Living In: Love Story

Love Story can be silly and melodramatic, but also deliciously witty and an absolute slice of preppy perfection. Sigh, 1970 Harvard — you sure looked good.  At the tender age of 16, Love Story burned into my brain that wool plaid is very important, as are witty retorts. It also taught me that girls should be smart, sassy and emotionally unavailable while boys should be handsome, preppy and attracted exclusively to girls with brown hair and big eyebrows (wishful thinking much?). I’m not sure how this Love Story education has served me over the years, but I remain truly and loyally dedicated to to it as my movie, my favorite, forever and ever.

1. Vintage Harvard Pennant, $20; 2. Dsquared Wool Plaid Scarf, $165; 3. J. W. Hume Legacy Bag, $410; 4. Revolver by The Beatles, $10; 5. Pilot Varsity Fountain Pen, $2.60; 6. Carven Double-Breasted Coat, $930; 7. Stanley Classic Thermos, $72; 8. The Modern Library’s 100 Best Novels

1. Gold Cross Necklace, $376; 2. PB&J Sandwich with Skippy, $3; 3. Vintage Tortoise Eyeglasses, $185; 4. Michael Kors Chronograph Watch, $328; 5. Legal Pad, $0.79; 6. Vintage 1930s Leather Sofa; 7. Pom Pom Knitted Beanie, $28; 8. Enzo Lamp, $459; 9. Dents Felicity Leather Gloves, $84; 10. Avoca Lambswool Throw, $158

from Design*Sponge

New Press: Angeleno Magazine

Thank you Angeleno Magazine for featuring myself, Jessica Brende and Karyn Millet at the CB2 Opening party! What a great night!

Kuwait National Assembly Building | Arabian Gulf Street

The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma ("House of the Nation") (Arabic: مجلس الأمة‎), is the legislature of Kuwait. The current speaker of the Assembly is Jassem Al-Kharafi. The Emir unconstitutionally dissolved the National Assembly in 1986 and restored it after the Gulf War in 1992. The Emir has also constitutionally dissolved the Assembly several times—meaning that he dissolved it but allowed for elections immediately afterward.

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Digital Beijing at Beijing Olympic Park | Studio Pei Zhu

This is Digital beijing Building at olympic park,The building, located on the northern end of the cities central axis, servea as the control and data center for the 2008 Olympic Games. At other times it will accommodate a virtual museum and an exhibition center for manufacturers of digital products.

The concept for Digital Beijing was developed through reconsideration and reflection on the role of contemporary architecture in the information era. Unlike its neighbors, PTW’s Water Cube and Herzog & de Meuron’s Bird’s Nest, Digital Beijing looks to use simple building construction and materials. A dark stone, quarried in the northern part of China, covers most of the exterior, with a glass curtain wall covering the east façade.In contrast, the interior is covered with a composite fiberglass material develop by the architect.

In the future, it is expected that the building will be constantly under renovation as it evolves to keep pace with technology.The project has been widely regarded as one of the great, yet unknown, structures on the Olympic campus, but also has its critics:"Next door is Digital Beijing, an ominous-sounding "data and control centre" by the Chinese architect Pei Zhu. It is shaped, cheesily, like a mainframe computer from the 1960s, cut with linear glass strips evoking a circuit board. Four gloomy stone slabs, divided by glass atria, do an excellent Orwellian Ministry of Truth impression. It's slightly less spirit-crushing inside." - Tom Dyckhoff of Times Online

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Blur Hotel | Hotel Kapok | Studio Pei Zhu Design

This is Blur Hotel | Hotel Kapok | Studio Pei Zhu Design.Considered to be one of the first boutique hotels in Beijing, the Blur Hotel looks at its historic context to create a stylishly modern hotel. Blur Hotel is a refurbishment of a former governmental office beside the western gate of the Forbidden City.

The interior layout of the hotel is based on the vernacular building typology of the sihueyuan, or courtyard house. By carving into concrete slab floors of the existing building, an arrangement of alternating vertical courtyards is created, replicating the spatial arrangement of the surrounding hutongs. The exterior is wrapped in a continuous and semi-transparent façade of panelized, extruded fiberglass. At night, the building is transformed by light to resemble a Chinese lantern.

Combining the exterior screen and internal courtyard, the building appears as a single, yet permeable object. The project has received high acclaim from critics, and has become a major stop for designers visiting Beijing.

