The Great Indoors 2009 Winners

The Great Indoors is a competition where the best Interior Design concepts are exposed to the public. TGI takes place every two years and it's much more than prizes; it is a design fiesta where lectures and workshops are organized in an attempt to promote and highlight the importance of Interior Design. via Yatzer

These projects are fabulous and are really an inspiration to me! I have bigger dreams for the year 2010 and my interior design career, so these projects really do give me that jump start that I'll need to make my dreams come true! Check out the winners:

Firm of the Year: Guise

Show & Sell: Prada Transformer
by Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)

'Serve & Facilitate': Library for the University of Amsterdam
by Bureau Ira Koers and Studio Roelof Mulder

Concentrate & Collaborate': Recycled Office for Gummo
by i29 Interior Architects

Relax and Consume: Beijing Noodle No. 9 Las Vegas
by Design Spirits

Urban Crafts

I just love these little crafty cafes/shops that are popping up! I have no idea how long Moomah has been around, probably awhile, but I just got word of it from Design Shimmer and am in aww of how cool it is! I wish I was the little kid heading here to do my craft projects. But what a great place for the moms to hang out and be involved in their child's creative process. "Moomah was created to give parents, children and caregivers that opportunity. We wanted the space to be inviting and to nurture creative stimulation not over-stimulation." I think spaces like these are so important in this hustle and bustle society we live in today! I am also fascinated by the branding of Moomah. I love their font on the website, the details in the lettering, the color scheme and just everything about this place! I might dress up like a 12 year old and head in there myself:-)

Those lights from Anthropologie look so adorable!

Chalkboard walls just aren't getting old to me, I think they are great! I also think the simplicity of this table is stunning.

I am doing a project where we are creating a farm themed shadow box. Oh I love this one! What a story it tells!

love it all! Especially the pattern on the curtains, the chairs, the table, and the cabinet:-)

Now if you just want to act like a child or just hang with some really cool adults, my new favorite place in Santa Monica is The Urban Craft Center. I am planning on heading there next Wednesday for the sewing club. Oh and Stitch and Bitch the first Wednesday of every month sounds pretty great as well! They just celebrated their 1st birthday, so Happy Birthday Urban Craft Center, I wish you many many more to come!

It's Just Right!

I stumbled upon the work of New York based Sara Story Design and loved what I found! She did such an incredible job on this Gramercy Park Project. I love the boldness of colors and patterns and the clever use of space. We all know these New York apartments can be small, so you better use your space wisely, and this is exactly what Sara Story has done!
This kitchen is fabulous! Check out that patterned floor (which by the way is handpainted/airbrushed), the deep purple ceiling and those cabinets that are just the perfect shade of gray! I love the use of black in this space.

That chandelier is stunning! I think the partition wall is an amazing feature. The room still feels so bright and open while the wall breaks up the space. Do you think that bedroom is the old living room? Also check out that wallpaper...so fun! It also looks like the cabinets are built into the wall. Again such a clever solution.
That red is killer...and I mean it in the best way! What an adorable little bathroom. This kid must have a great view. What a fablulous use of space built in around and under the bed.

Dollops of Color

Interior Stylist Abigail Ahern and owner of the London boutique Atelier Abigail Ahern really knows how to use color.  She transformed her all white apartment into this rich, luscious space filled with dollops of bright turquoise, pinks, reds, greens, and yellows.  She painted the walls and the floors with this deep seductive hue by Farrow and Ball "Down Pipe".  By painting the floors the same color as the wall and keeping the ceiling  "Simple White" she was able to add volume to the space.  

The art above her fireplace is actually the back of an old road sign...how cool is that!

Another blue kitchen, I just love it!  Here she just spray painted her simple Ikea cabinets this beautiful blue called "Deep Water"

You just can't go wrong with a blue flocked Anglepoise lamp.

The ostrich table in the corner is one of my favorites!

That one red thread says so much!

How natural and cozy and then that turquoise hiding in the corner just adds that little touch of drama.

I can't get over how amazing this red looks with the deep hue.  The sheer volume of that yellow lampshade is just perfect!

Inspired by Nature!

Today I am sharing with you some inspiration boards I put together for a client in Los Angeles. They are expecting their 3rd child in August, they own a showroom in West Hollywood, and their favorite place to be is their home. They are located high up in the Hills have an incredible view overlooking the canyon, a gorgeous yard, and this is their escape from all the hustle and bustle of the city and their everyday lives. Their home should be their sanctuary and a place for them to relax and enjoy time with their beautiful family. The outdoors is such an amazing part of their space so we wanted to bring those organic elements inside to create a seamless connection of the two. Playful pops of color, fumed white oak flooring, light walls, natural walnut, and a neutral pallette of grays, whites, greens, and camel will keep this space open and alive!

images from unknown sources

Reflections of Golden Sunshine!

Each morning I wake up to the golden sunshine beaming through my window and I look out to the gorgeous reflections off the sand and the water. This moment inspires me each day and has fueled my love for hints of gold, yellow and metallic accents.








images via Sarah Kaye, Decor Pad, Lindsey Adelman

This Trash House Is My Treasure!

I have been truly inspired by this video and story of the Trash House by Randy Palumo. The desert has this special place in my heart and as I listened to this story and dreamily stared at the beautiful photography of Dave Lauridsen I could feel that hot dry heat warming my skin. Randy Palumbo is an artist setting up home in the desert in Joshua Tree and describes his home as a giant found object sculpture. This story from the New York Times is incredible you must check it out!

He also said "willy nilly" and this made me laugh!

The bottle wall is one of the coolest things I have seen and the Joshua Tree growing up in the center is out of control!
What little girl wouldn't want a swing made out of an old water tank!

Sit back, relax, and enjoy :-)

Seriously it's Friday and just like last week I can feel it and I'm sure you guys can too! So just relax and enjoy this beautiful work from one of the most well-respected photographers in his field, the amazing Paul Massey. I just love how the color pops out in his shots!