What hook are you hooked on?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
hooked on you
Everyone needs a place to hang their hat, but there is no need to slack on style for the hook upon which you hang it. There are hooks out there for everyone to represent who you are, who you'd want to be or just to enjoy. Some of these hooks are so wonderfully designed that you'll want to simply display them as art and not hide them under your hat or coat.
What hook are you hooked on?
What hook are you hooked on?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
one down and one to go
***Update: May 12***
What do you think?
My professor liked it, a lot. There is no grade posted yet, but here are her words:
What a great job. The seating arrangements, kitchen areas and restrooms seem to work very well. The furniture and materials that you selected create a wonderful atmosphere for the neighborhood restaurant and the new logo provides an updated look that would be welcomed. The perspectives are the perfect addition and would allow the client to imagine what the space would feel like, a very important tool.Here's a peek at the result of my last 14 weeks. This is the final project for my 'Material Use' class. The assignment was a remodel and redesign (floor plan, finishes, furnishings, lighting and even logo) of Ella's, an existing restaurant in San Francisco. My goal with the redesign was to modernize and brighten up the space as it is currently quite heavy and dark. I'll let you all know how I did when I get my feedback.
The boards are well organized and consistent. You really created a cohesive design and met the needs of the client program.
What do you think?
Thursday, May 7, 2009
modern baby
Being a baby doesn't mean you have to be surrounded by pink hearts and blue trains anymore. Now your nursery can have just as much style as the rest of the home, if not more. Everyone from IKEA to Target to websites such as Modern Nursery are helping your child realize their true design potential from birth. Here are a few of my favorite finds. 
LEKA baby gym - IKEA
For those gym-ready tots.
Elephants flannel blanket set of 3 - Dwell Studio for Target
For you little animal.
Silver Lake crib with drawers - Dwell Studio for Target
For those wanting their beauty sleep in style.
Silver Lake changing table and dresser - Dwell Studio for Target
For storage that grows up with them.
LEKA baby gym - IKEAFor those gym-ready tots.
Elephants flannel blanket set of 3 - Dwell Studio for TargetFor you little animal.
Silver Lake crib with drawers - Dwell Studio for TargetFor those wanting their beauty sleep in style.
Silver Lake changing table and dresser - Dwell Studio for TargetFor storage that grows up with them.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
what is "green"?
That is my big question these days. What is "green" design? There are organizations such as LEED that put out guidelines about what green is to them, but does that mean that is what green is?
To me, there are so many factors that can make something green.
• content: what is it made of?
• location: where is it coming from?
• chemicals: does it contain or use harmful chemicals?
• recyclable: can it be recycled?
• renewable: is it an easily renewable resource?
• sustainable: can it be sustained by regrowing it over and over over?
• reused: are you keeping it from the landfills?
vs. 
Being green is tough when you really look into it. You hear everywhere how green bamboo is because it grows and regrows so quickly, but that doesn't mean it is the greenest option. For the real answers you also need to find out more about what it is combined with and where it is coming from. Many bamboo products are made using adhesives containing urea-formaldehyde, that has been labeled a human carcinogen and come from Asia, meaning a long boat ride over to the US. So, even though the original product may be "green" the outcome or final product may be far from it. At the same time, just because it may take an oak tree 120 years to grow to maturity, you may be able to find it from a more local FSC-certified forest and create an end product that doesn't use urea-formaldehyde in its adhesive. Therefore, you have found yourself a product that is sustainably harvested, has a short trip to make and doesn't affect your health with harmful carcinogens.
When it comes to the "reused" aspect of being green, I am big on the idea of antiques or already existing furnishings so that nothing new has to be made. Don't like it the way you see it? There is so much you can do to make something old, new again. Paint the piece with zero or low VOC paint to modernize it or reupholster it in natural fibers such as cotton or linen.
vs. 
You also have to remember that being green in design goes beyond just the furnishings and accessories to how you use them after installation. You may have just finished your "green" kitchen but you don't want to undo all your work but filling your sink cabinet with a number of harmful cleaning products that will off-gas just what you have worked so hard to do without. Don't worry, there are plenty of "green" cleaning products out there for you to use. Need a little "green" help in your home? Check out the New Green Housewife blog for some wonderful ideas.
What is your favorite way to be "green"?
To me, there are so many factors that can make something green.
• content: what is it made of?
• location: where is it coming from?
• chemicals: does it contain or use harmful chemicals?
• recyclable: can it be recycled?
• renewable: is it an easily renewable resource?
• sustainable: can it be sustained by regrowing it over and over over?
• reused: are you keeping it from the landfills?
vs. 
