Jimena Azpeitia

Spanish design firm Intercom has converted a 400 square meter space in Barcelona to four separate apartments. I love the combination of modern clean lines and original features such as the ceiling ornaments. The bright apartment featured here is decorated in a Scandinavian style (the beautiful wishbone chair is designed by Hans Wegner). Tiles have been used on all flours which is common thing to do in warmer climates.

EAT

This recipe is from a story shot at Camp Wandawega in Wisconson for my Fall 2014 issue.  You can instantly download the issueHERE or buy it in print HERE.

Cream together the butter, sugar, and salt until the color lightens.  Add eggs 1 at a time, letting each mix in completely before adding another.  Add flour and mix until homogenous.  Remove dough from the mixing bowl.  Divide in half.  Wrap each in plastic and form a disc (you will have enough dough to make 2 tarts, the second disc can be frozen for up to 3 months).  Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Preheat oven to 325°F.  Sprinkle your work surface with a little flour to prevent sticking.  Roll dough out into a large circle until about ¼” thick.  Transfer into a removable bottom 9” tart tin.  Press dough into tin and remove excess dough.  Prick the bottom of the crust all over with a fork to allow any steam to escape while baking.  Chill for 30 minutes before baking for 20–30 minutes or until golden brown.  For custard, cream together the sugar, salt, and butter until very light in color  Add eggs 1 at a time, allowing each to fully incorporate before adding the next  Add the almond flour, rum, cornstarch, and sliced almonds and mix until homogenous.  Fill the tart shell about half full with the almond custard.  Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Use the back of a spoon or an offset spatula to spread it evenly to the edges.  Arrange the figs in the tart either in straight lines or concentric circles. I like to use both halves and quarters to provide a little visual interest.  Sprinkle lightly with sugar.  Bake the tart for 35–45 minutes or until the custard is set and the figs lightly charred around the edges.  Let cool for at least 1 hour before unmolding and serving.   

Certain scents for the home and table are gaining popularity, and, as you might be aware, there’s all sorts of options to add and mix fragrances to enhance a dining (or shopping) experience. Now, you might not like the idea of adding scents to your already excellent culinary experience at home, but these Atomizers by Seletti are done beautifully in mouth blown glass, and could just as easily be admired as art forms as they are containers. As Seletti says, “the forms, unexpected on the table, outline a new gestural expressiveness towards food.” They could just as easily hold a favorite personal fragrance as well, which might be a more likely use for most of us.

Designer: Cristina Celestino
Material: Mouth blown glass

For most of us, clean, drinkable water is something so natural, and almost boring, that we take it for granted. But for many many people it’s not. Filmmaker Mary Jordan had her own painful experience while she was in Ethiopia in 2007 working on a documentary. She almost died from the contaminated water and promised the women who nursed her back to health, that she will help.

With the support of over 100 artists, among them famous ones like Ed Ruscha, Olaf Hayek, Jeff Koons and Barry McGee, this part-art exhibition, part-awareness campaign called The Water Tank Project has come to life. Launched this summer in New York City, around 17,000 water tanks are used as canvas for urban art to remind people of how important clean water is.

The art project is accompanied by talks, public tours and educational programs to spread the word about the importance of helping fight the global water crisis. The next step will be to expand this project into other cities around the world.

To get more information, check out their homepage or Facebook page.

The post Water tanks in NYC given an artistic treatment to raise awareness about the importance of clean water for all appeared first on Lost At E Minor: For creative people.

The face of Tokyo is changing at a quick pace, Many old buildings are being torn down to make way for new facilities planned for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Recently, one such office building in the Kojimachi area was repossessed by a group of 70 artists who gave it their makeover version on every floor.

The project, called BCTION, invites the public to view the artistic interpretations on each of the nine floors, and in doing so, bidding a last goodbye to a building that will soon belong to the past.

The post 70 artists turn this office building into a huge art gallery before it gets demolished appeared first on Lost At E Minor: For creative people.

In the series ‘American Iconomics’, artist James Charles uses dollar bills as his canvas and transforms the portraits of presidents into the images of pop culture characters. Using materials and ink that perfectly match what the US Mint uses, he intricately changes the features of each face, such that it totally becomes something else.

Some of the famous characters he’s put on a dollar bill are Yoda, Spock, Ronald McDonald, Pinhead, and Mr. T.

