New Womens Shelter Project

I am sooo happy to announce that Vanessa Kogevinas and I are in the process of working on collaborating with and decorating a Women’s Housing Project near downtown LA (please note this is NOT the Downtown Women’s Center but another facility) and we are looking for some designers to help on this new project.



The room that will be decorated is small 12x14 and we will have a fast turn around like a month or so to do each room, start date is June 1st and we have a couple more rooms still available. PLEASE NOTE you must be a practicing designer with a website and/or at least 4-6 images that you can forward. And we ask that you please be specific when emailing us.







We are already seeking out donations from local stores and vendors and hope that each of you will do the same and help each other out during the design process. (See list below.)


Please let us know if you either have products or you want to to give your time to decorate a room. If you have any items to donate, we are looking for pieces that are in near perfect and IN WORKING ORDER not stained or damaged and could be vintage or in new condition.



If you have any of these items listed below, we ask that you only send low res pictures and the measurements to turquoise.la@gmail.com. What ever you can donate is greatly appreciated.


Items you will NEED to decorate your room with:

Desk

Dresser

Headboard or bed frame (black metal bed frame already available in the room)

Desk chair

Bed side table or tables

bed side lamp or lamps

Sheet sets to include a blanket or duvet (twin size)

Duvet insert (new or gently used)

1-2 sleeping pillows

Decorative pillows and inserts

Replace blind – 1 window or 2 depending on the room



Misc. (extras but not mandatory - ideas to decorate your room with)

Drapes and hardware

Hooks like coat racks

Shelving (Ikea floating etc.)

Decals (birds kids shapes)

Frames (artwork or extra molding)

Artwork or wall art

Large coffee table books or vintage books

Wallpaper rolls (or even small remnants that can be framed)

Paint and paint supplies tarps brushes pans etc.




NOTHING BREAKABLE LIKE vases, ceramic items or small figurines

NO TV’s



If you don’t have anything to donate and maybe don’t have time to decorate a room, but would like to consult and/or help out in painting or assisting the other designers please let me know. The more people and help we have the better!



If you are out of state and want to help us with donations, please email me at turquoise.la@gmail.com with photos and measurements.



We look forward to hearing from you and we are all very excited to be working on this new project! Vanessa De Vargas/Vanessa Kogevinas



**Image above is from Upward Bound House Housing Shelter that I decorated last year.

New Press: Standard Magazine January Issue

Thank you Kelly LaPlante for featuring my home in the January issue of Standard Magazine! Looks fantastic!

Valspar Paint Offer

Valspar Paint invites America to start the new year with a burst of color by participating in the Valspar Power in Color Giveaway. Encouraging people to bring color into their lives and homes in 2011, Valspar will be giving away 1,000 FREE paint project starter kits a day for 100 days (100,000 kits total). Each kit includes an 8-ounce paint sample, mini roller, paint tray and coordinating paint chips. Also included is a $5-off coupon for a Valspar purchase at Lowe’s stores nationwide.


Starting January 17th, consumers just need to visit Facebook.com/ValsparPaint and click “Like” to receive their FREE postage-paid paint project starter kit.


Good luck!

Adore Magazine

Do you know about the new Adore Online Magazine from Australia? Well if you don't you should def check them out! I am a huge fan and found out about them a month or so ago from Victoria from Sfgirlbybay. Check out these fantastic images from the recent Dec/Jan issue. Enjoy!

Save the Date! Next DNG at Grace Home Furnishings, January 27th, 2011 5-8pm!

Hello Members!
I am so happy to announce that our next Designer Networking Event will be held at Grace Home Furnishings January 27th, 2011 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm.



Grace Home Furnishings is located at:



11632 Barrington Court
Los Angeles, CA 90049-2929
(310) 476-7176



Cross street is Sunset Blvd.



Website: http://www.gracehomefurnishings.com/



About Grace Home Furnishings:
Grace Home Furnishings is a unique Los Angeles design destination. Located in the heart of Brentwood Village, the 3,000 square foot retail showroom features a graceful and distinctive mix of custom furniture and home accessories. The style combines East Coast refinement and Old Hollywood glamour with the comfort and ease of Southern California living.



Founded in 2000 by designers Michael Ostrow and Roger Stoker, Grace Home Furnishings provides a vibrant, inviting atmosphere where you can shop, place a custom order, or get personalized decorating advice from a team of in-house designers. Whether customers are looking for a unique single piece of furniture or full-scale interior design services, the design staff of Grace Home Furnishings can turn their vision into a reality that is classic and refined, elegant yet comfortable.



