Luxury Interior Design Journal » Glass work

Corning Glass – Design and Technology for the future

Laura Bielecki — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 05:18:52 +0000

Corning Incorporated came out with an incredible corporate video called “A day made of glass…. made possible by Corning” that was targeted at large scale investors in technology, sciences, product design, marketing and more. This video has now become viral with almost 9 million YouTube hits. The design potential and inspiration from this video is mind blowing and makes apple look like childsplay… the technology takes the ipad, ipod, iphone etc. to a whole new potential of an ilife in a merely all glass house. The video portrays an obtainable and not overly fantasy near future world. The video is not to show you the exact uses of the product and how it will impact our world but it does acknowledge that the technology exists and that innovations like these are being developed right now for integration into our future world. Jim Clappin President of Corning Glass states “The consumer trend driving our vision for tomorrow is very clear, we all want to be connected with what we want… when we want… anywhere… and with great ease. Corning’s innovations in glass will enable us to enjoy this journey.”

To get a bit techy on you for some background Corning was the inventor of low loss optical fiber (fiber optics) back in the 70′s. The company specializes in Specialty glass and ceramics through state of the art and ever evolving scientific and manufacturing marvels from world class research and development they have taken this technology to new heights. Their markets include Aerospace and Defense, Astronomy, Display, Metrology Instruments, Semiconductor, Telecommunications and Vision Care. “Drawing on more than 150 years of materials science and process engineering knowledge, Corning creates and makes keystone components that enable high-technology systems for consumer electronics, mobile emissions control, telecommunications and life sciences. Our products include glass substrates for LCD televisions, computer monitors and laptops; ceramic substrates and filters for mobile emission control systems; optical fiber, cable, hardware & equipment for telecommunications networks; optical biosensors for drug discovery; and other advanced optics and specialty glass solutions.” excerpt from corning.com

So whats so special about Corning glass? its thin, sensitive and tough which makes it ideal for smartphones and other electronics… but imagine it brought into the home. Imagine having videochats with family, friends and coworkers from anywhere, interacting with everyday surfaces in a clean and environmentally friendly way. Can you imagine no more nooks and cranies of technology to dry to dust and clean with a toothbrush… simple windex will do the trick. All of the glass products their marketing video show are attainable and can help people stay connected in a world that is becoming more and more overloaded with information, a world where work-life-balance and mental stimulation are on overdrive. Imagine your life becoming easier where your technology knows who you are and what you want to hear about when… news in the washroom while you brush your teeth, directions at intersections, bus stops and in your car… 3D views of yourself in different clothing to make shopping faster and more fun. I can see a whole new industry just from that of virtual fashion consultations and customized product launches… queue Fashionista514 ! and could it be possible that this techology of turning on and off glass frosting could finally make interior designers worst nightmare material Glass Block go away? here is only hoping…

Here are some general myths about glass that Corning has proven wrong time and time again with their innovations:

Myth 1: Glass is just for windows
Myth 2: Glass smudges
Myth 3: All glass is the same
Myth 4: Glass is heavy
Myth 5: Glass is fragile
Myth 6: Glass doesnt bend
Myth 7: Glass must be thick to be durable
Myth 8: Glass doesnt last
Myth 9: Glass shows every scratch
Myth 10: Glass is low tech

Imagine car and window glass having the capability to go opaque, change colors or shades like in the video… how fun could that be with bathroom and shower stalls, skylights, building facades, glass staircases… and even down to sunglasses, plates and tables. Imagine an evolving catwalk, the future of awards shows and how little space would be required on your desk for technology. Imagine going to the hair salon for a new look and having styles fit for your face shape shown to you as 3D lifelike models… hook that up to a CNC machine and there goes the stylists job (scary thought but seemingly possible)! And what about wine glasses, could this technology label your glass with the vineyard name, country and age to make you an instant know it all? Could your plate tell you what your calorie count is based on ingredients, weight and portion sizes?

This technology however scares me when it comes to theft, cost, vandalism, information security and general T.M.I. (too much information).

