Can a bare light bulb make a design statement? At one point in my long life in design, bare light bulbs conjured up nothing more than a look destined for a jail cell or a musty basement. But I think differently now. Taking a pure form like a light bulb  and turning it into something beautiful and enduring takes some imagination. Here are some great products to create an industrial look for kitchen or bath design.

Barn Light Electric Co.’s caged pendant lighting made from galvanized metal. LED light bulbs inside the glass “bullet” make it gorgeous AND green.

A “trough” sink from Kohler’s commercial line makes a great sink for a kid’s bathroom.

Restoration Hardware makes these cool commercial laundry carts for the fully decked out laundry room!

Sonoma Forge makes gorgeous faucets for kitchen and bath. This one’s called “Brut.”

The Modern Times factory stool from Sundance is $ 195 and has a great distressed finish.

Modern Object’s Wing Nut knob is 2 1/2 in. long x 1 1/4 in. high

or go for the valve-looking knob that’s 2 1/4 in. in diameter.

DuPont Corian’s Medea solid surface material looks like concrete.

The Wallpaper Collective company sells Scrapwood wallcovering made in the Netherlands. It’s $299 for a 46-sq.-ft. roll, but doing one wall in it would look amazing.

Finally, I must mention sliding door hardware..a hot new look that’s showing up in bathrooms on shower doors. Very cool!

—Patricia Gaylor

There’s a growing design trend out there for mid-century design. Just look at anything Jonathan Adler is doing and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

My last blog post was a look back into the ’60s, and the evolution of the “modern” look in appliances. I get such a kick out of some of the cool designs that came out of that era, so I started looking for new materials that are available today that can give you that retro look with a fresh new approach.

Here’s some products I’ve found that are classically modern and stand the test of time.

CABINETRY: Kraftmaid‘s square recessed panel door design in the Willow color, combined with the same door in white and trimmed out in Cinnamon stained cherry, is a contemporary take on a typical Shaker style. I love the way the cherry trim softens the hard edges on the white cabinets and gives it a whole new look.

HARDWARE: I love Atlas Hardware’s Modernist cabinet pull.






COUNTERTOP MATERIAL: Wilsonart‘s Linearity laminate from its commercial line has a retro look with a slightly modern vibe…

LIGHTING: Rejuvenation Lighting’s new line of mid-century reproduction lighting featuring Astron pendant

PLUMBING: Chicago Faucets’ deck-mounted faucet with attached soap holder is priced under $300. Love its wall-mounted one too!

A sink with built-in drainboard from Oliveri for around $600.

—Patricia Gaylor

I just took a look (online) at the new Make it Right duplex from famed architect Frank Gehry in New Orleans. The Make It Right Foundation was founded in 2007 by actor Brad Pitt to help rebuild the hardest hit region of New Orleans, the Lower 9th ward.

The fusion of ecologically friendly designs of top architects and green construction materials, the Make It Right homes have been honored with the title of “the largest, greenest neighborhood of single family homes in America” by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Just like all the Make It Right Homes, this one is built to LEED-Platinum certification standards. Gehry Partners

It is clear that privacy, daylight and maximization of space were considered by the architects. Unfortunately, the kitchens were designed for “construction efficiency.”

The description of the Gehry duplex indicates the kitchen initially was supposed to have an island to separate it from the living space. This would have greatly improved the kitchen’s functionality.
I could pick apart what I don’t like about this space and say that the old stereotype is true: Architects can’t design kitchens. Instead, I’ll just leave you with my overall sentiment:
These kitchens are so sad and out of character for such a wonderful neighborhood.

—Ann Porter

(Credit: Chad Chenier Photography/Make It Right)

American Vintage: This trend is jumping from fashion on the streets to home interiors.

The trans-seasonal wardrobe pieces that flaunt effortless layering are impacting interiors with motifs like denim, patchwork, distressed finishes and salvaged materials.

This look is a continuation from the current industrial vintage trend, but with a colorful, fun approach.

The French Modern Way: Elegant French design turns away from soft romantic stylings and embraces rich materials, such as shagreen and ebony, with exotic Egyptian and Asian elements in this emerging trend. Expect human imagery/portraits to play a large role in this trend, too.

The Marrakech Express: North African looks take the lead with this trend. Flat weaves and aged color stories set against distressed finishes and aged patina surfaces will be go-to accents.

Graphic Modern: Strong graphic prints in one or two colors will be the hallmark of this trend. Look for “pop” expressed through polka dots, softened geometrics and large-scale florals.

Ann Porter