LAB | Custom Seating
At blocHaus LAB, we strive to find innovative and creative solutions to meet the needs of the space. We love a challenge when crafting a new design, and the booths for The Kennison in Chicago were one of our favorites! Take a look below for an inside peek at the inspirations and process behind this custom seating.
Creative concepts lead to unique custom solutions - the inspiration for The Kennison focused on a nostalgic American revival
![03[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5eac62f289a3bf4e15a3e27c/1610060245126-ONDRUL91WDZTP1HL7R51/03%5B1%5D.jpg)
Combining straight and curved lines creates balance, and the mix of textures and colors in the upholstery adds interest to the seats. We also love the elegant mix of warm woods, brass details, and stone tops at the perimeter. The final result was a unique and beautiful solution to the space’s seating needs!
2021 SW Color of The Year
It all begins with an idea.
Sherwin Williams - Urbane Bronze
We saw grey paint hit the trends a few years ago - every apartment, commercial building, retail store, etc. was painted a shade of grey as it was the new “classic”. I still dont think grey paint is out per-say, but this year, we are seeing a return to warmth. These neutrals that we have become accustomed to lack the warm under tones that helps a space feel balanced. Sherwin Williams caught onto this trend too and has announced their 2021 color of the year - Urbane Bronze.
This dark Bronze tone looks like a charcoal, near black, in space but when you look at it next to a true black, you realize just how warm it truly is. As human beings, we all crave warmth and comfort - its part of how we are hardwired. Whether we notice it or not, we naturally gravitate towards spaces that make us feel welcome, comforted and at home.
Sources (top left to bottom right):
Chair - And Tradition
Pendant - Ross Gardam
Swivel Chair - Horne
Mirror - Lulu & Georgia
Lamp -
Sconce - Ross Gardam
Ottoman - Lawson Fenning
Side Table - Pfeifer Studio
Rug - Linie Design
Coffee Table - Hollis + Morris
Planters - Design Milk
Sofa - Hem
Trend | Curved Shapes in Furniture, Lighting, & Accessories
Objects of Desire | Nabil Issa
We love curved shapes in architecture, but love them just as much in furniture, lighting, and accessories. Rounded shapes and curved lines add a playful touch while maintaining a contemporary and sophisticated look. With the growing trend in modern curvilinear design, there’s been a corresponding growth in curve-inspired products - take a look at some of our favorites below!
TABLES + STORAGE
SEATING
ACCESSORIES
LIGHTING
Custom light fixtures at Half Nelson | design by blocHaus
What are your favorite curve-inspired products?
Trends | Curved Shapes in Architecture
Curved shapes are nothing new in design and can be found everywhere from archways to circular staircases. Used properly, curves can add sophistication and interest to a space, softening hard lines and adding a touch of the unexpected. Design is constantly evolving and curvilinear forms are showing up more and more lately - take a look below at some of our favorite curve-inspired architecture and design details!
Curves can be integrated in lots of different ways. We love adding curves into the architectural details and millwork for a contemporary and sophisticated look - banquette seating, bar fronts, and wall storage can all be opportunities for great curvilinear design.
Curved ceiling transitions can add a lot of drama to a space, transforming the wall and ceiling into a single surface for unique designs. And as these spaces show, curved ceilings are versatile - they can be sleek and contemporary, or detailed and ornate!
Arches are another curved element that we’re seeing more lately. Rounded corners help soften architecture and add interest to doorways, enclosed seating areas, or custom millwork. We love the modern elegance of these curved openings and arches!
What curved design concepts inspire you?
Team Picks: 2020
As 2020 draws to a close, we can all agree that it’s been a roller coaster of a year! But while the world got turned on its head, companies still rolled up their sleeves and released amazing new product lines. We all need a little extra dose of creativity sometimes, these collections kept our team inspired - take a look at some of our favorite 2020 product launches below!
T I L E
T E X T I L E S
F L O O R I N G
C O U N T E R T O P S
W A L L C O V E R I N G
L I G H T I N G
F U R N I T U R E
What product inspirations have you found in 2020?
Outdoor Spaces
We all know that outdoor spaces became a lot more important this year. And although the trend was initially based on necessity, outdoor dining areas and lounges can be just as creative and design-driven as indoor spaces! Below are some of our favorite outdoor spaces that are inspiring us for next season.