We know, we know, it’s illegal to deface dollar bills, but with art as beautiful as this, I think he should be given an exception! You can check out more from this series here.

The post Artist vandalizes dollar bills to turn presidential portraits into pop culture characters! appeared first on Lost At E Minor: For creative people.

Very, very into The Collecteur by Giulia Scalese. "Still life with personality." A lot of personality.

Follow along on tumblr or instagram.

Now, that’s a Bus Stop. Go Baltimore!

(via)

Here’s unique way to show your logo/type work.. Dan Cassaro’s design sense is nothing short of impressive.

- Be Wild and Wonder

- A 1983 Volkswagen Golf Covered in Popcorn

- Love this: Free Mailbox Stickers Signify Goods Residents Are Willing to Lend Neighbors

- Summer of ice cream sandwiches. Made me smile.

- The Makers Manual by PSFK

- Places on Earth by Oliver Jeffers.

- 8 Things I’ve learned about marriage, by Joanna Goddard

- The Philosopher’s Mail never disappoints.

- Kiss someone you love.

- I want to mount one of these over my desk.

- How to eat sushi

- Push it away, it’s the long weekend.

- My favorite tape dispenser.

- Business Cards of Minimal Designers.

- A House with Rotating Rooms. Wow.

- The Price of Admission: Dan Savage on the unsettling secret of lasting love

- Team Tattly is looking to hire a Front-End Developer / Designer.

A tour of Brooklyn and Queens with James Victore, looking at, talking about and trying to make sense of type on the street. Well done, Makeshift Society Brooklyn!

(Via Jacob)

I would gladly give this Robot Nutcracker a home.

I love felt and I love ice cream. Two thumbs up for Freezy Dream Treats.

French fries. We have an on again off again relationship.

Meaning, I stuff my face with them once a month, then swear off them until we meet again next month.

Thankfully, however, I’ve recently mastered the art of making fries at home super crispy style sans frying. Score! Now the two of us can see each other much more often - thank goodness.

I’ve made french fries before that required soaking in warm water before baking. Too much time and effort I say! These guys go straight into the oven at a high temp for ultimate crispiness.

It’s the matchstick shape and high temperature that helps them cook faster and get that golden brown crisp. I’m all for a good wedge-cut fry, but for that ultimate crispy texture, matchstick is where it’s at.

For another wave of flavor I sauteed some minced garlic in olive oil to toss with the fries fresh out of the oven. This is an optional step but certainly one that adds more zest and depth of flavor.

All that’s left is to dip in some Whiskey BBQ Ketchup and go to town. Oh mama.

I’m OBSESSED with these fries. They’re

Crispy
Salty
Tender on the inside
Garlicky
Perfect with ketchup
Slightly addictive

Serve these guys with burgers, sandwiches, queso, or on their own! They make perfect party appetizers and are sure to impress your growing throng of friends. If you give these a try, be sure to take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can be fry besties. Cheers!

 

I distinctly remember one December in college when my dad took me to his office Christmas party at a dinner theatre. I hardly remember the show, but I do remember the buffet which seemed to extend into eternity with overcooked vegetables.

Among the saddest victims were Brussels sprouts and beets. What is it about these beautiful, delicious veggies that makes people use and abuse them? They are delicious. They are rich with nutrients. They deserve another chance. Friends, we must raise awareness.

(Dramatic, I know. But in the name of veggies I go to great lengths.)

I love roasting beets (I share my favorite way to eat them in our downloadable cookbook). But for a quicker version that makes for a crispy, salty snack, these chips are where it’s at.

These beet chips are about as simple as it gets: 30 minutes, 4 ingredients, one pan.

The only other tool you’ll need is a sharp knife or a mandolin for slicing. At the recommendation of my pal Kate, I recently invested in this mandolin. I’m usually incredibly hesitant to invest in equipment we don’t need in order to keep a clutter free kitchen.

But when I recognize I’m missing a tool that could help complete tasks in the kitchen more efficiently, I’m all for it. If you like making veggie chips, veggie pasta and fries, this could be the slim-profile, affordable tool for you.

Another perk of these chips? Beets are extremely healthy for you!

Read all about the benefits over on our Fudgy Beet Cupcakes post (and make the cupcakes while you’re at it).

Flavor wise, these chips lack that “dirty” earthy taste some people despise about beets (i.e. my husband). And the simple addition of rosemary adds an earthy aroma I adore.

