Treasure Hunting

A few weeks ago, SMMS Design joined Catskill Coydog Vintage in hunting for treasure. It was the first time, for the SM in SMMS, to hunt for vintage pieces for the Brooklyn Flea. CCV is pulling together some fantastic pieces for their growing clientele. Lessons learned:

1) there's a lot of stuff on display so give everything a second look

2) consider the piece in context, most treasures are sitting amongst a whole lot of furniture so try and single it out away from the clutter

3) not everything is as it seems, think about repurposing the item into a new function

4) bring a friend, this way you have another perspective and more ideas, plus you'll need help getting that treasure chest back home

LIKE Catskill Coydog Vintage on Facebook to see all their new treasures.
Even better, if you're in Brooklyn stop by their booth to get some booty!

It's beginning to look alot like...

We've officially had our first snowfall and that's sign enough the holidays are upon us. The busy elves at SMMS Design have been hard at work creating beautiful new jewelry just in time for the gift giving season. All our new pieces are sparkling and frosted and ready for purchase.

 Join us at the 4th Annual Craft Show on Saturday, November 17th, 2012 from 10am-4pm
George G. White Middle School

120 Magnolia Avenue

Hillsdale, NJ 07642

We'll be sharing a table with our good friends at Lil' Chick Jewelry

Hope to see you there!

London Design Festival

First staged in 2003, the London Design Festival is one of the world's most important annual design events. The Festival program is made up of over 300 events and exhibitions staged by hundreds of partner organizations across the design spectrum and from around the world. This year the festival is from September 14-23, with events and venues all throughout the great city of London. Marketplaces such as 100% Design, exhibits, gallery shows and interactive public installations are some of the fascinating events happening throughout the festival. For a complete itinerary of events click here to download a PDF of the 2012 Guide. 

BE OPEN Sound Portal arrives in the Square, Trafalgar Square, 19-23 September

This September sees the arrival of the BE OPEN Sound Portal in Trafalgar Square as part of the tenth anniversary of the London Design Festival 2012.  Situated within one of London’s most iconic public spaces, the BE OPEN Sound Portal is an entirely new kind of installation that focuses on the design that you can’t see – that of acoustics and sound – rather than visual spectacle.

An alien black, rubberized structure will be home to finely-tuned audio technologies aimed at delivering pure acoustic experiences to visitors in the middle of Trafalgar Square - one of the busiest and aurally chaotic environments in London.

Every day, the BE OPEN Sound Portal will host one of five leading musicians and sound artists, each of whom has been specially commissioned to create a unique soundscape. Expect a range of vibrant sonic and musical responses, from the dramatic sounds of the natural world, such as glaciers breaking up, to exquisitely detailed electronic music.  Cocooned from the external noise and bustle of the city, the BE OPEN Sound Portal allows visitors to experience a very different environment, one created by sound alone.

Yesterday's launch of the BE OPEN Sound Portal was made even more spectacular by the appearance of a flashmob orchestra! While there may not be an orchestra loitering when you drop by (who knows though, this is London after all), the ingenious audio installation is now open so do make sure you pay a visit to Trafalgar Square.

Vermont Antique Trip

SMMS went on a picking adventure in Vermont and New Hampshire recently. We unearthed many items for our stock collection plus "in-high demand" goods to be sold at the Brooklyn Flea. Here are a few of our pictures from the trip including our amazing finds.

Makeup cases are handy on so many levels. Whether on a bathroom counter housing jewelry or displayed nicely in a stack of multiples.

People are often intimidated by a rewiring project, what we say to that is, "You can wire a cheese grater!" In this case, we are able to take apart this bud lamp to create three individual pendant lights by using new vintage-looking fabric wrapped cord. In the end, these will be stunning anywhere they hang.

NeoCon Think BIG

From Steelcase to Wolf-Gordon, many of Architecture and Interior Design's most influential companies unveiled new products and new concepts at NeoCon 2012, June 11-13. The three-day trade show at Chicago's Merchandise Mart drew tens of thousands from national design and architecture firms to see the latest products.