Being green is tough when you really look into it. You hear everywhere how green bamboo is because it grows and regrows so quickly, but that doesn't mean it is the greenest option. For the real answers you also need to find out more about what it is combined with and where it is coming from. Many bamboo products are made using adhesives containing urea-formaldehyde, that has been labeled a human carcinogen and come from Asia, meaning a long boat ride over to the US. So, even though the original product may be "green" the outcome or final product may be far from it. At the same time, just because it may take an oak tree 120 years to grow to maturity, you may be able to find it from a more local FSC-certified forest and create an end product that doesn't use urea-formaldehyde in its adhesive. Therefore, you have found yourself a product that is sustainably harvested, has a short trip to make and doesn't affect your health with harmful carcinogens.
When it comes to the "reused" aspect of being green, I am big on the idea of antiques or already existing furnishings so that nothing new has to be made. Don't like it the way you see it? There is so much you can do to make something old, new again. Paint the piece with zero or low VOC paint to modernize it or reupholster it in natural fibers such as cotton or linen.
vs. 
You also have to remember that being green in design goes beyond just the furnishings and accessories to how you use them after installation. You may have just finished your "green" kitchen but you don't want to undo all your work but filling your sink cabinet with a number of harmful cleaning products that will off-gas just what you have worked so hard to do without. Don't worry, there are plenty of "green" cleaning products out there for you to use. Need a little "green" help in your home? Check out the New Green Housewife blog for some wonderful ideas.
What is your favorite way to be "green"?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
for sale: audrey kawasaki's "my dishonest heart"
A few months ago I stumbled upon an Audrey Kawasaki piece somewhere online and have since been in love. Her website describes her work as:
Just to share a bit more of her brilliance, here are a few of my favorites.
The themes in Audrey Kawasaki's work are contradictions within themselves. Her work is both innocent and erotic. Each subject is attractive yet disturbing. Audrey's precise technical style is at once influenced by both manga comics and Art Nouveau. Her sharp graphic imagery is combined with the natural grain of the wood panels she paints on, bringing an unexpected warmth to enigmatic subject matter.Every now and then one of her amazing pieces is made available to purchase and this coming Saturday, May 9th at 12 pm Pacific time is one of them. There will only be 150 of the 200 signed and numbered "My Dishonest Heart" prints available. One of them could find its way into your home for $100 unframed or $235 framed. Just make sure to register by creating an account if your would like to be one of the lucky 150 to own "My Dishonest Heart."
Just to share a bit more of her brilliance, here are a few of my favorites.
Oil and graphite on wood 24x17
'Innocents' @ Lineage Gallery
2007
Two Sisters
oil and graphite on wood 24"x28.5
'Kakurenbou' @ Mondo Bizzarro
2008
'Innocents' @ Lineage Gallery
2007
Two Sistersoil and graphite on wood 24"x28.5
'Kakurenbou' @ Mondo Bizzarro
2008
Monday, May 4, 2009
what makes may red hot?
It's time again for Target to update their Red Hot Shop and for a list of my new favorites.
Here's what isn't so red hot first. I checked in on Friday, May 1st to see what was new and unfortunately the site hadn't been undated yet, but when I checked in today, just two days later, I found one item that makes my top 3 list already sold out. I am a total sucker for all the fun items Fred & Friends bring us, so of course I would have loved to have had the chance to snag the adorable Half Pint mini carton creamer. Looks like I'll be looking else where for that one.
I was also immediately drawn to the Fish Bowl Bookend Set's appearance, but not its price tag. For some unknown reason I love goldfish as a home decor accessory, in theory that is. Once I get them into my home I soon remember that you have to feed them and clean their bowl (they'll thank you for it). I love the idea of this piece, since each bowl is flat on one side and therefore rests flush upon the books, but for $60 I think I could handle two more affordable fish bowls as bookends (try two REKTANGEL vases from IKEA for a total of $4.98).
My third find is perfect for an apartment like mine with no personal gardening space. The Mini Garden provides you with everything you need to grow your own little garden of clover, cress, lettuce and mustard. It's almost instant gratification, too, since it says it should sprout in just three days. Anyone know where I can get myself a green thumb to go with it?
Here's what isn't so red hot first. I checked in on Friday, May 1st to see what was new and unfortunately the site hadn't been undated yet, but when I checked in today, just two days later, I found one item that makes my top 3 list already sold out. I am a total sucker for all the fun items Fred & Friends bring us, so of course I would have loved to have had the chance to snag the adorable Half Pint mini carton creamer. Looks like I'll be looking else where for that one.
I was also immediately drawn to the Fish Bowl Bookend Set's appearance, but not its price tag. For some unknown reason I love goldfish as a home decor accessory, in theory that is. Once I get them into my home I soon remember that you have to feed them and clean their bowl (they'll thank you for it). I love the idea of this piece, since each bowl is flat on one side and therefore rests flush upon the books, but for $60 I think I could handle two more affordable fish bowls as bookends (try two REKTANGEL vases from IKEA for a total of $4.98).
My third find is perfect for an apartment like mine with no personal gardening space. The Mini Garden provides you with everything you need to grow your own little garden of clover, cress, lettuce and mustard. It's almost instant gratification, too, since it says it should sprout in just three days. Anyone know where I can get myself a green thumb to go with it?
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