Saturday, June 23, 2007
Milk crate madness
Erin from loechness monster left this fabulous link in the comments on the milk crate light. She found this chair at MoCo Loco and it comes from the Workshopped a yearly exhibition of emerging Australian designers. The designer is Stefan Lie and the chair is made from 20 discarded milk crates cobbled together with ties and slipcovered in vinyl advertising bill boards. Take that student milk crate bookshelf to the next level!
Labels: OMG
Nothing to do with design and everything to do with animals
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As many of you know I am a HUGE lover of animals. So huge, that today, I think my boyfriend and I are going to PetSmart to pick up cat #5 (to clarify, the cats at big stores like PetSmart come from the local animal shelter). We saw Mimin, a black cat, a week ago when we were in there buying cat food. She looks just like a cat we had that passed away a little over a year ago. The animal shelter here has what looks to be about 70 or 80 cats - that's ALOT. I feel so horrible for these poor little guys and as much as we don't need a fifth cat, I know that here at rancho relaxo, they have a GREAT life. So if anyone out there is thinking about getting a pet, go to your local animal shelter and do one of these guys a favour. I guarantee they'll love ya forever for it.
UPDATE: It's several hours later and I'm holed up in my bedroom with the new member of our family, Mimin. We let her right out as soon as we got home and the cats were sniffing her butt etc. I was so proud of her because she pretty much ignored them. And then she attacked my chicken sh*t Himalayan. Fur flew everywhere. So, integration may take time (and all my energy). Here is a photo of her finally sitting still. She crawled into the carrier and lay down for the first time in 2 hours.
What to do with all those milk crates from your student days
OMG look at this idea from Paul Daly for Go Nude in Dublin. Milk crate lights in a milk bar!
Images from Paul Daly Design Studio
Labels: OMG
Andrea Heimer
Andrea sent us an email wanting to share her new work. She creates what she calls a party for your wall. I love these pop art pieces. Roll over Roy Lichtenstein, Andrea wants to party! And when you've devoured her website check out her design process on her blog.
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Images from Andrea Heimer
Friday, June 22, 2007
Jason Loucas
A bit 'o pretty for your Friday
I saw this bedroom on photographer Lucinda Symons' site and it has to be one of the prettiest bedrooms I've ever seen.
Labels: bedroom
Shelly Reihl David
This is one of my favourite vignettes. It's the work of Shelly Reihl David. We've featured one or two of these images before. It's time to take a closer look at her portfolio. The scope of her firm's work ranges from dramatic European and Italian decor to the look of modern Hollywood glamour in a contemporary setting. Her rooms are glamorous and sophisticated and the use of colour is inspirational. At the same time these are livable spaces that have a sense of fun as well as drama.
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Images from Shelly Reihl David
Labels: interior designer
Soucie Horner
Shea Soucie and Martin Horner are the principals of the Chicago design firm Soucie Horner. Specializing in high-end residential interior architecture and design, Soucie Horner focuses on creating an environment that refines their client's lifestyle through design. "The goal of the Soucie Horner, Ltd. design philosophy is to design beautiful environments that complement the interior architecture of the homes which create spaces that best represent the lifestyle needs of each individual client." Whether deco, eclectic, tribal or rustic their style showcases the lushness that layering brings to a space. Vignettes and groupings. Textiles and object d'art.
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Images from Soucie Horner
Labels: interior designer
Thursday, June 21, 2007
More locations
How much does this guy love chairs???
I found these photos a couple of years ago when I was searching for ideas for a tattoo as a tribute to my grandmother. I've been thinking about getting another tattoo...and these tattoos by Nick Baxter suddenly popped into my head (although I would not get chairs tattooed on me - too weird). These are so well done it's incredible. The proud owner of these tattoos is a furniture design major. Go figure.
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Labels: art
Alexander Gorlin Architects
This firm has been around for 2 decades and has worked on quite a number of diverse projects. Recent projects include a loft renovation for Daniel Libeskind, 900 affordable homes in East New York, six new high schools in the Bronx, and Aqua, a 12-story condo building in Miami Beach. Their style is modern without being sterile. My favourite is the unusual shape of the kitchen island above.
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Labels: architect
Leonie Brown
Leonie Brown worked for designers and fabric houses in both London and New York before setting up her own company Leonie Brown Interiors in 2002. Her team is innovative and young with backgrounds in fine art, furniture and design. The rooms are elegant, sophisticated, textural. Modern with a trad twist at times and at others sleek, crisp and contemporary. With a shop and design studio in London and a New York Studio on Fifth Avenue Leonie covers both sides of the pond. While you're at her site don't miss her collection of hand embroidered and hand printed fabrics and wallpapers which are inspired by archive designs sourced from all over the world.
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Images from Leonie Brown
Labels: interior designer
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Minima
Minima is a furniture, lighting and interior design firm in Dublin, Ireland that began in 1998. Some photos in their portfolio shocked me. Here's why: I hate dark blue...and I have no idea why. I don't wear dark blue, and I do not have dark blue in my home. But I found these photos below where dark blue is a predominant accent colour and I love them.
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Labels: interior designer
White pottery
Gotta love a collection of white pottery. It can be displayed in any room, matches with all colours, and simply looks gorgeous.
Labels: homewares
What! More retro!
Time for more inspiration or desperation from Windows Beautiful. Your complete guide to window treatments. How to plan, measure, and buy or make them. Decorating and energy ideas. Volume VII, Kirsch Company, 1980, Sturgis, Michigan. Check out that red pool room. Yeah baby!
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Images scanned from "Windows Beautiful. Your complete guide to window treatments. How to plan, measure, and buy or make them. Decorating and energy ideas. Volume VII", Kirsch Company, 1980, Sturgis, Michigan
Labels: retro
Patricia Gray
Patricia Gray is a Vancouver based interior designer. Her award winning interior designs have a warmth to them and are personal, livable, elegant spaces with clever use of space as well as innovative materials and furnishings. Patricia has worked with some notable personalities including John Travolta and Rob Feenie and her firm's projects are throughout the US and Canada, as well as in Japan, Singapore and Africa. She has just started her own blog which promises to be a great new edition to the design blog scene. Check it out.
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Images from Patricia Gray
Labels: blog, interior designer
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Qora & Shaï
Fred Qora & Nanoo Shaï have an amazing online store where they sell retro FABULOUS canvases and posters. I've had my eye on these for quite some time and am happy they emailed with some cool photos.
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Labels: art
Jake Curtis
Jake Curtis is a photographer with a great eye for detail. Check out these blog-worthy photos of his interiors, plus token cat photo.
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Labels: photographer
Banquettes
Banquettes are so much fun for use in casual dining spaces. I just adore them and the vibe they give off. I wish I had incorporated one into my dining room but sadly, it's too late. I noticed I have many pictures saved of dining spaces with banquettes, so I thought I'd post them in the hopes that this will inspire folks out there to think about a banquette as a seating solution for an eat-in-kitchen or dining room. They are fantastic space-savers too, and get everyone cosying up together. (Mark Cutler posted about banquettes a while ago here as well so have a look.)
Labels: dining room
Shane Reilly
Shane Reilly's design aesthetic is casual elegance. She has a natural eye for style and color and this shines through in her elegant liveable interiors. With offices in both New York and San Francisco she is also the author of Inspired High-End Interior Design a unique opportunity to hear high-end designers reveal what inspired them and how they pulled it together. If this wasn't enough for this talented designer she blogs!
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