For many of us at Rowland, childhood creativity and curiosity influenced our careers as designers and architects. Recently we discovered Roominate, a toy that blurs the line between education and play to inspire the next generation of innovators, artists and engineers.  As a creative-minded group, we think this is a pretty neat way to excite all children to create, …

For many of us at Rowland, childhood creativity and curiosity influenced our careers as designers and architects.

Recently we discovered Roominate, a toy that blurs the line between education and play to inspire the next generation of innovators, artists and engineers.  As a creative-minded group, we think this is a pretty neat way to excite all children to create, design, build and explore.

Check out some of the Roominate creations here: http://www.roominatetoy.com/pages/kids

Image courtesy of Roominate(tm)

  Honestly, where does a girl even begin with writing her first blog post?  Well, let’s get down to it.  I’m Elizabeth, the new Marketing Coordinator here at Rowland Design.  I am a native Michigander, Butler grad, foodie, and lover of design.  Here, in my tiny corner of the web, I hope to give you a glimpse into my world- the …

Honestly, where does a girl even begin with writing her first blog post?  Well, let’s get down to it.  I’m Elizabeth, the new Marketing Coordinator here at Rowland Design.  I am a native Michigander, Butler grad, foodie, and lover of design.  Here, in my tiny corner of the web, I hope to give you a glimpse into my world- the things that inspire me, surround me, and make me tick.  So, stay tuned and look for my musings every Wednesday.

Today, let’s jump in with my 12 favorite things!

1. nude heels  you really can’t go wrong with neutral pumps- such a versatile pair of shoes!

2. butler university my alma mater- go bulldogs!

3. nail polish coral polish is my pick for summer

4. ice cream let’s be honest, I could probably eat ice cream everyday- luckily, I have some self-control!

5. traverse city, mi warm weather, sandy beaches, great restaurants, cherry festivals & wineries- what more could you need?

6. photography I’m currently stoked about bonding with my fancy new DSLR camera

7. apple I’d be seriously lost without my iphone and macbook!

8. fresh flowers fragrant & beautiful, I love the way fresh flowers can brighten any room

9. reusable cups convenient + great for the environment, too

10. rockwell/republic if you ever find yourself in Grand Rapids, MI, this restaurant duo is a must!

11. crafting whether drawing, decorating, building, or sewing, I love to see what an idea can become

12. family I’m lucky to have such a fantastic family + marry into an equally great group

It’s warm. School is out.  It’s my favorite time of year.  It’s the time of year for grilling out, playing in the water, and driving with the top down.  But the real reason I love it so much, is that it’s the time of year when outdoor auctions kick in!  I can’t think too much …

It’s warm. School is out.  It’s my favorite time of year.  It’s the time of year for grilling out, playing in the water, and driving with the top down.  But the real reason I love it so much, is that it’s the time of year when outdoor auctions kick in!  I can’t think too much about the reason for the auction. It makes me sad to think about someone’s life of treasures laid out in a field in little brown boxes.  But oh the treasures!!  Where else can you find a 3 foot by 5 foot 2 inch thick slab of Carrara marble for $8.00?  Thank goodness my husband enjoys them too.  He goes for the books.  We went to an auction a couple of Saturdays ago that was on a beautiful piece of country property.  We ended up staying there for 5 hours.  The books were auctioned at the end, so they had us for the day. Yay!

While waiting for those books to come around, I snagged a cool metal lantern for $1.00, a pair of 8 foot weathered wood columns for $30, a tall weathered 8 foot long metal shelving unit for $20 and a 6’-6” long, extremely cool, extremely heavy timber for $5.00.  We’re turning that one into a long, skinny table… once I find someone who can cut the thing in half.  Or maybe a bench.  This one is very cool.

The books finally came up, and my husband got the box he wanted for $1.00.  The book he wanted in the box turned  out to be worth $250.00.  Not a bad purchase, huh?

I’ll let you know what else we find as the summer progresses.