NeoCon is the only place to see thousands of new product launches from industry heavy hitters all under one roof. Attendees at the show were the first to see innovative, next generation products and resources from more than 700 of the world’s top furnishings manufacturers for commercial office, residential, healthcare, hospitality, institutional and government design environments. Products spanned a wide range of categories including: architectural products, artwork and accessories, building products and services, fabric, floor coverings, furnishings, kitchen and bath, lighting, outdoor furniture, stone and tile, sustainable design products, technology, textiles and wall coverings.

NeoCon 2012, Chicago’s contract and design trade-show, brought an influx of creativity and design to the Merchandise Mart. The first major art installation of its kind was a temporary, site-specific sculpture titled “Escalator Canopy” that hung above the 1st to 2nd floor escalator. The 30-foot 1,380-pound sculpture is surfaced in a selection of over 500 yards of Wolf-Gordon upholstery textiles, wall-coverings, and mirrors.

Adirondack Antiquing

Last week's adventure took us to the Adirondack Park, upstate New York, where antiquing is prime. We found an amazing auction house operating out of an old barn, pictured below, and had fun van camping at beautiful Lake George. It seemed that lighting was the theme as we unearthed a Victorian doll lamp, several mid-century table lamps (that always do well for sale) and a few +80 year old brass standing lamps which will need our expert rewiring. All these amazing finds will make their way to the Brooklyn Flea next week.

International Contemporary Furniture Fair

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair was hosted in NYC, May 19-22. North America’s premier showcase for contemporary design, the ICFF annually lures those in determined pursuit of design’s timely truths and latest trends to an encyclopedic exhibition of up-to-the-moment offerings, as well as a series of fascinating, fun, edifying programs, and a packed schedule of exhibits and features.

This year, the eighth edition of the designboom mart held at the ICFF in new york presents 35 designers, from almost as many countries, who are introducing their new products to the marketplace for the first time. The designboom mart is a unique interactive platform for emerging and established designers to test their new ideas. Over the years, many talents have been discovered during their participation in the exhibition, and have gone on to become industry celebrities. As part of the cultural program of the ICFF, visitors have the opportunity to meet with the young avant-garde, and become familiar with their work, getting a first-hand chance to talk and discuss the wares on show with the creators themselves.You can see, touch, hear about and purchase many intelligent, useful and quirky items for a symbolic price.

Brimfield Antiques Show

This May SMMS was proud to participate in the Brimfield Antiques Show.  We showcased and sold our vintage home decor with great success!  SO WHAT IS THE BRIMFIELD SHOW? Only the largest outdoor antique show in the world, held since 1959 in Brimfield, Massachusetts, with thousands of dealers attending!  Brimfield is an easy 1-hour ride west of Boston with millions attending over the course of the event. We had buyers who shipped our rewired Victorian lighting to Japan and helped our customers furnish their homes and businesses with unique period pieces. 

 

Impossible Conversations worth joining

Straight from the MET's exhibition website on view 5.10-8.19.2012

 'The Met's Spring 2012 Costume Institute exhibition, Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations, explores the striking affinities between Elsa Schiaparelli and Miuccia Prada, two Italian designers from different eras. Inspired by Miguel Covarrubias's "Impossible Interviews" for Vanity Fair in the 1930s, the exhibition features orchestrated conversations between these iconic women to suggest new readings of their most innovative work. Iconic ensembles are presented with videos of simulated conversations between Schiaparelli and Prada directed by Baz Luhrmann, focusing on how both women explore similar themes in their work through very different approaches.'

To watch all the Impossible Conversations click here!

