Displaying posts from April, 2009

Latest from Mae Brunken

Posted on Tue, 7 Apr 2009 by KiM

Hot off the presses – Mae Brunken is at it again. Her peeps emailed us this evening to show us Mae’s latest project. It’s such an amazing transformation that I wanted to post it ASAP.

Here’s a bit of info on the space: “Mae Brunken Design is adding the finishing polish to the guest quarters of a Pacific Palisades estate. Previously tasked to re-design the main property, Mae Brunken returned to update the poolside guest quarters. Re-designed to be a writer’s office and artistic escape, housing the owners’ additional guests as well as providing extra storage, the project is a great example of the new interior design trend: Maintaining luxury through practicality.”

Some before photos…

And VOILA, here’s the space after Mae worked her magic…

Here are some specifics as to what Mae did to transform the room: “Natural linen window treatments with contrasting yellow trim soften the space while providing privacy. The furnishings are both versatile and comfortable, with a custom daybed doubling as a resting place for both the afternoon writer and the overnight guest. The Eames ivory lounge chair and ottoman accentuate this versatility, implementing a vintage modern office aesthetic and maximum at-home comfort. The desk is the functional focal point of the room, made of rich macassar ebony zebrawood and offset by a polished stainless task lamp. A Suzanne Sharp rug from The Rug Company in yellow, gray and ivory warms up the room and also presents a graphic background. In addition to accommodating a writer and guests, the guest quarters also delivers additional storage space. Made of the same macassar ebony wood as the desk, the opposing wall has been fitted with filing drawers that also double as nightstands, and bookshelves that house awards and reference.” Summed up in one word – PERFECTION.

Grant White Design

Posted on Mon, 6 Apr 2009 by KiM

Luxurious, classy, decadent, elegant, sophisticated…these are just a few words that came to mind when I found the portfolio of London-based interior design firm Grant White Design. (Grant’s fondness for yellow makes me crave a little sunshine in my home).

Flickr finds – Ikea PS cabinet

Posted on Sun, 5 Apr 2009 by KiM

WINKS

Posted on Sat, 4 Apr 2009 by midcenturyjo

…. on my inspiration board

WINKS – weekend links. Here we list what has come in during the week, things we’ve found and things we think you’ll want to see. If you’d like to see your blog or website featured email us and if we think it fits with our readers we’ll link you. So what’s in this week?

    • Crave acrylic? Lust for lucite? Then Spectrum West will make you weak at the knees. They are launching their collection this spring at ICFF. It’s clear that my heart belongs to perspex. What about yours?
    • The drama, the passion or should that be patina. Luxe looking and definitely statement pieces check out Boca Do Lobo. And then there are the limited edition pieces!
    • Now for the too too cute! Check out Lapin & Me. It’s a wonderland of the hand-made, the nostalgic and the unusual.
    • Loxii is a vinyl wall graphics company based out of Las Vegas. While Chris Levy and Stewart Christensen have designed most of the graphics they have also partnered with three other designers. Samantha Hahn from New York, Gisela Here from Buenos Aires, and Nicole Ketchum from West Hartford, Connecticut. The online site is new and they are trying to develop a community based design company with design competitions and lots of custom work. My love affair with decals is still going strong (I rent, I love) especially with great new designs coming on the market. Good luck guys!
    • Case Jernigan is an up and coming artist who emailed to introduce his work. I love it particularly his portraits. Take a look for yourself.
    • Spring is sprung and Matthew Mead is up to his fabulous styling, culinary and entertainment tricks again. Easter is just next week so he’s just in time.
  • Yuki Murata emailed, “… my business started when friends commissioned me to make their wedding china (the coral pattern) back in 2004… not much these days for affordable hand painted china – Meissen and Royal Copenhagen are out of most people’s price range – I really try to keep my pricing realistic, everyone deserves something original and hand made. Anyway, I just launched my online store moderngoods.” Love your work Yuki. Especially love your fish sculptures. Now where could I fit these in my house?

Quite a diverse lot this week. Don’t forget the mega easter chock-a-block gorge yourself silly reading guides next weekend. Can never get too much of a good thing (and easter eggs)!

Bedroom project

Posted on Fri, 3 Apr 2009 by KiM

Easter weekend is coming up, and it will be a 5 day weekend for me. I am so excited to have that many days off from my day job so I can get some more work done around the house. I’m thinking about tackling the main bedroom. Here is what it looked like when I bought the house and had just moved in. (I had to include the shot of the hacked-off door – typical of the shoddy workmanship in this house)


The closet was massive, and blocked one of the windows which drove me insane. Since bedroom #2 is tiny and I am using it as a dressing room, this closet was home to only off season clothing and whatever other crap I could cram in it. So one day my boyfriend helped me tear it down.

This is a relatively recent photo of my bedroom.

All of the bedding is from the bedroom in my last house and it will be replaced with I think a white simple duvet cover and all my bargellos. The lamp shades I found a while back at Habitat for Humanity ReStore and I want to turn them into hanging pendants. Those bedside tables are close to 30 years old and are from my parent’s bedroom set. I was going to paint the sides/top white and leave the drawer faces alone but now I’m thinking they are just too big and I don’t even use the drawers. The screen is a favourite mid-century shop find that I splurged on and I’m thinking about taking off the hinges and hanging a piece on either side of the bed behind whatever side table I send up with. As for a wall colour, I’ve had light pink in my head for a while, and the other day I started thinking about acid green. Crazy – perhaps. Fun – YES. No clue what to do. At the end of the bed, as I mentionned in a previous post, will be 2 4ft Expedits to house my overflowing magazine collection and knick knacks that I have no other home for. I did a bedroom inspiration post for some ideas several months ago, but I think I’m in need of some new inspiration and a creative boost.