Interior Design – Luno

LUNO Guide To Mid-Century Modern Chairs

luno — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 22:18:33 +0000

This is first part of a series that spotlights one of this year’s most popular design trends, mid-century modern chairs and furniture. We’re big fans of this era of design and style, and love to see so much attention being brought back to it in the world of interior design. There’s a wide range of variety and styles that comprise mid-century modern home furnishings and we wanted to give you a brief primer into some of the most iconic examples of mid-century modern chairs.

670 Lounge Chair

This beautiful lounge chair is an icon of mid-century modern style, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, this shine to comfort captures both a feel of classic Americana mixed with a sleek futurism, but still functional enough to find a place in the family room of many homes in the 1960’s.

BALL CHAIR

At the opposite end of the spectrum are these space-age pods that were epitome of 1960’s futurism. The Ball Chair by Eero Aarnio looks like it could find a home on the set of a Stanley Kubrick movie just as easily as it could blend into a swinging bachelor pad, with a beautiful hifi record console playing an Esquivel record.

LC3

From time to time you’ll run across some of these chairs still in use, once a popular waiting room set, that many have knocked off into close but less than perfect copies. The low back is the trademark of these Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand designed masterworks. What they are is a masterpiece of comfort, once you sit down in one of these, not only will you not want to get up, you will find it very challenging to go against your better instincts to ever remove your body from these mid-century modern miniature sofas.

WOMB CHAIR

The mid-century modern designers were extremely into aesthetics, but designs like this also over-delivered in the comfort department. Designer Eero Saarinen created this chair as a commission for a fellow designer Florence Knoll who wanted a chair that would give her the experience of sitting in a basket full of pillows. There’s something about this era of designers that was a lot of fun, they took chances, sometimes creating designs that were totally unlike anything that had come before.

EGG CHAIR

It’s hard to think of mid-century modern chairs without these egg chairs by Arne Jacobsen, a staple of 1960’s television and a chair your probably associate with some of your favorite shows of the era. This chair was designed to be a dramatic frame for whoever sits in it, to be a complement and a striking setting for whoever occupies them. Arne Jacobsen believed deeply that a chair should not only work as a functional piece of furniture, but also very importantly as a work of art.

If you liked these, make sure you check out our interpretation of the mid-century modern chair, we call it The Buckley Listening Chair.

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Interior Design Tips That Make A Major Impact

luno — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 21:45:05 +0000

We all want to transform our living space, to create a place that looks great and reflects our personality. We have a few interior design tips that make a major impact on your home, that almost anyone can implement. Most people don’t realize that it doesn’t take a total re-design to beautify and transform a room, sometimes a few small improvements can go a long way.

Room Lighting

The impact that lighting and has on a room cannot be overstated. If the lighting is either too harsh, or you have areas that could use brightened up. Coming up with lighting scene that provides a nice even, diffuse lighting can make a room a much more pleasing environment to dwell in. Interesting and decorative lamps can usually be a fairly inexpensive upgrade to your room, but will make a big difference in the overall appearance.

Less Is More – Remove Extraneous Clutter

This tip is more about having discipline when deciding what will go in your space, a lot of us have items that we’ve been hoarding for years and we end up buried in a cluttered space, at one point I had two sofa’s in my living room because of an odd sentimental attachment. So lesson one is let go of any piece you’re not in love with that you feel is overwhelming the room. Make sure that surfaces are for the most part not overly burdened with nicknacks, and overall you feel like you have some space for the eye to rest.

Add Accent Decor

Always keep a look out for an interesting item, a coffee table book, or vase that can add interest to a surface. But word to the wise, don’t overdo it, like we said in the last tip, less is more. Having a few interesting sculptures, table runners, or arrangements can really enhance any negative space that feels overly vacant. This is where your interior design sense should take over, and guide you to pieces of interest that you feel reflect your personality.

Create An Accent Wall

Sometimes you don’t need to paint an entire room to transform it, select a wall and make it your centerpiece or focal wall in the room. Giving it a burst of color on one wall that complements your color palette can really liven things up. Going brighter can liven up dead space, but even a more subdued color that highlights the darker shades of your furniture can also pull everything together for a more cohesive look.

Decorative Storage

One thing we really understand is maximizing space, and creating attention getting pieces that are as beautiful as they are functional. Making items like your record collection, which can consume a lot of room space, work as a decorative item, not only looks awesome, but provides a conversation piece for guests. Items like our Flip Tabletop vinyl storage, allows for you to have your albums browsable while showcasing a great piece of interior design.

