November 5, 2012

flashback: Dwell On Design 2012

We didn't get the chance to show everything we experienced at D.O.D. before, so we've got a few fun photos for you now.  Dwell on Design was so big this year and it's only growing larger.  What an inspirational group to be a part of and how exciting to see the big changes that lay ahead.  

 This fully electric Infinity greeted us as we arrived at the LA Convention Center.  Gorgeous!


 Sculptural wall divider with built in bench.  Looks like metal from a distance, but...
 up close it's just ropes on a metal frame!
 We are not over exaggerating when we say we NEED this sushi ottoman/floor cushion.  I repeat, NEED!
 Modern lego residence contest.  Quite possibly one of my favorite booths!  These lego architects are very inventive and creative!  Love the cantilever!







 Overall, Kohler had the best overall booth.  Their products are great, we especially love the new line of bold colors by Jonathan Adler!  The booth really stood out thanks to the bright color scheme and the continuity between the shipping container, carpet tiles, and old bathtubs cut out to function as sofas!  The look was modern, inviting, and very green!  The idea of using old shipping containers as a new way to build has been around for a long time, but this is the best I've seen it used.  Plus it must make it so easy to transport everything around from show to show!  Good job, Kohler.


 These bubble huts were a huge draw at this year's convention.  They are marketing them as sort of an instant guest-house for when your house reaches capacity.  Just take the bubble out back, inflate, and voila!  

They are a very intriguing idea and I loved hanging out in there, but I am unsure of the market they are targeting.  It will be interesting to see if they take off!  Much less material used and wasted than with regular construction, that is for sure!

 Most innovative sink display.
 Beautiful glass vessel sinks.  Definitely on my wish list!

 Spark fire is doing a lot of interesting things with fireplaces.  They are clean burning and can be installed just about anywhere!  The best thing is that their pricing is great too.  
 Oh and the opulence of having diamonds (okay, rhinestones) in your fireplace rather than chunks of stinky burned wood!

 A modern home would not be complete without coordinating modern egg birdhouse.  In solid walnut, of course.

 A detail on the inside of this pendant takes it from cheap ikea-modern to Elle Decor worthy in 5 seconds flat!
Who doesn't love a cluster of colorful mini-pendants?! 

September 20, 2012

garden of delights

I couldn't leave the blog on such a bad, flame retardant sofa note, so to brighten your Thursday please enjoy this collection of gorgeous planters from asensio_mah and graduate students at the Harvard School of Design.  Very inspirational.  Maybe this is the weekend to get outside and start your own garden!







toxic sofas?

One of my all-time favorite things to do is nap on the couch on a Sunday afternoon.  It's usually the best sleep I get all week, even with the TV on and a magazine in my hand.  The sofa has been a headquarters of relaxation for me for so long, to read this article was depressing and scary!  There are so many reasons to buy green/sustainable/eco friendly/FSC certified/organic... whatever you want to call it!

Your Toxic Sofa- Why it is Still Full of Flame Retardants


September 4, 2012

broken promises

I JUST promised I would post more and then I have been so bad about it!  I do have a good excuse though... my boyfriend took me on what I thought was a birthday trip to Cambria (one of our favorite places as you can tell by this blog post) and then he PROPOSED!  I was totally surprised and unbelievably happy.  So I have been very distracted lately but I'm back and so ready to share more projects, design news, and inspiration with you.  Specifically, Pantone's color forecast for this fall.


I am digging the honey gold and rose smoke so much!  The entire collection of colors is just great.  Of course they worked in Tangerine Tango, color of the year, really well!  Autumn without being too predictable.  How will we use this?  Check out my Pinterest board dedicated to Autumn to see!

August 16, 2012

breaking news!

You're hearing it here first: I am making a mid-year resolution to blog more.  Not everyday more, but multiple-times-a-week more.  I find so many different inspiring and interesting things each week but struggle to find the time to put them up here for you to enjoy as well.  But it shall be that way no more! I'm working on a whole bunch of new things for the company and want to stay ultra-inspired and share the experience with you.  So, each day will have a different theme from now on.  And I'm not spoiling it for you yet- you'll have to check back in and see what I'm up to!  Today is the first "Breaking-news Thursday" post, and because we like to keep things short and sweet, we chose to feature ListVerse.com.  They have "news" on their site, but only in list form.  It keeps things short and to the point, not to mention very interesting!  We're sitting in our loft in downtown LA as we write this so it's only fitting that the list we feature is the "Top Ten Signs You Are Not a City Person".  After a week in central Oregon, one thing I know for sure is I am a city person.  No train is ever too full!

Top Ten Signs You Are Not a City Person

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August 13, 2012

Disney shows green!

It's great to see a company using their power for good!  Disney just unveiled their VISION house at Epcot and it's a gorgeous example of practical sustainable living!  The best part of all is that kids will get to experience it and gain an understanding of green building practices at an early age, which studies say helps them form good habits.  This is SO key for the future generations!  Read the rest of the article here...

Disney's VISION House at Epcot

June 15, 2012

going against the curve

I am so intrigued by the new wave of "creative" offices that are sprouting up everywhere.  Who knew that ipads and laptops would revolutionize the design layout of these huge offices?  With mobile workers companies are able to scale down the square footage and create more flexible spaces, which saves a lot of money and lends itself to much more unique design.  Consequently, they have also figured out that it helps foster a healthy team environment by encouraging working together.  Check out this blog post by Herman Miller for details-




Designing Offices Against the Curve

If you're like me and you loved Legos as a kid, see below to explore the new Lego office in Norway!

Lego Norway - Dezeen


Lego PMD by Rosan Bosch & Rune Fjord

May 24, 2012

busting the myth

In reading this article I realized just how tough it is for me to answer this question too.  Yes, I am an interior designer.  But I am also a project manager, expediter, CAD artist, budgeter, accountant, delivery person, and so many other things.  Design ends up being about 10% of what I do.  But I love it and I want to keep doing it day in and day out and maybe one day I will log enough hours at the hot dusty job site to join the ranks of Philipe Starck etc!  Enjoy the quick read.

http://www.designmena.com/people/busting-myths

Happy Thursday

March 17, 2012

mosaics: old and new

Legend has it Ravenna, on the eastern Italian coast, has the best collection of mosaics in the world.  We were fortunate enough to travel there last October and discover some of the ancient byzantine mosaics for ourselves.  These, and all of the stone work we encountered, were beautiful, but our favorite part of Ravenna was the museum collection of modern mosaics made by artists in the last 10 years.  The way they play with texture and materials is ingenius and so inspiring to us.  The disco chain has to be our favorite!


original gold leaf mosaics in the basilica


original flooring mosaics, also in the basilica


ceiling of the basilica


more amazing floor mosaics- love the graphic designs


mosaics as decor


old church where the modern mosaic exhibit was held.  we randomly walked by the entrance and decided to stumble in.  what luck!



tiny chunks of slate

rainbow of glass tile


unzipped!  all are whole pebbles

this is a bird, all pieces used were hand made.





most technical- very impressive what you can do with a slight change in angles



the disco chain!  our favorite!


 dragonfly


the burka.  so clever, and they really captured the eyes beautifully.




seashells and fossils