  Just as certain colors can produce different moods, some products can provide enhancement through the sense of smell. One of my favorite things is when product reps bring in leather or cork. I absolutely love what it does to the atmosphere of a room. It definitely makes my mind drift and relaxes me. Yes, …

Just as certain colors can produce different moods, some products can provide enhancement through the sense of smell. One of my favorite things is when product reps bring in leather or cork. I absolutely love what it does to the atmosphere of a room. It definitely makes my mind drift and relaxes me. Yes, the fragrance is stronger when new. But I have found that even old leather holds a certain amount of scent, Sometimes that of the owner. But then that is a matter of something recognizable, the comfort of memory. Cork holds a similar effect. It seems to be a mixture of fresh cut wood with some characteristics of leather. For me the sense of smell is a strong indicator of my comfort in a room. I am willing to bet, that if blindfolded, you would be able to tell the difference between a room with wood paneling and one filled with stainless steel. Can you smell metal? I think so.

Different types of products also give different acoustical properties. Just as hard surfaces will reflect and bounce around sound. Softer more permeable surfaces will absorb. You can design to a certain feeling you would like to portray but in the end a client may prefer the cold sterile feeling of metal to the warm soft feeling of wood. I know I like both. It just depends on what room I want to be in. It’s like Goldilocks and the Three Bears. This one’s too soft, too hard, and just right. But then what’s “just right” is all a matter of opinion.

  Nashville, the home and heart of country music, but it’s also home to one of the best restaurants I’ve been to ever.  Burger Up, located right outside Vanderbilt in Nashville,TN is a small spacious burger joint boasting high quality ingredients and personal recipes (even the ketchup is hand made there). Many of the ingredients …

Nashville, the home and heart of country music, but it’s also home to one of the best restaurants I’ve been to ever.  Burger Up, located right outside Vanderbilt in Nashville,TN is a small spacious burger joint boasting high quality ingredients and personal recipes (even the ketchup is hand made there).

Many of the ingredients come straight from Tennessee and surrounding area farms.  But it’s not enough that the farms are local though; their culture and standards have to meet Burger Up’s.  I was able to snag one of their menus on the way out that dedicated the entire back to the story of Burger Up through the founder, Miranda Whitcomb:

“Next, with “Food, Inc” fresh on my mind and heavy on my heart, the decision was made to base the concept of Burger Up on the notion of thoughtful consuming.  In other words, I would take great care souring as many products as possible on Burger Up’s menu from local farms that treated their animals well, used sustainable farm practices and would allow me to visit unannounced.”

Obviously their big selling point is their burgers (I suggest the Woodstock if you ever venture to there), but everything from their salads, beer selection, and ranch is to die for.  The only thing that matches its food in excellence is the space itself.

“Fortunately, Nick Dryden was the architect on the entire development so naturally I had to use his aesthetic wisdom to help Burger Up “feel good”.  Each time I had an idea he approved, I thought myself very cool.  Then during the summer of 2009, my mother reminded me my grandfather saved a variety of rough cut wood planks for me.  Buck, my grandfather, was a naturalist before it was hip.  He wept when trees had to be cut but somehow knew those trees would be used again.  You see those trees in Burger Up.  Co-founder, Mike Pontes, with the design help of Nick, built all the tables and stools inside Burger Up – a true labor of love.  Additional wood was sourced at Woodstock Vintage Lumber right here in Nashville.  And yes, that is where the name of the burger comes from and it happens to be the best seller so far”.

Her ‘labor of love’ that she mentions with the use of the planks, tables, and chairs really does bring out the “feel good” vibe meant for the restaurant when you see it.  I love hearing stories of the founders getting their hands dirty (literally not figuratively) in the build up of their business and space.  It shows immediately that you’re dedicated to this idea, a goal, and the effort to drive it to something great.  Doesn’t it always sound better to say or hear “Actually I made that” or “I found those in the attic upstairs tucked away” instead of “We bought them at a discount at Pier 1”…?