Healthy? Flavorful? Fast? Count me in.

You guys are going to love these chips! They’re

Healthy
Crispy
Simple
Savory
Infused with rosemary
And perfect for snacking

I nearly gobbled these up in one sitting – couldn’t resist! Even if you aren’t a huge beet fan, give these a try. I think you’d be surprised how neutral in flavor, yet delightfully crispy they are. Enjoy!

 

Nendo, from Japan, developed a cool set of chocolates for those artsy folks out there; Edible Chocolate Paint Tubes filled with delicious molten crèmes and caramels. The cacao “pigment” is molded into small paint tubes, formed, then wrapped in individual colored labels, each named after the favors that exist beneath the layer of thick chocolate.  The box itself fuses a standard paint container and a touch of elegance, with the label minimally designed. Upon opening the container, you are overwhelmed with a sense of satisfaction knowing that your mouth is in for a delicious treat. 

 

"Chocolates like a set of oil paints. Tubes in a box of paints contain a variety of colors, and these chocolates a variety of flavored syrups. The labels indicate each chocolate’s flavor and also function as wrappers, keeping fingers clean for eating. A design that combines the childhood excitement of opening a new box of paints and the thrill of opening a box of chocolates you’ve been given unexpectedly."

-Nendo

 

---

Designed by Nendo

Country: Japan

City: Tokyo

Photography: Ayao Yamazak

02Gatos is an international creative design studio led by Daniel Bo and Flo Monti, “a prolific young couple of that brings innovation, contemporary art and unique intelligence to projects in fashion and interior design.” We have been big fans of theirs for a while now, and their trend-forward style of combining “high technology and contemporary art.” 02Gatos have just released their latest print collection, “Solid”, for Fall/Winter ’15-’16, which is showcased beautifully in this video.

 

“Solid is the name of our Fall/Winter collection, but it means much more to us and our clients.

In 2011 when we started the company and decided to create incredibly innovative patterns and prints we knew that standing out was essential. In every collection we needed to show that 02Gatos creates art for fashion.

The path we chose was not an easy one, and we knew we had a lot to prove. We had to prove to the industry that we could continually develop increasingly innovative collections based on our avant-garde style of design that gave the designers a new pallet of possibilities.

Now we not only have our own collection, we create on demand custom collections, do consulting in print design and we have many more things to come in the following months including a youtube show, a trend research book and a product line based on prints.

That is why our collection is Solid. Our company is solid, our ideas are solid. We are celebrating the stability of our processes and our creativity.

Today we work with top designers, like Kate Spade, Calvin Klein and Macy’s with a handpicked experienced international team from Barcelona, Rio and NY.” 

See more from the Solid collection at ww.02gatos.com. Have a wonderful weekend! -Chelsea

The post Featured Design Studio: 02 Gatos appeared first on PATTERN OBSERVER.

Kendra Niederkorn is a textile designer based out of Hickory, North Carolina (soon to be relocating back to the Raleigh-Durham/”Triangle” area in North Carolina.) She joined the HBF Textiles Product Development Team in 2012, where she has three woven products under her name as well as “a slew of independent print projects.”

When describing her background in textiles and her design style, Kendra wrote that her designs “center around composition and attention to negative space. Using a variety of techniques including illustration, printmaking, digital scanning, acrylic, water color, and digitally generated images, she cultivates imagery from the forms in her environment. Niederkorn grew up in Iowa and North Carolina, she attended Savannah College of Art and Design where she exhibited in and curated several exhibitions. She earned her BFA in graphic design, a minor in fibers and studied abroad in Southern France. She continues to further her design sense through travel and a pursuit of knowledge in the fields of art, fashion, and textiles.” 

See more from this multi-talented textile designer at kendraniederkorn.com (her Blog & Trends page is full of beautiful mood boards–check them out for some great pattern inspiration!) -Chelsea

The post Featured Textile Designer: Kendra Niederkorn appeared first on PATTERN OBSERVER.

I love these beautiful silk scarves from Massif Central! My friend May is hosting a wonderful Portland pop-up this Saturday, August 16 from 6PM–8PM at Nationale. If you’re in town, make sure to come by and get yourself one of these lovely limited edition beauties. Massif Central (named for the traditional scarf-making region of France) is a Brooklyn-based company who works with a small group of artists whose individuals works are printed on silk in numbered editions of 50. Works from Keegan McHargue, Joshua Abelow, Ellen Berkenblit, Ry Fyan, Chris Lux and Jonas Wood are featured. See my faves below! More HERE.

