So, I’d have to say, the designers for Cerno Nick Sheridan, Bret Englander and Dan Wacholder are three dapper dudes. Not only do they create quality stellar lighting pieces but they make time to surf and support the local taco truck. Oh, and check out their “Start to Finish” video…great insight in to what makes these guys tick.

Tell us about the process of starting Cerno and how you got where you are today. What did you guys do before Cerno?

Bret Englander: Honestly Cerno’s roots started growing when were really young and whether we were on the beach or at each others house we were always starting the next project. We built anything and everything from sailboats, to a beautiful fanned out stairway and archway to memorialize a friend, to a huge palapa at our favorite beach, later we restored an RV, that we drove from Laguna all the way up to Canada, and the list could go on. Prior to Cerno and after College, Nick teamed up with his cousin to form a custom residential architecture firm that designed several exquisite modern homes in Southern California. Daniel helped expand a boutique manufacturing firm from a small garage into respectable company with an international presence, and I worked in land acquisition and marketing for several of the nations’ largest Home Builders, and later for my dad, which was a true gift and learning experience.

How did you guys come together as a team?

Bret Englander: The three of us were restless and itching to once again collaborate like we had when we were younger and apply what we had learned in academia and the professional workplace to something that was our own creation and we knew it was time. One morning in December 2008 we woke up early and were on a mission to find some waves, but the ocean had something different in mind for us. After driving for several miles along Pacific Coast Highway the ocean was uncooperative and not going to give us any surf. We ended up sitting on the beach brain storming about how we were going to manifest this childhood dream of working together into a viable business. It was a pivotal conversation that would quickly materialize into Cerno. After about 9 months of working nights and weekends the 3 of us left our previous jobs and started working full time just down the street from where our original drawings and prototypes were conceived. Nearly 3 years later we are still motivated by the same passion for design that originally ignited the fire and desire to form Cerno. We design what we want to see built and enjoy “almost” every moment of it.

So the word cerno means:  -Verb (Latin) 1. To resolve, distinguish, decide, sift, determine, to perceive. How did you guys come upon this or decide on this as your brand name?

Nick Sheridan: In architecture school at the end of a project critique the teacher would often say – you have not fully resolved x, y, and z or on rare occasions would say a design was resolved. That stuck with me. In architecture, like all design, it was clear that success is measured on many different levels and only when the design has been fully resolved, all levels addressed, did it have that feel of good design.

Cerno Start To Finish from Cerno on Vimeo.

I loved watching your Cerno Start to Finish video. Could you tell us more about the design process and how your lamps come Read the rest of this entry »

Scaled properly that is. Check out how perfectly scaled Flickr member irideeën’s furnishings are. For example, the size of the mirror over the fireplace, and the size of the curtains:

Don’t you just love how airy, light, and sophisticated this is? It’s just so obvious it must be in Europe. That desk is absolutely to die for.

The other end of the room is slightly more casual:

and when we turn another ninety degrees, we’re surprised again; this time by some envy-inducing built-ins and a peak into the next room:

I kinda dig the way irideeën made me work for it, piecing together the room shot by shot. Nice work irideeën! Oh, and irideeën has a blog here, be sure to check it out. Also, irideeën lives in The Netherlands. After seeing this pad, I don’t think anyone else can make a herringbone floor as beautifully as the Dutch can.

All three images from Flickr member irideeën.

image via gadgets.dk

Last Christmas I had to write a Gift Guide for Men. Hilariously, someone commented “you can tell that a woman wrote this guide for men” and I was like “duh, it says ‘by Becky’ and I have no clue what to get for men in general, except for my gay husband, because we like all the same stuff. So what I do know is that all fathers really want is to spend time with you. Make a special meal, plan a special day, if you can’t be there in person take the time for a nice long phone call. Dad doesn’t need a bunch of tchotchkes. However, if you feel you need to show your love by burning up the credit card, we are always here to help. Let me thwart the comments that say “this collage looks like it was made by a girl and that she only wanted to stay within a black, white, warm wood and chrome color palette.” Guilty as charged. I mean, what’s the point of a collage without a nice color and texture palette? I did spare you the obligatory Harry Allen dumptruck shot, which I usually cannot resist. However, I cannot resist a bunch of clocks, for some reason. I mean, I’m not sure how many clocks a person needs, but whatever…

Now, only you know what your particular papa will love. He may be a luddite who wants you to figure out that newfound iTunes mumbo-jumbo and make him a CD of his favorite songs. He may be a total techie who wants the latest speakers, radios, iPad covers, what have you. He may want a comfy spot to rock and read. He may be a New Age yogi who needs a new yoga mat. He may be a lot like Phil Hartmann as “the anal retentive handyman” (see tools below). He may want a hammock and stand for a long nap. He may be a mid-century modern fan, or have no sense of direction (compass below). He may be one step away from actually carrying a murse (man purse – see messenger bag below). Whatever you’re dad is ready for, no one knows better than you. And if it happens to fit into my strict collage texture and color palette, well, good for us. Cheers to Dad!

Father’s Day Gift Guide by thebubbreport featuring monogrammed diaper bags

Well, I’ve been on the road again, but I thought I would share the brilliant, practically neon poppies of Maine as well as my personal favorite, the lupine that are in full bloom right now. Later today I’m going to go shoot some Lady Slippers, which are always a treat to spy in the deep, dark woods among the fairy houses.

This week, a home in Salt Lake City submitted by Patrick Davis Designs caught my eye on flickr. I love the way the simple palette makes the wood walls and beams really stand out, as well as the beautiful mid-century furnishings. Thanks for adding it to our Fresh New Spaces Group!

All photos property of Patrick Davis Designs. To see the rest of this house, click here. Also, check out patrickdavisdesign.com.