The End of Street Style? You Decide.
February 24, 2015 § 1 Comment
Racked’s recent article, “The Meteoric Rise and Painfully Slow Death of Street Style,” suggests that perhaps the era of fashionista trendspotting has come to an end. The apt timeline paints a bleak, yet ironic picture of the fashion world and its obsession with finding the newest, hottest look; no longer on the runway, not even downtown, but rather wherever style flaunters are willing to parade themselves in front of hordes of cameras. As further proof, Amy Odell of NY Magazines The Cut and Citizen Couture notoriety pulls a fast one on fashion photogs by setting a street style trap, and triumphing.
What are your thoughts? Do you think our obsession with street style fashion has run its course? Watch and decide:
Obsession of the week: Pierre Paulin Desks
February 23, 2015 § Leave a comment
An inspiring work space can make these cold winter Mondays a little more tolerable. Sure, plenty of us have used the kitchen table as a designated surface for tossing mail, paying bills, or catching up on emails, but what an annoyance to have papers piled up around you while you’re eating breakfast. However small your apartment, there are plenty of space saving, home office solutions to satisfy any needs.
![Desk and Chair](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/desk-and-chair.jpg?w=350&h=525)
via Uncovet
Lately, I’ve been admiring the feminine lines and light, airy feel of Pierre Paulin’s designs. My personal favorite is his oak desk with single floating drawer. The metal legs and drawer pull are minimal and chic, while the inset legs provide for a base molding bypass, allowing the desk to sit flush against any wall.
![pierre paulin](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/pierre-paulin.jpg?w=325&h=325)
via 1st Dibs
Add a colorful filing cabinet or mid-century magazine rack and you’re literally in business.
![Filing Cabinet](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/filing-cabinet.jpg?w=225&h=225)
CB2‘s TPS Filing Cabinet in Mint
![Mag Rack](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/mag-rack.jpg?w=300&h=204)
Perforated Magazine Rack from Picasso Vintage
The attractive little space you carve out for yourself will be more relaxing, and sure beats spilling coffee and bacon grease on your cell-phone bill.
Halloween Attacks!
October 29, 2014 § Leave a comment
Materials Make The Bathroom
October 7, 2014 § 1 Comment
I never appreciated the beauty a bathroom could possess before starting my work in interior design. A place of “business” can be transformed into an oasis, where one can feel calm and relaxed. Beautiful washrooms can make a soothing, warm bath feel that much more luxurious. The key to creating this kind of magic is in the materials.
![IMG_1161](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/img_1161.jpg?w=396&h=511)
Guest Bath by Joanna Lemle
I finally had the opportunity to create an elegant bathroom from the ground up since I began consulting on the construction of my parents new house. This guest bathroom (also designated as my room when I stay over, yes!!) is finally almost complete.
The William Morris wallpaper – an arts + crafts design still in print – creates a beautiful contrast against the white subway tile and Carrera hex tile floors. The soapstone counters frame the reclaimed farm sink, providing for a lovely transition and a much needed surface for accessories. Polished nickel fittings always give the space a clean feel. All that is left to install is the sconce above the mirror and a towel bar.
As per usual, I tried to use vintage and reclaimed objects whenever possible in an attempt to make new construction a little greener. Reused items for this room include: a beautiful glass flush mount ceiling fixture, antique glass jars, a reclaimed watchmaker’s cabinet, and vintage botanical wall art – all from Brimfield Market – as well as a vintage 1940’s mirror, an old farm sink, and reclaimed chicken wire glass for the medicine cabinets.
Abstract Expressionism… or Is It All in Your Head?
August 23, 2014 § 2 Comments
You won’t find the following pictures in an art gallery. In fact, you may be more likely to find them in a science lab. The images below are photographs of axons and dendrites. They are stunning, and would you believe they are inside you?
![Dissected Neurons](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/disected-neurons-life-oct-22-1971.jpg?w=343&h=554)
“Dissected Neurons,” Life, October 1971 – Photo Courtesy of SVA Library
Yep, the cells in your brain; that’s what they look like. Axons and dendrites are parts of neurons, “nerve cell[s] that [are] the basic building block[s] of the nervous system” (2).
![neuron](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/neuron.jpg?w=331&h=450)
Photo Courtesy of Jim Pryor
These images of actual neurons are magnificent. Their abstract nature would be difficult to recreate. How simple they are in their beauty, yet how complicated they are in their function, transferring information throughout our bodies both chemically and electrically.
