Destination: Rhode Island

Written by Michele on October 28, 2011 — 2 Comments

It’s that wonderful time of year when you get to throw on your favorite sweater, tuck your jeans into your boots and kick through the gorgeous leaves that have fallen to the ground. New England in the autumn captures all of your senses- from the warm rainbow of changing leaves to the crisp smell of winter- and today we’re celebrating design in Rhode Island.

Contemporary classics using locally sourced woods, from designers Sara Ossana and Jonathan Glatt of O&G Studio:

Lovely feather collection from photographer Diana Brennan:

Fun high-fire, hand-painted bone china dishes and vessels from moderngoods, by RISD graduate Yuki Murata:

(Images via O&G Studio, D.S. Brennan Photography, moderngoods)

Posted in Destination | Tagged affordable, budget, california, california decor, california designers, california style, D.S. Brennan Photography, design ideas, design on a dime, designers, Designers Call, Destination, Diana Brennan, etsy, home design, interior designers, Jonathan Glatt, Lara Fishman, los angeles, make over your space, makeover, moderngoods, New England, O&G Studio, redesign, redesign california, redesign home, remodel, remodel california, Rhode Island, RISD, Sara Ossana, space, Storm Interiors, Yuki Murata

Design Meets Fashion: Hello Yellow!

Written by Sara on October 26, 2011 — Leave a Comment

From rich mustards to fluorescents, yellow if popping up everywhere! Whether it’s your favorite color and you want to feature it in your home or want just touches of it, it’s a great color to add a bright, cheerful mood to a space or outfit…and it has California style written all over it.

(Images via Regas & And This Bag Was Like Dancing With Me.)

Posted in Design Meets Fashion | Tagged california decor, california design, california style, design, Designers Call, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent yellow necklace, home decor, home style, how to use color, how to use yellow, los angeles, los angeles style, makeover your space, redecorate, redesign, Storm Interiors, yellow, yellow fire place, yellow fireplace, yellow mantel, yellow necklace

History Lesson: Mortise and Tenon Joints

Written by Michele on October 24, 2011 — Leave a Comment

A mortise and tenon joint is a strong, uncomplicated method of joining two pieces of wood, usually at right angles. It has been used for thousands of years in architecture and the construction of anything from boats to furniture. The method is based on fitting a narrow end of one piece of wood (the tenon) into a hole carved into another piece of wood (the mortise). The mortise is made to be the exact size of the tenon, creating a tight friction joint where no glue is necessary, which enables the wood to expand and contract without cracking.

The mortise and tenon joint is a basic woodworking skill. Although it was popular to show the end of the tenon in Arts and Crafts design (called a through mortise and tenon), traditionally it leaves no visible evidence of the joinery.

(Images via The Wood Whisperer, ohdeedoh, Floating Stone Woodworks)

Posted in History Lesson | Tagged affordable, arts and crafts movement, budget, california, california decor, california designers, california style, design history lesson, design ideas, design on a dime, designers, Designers Call, Floating Stone Woodworks, home design, interior designers, Lara Fishman, los angeles, make over your space, makeover, mortise and tenon, ohdeedoh, redesign, redesign california, redesign home, remodel, remodel california, space, Storm Interiors, The Wood Whisperer

Weekly Wrap Up: Rococo, Triangles, and Cebu City

Written by Michele on October 21, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Monday’s History Lesson: Rococo
Wednesday’s Design Meets Fashion: Triangles
Friday’s Destination: Cebu City, Philippines

Posted in Weekly Wrap Up | Tagged affordable, basics, budget, california, california decor, california designers, california style, Cebu City, design ideas, design on a dime, designers, Designers Call, home design, interior designers, Lara Fishman, los angeles, Los Angeles Design, make over your space, makeover, Philippines, redesign, redesign california, redesign home, remodel, remodel california, Rococo, space, Storm Interiors, triangle trend, Weekly Wrap Up

Destination: Cebu City, Philippines

Written by Michele on October 21, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Cebu is a long narrow island centrally located in the Visayas region of the Philippine archipelago. It stretches roughly 140 miles from north to south, and is surrounded by 167 smaller islands. Located on the eastern shore is Cebu City: the capital, and the oldest city in the Philippines. This highly urbanized and progressive city has some incredible history, and is home to some really amazing designers!

