Very crisp "Summer Weaves" notecard set from Etsy seller, Cicada Studio. Summer may technically be gone, but these patterns still look fresh for any season. The cards are handmade, with patterns illustrated by designer Michelle Engel Bencsko (other patterns/colors are included in the set besides those shown in the photo above).
Perhaps best of all, the set of 6 is only $10.50!
Image from Cicada Studio.
Recently Nick Olsen, aka domino magazine's "Deal Hunter" blogger, posted the budget-friendly source of fabric covering the sofa on the cover of the October '07 issue. It's a pattern that looks strikingly similar to Lulu DK's "Chant". He also noted a post of mine from awhile back, in which (using one of Nick's fabric resources) I elatedly uncovered a budget lookalike of Lulu DK's "Madison".
I never posted the end result of that find; I had two bolster pillows made to inject some excitement into our lackluster, beige sofa. I plan to switch out the surrounding pillows (and tray monogram color--it's like a big picture frame that you can change!) seasonally.
Erin from Design for Mankind was nice enough to swap links with me yesterday... so, you'll now find DFM amongst my Favorites in the right hand column over there -->
I'm loving browsing through the archives on Design for Mankind... Erin's certainly got an eye for lovely & eccentric things - and her very own bedroom is no exception to the rule.
Just yesterday, she (nervously) posted these pics of her lovely bedroom... I'm really not sure what she was nervous about. This room is AMAZING. The plates & vinyl art are a great way to fill that tall wall... and, of course, you know how Laura love our art walls, a few thomaspaul plates and a good use of a silhouette.
Well done, Erin... well done.
I'll leave you with the great intro on Design For Mankind:
because beauty lies in the details of design. in the pencil shavings, in the blueberry waffles. the vintage dress, framed portrait, old postcard.
design is inevitable. celebrated. design for mankind.
images c/o Design for Mankind.
There are so many things brewing over here at OrangeBeautiful that I couldn't possibly post about all of them...
These macro shots are from just two of OB's most recent projects. The first image is just a snippet of a response card from one of my favorite wedding invitations packages, probably, ever... I just love the finished project & the fact that the couple they were made for are just delightful doesn't hurt either...
And this little shower invite was made for one of my most favorite people in the whole world... but I don't know if she's seen them in person yet - so I'll hold off on any more details/images than that.
images c/o Jw.
If you live on, or anywhere near, the north side of Chicago and you haven't been to Architectural Artifacts, stop what you're doing and go there immediately.
Jw and I frequent there on weekends and - if money were no object - we would have certainly refurnished our entire apartment 20 times over by now with mid-century cocktail tables, antique Wassily chairs & beautiful stained glass windows...
I'm a huge fan of AA's collection of ceramic tiles, lead type and, in particular, this cast iron book press from Argentina...
but the room up on the 2nd floor that has a giant table of found letters from old signs is probably my favorite place in the whole shop. I imagine buying up each of the letters to spell my kid's name in a nursery (some day)... or, well, maybe just their initials ;)
images c/o Jw.
Peculiar Pair Press designs beautiful, sophisticated paper collections, including these three wraps: (top) Twilight, (middle) Sugarplum, and (bottom) Damask.
The designs are varied and intricate, and the colorways are so rich. With my due date approaching after the first of the year, I am starting my holiday shopping/wrapping now to avoid a potential frenzy as December approaches. I wouldn't mind wrapping up gifts in these and displaying them around the house until I have to give them away!
Images from/available at Broadway Paper, $3.50 per sheet.
Sunnyside Up Egg Rug (30 x 30"), by Triple B Studio, $24 at fred flare.
Yes it's Monday... and yes, I'm feeling a little rotten today... so, here are some adorably fresh egg products to cheer me (and you) up!
Felt Egg Cozies (clockwise from top left: multi-colored egg cozy; Shirley angel cozy; George rooster; and David + Victoria bunnies), by Parkhaus Berlin.
Eggling mini-planter, $9.50 - (available in a variety of plants including petunia, mint & basil) from Elsewares.
Vinyl Egg Passport Sleeve, $14.00, from MajestyInc's Etsy Shop.
Egg Pirate Stationery & Sticker Set, $8.00 by Sugarlily and available at Shana Logic.
And last, but not least, you must check out iloveegg.com!!!... and be sure to watch the Egg Song by clicking on the sleeping Angel Egg in the bottom left corner!!! (Or, by clicking here.)
images c/o fred flare, Parkhaus Berlin, Elsewares, MajestyInc, Shana Logic and iloveegg.com.