Grace Home Furnishings features a unique selection of furniture, lighting and home accessories from the best designers and manufacturers. In addition, Ostrow and Stoker recently introduced the Grace Home Collection© of custom upholstery and case good pieces they design and manufacture in California. Each piece in this collection is built to order and can be customized in any way to fit the customer’s preferences.



Recognized across the country for excellence in design, Grace Home Furnishings is also known for their adorable chocolate brown Labrador retrievers, Gracie and her predecessor, Grace. Grace was the original mascot of the store and the inspiration for the store’s name. She perfectly expressed the Grace Home brand - a seemingly effortless style of refined taste and elegance. Grace Home Furnishings has built a reputation as a “lifestyle” brand and provides the retail home furnishings consumer with the inspiration and resources to develop their own individual style.




The purpose of our DNG Events is to bring talented individuals who work in the design industry to meet and network their talents and products.



PLEASE make sure you bring your business cards, portfolios and/or images of your work so you can share your products and design
work with our members. If you would like to bring a product of your work - we encourage your to do so so we can see your designs.
It is important that you bring your materials so we can view your work and products!


Please forward this invite to other interior designers, store owners, showroom managers, artists and product designers that you might know.
And remember you need to be a member to join our events so if you would like you can bring your $25 membership fee (for the year) to this event.



Please RSVP (only if YOU CAN make it) - to turquoise.la@gmail.com



We look forward to seeing you on THURSDAY January 27th, 2011.

Typographic Home Decor

After seeing all the great font content coming up today, I was inspired to add a few typographic touches to my own home. The best thing about type in print is that it is incredibly versatile — be it small or large scale, blocks of text, single words or single letters, it all looks great in the right context. The same goes for type design in home decor, which explains why there are almost as many great font-related design objects as there are typefaces. With that mind, I rounded up some of my favorite pieces of furniture and home accessories that incorporate type in some way. Since every typeface has a different personality, it follows that not all typographic home decor would have the same feel. So I separated the items into three different styles. Enjoy!

Image above: 1. Lucky Number Knob, $8; 2. Garvey Chair, $998; 3. Oak Alphabet Drawers, $4,305; 4. Ordinal Dresser, $998; 5. Numbered Edition Placemats, $55; 6. John Derian Ampersand Plate, $44; 7. French Laundry Letter Pillows, $28–$32

1. Jonathan Adler Letter Pillow, $98; 2. Felt Coasters, $28; 3. Conversation Piece Pillows, $60; 4. Marquee Alphabet Light, $178; 5. Alphabet Coasters, $28 each; 6. Letters Fabric by Gunnar Anderson, $112/yard.

1. Letter Garland, $12.95; 2. Wary Meyers Le French Dresser, no price listed; 3. Alphabet Ceramic Plates, $33.50; 4. Artwork by Tauba Auerbach, no price listed; 5. John Derian for Target Tray, $12.99; 6. Jessica Hische Letterpress Print, $40; 7. Initial Pillows, $58

from Design*Sponge

Holy Awesome Jewelry

 

You guys, this never happens, but I really don’t have any words this time. I’m not kidding.

HOLY EFF.

Link:  BRIANA ROSE

from Design For Mankind

Literary Sweatshirts

from Design For Mankind

Did you catch Cool Hunting’s coverage on Out of Print Clothing? Book covers on sweatshirts! Yes.

Link:  OUT OF PRINT CLOTHING

Model Behavior

 

Can I borrow your insanely awesome necklace?!

Link:  STOCKHOLM STREETSTYLE

from Design For Mankind

A Geometric Sweatshirt

I got turned me onto RHLS and I’m now craving an afternoon magazine-reading fest while snuggled into this sweatshirt. Plus long johns. Because long johns are always a bonus.

Link:  RUFFEO HEARTS LIL’ SNOTTY

from Design For Mankind

Supplies for Hosting a Gathering Under $30

1. Flourish coasters, $16 for a set of four

2. Miix spoon set, $24 for a set of five.

3. Wood serving bowl, $19.99

4. 5 piece Walker gift set, $24.75

5. Log salt and pepper shakers, $12

6. Heath ceramics bud vase, $22

1. 7 piece triplet server set, $9.95

2. Fine dining place mats, $24 for 50

3. Serving bowl with lid, $14.99

4. Party forks set of six, $9.95

5. Nature entertaining gift set, $23

6. Acacia wood platter, $14.95

Nicole's Vintage Office

Nicole, the fashion SUPERSTAR behind this amazing blog knows how to dress herself & OBVIOUSLY her home too! She recently moved but this is what her office used to look like!  Talk about knowing how to STYLE a room....wow!

images via gary pepper vintage blog

I love these images, they will DEFINITELY serve as inspiration to me for my own (new) office! Let me know what you think.... I hope her pictures will inspire you as well!

from MadeByGirl

They're Here...