Who knew we had such masterpieces inside of our heads?
Credits:
(1) SVA Library Pictures and Periodicals Collection. “Anatomy – Nervous System.” 7 April 2013. <http://svapicsandmags.com/2013/04/>
(2) Cherry, Kendra. About.com Psychology. “What is a Neuron?” 23 August 2014. <http://psychology.about.com/od/biopsychology/f/neuron01.htm>
(3) Pryor, Jim. “UA. 1 Central Problems in Pholosophy.” 28 January 2007. <http://www.jimpryor.net/teaching/courses/intro/notes/causaltheory.html>
(4) BrainMaps.org. “BrainMaps.org Screenshots.” 23 August 2014. <http://brainmaps.org/index.php?p=screenshots>
Friday Finds: BDDW
August 22, 2014 § 2 Comments
Hello gorgeous. Those are the chosen words when describing BDDW’s Crosby Street store. With materials like Claro walnut, cast-bronze, and nixie tubes, the results are nothing short of breathless.
THE COMPANY. “A small American furniture company dedicated to the creation of well crafted timeless designs. Tyler Hays, a painter and sculptor, is the company founder and head designer…BDDW has created dozens of classics and is constantly producing new and innovative work.†”
THAT COUCH. In my dream home I’d be sure to include The Edmund Sofa with its blush pink tufted velvet. I enjoy the musical note shaped legs. The couch comes in various sizes including a custom option and features a solid wood frame with cast-bronze ball feet. The upholstery can be BDDW’s own fabric or customer provided material or leather.
![edmund-4-1](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/edmund-4-1.jpg?w=283&h=442)
Photo Courtesy of BDDW
THAT CLOCK. My very favorite item, this clock caught my attention the first time I ever entered the store well over five years ago. The Nixie Wall Clock is a stunner. It features a bronze or wood finish; I personally prefer the blackened bronze or silver-plated options that look a little time-weathered. The nixie tubes are what makes the piece. The neon numbers in their designated glass bubbles are set beautifully against the industrial base and combine to create a simple yet electrifying wall or bedside table accessory.
THAT TABLE. The Chall Side Table is friggin’ adorable. It’s a little stout and a little noodle-y, like a chubby bistro table. It’s base comes in four colors: natural, silver-plated, blackened (below), or dirty bronze, with several solid wood options for the top, either in 23″ or 26″ diameters.
A giant loom used to sit at the store’s entrance, but the last time I visited, patrons were welcomed by a vintage Ducati custom. Be still my heart. Even their modes of transport are the stuff of designers’ dreams.
If you ever find yourself with loads of spare cash or think furniture is worth saving up for (join the club), set your sights on these interior goodies and create a beautiful home that won’t disappoint.
Pattern + Color from Three Thousand Years Past
August 21, 2014 § Leave a comment
I’ve always been fascinated by early humans and what life on this planet might have been like thousands if not tens of thousands of years ago. There is an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal today about the brief period of time early humans and neanderthals walked the earth together – click here to check it out. After a little online research, I came across this eye-catching image:
This lovely drawing depicts a relief from the tomb of pharoah Seti I, also known as Tomb KV17. The tomb itself is considered one of the most beautifully decorated tombs in Egypt’s Valley of the Kings, and was discovered by Giovanni Batista Belzoni in October, 1817 (1). Though the exact dates of the reign of Seti I are unknown, 1294 to 1279 BC are the most commonly accepted by scholars today (2).
What is so interesting about this piece is not only its sheer beauty, but also the collection of different people. The drawing, from 1820, is credited to Heinrich Menu von Minutoli (1772-1846), who apparently copied the piece from an unknown artist (3) — my suspicions are on Alessandro Ricci, who created a very similar drawing around this time and is known to have visited the tomb and the region between 1817-1820 (4). Both images are often referenced in discussion of the demographics of Ancient Egypt during the reign of Seti I, which included Lybians, Nubians, Syrians, and Egyptians, as can be seen above. Some say the artist took creative liberties, but both the drawing and the original cave reliefs are stunning, with alluring choices of color, pattern, clothing, and hair style. I love the details in the outfits, along with the accessories and headpieces.