One of my favorite interiors ever featured in domino was the home of Laura Vinroot Poole, designed by Barrie Benson (February 2007). So I was thrilled to see Barrie's own home on the cover of the new October issue; online, she also "narrates" a slideshow of her work, which showcases additional photos of the Vinroot Poole residence that did not appear in the magazine.
The wall arrangement of plates shown above is such a great image! It's going directly onto my inspiration board...I remember catching a glimpse of it in a mirror in one of the original magazine photos, so I'm happy Barrie thought to include a full-scale shot in the slideshow.
I really loved the mix of furnishings and colors in the sleek wood-paneled living room (pictured immediately above).
The guest bedroom shown above took its inspiration from a twin bed arrangement originally designed by Tom Scheerer. Check out Style Court's great side-by-side comparison of the Scheerer- and Benson-designed rooms.
Custom monogrammed Leontine linens are used throughout the home's bedrooms. So classic and elegant, I love how they contrast with the bold Jean Royere wall sconce in the master bedroom.
Be sure to check out Barrie's commentary, and view her other favorite projects, in the slideshow.
Photographs by Laura Resen for domino.
What can I possibly say about my friend, April & her company April Joy Events that would even remotely do her justice?... She's got amazing style and organizes & plans events that unimaginably stunning. When/If I get married (or have any reasonably large event that needs to look amazing), April will certainly be my go-to girl.
April Joy Events is growing now, and April's chosen to move her efforts full-speed toward strictly event & floral design... and these stunning photographs are just a few shots of her work.
The photos were taken by Pen Carlson Photography a few weeks back as promotional images for AJE's re-branding & new launch. I was already familiar with the quality of April's work - and Pen Carlson captured it quite perfectly.
Check out more of the images from their shoot (and the rest of their beautiful blog) at pencarlsonblog.com!
images c/o Pen Carlson Photography.
Hooray!
Woodson and Rummerfield has added images of its latest project, a "Chic Retreat" in Laurel Canyon, to its online portfolio. These rooms look like they would be so fun to live in, with playful furnishings, bright accessories, layered patterns, and beautiful color combinations. The overall effect seems polished, casual and comfortable. (And may I say, I am in love with the living room rug in the image above!)
You may recognize the bathroom image below--Anna at Absolutely Beautiful Things featured this room recently, highlighting the fabulous pink Florence Broadhurst wallpaper.
I particularly like the setup of the kitchen, shown in the photo below; with the casework and appliances integrated into the back wall, it's completely functional but looks less like a kitchen and more like an extension of the living space.
It's not often that designers include images of spaces being lived in, which is why I love the photo below. It helps to see the human scale of the room and to get a sense of how the space is used.
Be sure to check out W & R's little film clip (on the home page) of this and other recent projects, for even more inspiration!
Images from Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design.
I always love walking around Anthropologie and drooling over all the clothes & accessories that I will probably never shell out the cash to buy... I usually treat the store and its "bohemian-chic" style as a sort of look-book to inform the outfits that I put together myself (either with pieces that I already have - or with pieces that I find elsewhere for less $) -
But every once in a while there's a piece in their collection that I feel overly drawn to... to the point that I actually half-consider buying it. With this Orchard Walk Jumper (in rust) for $398.00, I'm super-tempted (especially after looking through their "Saffron Mix & Match" page)... I'm just not quite ready to deal with that sort of price tag...
images c/o Anthropologie.
A few weeks back, I received this darling swing necklace from Maggie at Gas Up The Zamboni on Etsy... it's a hand-cut plastic charm on a silver, link necklace - and I LOVE it.
So here's me, wearing my new accessory... I especially like the white silhouette paired with the tan & orange stripes on my shirt!
Besides having some other covetable items in her etsy shop (like this B&W bird necklace and these rebel earrings), Maggie also has a blog (secretboyfiend), which revealed that we have much in common:
- we both choose Eduardo as our favorite character from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends.
- we both enjoy using bird silhouettes in our designs...
- we have a penchant for funky shoes - specifically, a good pair of sneakers.
- oh, and who doesn't love Fla-Vor-Ice?
images c/o me, Cartoon Network and Gas Up The Zamboni.
I have a high school reunion to attend this fall and I'm on the lookout for something fun to wear. Of course, the challenging part of this is that it has to fit (and flatter) my ever-changing maternity bump. There has never been a better time than now for pregnant people to find and wear "real" clothes because of all the loose, flowy cuts--and I'm hoping this dress falls into that category. I would pair it with tights and a high pump with a thicker heel (if I can stand it!).
