The San Diego Blackout is officially over. The power outage shut down our entire county (6 million people) and left everyone sitting in the dark. Hold It Contemporary Home did close early yesterday due to the lack of power, but now that the power has been restore, we are open for our normal hours today (Friday, September 9). But sitting in the pitch black got us thinking about the use of “blackouts” in modern design. So after some web browsing this morning, here are some great rooms that have blackout design. Thanks to Elle Decor and Apartment Therapy for the images!

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While wandering through the Dwell on Design exhibition space, I stumbled upon some amazing wallcoverings by Astek Inc. The bright colors and interesting textures first caught my eye, but once I began speaking with the Astek team, the brilliance of these wallcoverings shone through. The Astek team does coverings for TV shows, movies and photo shoots but image what these designs could do in your modern home. Astek recently expanded their team to include graphic artists to create new and interesting designs for walls and also introduced eco-friendly options for coverings. Astek even offers magnetic options for the designs so you can easily swap them out- perfect for kids rooms or retail stores with ever changing tastes.

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Standing around waiting for the subway is one of the dull daily tasks that millions face around the world. But if you stumble into any of these beautifully designed stations- you won’t be paying attention to the departure and arrival schedule. These Metro stops from all over the globe offer daily commuters and tourist the opportunity to take in some history, modern architecture or intriguing design, all while just waiting around for the subway. Next time your in any of these cities, maybe you should add “riding the subway” to your list of attractions to see.

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Most people have never seen $100,000 expect maybe in mortgage documents, but Han-Peter Feldmann is giving all visitors to the Guggenheim Museum in New York City a peek at $100,000 in cash, but not only cash, 100,000 $1 bills. Feldman won the Hugo Boss prize of $100,000 for significant achievement in contemporary art and he turned that prize into this exhibit. Feldman will taking back his cash when the exhibit wraps up on November 2.

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Chris Brigham of Knife & Saw has solved a problem that plagues many bicycle riders’ homes: How to store you bike, and look good doing it. The “Bike Shelf”  is made from solid wood and suspended by a steel square rod mount, this shelf can hold both your bike, and anything else you want on it with ease. Use it to showcase your bike or utilize the space for books, flowers, bike accessories, etc. After all, that’s what it’s there for.

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Need to separate your space? Check out LOFTwall, modular partitions that are perfect for any space in need of some separation. All of the panels can be customized and repurposed to fit your lifestyle at the time. The panels are light and can be moved easily throughout your home or office as needed. LOFTwall offers the perfect solution for a studio style apartment, offices and even creating a home office.

LOFTwall is available at Hold It Contemporary Home.

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It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s a…bowl? Flying Wall Bowls from Global Views to be exact. These lovely crucibles have heroically transcended the world of kitchen cabinets to rescue you from the menace of bland walls. Cloaked in an array of colors (Pale Aqua, Fossil, White, Fiery Red, Raspberry Wine, Firecracker, Cypress, Ecru Olive, Antique Moss, and Ocean Depth), and teamed up in sets of 3 different sizes, these gravity defying bowls are doing their part to fight the good fight. Perfect for any contemporary home!

See them at Hold It Contemporary Home starting at $89 per set of 3.

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A picture is worth a thousand words, but these images are worth millions. Various artists, architects and designers have taken the literary word and turned it into art work, buildings and sculptures. This book art moves beyond the words on the pages and creates something completely new.

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Small spaces require creativity and functionality and Dror Benshetrit has provided both with his new Pick Chair. The piece is both beautiful and unique wall art, but it can quickly turn into a place to relax. A quick adjustment from 2D art to a 3D chair allows extra seating, but only when you need it. The awesome idea takes a functional piece of furniture and makes it suitable to use as art.

Images from Great Interior Design

Remember when farm animals were relegated only to kids’ books, cookies, and petting zoos? Well those days are over. They’re now taking over the pristine white walls in your urbanist abodes as well. Fashioned in milky white plaster, these farm snout wall sculptures from Cyan Design come in three flavors: pig, cow, and horse. Collect them all! And bring a little bit of the country to your city slicker stable. Read more …