Look again, | By MUSADESIGN | Category: Architecture | Blurb
MusaDesign has recently published a book called 'Look, again' that shares our design process, philosophy, and gives details on some of our projects.
Below are the screenshots, but you can always order your own copy from Blurb:
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/621167
THE DUOFLOOR COLLECTION

THE DUOFLOOR COLLECTION
The Duofloor Collection is an innovation in hardwood flooring. The concept of the Duofloor is to capture the durability and wear-layer of a solid hardwood floor with the added benefit of the stability and ease of installation of an engineered floor. Because the Duofloor is more stable than solid floors, the Duofloor can cover widths up to 12 inches & lengths of 12 feet. It is also important to acknowledge that the Duofloor construction saves more trees and is therefore more environmentally friendly than solid hardwood flooring. The Duofloor is the best of both worlds and highly recommended for high end commercial & residential applications. DuChateau Duofloors are distressed, hand-scrapped, smoked, and wire-brushed made in the customary Dutch tradition.
The Duofloor is ¼ inch (6.2mm) of European Oak, European Ash, or European Larch top-layer and features 7 layers of Birch substrate.
http://www.duchateaufloors.com
White Oiled

Natural

MusaDesign used
Duchateau floors for some of projects.
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Far 4 . OLDE DUTCH (natural Oiled)



Zaw Pizza.
ZIMBABWE (Wire Brushed
)
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Labels: DuChateau Floors, far4, hardwood floor, MUSADESIGN, zaw pizza
elements of zaw: a suspended greenhouse
When a new Health Department rule called for a scrubbable and washable ceiling above the food preparation, our clients worried they would have to build a heavy-looking drywall dropped ceiling. We, instead, suggested a series of light acrylic panels dropped into a standard ceiling grid which met the new code and also filtered the simple fluorescent lighting above while a separate vertical panel would conceal the HVAC unit from the customers’ view.
The grid was set at 15” x 19” so that the resulting combination of acrylic and metal resembled a window pane. The series of “window panes” could open as ductwork needed to pass. The frosted white and metal windows hanging above the fresh ingredients mimic the appearance of a functioning greenhouse.
Labels: Interior Design Seattle, MUSADESIGN, zaw pizza
elements of zaw: finding the right refrigeration
The refrigerators that would hold the beer, wine, and sodas would be a crucial part of the interior scheme; we sought to design a functional and striking space uniting menu and beverage display.
Finding the right look meant working around the refrigerators, which meant endlessly researching all available commercial refrigerators to find just the right look and feel. We looked at full length refrigerators with doors, half-sized with doors, integrated walk-in refrigerator and retail side glass doors, and open-air curtain units.
Meeting with dozens of product reps, studying as much about storage capacity and energy efficiency, and discussing options and dimensions and suppliers; selecting the units that accomplished all of our demands proved quite difficult. Each change to the refrigerators resulted in changes to the way the additional dry red wine display and to the menu board design, size, and information frontages.
The use of modular cubes at full and half heights stacked on top of each other allow the clients to change the size of the overall display depending on the varying sizes and layout of future store locations and allowed them to reconfigure the displays based on their changing advertising and sales needs.
Labels: Interior Design Seattle, MUSADESIGN, Retail Store Design, zaw pizza
zaw materials: burned wood
While the owners of 'zaw were meeting with local vineyards to find the perfect complements to their pizzas, we were looking for the right material to go with our custom tiles and complete the retail counter. Because the pizzas are served uncooked, the black and red tiles suggest the fire of the customers' burning ovens. We found a sublime companion with a wood flooring material that was burnt by hand, continuing the perception of warmth and baking, as well as the theme of the artisan's touch.DuChateau Floors is a company that plants two trees for every one it uses. All their floors have recycled wood substrates and are finished with natural oils instead of harmful chemicals. Labels: DuChateau Floors, Interior Design Seattle, zaw pizza
zaw materials: handmade tiles

Custom handmade oversized tiles were used for the retail countertop. We wanted to use this area as a canvas to show the clients’ commitment to sustainability. After sorting through the obvious options of countertops we invariably eliminated most because they were too polished, too uniform, or coming from too far away. Tile is one of the oldest building materials. It’s made from natural materials, supplied locally, and formed by hand. It’s durable and easy to clean. We were able to create a precise look and size with the help of our friend, local ceramic artist Olga, who painstakingly formed, glazed, and baked each and every tile.