Called "Crazy Dress", it's available at French Connection.
Image from French Connection.
I am so excited to profile interior designer Carla Lane. Carla contacted me with comments on recent posts, including the nursery I am working on at the moment; she loved the vintage barrel-back chair and sent me some images of chairs she had rescued and made-over herself! (View the desk chair she uses in her office here; she found it on the street, spray painted it and had the seat re-covered. I love the monogrammed cushion!)
With an eclectic-traditional style, Carla Lane Interiors has been styling homes in Los Angeles since 2006. Incorporating re-worked vintage pieces originally found at flea markets, thrift stores and Craigslist is among Carla’s trademarks, which also include use of whimsical pattern and bold color to create energetic, personal spaces. Carla also tells me she loves working on family homes, creating chic spaces that are simultaneously childproof.
I would imagine we will be hearing more about Carla in the future—her taste is so attuned to what’s currently energizing the interior design world. Also, look for a feature on her wedding (held at the Parker Palm Springs!) sometime in the coming week here at theSCOOP…
Images from Carla Lane Interiors.
But that doesn't mean I don't enjoy checking out what everyone wore... I'm usually pretty hit or miss with Heidi Klum (left). Sometimes she looks like a crazy person; other times she looks absolutely stunning. Yesterday at the Emmys was definitely the latter. And Jamie Pressly (right) ranks at the top for me... this was one of the few dresses I saw that I would actually wear and not feel completely uncomfortable.
After seeing Knocked Up a few months back, I'm a pretty big fan of Katherine Heigl's (and the first two seasons of Grey's Anatomy aren't bad either ;) - She look hot in her white Zac Posen gown... I never understood that 'no-white-after-Labor-Day' rule, did you?
One of my favorites was America Ferrera (of Ugly Betty) was one of my favorites... not only did she not look emaciated and over-made-up, she looked curvacious and bold in a strapless, cobalt dress from Monique Lhuillier... stunning and quite the opposite of ugly.
images from People, US Weekly and Entertainment Weekly.
My mother-in-law brought back a fabulous bracelet for me from a recent trip to Italy. I wear it constantly because it just seems to go with everything; I love the snake texture of the medium-gray leather combined with the braided metal clasp that sits on the top of the wrist.
I just found out that versions of these bracelets, by Vita Life, are available stateside. And the best part is they're not even too expensive. If you're thinking of one, trust me when I say that you will most definitely wear it often, if not daily!
Image from Rumor.
After reading L's post yesterday, I checked out the new stuff at FLOR and found this beauty: the Souk Chic™ Multi area rug... the $149.00 price is only for 6 tiles (which would make approximately a 3' x 5' rug), and I'd probably buy two and configure them as one larger 5' x 6.5' - like the one shown above.
images c/o FLOR.
...my new FLOR catalog just arrived and immediately I loved this festive tree skirt rug with cutout edges, appropriately named Party Dress. What a cute idea! I wouldn't even restrict this rug to tree skirt use...at almost 3.5 square feet, it would look just right in a small space like an entryway or bathroom. And the chartreuse color is completely versatile, so it would be worth the $60 investment to use it throughout the rest of the year.
Image from FLOR.
If you're like me & you're a sucker for brilliantly-designed, well-made, beautifully-printed, meticulously-assembled wedding invitations (especially when they're made by the couple themselves) - then check out Margo & Scott's invites right here... they're stunning.
& congrats to the happy couple!
image c/o M A R B A R G A R B O.
B sent along a photo (below) that she took of the OB studio last July ('05), after she and I had returned from a whirlwind trip to IKEA... looks quite bare, huh?...
BEFORE
AFTER
and now, over 2 years later, look at the place!!! I sure love stuff ;) ...but I think the best part of all is having B working here with me. There's a lot to come... so watch out!
(for more on the studio, check out these old SCOOP posts!)
Deer+Toadstool Onesie, $28.00 from Foxy & Winston.
I've been waiting (im)patiently for Laura to announce her pregnancy here on the SCOOP... so, now, not only will she be posting more baby-specific items - I will also be posting more 'Laura's-gonna-be-a-momma' items, too! ;)
So, first things first, you're gonna need a sweet Foxy Winston screen-printed onesie... I especially like this chocolate-colored Deer+Toadstool design for Laura's little one...
Paige GO Sling, $48.00 from Puj Baby.
