News – Page 2 – Eisemann Design

Nando’s flavorful decor

How often do we realize that a restaurant we go to for lunch actually has a nice decor?
Do we even see what surrounds our lunch table any more? I think that in today’s fast paced world we tend to just take an hour long break and rush to a lunch place to grab some quick food. We mostly end up having an ok lunch for almost exactly the same price – around $10 per person in the Washington DC area. If the price for a lunch is artificially maintained at the same level no matter the cuisine, why would anybody care to put some extra attention into decor to make a restaurant any different or nicer than the others? So, all the lunch places in the area look more or less the same, lacking personality.

I think it takes away so much from our dining experience. Pushing out local business and growing domination of chain restaurants is part of the reason. That’s why it is important to point out chain restaurants that actually stand out against the crowd and put some extra effort to create a nice ambiance for dining. Nando’s Peri Peri is one of those places.

I have been to the Washington, DC and Silver Spring locations of this international chain. They carry a common African theme presented in contemporary manner yet the decor details are slightly different. The furniture layout is always unique to each place with booths and nice oversize tables that can accommodate larger groups. There are different clay pots with exotic wood limbs. Sculptural pendants create accents and set the mood. Colorful paintings on the walls are original!

I love how the unique flavors of this South African cuisine were translated into the color schemes. Warm shades of reds and oranges used in paint, chairs color or artwork represent a signature spice – Peri Peri (red pepper in Swahili). Bold wall finishes with reach texture (photo below) make me think of an African desert. The food is very tasty, but an interesting and unique decor makes it easy to pass on many other restaurant options in the area and return to Nando’s.

Color Scheme, Inspiration, Paint Color

Farmer’s Market Inspiration

My best design ideas are usually inspired by nature. Today I came back from my local farmer’s market in Silver Spring with delicious fruits and veggies… and also with some fresh paint color ideas.

The paint colors below come from the Infinite Beauty Collection by Mythic – a low VOC, non toxic paint.

Kitchen in Italian Sun. Accent wall in Raspberry Ice.

Living Room in Taupe Temptation. Accent wall/accents in Buttered Toast and Spanish Rose.

Bedroom walls in Prairie Path. Accessories and art with red.

Color Scheme, Inspiration, Wallpaper

Wallpaper, here it comes!

Let’s talk wallpaper, and I don’t mean old fashioned overwhelming dark wallpaper that covered entire interior walls of Victorian homes. I mean contemporary wallpaper with funky designs and interesting textures. We don’t want them to cover the whole room any more, we just want a small taste of it, simply to set the mood.

I love using wallpaper on small areas, on accent walls or on those architectural elements that stick out (walls that cover fireplace chimneys) or inside the nooks. Wallpaper draws attention to those bumps or hollows in the walls and give them new significance and character.

I like the wallpaper with repetitive patterns in particular. They cannot be produced by faux painting as the repetition requires absolute precision. The wallpaper shown below and hand made by an English based company (www.handmadewallpaper.co.uk) is inspired by graphic art and printmaking.

The black pattern on white background looks sharp covering an accent wall while the other walls remain white. It could work both with sleek contemporary furniture and in more traditional homes filled with antiques. The wallpaper by Dunford Wood below shows another version of an iconic chevron pattern. It works great in small areas like narrow hallways, staircases or powder rooms. Warm and faded color creates an interesting background both for antique and more contemporary furniture.

If your room is in a desperate need of color you may want to get a roll of two of this beautiful wallpaper hand made by the Paris based company Minakani (shown below). I would use it only as an accent on one wall or inside a nook. It can be used in residential and commercial settings adding warmth and interest to any area with no need for further accessorizing.

Commercial spaces are great to test some more funky wall coverings. This textured wallpaper by British company Beware-The-Moon features a repetitive golden Ostrich pattern on a navy blue background. It adds warmth and interest to a restaurant setting.

Another textured wallpaper by the same boutique company features a velvet skull pattern on the oil slick background.