Above is a great video on the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. This museum has the whole history of glass, glassmaking sessions and demos and competitions and labs for designers and artists. Im sure Dale Chihuly has a section in there and if not the museum isnt complete without it. I hope the museum has or will soon have an interactive virtual glass home and workplace display like the one shown in the “a day made of Glass” video.

In very recent and tragic news the March 11, 2011 earthquake that devastated Japan has not affected Cornings staff of Shizuoka and Sakai City plants. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of those lives lost in the devastation.

Help Japan via: mymodernmet.com

What are your thoughts? What is the potential of this technology? What may be the drawbacks that affect your day to day life?

Interior Glass Stairs

Top 10 Handmade Christmas Tree s 2010

Laura Bielecki — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 05:53:06 +0000

Christmas Trees are like people, they come is all different sizes shapes and colors. To me nothing is more special than a one of a kind unique christmas tree. Here are my top 10 favorite non living Christmas Trees made out of fun and fascinating materials.

Here are my top 10 favorite unique handmade Christmas trees

10. A Swarovski Christmas Tree in Austria. Beautiful, simple and sparkling crystals!

Glistening Swarovski Crystal Christmas Tree in Austria

9. Murano glass looks amazing in all forms. Here is a stunning Murano Glass Christmas tree in Venice Italy. This glass tree is 8.5m tall and 3m wide weighing in at 3 tons which makes it the world’s largest glass blown tree. It was made by local glass blowers out of 1000 glass tubes and 2000 metal rods.

Murano Glass Christmas Tree in Venice

8. Here is a cool Cardboard Christmas Tree made from 200 sheets of cardboard glued together with Starch and sprayed with fire retardant. This Innovative tree could be created in numerous different shapes as a great DIY weekend project.

Eco Friendly Cardboard Christmas Tree

7. Nothing can be richer on the senses than a tree you can eat or drink! Here are 4 favorites… Sushi, Wine, Chocolate and Beer trees! This beautiful Chocolate tree was done by Ferrero Rocher.

Food and Alcohol Christmas Trees

6. Last year my Kasian crew got together to make a stunning Wood Veneer Christmas Tree for our annual Edmonton Festival of Trees entry. Metro Wallcoverings donated all of the wood veneer wallcovering for this piece in 2 species to create the stunning wood tree.

Wood Veneer Christmas Tree

5. This ice tree sculpture made from 300 recycled water bottles suspended from the ceiling. Designed by graphic design firm Paprika it was hung in the window of Montreal furniture store Domison in 2008.

Paprika Design Ice tree made of water bottles!

4. Here is my favorite Glass Christmas Tree! Once again by by great coworkers at Kasian, this tree is our Gold medal winner from the Edmonton Festival of trees. See my full article for more about this elegant and icy creation that would fit beautifully into any decor.

Kasian Glass Christmas Tree

3. This sparkling tree is at the Swarovski Boutique at Singapore’s Landmark Tower. Elegantly crafted it has the quality and construction of a chandelier.

Swarovski Tree Landmark Tower

2. Gorgeous and festive Istanbul Christmas Tree

Outdoor Christmas Tree in Istanbul

1. Swarovski Tree in Shanghai’s Grand Gateway Shopping mall

Swarovski Christmas Tree in Shanghai

Kasian Festival of Trees entry wins GOLD!!!

Laura Bielecki — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 21:19:39 +0000

Festival of Trees Mock up in the Kasian office

Kasian has made a tradition of coming up with exciting and beautiful orginal entries for the Edmonton Festival of Trees each year. This year with aspirations of gold we took to our toughest challenge yet. The theme of this years competition was “Sparkle” and what better way to embody the theme than to make a Christmas Tree out of glass with sparkling silver oranaments! Our Kasian team joined forces with renouwned glass artists at Panache glass and ceramic to create this innovative and sparkling tree. Ewa, Marlene and Rose from panache volunteered their time and glass to create each individual glass stem a different size and shape to form the tree. On Kasian’s end we made a form for our glass filled concrete base with castors and purchased a threaded steel rod, bolts and washers to secure the glass.

