LIFE-ENHANCING DESIGN
A special guest arrived at the World Trade Center in Dallas during June Market. She arrived without a lot of fanfare, but her presence was most assuredly known and felt by the many people who wanted to meet one of the world’s most sought after designers, Clodagh.
After speaking to an enraptured audience, Clodagh, the Irish-born, New York-based designer, made her way to the Erdos + Ko Home showroom where she signed copies of her book, Clodagh: Life-Enhancing Design. At over 200 pages, the coffee table tome is filled with full-page photography of the designer’s integral residential and hospitality projects that have shaped her wildly successful and extensive career. The text covers her design philosophy— a firm believer in the tenets of integrative medicine, Clodagh embraces both ancient and cutting-edge methods in an effort to comfort not only the body but also the soul. Clodagh incorporates such modalities as Chromotherapy and biophilia into her distinctive projects.
Some of Clodagh’s award-winning commercial and residential projects covered in the book include Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona, W Hotels, Six Senses Douro Valley Resort and Spa, East Hotel in Miami, and apartment complexes such as The Caledonia, Abington House and Citizen 360, to name just a few. One of her most recent projects, Six Senses Kaplankaya, located on the Aegean coast in Turkey, was recently named by Condé Nast Traveler as “the hottest spot in Turkey.” Clodagh also just announced her latest project with Grand Hyatt on the Cayman Islands, slated to open in 2020.
Entering a Clodagh-designed space is an experience of both serenity and indulgence. She believes that clutter undermines serenity, but minimalism should not be self-denying, and she balances these principles with her signature style, described as “Life-Enhancing Minimalism.”
In much the same way, when you enter the Erdos + Ko Home showroom, you at once feel the balance of modern design; with its minimalistic lines and decoration, it is both eye-catching and obviously of superior quality.
So, it makes perfect sense that Clodagh would team with John Erdos and Louis Koay for the release of her line of furniture. This collection will be available beginning January 2019 at Erdos + Ko.
If you are a student, practitioner or simply a fan of fantastic design, then you will want to own a copy of Clodagh: Life-Enhancing Design. If, rather than looking at great design you would rather own it, then visit Erdos + Ko and pick from Clodagh’s product line or the other incredible offerings.
469-867-0757
erdosandko.com
BRAND FUSION
Dallas Midtown is getting a well-deserved makeover.
Acting as an anchor for the $4 billion, mixed-used development project, which will include retail, restaurant, residential and entertainment space, is the dual-brand AC Hotel and Residence Inn Dallas by the Galleria. Offering 256 rooms (140 as part of the AC Hotel and 116 suites in the Residence Inn), this European-inspired property is the first Texas hotel by Pacific Hospitality Group (PHG).
“The AC Hotel and Residence Inn Dallas by the Galleria reflects the growing entrepreneurial- minded business scene in North Texas, with amenities like an on-site co-working space, free Wi-Fi and a business center,” says Pamela Mims, director of sales.
5G Studio Collaborative and Ink + Oro Creatives were the architects and interior designers, respectively, for the property, which fuses the needs of both short- and extended-stay clients. Its European-inspired lobby is expansive yet welcoming and provides a social hub where guests can dine, work, drink and entertain. Natural walnut wood and soft luxe fabrics were used to create a warm and appealing atmosphere.
“The open and voluminous lobby creates an interchanging contrast of intimacy with an inviting expanse. Accents of midnight blue in the light and airy interior guide patrons as they experience lounge areas and work zones, fostering socialization and relaxation. The use of low-profile furniture allows for an unobstructed view from entry to courtyard, connecting interior and exterior seamlessly to ultimately become a part of the pedestrian realm of the envisioned district,” says Patricia Tram, lead designer on the project from Ink + Oro Creatives.
The rooms of the AC Hotel were carefully curated and feature a sleek European style along with workstations, while the Residence Inn’s one- and two-bedroom suites were designed for longer-stay guests and feature a spacious, functional living area with a fully equipped kitchen.
5G Studio created the perfect architectural structure to house both brands, merging AC Hotel’s Spanish architectural heritage with the modern urbanism of Dallas. “As an anchor project of the up-and-coming Midtown District, we had the unique opportunity to define a bold, elegant and daring aesthetic that seeks to set the tone for future surrounding properties,” says Laurel Stone, principal of 5G Studio Collaborative.
As the first completed project for the Midtown Makeover, PHG has set the standard for developments to come.