Talking with the Paskack Junior Woman's Club

This past Wednesday evening, SMMS Design was pleased to be invited to give a talk to The GFWC Paskack Junior Woman's Club, at the Park Ridge Community Center. The presentation was entitled “The Design Process: Inspiration!”, in which we discussed where inspiration comes from, how to tip it into action and specifically how to translate it in terms of interior design. Many people have creative and inspired ideas, but fail to create models or solutions from those ideas. We hope to show people how they can try out different design methods to achieve their desired goals.
The presentation ended with a great Q&A session and a take-away gift bag full of inspirational tips, was given to each lucky attendee. Creativity in design has to do with challenging and experimenting with the conventional and it usually leads to positive and inventive restyling. For more information about the Club, meetings, and events, please visit www.paskackjuniors.org

Architectural Digest Home Show

NYC’s Pier 94 played host to the 2012 Architectural Digest Home Design Show that ended its run on March 25^th.  The design themes bordered mainly on kitchen and bath aesthetics as well intricately compiled furniture and handcrafted collectibles. It was a wonderland of infinitely conceptualized ideas brilliantly brought to life  with the help of an imposing background and a lively crowd.

click here to read Architectural Digest's Review

Finnish textile, decor, and apparel brand Marimekko created an installation for the DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) DINING BY DESIGN event in New York. The event unites talent from the realms of fashion, interior design, art, and architecture to create impressive dining environments.

Save a seat for Alice, the Mad Hatter & March Hare

Fittingly titled Color Therapy, Marimekko's tablescape exhibition showcases the exuberant colors and mesmerizing patterns the design house is known for. Inspired by the way bold colors and patterns can seamlessly fit into the everyday lives of people, the Marimekko team used fabric patchwork techniques to pack in a dizzying assortment of beautiful textiles.

www.brooklynflea.com

Our success at the Brooklyn Flea this weekend was marvelous.  We'll be back at it again the last weekend of March, or the beginning of April.  April is when the venue changes to The Fort Greene flagship location on Saturdays, a 40,000-square-foot schoolyard at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and the East River Waterfront Location on Sundays, located between North 6th and North 7th Streets just south of East River State Park.

 

They gave us a nice write up as well:
click here to read it!

The Brooklyn Flea

An off shoot of SMMS Design called Quarry Road Vintage will be showcasing our antique goods at "The Flea" on March 10th and 11th.  This markets site is housed at the former Williamsburg Savings Bank.  It's worth a visit just to see the gorgeous landmark interior.  There are more than 100 vendors that line the former teller windows on the ground floor, secret rooms on the upstairs mezzanine, and the original bank vault on the lower level. Some of our hand picked items are shown here and come from the many farm houses and estates in the beautiful Hudson Valley. 

Saturday + Sunday 10am-5pm - 1 Hanson Place (at Ashland Pl.) Fort Greene NY

IDS12: Interior Design Show Jan.26-29, 2012 Toronto

Last Thursday along with Jake, Catskill Coydogs Principal, SMMS Design traveled up to the Great White North to attend Trade Day at IDS12 Toronto. We saw some amazing new products, finishes and interior layouts set to launch this upcoming year from many of the top interior retailers and product designers. The highlight of the show were the engaging speakers, Matali Crasset of Matali Crasset Productions, Paris and Bjarke Ingels of BIG Architects, Copenhagen/NY. Below are our pictures from the show, trade booths and products we found inspiring, and Bjarke's presentation. Hope you find them as interesting and motivating as we did.

Different venue but same presentation, Hedonistic Sustainability

Pascack Mom's Event

Today, SMMS Design was meant to give a talk to a Pascack Valley area Mom's meet up and volunteer group, members of the Junior League to attend. Due to health reasons, the hostess of the event chose to reschedule for a later date. The event will focus on the "New Year, New Home, New You". SMMS Design's talk will outline the design process and the importance of INSPIRATION! where to find it & how to translate it in terms of Interior Design, Q&A session to follow. 
Though today's Event was postponed (date TBD), we'd like to thank the following local businesses for contributing to the gift bag. Thank you for your support and when the event is rescheduled, we know your contribution will add to the overall success of the event.

 

Visit these stores at:

www.youresoinvited.com 

www.jeds-good-soap.com 

www.deseosonline.com

www.sherwinwilliams.com