Friday, December 26, 2008

12 tips to keep Your Sofa Looking New

Regular Maintenance for all sofas:

1. Every week, you should use your upholstery or drape attachment to vacuum the sofa. This includes underneath the cushions, where abrasives such as crumbs, loose change and dust accumulates. These can mar the fabric.
2. The fabric should be professionally cleaned once a year. Depending on the fabric, you may want to have a stain repellent reapplied to the surface.
3. Clean all the surfaces at the same time, including both sides of the cushions and the back and sides of the sofa. You want all the fabric to get the same treatment so it wears evenly.
4. If something is spilled, blot first. Do not rub. Also, don’t use harsh detergents or soaps until you know the fabric can handle them.
5. Keep your sofa away from direct heat and even air conditioning. It can cause the joints to dry out, causing the sofa to squeak and creak.
6. Don’t let anyone sit on the arms or let your children jump on the sofa. It will cause a lot of wear very quickly.
7. Sunlight is the enemy of color and fabrics. It will cause the color to fade unevenly over time and weaken the fabrics. Even leather can be adversely affected by sunlight and heat, causing it to become brittle and crack.
8. Never pull on a loose thread. Tie them off and trim the loose ends with scissors.
9. Try to use all parts of the sofa. Even if you have a favorite seat, try to use the others as well. That way the fabrics on the cushions will wear evenly. And be sure to flip the cushions regularly, even weekly, to promote even wear.
10. Over time, perspiration and oils from your skin and hair will affect the finish of leather. Be sure to wipe heavy contact areas regularly to remove these oils.
11. Don’t leave newspapers on the surface of your sofa. The ink can bleed and stain the fabric permanently.
12. Don’t let guests sit on light colored sofas wearing new jeans that haven’t been washed yet. The dyes can bleed and stain the fabric permanently.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

sofa-bernard-chair


sofa-bernard-chair, originalmente cargada por montillarafael.

Product Description

Bellino-modern armchair


Very few sofas can claim modern minimalist design and comfort as well. Our Bellino armchair can! Our take on this Modernist sofa is a testament to our commitment "form follows function". Designed around a simple geometry, its studied proportions can accommodate the human body in the best way possible. The result is a desirable combination of form and comfort. The depth of the seat along with the gentle angling of the backrest and the low frame is a great combination for any living room or office space.The lines of this Bellino armchair are so pure and so perfect that there appears to be no start or finish to them. A single line simply swings back and forth to form the seating area, armrest and back. The steel crossed chromed legs echo the lines of this modern armchair, creating a cohesive connection between the Bellino armchair and the rest of the living space.An excellent option for a living room set when single or paired is combined witht our Bellino three seater sofa.


sofas-large Image


sofas-large Image, originalmente cargada por montillarafael.

Product Description

Looking like it should fill the concourses of a Swedish airport, this wonderful sofa's clean design and flawless form harkens to the golden age of travel when travelers used to wear their best suits and dresses aboard planes winging their way across the continent. Don't let looks deceive you too much, however. Underneath the nostalgic exterior are the finest modern design and production techniques available. The result: A timeless classic that is as enduring as it is endearing.


BernardTree SeaterLG


BernardTree SeaterLG, originalmente cargada por montillarafael.

Product Description If there were a sofa that could be described as "swank," this would be it. For you lexiconographers out there, "swank" means chic, elegance by virtue of being fashionable. See what we mean? With its clean, low lines and elegant style, this sofa is the epitome of chic sophistication. Two large, overstuffed pillows provide plenty of comfort, as does the plushly padded seat cusion. Strong, yet minimalist legs provide lots of support.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Lowseat sofa

Lowseat sofa
Fifty years from now, you`ll probably be sitting on this very same sofa in a spaceport, waiting for your flight to the moon. But why wait, this stunning sofa is available from us right now. This modern sofa is one of the leading and most sought after designs today. The style is hard to categorize, but it definitely does not conform to prevailing fashion trends as you can see. Add this to your domestic landscape and no one will be able to say that your tastes are blase or the least bit mundane.
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Ferrara Modern Bed - Bedroom Furniture

Ferrara Modern Bed - Bedroom Furniture
Fashion has changed so much in the last 100 years. Beds ` Still locked in the dimly lit Victorian era. Even in this modern world, color options are still few and far between: dark wood, light wood, black lacquer, cherry. What are all the fashion-forward folks supposed to do` Live with these various shades of ho-hum` We think not. We think the bedrooms can be a little more colorful than they are. If there is a fashion statement in the world, our Red Bed is it. There`s absolutely nothing blase about this bed. It`s brash and it`s red. Supported by a stout, yet light oak base, the Red Bed will welcome you every evening, relishing the fact that you`re as bold in life as it is in repose. Available also just the fabric cover in red or white for an additional $150.