“This property offers two unique and complementary options that leisure and business travelers, alike, will appreciate—a stylish, seamless experience at AC or the comforts of a home away from home at Residence Inn,” Tim Busch, CEO and founder of PHG says. 469-399-1013
achotels.marriott.com/hotels/ac-hotel-dallas-by-the-galleria
SATISFYING THE ADULT SWEET TOOTH
When Sugarfina, the luxury candy boutique for grown-ups, sought to shake up the happy hour concept, they turned to Austin’s own Tito’s Handmade Vodka, America’s original award-winning craft vodka, to create a limited-edition collection that will satisfy any adult sweet tooth and make a unique gift for any occasion. The “Vodka Is Always a Good Idea” Candy Bento Box is filled with Tito’s American Mule Bears, Tito’s Vodka Cordials and a mini mule mug.
The American Mule Bears are the newest adult gummy bear, infused with Tito’s and a splash of real ginger beer. Add a few bears to your glass of Tito’s for the perfect pairing. Containing less than five percent alcohol by weight/volume, the cordials are a rich, dark chocolate filled with a sip of the super smooth Tito’s that Texans have come to love.
The newest Sugarfina store is located at the Shops of Legacy West in north Plano. Surrounded by luxury brands and fine dining, Sugarfina provides the perfect stop during an evening out or a day of shopping. Offering gourmet candy collections made by candy artisans from around the world, Sugarfina brings out the kid with adult tastes.
469-209-6537
sugarfina.com
FASHION MEETS ART
Charlie Lyon, internationally renowned Maui-based artist, and Maui Jim, the sunglasses brand born on the beaches of Maui and recognized for unparalleled “Aloha Spirit,” have teamed up for a curated collection of limited-edition sunglasses. The unique, fashion-forward line brings the spirit of the islands to life with two new frames—Vibes and Rhythm. Like all Maui Jim sunglasses, both styles feature the company’s revolutionary lens technology—Polarized- Plus2—which provides the most advanced sun protection available and blocks harmful UV rays while improving contrast and enhancing visual acuity.
“I identify with the Maui Jim brand and rely on their lenses to help me see the true colors of my environment, so when the opportunity to work on a second collaboration arose, I was stoked,” says Lyon. “As an artist with an active lifestyle, I’ve always been inspired by nature, so my painting in each frame tells the story of the rhythm and vibes of life in the islands.”
The classic frame lines of each style are elevated with Lyon’s detailed triptych paintings, made up of three separate canvases, that showcase a single story of animals, natural elements and the rhythm of Maui’s active ocean lifestyle. The Curated Collection offers three different color options: black gloss, navy blue and tortoiseshell.
“At Maui Jim, we believe the outside world is a work of art. Charlie Lyon is an exceptional artist who captures the essence of Hawai‘i and the natural beauty of the islands and ocean, and we couldn’t be more excited to introduce a one-of-a-kind sunglass collection developed with him,” says Diego de Castro, Maui Jim’s director of brand strategy.
The Curated Collection, which is also available in prescription, is made with Maui Jim’s optically correct, distortion-free lenses, featuring patented lens treatments, and color and clarity enhancement. This limited-edition collection will be available on mauijim.com and at specific local retailers.
mauijim.com
THE EMERGING FUTURE
ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) is an organization that promotes the education and professionalism of the interior design community. Led by and filled with a membership of professionals who have worked in the industry for years, it is also important and integral to the organization’s future to nurture the next generation of designers and help them launch their careers.
The Texas chapter’s immediate past chair Debra Stewart, Andra Schwenk, co-chair of Dallas Emerging Professionals, and Grayson Knight of Dallas Design Group recently formed the Emerging Design Peer Group, along with support from the current chair, Carrie Barron. Its mission is to foster meaningful and lifelong relationships between emerging designers and seasoned professionals within the ASID Texas Dallas Design Community, with the expectation that this will create opportunities for growth and leadership for these designers in ASID.
Every month, emerging designers—those in the early stages of their design career (the first five years after graduation)— are introduced in small groups to experienced designers, vendors and craftspeople. The “evenings of conversation,” where the emerging designers can ask questions and get specific direction to enhance their careers, are scheduled within a calendar year and meet in the home or office of a seasoned, or legacy, ASID designer or industry partner. The meeting formats alternate between project tours, workroom visits, showroom tours, industry partner tours and evenings of conversation.
As the monthly meetings continue, the emerging designers are encouraged to rely on each other as a source of information and support, which, it is hoped, will carry on the length of their careers. The intent for this group is to lead designers into successful careers, establish a relationship within the ASID community and grow the future leadership of ASID.
tx.asid.org
RECLAIMED ART
“My art career started from a pile of scrap wood and unusable planks,” says Ryan Ekmark, owner of Recovered Calling.
This is not the normal entry to an art career, but then Ekmark is not producing any normal type of art. While he was a fine art minor in college, it was only in the past year that he began to pursue his art, in addition to being a nurse. It was while sanding down used wood he had laying around from a reclaimed barn that he noticed the individuality and depth in every piece of lumber.
