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….

First off, you should limit yourself to only one, at most two, lace items in a room.  This vintage lace hanging lamp, from Etsy seller Nice, makes a great statement, without seeming fussy.  Plus, the shadows from the lace further soften the room.

Speaking of softening a room, that is the second thing you should take away from this post – lace works best as a way to introduce a softer line to rooms that would otherwise seem too harsh or stark.  So if there is a room in your house that feels dead or cold, try adding a touch of lace.

Lastly, keep in mind that the vintage lace look doesn’t actually have to be, well,… lace.  It can take the form of a stenciled floor…

a pretty piece of decorative ceramic (love these bird bowls!)…

or even a concrete curtain.

So go on, give vintage lace a try.  You KNOW you want to!

Oh, and to find out more about these images, and many other cool ways to use lace, check out my Trending – Vintage Lace board on Pinterest.

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

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

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:

Color Elite is device that aims to replace paper and fabric swatches that is used in the paint industry today. It is the combination of e-paper technology, a camera and the Internet. Together they combine to provide you the exact shade or colors you are looking for, and even help reduce the use of paper. The explanatory video shows us how easy it is to use this device to pick shades from everyday scenarios (like leaves) and match it to the e-swatches. Super convenient and awesome use of technology!

Advisor: Wen-Chih Chang

Designer: Liao-Hsun Chen

Thanks for visiting!

Rachel

~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.”

Since its founding, AFTA has held exhibitions on behalf of META (Making Education the Answer), the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Deukmejian Wilderness Park, and the Japan Society Earthquake Relief Fund.

Currently it is involved with local Texas artists, residents, businesses and community organizations in planning art-based fundraising initiatives designed to benefit those affected by the Bastrop County Complex Fire.  (This series of wildfires has destroyed over 34,000 acres of land, 1,649 homes, and claimed two lives.)  The effort involves more than a hundred artists and will include a benefit exhibition to be held March 2012 in Austin, Texas.  Proceeds will be used to aid the community of Bastrop and support the volunteer firefighters which battled the blazes.

The use and re-use of what lies at hand epitomizes the philosophy of sustainability.  In its work AFTA embraces that ideal, not only using reclaimed items for the foundation of art but also using repurposed materials in the creation of each chosen exhibition space.

"Dreamland" by Jennifer Davis

“We seek out reclaimed wood, glass, fabric, corrugated metal, windows and furnishings for design elements so the gallery environment supports the body of works…and also rings true with AFTA’s philosophy of practice (waste not, have more),” said Joy.  “The complimentary energy between art and the environment of the space,  seems to resonate as people usually remain at our exhibitions for hours on end, it seems to beckon interaction.”

As a non-profit the organization has championed opportunities for artists, including media exposure and private & public commission work.  Joy hopes to continue to break new ground in this respect.  She would also like to broaden AFTA’s geographical impact, ideally by enabling additional “chapters” to form as they are needed for community disaster relief.

To learn more, including how to help, please visit the ART From the Ashes website.

~ Emerald

Images via The Metropolitan Museum of Art

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

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

via Mulberry

Rust and green are repeated over and over and over across the pages.  Sometimes combined with black and white, sometimes with purple and teal, but always starting with the rich coppery brown and vibrant green combo.

When I get back to the office next week, I am SO going to play with this!  My living room needs a little refresher anyway.

What do you think?  Can this color scheme work in a room year round, or is it autumn only?

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

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.

It was fun getting to see some designs out of Spain that I have been spying in design mags and on blogs.

These pieces were part of an exhibit called BRAVOS. You can tell the designers really got into the picture taking process.

There are few things from the bigger manufacturers I was interested to see, like the increasing selection of colors Kohler is offering for their plumbing fixtures.  Definitely a trend.

Kohler also brought along a fancy trailer with a lineup of their Numi toilets. I seriously want to know how many people can really afford a $6400 toilet. And don’t get me started on why anyone would give a toilet the same name as a brand of organic tea. It boggles the mind.

I did really like the new colors in composite countertops that Cambria came up with. Sorry that the picture isn’t any better, but trust me when I say this American-made quartz composite will definitely give granite countertops a run for their money.

Cork, Cork, Cork…

I was really happy to see all of the cork in use, especially for Portugal’s big display.

I mean, an entire trailer full of ways to use cork in interiors? Be still my heart!

There were the usual bits of quirkiness of course, including Yolo Colorhouse’s wonderful bicycle powered spin art machine.

And what would the urban hipster’s favorite design show be without chicken coops? With real chickens no less.

I was SO tempted to walk off with this sign. Seriously, it doesn’t get much better than that.

There was the ubiquitous idea house, which I have to admit I only peered inside. Forgive me. I see so many of these. I’ll be better next time.

Favorite furniture and lighting designer, Brandon Morrison of Whyrhymer, was there. I’m excited to say will be opening his own store soon. More about that later.

Couldn’t help but love David Trubridge’s lighting display. So simple, and so effective.

There is so much more to share.  However, I’m running out of steam, and I bet you are too. But I want to leave you with one of the last things I did.

As I was getting ready to leave, I walked by Architecture for Humanity’s booth. Molo Design had donated some of their honeycombed wall material, so that wishes written on folded paper could be tucked into the wall.

Every person who wrote down a wish and placed it on the wall received a pretty origami crane made by a schoolchild in Japan.  I picked out a bright green one, and then dragged my worn out self back home to a big hug from my own school age child, who happily took off with “my” crane.  Children are beautiful, whatever side of the world they are on…

There were a lot of products and designers that I will tell you more about in individual posts later this week, so stay tuned.

This wonderful wall, designed by Swedish architecture firm Elding Oscarson for advertising agency Oktavilla, was created from carefully bound and arranged magazine stacks.

Looking at that large picture window, I have to imagine there’s some other reinforcement for the magazines. Still, they must make a great sound dampener for that conference room, so they definitely serve a purpose other than aesthetics.

Not to mention that the look fits so well with the bright, clean, well lit interior of this office. So delightfully Swedish don’t you think?

Seen on Inhabitat