Ferrara Modern Bed - Bedroom Furniture

Ferrara Modern Bed - Bedroom Furniture
Fashion has changed so much in the last 100 years. Beds ` Still locked in the dimly lit Victorian era. Even in this modern world, color options are still few and far between: dark wood, light wood, black lacquer, cherry. What are all the fashion-forward folks supposed to do` Live with these various shades of ho-hum` We think not. We think the bedrooms can be a little more colorful than they are. If there is a fashion statement in the world, our Red Bed is it. There`s absolutely nothing blase about this bed. It`s brash and it`s red. Supported by a stout, yet light oak base, the Red Bed will welcome you every evening, relishing the fact that you`re as bold in life as it is in repose. Available also just the fabric cover in red or white for an additional $150.
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Parisien Queen Bed


Parisien Queen Bed
Wow! Where does one start with this divine sleeping experience? Once you are entranced by its architectural symmetry, superb construction and thoughtful design, you may never look forward to going to work again. In addition to the rakish headboard with it`s grooved horizontal lines, the bed features two built in night tables that seem to float in the air, leaving room for your slippers or an unfinished best seller underneath.
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A Sofa for All Occasions


It’s no secret that the sofa is one of the most important pieces of furniture you can have in your home. It is the focal point of entertainment, communication, relaxation and even sleep.

Depending on your choices in design, a sofa can handle any or all of these duties with aplomb. To help you make an informed choice, we’ve boiled down the endless selection of styles and types into six main sofa styles.

Traditional

Whether you call it a couch or a sofa, most people associate this style with the word “sofas.” It is usually a single piece of furniture without any additional sections or features, such as a fold out sleeper or built in recliners. The upside is that a traditional sofa usually costs less than one with bells and whistles. It is also a lot less heavy, so you can move it more easily than other sofa styles.

Sleeper Sofa

On the outside, they look much like their traditional counterparts. It’s what’s on the inside that makes them different. Lift off the cushions and there’s a bed, ready to go. Typically, traditional sofas have a queen-sized sleeper while loveseats are twin-sized.

Of course, a sleeper sofa isn’t the most comfortable solution for your guests, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on how long you want your guests to stay. In addition, sleeper sofas are very heavy, so if you ever want to move it, especially up or down a flight of stairs, you’d better have a lot of good friends.

Convertible Sofas

Like their sleeper sofa counterparts, a convertible sofa is a good solution for the occasional overnight guest. With a convertible sofa, the whole sofa becomes a bed. There’s no internal mechanism. You simply pull out the cushions and they become the entire bed. One of the advantages of the convertible sofa is its ease of set up.

Recliner Sofas

Recliner sofas are traditional sofas with a twist – one or more seats in the sofa recline. The mechanism allows the user to sit upright, partially reclined or fully reclined.

Sectional Sofas

Sectional sofas are a great invention. They allow you to have a larger sofa without having to figure out how to get it into your home. The sections are manageable in size and many models of sectional sofas allow you to mix and match the pieces, so you can create a fresh look without having to buy another piece of living room furniture.

Home Theater Sofas

Similar to sectionals and recliners, home theater sofas offer movie and TV buffs convenient additions such as cup holders, slots for the TV Guide, and space to put your remote controls. Many models also have individual armrests, just like a movie theater.

As you can see, there’s something for everyone when choosing a sofa for your home. Whether you’re looking for a sofa that is a bit more traditional or one that caters to your plugged in lifestyle, there are sofas for all occasions.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

New Products for Miami Beach Life Style Furniture!