“At once I began to imagine designing something a lot more intricate and complex than a simple brick pattern. I began to experiment with a few pieces,” Ekmark says. “My initial attempts appeared rustic and linear, which didn’t capture the presentation I was visualizing. Adding color, using new equipment and being more selective enabled me to take my art to another level.”
What Ekmark creates is oneof- a-kind geometric wood art. The sky is the limit when it comes to size because he creates everything custom. And, just like no two pieces of wood are alike, no two designs are alike.
All of the wood comes from old fences, and he says the more weathered the better. He begins each piece, which can take anywhere from eight to 20 hours or more to complete, by cleaning and sanding the wood. Once that is completed Ekmark cuts and assembles the wood into a kaleidoscope of patterns and then paints the wood.
The end result is an amazing assortment of prismatic work that is mesmerizing and beautiful.
Ekmark displays his work at local art shows and accepts commissions. Follow him on Instagram @recoveredcalling.
214-802-1845
recoveredcalling@yahoo.com
CLOSE-UP: STUDENT OF THE WORLD
One designer making a name for herself while, literally, getting a world-wide education in design is Mackenzie Wood. A graduate of LSU with a bachelor’s in interior design, Wood loves to travel and spent the summer after graduation interning with Judith Farran in Barcelona, Spain. There, she learned to be space conscious, since most apartments were little more than 800 square feet. “Everything had to serve a purpose and more often, multiple purposes,” Wood says.
Returning to the United States, her first job was as a junior project manager for Alessandra Branca in Chicago. After a year of learning more than she could imagine, the cold weather brought this Houston native back where she belongs and, after settling in Austin, she started building her own design business using the online platform Homepolish. Wood completed numerous projects in Austin, but it was the complete restoration of a two-bed, two-bath project in Midtown Manhattan that was the latest chapter in her education.
“The project required most of my attention for the past year and, honestly, made me realize that I still had a lot to learn,” Wood says.
Wood is now a designer and project manager at Bandd Design in Austin. An associate member of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), she became a designer after her grandmother, who holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture, also from LSU’s illustrious design school, invited her to try the design program. It didn’t take long for Wood to realize that working in the creative field was what she wanted.
Wood’s design aesthetic runs to more simple, comfortable styles. “I don’t need over-thetop or over embellished. It should feel lived-in, where you are not afraid to sit on a seat because it has $800 fabric on it,” she says. “I prefer comfort over form and a design that fits the lifestyle of the client.”
It would seem Wood has found her own home since her attitude fits perfectly with Bandd Design, which believes that design should feel effortless, approachable, interesting and purposeful.
512-888-9313
bandddesign.com
TWINNING!
The Brady Brunch combined a man and woman and their six children. What happened next was—in 1970s television parlance—“ hilarity ensued.”
So, when fraternal twin sisters Heather and Heidi decided to combine their talents and launch an interior design business together with their husbands, Heidi had to uproot her family of six (husband Paul and their four children) from San Diego and move in with Heather and her family (husband Tyson and their three children). All living under one roof, the two couples and their seven children embarked on an adventure of design and blended lifestyle. And, hilarity ensued.
All of this plays out in the new reality television series Design Twins. The 10-episode series focuses on how the twins and their husbands build their design business in a truly unique way while also dealing with the challenges of combining their families in one home. Thankfully, both husbands have a lifetime of experience with large families; Paul is the oldest of 12 children and Tyson is a triplet.
Each episode follows the twins as they navigate their unique living situation, while also featuring a client project that demonstrates their incredible design style. The series culminates with the publication of Heather and Heidi’s book, which promotes their lifestyle brand, Joyful Living. In the final episode, the twins and their families invite friends and special guests (including the editor of this publication) to the release party for the book. The event is held at The Station—a new special event venue operated in historic downtown McKinney by Tumbleweed Salvage & Goods (an advertiser in this publication).
It is truly a small world, and that is part of the appeal of Design Twins. The show revels in its cozy charm and the approachableness of Heather and Heidi. The two exemplify their joyful living brand.
Look for Design Twins this fall on UPtv. UP is a familyfriendly network that programs shows the entire family can watch together. Offering original series as well as classic TV shows, like Gilmore Girls, Home Improvement and America’s Funniest Home Videos, UP provides an assortment of family and faith-affirming movies and series.
The channel is carried by DirectTV, U-Verse, Spectrum, Dish and FIOS. Check your listings for channel number.
(Full disclosure: The editor of Dallas Style & Design was invited to play a role, as himself, in two episodes of the show.)
uptv.com