The Elva Fields Holiday Collection has arrived! Get 'em fast ladies. You know how quickly they disappear...

from coco+kelley by cassandra @ coco+kelley

I Want to Go to There - White City Hall Subway Stop

Here’s a blog post that makes want to jump up and run to take the 6 train:

“New York’s famous City Hall subway station, one of the most gorgeous gems in the world of mass transit, has been closed for decades but now it can be viewed again by in-the-know riders of the 6 train.

Although it’s not open to the general public, there’s a way in-the-know New York subway riders can still see this famous and beautiful architectural glimpse at the city’s past. The 6 train used to make all passengers leave the train at the Brooklyn Bridge stop, but no longer.
If you have a little extra time, you can stay on the train and view the City Hall Station as the train makes its turnaround.”

I can’t wait. Can NOT wait to do this.

Themis Mobile

Themis Mobile...I want one for my "future" nursery.

from {BLACK. WHITE. YELLOW.} by Jessica

Etsy Spotlight-Peggy Wolf & White Owl

My most recent favorite Etsy shops! There are many beautiful things to enjoy that are handmade with love by some very talented creatives out there. Handmade is the big holiday theme this year, have you noticed? Interiors magazines from Australia to England, the Netherlands to the US, Germany and beyond are all a-buzz about handmade – no doubt due to the influence of bloggers who have been heavily promoting handmade arts & crafts for years now. More on that below my finds…

Peggy Wolf - This German artist is one I’ve shared before but I can’t take my eyes off of her gorgeous watercolor-y collages of lovely ladies. Great prints, fun colors, adore!

White Owl – This sister duo makes some of the most feminine yet edgy pieces of jewelry with lots and lots of vintage charm (and charms!).

AphroChic: New Collection

I love AphroChic and I’m sure all of the blogs will be buzzing this week with announcements of their latest collection — because it’s positively awesome on a stick! There are pillows, you can select from fun new wallpapers, and you can buy tabletop linens and big bonus: shower curtains! Check this stuff out. Oh yeah!

Congrats to Jeanine Hays, creator and founder, for launching such a beautiful line for this season – great work! I love seeing where you will go with this and what you’ll roll out next, and I’m so proud to see your collection growing and doing so well.

Brainstorm Print + Design

from {BLACK. WHITE. YELLOW.}

Love this Ocean print from Brainstorm Print + Design.

Kimchi Striped Luggage

Kimchi Striped Luggage from Urban Outfitters...adorable.

from {BLACK. WHITE. YELLOW.} by Jessica

Roped in...

from Oh Joy! by Joy

...gorgeous color & shape...by michelle lane...

{via bird & banner}

Andrew Bird Poster

Awesome Gigposter by designer Doe Eyed.

Love the combination of heart and bird….and only 20 bucks!

Bon Iver Poster

from Street Anatomy

Simple and graphic GigPoster design by The Small Stakes.

Would make a sweet ass logo too…

Urban Outfitters Winter Sneak Peek

There are over 90 new products soon to be rolled out at an Urban Outfitters near you (at least in North America, not sure about the ones here in Europe) To see the other 7, you’ll need to click here. Sorry, not all of these are online yet so not too many links, you’ll have to keep checking their website: a. mustache mug b. mustache ornament (or to use on your keychain) c. aviator camera d. twin lens camera e. journals in pretty pastels f. alice in wonderland glasses g. Crosley retro alarm clock.

Some of these products are available here on the Urban Outfitters website (North America). More will be added to their site soon so keep watching them for updates. I love all of the aqua blue electronics and the fun cameras, and the mustache mug.

Etsy Spotlight-Emily Ryan

Emily Ryan is a designer who features her insane stuff on Etsy - check her creations out!

this cowl neck tunic dress started it all off for me - i said I NEED THAT! - how perfect is it?!

hello fabulous asymmetrical maxi dress!

and this coat?! - how Mackage is this, right?! - or even Mike & Chris - LOVE IT!

i'm all about ruffles - so i totally swooned to this!

did this dress just steal your heart?!

i'm saving EVERY penny i make to own this beehive dress - this is beyond art!

i literally HAVE to have this ASAP!

i LIVE in dresses like this button neck dress! - i can't tell you how many i own, similiar, but not as fantastic and dreamy as this one! - WANT dearly!

SOLD! - back to the ruffles again *sigh*