This is Pretty...

I die over this living room. Such a happy place!

THOSE WINDOWS!!!

Photo from COCOCOZY

Food for Thought

Words of Wisdom

I'll be honest here people. I've been in a funk. I've been feeling overwhelmed with work and uninspired. But I've been doing some reading and a few great quotes have me rethinking my process. Let me share one with you that I found on Fish Food (a really great blog!).


“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through. ”
- Ira Glass

The Selby is in your Kitchen

May I introduce Edible Selby, the best thing that ever happened to your kitchen!

As many of you already know/read, The Selby is a site that "offers an insider’s view of creative individuals in their personal spaces with an artist's eye for detail". Todd Selby, the genius behind the camera, has now moved from home interiors to kitchens of creative and talented chefs and foodies.

Take a look! You won't be disappointed!

Photo courtesy of Edible Selby

If you're having design problems I feel bad for you son...

I got 99 problems but inspiration ain't one!

Let me introduce you to my new obsession. Life + Times, an inspirational site by none other than Mr. Carter himself (Jay-Z for all of you not in the know). This site is Jay's accumulation of inspiration videos, audio, and interviews covering everything from design, travel, music, technology, and sports. Not only is this site addictive, but it has great content! Jay's interviews with artists and designers are insightful, and he picks people that have a little bit of that hip-hop edge. I think it's important to appreciate art and design from all fields, so have a look!

Below is a video from the site about Thunderdog Studios from Long Island, New York. Enjoy!




Also, you are welcome for that amazingly awful title. haha!

YES is More

If you've never heard of B.I.G. or Bjarke Ingels Group, I suggest you look that ish up!

BIG was originally founded by Bjarke Ingels in Copenhagen, Denmark, and has quickly become one of the most progressive and sought-after firms in the world. BIG takes contemporary architecture to the next level by incorporating ideas in social infrastructure and sustainable practices and producing buildings that may look a little crazy, but they work!

Below I have posted a video that BIG produced with Crane TV explaining his process behind their architectural manifesto graphic "comic book" and his ideas about why Yes is More.

"Historically, architecture has been dominated by two opposing extremes: an avant-garde full of crazy ideas, originating from philosophy or mysticism; and the well organized corporate consultants that build predictable and boring boxes of high standard. Architecture seems entrenched: naively utopian or petrifyingly pragmatic. We believe there is a third way between these diametric opposites: a pragmatic utopian architecture that creates socially, economically and environmentally perfect places as a practical objective. At BIG we are devoted to investing in the overlap between radical and reality. In all our actions we try to move the focus from the little details to the BIG picture."

I find his ideas of design fascinating. The idea of what one can create when only saying yes! Making even the craziest ideas work and work well. I also love his devotion to creating sustainable and multi-use environments and buildings that make people excited about design. All design should be happy! He makes a very important point at the end of the video. Ideas are meant to be shared and interpreted by others. This is the only way to make an idea great and to help it evolve! I sometimes am hesitant to share ideas with people thinking that I may "give away" my next big idea, but really, it's all just inspiring others to think.

Photo courtesy of TASCHEN.

My New Roots

Lets be completely honest here. I LOVE food. Pretty much all food, I don't discriminate. When I travel or visit a new place, I usually relate my experiences to the food that I ate and the people I was with when I was eating. And when I think of home, I think of the wonderful food from Bellingham restaurants, and my Mom's cooking!

But as of late, my busy schedule and late night classes have made it hard for me to get excited about cooking healthy meals for myself, and I have noticed a difference in how I've been feeling (microwave lasagna isn't the happiest meal...). SO I have decided that there must be a change! And I have found the perfect blog to help me on my mission for healthier whole meals. My New Roots.

Sarah Britton is a holistic nutritionist and vegetarian chef that moved from California to Copenhagen, Denmark and started a food blog to get people excited about whole, nutritious food, while also relaying her new experiences to foodies everywhere. Sarah is currently a chef at two organic restaurants in Copenhagen and also founded her own nutrition practice. Not only is she wildly talented (her food photography is to die for!) but she's also funny and easy to read. People like Sarah are what makes learning about food and eating well fun!

Sarah recently started a new cooking "show" that features mini cooking lessons under 2 minutes long. Quick little videos that are pretty, informational, and fun. Check out her first post! How to cook quinoa. You won't be disappointed!

My New Roots - How to Cook Quinoa from My New Roots on Vimeo.

