the details: a few essentials for beautiful minimalist interiors

Design is in the details.  I believe this.  In modern design, the best details are the ones that appear simple. 

I say appear, because usually much more precision and attention to craft needs occur in order for them to be executed properly.

To achieve the minimalist, clean aesthetic often demands veering from the path of standard construction methods.  Items that must be left behind: trim, filler panels, coverplates and other ways of hiding less than perfect construction.  

Here are a few products I've stumbled upon throughout the years. Some of which I am lucky to be using on a current project.  

I just love minimalist solutions.  I hope you do too!

1. Bocci Collection 22: wall accessories | trimless outlets for power, data, phone and switching

2. i-LeD: technical series, :  trimless, recessed LED ceiling lights | energy efficient, minimal with a variety of sizes and applications

3. Lutron: lighting controls and systems (you can even control your lights remotely with your iphone!)

4. Architectural Devices:  Modern Smoke Detector | beautiful trimless flush-mounted smoke-detector

5. Quick Drain: Lineal Drains | 1 1/2" wide linear drains with a variety of cover grills (so much better than the typical center drain!)

6. Mecho-shade: manual and motorized shading systems | these are beautiful recessed + motorized!

 7. Amina: invisible wall/ceiling speakers | totally concealed in-wall audio speakers

 

design to solve

As any good designer will tell you, "good" design is not purely defined by something looking nice, it must be a good solution to the problem or task it addresses.  A well-known quote by Charles Eames reiterates this definition:

Design is the appropriate combination of materials in order to solve a problem

Some of us look at the immediate design problems while others go further.  How can design solve larger problems such as global social and environmental problems?  Here is a small and growing list of groups, projects and networks *(and books) that use the creativity of design to empower change for the greater good.  Feel free to add any others you may know of in the comments section or via the contact form, I would love to keep this list growing.

Seeing design as a solution to large scale issues is inspiring to me.  It fuels a life-long goal/mission of mine, as a designer, to work in and bring awareness to the importance of socially and environmentally conscious design. Wanna help?  Check out links to what I have so far. (pages link to sites)

1. architecture for humanity:

2. open architecture network [by architecture for humanity]

3. Design 21

4. design incubator [pratt institute for sustainable innovation]

5. rural studio [auburn univerisity]

 6. design ignites change

7. social designer: goods for the greater good

 8. project h design

9. book: do good design by david b. berman

10. book: a design revolution:100 products that empower people by emily pilloton [via GOOD]