Patricia Urquiola

“I always think that the project that I’m working on will be the best” – Patricia Urquiola

Spanish architect and designer Patricia Urquiola is considered to be one of the best in the business of interior designing in the world currently. An inspiration to many, she does not ceases to amaze people with her creations. EXIN Magazine takes a look at her splendid career throughout the decades.

Born in 1961, Patricia studied architecture in Madrid before graduating from the Milan Politecnico in 1989. She designed some of her initial projects with Achille Castiglioni and Vico Magistretti. She learned her craft in Italy, and opened a studio in Milan in 2001, where she has developed a truly global enterprise.

Patricia’s designs are unconventional, emphatic, and experimental, blending humanist sensibilities and technical expertise.

She has designed for Alessi, Axor, B&B Italia, Flos, Four Seasons, Kartell, Mandarin Oriental Hotels, Molteni, Moroso, Mutina, Rosenthal, W Hotels, among others.

For her work, she has won various prizes throughout the years, including the International Design Yearbook, IMM Cologne, Good Design Awards of the Chicago Athenaeum, Red Dot Award, Elle Decoration International Awards, etc. The Spanish government and the King of Spain have given her the Gold Medal of Fine Arts and the Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. Her products are present in the permanent collection of various museums such as Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and Triennale Milano in Milan. In 2011, she won the German Design Award, the most prestigious official design award in the country, for a wash basin from the Axor Urquiola bathroom collection.

Her powerful design has made her a global superstar. Patricia’s distinctive style combines a minimalistic approach with floral references, creating designs that are simplistic yet playful. With sensuous extravagance, she mixes styles, patterns and materials to suit her own personal taste. She has indeed come a long way to carve a niche for herself in the interior designing industry.

Philippe Starck

“My father was an aeronautical engineer. For me it was a duty to invent” – Philippe Starck

EXIN Magazine brings for you the journey of one of the best architects and interior designers that the world has ever seen — Philippe Starcke.

Philippe Starck is a French designer known for his works in interior, product, industrial and architectural designs including furniture and objects that have similar yet inventive structures.

The son of an aeronautical engineer, Starck’s initial designs brought him to the attention of renowned fashion designer Pierre Cardin who offered him a job as an artistic director of his publishing house.

Starck covers quite a wide range of fields, from interior design to chairs, from toothbrushes to electronic appliances, etc. In 1982, he designed the interior for former French president Francois Mitterrand’s apartment, and with that, there was no looking back. His most important furniture pieces are: Louis Ghost chair, Ero(S) chair, Bubble Club Sofa and Armchair, and La Boheme stool. As for interior designs, his works include The Peninsula Hong Kong, Café Costes in Paris and other fashionable restaurants, lounges and clubs.

Parallel to his career as an interior designer, Starck developed an international reputation on the basis of his wide range of industrial designs. Often displaying the same organic, fluid lines of his interiors, the varied products he designed on commission included boats for Beneteau, mineral water-bottles for Glacier, kitchen appliances —notably the Juicy Salif juicer— for Alessi, toothbrushes for Fluocaril, luggage for Samsonite, “Urban Fittings” for Decaux, office furniture for Vitra, televisions for Thomson Multimedia, watches for Fossil, eyeglasses for Alain Mikli, and the Optical Mouse for Microsoft. Starck’s populist vision for design was best achieved in such products, which were often sold at affordable price points and through mass-market venues.

Rejecting design simply for the sake of beauty or as a symbol of wealth, Starck hoped that his work would improve people’s lives by adding an element of humor and surprise to everyday acts such as brushing one’s teeth or cooking.

In order to embody the flamboyance and light-hearted personality of Starck into his work, he often featured in ads for his products.

Karim Rashid

“Why are we here on earth? To create! It's in our nature.” — Karim Rashid

Here is a designer who believes in a holistic approach to design, in which the sum of the parts can be more beautiful than the parts themselves.  Time magazine has described him as the “most famous industrial designer in all of America”. EXIN Magazine brings for you journey of interior and industrial designer Karim Rashid.

