warehouses, garages, basements, spare bedrooms, workrooms and anyplace that they call a studio. In San Francisco, Fall means “Open Studios”. INSTUDIO Design Directors look forward to this time of year because they can see new work by both well known [...]
INTERIOR DESIGN QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Design Plus Consignment Gallery & the Interior Design Directors of INSTUDIO come together to present a free public discussion and demonstration of creative interior design solutions for the home. Design Plus offers a plethora of gently used home furnishings, art and accessories. Match your design style whatever it is with items from Design Plus and [...]
Get off the Chair & Design your Room
October already and before you know it the holidays will be here. Family and friends will soon be knocking at your door. Now is the time to spiff up your interiors with a little paint, some wallpaper, a new rug, hardwood floors, tile, crown molding, a new furniture arrangement, new window treatments, and maybe some [...]
STILL HERE an exhibit by the 3.9 Art Collective
3.9 Art Collective was founded by African American artist in San Francisco after it was recently discovered that according to the 2010 census the African American population in San Francisco has declined to 3.9%. Is being an African American that lives in San Francisco a revolutionary act? STILL HERE is the collective’s inaugural exhibit that [...]
CULTURE, COMPOSITION, COLOR & COMFORT
Why does Buddha seem so serene? Is it secrets of relaxation and meditation? Is it the placement on a dark polished wood chest? Is it the warm glow of the lighting? Or does the juxtaposition of the abstract art beyond Buddha create a calming vignette that pleases the eye? These questions and many more will [...]
Africa inspires Samuel Fleming Lewis
INSTUDIO interior Design Directors are both artists and interior designers. Recently Samuel Fleming Lewis created twelve new linoleum block prints. Graphic patterns from African tribal textiles and wood carvings have long been an influence in his art. Samuel was first introduced to carving linoleum for prints in a high school art class. He often returns [...]
Contemplating New Interior Design?
Interior Design is more than just moving your furniture into a room and expecting it to reflect how you live and your personal style. How the furniture is arranged determines not only how the room is used but how we interact with family friends and pets. This is where a good furniture plan overrides design [...]
Be a Design Rebel with a Cause
Developing personal interior design style can be a rebellious act in that it takes strength of character to ignore design trends to create rooms that reflect who you are. Finding your style requires looking at furniture, art, lighting & accessories from various sources. While the internet and established furniture stores can provide foundation furnishings what [...]
Going Minimal
Made popular by Joseph D’Urso of New York City minimalist interiors made a statement in the 1970′s, and continues to be a noted interior design solution. Minimalism works great for lofts, small spaces and when you don’t have (or want) a lot of stuff. It keeps the look clean, and if done right, very interesting. [...]
It’s Abstract
Abstract art gives you glimpses. It frees the viewer to imagine, ponder and wonder. The black & white painting titled “Floppy Remorse” by artist Stephen Kladder is just such an abstract work of art. One can discern some text: but what does it say? Images can also be discerned, but what are they exactly? It [...]
FIT… Contemporary Sculpture or Lounge Chair?
Office furniture manufacturers often develop innovative products that could easily be included in residential design and décor. These pieces are seldom seen by residential consumers or designers because they are usually marketed to architects and business designers. INSTUDIO interior design directors noticed a window display at the Kimball Office showroom in San Francisco’s Financial District [...]
DESIGN PLUS CONSIGNMENT GALLERY
What happens to beautiful stylish well cared for furniture, accessories and lighting when a change in design style demands new furnishings or perhaps your existing pieces won’t blend within the new décor of a room? They go to a home furnishings consignment store like Design Plus that offers a responsible option for someone else to [...]
The art of trompe l’oeil in interior design
An imaginary window or view, a perspective that makes a room seem larger, additional people birds or animals in a room, realistic architectural elements painted on a wall, a realistic painted deck of playing cards that appear to be sitting on the table are all examples of trompe l’oeil. French for ‘deceive the eye’ the [...]
Experience Architecture & Design at the Museum
Furniture Design, Textile Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design & Lighting Design can usually be found at Museums of contemporary art. Curators of Architecture and Design focus their progressive thinking on practices across all design disciplines. Museums act as a time capsule for what was contemporary decades ago and what is considered cutting edge design today. [...]
Shelving Style
Shelving; you gotta have it. But, it doesn’t have to be mundane, it can make a statement. The Design Directors at INSTUDIO discovered some great wall systems by Flexform. They are distinctive, interesting, have great form, and most importantly, get the job done. Display, storage of items you need at your fingertips and a place [...]
