Sometimes the cycle of life is writ so large it makes your eyes pop… High in the Pacific Northwest a mammoth tree went into decline. Having lived at the confluence of two rivers, it grew to astounding proportions. The takedown history, and the resulting slabs, are also of astounding proportions. Each slab measuring 8′ WIDE by 10′ long, a book-matched pair will give you a 20′ long table fit for a palace, a government center, or a conference room without equal on the planet.
Caught between the desire to show the fractal elegance of character grade wood and the curse of its forcible nature, we created the micro slab. All the beauty with one-tenth the weight. What better to do than gift-wrap a perfect low iron glass box with it. We have created a new line, a new process, and a new look on an old juxtaposition: soft on hard, dark on light, warm on cold. Enjoy!
(There are so many ways to marry these… Come co create with us.)
“In addition to our NYC showroom (The Portal to Imagination!), we
have just opened our west coast showroom at the Pacific Design Center
in Los Angeles. Also featuring the Hous Projects gallery, this 3000SF
space is visual caviar, with exceptional pieces of JOHNHOUSHMAND
functional art combined with the work emerging international artists.
The collection gives the viewer a dynamic experience of these pieces
in a setting which reads both display and livable. Please come by,
share our vision, and maybe even a glass of wine. Currently in space
B528, and moving to B222 on February ….
The industrial process of harvesting trees for wood products has become such a specialized method that only a very small percentage of trees are deemed usable. They must fit into a matrix that includes such considerations as log size, hardness, color and grain structure and aesthetics, mill-ability, weight, and more. As most wood products are now engineered, the logs must be veneer-capable…in other words they must fit on a rotary or sequential slicer that filets or ribbons off the log a cardboard-thin skin capable of being handled by specific machinery, means, and methods.
As such, anything too large, irregular, crotched, unique, and different cannot pass through the industrial process. What IS used is a banal cartoon of the world of wood…perfectly straight grain, homogenized, devoid of knots, inclusions, imperfections. Although they intend to be prime grade A materials, they actually lack all the visual character and information that is the birthright of a real tree. That world includes a visual, informational, and vibratory history of all aspects of a tree’s life, including its species characteristics as well as its individual lifetime, where it lived, climate, soil, sunlight, water conditions, historical events, traumas, boom times and more…the “terroir” of a tree.
Trees that are not compliant with the industry’s tooling and marketing demands are more often than not destined for land fill and firewood. Shocking to consider that a 250 year old hardwood sage would be cut into firewood rather than carefully milled out and allowed to tell its story. And to remind humanity that wood does NOT look like wallpaper, but rather a map of time, life, existence, and the unique trajectory of witnessing and participating in reality.
At John Houshmand we like all sorts of toys including Dozuki saws, belt sanders, high-speed drills, huge chainsaws and other dangerous stuff that allows us to make our creations. But we also love digital MP3 recorders, hi-def video cameras, Twitter, Flip video recorders, Adobe Lightroom, Camera Raw and any other technology that helps us tell a good story through multimedia presentations including video and audio slideshows. Click on the image above to see and hear all about our humble beginnings and some of the wild stuff we have been doing lately.
When the summer season hits New York, throngs of city dwellers head east to the Hamptons. The towns of this region are known for their privet and shingled homes that the upper crust developed into havens of relaxation. Each year one home is used to showcase top-notch designers and what they can do with space as well as to raise money for a local charity. For the 2009 installment, the home is located at 179 David’s Lane in Water Mill and money is being donated to benefit Southampton Hospital. Doors are open to visitors from July 26 – September 6 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and when they enter they will be swept away.
One designer chosen for this year’s home is Janna Bullock. Her designs are organic, modern, artistic and make you yearn to be able to usher her sensibilities into your home to create an oasis of beauty and function. John Houshmand’s designs have been chosen for her private clients previously and we are honored that for the showhouse she has opted to incorporate our No. 0098.1 starfire glass side table with intersecting Black Walnut as well as our No. 0149 bent acrylic chair with Black Walnut legs.
So, if you find yourself able to get away to the Hamptons between now and Labor Day, pay a visit to this incredible home and tell our No. 0098 and No. 0149 that we hope their shore time is treating them well and we are more than a tad jealous of their opportunity to get away for an extended vacation.
For more information on the Hamptons Designer Showhouse you can visit: http://www.hamptondesignershowhouse.com and to see Janna Bullock’s portfolio you can visit: http://jannabullock.com/. Our work with Janna can be seen on both websites and in particular on her own under project 14297. Moreover, our No. 0098 and No. 0149 as well as the panoply of our designs are on view at www.johnhoushmand.com , which we revamped for easier navigation and now includes architectural projects we have done.
Our No. 0130 bar is a constant recipient of praise from visitors to our showroom, and not just because they are lingering around it imbibing cocktails at events. It is fetching in all regards as well as efficient. While installing a sister bar to ours for Bungalow Hotel, the clients overseeing the project fell prey to our design’s charms. They happened to be in the midst of building their own office headquarters in Hoboken, New Jersey and, while it would be nice to have a bar at work some days, it was not in the plans, but…they were looking to create a signature wall in their lobby that would be viewed by all passersby by through their floor to ceiling window. Perchance could the bar morph into a wall application? Absolutely. We adapted the design into a seamless installation and the result, as you can see in the pictures, resounds and reverberates in the space and into the street. As breathtaking and monumental as it is in daylight, it is that much more so in the evening when the lobby glows from within.
