Interior Design Sense

Is it really two and a half years since I first featured Australian interior design duo Leibowitz and McLachlan? Time for another visit and as you would expect from such a talented pair there are lots more lovely rooms on their website. It’s a casual elegance, muted colours, natural finishes, antiques with contemporary pieces. It’s stylish and crisp but light and feminine. I love their children’s rooms … so soft and pretty. As for those kitchens, it’s straight to my inspiration files.

This past Thursday evening, I met up with friend and fellow blogger Christian May of Maison21 for an event at TableArt on Melrose Avenue featuring Kelly Wearstler and her line of dinnerware for Pickard.  It was an intimate event and Kelly was on hand to sign copies of her latest book, Hue, among chatting with many of the guests.

The highlight of my evening (aside from M21’s ability to silence a room) was seeing Kelly inspired by the fashion of other guests.  With M21 & I standing beside Kelly, she picked up her iPhone to snap a picture of a girl in a slim fitting camel colored coat with over size, unique textural buttons (I think it was the buttons that intrigued her). I overhead someone say something to the effect would it be inspiring the next project.  Like many of us designers, being able to capture a photo of something (whether it’s architecture, a textile, nature, or in this instance, fashion); these are the things that lead us to be inspired and create.  I can’t help but wonder what is on Kelly’s iPhone camera and would love to see the images she captures and how that translates to what she designs.  So Kelly – if  you are ever so inclined to share with us what you photograph on a daily basis, I am sure many would love to see what captivates and inspires you!

On the subject of inspiration, here is the line of china for Pickard designed by Kelly:

Table setting and guests at the TableArt event.

{For more on the event and to see a picture I took of Kelly & Christian, read M21’s post here.}

Located in Byron Bay, Aystralia, this breathtaking home really caught our attention. The stone walls and wooden elements of the house are impressive design elements, but what can really leave one speechless is the natural environment. The lush vegetation and numerous palm trees make this a dream place to live in. However the developers of this project added extra features in order to grow interest in this property. Two fantastic pool “guard” the place and a fancy lighting system provides a nice atmosphere for late night swimming. The interior is modern, with contemporary furniture items. The Italian kitchen is all-equipped and has stainless steel work surfaces. In spite of all its luxurious features, do you think this residence lacks anything?- via Desire to Inspire

If you are looking for more inspiration here are a few links from our friends from Shelterpop :  Ditch Your Headboard,  Rainbow-Colored Decor,  Instant Update: Paint Your Doors,  Yes, Please: Striped Walls,  Bathroom Trends for 2010.

When I think of iron beds, visions of dark metal and straight lines usually come to mind.  Something like the below…

That is, until now….

I opened up my new Anthropologie catalog to find the epitome of “scrolls, curls, and twirls” in their new Calligraphy Bed.  This white, whimsical, Hollywood Regency-inspired bed would be the perfect finishing touch to a mega girly room.

And how fitting that it’s called the Calligraphy!  I can immediately see how the elegant lettering art form was the inspiration for this lighthearted and fanciful design.

Do you enjoy unusual transformations? Nicolas Tye Architects came up with one that teaches us something about innovative architecture. Long Barn Studio is the name of the building below and it was raised on the ruins of an old barn measuring a total surface of 2,200 square feet. The place has an interesting architecture and it manages to blend in its environment. You would probably expect an office building to have a certain height and a futuristic look, but the architects over at Nicolas Tye thought of messing with this pattern. However, if the exterior is somewhat peaceful and not very flashy, all the high-tech and modern stuff is located inside, in the actual work studio. And what a great place take inspiration from!-via Arch Daily

In case you were looking for unusual storage furniture to place in your apartment and was out of ideas, we hope these pictures below carry a source of inspiration. These lace cut storage cabinets come from Brocade and they have an innovative look and feel. They feature lovely patterns of leaves or flowers and also the possibility of glimpsing inside which you never know when could come in handy. The down side however is that they are hard to dust. They come in brown and white and they can be mixed with the environment in a variety of ways. Either you hang them on the wall or leave them on the floor, storage space will seize to be a problem. Elegant, original and practical at the same time- isn’t that the essence of modern design?- via Furnishh!

For those of you who still think eco-fashion means beige hippy skirts and cream-colored organic t-shirts, we would like to introduce you to Popomomo. This line of smart, unique and provocative-yet-totally-wearable garments highlights the chic edge of modern eco-fashion. For her Fall 2010 collection, designer Lizz Wasserman took inspiration from quartz crystals and melting polar ice caps, and in a marriage of precise geometric lines with swirly prints in icy hues, came stunning, innovative and gorgeous garments.

We were fortunate enough to get a peek at her collection as part of the Green Shows at New York Fashion Week, and boy were we blown away! Read on for our in-depth coverage and exclusive pictures of the Popomomo fashion show!

READ MORE AT ECOUTERRE >

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Post tags: eco-fashion, Fall/Winter 2010, green fashion, Lizz Wasserman, new york fashion week, New York Green Fashion Week, Popomomo, Sustainable Fashion, the green shows, the greenshows

There is a reason why this coffee mug is called the Radiator Mug, the bottom fins (called heat sinks) take inspiration from the radiator mechanics found within the PC or an engine, to keep things cool. Likewise these ceramic fins eliminate the need for a handle and keep your hands cool while holding a steaming cuppa coffee/tea.

Designer: Stephen Reed [ Buy it Here, Radiator Mug is available for $24 @ YD Store ]

Radiator Mug is available for $24 @ YD Store

Pottery Barn is a design company founded in 1949 in Manhattan and planned on their work reflecting the idea that” home furnishings should be exceptional in comfort, style and quality.” We don not know much about their comfort and quality, but one thing we can say for sure: their furniture looks absolutely amazing! Perhaps it is the vintage touch or the original letters and numbers embedded in the decorations. Or the colors that are not too flashy, nor neutral. And what do you think about the overall arrangements? The flower arrangements really seem to fit in and light up the rooms. Whichever it is, we invite you to take a closer look and pick out those elements that you like the most. In other words, we hope you will find plenty of inspiration in the pictures below.

The past few nights, after shutting down my computer and retiring for the night, I’ve been rewarding myself by curling up in bed, relaxing, and reading Suzanne Kasler’s Inspired Interiors.  I received this book as a Christmas present a few months ago, and it’s been sitting on the bench at the end of my bed since then, looking so crisp and unused.  I am just now finding the time to open it and completely delve in!  I never like to read these design books hastily.  I need ample time to study the images, read, and re-read the text.

I am now about halfway done with her book and do not want it to ever come to an end!  (however, if it does end, it’s not the end of the world, since I have Kelly W’s Hue as next up on my reading list!)

The only downside to her book is the fact that I can’t rip out all of these gorgeous images and put them in my “inspiration” binders.  Well, technically I could…hmmm tempting!

Suzanne is a design genius!  I’m sure you will agree after viewing these images below.