KMP Furniture is an online Furniture store Located in Miami City South Florida, our showroom is in 6444 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33138. We have free shipping to all these cities: Aventura, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Biscayne Park, Coral Gables, Doral, El Portal, Florida City, Golden Beach, Indian Creek Village, Key Biscayne, Miami, Miami Beach, Miami Gardens, Miami Shores Village, Miami Springs, North Bay Village, North Miami, North Miami Beach, Pinecrest, South Miami, Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, Sweetwater, Virginia Gardens, West Miami, Weston. Our professional interior designers will help you to choose the right furniture to fit any room in your home. You can have a modern lifestyle home with very good prices. South Florida Furniture lifestyle.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Modern Furniture Collection

Most people adapt new furniture to their Living Room not only to have fun with their family but also to their freinds, KMP collection of comfortable and high quality (colors and textures) sofas will add a unique modern design to your living room. Come and see our sofas, sectional sofa, chairs, ottomans, leather sofas, sofa bed, modern sofas, sectional sofa, sleeper sofa, sofa couch, sofa loveseat, corner sofa bed, modern sofa bed, double sofa bed.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Patricia Urquiola


Storming into the field of big names in architecture and interior design, Spanish born designer, Patricia Urquiola, decided her vocation in life at age 12.

“At that young age, I liked the idea of creative work with rigor”, she says.

Patricia Urquiola has certainly applied herself with rigor in the modern design world, and in her own words, was ‘professionally re-born’ in Italy where she is now based. Virtually unknown in Spain, she has crafted a substantial career in Milan working with key figures in the Milanese design fraternity including Magistretti and Castiglioni, who helped blossom her talent.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Naoto Fukasawa



Industrial is the new contemporary. Today, the world of electronics has taken on a distinct, minimalist look and feel. Cell phones, PDA’s, and desktop computers have become more industrialized with design functionality. Very few people have any idea of the mind behind such sleek, spareness. The next time you dial up a song on your iPod, or make a call on your iPhone, you may want to thank Naoto Fukasawa.

Fukasawa is a Japanese industrial designer born in Yamanashi, Japan in 1956. He graduated from Tama Art University in 1980. He lacks the fame of Jonathan Ive of Apple, but many believe Naoto Fukasawa to be the real influence behind those ubiquitous Apple products. In today’s world, modern product design is as much of a business strategy as any other, in fact it has become more important than most. Fukasawa, based in Tokyo, is credited by A-list designers of Intel, Hewlett-Packard, and Apple for the inspiration for sleek elegance. Linar Design’s Principal Ken Wood admits that Fukasawa inspired the Apple Powerbook design that in many ways began the notebook revolution.

A Fukasawa design creates dialogue. One of his famed creations is a humidifier that resembles a Krispy Kreme donut, without the cream. His philosophy is to create “without thought.” He explained this concept in an interview with Business Week in 2007, "When we walk and take steps on the ground, we sense and choose the surface for each step. But this is more about our subconscious response," he continues. "However, being subconscious does not mean to be without thinking. It means that our brain may not be conscious about something, but parts of our body such as hands and legs recognize the environments and react to the situations or to things." read more

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

For Ultimate Luxury – Go Underground

African hotel

African safari vacation usually means a stay in a colonial, plantation-style hotel, or perhaps in a resort set in the treetops. Now, the Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge is taking luxury South African accommodation where it has never gone before – underground. Located on a private game reserve featuring 3 more “traditional” accommodation options, the Earth Lodge has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa. The totally-unique design of this 13-suite hotel is actually sculpted into the side of a hill, making it almost invisible on the surface. However, amazing delights await the visitor beneath the ground.

sabi sabi lounge

Upon arrival, guests walk down into the earth through a hidden corridor and emerge to an amazing vista of the bushland laid out before them. The hotel itself is an irresistible blend of rustic materials and modern design, using texture, light and space to create a soothing, pampering environment, including wooden sculptures by Geoffrey Armstrong, a renowned local artist. Each suite boasts individually designed furniture, a private plunge pool, an indoor outdoor shower, and a circular, stone soaking tub in a private bathroom with glass-fronted views of the surrounding Sabi Sabi reserve. The only downside? The hotel is so incredible; you may never want to leave for your (included) wildlife safari!

Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve

arquiitectonica

Proving Good Design is no longer just for the rich, the City by the Bay is bracing for a massive influx of affordable housing, located right in the middle of San Francisco’s famous Mission District. Arquitectonica, an award-winning architectural firm based in Miami, is going cross-country to create Trinity Place, an enormous, six building, 1,900-unit residential complex that will be the largest apartment development in San Francisco since the years after World War II. One third of those units will either be priced below the going market rates or rent-controlled. – bringing the sublime experience of living in a home designed by a top architect to the masses.

The six glass, concrete and silver metal buildings will be arranged around a central courtyard, which will serve as both a place to interact and a “green lung” providing light and air for the complex’s interior-facing units. The diagonal rooflines will not only add a designer touch, but a practical one as well – they will help to maximize sunlight in the development’s open spaces. Other artistic touches include window openings that are recessed to create shadows and vertical metal fins. It promises to be a welcome new addition to the San Francisco skyline – especially for the hundreds of lower-income individuals and families who will enjoy a rare taste of the good life.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Brad Pitt’s Shopping Spree


By the time you read this, Angelina Jolie may have finally ended the media speculation and popped those twins out, but it seems her equally-gorgeous partner is the one who’s nesting. Pitt was spotted picking up a few items – likely for the growing family’s new pad in the South of France – at the Design Miami/Basel event in Basel, Switzerland. And while most dads-to-be concentrate on the staples like cribs, changing tables and rocking chairs, Pitt’s spree had a decidedly modernist twist. And a price tag that could probably put his soon-to-be brood of six through college – twice.

Pitt started with an appropriate choice for a man with a houseful of kids – a pair of lamps representing a family by Atelier van Lieshout. The lamps are made of foam and reinforced fiberglass, so they’re not only good design, they may also be baby safe! The perpetual Sexiest Man Alive also scored a pair of Ron Arad chairs from New York’s Sebastian + Barquet, and a rug from New York’s Cristina Grajales that retails for a whopping $175 a square foot, possibly because it’s woven from aluminum thread. The piece de resistance, however, was Dutch Designer Jeroen Verhoeven’s Rococo-style coffee table fashioned from hollow white marble. The cost of this creation – supplied by London’s Carpenter’s Workshop Gallery? A whopping $293,000.

Monday, June 16, 2008

The Newest Bathroom Must-Have

Glass block is so eighties. Bare walls are…well…bare. If you’re looking for this year’s must-have bathroom accessory, it’s time to hit the internet and track down your very own illuminated bathroom screen. The screen design is somewhat ornate, but the fact that it glows from within makes it oh-so-modern. No wonder these screens have been the talk of the recent design shows and blogs, usually appearing alongside an equally fabulous transparent bathtub. The downside? These beautiful bathtub screens can’t possibly be cheap, as they’re designed and manufactured by London based designer Jona Hoad.

Hoad specializes in creating and manufacturing unusual lighting products for luxury hotels and restaurants, along with yachts (yes, yachts are actually a Jona Hoad specialty) and other luxury residences. His Catherine Wheel ceiling light, combining the reflective qualities of mirror with detailed laser etching, recently captured an award, and his color-changing (at the touch of a button, no less), illuminated DeVigne Bar and London’s Mandeville Hotel has also garnered plenty of positive press. So while his bathroom screens may be pricey, if you absolutely must have a Hoed in your home you can be sure they’ll only increase in value. Today, they’re an internet sensation – tomorrow, they may be a classic.

Modern Accommodation on the Cheap

If you’re up for a new kind of travel adventure, and happen to be in or around the Austrian city of Linz, check out the Dasparkhotel. But only if you don’t mind minimalism at it’s most minimal. Created by designer Andreas Strauus, each room in the hotel is actually a repurposed, two meter-long concrete drain pipe. Within each pipe-slash-room is enough headroom to stand up, along with a double bed, storage for your luggage, light, power, a warm woolen blanket for those chilly nights and a light cotton sleeping bag. Other hotel services like toilets, showers, a café and a minibar are located nearby on the premises – although not within your own personal drainpipe space.

