Switching To Tumblr

I'm moving my blog.
Moving's the worst!  Still organizing and unpacking.  But ultimately, things will be better there.

Please head over to : http://one-point.tumblr.com

Facing Fears, Etc.

I'm not very comfortable speaking in public.  But clearly expressing your ideas is a pivotal part of being a designer.  So yesterday I bit the bullet and was a guest speaker at an interior design course at Parsons!
All in all, it went well, and I'm really glad I decided to do it. 
As a reward, I'm spending the day working on my room some more and maybe the lighting project.  Here's some things that are inspiring it:

RB

A

Reading Material: Top Two

1. The new Dwell came and it's about live/work spaces.  Only my choice interior topic to read about!  There's something that stimulates your brain when you sleep where you create.  Or taking it further, there's even more that happens when you throw several creative people in a house together.  I've gotten to thinking about the relationship of people to people to ideas.  Surrounding yourself with the opportunity to work on what you love at all times.  Creative collaboration.  Imaginging far away ideas on the same plane as someone else.  Isn't that a dream? 
2. And my sister got me... the best book in exchange for dogsitting... William Morris: Artist, Craftsman, Pioneer.  W. Morris you have my heart, dear sir! 
3. I can't decide what to do first, with all my other side projects waiting for progress tonight...

Compact Cool

SHFT

 I. want. these.

Roomsies.

My sister gave me lillies the other day when it was very sunny.

And then I thought, what if I created the illusion of wall molding by taping it off and painting the rest?



Good morning, Wednesday

"I'm at the point now where I an go to ABC Carpet and spend five hours picking out sheets, cause I love colors, like teal and taupe and salmon."
-Kanye West

Oh Goodness.

Something that's inspiring me for the latest project

And I've also made some new aquisitions:
1. An LCD monitor, for color clarity when editing.
2. A subscription to NY Mag, for cultural clarity when conversing.

So, henceforth on a budget.  Especially considering future aquisitions:
Marimekko's store (inside Crate & Barrel) on Broadway & Houston opens in nine days!

[UPDATE 10/6: I love my new monitor so bad. Vivid! Color! Giant! Screen! No more squinting!]

something wise

"it takes courage to grow up and become who you really are."
-e.e. cummings

Mirror Trickery

My current obsession is mirrors that are lit from behind.  If clothing shops are smart, they have these in the changing rooms, as they are incredibly flattering.  They replicate the kind of evenly diffused light that you get when you use a light umbrella on a photo shoot.  Not harsh, but since there are no shadows (i.e. on your face, that your nose makes when the light comes from above) you can see a lot of detail.  You always appear to have a glow, due to the balance of light.  I stayed in a cool hotel this weekend that had one in the bathroom.  Nice choice!  A backlit mirror is on my list of things to build- that and eighty other projects.  I'd offset the mirror 2-3" from the wall with any kind of frame (prob plywood), and mount strip lights facing out from the frame.
Additionally, I'm working on a lighting fixture right now for a group show in November.  Using lots of chrome.  Am I in over my head?  Maybe. We'll see!

Slatted

Finally came up with something for my room that makes sense, is potentially easy to do, and a comfortable balance between permanence and temporariness (renting, after all).   Inspiration- exterior solar shading.  Also for the bed, which I mentioned a long time ago, I want to upholster just the edge of the platform that sticks out (1-3" on two sides).  Desk- mdf and/or plywood, 1" and 1/2" thick.  
No, I don't really have an Eames chair.  Yet.

When you first get up to my loft.

From my bed looking at shelves, desk, slats, and wall extension.

Looking out.

Live & Learn

RK

"What are the challenges of doing work as a 26-year-old with no formal design training?"

"When to be gracious and when to be a firm business person. Knowing when to say 'Well, I'm 26, these people are more experienced than me' and when to say 'Hey, I need to stand up for myself.' It's such a huge challenge."  - Ryan Korban for Interview Magazine

Finding Inspiration

My friend turned me on to making moodboards.  I've since found them to be useful in realizing styles or trends that I like.  Here's one that I made in August that I just remembered I never posted.  Just some assorted pics from my favorite websites (most linked on the right).  A lot have good details, or backstories, or just give a good vibe.

Overall theme: Order, unique windows, enjoyable spaces?  Not quite sure.

Also here's a few little sketches I did the other day at the Met in the sculpture garden.  I like going there when I'm feeling a little melancholy, cause focusing on something basic, like drawing, is really peaceful and helps clear my brain.    