▲ MASSIF CENTRAL PDX POP-UP EXHIBITION AT NATIONALE ▲
Massif Central’s entire first collection will be shown at Nationale. Stop by the opening reception this Saturday, August 16 or make your way to the gallery and pop-up shop to see the work on view through Saturday, August 23. Nationale is at 811 E. Burnside. MORE INFO.

CREDITS
Images courtesy of Massif Central
Upper West Side photography: Nina Hartmann Model: Emma Kohlmann

I'm so proud! Coming back home to Singapore yesterday and seeing how Zara has launched her first collection S.A.L.U.

True eye-candy or beads-candy ... call it whatever you like…but you will like S.A.L.U….! The marble effect makes me want these necklaces very badly, but only a few are available so hurry up and chose your favourite…

I remember Zara showing me the polymore clay one day in the office and telling me about how much she enjoyed wearing those candy necklaces when she was a child…these necklaces look indeed to take a bite out of but you really shouldn’t as the beads while looking and feeling very soft are actually very robust and durable…

I'm sure we will see Zara exploring her crafty side a whole lot more during the years to come ... so stay tuned….Bloesem is already her biggest fan and says Salute ...

Marble softness is what I see when looking at the S.A.L.U. necklaces. I hope you will love them as much as I do and enjoy Zara's take on adult candy necklaces. All pieces are handcrafted by her and every necklace is unique. (sorry no.#1 is looking pretty on my neck)

 

Marble sofftness is what I see when looking at the S.A.L.U. necklaces. I hope youwilllove themas much as I do and enjoy Zara's take on adult-appropriate candy necklaces. Every piece is handcrafted by her and every necklace is one-off. (sorry no.#1 is looking pretty on my neck)

Photography by George Goh, Styling by Zara S.

.. Shop the collection here.

MAKE



Write the name of the beach the sand is from on the top of the tag. Cover the bottom of the tag with a layer of wood glue. Sprinkle sand on to cover the glue (as if you were working with glitter). Allow the tag to dry completely and repeat the last step if necessary. Hang your various tags in a cluster with a bit of wire or string and nails. Remember to add to your collection each time you visit a new beach!

EAT



In a bowl mix lemon juice, oil and parmesan.Season with salt and pepper.  In a large bowl mix squash, spinach, olives and pasta.  Toss with the sauce and serve with extra parmesan and some pepper on top.                                             

country road bedding, via est magazine.

well, kids, this my fifth straight day sick in bed with the flu — this is getting real old. all i could think of to share in my withered state of mind was beds. but pretty, cheerful bedding — something to lift my spirits and hopefully inspire you. changing up your bedding is one of the quickest and easiest makeovers — pop on a new duvet cover, and some pretty mix and match sheets and your bedroom can take on a whole new look in a matter of moments. these are all so bright and colorful, and making me feel a little better already.

planet deco.

country road.

elisabeth dunker designed blanket for kauniste, photographed by hilda grahnat.

101 Woonideeën.

casa del caso.

kip & co. bedding via homestyle magazine.

Assembly Home Tiny Stripe Duvet Cover from urban outfitters.

The school bell no longer sounds here, but this renovated kindergarten is still an education in what can come from a great imagination and a little inspiration. The building is from 1894, a former kindergarten in Haarlem, just west of amsterdam, but it’s been transformed into a gorgeous light-filled family home. Featured in vtwonen, the entire home is stunning, but i fell for the eat-in kitchen area and those floor to ceiling frech doors out to their secret garden space. i could see starting the day here with a nice cup of coffee and the intention of a full day of work — and then never leaving. thank goodness for laptops.

• photography by Jansje Klazinga for vtwonen.

Top to bottom, left to right:

1. Emily Benziger of Fine Life Co documents her dreamy home and lifestyle.
2. The family home of a Dutch design duo brims with small-space inspiration.
3. Bedtime beauty rituals – which natural oil takes the cake?
4. Whip up a crunchy snack that’s dairy, gluten, and sugar-free!
5. This breakfast nook calls for a weekend of slowing down and enjoying coffee.