The Edmonton Festival of Trees raises funds for patient care and research at the University of Alberta Hospital.

Myself and Simon adding finishing touches to the glass tree

It took Panache a few weeks to create all of the individual glass pieces and once they were finished the Kasian team came down to test out the weight of the glass on the structure and to determine if we wanted to paint the pieces of not. We opted on leaving the natural green tint of the glass as it was classic and elegant. We also believed that the glass in its natural color would appeal to more potential buyers. Once we brought all the glass back to the Kasian studio we assembled the tree and worked on determining the best light sources, decor, skirt and tree topper. Taking the tree apart one more time we transported it over to the Shaw conference center and reassembled it within a 2 day window. The feedback we have already recieved from the event has been spectacular. Please go check it out if you have the opportunity before the afternoon of Sunday December 5th.

Christmas Tree decor closeup

Some notes about the tree: Their are 74 individual glass pieces, 8 strings of white lights, 125lbs of concrete and the overall piece weighs roughly 250lbs!

Edmonton Festival of Trees Gold Winner

Kasian Glass Christmas Tree Installed

Bird on glass tree

Interior Design Bold Stripes

Laura Bielecki — Tue, 11 May 2010 05:29:22 +0000

There are a million ways to fake the shape, size, form and flaws in a room. One of the best visual distractions is using stripes. As today was a pretty grey day in Edmonton I thought it would be lovely to bring in some color. Candy cane stripes are a bold statement that can add a lot of visual texture without necessarily adding cost or the need for many accessories. The stripe can weave you through a room or tell you where to look. It can make fat look thin and short look tall and can even throw off your depth perception. Stripes can be achieved with Paint, wall covering, fabric and a collage of other materials for any kind of DIY project.

Show your stripes with finishes and furnishings

Have fun with your furniture!

Furniture with an impact

cappellini.it
Paul Smith fabric from Maharam on an Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair
Philippe Stark mademoiselle chair from Kartell
Paul Smith fabric from Maharam
cappellini.it
creativando.nu

Add drama!

Design with Stripes

Zebra Print Home Decor

Laura C. Bielecki — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:12:44 +0000

Zebra Print Interior Design Products

Zebra can make for a bold and flavorful addition to spice up any room without adding any color.

The great products shown are:

www.zgallerie.com Zack accent chair approximately $750.00 I love this piece for how sharp, tailored and sophisticated it is. Add some red wall covering and a chandelier to have a romantic and invigorating bedroom retreat. OR you can even throw it in the living room with a plush sofa, glass and mirror for a dramatic statement with rich textures and visual stimulation.
www.venfield.com Zebra cubes with nickel nail head- These little stools show how sexy a little shape and some zebra print can make an accent piece of furniture.
www.nibarugs.com Zebra Area Rug – this piece is a super soft cut pile area rug that is perfect to sprawl out over and more cost effective than the real deal.
www.olystudio.com Sophie Chair – The best way to make a Renaissance old world charm room feel more contemporary, exotic and dramatic is to add Zebra Print to a classic piece. Oly Studio did it wonderfully with this Sophie chair. What other animal prints can we throw at this piece?
www.weaversart.com- luxury and texture collide when you make a hide area rug. For the more exotic animal aware maybe consider having www.kylebunting.com make you the same thing in cow hide.
www.olystudio.com Hadley bench- thin, crisp and sleek this piece is so feminine and eye catching. Consider having to of them at the foot of your bed- a his and hers to use only for putting on your fuzzy zebra print slippers!
www.vivariniglass.it Zebra collection- Vivarini has a beautiful glass collection with elegant forms, colors and textures. A great way to add a hint of Zebra without the fur.
www.venfield.com Zebra chair- This is a very well tailored piece and a great example of a way to bring back grandpas old wingback chair. Sit two of these in an entryway or in front of your fireplace for a cozy and inviting conversation starter. What a great way to inspire reading in front of a fire!
www.carinilang.com Zebra Brown- Simple, feminine and subtle this piece is a more gentle approach to bringing animal print into a room. The color makes it quiet but not boring. Great for a living room or bedroom and also appropriate as a wall hanging.

