Branding Genius

Images via &Smith

Fabulous branding of a modern sweet shop by London design group &Smith. The cotton candy color scheme and delicate type is balanced perfectly with the collage style black and white photography. Whimsy and sweet.

Monday Funny

Love these images of toy figurines and catchy phrases by London designer Aled Lewis. I came across his Tumblr site while procrastinating this weekend. Isn't Tumblr great for that?!?!

Also can I just say how beyond thrilled I am that this is my last week of classes before I take the summer off!! Time to get back to the important things, like blogging, especially since I have officially crowned myself the worst blogger in all the land. 

Artist Love: Ludovica Gioscia

Image: Work of Ludovica Gioscia photographed by Ståle Eriksen

I wanted to share the amazing work of artist Ludovica Gioscia with you all fabulous people. I came across her work while perusing the Anthology blog after picking up their latest issue. If you haven't had a chance to flip through this publication I highly encourage you stop by your local Anthropologie and check it out. (I think this is the only place that carries it)

Ludovica is an installation artist and her work seen above was part of her "Rococo Hardcore" installation from 2007. This was created using wallpaper, some ready made and some hand screen printed, and then peeling them away layer by layer. AMAZING. The combination of color and pattern is both visually interesting and beautiful.

Nice Space.

Image : Joe Schmelzer

I am in love with this kitchen. The natural light, those turquoise pendant lamps, the pop of yellow, and how clean and uncluttered it all looks. I have a bit of kitchen envy truth be told. This picture also made me want to add a fun polka-dot border just because it made me so darn happy. 

This blogging journey has been great in allowing me to find out what I am drawn to and to begin to develop my own design style and voice. I find myself drawn to really simple design and I have noticed with my own work that I tend to want to keep things very minimal and clean, but I do like to play around with color and pattern. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but that is part of the process, right? What design elements to you all find yourself drawn to?

Color of 2011: Honeysuckle

I was so excited to check my inbox this morning and see that Pantone released their pick for color of the year!! (Not sure which part of that sentence makes me more geeky.) They are calling it Honeysuckle and I think it is oh so pretty!!

Pantone takes most of the guesswork out of how to incorporate the color into fashion, interior and design by giving some great insight including the correct color formula and colors that will complement this bright hue. The fashion illustrations that were included also caught my eye, this Badgley Mischka one in particular. I could just see myself lounging around the house watching Glee and sipping on a Diet Coke all the while looking fab in my designer gown, ok maybe not but a girl can daydream right?

So lovely readers what do you think of this color pick, will you be adding it to your life in 2011?

Fashion illustration by Badgley Mischka via Pantone

Designer Envy: Lulu de Kwiatkowski

I finally had a chance to flip through my favorite online publication: Lonny Magazine. Lonny quickly became my favorite interior mag after my beloved Domino had to close its doors, I still get weepy thinking about it.

Anyway back to the new issue of Lonny. I fell in LOVE with the home of textile designer Lulu de Kwiatkowski. I mean seriously look at how fab and light this home feels.

The colors, furniture and personality come through perfectly and I am now convinced that we could pull off a white couch, my husband is still not on board with the idea. We have an ongoing couch battle in our home at the moment as anyone who comes over knows, but I am of the mind set that slow and steady wins the race and his resistance is weakening. It has only taken 2 years.

I think that her philosophy is spot on and her tips for unleashing your inner creativity are now printed and hanging up in my home office. I have already found myself practicing her idea of doodling more, I hope to share these with you as soon as I can figure out why the heck my scanner does not want to be friends with Oliver (yes that is the name of our Mac and yes I believe in naming your electronics).

Details:
Images courtesy of Lonny Magazine