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How To Create A Mid-Century Modern Listening Room | LUNO

luno — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 18:18:11 +0000

Having a space that was meant for entertaining, unwinding, enjoying a cocktail and listening to your favorite records was an essential part of a home for many years. The mid-century modern style shifted the focus of the centerpiece of this room to the stylish record consoles of the day. These beautiful audio cabinets had all of the stereo components you needed built in, and would serve as the family entertainment center. We wanted to make a guide to show how you can put together your own mid-century modern listening room with some of the pieces that we offer here at LUNO.

SELECT A STEREO CONSOLE

The stereo console is the centerpiece of the listening room, make no mistake it is an investment, but it’s meant to be an heirloom piece, and the hours of enjoyment that this sound system brings are priceless. Not to mention the style points that a piece like this brings to your home are off the charts! LUNO’s flagship model, EGB2, is a timely update of the classic record consoles of the 50’s and 60’s. The beautiful Mid Century inspired design, boutique minimalist turntable, pull out MiniBar and custom gold rimmed whiskey glasses effectively evoke the luxurious style and modernist design of the Mad Men era. Each EGB2 is crafted by skilled artisans and craftsmen in Los Angeles, CA using American Walnut and would undoubtedly be a conversation piece based on it’s stylish design alone.

FIND A MATCHING LISTENING CHAIR

Once you sit in a listening chair, you’ll realize why they were made, and you may not ever want to get up from it again. Our Buckley Listening Chair is the perfect companion piece for our consoles. Built with the speaker height in mind, it’s positioned for you the get the maximum listening experience, so kick back with a glass of whiskey and enjoy your favorite record! Ottoman included. No mid-century modern listening room is complete without one of these!

FIND STYLISH MID-CENTURY MODERN ACCESSORIES

Finding utility in accessories and room decor makes the piece all the more cool. This simple vinyl storage solution is made of solid walnut and solid brass. It’s perfect to sit on top of your desk or credenza and makes flipping through your collection ever so easy. Choose your favorite records and add them to your everyday rotation. When you start equipping your mid-century modern listening room you’ll recognize the value of having record storage that keeps a selection of your favorite vinyl LP’s accessible.

YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH RECORD STORAGE

Once your begin developing a vinyl record addiction, this storage solution and decorative piece will not only make sense, but it may save your life. This stunning modern storage unit is for the serious and stylish collector holding up to 500 records. Made from exotic Zebrawood with black lacquered legs, it’s a one of kind showstopping item that will hold a large record collection with sophistication. Custom finishes & sizes available. This is an essential item for any mid-century modern listening room!

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ASK AN INTERIOR DESIGNER – VINTAGE RECORD CONSOLES?

luno — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 18:10:24 +0000

We’re answering the most common questions that we receive via e-mail and social media. We’re calling this series, Dear LUNO. If you have a question about interior design, mid-century modern furniture, home decor or record consoles and accessories send them to info@iamluno.com.

Dear LUNO,

I’ve been looking into purchasing a vintage mid-century modern record console from the 1960s, and some of the models I’ve considered look like they’re in excellent condition, but are selling way above what I’ve noticed the original price tags were. Are vintage vinyl console record players worth the price, and how do they stack up against just investing in a new stereo console? What should I look for in a record console beyond the basic style that I’ve been seeking?

