Ingo Maurer

Ingo Maurer is one of my favorite artists/lighting designers. I want to share with you some of his creations. I know his fixtures are not for everyone...both style wise and price point...but I feel they are worth sharing for their wonderful creative, artistic and inspiring aspects. His website is very fun so take time to check it out. www.ingo-maurer.com

I hope you enjoy!

How fun is this light fixture?!

Zettel'z 5, by Ingo Maurer is just one of his many creations. It consists of 31 pre-printed love letters in many languages written on Japanese notepaper and comes with 49 blank sheets that invite the owner to participate in the creativity. The chandelier will shed direct and diffused light, depending on the different paper layers. A heat resistant, frosted glass bulb

cover protects the design from high temperatures.

Who is Ingo Maurer? German-born, Ingo is one of the most influential and respected artist/designers working today. Fascinated by what he calls the "magical and mystical" properties of light. Maurer has received a number of renowned design awards. Since 1966 he has created more than 150 different lights and lighting systems, and designed lighting for international venues, including fashion runways, public buildings and monuments, and private commissions. His fixtures demonstrate that lighting can be highly creative, dazzling in concept, minimalist in detail and provocative in it's humor and reaction.

Porca Miseria, by Ingo Maurer, is by far my favorite!! It's an amazing combination of beauty, creativity, danger and edginess. I would love to see this one in person! It looks random, yet it's precisely choreographed like a ballet. Ingo created it after attending a famous furniture show in Milan and found too many designs that were "slick and design-conscious". Porca Miseria was developed partly as a kind of revolt against that tendency and partly for his admiration of slow-motion film explosions. It's produced in limited quantities...only 10 made in a year. It takes 4 people almost 5 days to create. According to Ingo the dishes are purchased at a regular shop and then dropped, smashed and broken with a hammer. Another reason I love this fixture is the name, Porca Miseria is an Italian curse. Interestingly I loved this fixture before learning just how rebellious it is!

Close up showing the detail involved in creating a Porca Miseria fixture

Oh.Mei.Ma, by Ingo Maurer. Constructed of six sheets of handmade paper coated with either gold or silver leaf (shown).

Birds, Birds, Birds, by Ingo Maurer, is an impressive work of art that shows Ingo's humor. A substantial chandelier with 24 unique low voltage bulbs adorned with goose feather wings, all attached to wires that can be turned, twisted and stretched in every direction. Measures 48" diameter x 75"H.

Fly Candle Fly, by Ingo Maurer, appears to levitate in mid air. Simple yet extremely impactful when used alone or in a grouping! Consists of a wax candle, extension wire, drip-catcher. Burns for approx. 20 hours and self-extinguishes.

Inexpensive Artwork

Who says art has to be behind glass or painted on a canvas? An inexpensive way to create

large, bold artwork is to wrap fabric around a canvas. It's simple! The canvas shown above is 36"w x 48"h and was purchased at Meininger's (a local art supply store) for $50.00. This size canvas takes only 1.5 yards of fabric. Wrap fabric tightly around canvas and simply staple along the back of the frame. Below are some fun options by Marimekko.

This is one of my favorite Marimekko fabrics for wrapping a canvas to create artwork.

It's funky, unique, a bright pop of color and best of all.....your neighbor is probably not

going to have the same thing!

Marimekko Kevatjuhia Fabric

Marimekko Kirsikka Fabric

Marimekko Kaivo Fabric

Marimekko Lokki Fabric

Marimekko Lumimarja Fabric

Marimekko Ro Fabric

Marimekko Hevoskastanja Fabric

Marimekko Fokus Fabric

all fabrics shown can be purchased at

www.marimekkomiami.com

Marimekko concept store in Miami

Several Marimekko products are now available online at www.marimekkomiami.com For me the fabrics are the most exciting part (see above post) because there has been a limited amount available within the states. For those of you not familiar with the name Marimekko you would probably recognize most of their signature patterns. Marimekko is a Finnish company founded in 1951 by Armi Ratia, a visionary textile designer. From the beginning it was a company made by women for women. Starting with a small collection of clothing and eventually growing into much more. Marimekko has become a respected name in the design world and is synonymous with all that is modern, chic and sophisticated. Today Marimekko even produces ready made items for Crate & Barrel and H&M.

wallpaper makes a huge statement

Wallpaper has gotten a bad name because of past over use...layer upon layer to be exact and of course who can forget the dreadful removal. Well wallpaper has come a long way. It's no longer scary! It's fun, exciting and fresh! With the new adhesives and quality papers it's actually easy...yes, easy to put up and take down. So why not break out of the typical design mold and instead add color and pattern to your space with wallpaper? With today's large scaled patterns and unique surfaces such as sand, glass & metal you can use wallpaper on just one wall for a huge impact. The same impact can not be achieved with paint alone! I've shown bright colors and large patterns but there are many beautiful monochromatic papers as well as textural papers such as grass cloth that will equally create an impact when used correctly. Wallpaper offers endless creative & unique design opportunities!

Stages 45" stainless steel kitchen sink by Kohler

This is for the serious cook! Includes a large, deep basin for cleaning large pots & pans, a stepped platform for cleaning produce or drying dishes, but the best part is the wide range of accessories that are included; walnut cutting board, 6 prep bowls, flip tray, utensil tray & accessory storage rack. Even I wouldn't mind cooking with this sink and a Viking stove! For more info. go to www.kohler.com

Iron/Occasions Island Sink by Kohler

seamless one-piece surface & integrated basin made of cast iron, this island is both sleek & durable. Kohler's cast iron is 93% recycled and reclaimed material. For more info. go to www.kohler.com

Karbon - articulating deck-mount faucet by Kohler

Designed with multiple, movable joints which can be extend fully to fill large pots or lower into sink for food preparation. Even if you aren't a cook you will love this faucet for style! Wall mount available as well. For more info. and available finishes go to www.kohler.com