Home Work

sharing both space and function

The kind of trends I get excited about are lifestyle trends, how we behave, what is driving our behavior and how that translates into how we use space.   Home work and the spaces we work in are in the midst of change, expanding the possibilities of their meanings.

The concept and format of a study or home office, has evolved over the last few years.   Not so long ago our computers were relegated primarily to preform work tasks and for the most part fixed in a single (wired) location.   With the proliferation of lap tops, tablets and smart phones, we now work almost everywhere in our homes.  In addition our devises and connectivity are used for much more then work.   A great number of us now look to our devises and the Internet, for personal and business communications, entertainment, social networking and for hosting digital storage from music to photographs, and more.   Those whose primary work place is in the home may want a dedicated space or room.  But often these spaces are more elastic in their functional performance, bridging all our technological streams in a seamless manner.   

In our projects we address technology + place everyday.  Project photos here show both devoted and nomadic applications for home work.    

holiday house desk with room for two

sofa desk landing spot

spinning study

conventional desk with new work sofa 

inspiration at a glance collage white board

meeting both actual and virtual

Bespoke Case Pieces

In our highly customized interiors we typically design much of the furniture to exacting dimensions. Finishes that are fully integrated into the interior design colour and material palette, create a refined layered harmony.   Beyond the aesthetic value of these pieces they are precisely suited to our clients functional needs and scaled to harmonize with the interior proportions of the space they occupy.  The bespoke case pieces we create for clients are one of a kind and of heirloom quality.   Pictured here are an assortment of RBI designed unique case pieces, which exhibit the luxury of craftsmanship and materiality. 

"My style is a constant search for simplicity, elegance and quality"

-Karl Springer.

Various case pieces photos above;  custom walnut tray table, whittled bedside chest with custom bronze hardware + legs, custom walnut sofa credenza with bronze top, custom sofa table/desk oak with leather wrapped top.  Various case piece photos below; all walnut, drawer chest, x-base table and console table.

Dark oak + Tabu veneer desk with bronze base + custom hardware

In an RBI London dining room whittled walnut credenzas + standing framed mirror 

Various case piece photos above; custom bedside chest Tabu veneers with tray top + custom nickel hardware, custom bleached oak dressing table + pivoting mirror, custom oak case highboy with leather wrapped doors + custom bronze pulls.  Various case piece photos below; custom white lacquer hall cabinet (after Neal Small), custom cocktail table Tabu veneer, custom dining table and storage cabinet black coffee oak.

Feeling Faint

Various RBI bedroom vignettes that include a chaise longue.

One of our favourite types of lounge seating has to be the chaise longue (long chair).  We've used them in many of our projects and in a number of styles.  For me they always speak of a kind of pampered luxury.   A little sanctuary from modern life and all it's frenetic activity. They definitely recall a more genteel time.  But I think this graceful symbol of indulgent relaxation, can be part of our time as well.  The NYT's magazine recently included " A Short History of the Fainting Couch; we've long needed a place to lounge".   I certainly agree.  

A Short History of the Fainting Couch

RBI bath sitting room with twin chaise longue.

Master Editor

D'Urso swivel chairs

Lately I've been rediscovering the work of Joseph D'Urso.  In the seventies when I first saw his work for Calvin Klein, it had all the fresh promise of a new american design direction.     Following in the footsteps of his internship with Ward Bennett,  U'rso showed us not only a new minimalism, but also a deductive design process that reflected contemporary urban lifestyle.   His furniture remains highly relevant today, in our quest for simple fully realized design pieces. They are luxurious in materiality and present a thoughtful ideal about living well, with less.  

We used two of his wonderful low profile swivel chairs for Knoll, in a Whistler chalet games room (pictured above), upholstered in a Knoll Luxe wool.   Out of production pieces can be found on the secondary furniture market.  He was interviewed in the (1981) Parsons school of Design New Freedom series, about his design sensibilities.  

D'Urso coffee table

D'Urso high racetrack table

D'Urso deep sofa

"If one isn't careful," says Joe D'Urso, "one ends up living in a storeroom".

Making It

At RBI our desire is to provide furniture that is beautifully designed and crafted, which will be admired by it's owners over a long and useful lifetime.  Holly Hunt is  the  design centric house with just such a pedigreed offering.  We used the HH Siren chair here, paired with a RBI custom designed walnut starburst dining top supported on a polished chrome drum. 

The Siren chair from Holly Hunt Studio seems to have decidedly mid-century design roots, with style and craftsmanship that transcend time.

Holly Hunt Studio, Siren Chair

Holly Hunt Studio furniture and lighting collections encompass minimalism, eclecticism, and a blend of modern with traditional references.  These distinct and time enduring designs have a strong presence.  Drawing inspiration from the old + primitive, to the new + modern, each piece is built with great attention to subtle detail and proportion.  This Holly Hunt video shows the craftsmanship that goes into the making of each Siren chair.

Mirror Mirror

Following the history of interiors train of thought from my last post, and the longevity of so many original concepts;  Dressing tables originated in eighteenth century France (think Marquise De Pompadour), then called 'table de toilette'.  Like so much of the new convenience furniture of that day, they were purpose built for specifically designated spaces and activities.   They lost favour in the latter part of the 20th century, but have since come back into fashion, as part of the civilized ritual of dressing and preparing for the day/night ahead.   In our modern world these purposeful tools, create graceful service. I'm a firm believer that such elegance should be brought to all aspects, of the act of living. 