Thanks in advance for your response,

“Confused Console Shopper”

~~~~~~

Hi “Confused,”

Where to begin? There are so many options out there for vintage record consoles, and a wide variety of quality. Depending on the brand you’re looking at, the price for some of the rarer heirloom vintage stereo record consoles, or collectors pieces, can be astronomical.

Here’s the main issue, most vintage 1960’s consoles weren’t known for impeccable sound quality, so depending on whether you’re looking to use the piece as a decoration, or as an actual daily use working hifi stereo system, should help you decide if you should look for a brand new versus a vintage unit. Consoles like our EGB2, and other brand new mid-century modern style consoles have significantly better components than they put into their classic 1960’s predecessors.

You should also check to see if the console you’re looking into has all of its original components, or if they’ve been updated to new equipment, which in many cases will give you much greater fidelity. For the money, purchasing a new unit can give you exactly what you’re looking for, and in many cases with LUNO’s consoles, you can customize some of the features, so you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Another suggestion is to look for units that are entirely analog, many new record consoles have equipment that allows you to output to a digital signal, and other digital equipment, which compresses the full original analog signal into a digital signal, and kind of defeats the purpose of listening to a vinyl record. LUNO’s record consoles are 100% full analog from stylus to speaker, giving you the warmth and fullness that analog records are so well known for.

If you have a specific console that you have questions about drop us another line, and we’re always glad to help out!

Yours truly in interior design,

LUNO

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Coolest Features of a Mid-Century Modern HiFi Record Console | LUNO

luno — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 21:44:09 +0000

Mid-century modern record consoles have an elegance that could lead you to believe they materialized from a 1960’s James Bond movie. Like one of Bond’s gadgets, they also have some of the coolest hidden features that you may not have heard about. Unless you’re in the know, own one, or are among the community of Interior Designers, you may not know about some of the well kept secrets of these incredible decorative luxury furniture pieces. Here’s a quick list of some of the coolest mid-century modern record console features.

The Hidden Whiskey Bar

Let’s get started with a bang, easily our favorite feature of LUNO’s mid-century modern style record console, the discrete whiskey bar. It’s your own hidden turntable powered speakeasy, and comes with 4 beautiful gold rimmed whiskey glasses. It has the capacity to hold 4 full average sized whiskey or wine bottles, just in case you want to change it up. It really is the perfect complement to your favorite classic vinyl LP, check out the whiskey bar on one of our most popular consoles The EGB2.

Standard Marshall Salt & Pepper Grill Cloth

One of the coolest things to know about LUNO’s record consoles is that they come with the standard Marshall salt & pepper grill cloth, it doesn’t get more classic than that, Marshall amplifier grill cloth! You actually have one of the most iconic elements from the history of rock & roll music built in as part of the DNA of LUNO’s record consoles.

Apple & Airplay Compatibility

Airplay compatibility means you can connect your other Apple compatible devices and stream them on your high quality LUNO stereo console, giving you an extremely full and rich audio experience. One of the comments people frequently make is how impressed they are by the enveloping sound that comes out of our consoles. Which actually gets at another feature that we didn’t have room to include, which is high quality audio components, that are hand-wired by our in-house audio gurus.

Deceptively Large Vinyl Storage Capacity

When you slide open the cabinet doors, you will see a perfectly measured space to store your copious vinyl collection. This baby holds 150 standard size vinyl records, and believe me you’re going to need after you hear one of these record consoles in person. Every record you currently own in any other format, you will begin a mad hunt to track it down in its original pure analog format.

Line-In Other Media & Audio Sources

The thing I love most is being able to connect other older analog tape players through the built-in amp and console speakers. It makes even these old tapes sound rich and warm, and the EQ controls it gives you, allow you to adjust for some of the deficiencies and decay that can be found as tapes age. Also, if you want to have the coolest looking home theater setup known to man, this unit can act as the core of your surround sound, and then some.

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Top 5 Interior Design Trends For 2018 | LUNO

luno — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 22:08:51 +0000

We scoured the interior design blogosphere, and researched with some of the top names in design to determine our top 5 interior design trends for 2018. Each year we see new styles becoming more widely available for hardware, materials and finishing touches, and believe us there is a lot out there. We wanted to create a guide to help you navigate all of these options, and give you home decor and design ideas that will give your space an up to the minute modern feel.

HiFi Stereo Console Room Centerpiece

For years now we’ve allowed televisions to overtake a room and become the focal point, sometimes without even intending it to be. Now people want to return to a room that brings us back to making conversation and human interaction the focal point. HiFi record consoles are a great way to do that, providing pure analog sound quality and ambiance, and a conversation piece that will put the human touch back into your living space for entertaining.

Chrome Details & Hardware

The style of polished chrome and stainless steel has been an evergreen, but as this favorite has gone in and out of favor over the decades, but we’re seeing some incredible uses as details for furniture and hardware in 2018. The subtle use of chrome in both the kitchen and living room can provide an extra level of detail that gives you a look that’s both stylish and modern.

