Mondrian Inspired

Bit of a hiatus last week from the blogosphere. But as those of you who know me best are well aware, I like to go MIA from time to time. Just for a little bit. So anyway, back down to business. Busy weeks last couple, and LOTS of new ideas inspired by recent projects. Like today's theme, which is Mondrian. Now, I can't exactly tell you how I got to Piet, as I can't disclose who I was designing for; but when I got there I completely fell in love. Let me disclose, it's been a LONG time since I've looked at Mondrian, or tried to use it in design. But I think that time has come again. I like the big bold geometry going on here. The tension of shifting things just slightly off of symmetry. And then of course, what I'm loving the most is the idea of lineweight. Those black lines at varying thicknesses. The way they are outlining shapes and spaces(nice abstract idea on it's own across all of the design disciplines). In terms of what's out there relative to Mondrian, there isn't exactly as much decor and fashion as you'd think. Particularly on the runway, which I was really shocked by. Turns out you have to go ALL the way back to the 1960's to see Mondrian in Yves Saint Laurent. So I gathered up what I could find, and am generally working on the assumption that we're early to the party on this trend... Hope you enjoy!

Thomas-Michael

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Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Mondrian, Number 2.

So here we go. This is the painting I always think of when I think Mondrian. It's easily my favorite. Relative to the others, I love this one for it's refinement, and extreme size variation in the color fields.

Thomas-Michael DelSordo

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Mondrian Inspired Pattern.

Here's the sketch that I was working with for a recent project that inspired the whole post. You can see that just this variation in lineweight and balancing of spatial field sizes does amazing things in terms of creating spatial/graphic texture as well as 'depth'.

cappellini.it

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Cappellini Cabinet.

Now into some products that we can all use. This and the below are some gorgeous Mondrian inspired cabinets from Cappellini.

cappellini.it

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Cappellini Cabinet.

Another great Mondrian piece from Cappellini. I could see using this in a room that has zero other reference to Mondrian. Where it could just kind of be bold on it's own, and contrast.

polyvore.com

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Ruthie Davis Pumps.

From fashion, you can find these Mondrian inspired Ruthie Davis pumps which are really cute. I love the color variation in these in how she's deviating slightly from the default primary color scheme. I did something slightly different with the color fields, but we'll have to wait a little to see those...

polyvore.com

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, Kara Ross Clutch Handbag.

A clutch handbag from Kara Ross. As everything Mondrian, excessively clean, refined, and elegant in design.

ysl.com

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, The Original 1960's Yves Saint Laurent Mondrian Dress.

I was sure I had seen a Mondrian dress before but couldn't come up with it until I found the original. A YSL dress from the 60's. Thinking we're not too far off from seeing this on the runway again...

Thomas-Michael DelSordo

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, An Interior Sketch For A Mondrian Rug.

And lastly as I usually do when I have a new theme in mind, a couple of super quick sketches in 3D in a default interior setting. Thinking I'd like to design a Mondrian rug...

Thomas-Michael DelSordo

Mondrian Inspired Decor And Fashion, An Interior Sketch For A Mondrian Rug.

Really loving it, what do you think...? Hope you enjoyed...!

A Few Chic French Country Chairs

Hi. My name is Thomas-Michael, and I have an addiction to french country. Just kidding. Well, not really. Truth is I'm not exactly sure what it is about these pieces that I overly enjoy, but I do. They've got so much character. They're rustic and worn, but still as chic as anything slick and contemporary. They also have all of those incredible hand-crafted details that are so amazing. So, as I usually do when I remember to, or when it's just on the mind like it was this morning; I go check out this amazing little website I found about a year ago that has a small but really beautifully curated selection of antique provincial pieces. All merchandised gorgeously. It's truly a secret little find, and it's called 'The French Garden House'. It's where the below chairs as well as other things I'm sure I'll be posting about in the near future came from. So, just a quickie, a few chairs to get started for today; and for anyone who wants to visit the site on their own, there is a link provided immediately below each of the post images.