More Fun Zebra Products:

Aquamass Zebra Bathtub

The EXTREME Zebra chair

Horchow.com Zebra dish set

Neimanmarcus.com Sunflower Chair

And some great Interior Design with Zebra:

Zebra Bedroom

Charcoal Living room with Zebra Accent

Zebra Staircase Hollywood Style

Enjoy your black and white Zibra Chic additions!

Fall Home Decor Colour Scheme

Laura C. Bielecki — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:31:59 +0000

Warm Interior Color Scheme

Read below to find out where I found all of my fall products and how I recommend you pick and use them.

All the great products:

www.halfpriceddrapes.com -Consider a tick velvety butternut colored drape with a large textured tassel to bring warmth and depth to your windows. Great for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms velvet can add an extra texture that is commonly missed in a formal room. Use a beautiful and raw wrought iron drapery rod to pull out the natural fall rustic charm
www.adrianahoyos.com -A great piece for fall is one that you feel could look just as charming and casual outdoors as indoors. wood slats and loose pillows keep this piece delightful and detailed without being fussy.
www.vgnewtrend.it -warm bright colors are always in season, but the right oranges and yellows contrasting the last of summers green can make any Thanksgiving table scape come to life. Without the addition of bright colors and pops of another season fall can look a little dead. Make sure to let green pop as an accent and dark brown or black ground the room with accents or even floor color. The VG New Trend website has floral inspiration that can revamp your entire perspective on home decor and making your space feel more modern and upbeat. Say goodbye to the grocery store bouquet and spoil yourself a little with some foliage fashion!
www.insideavenue.com -Brighten up your Adriana Hoyos (#2) couch with some fun glittery pillows like this one from Inside Avenue. Pillows will change your furniture through the seasons and keep you from getting board of your spaces. Bring out color, pattern, texture and excitement with whichever pillow you choose and remember their is no such thing as too many pillows!
www.lorinmarsh.com -The Staccato Vase from Lorin Marsh is a treasured favorite of mine. The thick iridescent amber murano glass make the light color compete with the structures weight forming an elegant and heavy focal point to any fireplace mantle or tablescape.
www.kylebunting.com -A sure fire staple that can instantly bring texture and a conversation piece to any room is a Kyle Bunting area rug. Personally I would hate to put it in the floor and cover it up with furniture and feet, so imagine it hung on a wall as the piece of art it is? You could get a great frame for one of these and it would do wonders acoustically and visually for a vaulted room with a large wall surface or in an entryway. I personally see these rugs as great investment pieces for a Hotel Lobby or a Commercial space.
www.chihuly.com -The God of glass always impresses me with the natural beauty of his creations. His collections are far more artistic and sculptural that functional but that is part of why they are so coveted. Make sure to put your Chihuly creation is an openly visible and childproof spot with great dramatic lighting. Consider having a wall niche or mantle with MR16 fixtures illuminating it from an angle. This will provide great drama and reflection. Having it located in a niche will provide a frame around the piece to draw the viewers attention to the sculpture regardless of size.
www.crateandbarrel.com -Small little vases of all different shapes and sizes are a great thing to have stored in your cupboards. For each and ever holiday or special occasion you can mix and match them across your table or through your home filled with anything your heart and occasion concept desire. Flowers, candles, glass beads, sand, seashells, moss, twiggs etc. Have fun and get creative, this can be the least expensive way to add drama and color to a table.

Purple Color Scheme

Laura C. Bielecki — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 20:17:42 +0000

Purple and Violet colours of femininity, strength and power.

Purple induces sleep and relaxation, lowers body temperature and decreases sensitivity to pain. It symbolizes dignity, royalty and ritual. Its best use is in areas of rest, relaxation and meditation like a spa, yoga studio or bedroom.

