Inhabitat write-up on Lego Table

MDC Interiors Creates Awesome LEGO Table With the Help of 3rd Grade Students

 

MDC Interiors was invited to work with The Museum School of Avondale Estates for an art auction to raise money for the school – and they teamed up with a group of talented third graders to assemble this awesome LEGO table! The project is based on an old 80’s thrift store furniture piece that the team dismantled and spray painted orange. All of the wood is reclaimed, and the LEGO bricks are pieced together without glue. The kids initialed their “lego block” so they could leave an imprint of their contribution.

Read more: MDC Interiors Creates Awesome LEGO Table With the Help of 3rd Grade Students | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Lego Table

MDC Interiors was invited to work with The Museum School of Avondale Estates for an art auction to raise money for the school.  We were one of 6 artists chosen to participate.  The goal was to work with 3^rd graders (about 40 kids) to create a piece of art to be later auctioned off at a finale event at Little Tree Studios in Avondale Estates.

We put on our thinking caps trying to find an intersection between our passion (building) and something that a group of 40 kids would be able to have a hand in (literally).  The result—provide kids with Lego pieces to fit together to create a table top.  We were inspired by a larger piece that was made by ABGC Architecture and Design in Dublin.  We couldn’t match the scale (Legos are more expensive than we remember) but decided to create homage to the piece and put a sustainable spin on it.  We used an old base of an 80’s thrift store furniture piece found at Last Chance Thrift Store; we disassembled it and spray painted it orange.  All of the wood is reclaimed and the Lego pieces are pieced together with no glue.  We also had the kids initial their "lego block" so they could leave an imprint of their contribution.  The photos below and the video capture our process and end result.

While we couldn’t make the final auction due to other obligations, we heard our Lego table created quite a ruckus and bidding war leading to one lucky owner taking it home for $1400.  We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.  The overall event raised more than $110K—woot!  All for the kids.

Video (we appear at the 3:00 mark): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVFfQuBau_c

Glow Table II Featured in Inhabitat.

Inhabitat featured our Glow Table II today and we're super thrilled. It's a part of our Glow table series which incorporates LED lighting to add ambience in a room or to illuminate objects within the table.  Read the write-up here or below.

MDC Interiors' Steel and Wood Glow Table Provides Dramatic Recessed LED Lighting

Mike Carpenter of Atlanta-based MDC Interiors crafts gorgeous turn of the century-inspired coffee tables which incorporate the rugged beauty of steel and the gentle warmth of LED lights. ‘Glow Table II’ is comprised of plywood and steel, with glass panels recessed into the tabletop to reveal the LED-illuminated contents of its drawers. The piece is part of a collection of tables by MDC Interiors which all incorporate efficient LED accent lights controlled by dimmer switches. The table’s deep tones and warm lighting create a dramatic focal point for any room.

Out There Atlanta

I had a chance to sit down with Lilly Lampe from Out There Atlanta--a weekly podcast covering food, culture, events, and people about town.  See write-up below and/or listen to the podcast to hear about MDC Interiors' beginnings, sustainable design, and more.

Episode 53: The Carpenter (by Lilly Lampe)

Despite his name, Mike Carpenter didn’t always embrace his design leanings. After forays into computer work, Carpenter realized his calling had been there all along. Mike founded MDC Interiors, a sustainable design company that uses unexpected elements like concrete, LED lights, and built-in spaces for succulents(!). He’s also done some sweet Art on the Beltline pieces (including one for this year) and has had smaller pieces in Scoutmob’s Shoppe.
Listen here or download on Itunes (it’s free!)
Topics include:
His first impression of Atlanta, Atlanta as a creative place, working with pallet wood versus concrete, and making the decision to get a graduate degree in design.

Art on the Beltline 2012

Karen Shacham and I collaborated on the Art on the Beltline project this year.  If you recall, I built a reclaimed chess table last year and decided to change it up a bit this year.  Karen is an amazing Atlanta photographer and introduced "The Couple Series" (a series that captures photos of gay and lesbian couples) as a part of her thesis project while at SCAD.  We decided to paint her black and white portraits and the surrounding space in the photo to create a mural that reflects the environment, as if the people in the portraits are trying to "fit in" to the surroundings.  We were thrilled to see that Creative Loafing used our work as the cover photo in their piece, '2012 Art on the Beltline sneak peak'.  Karen also had the opportunity to discuss the work last weekend as part of an artist's panel and collaboration between the Beltline and Wonderroot. 

To get to our installation: On the corridor, it's directly across from Gordon White Park, just south of the Ralph David Abernathy bridge. Check out the map for more details.