To think the original relief was painted well over three thousand years ago, it’s simply awe-inspiring.
Credits:
(1) Dunn, Jimmy. The Tomb of Seti I. August 21 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KV17
(2) Michael Rice (1999). Who’s Who in Ancient Egypt. Routledge. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seti_I#cite_note-4
(3) Wikimedia Commons. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seti1a.jpg
(4) Salvoldi, Daniele. Early Explorers in Egypt and Nubia. May 31 2013. http://earlyexplorersegypt.blogspot.com/2013/05/pharaoh-reborn-exhibition-in-bristol.html
(5) African History. Les Egyptiens De L’Antiquite Etaient-Ils Noir? August 21 2014. http://africanhistory-histoireafricaine.com/blog/2013/08/20/les-egyptiens-de-lantiquite-etaient-ils-noirs/
Adore A Door: 10 Whitby Street, London
August 20, 2014 § 2 Comments
Just brilliant! World, I am back from across the pond and after a month of traveling, some medical woes, and some major post-design job decompression, I have returned to you.
To make up for my absence, I thought I would post a double dose of Adore A Door – two doors in one! I spotted these while wandering around my new favorite neighborhood in East London, Shoreditch. The area is filled with beautiful street art and Whitby Street is no exception.
This entry caught my eye immediately. What can I say, I’ve always been drawn to geometric graphics. The lines and triangles are great on their own, but the combination of colors really stood out to me. I love the use of primaries with pastels and the black and white striping mimicking the iron gate.
I am not sure who or what resides here, but I took the message to heart: “LAUGH MORE.” That’s a prescription we could all use.
Style with a Conscience: The Reformation
March 15, 2013 § Leave a comment
Living an environmentally sustainable lifestyle is tricky. There are reusable water bottles and coffee cups to consider, trading in your car for an electric, or better yet, a bicycle. “Green” products are popping up more and more in grocery stores, and locavores take pleasure in the increasing number of farmers’ markets. We can insulate our homes, decrease electricity and water use, compost our garbage, and STOP using plastic bags. But what about our wardrobe? Who’s trumpeting the cause for stylish clothing?
![Photo Courtesy of The Reformation WeAre_NewApproach](https://jolems.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/weare_newapproach.jpg?w=480&h=118)
Photo Courtesy of The Reformation
The fashion industry is one of the largest contributors of waste. And though there are a few eco-friendly labels out there, most high fashion remains to miss the mark (perhaps with Stella McCartney as a notable exception). No longer do eco-fashionistas need to make sacrifices, The Reformation has heard our plea.
This label isn’t your typical granola munching brand. Reformation is “an environmentally sustainable fashion brand that repurposes vintage and surplus materials to create a chic, limited edition collection.” All products are comprised of over 80% reclaimed materials, and this gear has got some serious swagger.
On a recent trip to their NYC location, I snagged a burnt velvet crop top and ogled their gorgeous red carpet-worthy “Citrine” dress (which is in such high demand, there is currently a 30 person wait list).
Duds are produced locally in their NY and LA studio locations, so put a check through the domestic job creation box. Feel overwhelmed by a trip to the corner thrift store? The brand also offers a “curated” approach to vintage, removing the stress and guess work, and bringing fabulous pieces directly to their stores.
Their tagline says it all: “we are inspired by, and committed to, finding ways to make our fashion addiction guilt-free.” That is something I think we can all get behind. If you suffer from the occasional fashion overdose, try The Reformation and join the movement.
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Curious about the fashion industry’s impact on the environment? Check out this interesting article, Waste Couture, by Luz Claudio, and join the conversation at Ethical Fashion Forum.
Adore A Door: Grace Church
March 14, 2013 § Leave a comment
Funny the things that go unseen until we take notice. Of course, this statement seems rather obvious, but lately I’ve been making a concerted effort to be more mindful and appreciative of my surroundings.
I’ve passed this door many times throughout my life. Today I felt it deserved a shout out. This beautiful orange door is the entrance to the Grace Church school, located on Fourth Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets in New York City.
This stunning Episcopal church was designed in the French Gothic style by James Renwick Jr., a nephew of Henry Brevoort (of the New York social elite connected to the Astor family through marriage, and who owned the property at the time). The church was consecrated in 1846 and has been deemed one of New York City’s greatest treasures, obtaining National Historic Landmark status in 1974.