The hotel’s website describes their unique take on accommodation as a “temporary comfortable uncomplicated home for a certain time.” Apparently, how long you stay is up to you. And amazingly, so is how much you pay. In keeping with the hippy-dippy, egalitarian spirit of inviting people to sleep in a drainpipe, Dasparkhotel also invites their guests to pay whatever they see fit for the experience. So at the very least, it’s definitely a bargain. The hotel is only open from May through October, and while it may not be your personal dream vacation ideal, it’s definitely worth at least a drive-by!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Classy Trends in Chandeliers


Chandeliers are often seem as being a bit stuffy. Something the well-to-do hang in their soaring entryways or in the ballroom of their home. Glitzy and glorious, they feature cascading crystals and gilded gold that exude wealth and status. But, today’s homeowners can still enjoy the beauty of these classic lighting fixtures without going to the poor house in the process. There is virtually a chandelier for every budget and taste these days.

Contemporary Options While traditional chandeliers are heavy and heavy looking – made of wrought iron and lead crystals – contemporary chandeliers are much lighter. Made of aluminum, these beauties are lightweights in terms of weight and corresponding price. Thanks to new advances in design and materials, you don’t have to pay for raw materials that aren’t seen or needed for strength or support. One of the great things about these contemporary chandeliers is that they go with a wide range of styles, from traditional to modern. Let’s face it. It’s hard to match an overly ornate gold and crystal chandelier with a modern furniture grouping. They go together about as well as peanut butter and Swiss cheese. Eschewing complex designs, contemporary chandeliers get their beauty through intriguing and innovative design concepts. But don’t think these chandeliers are blasé. Hardly. They instantly draw the visitor’s eye while adding superior lighting design to any space in your home. Thinking Small is Big These Days Not all chandeliers are monstrosities that require a crane to install. Mini chandeliers are really popular these days and fit into smaller spaces than their full-sized counterparts. Minis are particularly well suited for hallways and open spaces where a full sized chandelier would look silly. Thanks to their smaller size, they’re also easy for any homeowner to install. If you’ve mastered a ceiling lighting fixture or a ceiling fan, a mini chandelier is a snap to add to your home. The process is virtually the same and they can usually be installed without the need for additional support or bracing in the ceiling.

Monday, June 9, 2008

How about… creating the perfect dining room all year round!!!


For many of us, growing up meant family dinners in the dining room where everyone shared his or her day with one another.
My how times have changed. Today, busy families find little time to gather at the dinner table. And the formal dining room in many homes is relegated to special occasions and holidays.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. With a little thought and some creativity, you can convert this little used space into a place where the family spends a lot of their time, doing homework, working on school projects and just hanging out talking.
Before you start your dining room project, you want to take an inventory of your existing furnishings, accents, accessories and décor. Often, it’s easy to simply swap around some things in your home to create an entirely new living space.
Of course, the dining room table is the focal point of the room and it obviously guidesmost of your decisions. Like other rooms, decorating usually starts with the focal point of the room and everything flows from the dominant piece. In this case, it’s the dining room table and chairs.
Flexibility is key in selecting the right table and chairs. Unless you plan to use this space just once a year, you want to choose a table that suits your personal tastes and which has the ideal seating arrangement. For instance, if you have a family of four and don’t entertain often, you can opt for a smaller table and add other furnishings to the room, such as a buffet or china cabinet to use for storing games and craft items.
If you entertain occasionally or often, you may want to get a table with leaves. That way, you can expand the table easily to handle larger dinner parties, and then shrink the table back to its more intimate size for daily use.
Taller dining room tables are very popular these days. Not only do they make the room look less formal, but they’re the ideal place to play board games, work on school projects or enjoy an evening of poker with friends. When it comes to selecting furnishings and decorating, professional designers agree on one thing. There are no rules these days. Rooms are empty spaces waiting to be filled with the inspiration, beauty, energy and personality you bring to them.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t some basic guidelines you should follow. For example, your dining room should still look like it’s part of your home. It should have complementary color schemes, styles and woods. Contemporary fabrics can breathe new life into heirloom furnishings. And tired tables can be rejuvenated with a new layer of stain or varnish.
If you have the budget for new furnishings, you have endless options. Dark finishes tend to support a more formal dining look while oval and round tables finished in lighter stains are more informal. Be sure that the table has enough room for your guests to be comfortable so they’re not bumping elbows constantly. If you have small children, stain resistant seat fabrics will pay for themselves in a very short time.
Surprisingly, your chairs don’t even have to match one another these days. You can create an eclectic dining area by mixing and matching different designs of chairs or different colors. Be careful in doing this, since you don’t want your dining room to look like the circus is in town. Rely on your sense of taste and you should be O.K. When in doubt, ask your family or friends for their opinions before you plunk down a lot of dough on chairs that will just end up in a garage sale six months from now.
Once you have the dining room table and chairs it’s time to finish the rest of the room. Obviously, the walls deserve some attention before you add any other furniture to the space. Choose paint or wallpaper that sets the room off yet which complements the rest of the home. If you have dominant artwork in mind, you may want to choose colors that will work well with it. Before you paint, it’s a good time to add any new sconces or other wall lighting that will require some electrical work. No need messing up a great looking paint or papering job after the fact.
Now you’re ready to add the other elements to the room. Depending on the space available, this may include a china cabinet, hutch, sideboard or buffet. If you don’t have room around the table for all the chairs you have, you may want to factor that into your space planning. Chairs against the wall take up space and you don’t want the room to look crowded.
Finally, don’t forget the little things that make a dining room an inviting place to be. You want to add personal touches to the space. If you’re using a sideboard or buffet, consider adding candlesticks and some family photos. If you have a spectacular serving piece, consider using it as the focal point as well. When you’re not using it for entertaining, it can serve as a piece of art.
Like the rest of the spaces in your home, your dining room should reflect your personality and tastes. Make it an inviting place to eat, relax, entertain and work and you’ll find that this once empty space will soon be overflowing with good times with family and friends.

