Dwell on Design: Reclaim is the Word

I attended the Dwell on Design expo last weekend at the LA Convention Center and enjoyed it even more than last year's event. To fill you in, Dwell on Design is a three-day modern design fest sponsored by the forward-thinking Dwell Magazine. Billed as the "Biggest Modern Design Event West of the Mississippi," Dwell on Design brings together designers, speakers, exhibitors, workshops, tours, food, films, etc.

For modern design junkies, the expo was thrilling and inspirational. I wanted to design the next great patio chair when I got home (I ended up doing laundry instead, a close-second on the exicte-o-meter). But back to the show: there were lots of eco, green, sustainable, recycled, repurposed designs. For the most part, overindulgence has been kicked aside in favor of smart, affordable design.

This year, more space was devoted to the outdoor living part of the expo, which you'll get to see on this site next week.

One of the most clever and original exhibits was an experiment conducted by The Los Angeles Times' classifieds section and Dwell. Designers scoured the classified ads for interesting items that resulted in a room filled with reclaimed furnishings and objects. The twig American flag pictured above was one of their "finds." The idea: discovering beauty and purpose in discarded and forgotten items, resisting the urge to always buy, buy, buy!

Photo of "Reclaimed Twig American Flag" by Lisa Hallett Taylor