Color & Pattern Inspiration from South Africa

(photos: #1 & 2 - mariya_umama_wethemba_monastery/ / CC BY 2.0; #3 - wildebees/ / CC BY 2.0; #4 - tipsfortravellers/ / CC BY 2.0; #5 - timparkinson/ / CC BY 2.0; #6 & 7 - paulmannix/ / CC BY 2.0; #8 - shalom_adamina/ / CC BY 2.0)

A Passion for Purple

I love this purple collage with the purple clothes and the Tord Boontje screens and lights. The shadows from the screen on the blue platform are fabulous.


(photo: re-modern/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Design For A Rainy Sunday

It's a bit rainy today although there are birds chirping so I'm hopeful we will see the sun before nightfall. These images from Finely Inc. on Flickr make me feel both relaxed and happy. It's the perfect mood for a rainy Sunday.





(photos: 31120243@N07/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Designers Guild

Ever since I discovered London-based Designers Guild, about 10 years ago, I have been a HUGE fan. While I was studying design in Boston, local modern design inspiration was hard to find. You could find some pockets available here and there but since it is a city with a ton of history I guess change was hard. In the last five to 10 years there has been a huge increase in the modern design resources available to Bostonians.

I was thinking about how much things have changed when I attended a seminar by Tricia Guild, Peter Osborne, and William Yeoward. Designers Guild has long been one of my favorite sources of not only fabrics and wallpapers but of inspiration. Now they have their own space in the Osborne & Little showroom in the design center. Although the wallpapers in the photo below don't do the color range justice, you only have to take a look at one of Tricia Guild's books to see the amazing colors and range of inspiration she draws from.


I think being exposed to a more modern style of design while surrounded by tradition helped shape what I design today. I adore interiors that are a mix of modern and traditional and am drawn to those with bright colors.

In fact, when I saw the photos of an office space I finished last year, I thought they had been Photoshopped since the common areas had photographed so brilliantly. Any place someone had to spend long periods of time in was more muted and neutral since I know color isn't something everyone is comfortable with but it sure was nice to be able to add color into the space. I do know that some of the occupants were very happy and proud of the 'nacho orange' color of a few of the walls.

Sorry about the rambling nature of this post :).

(photo: jeanine)

Fashion Week for Interior Designers

In Boston, the design center hosts a few days of seminars every fall for interior designers. The design trends for 2010 are 80s inspired, one of the trends is even called Miami Vice. Fortunately, there were some great images showing some of the new products and overall they are quite nice, not as scary as the 80s inspired titles might suggest. Hopefully I will get some pictures over the next two days to share.

(photo: sebastianjshaw/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Cherry Blossoms and Wall Stencils

Last week I stumbled upon a new to me blog, Simple Blueprint, which had a link to Elle Decoration South Africa's website and some fantastic free downloads. I was reminded of this when I saw that Holly from Decor8 had also posted a link to the cherry blossom wallpaper available on their site this month. Unfortunately I have never seen the South African edition of Elle Decoration for sale in my area, but it seems like a fabulous magazine. Until then I'll have to be satisfied with looking at their website.


Being in the Northern Hemisphere I'm currently enjoying the beginning of fall but have saved the cherry blossom screen saver for winter when I'm craving spring. I'm still in love with my current wallpaper from Robert Le Heros. It's a cheerful striped pattern from one of their fabric lines.

(photo: jeanine)

Anthropologie Window Display - Wood Bundled Bed

The most recent Anthropologie window is fantastically rustic with a bed made out of firewood, a cotton chandelier.


There was also some of this in yellows, oranges & reds in another window and a bit inside.

{photo: jeanine}

Tower 23 Hotel

I love this bathroom at the Tower 23 Hotel in San Diego, California.



One thing I'm not sold on is the glass doors into the bathroom from the guestroom. I think it's fine if you're staying there alone but other than that, I'd rather have an opaque door.

{photos: hyperbolation/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0}

See-Through Sushi

As much as I know acrylic isn't the best choice environmentally and probably not as durable as other options, I can't stop loving it. This sushi restaurant in London is one reason why.


(photo: 98453206@N00/ / CC BY-SA 2.0)

Cool Nights

Things these days have been busy in a good sort of way. The days are now the perfect temperature and the nights are cool. What better way to celebrate the last couple weeks of summer and wind down from a busy day than by spending and evening on a porch with some colorful lanterns.


(photo: qmnonic/ / CC BY 2.0)

Colorful Friday

I absolutely love color so these images all make me very happy. Especially the last two with the super saturated colors.







(photos: sugu/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Cascade Ceiling Lights

I recently found this image of the Cascade ceiling light by Ango from the ICFF that I had never posted.


The light from these fixtures is beautiful and soft and, at 3 feet high, the lights themselves make quite a statement.

{photo: jeanine}

Prada, Manhattan, NYC

Although parts of the store are cramped and dark, and I have yet to purchase anything Prada, it doesn't stop me from loving the stairs in their Soho store (designed by Rem Koolhaas in 2001). I love the alternating concrete and wood treads. This part of the space is nice and light and open.



If you want to see a virtual walk through of the store there is one on Architectural Record's site.

(photos: sinorfavela/ / CC BY-NC 2.0)