Maya Romanoff also creates unique textures like this one shown bellow which is hand made of Nepalese lotka paper with flecks of mica. It works great on accent walls in hotels or apartment building lobbies.

Hand made wallpaper can also come in eco-friendly additions that are perfect for kids rooms. This non-toxic wallpaper by Paperboy is inspired by the ancient art of shadow puppetry and features screen printed animal shapes.

Color Scheme, Inspiration

Cherry blossoms are in town and on everyone’s mind

I could not resist taking this photo today in downtown DC. Look around and you will find some beautiful Spring blossom-inspired objects.

Cherry petal shaped paper boxes by artist Denise Sharp

Cherry Blossom Bedding Collection from Restoration Hardware

Chocolate cake sprinkled with blossoms by Martha Stewart.com – yummy!

Color Scheme, Inspiration

It’s official – Spring has arrived!

I love the way Indian culture experiences color. Here a joyous Indian Hindu crowd in Borsana, India throws colorful powder (pigment) in the air in celebration of welcoming the Spring (photo by Kevin Frayer/AP) What fun!

During Lathmar Holi festival people pour water over themselves, paint their bodies and get in the colorful mud simply to express their happiness. Photo by Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images.

Deep and saturated shades of purple, red, orange and yellow in traditional Indian clothing create floral-like patterns. This image reminds me of some French paintings from the end of the 19th century created in pointillist technique (squint your eyes). Here is another shot from the Lathmar Holi festival photo by Adnan Abidi for Reuters.

Color Scheme, Inspiration

Tangerine Tango on the runway

Ever since Pantone™ announced Tangerine Tango to be their 2012 Color of the Year we can find this vibrant color used in many different areas of design. It has been a popular accent color in contemporary interiors for some time now. The latest New York Fashion Week also featured some beautiful shades of this universal color. Here are some of my favorite designs:

Asymmetric casual getup by Narcisco Rodriguez and long sleeve dress by Dennis Bosso.

More casual look by Dennis Bosso and another beautiful dress by Concept Korea.

The color of tangerine goes very well with shades of gray and light beige both in fashion design and the interiors. As an accent color can be also successfully combined with deeper shades of blue as shown below in the designs by BCBG Max Azria and by Concept Korea:

Inspiration, Lighting

Our selection of great sculptural Pendants

A sculptural pendant can give a great opportunity to make a big design statement. They work especially well in contemporary spaces with clean lines where they can stand out and shine like a star. Here is my selection of sculptural pendants that can be very effective in living rooms, foyers and over dining tables. Let me know which one tickles your fancy 🙂

My all time favorite Artochoke Lamp designed by Poul Henningsen is a classic icon of mid century modern Scandinavian design. Originally designed for a restaurant in Copenhagen called the Langelinie Pavilion (still in use today). It seems so elegant and timeless. Looks sharp in commercial spaces, hallways as well as modern homes. Diameter from 19″ to 33″ (large lamp). From $7,000

Another sculptural pendant called Logico is from Artemide. Looks great in both commercial spaces and over a dining table at home. Handblown glass with satin finish. Diameter from 18″. $1,650

Below is a beautiful pendant called Vertigo from Corbett Lighting. It gives warm and diffused light, and is perfect for foyers and living rooms. Diameter from 18″ to 30″. From $650

Maskros pendant from IKEA reminds me of a dandelion, summer and fun. It is such a cool and charming lamp that can jazz up any space for only $90. Dia 32″.

I love this new design from Hubbardton Forge called Kirigami (3-light). It has such a simple and beautiful shape and it seems so effortlessly elegant. Diameter 34″. From $690. Comes in white shade and here is shown in amber:

Below is an “artichok lamp – inspired” Possini pendant for only $300. Diameter 19″

And last but not least Goccia pendant designed by Stevano Papi from SLAMP. Made of recycled plastic materials. It gives warm ambient light and casts interesting shadows on the walls. Great for smaller spaces, such as small foyer or bathroom. Diameter 12″. $350