I'm also not one for strollers - and I always love seeing mom & dad's carrying around their little bundle, well... like a little bundle. The GO Sling at Puj Baby is especially cute with its contrasting-patterned fabric... for Laura, I like the Paige fabric best ;)
And I think Laura will find a new daily read at Tangled and True: Life in the Nest, the blog of Missy and Kelli - 2 design-minded, creativity-loving mommas who blog about all sorts of lovely things... including more baby stuff!
images c/o Foxy & Winston, Puj Baby and Tangled and True.
Image from Babies’ Rooms: From Zero to Three by Winfried Heinze.
While I absolutely love blogging I, unlike many other bloggers, am sort of reluctant to share a lot about my personal life. Which is why I have failed to mention up to this point that my husband and I are expecting a baby—a girl in fact, who is due to come into our lives early next year. We are beyond excited about our first child and I decided to announce the pregnancy on theSCOOP now because of 1) said excitement and 2) baby-centric thoughts that will likely affect some of my post subjects over the next several months!
I promise not to overdo it, and for my own sanity and yours, I will keep my “regular” posting in the majority…but I’m also hoping to get feedback from you dear readers on nursery décor, announcements, baby items, books, etc. All the design-related things we normally discuss, but with a baby in mind!
And so we begin with the nursery design evolution. Now in my second trimester, this is the perfect time to begin “putting together the nursery”. This task is easier said than done—partly because I can’t make up my mind about the room’s color palette. So I’ll walk you through the process of my thinking, then ask for your thoughts.
Room designed by Angie Hranowsky; featured in House Beautiful March 2007. Photo by Timothy Kolk.
My inspiration began with the image at the top of this post (walls and furnishings in a girl’s room featured in the book Babies’ Rooms: From Zero to Three by Winfried Heinze) and the image immediately above (color palette in a room designed by Angie Hranowsky). I loved the pale lilac walls and the framed out molding in the first image, and in the second the additions of the golden yellow, coral and pinks. I found this Florian Sand fabric from Lewis & Sheron, and pink leather pouf from Tazi designs, and decided to incorporate the fabric into flat Roman shades and a tailored crib skirt, and have the ottoman for the baby to climb/roll around on down the road.
So with a basic idea of color palettes and textures, I began investigating furniture options. Most people build a nursery around a crib, but I found this Luca Glider by Monte Design with which I fell in love (I think, because not a store around me carries it, and I will have to wait until my next Chicago trip to test drive the actual glider in the store). The pink pillow I found in Jonathan Adler’s collection for Bed Bath & Beyond, but it appears to be no longer available, so I have to find something like it. I thought the little Moroccan side table shown in the Babies’ Rooms image was adorable, so I found this Garnet Hill table that fits the bill (perhaps, because the avocado color doesn’t fit with my initial color palette, but it might still work).
Finally we approach the topic of cribs. I have narrowed down my decision to the following two, a classic Jenny Lind from Babies “R” Us and the modern Loom by Nurseryworks from Giggle. Two very different yet simple styles, and yet I think they would both work. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on the crib you prefer) the Jenny Lind costs about $400 less than the Loom, which will likely factor in to our final decision.
This brings us to the DIY furniture projects. The Luca Glider is going to exhaust almost all of the budget and so rather than buy a lot of additional pieces, I would rather work with some that we already own. The rendering of the dresser above represents the “finished” version of an old Ethan Allan dresser that was handed down to us and is currently out of use. I plan to give it a coat of high-gloss white paint, trim the edges of the drawers in black, and switch out all the pulls with these Anthropologie Chain handles. Put a changing pad on top, and some kind of sleek container filled with diapers, etc. next to it, and we’ve got a changing table with storage!
White/green chair photo from Turquoise.
I love the vintage chair in the Babies Rooms image, so I found this chair (above, right) on Craigslist for $20. The white chair next to it somewhat represents what I plan to do with it: paint the frame high-gloss white, then have the upholstery updated without tufting and with piping added. If I decide to go with the avocado Moroccan side table, I might even stick with a green tone for the upholstery because it looks so fresh against the white frame.
Now the really FUN part…the accessories and real “baby” stuff. The shop Giggle carries lovely wooden toys such as the Baltic rocking horse, pastel giraffe and sheep mobile. Stationery designers Binth created this beautiful numbers poster that might tie all the colors together. And the simple Ikea Lack bookcase offers a ton of storage for all the books I am hoping to accumulate for our daughter’s library, plus a few other accessories.
Now, to pull it all together…what do you think? I suppose the major unanswered question revolves around the color palette. Does what’s shown here (lilac, golden yellow, avocado) work, or should I aim for the inspiration photo’s palette (lilac, golden yellow, coral, pink)? It would require finding another side table, perhaps Ikea’s Lack table in pale pink, and choosing an alternate color for the vintage chair’s upholstery. Thoughts on that or the scheme overall?
