Flame-Broiled Details

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

This past weekend, my significant other took me out to dinner for Valentine’s Day to a really nice restaurant in our area. (He’s so thoughtful!) I had been to Char Steakhouse, designed by Cahill Studio, once before, soon after it had opened last year, but this second time gave me the opportunity to really admire the details in the space’s design, all of which tie into creating an “on the grill” theme.

 
When we first walked in, we could see a beautiful display of candles encased in clear orange glass and aluminum boxes. The warm light served to illuminate a dimmer corner by the recetion desk and bring some additinal color to the mud colored walls and deep brown tiles. The orange glass also nicely played into the wallpaper behind the desk, matching the orange circular pattern that resembled the glow of candlelight.

 Since we had arrived early for our reservations, we decided to grab a cocktaila the bar, which lay directly in the middle of the restaurant and took up a majority of the space. The bar itself was surfaced by beautiful marble that had fine brown/black veins running diagonally acrss the top, creating a charred look of grill lines.

 
As I looked around, what instantly caught my attention--in a bad way--was a row of circular modern-styled lights that hung from dark tiled ceiling. (This is my only negative comment.) The lights, besides from looking humorously like an oversized Target logo, seemed to be out of place in this dark and more rustic feeling setting. I can see that the design of the lights is meant to be the grill of an electroc stove perhaps, with the warm red coils; however, the white was so contrasting that it really drew my attention away from some of the more beautiful and fitting elements of the room.

  
 
We were seated in a corner of the room that faced the bar with our backs to the side walls. The seating was absolutely intriguing. A coarse but comfortable fabric covered the back of the booth, and when you looked closely you could actually see that the pattern was made up of intersecting burnt matchsticks! I thought it was genius. Additinally, overhead was a glass column that housed a beautiful gas-powered flame which flicked and casted beautiful dancing shadows across the table. 

 
I think my favorite element overall was the intricate lighting fixture that hung on the wall above my head and on the opposite wall int he room as well. The wall hanging, which served more as illuminated art than an actual source of light, glowed gold in between the curved and delicately shaped pieces of what appeared to be bronze metal. I loved how these fixtures made me think of the glowing coals on a very high-end barbeque.

To Designers, With Love

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching, it’s a perfect time to revisit some of the top romance-inspiring designs from around the world. Whether you’re looking to take your sweetheart to a sexy resort for a weekend getaway or enjoy a quiet dinner for two—or even if you’re single and on the prowl—these top destination designs are sure to get your libido pumping.

The in Poznan, Poland centers itself on the suave inspirations of jazz music--literally. The jazz club and restaurant, designed by designed by Ewelina Jankowska, features a bright red piano at the heart of its interior that gives life to the seductively smoky room, outfitted with natural stone walls, copper tones, and plush sofa seating that creates the perfect space to snuggle up with your date and enjoy the sounds of passionate improvisation.

Nothing speaks to romance more than a blatant sexual innuendo. Ultra, a Toronto restaurant hotspot that recently received a redesign by 2010 Interiors Awards winner Munge Leung Design Associates, boasts walls adorned with cocks (roosters, that is—get your minds out of the gutter!), which Munge Leung managing partner Alessandro Munge told Contract can be interpreted in many ways. Overall the space screams provacative luxury, perfect for the man looking to really strut his stuff on the dating scene. 

There’s nothing like a trip to the great “indoors” to inspire love. Guests at the Four Seasons, Jackson Hole, with interior design by Brayton Hughes, can experience all the natural beauty found outdoors through the casual, yet elegant design detail metaphors. High-trussed ceilings and large-framed widows take advantage of the natural mountain views, while zigzag patterns and natural elements incorporate river scenery into every corner. The hotel was rated by Travel + Leisure readers as one of the top romantic destinations--probably due to its status as the perfect cuddle zone.

  

While many people have experimented with interplays between sex and food, Toronto’s Mildred Temple Kitchen, designed by Brian Brownlie of du Toit Architects,  is taking this naturally-found relationship a bound beyond oysters and chocolate by encouraging its diners to “get it on” in one of its modernly-styled bathrooms. So once you’ve finished entrees in the chic dining room, featuring classic ivory-colored seating and large floor-to-ceiling windows, be sure to leave room for “dessert.” 

 
What better place to walk on the wild side of romance than in Sin City? The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, designed by Mark Zeff of Zeff Designs, boast trendsetting towers that feature a rock n’ roll atmosphere with dark purple, black and brown interiors for lavishly sexy sophistication. Add in the room service menu that includes selections of lingerie and other adult items for late night fun and its no wonder guests will want to skip the craps table in exchange for a night in.

What designs and destinations have insired romance for you? Share them with us by commenting below.

Sounding Off on Loud Restaurant Design

By Stacy Straczynski, Associate Editor

Last week, Contract magazine held its annual Interiors Awards dinner at Abe & Arthur’s, a new hip restaurant in the meat packing district of Manhattan. And while the food was great, and the interior design exceptionally swank, the landslide complaint was the noise.

The echoing conversations milled with the music and clatter from the hopping bar downstairs overwhelmed the space so you couldn’t hear what the person next to you was saying! My night was spent yelling into people’s ears to be understood, and my voice was so hoarse the next day that I had to skip out on my usual Friday night rock band lead singer antics and play bass.