Violet can sooth serious mental conditions, over-excitement and over-stimulation restoring peace and calm and inducing deep relaxed sleep. Violet symbolizes humility, creativity, imagination and spiritual enlightenment. This color is best in areas of quiet thoughtful activity like a craft studio or reading space.

Purple Color Scheme

In this arrangement of Purple and Violet:

Maya Lin Architect and Sculptor

Laura C. Bielecki — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:37:54 +0000

Both artist and Architect Chinese-American Maya Lin is fluidly in line with the beauty and serenity of her surroundings. When only 21 and still studying architecture at Yale University she entered a competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial against some of the largest and best known Architects of the time and won. Her concept was to create a severe open wound in the earth to symbolize the loss of so many soldiers. Despite the controversy of her being of Chinese heritage the memorial was built and stands as on of the strongest war memorials in the US today.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Maya Lin Civil Rights Memorial

Today she has her own studio in New York. Her influences and inspirations can be summed up in her own words: “My pieces are always about contradiction. I’m torn between Eastern and Western Influences, so theres the yin and the yang, the hard and the soft. For instance, I’ve always been fascinated with the attributes of glass, that it’s a solid that can look like water, that it’s never stable. People often take for granted the incredibly complex curves in the stone, in river washed pebbles. I wanted to create these volumes that almost deny mass and weight. They’re like drops of water sitting on the ground.” She is very in the moment and of the earth with her exploration of rock, wood and water. She has an inner respect for the land and the natural movement of life.

Maya Lin Systematic Landscape

Maya Lin: Boundaries

Published in 2000 her book Maya Lin: Boundaries outlines her lengthy and fluid thought process for each of her pieces and their links between sculpture and architecture. She makes you feel and perceive the environment and the passing of time. http://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-Maya-Lin/dp/0684834170

Maya Lin Wave field - architectural landscape

“I work with the landscape, and I hope that the object and the land are equal partners.” www.mayalin.com

Caspian Sea sculpture

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Interior Design Color Theory – Blue

Laura C. Bielecki — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:47:22 +0000

I have many more shades of blue to explore but here is the ever serene turquoise shade to get the mood flowing. More Blues to come!

Turquoise Colour Scheme

www.sicis.com sheer glass mosaic
www.euro-line.com Londra Chandelier
www.dantonleather.com Metallic Leather – great for any small scale upholstery or accessories but watch out- in large quantities this could make your space feel like a nighclub
www.instyle-decor.com turquois drum stool
www.verreriesdebrehat.com cabinet pull
www.vitraform.com glass pedistal sink
www.carinilang.com silk area rug
www.sicis.com 1×1 mosaic tiles
www.arkadesign.it floral arrangement classic with a fun twist of color
www.instyle-decor.com pillow
www.cassoni.com glass table – truly a showstopper and great for a grand lobby or foyer

Colour Theory Blue and White

www.insideavenue.com Blue and White pillow phesant and flowers
www.insideavenue.com Blue and White pillow floral motif
www.hermes.com Tableware
www.bisazza.com damasco opale mosaic pattern also see Bisazza china birds blue for a similar pattern with more flight!
www.unici.us blue chandelier
www.moooi.com porcelain ware
www.neimanmarcus.com blue damask chair
www.moooi.com porcelain ware a new take on an old tradition, perfect for the cottage or as a great gift!
www.sicis.com
www.taipingcarpets.com Hotel de Paris custom carpet – Classic and elegant!

Interior Glass Stairs

Laura C. Bielecki — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:28:25 +0000

If you need some inspiration or if you want your Interior to feel like Cinderellas glass slipper take a look at some of my favorite glass stair designs. You need to have faith in your Interior Designer and Structural Engineer to walk with confidence up these steps. oh… and dont wear a skirt!

NYC Apple Computer store glass stair and elevator

Change it up and add a little color!

Grand and Intimidating

Apple Store delicate and elegant curved saircase

All trust and no skirts aloud

Dynamic Suspension

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