Patricia Urquiola's Mandarin Oriental deserves every accolade it gets

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s first Spanish hotel, The Madarin Oriental Barcelona, just won Interior Design Magazine’s Best Hotel Project for 2010. The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is an astounding hotel, but its interiors by Spanish-born architect Patricia Urquiola place it into a class all its own. 

Patricia Urquiola is one of Axor's design partners and her award (and this hotel) add to the cachet surrounding the Axor brand of faucets and fixtures.

The hotel is located in the cultural and commercial heart of Barcelona and the building is a converted, former bank headquarters. The city of Barcelona is an architectural feast and wonders linger behind every corner. It’s a city where it’s wise to expect the unexpected. The Mandarin Oriental Barcelona fits the city where it’s located perfectly. Behind the linear, mid-century lines of the facade lives a world of Patricia Urquiola’s imagination. Colors, textures, sight lines and finishes combine to make up something whimsically modern and unique.

Barcelona is a lively, dynamic city and the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona is a perfect fit. Its 144 rooms are some of the largest in the city and their luxurious appointments make this hotel an ideal getaway.

You can read more about Patricia Urquiola's collaboration with Axor on Axor's website.

Go ahead, you know you want to be on Design Star

If you're a man and like to take off your shirt on TV.

If you're a woman who likes to take "artistic" mug shots.

If your qualification to be a designer consists of having once moved your mother's sofa.

If the idea of turning out offenses like this is your idea of a good time.

If having three, angry HGTV-lebrities tearing down your very existence is your idea of fun.

If you can cry on cue and are willing to have every embarrassing moment filmed over a four week period slapped on national (and international) TV.

If after all that and against all common sense, you win because you look "interesting," are you willing to star in a bad HGTV show of your very own? One shown during off, off, off hours and so poorly produced that you'll never be able to work in TV again?

If you can answer yes to all of these questions than you are qualified to apply to be on HGTV's next season of Design Star. Godspeed.

Borano makes mahogany doors and then some

Recently, I've become acquainted with a company with an intriguing business model and some of the most beautiful, handmade, mahogany doors, windows, floors and moldings I've ever seen. The company is called Borano and here's some of their handiwork.

These aren't just any mahogany building products, there's a story behind them that's worth telling. Borano is is a company with a sales and fulfillment presence online and it's through their website that they can sell their exquisite products at the price points they do. Custom doors start at $3000, windows start at $2250, floors start at $7 a square foot and moldings start at $7 a linear foot. Those prices are spectacular for the level of craftsmanship at work here.

Since 2002, a team of carpenters and woodworkers in San Pedro Sula, Honduras has been making these custom pieces by hand from native Honduran mahogany. The mahogany used in Borano products is sustainably harvested and certified as such by the Forest Stewardship Council. For every tree harvested for a Borano door, window, molding or floor another mahogany tree is planted and tended in its place.

Someone who's interested in a Borano door starts on the Borano website. It's on the website that Borano explains their process and the business of custom door production begins. Though the process starts on their website, follow ups from a Borano staffer follow almost immediately. Once designs are finalized and the order's complete, the project then moves to Honduras for production. The order ships directly from the factory to the jobsite once its complete.

The doors particularly need to be seen to be believed. They are made from solid, 2-1/4" thick mahogany and the jambs are 1-3/4" thick. That's a solid construction that's downright rare anymore. The hinges required to support that kind of weight are a work of art in and of themselves. Each hinge is a 4-1/2" x 4-1/2" solid brass piece of functional art. I've held one and they are a marvel.

Borano will be at the International Builders Show in Orlando next week. They're at booth number W5691. If you're heading to Orlando and IBS, be sure to stop by Borano's booth and see their mahogany products in person. People who claim that craftsmanship is dead have never met Borano.

Laminate's highest expression

Since the last day's turned into Formica Laminate Day around here, I'm going to wrap up the laminate love with a last post.

This is a new pattern from Formica's 180fx collection and it's called Petrified Wood.

I love its vertical uses in this space, I think it adds something that only laminate could add. Real stone couldn't really do a lot of this without a whole lot of headache and I think Formica's Petrified Wood more than holds up its own.

I've always been a fan of the category, but this new collection from Formica has me thinking about laminate in ways that are all together new.

Guess the counter material, the follow up

Yesterday I ran a series of photos with the challenge to identify the material used for counters in each photo. you guys are pretty slick because just about everybody got it right. Every one of those images showed a laminate counter from Formica's 180fx series. Remember that the category is properly called laminate and the brand name is Formica. Formica has a great website that's brimming with great photos and idea for how to make a room that features laminates look fantastic.

It's very vogue to look down on laminates but for a lot of people, they are the right option. They make a resilient, long-lasting kitchen surface. A properly installed and cared-for laminate counter will last for years and as I've mentioned here before, I think laminates are pretty cool.

A. Antique Mascarello

B. Blue Storm

C. Breccia Paradiso

D. Calacatta Marble

E. Espirito Santo

F. Golden Mascaello

G. Red Montana

H. Slate Sequoia

I. Slate Sequoia

I'm impressed with this latest collection form Formica laminates. While it's true these Formica laminates are a good way to get the appearance of a stone counter at home for a fraction of the price, I can see this being used really well in commercial settings. Sheathing walls in it or covering curved surfaces with these 180fx laminates would make for a spectacular lobby or restaurant space.

Check out Formica's website and take a look at what laminates look like these days.

So what do you guys think? Is there a place in your lives for laminates?