Pure and Simple

Roses after the rain.

A Flower for a Minimalist

Agapanthus (Lily of the Nile): About to bloom!

At My Ranchburger, we love Agapanthus for their lack of fussiness. They go so beautifully in a minimalist setting, as they are pure simplicity and offer a change from the omnipresent white Phalaenopsis.  When these flowers are in full bloom, we will bring them indoors.

What to do this Weekend

Click of image to enlarge and read details.

If you are in Houston or Austin this weekend, Ligne Roset is having a great sale.

Mercury Design Studio in Austin

Hop on over to The Bunny Bungalow for a visit to Mercury Design Studio in Austin.

Ligne Roset Boutique: Austin Opening Part 2

As promised...more photos of last night's Ligne Roset Boutique opening.

Jellyfish, ceiling light designed by Swan Bourotte for Ligne Roset

Gallery, just prior to the arrival of the crowd.

Ligne Roset Boutique: Austin Opening

Ligne Roset Boutique, Austin, Texas

St-Germain Liqueur and French Champagne

Click on photos to enlarge.

The world-wide launch of Ligne Roset Boutique, a concept store, was held in Austin last night, with local and global design aficionados and professionals flocking to the event. Antoine Roset, Executive Vice President of Ligne Roset, USA flew in, as did Jessica Cairncross of Ligne Roset USA Corporation. Also, Houston-based French Designer Anne Breaux arrived for the opening. Bruce Wolfe, owner of both the Ligne Roset Boutique and Ligne Roset Houston, hosted the wonderful, artful evening.

Note: At My Ranchburger in Houston, I blog from a chic Ligne Roset desk, Hyannis Port,which the people of Ligne Roset managed to ship unharmed through two consecutive Gulf Coast hurricanes. The day it arrived at the port, Bruce Wolfe, of Ligne Roset Houston, telephoned with good news/bad news. "The good news is that your desk has arrived at the port; the bad news is that it's not perishable."

"Not perishable?"

"Correct! Because of the hurricane, the port authorities are only allowing perishables to be unloaded at this time. Your desk is not perishable!"

The beautiful desk sat on a ship for quite some time but was worth the wait. Plus, as you see, it has it's own story.

To come later: Additional photos of the Ligne Roset Boutique Opening.

Dig It

The replica Grecian foot is from the Paris shop of Astier de Villatte; the signed Ming Vases are by Marcel Wanders for Moooi and were purchased from Mr. Wanders at Sunset Settings in Houston, Texas.

These wonderful vases by Marcel Wanders, the Dutch designer, are seriously whimsical.  I just had to put them with a Grecian foot...sort of archaeological dig at the ranchburger.

Note: Marcel Wanders is taller than Tall Husband!

Happy Easter

A gift from Mother Nature: an abandoned bird's nest found in a hedge outside my door at My Ranchburger, and now filled with two faux eggs.

University of Houston: Prototype 2: Chairs

Design Within Reach (DWR) Houston Studio hosted Prototype 2, Bridging Design and Sustainability, an exhibition of lighting and chair design prototypes by students from University of Houston, School of Art, Senior Interior Design Studio. Lighting was presented previously. As promised, here are the chair prototypes from the DWR show.

Not emphasized in the posting on Lighting Prototypes is the concept of sustainability as it applies to design. Professor Cochran, of the Senior Studio, Interiors Program, School of Art, explains how Class of 2009 addressed that important aspect of design:

...In their words, this is how they collectively addressed sustainability.

"The prototypes are working study models of utilitarian objects such as the light and the chair. In the past, this project has been used as an exercise for the Senior Interior Design Studio at the University of Houston to understand matters of proportion and scale of objects in interior spaces. As the design community moves toward a more conscious effort to reduce our carbon footstep, this year's senior class has taken a more conscientious view and incorporated the principles of sustainability in the design development of our prototypes. We selected materials that were either renewable, recyclable, or environmentally friendly, such as organic cork, bamboo, recycled cardboard. Also the light prototypes were designed to be used with energy efficient light bulbs, such as LED light bars and fluorescent bulbs. We want to add our voice to the greater design community and demonstrate that sustainability can be achieved without sacrificing design. As future designers, we understand that it is our responsibility to create and promote eco-friendly environments and products that merge an aesthetic sensibility with sustainable practices. To stay abreast of a rapidly changing industry ingrained in innovation, we strive to create healthy and socially responsible designs that improve the quality of life and that serve the needs of society today and in the future."

Some wonderful Chair Prototypes not represented here, due to a glitch in this Blogger:

•  Crest by Dijana Handanovic
  
• Swell by Kristen Cochran
  
• Radius by Lam Nguyen
  

Click on each photo to enlarge and read design information.

Professor Catherine Cochran is with Design/Build firm Cochran and Cochran Architects.

University of Houston: Prototype 2: Lighting

Design Within Reach (DWR) Houston Studio hosted Prototype 2, Bridging Design and Sustainability, an exhibition of lighting and chair design prototypes by students from University of Houston, School of Art, Senior Interior Design Studio. Presented here are photographs of the lighting prototypes from the exhibit last night. Photographs of the chair prototypes will follow. My congratulations to the students, faculty and staff of the University of Houston's School of Art, Senior Interior Design Studio. This was a most impressive exhibit, from venue selection, to display, down to the excellent catalog of the show. It was well attended by Houston's world-class architects and designers. Meeting the student designers was a delight. I have never seen such design/execution talent in a student show. If I were not familiar with the DWR line, I would have had difficulty in determining which were student prototypes and which were showroom items. Watch out Philippe Starck!

Click on each photo to enlarge and to read design information.

Light Prototype: Aeon by Ruth Kuo

Light Prototype: Artificial Intelligence by Nadia Tufail

Light Prototype: Thirteen by Dijana Handanovic

Light Prototype: Eclipse by Manu Sanchez-Lara (table and hanging versions shown); In the background: Light Prototype: Fuse by Kristen Cochran

Light Prototype: Grand Battement by Jossary Valdes

So, you're asking, "What's with the shoes?" It's just that expensive shoes are my favorite form of design and this glamorous young woman graciously agreed to let me photograph hers.