Thanks for bearing with me throughout this extraordinarily long post, by the way!
I was overjoyed to receive an email from Kimberly at Moxie Papergoods & Gifts (in Seattle, WA)... I've visited the shop's website before and another look was a quick reminder of how impressed I was the first time around. The site is just lovely: the layout, the subtle animation (in the Flash version ;), the color scheme... everything right down to Moxie's logo (above) is just perfect.
Kimberly was nice enough to send me a lovely shot inside the store, as well... clearly, good taste is just habit with Moxie - the store looks just as sharp as the website:
Along with decorative candles & wraps from Snow & Graham, journals from Mara-Mi/World of Journals and candles by DANI, Moxie also carries products from Elum, DeLuce Design, Noteriety Press and more!...
images c/o Moxie Papergoods & Gifts, Elum, DeLuce Design & Noteriety Press.
I love the design of this wool "Ocean Seaglass" rug by Angela Adams. Available in different sizes at Design Public, it reminds me of Japanese silkscreen paper; and while its organic vibe is sophisticated, I also keep imagining it looking beautiful in a kid's space. The texture, shown in the photograph below, brings incredible dimension to the design.
Top image from Design Public. Bottom image from Angela Adams.
There's no denying that I'm a crafty person who loves old-fashioned, handmade products... and even products that look hand-crafted, yet actually utilize up-to-date fabrication processes in their creation - but, all that said, I'm still a sucker for a good gadget...
mimobot USB Flash drives, by mimoco.
A few weeks back, at GenCon in Indianapolis, I bought a mimobot USB flash drive from the mimoco booth... it's the Gloomy Bear version, shown above, far left... I needed an upgrade from my old 256kb flash drive - and Gloomy is a nice 1GB that I can use to transport photo and design files from the studio to my laptop at home with ease. Oh, and he's devilishly cute on my keychain!
To-Fu USB Charger, $27.95 available at Kidrobot.
I haven't bought it yet, but I'd love to have this little guy in my bag for those annoying times when my iPod Shuffle runs out of juice on the train! ...tofu is good for you!!!
iPod touch, from Apple.
When the iPhone came out, Jw and I were super-excited (until we found out that the phone provider is the dreaded and super-customer-abusive AT&T) - but given how little the two of us are actually on our cell phones, we thought it'd be pretty great to have an iPhone that didn't actually have phone service... and Apple responded with the new iPod touch - all the awesomeness of the iPhone without the phone. Genius.
(UPDATE: Jw just bought one... it'll arrive in a couple of weeks ;)
Ah, and then there's the new, revamped iPod nano... I'm pretty happy with my little shuffle, so I probably won't be springing for one of these - but the new colors are pretty great. I would have to go with the turquoise, but that minty green is lovely, too... it's probably good that this is a decision I won't have to make ;)
Aren't these pendants exquisite? Jewelry designer Danielle Welmond hand-weaves silk threads, cords, and fine gold and silver wire to "encase" the gems. The effect is so delicate and the mix of materials is interesting.
I spotted these necklaces at Kick Pleat, one of my favorite boutiques. Located in Austin, Texas, owner Wendi Koletar always manages to select clothing and accessories that have distinctive qualities or details that make each piece truly special. I always browse there when I'm looking for something original.
Images (left: rose quartz necklace and right: labradorite necklace) from Kick Pleat.
No, yellow is not a new theme here on the SCOOP ;) but it does appear that Laura and I are somewhat obsessed with it as of late...
I'm absolutely in love with these new embossed folded notes from Cielo Blu Studios. Particularly this gold links design that reminds me of vintage scarf patterns (like this one) -
There are 6 awesome designs in beautiful colors... and I want all of them!
images c/o Cielo Blu.
I am so excited about this new product from Elum. It is a complete set of stationery, comprised of letterpress notecards and custom envelopes. (Check out the gray envelope "piped" in yellow--so chic and unusual!) There are 35 folding notecards, 50 round cornered flat notes, 50 monarch stationery sets, and 35 folding gift enclosures, all with envelopes to match. Compartments inside the box keep everything neat and tidy, with a place for everything. The box itself is beautiful and would be a gorgeous addition to a writing desk.
Mostly what I love about the set is that there's nothing "cutesy" about it; rather, it is elegant and grown-up, very befitting a lady!
Click here for Elum's contact info to purchase.
Image from Elum Designs.