Labels: MUSADESIGN, Retail Store Design, zaw pizza
zaw capitol hill: creating strong elements
At this stage we developed ways to integrate the menu, wine, dessert, and ordering counter, creating dialogue between the shopper and the worker while showcasing the action in the kitchen.
With logo and brand identity established, we could investigate the vital store functions and elements through the eye of the brand. We could begin discussing the appropriateness of materials and how they could continue the brand's story.

We created a package of relationships: employees to customers, beverages to menus, visibility to food assembly, materials to the brand's identity.
Labels: Interior Design, MUSADESIGN, Retail Store Design, zaw pizza
zaw logo design from Orange
Graphic designer Susan Lee, creative director of Orange, came up with many different logos in an effort to encapsulate the brand.
The finalized logo, a rough and raw stamp, frames the bold text. The emphasis on “the raw” is a motif that would be carried throughout the interiors and branding elements.

Labels: Orange creative, retail branding, zaw pizza
zaw seattle: preliminary store designs


very early concepts, before logo or location
Without a real location or a finalized logo, we began by designing interactions: What actions will customers see in the kitchen? How will they read the menus? How will the employees greet customers? What should passersby see through the windows?
In both conceptual designs we created an open view for customer into the kitchen, which was the clients' main directive, and suggested ways to engage the customers and create a show. Integration of the menu with beverage display allowed the clients to easily suggest pairings while the increased scale and proportions of beer/wine displays and retail counter pushed the feeling more towards an old deli or bakery.
Labels: Interior Design Seattle, MUSADESIGN, Retail Store Design, zaw pizza
zaw seattle: initial design concepts

‘zaw: artisan pizza in the raw is a new place for great fresh pizza, salads, beer, and wine in Seattle. We at MusaDesign have been working with the energetic owners and visionaries to design their stores. Here we will be able to share the design process throughout its progress.
Pizza is a traditional food. It’s a meal to be shared. It has endured an onslaught of terrible modifications and experimentations. Our clients wanted to bring back classic pizzas. To us, that old-world feeling is present in bakeries and bookstores. In the wood and scale and light of those places, we can foresee dough being tossed, pizzas being assembled, and wine being displayed beautifully.
Because a ‘zaw pizza is assembled in store baked at home there’s a unique experience for the customer: shared between staying in and going out, preparing a meal without having to cook. Therefore this brand needs to follow the customer home, and to do so effectively, we feel that it has to feel a little homemade with an artisan touch.
Because fresh, local, organic ingredients would make up the main components of the pizzas and salads, the store needed to look like a place that wasn’t using microwaves to warm up bags of frozen pizza toppings. It needed to feel fresh to the customers, as well as the employees. It had to evoke trust.
We developed the mood board above to show the key elements that we felt should define the ‘zaw brand and the look of its store.
Labels: Interior Design Seattle, MUSADESIGN, Retail Store Design, zaw pizza
Who needs a balcony in Seattle?