Rise on Chauncey | design by blocHaus
We love great outdoor amenity spaces - bold colors and graphics combined with games, firepits, and outdoor cabanas make these outdoor areas a destination!
Mixing tiles with a green wall or adding a unique overhead structure add a lot of interest to these outdoor dining areas.
Geometric wall tiles and screens are the focal points of these modern outdoor spaces - we love the bold look of each!
What outdoor spaces are inspiring you for next season?
LAB | Custom Branding
At blocHaus LAB, we work closely with clients to develop meaningful concepts for their projects. This often goes beyond the interiors and extends into creating unique and customized brands - here’s an insider look at part of the branding process for Sparrow Coffee:
We collaborated with our clients to design the Sparrow Coffee logo and signage
Beyond creating the logo, we also designed their cups and product packaging to perfectly coordinate with the rest of the branding and interior design!
As part of both the design work and branding process, we created custom brass art pieces to reflect the business’ name and brand - the final result is a beautiful sparrow feature wall!
Team Picks: Winter Wall Coverings
It all begins with an idea.
By this time of year, we are used to seeing a lot more frost than 2020 has given us. Don’t worry fellow mid-westerners, it will happen sooner than you think!
Every year in Chicago, we watch the lake evolve with the seasons and it does something quite impressive in the winter. It freezes over and forms these jagged puzzles of art. Each one, inspires an interesting pattern of geometric and organic lines. Take a look at the collection of wall coverings we have curated below that remind us of this unique natural process.
Sources Top Left to Bottom Right
Carnegie Textiles - Mojave
Carnegie - Kaleidoscope
Phillip Jeffries - Sea Spray
Holly Hunt - Dream Weaver
Phillip Jeffries - Fade
Phillip Jeffries - Brushstroke
Wolf Gordon - Luana
Maya Romanoff - Blue Agate
What Metal is Right for You?
Brass may seem like an obvious trend since we are seeing it everywhere; hotels, restaurants, homes, retail… but brass isn’t a new thing. Just because it is “in” now, doesn’t mean that it’s going out. Brass is the new normal in metal finishes. It used to be hard to find modern hardware and finishes in a timeless brass finish, but now its a standard you can find in plumbing fixtures, cabinetry hardware, door hardware, millwork, etc.
To guide you towards the finish thats best for your project, please see our breakdown below!
@apogeelounge design by blocHaus
BRASS
Pros: Adds warmth, feels classy and sophisticated. Comes in several finishes. Easily mixed with other materials. Looks like gold, but its less costly. Strong and resistant to corrosion. Very malleable - ideal for casting
Cons: Can patina with age.
Design by Crosby Studios
COPPER
Pros: Adds warmth, and element of playfulness. Strong and resistant to heat. Malleable.
Cons: Will patina with age and can be perceptible to corrosion. Challenging to mix with other materials.
Design by Shea McGee Designs
NICKEL
Pros: Comes in a polished and satin finish. Adds a transitional aesthetic. Warmer than polished chrome. Classic, doesn’t go out of style.
Cons: More expensive than chrome and stainless steel. Requires periodic maintenance.
@sparrowcoffee design by blocHaus
BLACK
Pros: Contemporary, matches everything. Adds contrast to millwork and doors.
Cons: Can be cold, dark. Depending on the material, the finish can be scratched off if not used correctly.
Sustainability | Tile
As we all know, there are a lot of sustainable materials and finishes on the market today. One product we find ourselves using constantly is tile, and luckily for us, there are lot of tile manufacturers committed to sustainability! There’s a common misconception that eco-friendly products are substandard to their traditional counterparts, but this is completely false. There are tons of amazing sustainable tile lines available on the market today!
Many beautiful tiles are made with recycled content! The collection seen here are recycled-content tiles from Crossville. In addition to manufacturing these eco-friendly materials, the company also maintained net zero waste consumption at their plants for the last 8 years!
Another initiative we love is Cradle to Cradle (C2C). It promotes materials that can be 100% recycled or upcycled at the end of their life, eliminating waste in a products’ lifecycle. Mosa is the first ceramic tile company to gain Cradle to Cradle Silver certification for the majority of it’s products. We love their commitment to sustainability and their tiles as well!
We’ve always loved using Fireclay Tile’s beautiful products, but more than that Fireclay is a very sustainable company! As a B Corporation, they’re committed to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance. You can learn more about B-Corps here and see how Fireclay is implementing those values within the company here.
What sustainable tiles do you love to use most?