In the eyes of a careless observer, the city of Venice might seem like a place that has remained unchanged over the centuries: waterways, streets (“calli”), ancient buildings, everything seems to be indifferent to the passage of time.

But there are many examples of how Venice shows its link with contemporary times: In new architectures, places, commercial activities, art, design and in the people who live and study there. In particular, I would like to talk about some shops in Venice that either demonstrate modernity while maintaining continuity with the past or that have a clear break with the past.

The first category includes numerous examples of how old products or new interpretations of old forms are reproduced and sold in our times; one of the most interesting examples is certainly Venetia Studium, whose main store is located a few steps from San Marco square. Venetia Studium speaks the ancient language of elegance and good taste – rich fabrics, high craftsmanship and attention to detail are the characteristics of the products sold in the store, with a wide range of home furnishings and clothing accessories .

The store also contains the famous Fortuny lamp. A timeless design object, it’s a floor lamp that turned 100 years old in 2007. It was designed by Marià Fortuny Madrazo, also known by the name Mariano Fortuny (Granada, May 11, 1871 – Venice, May 3, 1949), a Spanish painter, designer and set designer. The lamp is considered as one of the most interesting products in the history of industrial design and it has revolutionized the world of lighting, thanks to the special lighting effect it produces – the bulb is turned inward and is projected on a fabric used for reflection. More than a lamp it is a great light projector, which in its dynamic lines evokes a confidence in the future and modernity that make it contemporary.

I stumbled by chance in an upcoming opening of the new store, located on a street side to the Peggy Guggenheim museum:

A shop that always attracts my attention for its clean cut from the past is called Fiorella Gallery and is located at the corner of Campo Santo Stefano, a short walk from the Accademia Bridge. From its windows you can perceive the huge contrast with the surrounding environment: – bright colors, neon and works of irreverent art appear from the traditional architectures of plaster and brick of the field.

Inside, there are unique pieces from contemporary artists and irreverent designers, including works by Gaetano Pesce, Ettore Sottsass, Rod Dudley, Still and works of the owner, Fiorella Mancini. The store has been around since the 1960s and has a very interesting history.

To see more of Elisabetta’s beautiful inspirations and learn more about her work, be sure to visit er interior design.

Available with marble, laminate, granite, wood veneers and more, the tables come in several sizes. The greatest thing about these tables is that they fit in everywhere, from serving as the main dining table in the center of an elegant dining room to a small kitchen table in a colorful eat-in kitchen. The table is a classic mid-century modern piece that does not go out of style.

A nod to Sputnik. This retro-inspired room by Kristen Grove is definitely mid-century modern inspired, but has a fresh look with its lovely floors and updated takes on .

Clean organic contemporary. Croma Design mixes pedestal and legs, marble and wood with a backdrop of grasscloth in this harmonious contemporary dining space.
A mix of old and new. A wide age-range of furnishings within traditional architecture creates quite the combination. The table fits nicely into a modest-sized corner, and in this case, plays off the curves of the classic Cherner chairs and Patricia Urquoila Caboche light. (via Remodelista, photograph by Photography Lisa Duncan and Wayne Miller)

Paired with its old friends, the Eames and Mr. Nelson. This room has a warm yet somewhat minimal vibe, combining several mid-century classics in including Eames chairs and a Nelson Ball Pendant Light. The sideboard, pewter pieces and artwork warm it up and infuse it with the owners’ personalities, thus keeping it from looking like a catalog shot. (via Plastolux, photograph by Chris Nguyen)

Partying it up with bentwood chairs. A Saarinen table paried with fanciful bentwood chairs makes for an yummy eat-in kitchen table, slum of legs be damned!

Shop all Saarinen tables

Today we have a guest blogger, Jennifer Lutz, who stages special events in homes and transforms ordinary rooms into stunning places for family gatherings and holiday celebrations. She blogs about home decor at christmastreemarket.com. Jennifer is sharing some fabulous ideas for bay windows today. Welcome Jennifer!

Bay windows add wonderful charm and function to a home; not only do they bring a view of the beautiful outdoors inside, they are also a great way to add loads of natural light to a room.

It’s best to start with something simple and clean. A minimalist design can be easily integrated into both traditional and modern decor schemes.

Budget: Prices will vary greatly depending on your location and professionals, where you would like it placed as well as materials. For smaller spaces, like kitchens and bedrooms, a small bay can run you around $1000. For larger spaces, like foyers and living rooms, the cost will begin at about $1500.