With all the rain that we get here in the Northwest, we do not get to use our balconies very often, and the balcony space tends to be somewhat of a waste. Over two years ago Dutch architectural company Hofman Dujardin Architecten came up with a clever window design called bloomframe™ that makes windows transform to an open balcony at a push of a button.
Back in 2005 MusaDesign wanted to use bloomframe™ inside a loft interior space to provide privacy upstairs while still allowing it to be opened when privacy is not necessary. Unfortunately, bloomframe™ was still just a concept back then and we could not use it. The good news is that bloomframe™ is getting launched as a product in April 2008. We are looking forward to using it in our projects in Seattle.
The bloomframe™ balcony will be presented at the GEVELtotaal exhibition at the Ahoy Exhibition Centre in Rotterdam from the 23rd until the 25th of January 2008.
http://www.hofmandujardin.nl/pdf/Bloomframe-pressrelease.pdfhttp://www.hofmandujardin.nl/index2.html Labels: Interior Design, Interior Design Seattle
Seattle's Sensational Seven Interior Designers
Seattle Magazine has named MUSADESIGN one of the “Seattle's Sensational Seven Interior Designers with Northwest Flair”:
"MUSADESIGN (2617 Fifth Ave., 206.448.3301; 425.246.8464; musadesign.net) was founded four and a half years ago by Russian-born sisters Julia Sandetskaya and Polina Zaika. Growing up in a creative environment around their artistic father helped them both realize their love for design after testing different paths in school (Julia earned degrees in classical music, Russian, medicine and design, and Polina has degrees in art history and graphic design). The biggest chunk of their work is residential, taking projects from concept to completion with space planning, custom furniture, storage and lighting design, but their breakthrough work on Café Darclée earned them a Northwest Design Award for Environmentally Responsible Design in 2007. The green element is subtle—they used aluminum scaffolding, coconut plywood and chair seats made of recycled paper. Expert Advice When interviewing prospective designers, Sandetskaya says it’s important to judge them on more than just their style; she recommends posing a design challenge, whether it be a spatial or drafting problem, to test how they think."
http://www.seattlemag.com/BestOfHome2008: Interior DesignersLabels: Interior Design Seattle, MUSADESIGN, Seattle Magazine
MusaDesign receives Northwest Design Award
The Northwest's top designers were recognized at Seattle Design Center's annual Northwest Design Awards Gala held September 27 2007. The Northwest Design Awards competition recognizes interior design professionals whose work has made a significant contribution to the design industry. Projects are judged on the basis of problem solving, creativity, quality of design and beauty of the space. Awards were presented in fourteen categories: kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, whole house (more than $200,000), remodel, best of traditional design, best of contemporary design, hospitality, retail, commercial, yacht/jet, outdoor living space, environmentally responsible design and student design. Among those being honored were Polina Zaika and Julia Sandetskaya of MusaDesign Company who won the award for Best of Environmentally Responsible Design.
To see images of MusaDesign award winning design, visit the Projects section of www.musadesign.net and choose “Cafe Darclee” project.MusaDesign is an interior design partnership specializing in residential and commercial projects in Seattle and around the world. We work with our clients to express their own ideas in the visual language of design, in an effective and environmentally conscious way.http://www.musadesign.net/northwest_design_awards_winner_2007.htmLabels: Interior Design Seattle, MUSADESIGN, Northwest Design Awards 2007
Tom Dixon and MusaDesign

We attended ICFF (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) in New York in May, and we were blown away by all the designers, their concepts and ideas. What an amazing opportunity, to see the life of design unfolding before us in the city of life. Through it all though I found myself always returning to one man's work. His name is Tom Dixon and his lamp designs were so influential that when we were faced with the opportunity to meet him back in Seattle we jumped all over it. He met us at San Francisco based Limn's (http://www.limn.com/) newest showroom in Seattle, located on Western Ave. by the waterfront. 
I was impressed with Tom before,but after the meeting my impression rose to a whole new level. Our meeting at Limn progressed to a nearby bar where we spent hours discussing design, his influences (he described to us how a chicken becomes a chair [see his drawing below]), and most importantly life.

I would also suggest stopping by the Limn showroom located at 639 Western Ave. in Seattle, they have some really amazing peices. Ask for Eric Fassett, he's a really great guy and will help you with all your needs.
MusaDesign
lifechangingdesign
interior design seattle
Tom Dixon
Interior DesignLabels: Interior Design Seattle



Back in the blogspace! Almost 2 year ago - Polina and Igor found the dream space - an urban zen - 2700 sq. feet loft in the famous "Millennium Tower" in the historical center of Seattle - Pioneer square. Thus, the story begun...
Jean-Marie Massaud at 100% Design Tokyo
MusaDesign at the entrance to the "Visiting Human Nature time & style existence" opening by Jean-Marie Massaud at 100% Design Tokyo.
interior design seattle
musadesign
MusaDesign at 100% Design Tokyo

MusaDesign at 100% Design Tokyo

MusaDesign
lifechangingdesign
Labels: Interior Design Seattle, MUSADESIGN, Tokyo
You are leaving the digitized road network

"You are leaving the digitized road network"- paintings, photography, and sculpture of Russian born Seattle artist Natalya Nyrkova opened at MusaDesign (
http://www.musadesign.net/) gallery on July 7th 2005.
interior design seattle
musadesign
Natalya and Julia
Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005
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Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005
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Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005
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Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005
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Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005
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Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005
Yammy!!!