Born to an Egyptian father and an English mother in Cairo, Egypt, Rashid was raised in Canada and is now a US Citizen. He received a Bachelor of Industrial Design in 1982 from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. He pursued graduate design studies in Naples, Italy. He then moved to Milan for one year at the Rodolfo Bonetto Studio. Rashid went on to work with KAN Industrial Designers in Canada. There he co-founded and designed the Babel Fashion Collection and North between 1985 and 1991. In 1992, Rashid opened a private design studio in New York City.

Throughout his career, he won several awards, including Daimler Chrysler 1999 Award; George Nelson Award 1999; The Silver IDEA Award, 1999 (OH Chair), The Brooklyn Museum of Art Designer of the Year, 1998; among others.

Rashid's award winning designs include democratic objects such as the Garbo waste can and Oh Chair for Umbra, bobble water bottle, interiors such as the Morimoto restaurant, Philadelphia and Semiramis hotel, Athens and exhibitions for Deutsche Bank and Audi. Rashid has collaborated with clients to create democratic design for Method and Dirt Devil, bikes for Biomega, furniture for Artemide and Magis, brand identity for Citibank and Hyundai, high tech products for LaCie and Samsung, and luxury goods for Veuve Clicquot, Swarovski and Kenzo, etc.

There is no distinction between high and low design for Rashid. He is equally at ease designing for mass-production companies as he is designing packaging and products for the Japanese fashion innovator Issey Miyake. In the end, according to Rashid, the goal of his designs is always the same — to provide a quality experience to the users of the objects.

He is renowned for wearing pink and white. Rashid married Ivana Rashid (née Puric) in 2008. Together they have one child, Kiva Rashid. 

Dark Kitchen Ideas— the Show Stellar of Your Cooking Area!!

Normally, people use light colors to paint a kitchen. If not so, there is a tendency to design the cooking area with lighter shades of deep, dark and bright colors. White kitchens are lovely, but you cannot miss the brown, dark chocolate, blue, black and grey to experiment.

So in EXIN Magazine, today we present few ideas to paint your kitchen walls and the cabinets as well to set a moody hue in an ideal way to create a cozy feel. It is often said that dark colors, used with poise, are the best in terms of comfort. EXIN Magazine experts say, a dramatic dark color will make a bold statement, so make sure you pick your shade wisely.

Dark and deep blue is one of the colors that surely give a deep tone in your kitchen. Blue cabinets and walls of the kitchen looks smart, sophisticated and retains with a classic feel. A blue marble cook top is ideal to create a soothing revelation and a space that is said to be lesser-dominated.

Grey and slate are among the color groups that are ideal to create a mid-toned atmosphere in the kitchen. EXIN Magazine suggests to paint the kitchen cabinets with any of these colors and put the walls in contrary to them gives a uniform look. Coupling these shades with wooden furniture and neutral colored floors will add the desired warmth in the cooking and dining area.

Brown and dark chocolate colored kitchen cabinet contrasted with white or shades of whites and with a very light brown is an ultimate to give your kitchen a permissive feeling. Chocolates also add a feel-good factor in the kitchen. EXIN magazine recommends adding mahogany colored furniture to get the classic tone in your kitchen.

Black is the ultimate strong color with a dominating mood and is preferred by EXIN Magazine. The color itself is so trendy and the best part is if you design the kitchen in black you will crave for another similar contemporary feel. This cabinet color is dark, moody and so trendy. Contrasting it with the white walls put in a contemporary feel.  The cook top also in black shows that sometimes two dark shades together can be complimentary.

Bamboo- the natural mode of deck up your home. Get the idea from EXIN Magazine.

In a wake of decorating home with natural elements, EXIN Magazine inferred that bamboo completely fulfills all the criteria. A woody but not so place consuming- this type of grass is ready to fit in the modern day living.