Materials also play a role in how much you pay. Bay windows are available in wood, vinyl, aluminum, PVC and steel. Steel and wood are the most expensive among the choices, but they are also the most durable followed by fiberglass and aluminum then PVC and vinyl.

Designing a Bay Window

The versatility of a bay window is what makes it such a wonderful addition to your home. A custom-designed bay window can be a strong focal point in a room, in addition to providing storage space, cozy seating, extra workspace and great views outdoors.

As a Seating Area

Creating a seating area is one of the most traditional and well-loved uses for a bay window. A cozy nook is made comfortable with natural light, a beautiful view, thick cushions and colorful pillows. The seat of a bay window truly does double-duty, with storage underneath.

Flank either side of the window with tall bookshelves. Not only will all of your items be organized and easy to access, they’ll become a part of your decor.

As a Focal Wall

Nothing displays your belongings quite as nicely as a bay window. If seating isn’t a concern, consider creating a focal wall by using the space beneath the window to display family photos, heirlooms and you favorite potted plants.

As a Workspace

The extra area created by a bay window is perfect for a quiet workplace. To optimize the space, storage and shelving can be installed above or below the bay windows.

Richard Schultz was good pals with Florence Knoll, and back in 1966 she asked him if he could whip her up some outdoor furniture that wouldn’t rust and corrode due to the salt air and other elements. Teflon thread and powdercoating met killer classic style, and an iconic collection was born. It’s known as the Richard Schultz 1966 Collection, and it’s still going strong today. Oh, and it also has MoMA’s seal of approval, as part of its permanent collection.

Check out an inspiring video of Mr. Schultz talking about design

Richard Schultz 1966 Serving Cart

The matching cart is perfect for mixing up cocktails for your patio guests, or doing that whole tea thing if that’s more your speed.

The Richard Schultz Petal Coffee Table

Schultz’s Petal tables will stand up to the elements, but they also look fantastic indoors. They come in dining, coffee and side table versions. While the bottoms of their stands do a little bit of that “slum of table legs” thing that Florence Knoll’s other pal Eero hated so much, they still have some hot pedestal action going on.

Richard Schultz Topiary Bench

More whimsical than his other classic pieces, Schultz took inspiration from clipped shrubs and hedges and topiaried up a fun bench that looks like an abstracted hedge. Not feeling his classic whites and tans? Don’t fret, the Topiary collection comes Daffodil Yellow, Dark Bronze, Forest Green, Onyx, Sky Blue, Terra Cotta, well and yeah, White.  It also comes in a dining table version:

Richard Schultz Topiary Dining Table

Here are a few more highlights from his collections:

Richard Schultz Fresh Air Dining Chairs

Richard Schultz Swell Three Seat Sofa

Richard Shultz 1966 Contour Chaise Lounge

So peeps, are you on Pinterest? What do you like to pin? Are you planning out renovations by pinning inspirational ideas to one board for each room? Do you like to pin fashion style? Inspirational quotations? National Geographic wonders? Cats playing the piano? I find I like it all and have a little bit of everything. I also get to contribute to our Design Public Pinboards sometimes, so when you see something weird on there, it probably came from me, like this:

So whomever I pinned it from says it’s the “Waiotapu Thermal Reserve, Rotorua, New Zealand.” The thing is with Pinterest that you just have to hope that’s true and be grateful that anyone left any sort of note whatsoever. If there’s one problem with Pinterest, it’s their crediting proecss. Luckily, this one linked to a conscientious Tumbler user who linked it to the original picture taken by lengkiong on Flickr.

Other boards we’ve been having fun with as summer approaches are I Want To Go To There, full of bucket-list worthy destinations with a disproportionate amount of them in Greece.

We’re also having fun grabbing up pictures for a Treehouse pinboard. Is it because it makes us feel like kids? Probably!

Of course, we’re loving Outdoor Spaces and Vertical Gardens for spring and summer, and have been stashing up photos during our winter hibernation!

The possibilities are really endless; what are you guys pinning these days? Is there anything you’d like to see us gathering? I so appreciated it when a reader requested that we start to collect Modern Basement Renovations – it was a great idea I had not thought of. Please dont be shy, shoot us a comment and let us know what you’d like to see from Design Public’s Pinterest Page!