Coppola's Paradise: Blancaneaux Lodge

I haven't had my computer with me for a whole week while I was in High Point, and while I was surrounded by design and current trends, I still feel SO out of the loop! It was a wonderful experience but I'm glad to be back!

While catching up on NOWNESS, today's feature caught my eye. Francis Ford Coppola has created a Belizean rainforest getaway literally out in the middle of nowhere, Blancaneaux Lodge. Originally purchased by Coppola as a private family hideaway, it is now an eco-luxury destination with 20 bungalows on 70 acres of pristine Central American wilderness. While visiting the Lodge, you can participate in amazing outdoor activities like taking ex-race horses on a trek to Big Rock Falls or taking an expert guided canoe tour through a Mayan cave system. They even have wild orchid hunting treks!

Overall a beautiful way to spend a vacation away from it all!

Check out the Lodge website for more photos and info!

Photos by Mauricio Alejo via NOWNESS

It's Almost Here! High Point Market!

The mother of all furniture markets is going into full swing starting this Saturday and I couldn't be more stoked! Not even a 13 hour drive (probably including a stop at Micky D's) can keep me from being SUPER EXCITED about being totally overwhelmed for 4 days straight! There will be parties, drinks, food, music, and best of all, so much fabulous design to look at! I'm really hoping to make some connections in the design world and hopefully meet some new designers! Now I just need to decide what shoes to wear.... there's going to be a lot of walking!

Green Design Will Save the World!

I don't know if any of you have heard of Inhabitat, but it is a wonderful site that highlights "green" and progressive design from around the world. From architecture to interiors, transportation, art and technology. I read it every day for inspiration and to keep up with the ever changing world of green design! Some of their most fascinating articles address architecture and art/architecture installations that are meant to awe and bring design awareness to ordinary citizens who aren't always aware of their surroundings.


My new obsession is the Metropol Parasol built by J. Mayer H. Architects, the largest wooden structure in the world! Located in Seville, Spain at Plaza de la Encarnacion, this installation covers about an entire city block and holds a museum, farmers market, plaza, and restaurant! Such an amazing use of bonded timber!


Check out the article to read more about this fascinating project!

The Power of the Print

I have reallllly been missing making artwork since I moved to Boston. I usually work with woodblock prints, but I have been unable to find a free press here. So to satiate my art needs I have been browsing Etsy and finding some great artists to envy! There is some fantastic talent on Etsy and I am always amazed at what I can find!

Click prints for link.

From Monastery to Luxury Hotel: The Augustine

Ohhh how I would love it visit this hotel! Someday when I finally finish school, I would love to work in hospitality and boutique hotel design. Hotels like this one get me all excited about it! The Augustine in is Prague, Czech Republic and used to be an old Augustinian monastery (hence the name). Now it is a luxury destination hotel that brightly shines over the city of Prague and the interiors are fabulous! Contemporary, but with a classic edge that complements the bones of the structure. And all of the greens play off the natural stone vaulted ceilings so nicely!




Sourced from Tablet Talk, a daily update from Tablet Hotels, the best resource for finding the best kept secrets in luxury boutique hotels. Shhhh, you didn't hear it from me! :)

AD Home Design Show: Photos!

Here come the photos! Sorry about the picture quality, I took them all on my phone because I forgot my camera...

This was a very cool table that incorporated streams of water running down the sides so it looked like it was raining! The umbrella chandelier was the perfect finishing touch.

This exhibit showcased shearling walls and cool vases that look like they were flying though space!

The Coca-Cola table was very cute and modern. Notice the one red chair?


Loving these chairs!


I really like the idea of having lamps on the table as well as candles. Great mood lighting.




This was the coolest thing ever. It was a bar. And a trailer. On the other side was a flat screen TV!


The inside was all fur and leather! Very Ralph Lauren.

A lovely kitchen with state of the art cabinets and amazing marble counter tops. I love the tile backsplash!

Sorry random people! This was the Lilian August area and it was beautiful. The sofa was a fabulous soft grey and the gold etageres were to die for!

This painting was fantastic. It was the seven dwarfs having dinner!

Fendi outdoor furniture. Go figure.

The Dorothy Draper prints on the chair and pillows were just fun enough to be a lovely floral.

A very cool lacquer black four-poster bed.

A beautiful (and comfy!) fuchsia pink chair. I must have one!

Thank you New Traditionalists for my free tickets! It was an amazing experience!