Bamboo Banga

The latest rooftop sculpture at the Met is really awesome.  It's called Big Bambu, and was created entirely out of (you guessed it) bamboo by Doug and Mike Starn.  It's continually changing, an organic-yet-linear work of architecture.  The structure has been growing throughout the summer, and now, as September hits, it's almost 40 feet high.  It's like the house from Blue Lagoon got transported to high above Manhattan, with a five-star view of the park.  There's walkways that swirl and meander their way through the temporary forest that you can actually walk through on a guided tour.  (You've got to get there when the museum first opens to reserve your time).

It's only there till Halloween, also, so you'd better skedaddle uptown asap if you want to catch it. 

This Side of Paradise

OVH

I'm really getting a kick out of these dramatic shots for Old Village Hall, a furniture and home good store with a quirky Americana vibe.  Colonial screen printing anyone?  And also, apparently on Thursdays the East Village store gives you 20% off if you mention "Fitzgerald" and serves complimentary mint juleps.  Mmm.

Let the light in

AT

Spotted this Brooklyn home on Apartment Therapy.  Privacy/no privacy- people have different boundaries.  Either way, it's a sleek, beautiful way to get sunlight throughout your space.

Surreal Sleepage

This isn't New York related at all,  but it's the bomb diggity so I had to post.  Milanese hotel Maison Mochino seems like the perfect place to escape- reality, that is.  Mochino always designs with a sense of humor, and it translates gracefully to interiors.  It was designed with a fairy tale in mind, and each room is differently themed.  There's the trademark dog too.  (As per which one I'd stay in, I've narrowed it down to two- the one with the giant teacup or the buzzing fly, which I think would be more interesting to look at than freaky.) 

The one thing I don't like-- there's several dresses that turn into chairs or headboards.  Looks like its literally that séance scene from Beetlejuice.  I refuse to post them but you can check them out on the Hotel Philosophy page.  Leave them for the runway next time!

Subterranean

Some of my favorite underground art- literally. The roots of Bryant Park trees plated in gold... Jurassic on the UWS... words to live by in the Burg.

(Happy Saturday!)

Step One: Loft Renovation

I'm a nerd.  I spent this morning excitedly surveying my house (finally!) in preparation for construction.  Monetarily, still a ways away.  But it's a step in the right direction.  So this is just what we have now- not including furniture.  Ultimately, we want to extend the existing loft and build interior windows and/or sliding glass doors above.  Here's some funny styled pics from the sketch up model.  And now, off to pool parties!

 

UK -> NY

When it comes to a British Invasion, I'm all for it.  Give me the street markets, quaint bookstores, kids with accents talking about the Queen's jewels.  Lay it on me Union Jack.
That's why yesterday at Union Square I was pleasantly surprised to see the implementation of an Oystercard-style Metrocard.  It's been in the works since last year, when one of the brainchilds of the Underground hopped the pond to be a chair of MTA.  London's got most American cities whooped with their highly efficient transportation system.  The tube goes all over, and the bus goes everywhere you're too lazy to walk to.  With the tap-and-go system, you're in and out of there.  They're trying out some kind of debit/credit card chip system first, which I have but it never works.  So looks like they're getting the kinks out now.  I'm glad however, that they're calling it a Smartcard instead of naming after seafood.
Accordingly, the Brit section of ICFF was my favourite.  Including this trompe l'oeil bookcase wallpaper by Deborah Bowness and a plethora of cool tiles by Dominic Crinson (this one's a Cityscape on London but he had a Manhattan one on display). 

Top Notch

I've been paying a lot more attention to interior photography lately.  When I saw photos by Tom Judge, I was totally taken by his skill.  At work, I'm learning that there's way more steps from taking a shot to when you see it on a glossy page or on a website.  So I'm trying to learn things from photos that I like... starting with these gems.

How your eye follows the curve.
Also those stairs are a.ma.zing.

Materials.
That looks like chocolate.

Detail.

Perspective.

Surprise.

GOOOAAAALLLL

In the World Cup spirit, Puma created a pop up store and lounge in South St. Seaport. Designed by architects LOT-EK, the space held events, performances, and game viewings during the frenzy. It launched in June, but I only went last week for a dj I wanted to see.

I'm a big fan of pop-ups.  They're a chance for a company to do something creative with a low budg.  Most times it's a little more daring than the stores a brand usually has.  Picture lots of MDF, neon lights in kitchy sports themes, foosball, ping ping, etc.  I liked the big chalkboard wall- entertaining. 

Also, might I add, Puma has recently created a non-shoe box using 65% less material than their previous boxes.  These are more of a sleeve over a cardbord frame.  I don't have any Pumas, but I'll consider it after this.