This is the type of business I always hope to see grow and flourish.  This is the kind of place I will always go out of my way to support.  Thumbs up Burger Up, I’ll be sure to be back soon.

  I seem to be in crazy mood lately. I have been searching out some unconventional furniture and if I had the opportunity I feel I would be creating my own little wonderland. Here’s another gem I found via KoiKoiKoi that is right up my alley.  http://koikoikoi.com/ As you may or may not know I …

I seem to be in crazy mood lately. I have been searching out some unconventional furniture and if I had the opportunity I feel I would be creating my own little wonderland. Here’s another gem I found via KoiKoiKoi that is right up my alley.  http://koikoikoi.com/ As you may or may not know I love to play music. Someday I see myself having multiple themed rooms in my house. Not too campy. I’ll try to steer away from the “Jungle Room”. Elvis can keep that.  However, I still think I can have a fun “Rock and Roll” themed room and remain sleek and modern.

Rocket is an Italian design brand that incorporates musical elements into their products. I particularly like that they focus on form and functionality. The Rockstable, while being in the general shape of a guitar, is minimal in design and doesn’t try to be overbearing in its source of inspiration. The Wine Jack – wine rack emulates the input jacks on a stereo.

And who knows, maybe a modern version of the “Jungle Room” could work.

Check out Rocket here http://www.rocketdesign.it/

Original source

http://koikoikoi.com/2012/05/rockets-music-inspired-furniture/

  There is nothing like living in a 1950’s home that makes you appreciate more up to date/modern home furniture, appliances, and fixtures.  Maybe it’s the crumby lock system on our front door, or the 2 ft wide stairwell with an absurdly steep incline, heck; it could even be the exposed plumbing system.  Whatever it …

There is nothing like living in a 1950’s home that makes you appreciate more up to date/modern home furniture, appliances, and fixtures.  Maybe it’s the crumby lock system on our front door, or the 2 ft wide stairwell with an absurdly steep incline, heck; it could even be the exposed plumbing system.  Whatever it is, I can’t go a day without wanting to kick the wall/microwave/faucet…etc in anger.  To help relieve this home anxiety, it helps to see and read about how far we have come in home product design.  Here are three really cool home products available out there now to buy that everyone should upgrade to.  Do you have a product or a “wishlist” product,  comment about it below!

Nest ($250) – Is the product of former Apple employees wanting to make a difference in energy use and consumption.  You immediately notice its minimalistic “Apple design” quality with a seamless user experience.  It is putting thermostat makers in fits, and actually has some filing frivolous lawsuits in hopes of getting something out of it (instead of, God forbid, actually making a better product themselves).

Tunto Powerkiss Lamp ($1,400) – If the Tunto Powerkiss could talk it would probably say this on a daily basis, “Oh you know…just dishing out some light.  Let me charge that phone for you there….cords? psf.  Don’t I just look perfect in my gorgeous curvy design?”

The Electrolux Inspiro Oven ($1,600) – It cleans itself, and has the ability to judge and calculate what you are cooking and set the right temperature and time.  Also known as “A Dream Come True for a Guy Trying to Cook”.

  While some of you may have been born into this wonderful world of technological delights, some of us with a little more grey in our hair had to be forced in kicking and screaming. I sometimes have to laugh at how my daughter is constantly connected to, well, everything. I fondly remember times when …

While some of you may have been born into this wonderful world of technological delights, some of us with a little more grey in our hair had to be forced in kicking and screaming. I sometimes have to laugh at how my daughter is constantly connected to, well, everything. I fondly remember times when if you wanted me you had to come find me. That’s not to say that I wasn’t glued in front of the Atari or Nintendo if I got the chance.