 

Scoutmob Shoppe

The folks over at Scoutmob recently launched a "Shoppe" which features awesome local goodness "made from the hands of locals."  You get great custom-made crafts at a sweet deal.  What more could you ask for?  The Shoppe is currently available in Atlanta, New York, and San Francisco.  In Atlanta, find products across the board--from anatomical tees by Accelerated Expansion, duct tape wallets by Strange Bird Designs, homemade sea salt by Beautiful Briny Sea to concrete planters, coasters, and reclaimed coffee tables by yours truly. Curious?  Find more here: https://shoppe.scoutmob.com/atlanta

Screenshot of our page: 

Featured in Atlanta INtown Paper

Find a write-up on MDC Interiors in this month's Atlanta INtown paper.  The papers are scattered all over town.  You can find some spots to snag a copy here: http://www.atlantaintownpaper.com/find-a-copy/.  Next time, you're waiting in line for brunch or grabbing a cup of Joe, grab a paper and read about our cool reclaimed designs and how we got started.  Page 43 ya'll.

Reclaiming Design: Artist gets back to basics using local materials

By Collin Kelley, Editor

Leaving a bad job experience is often the key to unlocking a new career. Mike Carpenter said he could feel his creativity draining away as he sat in a cubicle for two years working on CD-ROM development. MDC Interiors was born shortly thereafter, along with a startling array of furniture made reclaimed materials. Carpenter’s education was in computer art, but he decided he needed “some tangible hands-on creative experience.” “I was surrounded by art as a child because my mother is a painter and used to do carpentry with my father and grandfather in their workshops,” he said. “I have always painted and enjoyed carpentry as a creative outlet and wanted to find a profession that would allow me to apply my creativity and skills within a lucrative profession.”

Carpenter worked and trained with artists and furniture refinishers and realized he had a knack for decorative painting and working with his hands. Since the creation of MDC Interiors, he has tackled jobs faux finishing, refinishing and building furniture, murals and cabinetry. Recently, Carpenter has focused on using green materials such as concrete and wood salvaged locally from construction sites and discarded pallets from local warehouses and stores. “I like to constantly challenge myself to use and experiment with new materials to inspire creativity and gain personal growth,” he said. Carpenter has been working on nature-inspired tables and planters, integrating natural elements (moss, river rocks, succulent plants, bonsai) into the piece as a design element.  He’s also working on a series called “Glow,” which are tables made from reclaimed pallet wood and accented with LED lights on dimmer switches to change the mood of a room.

For the online version: 
http://www.atlantaintownpaper.com/2012/08/reclaiming-design-artist-gets-back-to-basics-using-local-materials/

Photo credits: Photo of Mike Carpenter by Mona Patel; Glow Table photo by Karen Shacham

Or here: http://issuu.com/atlantaintown/docs/8.12_intown_digital/43 

Biologically-Inspired Light

I got sidetracked with summer festivals and took a mini-break from posting projects from the Industrial Design (ID) program.  Not that I'm complaining.  Summer festivals are a great way to interact with local artists and to meet new people.  I digress.  I'll probably be sprinkling ID projects here and there from now til indefinitely in between other festivals, furniture launches, and hopefully more features *fingers crossed.  You'll be able to get your ID fix today. 

Design Challenge 3: Design a light that aids in providing natural light for those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD).  The light will be organic in form and be made using sustainable materials. 

My light was inspired by a human eye and eyelid.  I used remnant strips of thin wood soaked in water to create a curved form to represent the eyelid.  The bolt on the side allows the "eyelid" to move over the "eye" to change the amount of light emitted.  The lamp neck fell right into place by supporting the eye and controlling the direction of the light.  I used a flexible metal tube with metal rods and pins to create a resemblance of a spinal cord.  The base of the lamp and the outer eye are made from handpoured concrete, the cornea is made from a plastic ball, and the retina is made from a bolt.  Not only will the lighting provide light therapy for SAD but maybe the bio-inspired quality may provide you some company as well?  Hm.
See images below.

New concrete coasters at Youngblood Gallery and Boutique

Just created a new batch which will be sold at Youngblood Gallery and Boutique.  Get em' while they're hot!  I've posted some samples below.  They call also be found on Etsy if you're interested in purchasing.  We decided to sell coasters individually so people can mix and match and choose based on personal preference.  Bike + Butterfly + Number Coster hybrid?  Why, yes of course.  You pick.

Below are some sample mix ups.  The possibilities are endless.

Indoor Concrete Planters featured in Inhabitat!

We can't be more excited about the coverage we're receiving from Inhabitat.  They covered our Indoor Concrete Planters which we launched 2 weeks ago at the Artlantis Arts and Music Festival.  Read below to see what Mark Boyer from Inabitat had to say: 

Turn Your Houseplants into a Work of Art with MDC Interiors’ Indoor Concrete Wall Planter by Mark Boyer, 06/13/12

From furniture made using reclaimed wood to a living table that doubles as a bonsai tree planter, Michael Carpenter of MDC Interiors has been developing a wide range of innovative green interior furnishings in recent years. Now, Carpenter has come up with another impressive design. The indoor concrete wall planter presents a neat new way to display houseplants by hanging them on the wall. The planter consists of a reclaimed wooden box and a thin slab of concrete, and there are a couple of holes that can be filled with plants and stones.