Thomas-Michael

frenchgardenhouse.com

Shabby Rustic Chic Antique French Country Chairs.
So here we go. I'm starting off with this gorgeous white on white Louis XV French style bergere. It's just really elegant, isn't it. Like I said above, I also love the way these chairs are merchandised. Love that newspaper wallpaper in the background.

frenchgardenhouse.com

Shabby Rustic Chic Antique French Country Chairs.
This is almost slightly medieval I think in it's form. Very strict and serious looking. Love it. I'm showing the back because I love the old wooden frames on these chairs. Really gorgeous.

frenchgardenhouse.com

Shabby Rustic Chic Antique French Country Chairs.
Some of the beautiful details in the chairs that I was referring to above. The caning is amazing here. Love everything about these chairs.

frenchgardenhouse.com

Shabby Rustic Chic Antique French Country Chairs.
And lastly for today's quickie post, a gorgeous vintage Louis XV upholstered daybed. This is such an incredible piece. Look at the curvature and the detailing on the frame. And so chic with that old gold gilt. All really beautiful. This is a theme I'm sure I'll have to come back to again, very soon.

Fashion Accessories, Gucci Watches

Ladies first. I'll get to some men's watches in the not too distant future, if not next post.

So, as we all know, there are a LOT of predictable looking watches out there. I'll leave certain notable watch brands nameless, and say rather, I decided to scope out Gucci instead.

Turned out to be a great decision. As rather than a canonical batch of tradition, I found more than a few gorgeous shapes, material combinations, and interesting details. The Gucci watches are classic. But not in a boring way. A little different, and fashionable. There are a lot of distinct styles to choose from for being just one brand. And within each style, a matrix of variations. I like multiplicative distinction. And I love variation. In terms of design, I think they rise above the convention of simply needing a watch, or of having a nice/expensive one purely for the sake of it. These each have a stylistic impulse that signals accessory or jewelry more than function or repetitious nostalgia. They each have an aesthetic life onto themselves. And they're all highly noticable, fun, and playful. While still remaining elegant and sophisticated at once. In short, I think it's a best of both worlds situation...

Now, in terms of where to find them. I grabbed all of these from the same place for everyone's shopping convenience. So all you have to do is click on one of the below images and it will take you straight to that particular watch with all of it's relevant information, in a new window, on the Blue Nile website. Clearly as evidenced below, they have a great selection to choose from.

Thomas-Michael

Left To Right:
Gucci Ladies' Twirl Collection Watch
Gucci Women's Steel Watch
Gucci Women's Chiodo Watch

Fashion Accessories, Women's Gucci Watches.
I'm starting off with the three most distinct watches. All a little mod in terms of shape and materials. Maybe even 'Art Deco'. All extremely clean stylistically. I love the stripes on the first one and how it's all one width, like a bracelet. Super refined. The middle watch in gold has very beautifully subtle mod details like those oblong rounded corners. And on the right, I love how minimal that face is, and how it allows that big bold circular shape to come through. All really clean and gorgeous design here...

Left To Right:
Gucci Women's Petite 6800 Series Watch
Gucci Women's Bangle Watch
Gucci Women's 6800 Series Watch

Fashion Accessories, Women's Gucci Watches.
I absolutely love the shape on these. And the materials, particularly on the first two. The shapes remind me of the Spanish architect Antonio Gaudi. Biomorphic and 'Art Nouveau' I think. Really clean faces here again. The shapes bordering between lavish and refined in such a careful balance. Really beautiful.

Left To Right:
Gucci Women's Signoria Watch
Gucci Signoria Diamond Square Mother-Of-Pearl Dial Women's Watch
Gucci Women's Signoria Watch

Fashion Accessories, Women's Gucci Watches.
Definitely 'Art Nouveau' here. Really classic. The shapes are completely amazing. And I love the way that square face is at once floating and locked within them. I particularly like the one with the leather strap. The mixing of materials between the hardware and the strap is nice I think. Gives it a certain texture relative to the other two. But honestly can't take my eye off of that interesting geometry. It's skeletal in a really soft beautiful way.

Mixed:
Gucci Women's Synthetic, Leather, Steel, And 3900 Series Watches

Fashion Accessories, Women's Gucci Watches.
And lastly, these are the simplest of the batch. But still very playful in terms of materials, colors, face texture, and the extremity of that narrow proportion. Super slim, thin, and sexy. Think they would all work equally as well in dressy and casual situations.

Now remember, you can scope any of these watches out on the Blue Nile website simply by clicking on the respective image above...Best, Thomas-Michael