This weekend’s adventure was extra fun as we added a new member to our design team. Rather than the just Laura and I visiting the Interior Design Show in Toronto we were joined by our new arrival, Anna. We thought it was a natural fit given her natural sense of aesthetic design and the fact that we couldn’t exactly leave her at home. When we arrived at the Metro Toronto Convention center we decided to escort little Anna around in her stroller. There were a few highlights for us at the show and we took some pictures of some interesting things we saw. So let me introduce all the members of our design team.
1. Anna Puopolo – the newest addition to our design team. She likes soft things and textures. Gets upset when things get soggy namely her own clothing (therefore best to stay away from water features. Only operates on a full stomach. You can connect with her @AnnaPuopolo
2. Laura Puopolo – She is the glue to the entire operation and has been a part of the team for over 10 years. She has eclectic tastes, likes traditional designs and forms. She likes clean simple lines, and uncluttered design. When it comes to our relationship she is the sober Ying to my drunken Yang in terms of form over function. You can connect with her @LauraPuopolo
3. Joseph Puopolo – I am the dreamer of the group. Always looking to make projects bigger and crazier. I like fusion of both modern and traditional. I am actively looking for new projects after the completion of my latest work which, I call “upstairs baby room number 1”. I have my eye on the future and upcoming designs for new space our ever growing design team. I can be contacted as always @jpuopolo
1. Cool Tulip Arrangement
The first thing we came across was this interesting composition of flowers. I this would be a great way to display flowers at a head table. Seeing that I planted over 700 bulbs around the property, this display might come in handy.
2. A Duo of Lovely Fireplaces
We are always looking for new ways to warm space. We stumbled across these two fireplaces that we thought would be great for a cottage or a new home. Anna is already thinking of ways to incorporate one into her new room, while Laura is looking to integrate into into a potential new Master Bath.
3. When Form Runs Amok over Function
The entire design team were aghast when we stumbled by this next display. This was the ultimate example of when ego ruins design. The booth was run by a Toronto gallery. I love fine art, but I must say I would never go to this gallery on principle alone. This display took the beauty of art and just reduced it to a child begging their parent and saying “look at me”. Our design team was not impressed.
4. Bronze Rubbed Appliances ?
The next interesting thing we stumbled upon was bronze rubbed appliances. We are having trouble understanding this trend. While stainless steel makes sense to us because it has been the standard in professional kitchens for over 100 years. Bronze rubbed appliances just comes off as trend created to sell more appliances to those that are trend followers. This unit featured is from Jenn Air, again while we like the brand we are not sure why Bronze rubbed appliances are all the rage.
5. Wine Cellars Galore
Our whole team loves a fine vintage as much as anyone. During our travels, we like to collect wines from local vineyards. We found a great company that does custom wine cellars. The one company we were particularly impressed with was Papro Consulting. They had a variety of impressive wine cellar designs.
6. The Highlight of the Show – The All New Audi A7
The highlight of the show was hands down the new Audi A7. As our design team grows we recognize that we will need more space. As in any excellent design this sedan does an excellent job hiding its true intent. This vehicle is a fantastic storage space on wheels with a body of a sedan. As our current design mobile nears the end of its lease we recognize that this might just be the perfect replacement.
Check out some of the pictures we shot, please excuse the drool marks on the car. Those were mostly left by Anna, but for completely different reasons than you might normally think.
Great Profile and Fantastic Lines
Love the look of the new Audi A7
Ample Storage Space in the New A7
January 30, 2011
Although it may seem counterintuitive, Anna seems to have added maturity to your design team. That one additional perspective seems to have rounded out your team’s appreciation of all the nuances involved in such diverse subject matter.
January 31, 2011
Bronze is a traditional metal in Indian kitchens in the villages. Of course they don’t have bronze finished ovens and faucets, but the pots and pans and the sink is usually bronze. Gave us a great idea on how to bring in a little bit of the Indian touch to our kitchen – especially since we’re making a trip to India and the pots and pans are going to be a steal!