DIPPED

I am loving these sweet wood bowls by Araya of Wind and Willow. The bottoms are hand dipped in electric neon colors while to top half is left natural. The colorful and slightly transparent portion is made out of a soft rubbery plastic that is durable and non-stick. The combination between natural wood and the drippy electric paint is beautiful and perfect for a fresh summer salad!

photo credit

MY MEGA DEN EXPERIENCE

Hey everyone, last night I watched a new episode of Mega Dens, featuring one of my paintings! The host, Anitra Mecadon, came by my office while they were scouting for locations and she fell in love with a custom painting I was working on for a client (see here). When she interviewed The Vogeltanz for the show she thought one of my paintings would be a perfect fit for their colorful basement remodel. It was really fun working for the show, Anitra gave me a lot of freedom as far as the shape, size and exact colors of the piece. Before I started on the painting she showed me The Vogeltanz's home, their photography, the wall paint colors and some accessories that she picked out for the remodel, this was enough direction to get me off the ground and running! Check out the photos below, and stop by DIY Network to see more on the episode (season 3, episode 4). 

Any time I work on a painting I start off on a freshly organized desk, but somehow by the end of the project I always find myself spread out across the floor!

Below are some of the things I took inspiration from after my trip through the home owners house- photography from their recent trip to Africa and these beautiful pillows and blankets Anitra found at West Elm.

Please contact me for pricing information on one of my custom paintings.

WEST ELM GOES TO AFRICA

I stopped into West Elm yesterday and was blown away by their latest African collections. The big box store that can be found across the US in shopping malls and plazas has been doing a great job of exposing it's cliental to more worldly and inspired products. They collaborate with designers and artists from across the globe and share their stories in their catalogue, website and blog. Every interior should have items in it with history or a personal story attached to it, West Elm has made it possible for mass produced home goods to have the warmth of a one-of-a-kind product. People can share the history and design behind their West Elm purchases at dinner parties! The tableware below is designed by Potter's Workshop; described as "collective of homegrown artists founded by Chris Silverston in 1991". In the video below Chris and one of her potters talk about how they let the nature and culture of Cape Town inspire the work. These beautiful, textural pieces would add personality to most any decor style, the most obvious choice would be an African inspired home but I could see these in a contemporary home, a mid-century style home, a country cottage or a in Martha Stewarts kitchen. Check out the handmade work of Potter's Workshop at their website.

West Elm and Potter's workshop also collaborated on a line of pillow cases to help customers pull the look into other parts of the home.

Another collaboration that contributes to the African Collection is with Cape Town furniture designer, John Vogel. His woven bench and dinning chair are so gorgeous, they caught my eye as soon as I walked in the door. The quality and design of these pieces are so striking that if I came across them in someone's home I would have never in a million years guessed that they are from West Elm! Vogel's designs are unique and would make great statement pieces in a home, especially if the customer can't afford one-of-a-kind furniture or doesn't have the interest in collecting fine furniture.

Check out John Vogel's site here.

PALM BEACH SUMMER

photo credit (left to right): Pinterest via Lauren Dott,  Jose Villa Wedding Photography

I hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather this week! After a day of being locked up in my windowless office, all I want to do is sit outside with a festive cocktail! I came across the beautiful photos above and they inspired me to create an inspiration board for a Palm Spring style outdoor room. FYI, the  Montauk Nest Chair on the bottom right is on sale now at West Elm!

1. Trina Turk Shanghai Links Pillow- $52.00 and Origami Pillow from Room Service- $70.00

2. Azimuth Cross Lounge Settee by Janus Et Cie

3. Primer Objeto by Jorge Diego Etienne

4. Small Woven Tumbler Set by Privet House for Target- $21.99 for 4

5. Driftwood Coffee Table from Pieces Atlanta

6. Hot House Spring Outdoor Rug in 5'x8' by Dash & Albert Rug Company- $414.00

7. Worlds Away Bar Cart from Zinc Door- $847.00

8. Montauk Nest Chair by West Elm- $679.00

CHAPLIN, MICHAEL, JEEVES AND WOOSTER

Simple and humorous, I love these hat lamps inspired by pop culture personalities. I found the fixture below on Design Milk, it's called Chaplin and it was designed by Martin Hirth. The metal lamp shade can be adjusted and set at different angles by balancing it on the wood base and it can be used as a table lamp. 

The Billie and Lean are a table and lamp combination by MONOCOMPLEX. The side table Billie and floor lamp Lean are inspired by Michael Jackson's infamous dance moves you've seen in videos for "Billie Jean" and "Smooth Criminal".