Happy Friday,
Annie

I got a very sweet email submission this morning from Jane Wilder, a photographer in California, who wanted to share news about her Etsy shop. I’m running out in a bit, so I thought to quickly share them with you in case you’d not heard of her before. I really like her cheerful, bright and positive works and can definitely see a few of these in my work studio renovation so maybe I’ll have to grab some in the next month or two. Here are some of my favorites from Jane’s shop below. I love the sunflowers and the palm against that peach background, oh and the girl facing the pool. Definite faves! Which do you fancy? Here is a link to her shop – enjoy! (images: jane wilder)

De acuerdo a una investigación del periódico Reforma, varias gasolineras del Distrito Federal no te dan lo que pagas. Estas son a las que NO debes ir. [Foto: entrelineas.com.mx]

I mentioned last week that we’ve been doing a lot around the house in preparation for Baby No. 2. And while I’m still dreaming about some of our bigger projects, most of the current tasks aren’t all that much fun or pretty – there’s lots of shelf hanging, hole patching, and other little odds and ends going on. It’s all absolutely necessary, but sometimes I just want to bring something pretty into the mix! Back in February we had custom built-ins installed in our living room (which I need to photograph and share with you!), which left a corner of our living room begging for a nice little reading nook. I inherited a couple of antique chairs from my grandmother before she passed a few years ago, so I’m just on the hunt for the perfect floor lamp to complete this little corner!

Photo by Brittany Ambridge via Domino from Ali Cayne’s Home Tour (again!)

Photo by Clive Tompsett Photography for Sköna Hem via sfgirlbybay

Photo by Michael Partenio / Design by Erin Gates and Styling by Stacy Kunsel via Better Homes & Gardens

Cozy living room via Design Sponge

Right now I’m leaning towards either a tripod floor lamp or task floor lamp. A tripod lamp would provide a bit more ambient lighting, which we need in that corner, but I do like the coziness of a task lamp. Either way, I want something with a fairly small footprint (a big arc light won’t work in our space) and a style that isn’t too traditional or fussy. Here’s what I’ve found so far:

1. Land of Nod Cinema Tripod Floor Lamp; 2. Urban Outfitters Stella Floor Lamp; 3. Crate & Barrel Astor Floor Lamp; 4. Ikea Hektar Floor Lamp; 5. Shades of Light Rustic Wood Arc Lamp; 6. West Elm Telescoping Floor Lamp; 7. Schoolhouse Electric Miles Floor Lamp; 8. Blu Dot Perimeter Floor Lamp (probably too modern for us, but I love the pop of color!); 9. Beaded Ball Floor Lamp via Chairish; 10. Robert Abbey Brass Pharmacy Lamp via Lamps Plus; 11. Pottery Barn Mercury Glass Task Floor Lamp; 12. Schoolhouse Electric Mulberry Tripod Lamp

Have any of you found any really great floor lamps lately that you’d like to share? I’m still on the hunt!

House Doctor has done it again with another pretty collection for Autumn/Winter 2014 with their Moments collection. I think it’s very smart and sophisticated, understated, simple and cool. Colors range from rose to cool blue, mossy and teal greens, yellow and smokey gray. For materials, you have copper, gold, brass and marble along with wood, in particular, plywood. Christmas looks very casual again this year in Scandinavian design and since House Doctor is Danish, they are leading the pack with simplicity and pared down decor for the ho-ho-holidays. Lanterns a-glow, metal and wire, hand-blown glass, baskets (for displaying fir trees large and small). I really love this collection. Here are 12 photos from House Doctor that I am able to share with you to tickle your design fancy. To see more, visit their online catalog here.

 

This sofa above is a personal favorite. Do you like it too?

 

I like seeing a simple fir tree in a big skinny two-tone basket, don’t you? It reminds me of this post from last year when our trend expert, Gudy, called this look out as a trend for Holiday Decorations 2013/2014. Looks like this look is back for another year of fun!

 

Really crushing on this light fixture and sofa combo. Perhaps for my studio makeover? Hmmm.

 

This rose and that tealish chair make me squirm in my, ahem, seat. Lovely!

 

I know this is being shown as a dining table but I’m thinking of this for my new desk. What do you think of that? I also love that they took 3 lights and turned them into a big bubble cluster. In real life though, I have no clue how I’d install that in my house – how do you merge 3 lights into one anyway?

 

Shelving I’m considering for my new office. 

 

See anything you fancy?

(images, house doctor)