Decorative bamboo poles are available at several stores. These are the perfect mate to decorate the living room, bathroom or bedroom. Use bamboo to make a classy kitchen cabinet or make bamboo flooring- you will set your home a class apart!

Bamboo roofing or segmenting your bedroom from the attached bath are also another way to make your rooms look attractive. You can also use bamboo panel to divide the bathroom places and add some privacy to it!

Design your small bar counter with thin bamboo pieces. Add a mild light, few cushions and the place will become cozy without investing more money or time for it. Shade your open roof with bamboo tent. Place some plants in pots, place a wooden center table and allow to enter natural light. Your terrace will become the next favorite place to spend time.

If ready to invest more for adding natural essences, design the basins and the place with bamboo. Add bamboo made furniture and place that all through your house. A glass top bamboo legged center table is always versatile in style.

The Unconventional Business Of Turnkey Projects

Businesses are always in the lookout for trying out methods which would bring them the maximum profit in the most cost-effective manner. In this new age, a smart business is the one which is ready to adapt. Every now and then, new techniques are coming into the world of businesses to help it survive and grow. One of the unconventional modes of carrying out international business is a Turnkey project. But what is it all about? How do you operate it? How is it implemented in a business? EXIN Magazine brings for you everything that you needed to know about Turnkey projects.

A turnkey project is generally produced by a team of contractors and project leaders who have experience with the type of project that is being produced. These contractors will do everything needed for the project. A project idea is often handed over to them and they are expected to produce the project up to the standards set by the company they are contracted with. They will be able to do everything from the design of the project to the minor details. This project is then handed over to the project manager, who functions as a customer or client in this situation.

Literally, turnkey means that the project manager will only have to turn a key to have the business or project running. Although not every project has a literal key, it is figurative. The project manager or client will only have to do very minimal work. They can expect a turnkey project to be returned to them and fully operable when they are ready.

Thus, in simple terms, turnkey refers to something that is ready for immediate use, generally used in the sale or supply of goods or services. The word is a reference to the fact that the customer, upon receiving the product, just needs to turn the ignition key to make it operational, or that the key just needs to be turned over to the customer.

Twinkle Khanna – From A Bollywood Actor To An Interior Designer

Born to celebrity parents, Twinkle Khanna was cherry-picked to enter the glamour world — and quite rightfully so — she enjoyed a successful six-year-long acting career in Bollywood before shifting gear. In 2001, after getting married to Akshay kumar, Twinkle bid adieu to her acting career to become one of India’s top interior designers of present times. EXIN Magazine brings for you Twinkle’s journey from silver screen to home designing.

Born on December 29, 1973 to actors Dimple Kapadia and Rajesh Khanna, Twinkle made her Bollywoood debut in 1995 with Barsaat, and won the Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut for the same. In the next six years, she went on to star in a dozen of superhit films — Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, International Khiladi, Baadshah, Mela, Jodi No.1. Her last film as an actor came in 2001 with Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega. Although, she never was one of the critic’s top placed actors, but during her time, she made her own fanbase in the country.

Twinkle never formally trained in interior designing. A knack for the right colors, textures and sketches got her going when she interned at the age of 16 with a Mumbai based architect. With her friend Gurlein Manchanda, she first designed a Breach Candy house in 2000, independently. There was no looking back since then. They launched ‘Mock-ups’, a store offering interior decoration & design services. ‘Romantic Curtains’, which featured in this store, had real leaves sewn into the drapes. Post-marriage, she dedicated herself completely towards interior designing.

In 2002, her very own Interior designing store ‘The White Window’ was set up in Bandra, Mumbai offering her clients “affordable décor”. Her style, as she puts it is “minimalistic, effortless and unfussy”. However, she doesn’t make it too simple. Recently, she launched a mélange of styles like Rococo, Baroque, Gothic, Antique, Vintage, etc. to move away from the classic unadorned look of furniture. ‘The White Window’ has been the recipient of the Elle Décor International Design Award for its wall finishes. It truly is a feat given that Twinkle has not relied on any formal training, but purely on her instincts and her own sense of style. Exuberant hanging lights, bedside lamps that match the bed canopy are few of the key aspects of her notable Panchshil project in Pune.