In her book, Geography of Home (writings on where we live), Akiko Busch writes, 'A dressing room is a place to indulge one's fancies and compose one's soul'.  Pictured here, various RBI dressing room vignettes.

Tropical Punch

Earlier this month I was in Punta Mita Mexico to install the principle rooms in our clients tropical resort home.  We had designed the beautiful exterior living spaces a couple of years ago.  The architectural style of the home is Balinese , with the main living space open on two sides and covered by a generous palapa roof.  Furnishing this gathering space, we elected to use a mix of outdoor lounge furniture facilitating a very casual lifestyle, that does not distinguish between indoor and out.  All of the fabrics, materials and even the floor lamps are 'weather + water resistant'.  The various furniture styles, art and artifacts give the space a sophisticated curated feel, belying it's practicality. 

Patricia Urquiola Crinoline chairs recall the design of classic rattan peacock chairs, and provide a delicate screen against the adjacent garden room, defining the sitting area.

This proved to be one of our more dramatic installations.  With hurricane Jova making it's way toward us and reports of severe weather expected; we had to clear the rooms shortly after they were complete.  I took a couple of record photos (here) and hoped for the best as we headed to the airport.  Fortunately Jova did not pack the predicted punch, +  we'll complete our install later this winter; in what will be more typically perfect weather conditions. 

Windows On The World

Warren Platner, limited production chair, for Steelcase 1970s

I was in New York last week, it's a trip I make a least once a year to get a fix of pure urbanity.  This year marks the tenth anniversary of the tragic destruction of the World Trade towers, and had me thinking of that time before, NYC (and the world) was forever changed.  Like those halcyon days when Waren Platner's mastery created the iconic Windows on the World restaurant (occupying the entire 107th floor of the north tower).  HIs breakout (1977) design  is forever recorded in my visual memory. The attention to detail was all encompassing, every element had intent and was part of the whole.  Like the towers, it had a tremendous effect on my sense (and the possibilities) of built environments.  

Windows is likely the most know of Platner's interior design projects, and his sensuous series of seating and tables for Knoll, the most celebrated.  We were very fortunate to find one of his (out of production) chairs for Steelcase to incorporate in a Palm Springs residence. The chair (pictured above) is rakishly handsome, and epitomizes many hallmarks of his work.  Boldly modern, yet reminiscent of a beauty we had already known. 

Warren Platner for Knoll 1966

In mermory of life, love and beauty lost.

American artist Robert Indiana's, LOVE 1966 

Who's Who

Designing this resort home was much more ad-libbed than scripted. The style direction from the outset was to be retro inspired, but fresh and modern in it's manifestation.  We sourced all of the vintage furniture + artifacts in California.  Finding the majority of them in Palm Springs, and filling in the gaps, on 1stdibs.  With new fabrics and some refreshing of finishes everything looks like it just came off the showroom floor.    

There are so many wonderful pieces, each with their own provenance: Living room, wall sculpture and floor lamp by Curtis Jere. Credenza by Karl Springer.  Lounge chairs by Milo Baughman + Warren Platner. Dining room, vintage table from Brueton, with chairs by Milo Baughman, vintage Murano glass collection on lucite/glass shelving unit.  Den, chest by Steve Chase, antique Balinese day bed, vintage white Italian ceramics. 

Master bath, wall sculpture by Curtis Jere.  Master bedroom, pony chaise by Le Corbusier, side table Charles Hollis Jones, vintage lucite desk with Mies Brno chair, bedside tables by Brian Cox, vintage lucite chandelier (unknown).  All snapshots taken during our June install, the custom rug and outstanding bits, will all be in place for the fall season.

Cloud 9

Perched high above the city, this expansive master suite is a peaceful sanctuary of tranquility.  We Selected luxurious materials and custom designed almost all of the furniture, to visually and literally quiet the space.  Hard surfaces are kept to a minimum, casegoods have leather wrapped drawer fronts, a tailored wool carpet covers the floor, and the entire room (at the touch of a button) is surrounded by voluminous silk drapery.  Both the drapery and custom bed dressings are fabricated in Jim Thompson silks.  Desaturated neutrals create a tonal cocoon that is soothing to the eye and mandated to be soft to the touch.  Free standing lighting by Maison Liaigre  and Porta Romana.  Cashmere throws from, Holland + Sherry.

Cocoon; "Something that envelops or surrounds in a protective or comforting way."

Deep Roots

When I was studying interior design in the late 1970s, one of the most influential designers of the time was Ward Bennett.  His pared down furniture and interiors relied on strength of form, and the intrinsic beauty of materials.  He presented a view of minimalism that was comfortable and luxurious.  I've always naturally gravitated to his work, as much now as I did over 30 years ago.  We used his Sled chair (1963) in this dressing area for it's quiet honest elegance.  Just classic, no twist.

Scissor Chair 1980s

 A number of his furniture pieces remain in production, and are manufactured by Geiger International. 

Survival Of The Fittest

As designers we are faced daily with the proposition of selecting furniture, from a seemingly endless offering.  Accessible technologies have facilitated the rapid 'concept to market' proliferation of new product,  feeding our design hungry culture.  Only time will tell if these 'current' designs have visual and functional endurance.  A chair that has maintained it's position via natural selection, is Eero Saarinen's executive chair.  Getting full marks in both comfort and beauty, as much today as when it was introduced in 1957.  We paired these enduring sculptural chairs with a bronze based artisan table, in this light filled breakfast room. 

Saarinen executive chair 1957