One of my favorite locations for inspiration is KoiKoiKoi online visual arts magazine. http://koikoikoi.com/ It was here that I found a great piece of furniture with some nostalgic flair. This coffee table also doubles as an operational Nintendo NES controller. It is made by The Bohemian Workbench, a custom design studio out of Venice Beach California. Check out this and other work at www.bohoworkbench.com

Original source

http://koikoikoi.com/2012/04/working-nintendo-nes-controller-coffee-table/

  I had the opportunity to travel with a group of designers up to Steelcase Corporate Headquarters this past Tuesday and boy was it any eye opener! As a young designer, I enjoy having the chance to partake in these opportunities. I’m lucky to be invited and I’m also lucky to have a company that …

I had the opportunity to travel with a group of designers up to Steelcase Corporate Headquarters this past Tuesday and boy was it any eye opener! As a young designer, I enjoy having the chance to partake in these opportunities. I’m lucky to be invited and I’m also lucky to have a company that sees the value in having a glimpse of what I’d call “the bigger picture.”

I can’t pinpoint my favorite part of the trip, however the overall experience was eye-opening to the level of research and development that goes into each and every segment. Needless to say, Steelcase leads the charge in the way of researching the needs of now and what’s to come for future learning and corporate environments.  The future of what’s to come from Steelcase is cool to say the least (and that is saying about all that my disclaimer allowed me to say)…

It was amazing to see some of the grander scale, the hundreds and thousands of employees that share in the bigger picture. They all have their small and sometimes large contribution in helping to create anything from a chair to a tech savvy piece of media transmitting equipment. I want to thank Amy Boggs from Steelcase and Rebecca Dean from BFC for inviting me to share in an amazing and eye opening experience. My first trip to Grand Rapids was a great one and I hope to go again someday if the opportunity arises.

Here are some trip photos (taken on my iPhone, so not fantastic quality).

  Modern Design is the best kind of design.  Whew, I had to get that off my chest and out in the open. If I could, I would shout it from a mountain, but I don’t have a mountain I have a newsroom blog.  I had a teacher long ago tell me, “It’s sad really, …

Modern Design is the best kind of design.  Whew, I had to get that off my chest and out in the open. If I could, I would shout it from a mountain, but I don’t have a mountain I have a newsroom blog.  I had a teacher long ago tell me, “It’s sad really, we (USA) are so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to design”.  However true that statement may be, I do have to say we as a country are doing a lot better over these past few years.  And much of that credit goes to Steve Jobs and Apple.  I like to think the shifting trend started once the iPhone came out.  The unique simplicity and magical interface combined with the beautiful design helped usher in the idea that products can and should have great function AND form.  Companies took note, and started redesigning their products to reflect beauty, simplicity and open friendliness.  If you don’t believe me, take a look at Microsoft’s new Windows 8, soon to be released.  You know there is a modern trend brewing when Microsoft deems it official to jump onboard (not surprised they were one of the last though).

This trend doesn’t just apply to tech, and products, but interior and architectural spaces as well.  Maybe it’s just me, but when I see good design, I want to support it by buying its products or using its services.  It’s the quintessential idea that “we take care and thought into everything that has our name and brand on it”.  We used to be a place of chew up, and spit out cookie cutter spaces and buildings.  The change is happening, but ever so slowly.  Here are 3 awesome modern designed spaces found right here in the good old US of A.  Do you have a favorite/famous American modern design space?  Comment, and share it with us below.

1. Chipotle Mexican Grill (Various US Locations) – Chipotle is setting the gold standard for the 21^st Century fast dining experience.  Everything they do from their food, service, and restaurant is designed with (modern) perfection.  They have the Burger Kings and McDonalds jumping through hoops trying to meet the high new standards they’ve set.

2. The Fletcher Jones Audi/Volkswagen dealership (Chicago, IL) – This dealership has incorporated textured wall panels to give the building a unique architectural element while using creative open window panes.

3. Live Strong Headquarters (Austin, TX) – The home base for the fight against cancer functions with so many purposes and ideas.  Its open space reinforces team collaboration and gives the feeling of a city street with multiple heights, textures and colors.  It has a gold-rated LEED certified status with numerous reused materials.