roy mcmakin

I used to work for vitra.

While at vitra I had a co-worker who introduced me to the work of architect and all around creative genius Roy McMakin.  For me personally, architecture and art are a very emotional experience.  I was immediately struck by Mr. McMakin’s simple and earthy use of color juxtaposed against my favorite – white.

And he really gets space.

He uses color to accent the architecture in such an ‘out of the box’ kind of way.  I love him for it.  His work makes me think and look at space in new ways, and I am thankful for his perspective and keen ability to realize and execute beautiful spaces and objects.

You must check out his site domestic architecture and his other site domestic furniture.

Really, you must.

peacock

I love the color peacock.  I know that technically peacock isn’t a color, but all those colors that make up the bird, those are my colors…

I know that I have said before that grey is my neutral, and I don’t lie – it is, but mix it up with some peacock and my other favorite, white, and well…heaven.

Let’s also not forget my strange obsession with birds, together with the beautiful blues, greens and shiny that make up the color peacock and you really can’t go wrong.

This is going to be a long one…

OMG!!!  Half albino Peacock, my two favorite colors all on one bird.  This must have been made for me!!!

Christopher Spitzmiller Belvedere Lamp

Florence Broadhurst Peacock Feathers fabric for Woodson & Rummerfield

Just a little peacock blue on a chair to spice things up.

Antiqued Peacock Mirror from Wisteria

Peacock Chair by Studio Dror for Cappellini

earthy peacock yum

Peacock Rug by Matthew Williamson for The Rug Company

Trina Turk indoor/outdoor Peacock Fabric for Schumacher

The Peacock Room

dreaming of greece

Oh Greece, how I long for you…

Although we’ve never met, I know that we were meant for each other.  I dream of your glorious light, your ruins, your olives, your gods and godesses,  your ocean and the white that scatters your hillsides and soaks up your sun.

Sigh.

Alas, I just had a baby 2 months ago, so a summer vacation is not on the agenda for me…maybe next year.  When I do go, I will be staying at the Cavo Tagoo Hotel.

now what?

My Macbook Pro is in the shop…what’s a girl to do?!?!?!?

Japan Cool

My dad has a passion for all things Japanese…from his Shoji screen inspired kitchen cabinets, to his front fountain turned zen rock garden, his love for Japan seems never-ending.  It’s so incredibly un-PC, but he’s had me on the hunt for ivory chopsticks for years.  Needless to say, I haven’t been very effective at finding them, perhaps because I have an aversion to supporting the needless killing of elephants for the use of their tusks as eating utensils.  However, I am quite fond of elephants as they incorporate into our decor, but that’s another posting altogether…

Today is my dad’s birthday, and in honor of him here’s a few things I find to be hip and cool about Japanese design.

The spectacular and amazing I.M. Pei designed Miho Museum tucked into the side of the mountains in Shiga, Japan.

So wrong, daddy’s ivory chopsticks…

Tezuka Architects

The Camper Shoes London Flagship designed by Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka

gorgeous japanese wooden house

traditional ryokan hotel

japanese graffiti

Traditional Geisha bring Japan Cool to San Francisco

hinoki soaking tub

james turrell, i like you

There is a museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania called the Mattress Factory.  I went there last year.

There was a fantastic installation by artist James Turrell that rocked my world.

James Turrell is an artist who’s “work involves explorations in light and space that speak to viewers without words, impacting the eye, body, and mind with the force of a spiritual awakening.” – Art : 21 blog

There isn’t really a way to do Mr. Turrell’s work justice in words or pictures, so maybe it is silly to even attempt sharing some of his genius via post.  I’m going to anyway.

James Turrell is from California, I am from California, in that I feel pride.

Check it out.