While my discomfort with the poor acoustics was echoed by some of the other designers at the event, an article at NYTimes.com today says that we’ll have to get used to the noise—the poor acoustics were most likely designed on purpose.

Get ready everyone: noise is the new black. Many upscale restaurants are now playing with acoustics (high ceilings, hardwood floors, exposed beams, open kitchens, etc.) and incorporating a dose of din into building design. Even luxury, five-star dining establishments are doing away with traditional table cloths, soft carpeting, and curtains to let the sound reverberate more freely.

This irks me to no end. When I go out to eat, whether it’s a top-notch place like the Belmont or a quick-stop at my local diner, I’m going there to not only enjoy a non-microwavable meal, but also to converse with whomever is with me. And with at least 98 percent of my friends and family members now texting each other rather than calling, those moments of human interaction where I get to hear an actual voice seem even more precious.

I don’t see how increased noise could be a boon to restaurants anyway—all it does is frazzle guests and make the dining experience more about trying to hear than about savoring the cuisine. But then again, increased appetite is a direct response to increased stress levels. (Why else would I have been compelled last night to down an entire bag of Chinese fried wontons after my significant other and I had an argument?) Forget cutting edge design—it’s all just a ploy to drive up food bills in a bad economy.

LMNOP draws a crowd at Knoll

Last night, New York-based professional development group LMNOP held its latest gathering for displaced A&D folk at Knoll's Manhattan showroom. There was a lot of energy and it was great to see so many people connecting. However, behind all the smiles remained the fact that many, if not the vast majority of the attendance, were talented-yet-unemployed creatives (or, as noted above, "displaced"). 

Nonetheless, the crowd seemed upbeat, milling among the Knoll classics on display and munching on a bevy of hors d'oeuvres. And, on the upside, I did meet a couple of folks who had recently taken on new positions and jobs - perhaps (and hopefully) a sign of bright things to come to the industry as a whole?

For those unfamiliar with LMNOP, the group was founded in February 2009 by Jennifer Graham, a director at MMoser in New York, and Stephanie Chiuminatto, an interior designer. The goal: to provide personal, professional development to members of the A&D community through training, mentoring and networking activities. It started with a small group that casually got together during one of the AIA's "Not Business As Usual" luncheons and has exploded from there. Membership, however, is limited, to allow members to connect to each other on a more in-depth level. Interested in learning more? Their calendar lists upcoming events, while their site has more info about the group as a whole. 

I scream, you scream....

....we all scream for architecture-inspired ice cream? A&D folks in L.A. may be doing just that this summer, if Cool Haus has its way. Via Curbed's LA outpost comes word of the new ice cream venture whose offerings include the Frank Behry, Mintimalism, Mies Vanilla Rohe, Richard Meyer Lemon Ginger, and Oatmeal Cinnamoneo. While the Frank Behry may not be the most popular selection in Miami right now, I'm leaning toward the Mies Vanilla Rohe? The offical specs:

Barbie goes to Shanghai

How do you celebrate the 50th birthday of an American icon? For Barbie, it's a trip to Shanghai. Recently, Mattel opened House of Barbie, the world's first Barbie-centric store in Shanghai, a 40,000-sq.-ft. ode to the plastic icon. Designed by New York-based Slade Architecture, the store houses the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of Barbie dolls and offers, of course, a huge range of Barbie products, services and activities. 

The two-layer façade references Barbic packaging, with a little decorative arts and architectural iconography thrown in. A feminine lattice patter of Barbie-trademarked iconography is printed on the exterior glass and the patterning is reinforced by interior, formed panels. Inside, of course, is a whole lotta pink and pearlescent surfaces. The central element is a three-story spiral staircase that encloses over 800 Barbie dolls. The result: everything, literally, revolved around Barbie.

Also included in the mix:

- The Barbie Design Center, designed by Chute Gerdeman Retail, where visitors get a glimpse into how to design a Barbie doll by selecting their own looks and walking out with their own Barbie.

- The Barbie Fashion Stage, also done by Chute Gerdeman Retail, where visitors can take part in a runway show, choosing their own outfits and receiving hair and makeup treatment.

- The Barbie Café, a restaurant and gelato bar which serves, of course, Barbie-inspired concoctions.

- A full-service spa (!)....still to come later this year.

The green scene hits NYC

Earlier this year, we reported on the emergence of sustainable nightclubs, bars and discos. Thumping bass, flashing strobe lights and...a dance floor that converts the kinetic energy of clubbers into electricity for the venue? Such were the goals of Enviu, an international collective of sustainability driven entrepreneurs and by the time of our report last March, Rotterdam-based architecture firm Döll—Atelier voor Bouwkunst was developing a Sustainable Dance Club (rendering above) in Rotterdam that would do just that. What's more, dancers' perspiration would be channeled into grey water circuits, biometric wall displays furniture that changes color to match clubbers' body temperature.

Now, less than nine months later, New York City is jumping into the center of the circle with the opening of Greenhouse, a downtown Manhattan club that opened last week. As reported in The New York Times, Greenhouse, whose sustainable features were crafted consulting firm National Progression is seeking LEED certification. How? The two-level, 6,000-sq.-ft. venue houses high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning, an LED lighting system, and waterless urinals and low-flow sinks in the bathrooms. All materials used to furnish it are recycled or recyclable.