David M. Schwarz



It was only a turn of fate that David M. Schwarz became an architect at all. Having started his own practice (in his own words “too early”), with little success, he realized his dream of becoming an architect was as good as over and had all but given up hope. However, a chance encounter with a friend gave him an ‘eleventh hour’ second chance, when he was offered a project by the friends’ boyfriend. His career is now considered remarkable, and his architectural practice is established having received awards from a wide range of organizations, including the American Institute of Architects and the Art Deco Society of Washington.
Prior to this success, Mr. Schwarz received his B.A. at St. John's College in Annapolis, MD, and Master of Architecture at Yale University. He also earned a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Science from Humboldt State University. As founder and CEO of David M Schwarz Architectural Services, Inc., Washington, DC and Fort Worth, TX, he now has over thirteen years of design, planning and landscape construction success.
"...It really is being exacting in your principles and sticking to them, even when it’s hard, that makes it possible to have real success”, explains David.
His environmental sciences background is a key in the development of site-specific landscapes that involve slope and soil stabilization, habitat restoration, and new vegetative management. His strength lies in his ability to focus on developing spaces that are artistic, suited to the client’s needs, and responsive to the surrounding environment.
Perhaps his most iconic project, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center of Nashville is personification of Schwarz’s signature style, being wonderfully classic, with a modern twist.
In describing his philosophy of design, Schwarz explains, “Our architecture is what would have happened if modernism hadn’t happened. But modernism did happen”.
''We set out to create what we call the appropriate neoclassicism for 21st century Nashville,'' says Schwarz ''The building and all its details are a lot less serious, a lot lighter, a lot friendlier, a lot less imposing than straightforward neoclassicism from, say, the 19th or early 20th centuries.''
One of the more interesting features of the 197,000 square-foot, 1,872-seat concert hall is the enormous amount of indirect daylight. Not normally found in performance spaces, after touring concert halls worldwide, in particular Vienna's Musikverein, Schwarz decided natural light was an important element to include in the interior. Innovative features include a convertible seating system designed to give the hall unique versatility.
Schwarz describes Schermerhorn as “the most classically inspired building we’ve ever done’’
Another classic design with incredible scope and utilization of space is the Dr Pepper Ballpark. Following its construction in 2003, the Dr Pepper Ballpark received the Texas Construction award for Best Architectural Design for 2003 and the surrounding sports complex received the Best Sports and Entertainment award.
Schwarz had a stated goal of creating a "park within a (ball)park" in the stadium. Nine interconnected pavilions, where concessions, restrooms, and luxury suites are located, are built separately from the main seating area.
The concourse area, between the pavilions and the seating area, wraps completely around the ballpark featuring 360-degree views.
His Disney's Wide World of Sports complex features "Florida Picturesque" architecture, with tall towers and seemingly endless archways in the field house and baseball stadium.
Other projects include the Tarrant County Family Law Center which is historically suggestive in design, and the Bass Hall critically acclaimed as "the last great hall built this century”, and voted by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the Top 10 best opera houses in the world.
Within his firm, Schwarz’s primary responsibility is that of director of design. In this capacity, he leads, orchestrates and reviews the design process of all the firm’s projects. . He is frequently asked to create unique, custom furniture to complement the firm’s interiors. Fine detailing, rich materials and a high level of craft identify Schwarz’s furniture projects, which have ranged from the straightforward, such as a highly-detailed, inlaid buffet of arts and crafts inspiration with an imaginative and protective floating glass top; to the technically adept, such as an art deco-inspired oval loggia table. The table can be folded in half lengthwise to be set against the wall and contains custom fabricated hinges and a device which automatically centers the half-top over the base, allowing the tabletop to convert between full oval and half-oval without sacrificing center of gravity. He has also explored modern elements in furniture design, such as a custom freestanding medicine cabinet and stool of stainless steel and glass. The variety and range in style, inspiration and material realize his vision, regardless of scope or scale.
Schwarz is committed to teaching and, participating at university level and lecturing to the public. He currently serves as Chairman of the Dean’s Council for the Yale School of
Architecture, and serves on the Board of Overseers for the Corcoran Gallery of Art, located in Washington, DC.

