Off to the Emerald City we go…

Whether ancient…

or modern, a bright green wall really pops. Read the rest of this entry »

I traveled to North Carolina last week and, as I always do, I stocked up on fashion magazines for the flights.  It’s my little “hey, I’m going to be stuck in a cramped seat on a crowded flight for way too long” indulgence.

Valentino Spring 2012

As I flipped through magazine after magazine, a particular trend caught my eye.

Louis Vuitton Spring 2012

Designers were embracing lace.

Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2012

A LOT of lace.

Which means that the current trend for vintage lace in interiors is only going to get stronger.  But how do you embrace the look without going full on frilly?  Here are some suggestions….

Read the rest of this entry »

If you haven’t heard about the explosion of interest in big, flouncy red dresses in the last few days, read this and then come back here….

Did you read the whole thing?  Good, because I think The Bloggess has touched on something really important.

Namely, we have to indulge ourselves from time to time with something that is true to our nature, no matter how ridiculous or silly others may find it to be.  For me it was painting my nails a bright, sparkly blue – just in time to have my photo session for new publicity shots.  Three hours of me, posing like a (not terribly good) model, all with a celestial blue manicure.  I almost talked myself out of it beforehand, reasoning that it might look a bit to silly for someone of my age (which my son always tells me is 29 – bless his wonderful soul!), and instead I should stick to a more conservative “arty” color like beige or gray.  But then I realized that silly is really who I am, so why hide it?

Really, why should any of us hide it?  Why should any of us live with beige nails if we feel like having blue ones instead.  Or buy a beige sofa because a red one just seems like such a commitment, even though it’s always been your dream?

And that’s the trick to all of this when it comes to our homes.  It has to be your dream – an expression of who you are deep down.  Although the purchase can be impulsive, the desire has to live inside you for a long time.  That is how you know you won’t regret it, because it is who you really are.

So what is your “red sofa”?  What is the thing you really wish you had the guts to do, but haven’t taken that leap of faith yet?

Image by allyaubry

If you got buried in 2011, is 2012 your year to dig yourself out and get a fresh start?  Why not pick a room, get rid of what you’ve never loved or needed, and then make it the way you’ve always wanted?

For me, it’s my kitchen I’m most itchin’ to update.  Might just have to make that a project to share with you – if I’m brave enough!

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

I seriously want one of these!

Unfortunately, this is still just a concept, and not in production (yet).  Still, the potential this sort of technology has for reducing the number of physical color samples necessary in design is wonderful.  Besides, it looks like fun!

Here is a little more about it from the Yanko Design site: Read the rest of this entry »

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”

~Henry David Thoreau

"Seconds Count" by Jason Wilbur

In the face of natural disaster, where others see devastation, Joy Feuer – and the many artists & volunteers who work with her – see opportunity for transformation and renewal.  Life is often about new beginnings.  Since 2008 Joy’s non-profit organization, ART From the Ashes, has been helping communities and individuals rebuild from the ashes of their former lives.

The concept for ART From the Ashes came to life autumn of 2007, during one of the most destructive fire seasons in the history of California.  AFTA was created to use the cathartic properties of art as a means of supporting the renewal of lives devastated by wildfire.  Members travel to a disaster site and from it reclaim materials – burnt wood, ruined household goods, architectural elements, anything that inspires – to be transformed into works of art and later sold at an exhibition-auction benefitting the effected community.

Joy Feuer, photo by James Carbone

The process is deeply meaningful for Joy.

“We have seen up close and personal the powerful connection and healing properties that our art programming has on communities in Southern and Central California,” she said.  “In the wake of disaster…watching what occurs to people and places, in that moment, you are there as well.  Its human nature to want to help in any way possible. In the actions of ART from the ashes, we can provide resource and support to communities in need.  Art provides a connection, provokes inspiration and invites hope.  There are no boundaries geographically or creatively.  Our desire is to honor this and expand our mission to help as many people as possible.” Read the rest of this entry »

I had to take my dog to the vet this morning, for what may turn out to be a fractured leg, so my post today is necessarily brief.  In fact, the sight of her trying to make it to the back of the vet’s office on just three legs is more on my mind than the design work I need to get done today.  Not good.

That being said, her situation did get me to thinking about leg injuries in general, and that in turn brought Charles and Ray Eames WWII leg splint to mind (I’m a design geek – it’s how my mind works).   A masterful example of form AND function, the commission from the U.S. Navy to design a leg splint enabled the Eameses to develop and perfect the plywood molding technology they had begun to explore just a few years prior.  This allowed them to later design and produce the iconic, mid-century plywood furniture they are now most famous for.

When you think of it, some pretty significant design innovations have come out of completely unrelated needs.   Do you know of any others?  What’s your favorite story of great design arising from new technologies?

Thanks for visiting (and cross you fingers for my dog)!

Rachel

I love to fly, if for no other reason than it affords me the opportunity to indulge in a stack of fashion magazines to flip through during the trip.  Saturday saw me on a flight to Chicago, so I grabbed several glossies at the news stand before boarding.  It’s already September in magazine world, so I got the big, thick Fall Fashion issues to while away the time.  Yum!

Via Alexander McQueen

I was struck right away by how often a particular color combination kept cropping up.  See if you can spot the trend too…

via Chanel

via Fendi

Read the rest of this entry »

There’s No Place Like Here: Pass The Baton from Etsy on Vimeo.

I love this video, I love that store, and I LOVE the concept.  A trip to Japan has been on my mind anyway, but a pilgrimage to Pass the Baton in Tokyo now seems imperative.

seen on re-nest

On Friday, I spent several fun, if a bit exhausting, hours traipsing through Dwell on Design 2011 in Los Angeles. As always, there was plenty to see, although the big sponsors continue to grab more and more real estate, further pushing the independent innovators to the periphery. But be that as it may, it is still the biggest modern design show on the West Coast, and as such deserves at least a moment of our attention.

Here are a few things that caught my eye:

The Molo Design booth was one of the first things I saw walking into the show, and it was also one of the highlights. The honeycomb paper construction they are known for was used for walls, lighting and seating, to great effect.

This was the view inside their little paper tower. Part of me just wanted to hide out the whole show in that nice, calm space.

The pounding sound of the human heart beat drew me to Japanese artist SASAKI’s rad set up to benefit Architecture for Humanity’s rebuilding program in Japan. Of course, I had to participate! I wish I’d thought to have someone take a picture as I sat there with a heartbeat monitor attached to my finger, watching SASAKI airbrush my heart beat onto the canvas. The money I donated as a participant will help rebuilding efforts in Tohoku, Japan. Read the rest of this entry »