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005
The Artist

The Artist

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

"Decadence" photo triptych
Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

"Russian Novel" photo essay
Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Musadesign Gallery
Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

Felt chess set from the chess sets collection
Natalya Nyrkova Art Show opening July 7th 2005

"You are leaving the digitized road network"- paintings, photography and sculpture of Russian born Seattle artist Natalya Nyrkova were presented in our gallery during the opening July 7th 2005
05-05-2005 it finally happened! We could not choose a better numeric combination, as such it proved to work. About 300 people came to our design studio and gallery opening. The combination of art by the new rising star Nicole DeMent, electronic music by Dj Deep Maude, Champagne, good weather and overall excitement created the real feel of the Happening!
There will be more parties, art, music and fashion, so
Thank you all who came, and keep your calendars open!

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

DJ Maud Deep

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005

MusaDesign studio opening 5-5-2005
MusaDesign studio is ready
MusaDesign studio is finally ready, the only thing that we still need to do is a big party.
interior design seattle
musadesignLabels: MUSADESIGN, Studio
Ceiling art
Who said that ceiling cannot be art? Julia's office in MusaDesign studio.

Brainstorm...

Deconstruction.

Energy corner.

Art gallery downstairs.

You can guess what this is.
Stairs and PanaLite wall
Everything is almost finished. This is a view from the basement on our new cool staircase and PanaLite wall.
MUSADESIGN: About Us
On us…
Musadesign was founded by Polina Zaika and Julia Sandetskaya (sisters) in 2003.
Polina Zaika
- Degree- Art History from the Academy of Art - Sank-Petersburg, Russia
- Degree- Graphic design- The school of Visual Concept - Seattle, USA
- Among us - the visionary with a constant desire to invent-the "composer"
Julia Sandetskaya
- Degree- Interior design - Cornish College of the Arts (drop out)- Seattle, USA
- Degree- Diagnostic Ultrasound - Seattle University, USA
- Degree- Piano performance- Music College- Kishinev, Moldavia
- Among us- the "conductor" striving to achieve harmony
Elena Prokhorenko
-Degree- Architecture- Moscow Architectural Institute - Moscow, USA
-Among us- the first "violin" translating the abstract concept to music of visual perfection
Eve Duhovskaya
-Degree- Graphic design- Seattle International College-Seattle, USA
-Among us- the graphic savvy, the artist, the industrial designer
interior design seattle
musadesign
On design process...
In our dualist word we tend to prioritize the matter over spirit or vise versa wich translate to function and concept in the design word.
In our veiw both emerge approximattely at the same time in the beginning of the design process and progressively infuence one another ultimatelly shaping all the ellements of design like a frame of a swing- up and down we go but ultimatelly come back.
On style...
Our style is not concerned with a question of what but how, the approach rather than the thing in itself. The process of ellimination of irrelavant, of choosing only things that we beleive are great in themselves and in the content without making any compromises.
It is confident, it is style with essense.
It is what it is.
You are what you it.
There are no mistakes.
-- Tom Robbins
We are what we do, we do what we are. You have seen what we do or you can by going to www.musadesign.net. Now, who we are we will uncover in this blog. We called this blog life changing design because we believe design can do that.
Reading a new copy of Salon (July 2003). It seems like the Russian designers are competing for squeezing in more staff into a sq. meter of space. What a wild mosaic of colors, shapes, and patterns!!! The techno-style and especially techno-lighting is still ruling the design scene despite the fact that it left the Western world about 20 year ago. Even Classical interiors get a share of metallic lights. Such delayed excessiveness after all was always part of Russian taste...
--Julia