Coop Himmelblau



Coop Himmelblau is a cooperative architectural design firm which was located in Vienna Austria. This award winning post-modernist group of creatives was founded by Wolf Prix, and Helmut Swiczinsky. These architects are very famous for partaking in the 1988 exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art called “Deconstrucitvist Architecture.” That show, which is now three decades old change the way we view commercial and residential architectural projects and the post modernist influence of this cooperative dots landscapes all over the world.
Coop Himmelblau now also maintains offices in Los Angeles in the U.S. and in Guadalajara, Mexico. The name means “heaven construction” in German and in English translates to mean “sky blue.” The coop is not like “chicken coop” but rather the abbreviation for the work cooperative.
If the building seems crooked, twisted or missing a few beams or if it seems a bit out of perspective or balancing magically with no support than it is probably is designed by someone from Coop Himmelblau or by someone who has been influenced by Wolf Prix, Michael Holzer or Helmut Swiczinsky.
A very famous building is the UFA-Palaste in Dresden which looks like a giant pointed quartz crystal extending out of the side of the building. The construction is made of hundreds of facets of window paned glass and looks like it is naturally growing out of the building.
Yet another very famous piece of architecture designed by the Coop Himmelblau is the Gasometer building in Vienna, which looks like a thin, bent stick of gum with balconies running up the side. It is one of the narrowest buildings in the world.
Another signature building is the Groninger Museum in the Netherlands, which has a beautiful deconstructed roof. It literally looks like a bomb has dropped on top of the building and the beams fixed together in an artistic jumble.
This team of famous designers has been together for a good part of the last century. Wolf Dieter Prix was born in 1942 in Vienna. Helmut Swiczinsky was born in 1944 in Poznan, Poland. They formed Co-op Himmelblau in Vienna in 1968 as an alternative and creative approach to architecture.
The sketeches that the buildings are created from are very free form and are intended to be gestural and free from the restrictions of formalism. The intent is creating open minded free spaces that are undefined, interesting and complex.
From out of this process came a trend for designing buildings that are almost entirely made out of panes of glass. A very good example of this is the Skygarden building in their hometown of Vienna which is 25 stories of leveled glass. Along with experimenting with the look of glass the cooperative has also been experimenting with the passive heat and cooling systems that can be developed for a building that has such a façade. Another reason for paying attention to this element has been to develop “gardens in the sky” that can be cultivated by humans who before this time in history had to be happy residing in dwellings on the ground. The concept behind the firm named Himmelblua is to literally uplift mankind into the sky with the use of architecture.
If the firm is known for anything it is also its theoretical process of designing buildings. Everything that manifests from Coop Himmelblau begins with many long conversations that re eventually transformed into drawings. Coop Himmelblau is so famous just for it’s concepts that sometimes simply the plans for a project are exhibited at a famous gallery museum.
This team has won many awards including two American Architecture Awards for the Chicago Athenaeum in Illinois and the Akron Art Museum in Ohio.
One of the most interesting things about this firm is that their vision is still creative yet it has never changed. The influence of Coop Himmelblau is absolutely seminal and their designs are taught as a primer in basic deconstructivism in every university or college that is devoted to design in the world.

