A few months back, a kitchen I designed for Bazzèo was awarded the GOLD medal for “Innovation in Design” from the British publication Designer. Shortly after the announcement, I received an invitation from Cisco Brothers to be a special guest at a dinner they were hosting for the Sustainable Furniture Council during the High Point Show. I was honored to be recognized and for the opportunity to represent Bazzèo.

When I arrived at the venue for the evening’s event, I was informed by the press assistant for Cisco Brothers that the other guest of honor was Vladimir Kagan, the iconic, mid-century furniture designer that I have idolized since my youth. And then, like a ton of bricks, the immensity of the evening struck me full force.  Who was I to share the spotlight with a GOD?  What would I say, how would I act?  How do you speak with giants?  For the first time in my adult life…I had sweaty palms.

About an hour before the dinner, the atmosphere changed. You could feel it in the air. The very atmosphere was alive with noise: ”he’s here…he’s here!”  And there he was, with two canes and an assistant to help him up the stairs. It was hard at first to see the young, handsome man from the photographs in the Sixties that I had grown up with, but then, there they were—that classic Kagan smile and that glint in his eye as he surveyed the room. Shortly thereafter, Vladimir and I were introduced and we sat down to have a drink before the evenings event was to begin.

“So young man,” he began and though I am in my late fifties, I was feeling all of nine years as he spoke to me. “What do you do”

“I am a designer,” I said.

”That’s wonderful…me too” he said.

I spent the evening listening to his life story—from his boyhood in pre-war Germany to his arrival in 1938 in the U.S.—and his early love for architecture, as well as his passion for design. At no point in the conversation did his 83 years of life seem to weigh upon him. His voice, his eyes, the excitement in sharing thoughts and ideas was that of a young man, full of “piss and vinegar” and ready to take on the world.

He shared with me that he was a paradox in his life. On one hand he had just released a new book on his life and works and on the other he was just about to unveil a new collection for Pucci in New York. Here he was at an age when most—if not all—of his contemporizes were either retired or dead, and he was still creating new products for a new generation.

As a practitioner of sustainable design, I asked Vladimir his thoughts in this regard. He become very serious and quiet as he thought. After a minute or so, he said, ”You wont like this, but my new collection for Pucci has a fiberglass foundation…not very green.” In almost the same breath he went on to say, “Sustainability is more than materials; it is about longevity, but mostly it is about design. If something is designed well, it will be kept and used for years, if not generations.”

As he left the dinner for another party, I reflected on the evening and felt a little starstruck and very pleased that my boyhood adoration for my hero had not been diminished by meeting him. As we stood together for a press photo, he shook my hand and said to me as turned to leave, “Keep designing.” As I released his hand, I realized that giants are very real and they still walk amongst us.—Kevin Henry

I recently had the pleasure of meeting one of the best living architects, Kengo Kuma. His work has such a simple elegance, using modest materials in unique ways to create spatial poetry. Whether it be using bamboo structurally while it feels like it disappears, stone panels that seem to float, ephemeral structures using blow-up walls with integrated LED lights, or angled stone that provides strength as well as natural ventilation.

Rather than being dependent on technology, his work is a wonderful example of sustainable architecture that implements the best strategies from the past.

—Michelle Kaufmann

Color forecasts for 2011 and beyond are predicting a trending toward red, which kind of warms my heart. Even though I don’t usually wear red or particularly like or dislike it, I do feel a special connection to it. In Taiwan, where I grew up, and in Chinese culture in general, red is the color of good fortune and happy occasions: Chinese New Year’s celebrations, weddings and births (of sons).

Interestingly enough, color experts are associating the to-be-popular red as one of other cultures and global travel. It may also provide a welcome break from when we tire of being grayed out and blue.

With that in mind, following are two products in red that—though lacking the multicultural vibe—are sure to add pop and spice to any space.

The first comes from Nora Lighting and is a series of art glass pendants dubbed “The Radiant Reds.” Offering a variety of of designs, shapes, sizes and mounting options, the line also includes matching wall sconces (for some models) and can accommodate GU24 self-ballasting compact fluorescent (13W to 26W) and low-voltage bi-pin (50W) lamps, as well as line-voltage sources with a G9 base (40W), E12 candelabra base (60W) and E26 medium base A19 (100W). A new LED (5W) version is also available.

These bright and sprightly handles and knobs are the creations of Joan Rosen, whose Uneek Glass Fusions makes a variety of art glass products for the home and to wear as jewelry. The pieces shown here feature red with white confetti fused glass and, as with all of Rosen’s work, are individually handcrafted. If the hardware doesn’t provide enough red for you, there are also matching fused glass tiles.

Here’s to an auspicious start to your weekend!

—Alice Liao

No doubt about it. Chrome and satin nickel continue to reign when it comes to faucet finishes. After all, not only are they easy on the wallet, they go with pretty much everything. Besides, what would you do with, say, one in red or blue?

That hasn’t prevented Zuchetti in—you guessed it—Italy to introduce some colorful options for the kitchen and bath. The occasion is the 10th year anniversary of Isy, a streamlined faucet that owes its ultra-sleek profile to a patented mixing system. Originally designed by Matteo Thun with Antonio Rodriguez, the faucet has been refreshed with new shapes and colors. The vibrant and kinda’ fun line includes a basin mixer (shown here in blue and in red),

a freestanding/floor-mounted basin mixer in chrome or white (shown),

and a floor-mounted tub filler with handshower in black

or madras red.

Before seeing this, I would have never entertained the idea of having a red faucet in my bathroom. But when set against that black-and-white octopus-themed wall tile, it’s kind of hot, no?

—Alice Liao