Matte Black Finished Accents

Matte black finish hasn’t been as heavily utilized in the past in both kitchens and bathrooms, but now we’re seeing a trend toward warmth and a more modern feel, rather than some of the more antique inspired styles that have been popular in recent years. Tying in black matte wood into your room’s accent colors can give your space a more intimate and inviting feel.

Vinyl Record Storage Furniture

Furniture that makes a statement about your personality is always a great idea, but this year we’re seeing furniture that displays your record collection come more into the forefront. Vinyl media storage allows your guests a window into your personality and you get to showcase all of your cool vinyl finds. Our Jax vinyl storage unit delivers a cool mid-century modern style, and provides you with ample multi-use storage space, that can be a blank canvas for your accents and interior design ideas.

Kitchen Dining Tables

Eating in the kitchen has been a trend at some of the world’s finest restaurants, now this trend is coming to a kitchen near you. Entertain your guests while preparing the meal, not only engages them in the process, but allow you to chat while you’re prepping to serve. They say the kitchen is the centerpiece of the home, now it can be the centerpiece for functional entertainment as well.

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LUNO Guide To Record Cabinet Customization

luno — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 14:19:49 +0000

The most commonly asked question we get is usually about customization of one of our record consoles or record cabinets. When people see these beautifully stylish design pieces they instantly to bring one home and blend seamlessly into their color scheme and decor style. Well, I have some very good news for those of you who like to have things your way, there are some amazing options for finishes and speaker fabrics that can give your record cabinet a look that perfectly fits as an expression of your personality. Here’s LUNO’s Guide to record cabinet customization.

EGB2 RECORD CONSOLE

LUNO’s flagship model, EGB2, is a timely update of the classic record consoles of the 50’s and 60’s. The beautiful Mid Century inspired design, boutique minimalist turntable, pull out MiniBar and custom gold rimmed whiskey glasses effectively evoke the luxurious style and modernist design of the Mad Men era. Each EGB2 is crafted by skilled artisans and craftsmen in Los Angeles, CA using American Walnut and would undoubtedly be a conversation piece based on it’s stylish design alone. The most exciting part is that there are 6 gorgeous finish options, and three speaker fabrics that you can choose from. What you see pictured is the classic Marshall amplifier salt and pepper grill cloth, in my mind it does not get any more classic and couldn’t fit the style of this beautiful piece more perfectly. Here are the full selection of finishes and fabrics for the EGB2:

KC27 RECORD CONSOLE

Cut from the same cloth as our flagship console, we are pleased to announce our newest console. The KC27 is a streamlined version of our EGB2, simplifying the components while still retaining many of the essential elements that make it’s big brother console such a spectacular piece. The KC27, like all LUNO products, is handcrafted and hand-wired in DTLA by skilled artisans and features a unique eye catching cross grain walnut pattern. The KC27 has a selection of beautiful finish and fabric options just like the EGB2, but with the KC27 you have some options for the mini-bar:

Storage For 2 Average Sized Liquor or Wine Bottles
Storage For 4 Cocktail Glasses – glasses not included

Don’t forget to check out the full options on the KC27 page:

The Shell Stereo Cabinet

Due to popular demand, LUNO is pleased to announce it’s latest design, “The Shell.”

Contrary to our fully equipped Mid Century inspired record consoles, The Shell is a streamlined stereo cabinet option featuring a simplistic modern design for those that want a hub to house their existing audio system.

The two large enclosures to each side can house your own speakers, under the left lid you can place your very own turntable, the right lid can house accessories or optionally, one of our LUNO faceplates connected to the same power amplifier found in our top of the line consoles.

Not only can you build out this incredible unit with whatever turntable or media device your heart desires, you can also select from a few additional options that allow you to make The Shell the custom record cabinet of your dreams:

2 Door Options
2 Leg Options
2 Finish Options

To check out all of the options for The Shell visit this page to get pricing information.

If you’re a trendsetter that can’t be boxed into painting inside the lines, you can contact us here with your requests, in most cases if you can dream it, we’ll try our best to make that dream a reality.

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Outrageous Interior Design & Home Decor Of The 80s

luno — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 23:56:50 +0000

Every interior design and home decor style that arose from each era or decade, had its own unique perspective, which many of us lose sight of when we look back in bewilderment at some of the outrageous interior design and home decor choices made specifically during the 1980s. It was a decade of excess, that strived to achieve maximum personality and originality through every aspect of creative expression. Sometimes that expression got turned up to 11, and even with a nostalgic gaze its hard to put yourself in the shoes of someone who actually had to go out and purchase all of the design elements that it took to compose some of these rooms. Record consoles, stereo consoles, stereo cabinets, turntables and record players were a big part of every home through much of the decade, as compact discs didn’t really take hold of the majority of the market until the 90s. Vinyl was still king! If you bought a Wham! record the odds were 90% that it was going to be an LP, or a cassette tape. Either way, each of these made a bold statement of someone who wanted to be contemporary, and participate in the concept what being a modern homeowner was during a time when you could still work in fast food and pay rent most places. Money was readily available, there was a large middle class and for the first time in history we also had something called the Home Shopping Network, and you could order some of the most insane pieces of home decor that I’d say honestly, you could find nowhere else. This blog is going to just provide you with the straight facts, and preset each style without comment. There are a lot of really great things you can take away from getting a glimpse into the homes of these people, it literally is a window into their mind, and how they wanted to be perceived at the time. It was a time that for all of its faults it had a lack of the painful self-awareness and self-consciousness that seems extremely prevalent today, these people wanted to have fun, and were willing do to so unabashedly no matter who was looking. Here you are, a tour through the beautiful, sometimes terrifying but always outrageous interior design and home decor of the 80s.