A bedroom that looks and feels good



Is your bedroom an inviting oasis of relaxation? Or does it look more like a storage unit, a veritable wasteland of clutter, dirty clothes, dirty dishes and kid’s toys.
If your room is the latter and you’re finding it increasingly more difficult to find the bed when it’s time for bed, you may want to consider giving your bedroom a well-deserved makeover.
With just a few changes, some hard decision making and some tough love, you can transform you bedroom into everything you ever dreamed it should be. And it’s easier than you think.
Start with the basics First, your bedroom is not a storage facility. If things in the room do not contribute to relaxation, enhance the beauty, add space or provide some entertainment, get rid of it. Pack it up, move it to another room or put it in the garage or trash. If you like to watch a little television before calling it a night, consider getting an armoire to hide it away when it’s not in use. If you’re an avid reader, make sure your nightstands have a drawer so you can put your book or magazine away, along with your glasses. If you love the latest fashions, add more dressers, wardrobes and a closet organizer to the room. Finally, get a hamper for the dirty clothes so you’re not tempted to leave them wherever they fall. As they say, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.”
Add furniture to the mix, Now that your room is clear of clutter, it’s time to add beauty and charm to the space. Start by looking at your furnishings. Do they have the same style or at least complement one another? Are there pieces that should be moved out to make way for others? Does the style of your furniture match your tastes? For example, if you have a love of modern or contemporary furnishings, why do you continue to hold on to that monster of an oak four-poster? Creating a cohesive or at least complementary look is essential to promoting relaxation and a sound sleep. As you review your bedroom’s needs, consider the space you have to work with as well. If you are in desperate need of another dresser, do you really need the California King or can you do with a Queen bed instead? This is not the time to be in denial. Once a piece of furniture is purchased, it tends to stay with you for a long time, so you want to choose carefully and deliberately. Nothing is more maddening than creating a bedroom retreat where the furniture is so big you can’t make it to the bathroom without stubbing a toe or cracking an elbow.
Think of your future storage needs The old adage, “stuff expands to fill the space available” is certainly true in the bedroom. Fashions change seasonally and what’s hot now may not be next year. So clothing and footwear seems to multiply as the years pass, even though storage remains the same. Here’s a couple ways to gain space in your bedroom without knocking out a wall or doing a major remodel. First, choose furniture that offers maximum storage. A platform bed with space or drawers underneath provides a surprising amount of additional storage without adding to the overall furniture footprint. The same is true with dressers. A nightstand with drawers is a better choice than one with a single open shelf. Several highboys take up the same space as a low dresser, but offer two to three times the space. The same is true of a lingerie chest. A shoulder height lingerie chest offers more storage than a Queen Anne dresser for your unmentionables.
When you’re evaluating the space you need to store your clothing, don’t ever think you have enough. It’s far better to have a few nearly empty drawers for a few years than to have drawers so tightly packed that you have to struggle to get them open in the morning. Nothing puts the damper on a day than getting a black eye from a bra strap that got caught on the back of an overstuffed drawer.
Don’t go it alone – ask an expert A well-designed bedroom doesn’t happen by accident. If you’re not comfortable with doing it yourself, there are lots of good resources out there. The Internet has sites devoted entirely to the subject of interior and bedroom design. Another good source is a reputable furniture retailer. Because they deal with design, style and fashion at every turn, these experts can help you create a bedroom that meets your needs perfectly. They can also provide you with good advice about colors, materials and fabrics so you can mix and match with ease and confidence.