A cool way to use our Nos Da blanket.

One of our employees is using this thick, beautiful blanket as a rug under her dining table. What a colorful way to ensure that her guests have a Nos Da ("good night") at her gatherings.

Happy 2011 from John Edelman, CEO

Floor Sample Sale at DWR Studios.

Across the country, DWR Studios are offering floor samples at reduced prices. Furnish your room with our need for elbow room. We need to clear out these items to make space for new collections arriving soon. Shop early for best selection.

Aspiring filmmakers: enter by Jan. 10.

Entries are due by January 10 for the Power of Ten Video Response Design Competition by the Eames Office and Core77. Submit a two-minute “response video” to the iconic film Powers of Ten by Charles and Ray Eames. The judges include Eames Demetrios from the Eames Office and MoMA’s Paola Antonelli, among others. Learn more here.

Part 3 of Populuxe film from 1958.

 

Here is the last part of this 1958 film. It begins, “For the studio of design is an inspiration in itself where men and women, representing a variety of talents, join their efforts and materialize their dreams. To give us a better understanding of the basic elements which go to make up the American Look, let us look at an example of how styles and designs are created and developed.”

Part 2 of Populuxe film from 1950s.

Fun clips of the 1950s workplace and recreational activities. At about 4:32 minutes into the film there’s a shot of a clear rowboat (I’d love one of these today), and check out the golf cart at 4:52 minutes. The film ends with some architectural gems. Enjoy

Populuxe film on 1950s industrial, interior and architectural design.

 
Forget the yule time log on TV -- put this on your flat screen during your holiday gathering and take a step back in time, to 1958. In my opinion, it's better if you mute the sound. This is part 1 of 3... two more films to come. Happy watching. 

Design Within Reach moves headquarters to CT.

If you haven’t already heard, the DWR corporate offices are now located in Connecticut. About 30 of us recently relocated from San Francisco (picture a bunch of Smart Cars pulling Airstreams across the country) and now we’re settling in, and getting to know this un-hilly land with very confusing liquor laws. Oh, and yes, we’re hiring. Our new space is the former Yale & Towne lock factory in Stamford. When it is complete, it will include our corporate offices and a new DWR Studio. Until then, we’re in temporary digs, trying to decide on office chairs. Which chair do you think we should choose?

Plans revealed for new Whitney Museum.

The Whitney Museum has unveiled the plans for its new downtown space, designed by Renzo Piano. After much debate, the new Whitney will not connect to the High Line for security reasons. Groundbreaking on the new museum will take place on May 24. The museum’s current location, a Marcel Breuer-designed building on the Upper East Side, holds only 10% of the Whitney’s permanent collection.

Take a wintery (modern) stroll on Cape Cod.

We applaud the work of the Cape Cod Modern House Trust, and their recent renovation of the Kugel/Gips House in Wellfleet. Designed in 1970 by Charlie Zehnder, the house is featured in this film made by Chris Szwedo (who also performed the music). Enjoy.

Learn more about the CCMHT in this earlier Design Notes story.

Baker Sofa wins prize.

The Wallpaper Design Award 2010 was awarded to the Baker Sofa in the category of Best Reissue. Danish architect and self-taught furniture designer Finn Juhl designed this sofa in 1951, the same year that he made his U.S. debut with the “Good Design” exhibit in Chicago and at MoMA in New York.

At 103, Niemeyer opens museum and cultural center.

Oscar Niemeyer, who turned 103 last week, has a lot to celebrate. On December 15, Brazil opened the Niemeyer Foundation (shown above), located just outside Rio de Janeiro, and Spain inaugurated the Oscar Niemeyer Cultural Center located in Aviles. The Rio native, who was born in 1907, is known for creating buildings with free-flowing, sensual curves, which he finds “in the mountains of my country, in the winding course of its rivers, in the waves of the ocean and on the body of the beloved woman.”

Give a wild card.

Did you know that in a recent survey, 54.9% of adults over 18 years old, put “Gift Card” on their list of gifts they’d like to get? Make that a DWR Gift Card and we’re guessing the percentage will be even higher. Gift the Gift (Card) of Design and enjoy free overnight shipping within the continental U.S. until Noon (ET) on Dec. 23.

Sleigh bells ring. Are you listening?

Highly coveted by our entire IT department, the Music Balloon is a rechargeable auxiliary mono speaker for your Apple® iPod® or other portable audio device. This cool gizmo received the 2010 IF Product Design Award, and it is sure to make a great gift for any music lover (or pompom enthusiast) on your list. Plus, for a limited time, it's on sale.

Save our architectural treasures.

America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places is now accepting applications for 2011. This organization has helped save hundreds of historic treasures, including the work of mid-century greats. The Kraigher House (above) was designed by Richard Neutra in 1937, and may have been the first International Style house in Texas. In 2004, it was listed as one of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, and by 2007 the house had been restored and saved. The photos below show the house when it was first built, and how it looks today.

Are the walls at work closing in?

It’s not your imagination: your workspace is getting smaller. According to an article in yesterday's LA Times, the average workstation has shrunk from an average of 500-700 square feet per employee to 200 square feet. Still, that’s not tiny when you compare it to apartments in New York City, where the average size of a studio is 440 square feet. And on the bright side, there are many great task chairs from which to choose. Accept the smaller space with a smile, and then insist on a great chair.

Forget satellite: this radio is out of this world.

The Garod 126 Circle Grille radio (scroll down for our Dec. 11 post) went for $5,490 yesterday at the Bonhams auction of the Michael and Diane Schoeman Collection of Vintage Radios. Another highlight of the day was the Sparton Bluebird 566 (above) designed in 1935. This radio sold for $9,150, and is described in the catalog as “one of four sets designed by noted industrial designer Walter Dorwin Teague, and introduced at the National Electrical and Radio Exposition in New York on September 18, 1935.”

DWR Annex Gift Sales (now the jingle hop has begun).

 

The DWR Annex locations in Palm Springs, CA and Secaucus, NJ (dashing through the snow) have perfect last-minute gifts for everyone on your list (on a one-horse open sleigh). Save on unique objects (over the fields we go), from lighting to accessories to floor coverings and more (laughing all the way). Bring in or mention this blog post to save an additional 15% (making spirits bright) on your purchase* (jingle all the way).

December 17–24: Palm Springs, CA | Secaucus, NJ 

For more information and directions: dwr.com/annex. * Classics excluded.

Joseph D’Urso revealed!...in 1981.

 

Emerging as a pioneer of the “high tech” interior design movement in the late ’70s, Joseph D’Urso is interviewed here by Ms. Barbaralee Diamonstein (and her fantastic hair). It’s an engaging and informative conversation with this cutting edge designer, whose work for Knoll® is available at Design Within Reach. More about Joe will be posted to dwr.com later this week, when we add his bio to his product pages.

Happy Eames holidays.

Naturally, Charles and Ray Eames would never have just any Christmas tree or holiday card. In 1946, they created their “tree” (left) out of molded chair legs and candles, and their holiday card (right) featured the two of them inside a snow globe. What’s especially impressive about this card is that it was created before computers. Charles didn’t have photoshop to help him. Fortunately, the Eameses also created a lot of beautiful furniture, and it’s all included in the Herman Miller® Sale, which ends today.