Each week, Lifework is gifted with eclectic selection of new music from our artistic and creative contributors. And part of that gift involves asking each contributor to add “one more song” to his or her working playlist. Slide into your most comfortable chair, as graphic artist Christopher David Ryan might with his Eames Lounge Chair above, and take a listen to their newest additions.
Artistic, innovative, and observant, Ray Eames was a saver and collector of things that inspired her — and needed those things to surround her as she worked, as evidenced by her desk at the Eames Office (above, shot in 1976). Get a glimpse at several spaces that take a page out of Ray’s book and showcase the many items that motivate their occupants during the workday. Read more
The founders of London-based Industrial Facility, designers Sam Hecht and Kim Colin round out the final week of the Why Design series on Herman Miller. Explore how the design duo makes the connection between design, daily life, and the environments we inhabit. Innovation, form, and good old common sense abound among these Six Ways to Sam Hecht and Kim Colin.
Take a look at what we’ve been reading on the Web over the last week.
1. “What It Was Like to Work for Charles and Ray Eames” at the Atlantic.
2. The tour of Lotta Jansdotter’s Brooklyn studio at decor8.
3. More from Brooklyn: the chic Steele Residence designed by RES4 via Minimalissimo.
4. This compact Garden House in Holland — which would make a striking home-office option — covered by Dwell.
5. 10 Spectacular Herman Miller Chairs, as compiled by Decoist.
6. “The Rise of…the Artisanal Cubicle” from Businessweek.
7. The thoughtful selection of furnishings (which includes several Magis Air-Chairs) in a Portuguese villa spotted by freshome.
8. This post on a whimsical set of invisible bookends by designer Paul Cocksedge at Dezeen.
9. The Wired article, “Getting Back to Doing: In Conversation With Industrial Designer Yves Béhar.”
10. The impressive list of sustainable systems included in the Seattle-based Capitol Hill Residence by Balance Associates Architects via Contemporist.
In above photo: Eames Hang-It-All
From his Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn-based studio, Thomas Piper Jr. balances a multitude of roles: singer, songwriter, producer, photographer, cinematographer, and director. Take a look at how his home office — the headquarters of his creative venture, The People’s Republic of Sound — is evolving into a space that accommodates his complete artistic vision. Read more
Whether you have only visited New York City, live there now, or have left it behind, nutritionist Rebecca Baust’s blog The Daily Muse is a sublime way to connect and reconnect with living and well-being in the Big Apple. She explores the cityscape and its lifestyle — sometimes with her husband Ed and their curly-haired Labradoodle Sam Wiggins — all the while sharing delectable ways to stay on the healthy side of city living. We get in on her delectable listening habits in this week’s Playlist.
It’s easy to notice the charm, wit, and sly playfulness behind the work of Andrew Neyer — so it’s no surprise that his signature aesthetic should also make an appearance in his Cincinnati-based home office. Take a tour of the designer, art director, and illustrator’s bright, inspired space, a combination of clean lines, pops of color, attitude, and, quite fittingly, seating by Charles and Ray Eames. Read more
Over the past 40 years, the fresh, energetic look of Herman Miller’s image and identity has been the providence of creative director Steve Frykholm. From promotional pieces to annual reports to his legendary picnic posters, his design now resides in collections and museums around the world. Catch up with the innovator in week seven of the Why Design series and below with our Six Ways to Steve Frykholm.
Here’s a glimpse at what’s been on our reading lists this week.
1. This before-and-after look at a full home renovation (check out those kitchen chairs) at Design Sponge.
2. This article about design and innovation by Continuum’s Gianfranco Zaccai — subject of one of our recent “Why Design” videos — at Co.Design.
3. Dwell and City Modern’s recent tour of Brooklyn homes.
4. This smile-inducing photo at the Be Inspired Tumblr.
5. The home of Italian architects Marcello and Maria Pia Zappador spotted at emmas designblogg.
6. Inc’s advice on how to stay inspired at work.
7. 10 emerging architecture firms to watch, per Flavorwire.
8. Artist Junya Ishigami’s helium-filled Cuboid Balloon in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo (via The Fox Is Black).
9. Contemporary Taiwanese style showcased at Freshome.
10. The amazingly playful concept of an “urban moon bounce” across the Seine in Paris via Architzer.
In above photo: Eames Aluminum Group Executive Chair, Nelson Pedestal Table, Eames Sofa, and Eames Elliptical Table.
Driven by a mission to make sustainable design accessible, architect, designer, and eco advocate Michelle Kaufmann is someone who is making a real difference. Awarded for her green home design principles and often credited for helping pioneer the green prefab category, Michelle and her firm specialize in sustainable lifestyle design for single family homes, eco-luxury resorts, and multi-family communities. In addition, she consults with builders, developers, and architecture firms on sustainability and prefabrication, most recently with Google. Here, “the Henry Ford of green homes” (as she’s been called by the Sierra Club) tells us, in her words, about her background, her commitment to finding sustainable solutions, and the studio space she’s thoughtfully created along with her team in San Francisco. Read more