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Fun Sofa for Kids and Beautiful Chair for Adults

This Fun Sofa for Kids interesting furniture item is called Mussel Chair and was designed by Hanne Kortegaard with a multiple functionality. As it name suggests, it can serve as a comfortable chair for adults. But in the same time, kids can make the most of it by using it as a small bed, a sofa and even a miniature playground. Mussel Chair comes with a comfortably shaped pillow that can be a really handy item to have around, when watching TV on the floor or when needing a feet rest. We like to think of this product as one that can intermediate parents-children relationships, as this could be a fun “gathering place” for a child and one of his parents carrying an emotional value for both of them. On top of all this, its design is impeccable and makes it ideal for a modern interior with a personality design

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Top 20 Fabric Resources

I decided to write one for my favorite design essential: fabric! If I had to give up everything in my home and only focus on one key design element, it would be fabric. Everything in my being responds to fabric — I love bright colors, playful patterns, and interesting textures. And man, find me a great striped fabric and you have a friend for life. So today I thought I’d round up my top 20 fabric resources, ranging from inexpensive and vintage designs to higher-end trade studios. I’ll keep it real and say that I am not a fan of trade-only designs. I understand why designers do it, but I only recommend trade-only fabric if I think it’s definitely worth the extra cost of hiring a designer or consultant to buy. So 99% of these sources will be open to the public because beautiful fabric should be available to everyone, trade or not. Have a favorite fabric studio or shop that’s missing here? Feel free to add it below! I’m always looking for great places to buy fabric.Resources are listed in no particular order.

• Purl Soho: This NYC institution is my go-to shop for great fabrics online or in person. They have a phenomenal collection of colorful basics and imported designs from Japan.
• Repro Depot: Repro is closed for the summer (due to open again soon) but when they re-open, they’ll resume being one of the best places to buy affordable fabrics and vintage/retro-style textiles online.
• Ikea: The strength of Ikea’s fabric collection improves every year. Though the ease of procuring it in person depends on the customer service quality at your local store, you can often buy their newer styles online. Their modern florals are my favorite.
• Marimekko: Marimekko’s bold designs are always a good choice if you need a strong dash of color and pattern.
• Hable Construction: Ok, trade-only alert. Hable only sells their fabric design to the trade, but I’m hoping that if I keep begging them every year, they’ll eventually change their policy. They make my favorite pattern in the world (Beads in Green Bean) and are definitely worth the extra fee of hiring a designer or D&D building to order for you.
• Skinny LaMinx: I’ve loved watching South African designer Heather Moore expand her collection of textiles over the years. Her playful style has a slightly retro feel but always comes in a modern color palette.
• Studio Bon: Bonnee Sharp’s sophisticated patterns are in my top three at all times. They’re the perfect combination of fun and ladylike.
• Mod Green Pod: Eco-friendly fabrics in playful patterns. Their “Aspire” pattern in grey is one of my current loves.
• Ebay: Ebay is an endless source for amazing vintage (and new) fabric. Whether you’re looking for vintage Swedish textiles or discount patterns from contemporary designers, someone’s selling it here. (The craft section is great for inexpensive options.)
• Just Scandinavian: If you lust after Josef Frank’s iconic patterns like I do, this shop is a must. They stock most of Mr. Frank’s patterns. (For the majority of Frank patterns, you need to call to place an order, but you can view the pattern, price, and availability online.)
• Textile Arts: This great online boutique sells a nice selection of Marimekko, Ljungbergs, and Mod Green Pod fabric.
• Imagine Fabric: A nice one-stop shop for fabrics from designers like Joel Dewberry and Amy Butler.
• Hancock’s: Hancock’s may not be super cutting-edge, but they are a great source for basics like toile, plaid, and stripes.
• Joann Fabrics: Ditto for Joann Fabrics. Not the “coolest” right off the bat, but they have a great collection of classic designs for reasonable prices.
• Frelis: I love their basic linens. I’ve been dying to find a place to use their “Wasabi” linen.
• Contemporary Cloth: This website could use a little face lift, but they stock a nice range of designer, organic, and simple cotton fabrics.
• Modern Fabrics: If you like classic designs from companies like KnollTextiles and Maharam, this shop has you covered with sophisticated designs.
• Rubie Green: Super chic fabrics (I have the zig zag fabric on my office chair) from Lonny Magazine’s Michelle Adams.
• Sew Mama Sew: A nice selection of small and large-scale prints.
• Etsy: Etsy is a great spot to find up and coming designers. Some of my favorites are Kalla, Melbomba, and Frumafar.
• Spoonflower: Custom printed fabrics at reasonable prices from new and up-and-coming designers. You can also print you own designs!

from Design*Sponge