Tag: <span>NYC</span>

wedding-invite-inspirationUnlike most things in the wedding process that have some sort of example to follow, creating invitations is a total free for all. They’re supposed to symbolize the couple, the wedding destination, and attempt to be pretty and unique at the same time. That’s a lot to fit on a piece of paper but here’s our attempt at the process.

wedding invitation inspirationOur design inspiration all started with a plate, our birch log table project, and a wintry Vermont forest. With this hodgepodge of photos, we went to letterpress genius Meredith Kurosko of Regas New York. In addition to being an incredibly talented graphic designer, she has the patience of a saint (a former magazine editor is no easy client) and I’d like to thank her for an amazing job.

After a passionately collaborative process, our whimsical birch forest came to life (top). From a distance, icy winter birch branches become a feathery and ethereal frame to our invitation text.

For the RSVP card, the idea is that you go deeper into that forest and find our special spot. (BTW…Check those Sunday Festivities! Going to be fun, right?)

To kick off the festivities and to help my Southern California family find the fun in cold weather, we’ve decided to make the rehearsal dinner a vintage ski costume party. This means get decked out in funny ski gear from the era of your choosing–anything from 80s neon jackets to 40s leather goggles.

wedding-envelope-designSince we had no idea what our invitations would look like when we created our Save the Dates, we tried to work backwards and give the two pieces of stationery a bit of consistency. Playing off of our original “Speckled Stones,” design we gave the envelopes a similar snowdrift but with more of a bubbly champagne effect.

We love every piece–and this is just a PDF! In silver ink and letterpress, they become the perfect invitations to our chic and quirky Vermont wedding.

Projects

lighting ideasWhen it comes to modern design tradeshows, the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) is by far the biggest and best in the U.S. The four-day New York show ended yesterday and held up to its reputation with a slew of inspiring products and displays from around the world.

A few of my favorite finds…

Above, 13 wood-veneer pendants from LZF Lamps cluster together to form a show-stopping installation.

modern outdoor seating ideasKenneth Cobonpue’s new canopy lounger for Hive is so inviting, it’s worth the funny tan lines.

unique ideas for bookshelvesBrooklyn-based Faktura turns traditional shelving on its head with the V Bookshelf.

best votive holdersA sweet floral design appears within these bone-china votive holders by designer Hanna Tonek Bonnett. The best part? When lit, the pattern shines through and casts shadows in the shapes of roses.

modern kids chairsBaby Acapulco by Innit Designs is one hip kids’ chair. I took a seat in the little chair and the durable vinyl cords made for a surprisingly comfortable seat.

modern double-use furnitureWinner of ICFF’s New Designer Award, Objeti has come forward with a very clever line of multipurpose furniture. My favorite within their new Aerialist series is the Line bench/table/console. The three powder-coated steel panels can flip to become a cushioned seat, tabletop, or a combination of both.

modern lighting ideasSpanish company Fambuena had a number of gorgeous lights but this geometric pendant was the most dramatic.

modern baby cribFor the modern urban family, the Koo bassinet could not be more functional. Made by Lunar, the front folds down to become a rocking chair.

Which design is your favorite?


Etc Finds

ShowtimeHousepartyKB.jpg

Metropolitan Home and Showtime Networks have teamed up to design a NYC townhouse using the shows Dexter, Weeds, The L Word, The Tudors, Californication, and the soon-to-be-released show United States of Tara as their inspiration. The house is wild, stunning, shocking, and overall brilliant. Showhouses can feel really sterile and like one big marketing obligation–but with racy shows paired up with design stars like Laura Kirar, Jamie Drake, Amy Lau, and Vicente Wolf drawing up the plans—we knew this would be different.

Last night was the opening party, peppered with celebs and packed with glam. On the menu were clever treats like Weeds magic brownies and some seriously stiff drinks like Hanks Hangover Cure. We rubbed elbows and skulls with Amy Lau in her marvelously morbid Dexter Dining Room, confessed our sins in Tudors Living Room, enjoyed the rolling paper screen in the Weeds Lounge, and tried on a few high heels in L Word shoe closet (or at least we thought about it). If there was such a thing as a sophisticated fun house—this would be it.

The Metropolitan Home Showtime House opens to the public starting this Saturday and will be until October 26th. If you can make it to the New York area—you should visit (click here for details). Otherwise…you can catch every detail down to the paperclip chandelier and the animated wallpaper at pointclickhome.com/showtime.

ShoParty_Jamie_Drake.jpg
Jamie Drake relaxes on his chaise for two in the Californication Writer's Study
ShoPartyGolub.jpg
Tori Golub was tapped to design around the unreleased show United States of Tara. The show is said to be about a woman and her multiple personalities; lead is to be played by Toni Collette.
ShoPartyJamieLeeKirar.jpg
Jamie Lee Curtis made an appearance and stopped to chat with Laura Kirar in her Tudors Living Room.
ShoHousePartyKBACjpg.jpg
Designer Kirsten Brant looked too perfect in both her fuchsia room and dress; I had to take a photo with her.

Etc Places

FPbowl.jpgI have been meaning to go to The Future Perfect in Brooklyn since I moved to New York. This arty edgy home boutique is always being written up in the city guides and design mags as the definitive source for cool and the pulse of now; so the other day, I finally paid a visit.

I was fully impressed with their display of wheel-thrown porcelain by Jennifer McCurdy (above). Just look at it.

FPToilePillows.jpg
I love that the name of this pillow company is: Historically Inaccurate Decorative Arts. They take classic prints like this toile and update it with an embroidered graffiti. The store is filled with design ironies like this.

FPRonGiladLamp.jpg
This tarantula-like chandelier hovers over the center of the store. Made of 16 flex-y arm task lamps and just as many lightbulbs, this DesignFenzider commands the space of decor goodies.

Filled with clever, bizarre, and beautiful things, the reviews I read on the Future Perfect did not disappoint.

Places