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The Best Designer Furniture & Decorative Trends For 2018 | LUNO

luno — Sat, 21 Jul 2018 13:37:22 +0000

Designer furniture, luxury furniture and decorative trends reflect a broad range of attitudes and shifts in taste. Every year we see ideas from our global culture come in and out of fashion, which can strike a deep impression on furniture design and home decor. These days how you decorate your home can even make a political statement. Economic factors also seem to be relevant in the desire to showcase varying levels of conspicuous wealth through the creative expression of interior design. This year, we’ve spotted some ideas that are not only visually pleasing, but they are adding texture and interest to areas of design that had been kept more basic in recent years. We hope these designer furniture and decorative trends for 2018 provide inspiration and give you some ideas for modern luxury home decor.

Decorative Walls

Having significant negative space has been desirable in recent years, but this year creating interest with color, shape and texture is very in fashion. Warm colors that provide a rich pallet and items that make an artistic statement help to create an opulent and inviting space that ties in the entire design concept for the room. This is not entry level design, choosing the right pieces and having a vision for the room on this scale is usually best accomplished by hiring a seasoned interior designer.

Sculptural Furniture

This beautiful solid bronze chair, created by Kelly Wearstler, embodies one of our favorite designer furniture trends of the year. Expanding on the idea of practical art, this chair not only provides an eye catching piece, but it encapsulates the aesthetic of 2018, a modern take on a functional return to opulence.

Designer Hifi Record Consoles

Timeless style, and the richness and warmth that recall the elegance of another era, but with a very modern feel, record consoles like the EGB2 are providing a gorgeous and functional room centerpiece. These consoles also provide high quality analog sound, far superior to many of their vintage predecessors. These units have been a popular addition to luxury home decor this year and help create a functional room lifestyle for those who want to put an emphasis back on entertaining and conversation, adding a real human touch and ambience.

Gold, Silver and Precious Metal Tones

In a way the economic revival has spurred a return to a more opulent look and feel for home decor. We’re loving the look of one of our favorite luxury designer furniture trends of the year, metallic tones, and specifically tasteful accents of gold. For decades bronze and gold furniture had been a staple until it fell out of fashion in the 90s. Now that people want to again identify with opulence, we’re seeing some great uses for gold in fixtures, hardware and even decorative furniture pieces.

Bookmark our blog for the latest updates, trends and our designer furniture picks.

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What Are Interior Designer Trade Programs? | LUNO

luno — Fri, 27 Jul 2018 12:28:51 +0000

What Are Interior Designer Trade Programs? | A Look Inside The Designer Furniture Industry

Many people outside of the Interior Design world have asked us about Interior Designer Trade Programs, what they are, if we offer them and how they work. In the world of interior design these programs are pretty standard, but offer great incentives for qualified members of the trade to participate and make working with a designer furniture brand like ours incredibly easy.

But who are these programs open to, is the question we often hear the most, and are these trade programs just limited to interior designers? Generally, they are open to a fairly wide range of interior designers, architects, and qualified members of the trade that work with homeowners and developers on their design projects.

Those who have been working in the design field for years understand the value of the designer trade programs, and know that they open up a lot of possibilities for exclusive discounts, and other resources that we make available to those partners who qualify. Unfortunately at the present time, those who are not professionals working in the interior design trade, those who are taking on their own personal custom projects and a few other exclusions do apply.

A lot of time these programs are kept out of reach, but we like to have an informed clientele who understand all of the options available to them, just incase that this should apply to your professional situation.

When you visit our interior designer trade program page you’ll also find other resources that will help make working with us as easy as possible. Including our guide to LUNO PDF and downloads of high quality versions of our images for you to use in presentations or layouts.

The other question that we get very frequently, is, what does it take to apply for your interior designer trade program? Essentially, all you have to do is provide a copy of your resale certificate or EIN number verifying your business in the trade, and fill out our form on our trade program page here: https://www.iamluno.com/trade/

Once you’ve filled it out, we’ll get back to you right away to let you know if you qualify to participate. Or, if you have any other questions we encourage you to get in touch with us so we can help you make your project a success.

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