Read more: Turn Your Houseplants into a Work of Art with MDC Interiors' Indoor Concrete Wall Planter | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Vote for MDC Interiors!

CHASE and Living Social are partnering up to provide 12 grants (up to $250,000) to small businesses across the US.  I've submitted a proposal for MDC Interiors and with the funding hope to expand the eco-furniture series (the Nature-inspired series, Glow Table series, and Calico series) and focus on some community-specific projects to create a line of products that can improve bike safety.  If I win the grant, I plan to work with the Atlanta Bicycle Coalition to pilot some projects and to establish a team that is forward thinking, progressive, and has strong ethos of supporting local economy, minimizing our impact on the earth, and promoting healthy outdoor activities such as cycling.


 250 votes is daunting but with the support of the community, it is definitely feasible! 


Search for "MDC Interiors" (business is listed under the city of Clarkston) at www.missionsmallbusiness.com/.  Thanks in advance for everyone's suppport!

Concrete Planters are here and we're on Etsy.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Artlantis Arts and Crafts Festival.  We launched the concrete coasters and concrete planters and we are happy to say that we may have generated some buzz.  If you weren't able to make it out and/or are feeling down about not having one of our sweet coasters, have no fear.  We are selling the coasters on Etsy along with the concrete planters. 

A bit about the planters.  The planters are made from reclaimed wood, thin slabs of concrete, succulents, and river rock.  The piece can be hung on your wall, bringing a bit of nature and the outdoors inside. Mist with water to keep hydrated.  I've included some images below.  Take a gander.

Artlantis Arts and Music Festival Prep

The Artlantis Arts and Musical festival is coming up this weekend-June 2nd.  The festival will be at the corner of Ponce and N. Higland at Druid Hills Baptist Church (across from Urban Outfitters).  I decided to create concrete planters and concrete coasters for this event.  I love concrete and as seen in past pieces, such as the Living Table, love integrating plants into the raw, industrial material.  Will post more as the planter process unfolds.  I started on the coasters this past weekend and have uploaded photos below.  Still in the works but gives you a good idea.  Would you set your drink on these?

CYCEL: Making Night Cycling Safer

Onwards to Post 2 of the series- projects from the Georgia Tech ID program continues.  This project was done in conjunction with Tory Harrison. 

Biking has become a newfound interest/“passion” of mine.  I use “passion” loosely since I haven’t had much time to ride this past year but I will say every time I hit the pavement and elude mac trucks and school buses determined to run me off the road, my heart starts racing and adrenaline begins pumping.

Tory and I decided to create a product through my “Wearable Technology” class to help  bikers on the road.  A huge concern among bikers is their visibility on the road, particularly at night.  We decided to create a jersey that is comfortable, functional, and will allow drivers to see you better at night.  Thereafter, it’s up to the driver as to how kindly they want to “share the road.”  I digress.  See below for model pictures of the jersey and design concepts.  Kudos and lots of thanks to Jocelyn Chen for lending me her sewing machine and to both Jocelyn and Starr Banks for providing me a crash course in sewing, guiding, pedaling, and for providing encouraging words as we broke countless needles and zippers.  Although, I did realize at the end of the night that sewing isn’t too far from sawing.  Who knows, maybe we’ll be on the next Project Runway.

Title: CYCEL

Materials: Polyester and EL (electroluminescent) wire

This image presents multiple design concepts and ways to incorporate the EL (electroluminescent) wire.  We ended up incorporating the EL wire as a box piping framing the shoulder after accidentally breaking the curved form by sewing over it (learning curve).  I would like to attempt the curved form sometime in the future.

Final product: Thanks to Mona and Starr for the bicycle modeling.

Cardboard Chair

I started MDC Interiors 8 years ago and have learned so much in the process.  As the business has evolved, I found myself gravitating more towards design and product development. . . .which in turn led to the launch of the reclaimed furniture line in 2011.  I learned quite a bit through the furniture line and decided I wanted to learn more about design, production, and technical processes.  Enter graduate school.

I just finished my first year of the Industrial Design program at Georgia Tech.  It was a challenging year, balancing work with a full time school load, but I made it through.  Perhaps with many sleepless nights and one too many bowls of ramen noodle, but made it through nonetheless. 

I'd like to share some of my projects with you.  The next few posts will highlight some of the projects completed through the Fall semester ID program.
-Mike

Design Challenge 1:  To create a chair composed of cardboard that utilizes the integrity, structure, and function of the material to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional seating unit.

I really enjoyed working with cardboard.  Working with unexpected materials inspires creativity and forces you to think outside the box (literally).  I also appreciate that cardboard is recyclable, greener than many materials, and readily available to most people.  Next time, you're tossing out that cardboard box think twice about its potential.  

I've included the final product and process images below.