Her abstract and artistic style of work makes her stand out from the crowd. Her attention to detail in creating a look takes her from high end designers to flea markets. She has designed a number of Bollywood stars’ homes.

Despite staying out of limelight, paparazzi always have found her. In 2009, ‘People’ magazine listed her as the fourth best dressed celebrity in India. She is also a producer now, and produces several of her husband’s films these days. Twinkle has come a long way from being just a trophy wife who gives up everything post marriage.

Steps To Brighten Up Your Room

Living in the city means your house will generally be adjacent to a number of other buildings, which means less scope of natural light getting inside your home. Gone are the days when ample spaces were kept between two houses for wind and light to flow in. Nowadays, getting a handful of sunrays anywhere other than the balcony is a blessing. But things are not that bad either! Tactical approach in home designing for your home can help in illuminating your rooms in diverse ways. EXIN Magazine brings for you a couple of steps which will help to brighten up your room. So, here they are.

The first and foremost step is to take care of the color of your room’s ceiling. If the ceiling is painted a in dark color, or has dark wooden beams, it is probably casting a pall over the entire room. Thus, white is a wise choice for the ceiling. It will reflect light instead of absorbing it. But if you want to use a color then go for pale yellow, mint, cream or similar toned colors

Rich, bold or deep colors darken a room, but if you have to use one, then choose one small wall to paint, and paint the rest in a much lighter color. Adding a stenciled accent trim along the ceiling by making a stencil in a shape that suits your taste — flowers, leaves or abstract designs — is another great idea. Painting the door in a contrasting color is another way to add a festive touch to the room without making it too dark.

Next up, give more preference to the windows. If your windows are covered with dark shades or blinds, then the room gets darker. Instead of keeping your blinds closed, look for cloth blinds in a light fabric that are not completely opaque.

If you have a dark corner or a room where there’s no ceiling fixture, use multiple lights pointed towards the ceiling and walls. This reflected light provides a soft, overhead glow which minimizes harsh shadows.

So, as we see, brightening up a dull, dark room is not rocket science and it can be done by executing some basic, uncomplicated and effective steps. Also, you don’t have to spend a fortune for it!

Effective Storage Ideas For Small Spaced House

Small space homes can become a nightmare when you have too much things to store. Such a situation makes the already small area even more cramped. But effective utilization of spaces can help in not only giving a spatial illusion, but it also helps in giving a new energy to your space. EXIN Magazine brings for you some simple storage ideas for your home.

There’s nothing more frustrating in the kitchen than trying to organize utensils. Keeping track of the lids is a nightmare! Use a metal CD rack to keep them upright. It also helps them be easily seen. Store the larger lids towards the back and smaller ones in the front to keep them all in plain view.

Use a paper towel holder to keep your spools of ribbon organized and easy to get to. It is effective because you can keep it out on a craft desk or closet shelf where you’re more likely to see it and use it.

Soap boxes are great to store toys, crayons, and cards and other small items that tend to get lost!

Hats and scarves - The two awkward things in the closet that are hard to find a space for! Make your own organizing rack with a single sturdy hanger and shower curtain rings.

Use a magnetic strip on the inside of a medicine cabinet door or in a drawer to keep your bobby pins, hair clips, nail file, tweezers, and other metal objects in one organized spot.

With a few pieces of scrap wood and a pack of bungee cords, you can create your very own section in the garage to store balls where they can easily be grabbed before practice and put back away when finished. 

Storing the iron board behind a laundry room or master walk-in closet door where you’ll rarely see it but still have easy access to it, is another brilliant idea to save space.

So, as we see, with a few adjustments here and there, your small space isn’t any small any longer!