The summer is finally upon us in New York. With the emergence of the sun and long evenings and summer Fridays, it seems the whole city is buzzing as people pack their suitcases to escape for long weekends. And now there is a brand new place to go kick back and soak up all that vitamin D the winter months did not provide…the Bungalow Hotel.
Bungalow is the Jersey Shore’s first real boutique hotel and the lifestyle you can escape to there is marked by the eclectic, luxurious atmospheres created by Bob and Courtney Novogratz of Sixx Design. When the Novogratz team was looking to develop a concept for their lobby, they knew they needed something that would strike their guests the moment they crossed inside. For this, they came to us at John Houshmand Design and we are proud to announce our collaboration with them.
Inspired by the No. 0130 bar of stacked Black Walnut in our showroom, the Novogratzs’ worked with John to morph it into a bar as well as columns, benches, a reception desk, votive niches, shelving and stools. It is a project that expresses our collaborative abilities. We love to synergize with designers who are ready to explore new directions. We are more than pleased to take one of our classic looks and dive off in fresh waters. Our abilities are wide ranging so never hesitate to be in touch. Also, all of our work is custom, so it is a bit like a Mongolian BBQ…you can bring to your plate the elements of our style you would like to see married and John will cook you up something tasty.
p.s. Our team attended the opening night party at Bungalow so those crazy people you see with their heads sticking out of the tree are…well, us! Go check it out for yourself and have a margarita in our honor.
Tierra Adentro, or Inner Land, is John’s home in Mexico that was named in reference to the undiscovered country that the Spanish had yet to conquer and Christianize in central Mexico. It comprises part of a historical land that was the refuge of proud revolutionaries. Moreover, there is a second meaning implied that refers to the unknown frontier inside each one of us.
Built in conjunction with architect David Howell, this hacienda is stunning and peppered with John’s furniture designs. A sparkling thermal pool, bathing tubs almost as big as the pool, an art studio and outdoor dining patios, among many other features, truly make this a retreat that will nourish the soul and make you feel worlds away from any of the worries of your 9 to 5. Or if you want a more social experience, there are 4 master bedrooms, 2 smaller bedrooms, as well as the art studio and music room that can be converted into sleeping areas that can in total accommodate up to 16 people.
The house is located 7 miles outside the quaint artisan town of San Miguel Allende near Atotonilco, or Place of the Hot Waters, where you can still visit springs from which curative waters bubble forth. The church in town has come to be known as the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas” because of the frescoes that adorn the walls and ceilings in a riotous outpouring of Mexican folk art.
John is a generous man and has made his home available for rental and has since seen weddings, photo shoots, and vacationers take advantage of the opportunity. It is a trip that you will want to relive again and again, but if you are still not convinced, keep in mind you will be treated to fresh guacamole and homemade salsa every morning made by the house staff.
Interior Design magazine did a feature article on Tierra Adentro in their June 2008 issue, and you can read more about it there or visit the website www.retreatmexico.com. You might want to have your bags packed before you take a look because you will be ready to depart as soon as you are done exploring the details of Tierra Adentro.
Robert DeNiro is a major proponent and believer in the greatness of New York City and for his latest statement, he opened a boutique hotel on the cobblestone streets of Tribeca. With 88 rooms, of which no two are furnished alike, in room check in, delivery of your hometown newspaper, and refrigerators stocked with your favorite snacks, the Greenwich Hotel makes you feel more at home than you might feel in your own actual home. As if these details were not enough, the hotel spa is a gem hidden downstairs and made available to guests only. As you descend from the lobby, notice the way each tread underfoot radiates and how the railing in your hand is as smooth as silk, you wonder who created this fabulous staircase? You guessed it…
When designing the spa, an ultimate rejuvenation of the mind, body, and soul for patrons was the singular focus. The concept included a lantern-lit swimming pool, a ceiling made from the roof of a 250-year-old wood and bamboo Japanese farmhouse, and detailing by us. The staircase, cabinetry, and doors were designed by John to straddle the contemporary and the ancient and it truly works. If you have the privilege to indulge in treatments in this haven of relaxation, please take a moment to focus on your surroundings and appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.
Sometimes the cycle of life is writ so large it makes your eyes pop… High in the Pacific Northwest a mammoth tree went into decline. Having lived at the confluence of two rivers, it grew to astounding proportions. The takedown history, and the resulting slabs, are also of astounding proportions. Each slab measuring 8′ WIDE by 10′ long, a book-matched pair will give you a 20′ long table fit for a palace, a government center, or a conference room without equal on the planet.
The industrial process of harvesting trees for wood products has become such a specialized method that only a very small percentage of trees are deemed usable. They must fit into a matrix that includes such considerations as log size, hardness, color and grain structure and aesthetics, mill-ability, weight, and more. As most wood products are now engineered, the logs must be veneer-capable…in other words they must fit on a rotary or sequential slicer that filets or ribbons off the log a cardboard-thin skin capable of being handled by specific machinery, means, and methods.