Jack Phipps designed these playful pendants made with authentic bowler and top hats. The collection represents Jeeves and Wooster, characters from a classic British comedy.

MERCEDES IN THE HOUSE

If you know me, you know I love cars a little bit more then the average girl. My Dad is a classic gear-head and some of that respect for steel and need for speed was bound to rub off on me. I stumbled across this collection and I thought to myself; what took so long! In collaboration with Formitalia Luxury Group, Mercedes-Benz is launching a high end, highly stylized line of furniture. All of the pieces I've seen have a futuristic shape that's clearly inspired by the lines and forms you see in a newer Mercedes model. The Head of Mercedes-Benz design, Gorden Wagener, describes the collection, "The various pieces of furniture reflect the progressive, dynamic design idiom of our current show cars and concept vehicles, offering an exclusive, emotional experience outside our vehicles as well." Any of these sexy items would make for an amazing statement piece in any high-end bachelor pad. The collection  was previewed in Milan this April and will launch in exclusive furniture showrooms this October, can't wait to see the price tags attached...

I love the style of their furniture rendering, they have the style of car renderings!

photos from gizmag

CARDBOARD CITY

I first found Ana Serrano a couple years ago in Juxtapoz Handmade. This crazy cardboard sculpture below is called Cartonlandia. It floated around the blog scene for a while and I'm still in love with it- if I could I would display this on my dining room table!

via Reuben Miller

Ana Serrano's newest installation took place at Rice Gallery, a bad-ass installation gallery at Rice University in Huston, Texas. Salon of Beauty is this vibrant cardboard and paper installation inspired by the urban neighborhoods and culture of Los Angeles. Serrano is first generation Mexican-American and she designed this environment based on memories and details of growing up in LA. I am so impressed with the tiny touches and the sweet humor of building a city (including cinderblocks, burglar bars, and electric panels) out of colorful cardboard.

photos by Nash Baker via Ana Serrano

MONDAY PRESENTS...FOR FATHER'S DAY

1. Winston polarized lenses by Warby Parker- $95.00

If the Father on your list is in need of new sunglasses, then consider sending him a few frame styles from Warby Parker. Ship them to his house so he can try them on and return the glasses he doesn't like. Prescription or non-perscription glasses are available, there are also a few color options for the polarized lenses.

2. Workday Survival Kit at Amazon- $10.91

To show your Dad that you appreciate his hard work, this relief kit contains a remedy book, bandages and affirmation cards. A sweet way to say thanks!

3. Personalized Leather BBQ Apron- $59.95

For the grilling Dad, I love this rugged leather apron with a customizable restaurant logo.

4. Modernist Cuisine at Home at Amazon- $140.00

While this book seems very expensive, it is a great bargain compared to it's counterpart, the six-volume set Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking ($455.19). Modernist Cuisine at Home is a beautiful coffee book style table by Nathan Myhrvold and Maxime Bilet. It will show your adventurous Dad how to master Modernist cooking techniques and teach him how to refine classic dishes like the hamburger, wings or macaroni and cheese. The book is big, beautiful and very interesting to read though. 

5. Bulleit Rye Whiskey- around $22.00

This rye whiskey would be great for sipping on this Father's Day . It's aged between 4 and 7 years, the profile is full of spice, oak and and red fruit flavors. It's smooth enough to drink straight up and affordable enough to use in a cocktail (I recommend mixing it with ginger beer).

6. iHide Leather iPhone Protection at Fab.com- $10.00

This premium leather iPhone back has a perforated pattern that makes me think of the interior of a sports car. It has an adhesive backing that can be reapplied again and again to help protect your Father's iPhone in style. 

7. Teak Petanque Set from Design Within Reach- $310.00

Petanque is a yard game similar to Bocce that originated in Provence, France. This DWR set comes in a stylish box is made of teak and the balls are chromium-plated steel.

BELLBOY'S CHAIR

I found this classy chair via Gblog. The Water Tower Chair was designer by Bellboy for the 12x12- a contest between 12 furniture designers to create and construct a piece out of 12 demolished New York structures. The Water Tower Chair was made with lumber from a Park Ave water tower. The design is so minimal and simple that the lumber highlighted in such a beautiful way. Check out the rest of Bellboy's furniture on his site.

Here are a few other pieces from 12x12

Design Brigade

Uhuru Design

Daskam & Dworkis and Emily A. Martinez

Fiyel Levent