Functional and beautiful design from furniture and home accessory designer Paula Rodriguez:

Kenneth Cobonpue uses natural, locally sourced fibers and materials- and hand-made production techniques- for his incredible line of modern furniture:

(Images via Detalia Aurora, design folder, Kenneth Cobonpue)

Posted in Destination | Tagged affordable, budget, california, california decor, california designers, california style, Cebu City, design folder, design ideas, design on a dime, designers, Designers Call, Destination, Detalia Aurora, home design, interior designers, Kenneth Cobonpue, Lara Fishman, los angeles, make over your space, makeover, Paula Rodriguez, Philippines, redesign, redesign california, redesign home, remodel, remodel california, space, Storm Interiors

Design Meets Fashion: Triangles

Written by Sara on October 19, 2011 — 1 Comment

One trend that has exploded is the use of triangles in everything from prints to silhouettes to wallpaper. I love the use of triangles especially in Native American-esque prints, blending the natural with the geometric. This wall treatment gives a great sense of how fabulous and unique triangular patterns can look, while the dress is a great example of why the trend has caught on so well in fashion.

(Images via Pinterest & Vain & Vapid.)

Posted in Design Meets Fashion | Tagged black white triangle, black white triangle design, california fashion, california home decor, california style, Design Meets Fashion, Designers Call, Lara Fishman, los angeles, native american, native american prints, navajo print, navajo style, navajo wallpaper, Storm Interiors, traingle dress, traingles, triangle home, triangle trend, triangle wall, triangle wallpaper, vain and vapid, vain vapid triangle dress

History Lesson: Rococo

Written by Michele on October 17, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Rococo developed as Baroque artists gave way to a highly ornate, graceful and playful style of design. The word ‘Rococo’ is derived from the French rocaille, said to describe the rock and shell work of the Versailles grottoes. It is characterized by pastel colors, extravagant decoration, asymmetry, undulating lines and prominent curves, and fantasy. The style spread through Europe, although is primarily associated with Louis XV’s reign and the beginning of that of Louis XVI. It includes all art produced around the middle of the 18th century in France, and is often seen as mirroring the excesses of Louis XV’s reign.

Rococo focused mainly on interiors, and rooms were created as complete works of art. Furniture and accessories were designed to compliment the architecture, resulting in spaces so elaborate that the line between function and decoration is blurred.

Gatchina Palace

The Amalienburg

Settee- German, ca. 1761–68

Table, Writing (Bureau Plat)- Gilles Joubert, French, ca. 1689–1775

Rococo Cartouche- Anonymous, French, 18th century

Although popular, Rococo’s over-the-top grandeur received harsh criticism, and by 1785, Rococo had fallen out of fashion in France to be replaced by the order and solemnity of Neoclassical design.

(Images via wikipedia, 18^th century history, The Met)

Posted in History Lesson | Tagged 18th century history, affordable, budget, california, california decor, california designers, california style, design history lesson, design ideas, design on a dime, designers, Designers Call, home design, interior designers, Lara Fishman, los angeles, make over your space, makeover, redesign, redesign california, redesign home, remodel, remodel california, Rococo, space, Storm Interiors, The Met

Weekly Wrap Up: Westchester County, Masonry Tile Heaters, and White Fur

Written by Michele on October 14, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Monday’s History Lesson: Masonry Tile Heaters
Wednesday’s Design Meets Fashion: White Fur
Friday’s Destination: Westchester County, NY

Posted in Weekly Wrap Up | Tagged affordable, basics, black and blue, budget, california, california decor, california designers, california style, design ideas, design on a dime, designers, Designers Call, home design, interior designers, Lara Fishman, los angeles, Los Angeles Design, make over your space, makeover, masonry tile heater, redesign, redesign california, redesign home, remodel, remodel california, space, Storm Interiors, Weekly Wrap Up, Westchester County, white fur

Destination: Westchester County, NY

Written by Michele on October 14, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Westchester County is conveniently located just north of Manhattan. With an easy commute into the city by train, real estate is desirable and its small-town charm is a destination for tourists as well. It is made up of river towns and sleepy villages with cafes and antique shops, castles and stone walls, and luxury lofts built from former printing presses right on the Hudson River. It is beautiful, woodsy, and generally expensive- and I thought it would be fun to see what some of Westchester’s residents are looking to sell this weekend on craigslist..

A classic mid-century modern desk by Paul McCobb for $850:

$6000 for the iconic molded plywood folding screen by Eames:

Heywood Wakefield end table, $135:

(Secondary images via 1stdibs and hive are included where possible for better quality and reference.)

Posted in Destination | Tagged 1stdibs, affordable, budget, california, california decor, california designers, california style, craigslist, design ideas, design on a dime, designers, Designers Call, Destination, Eames, Heywood Wakefield, Hive Modern, home design, interior designers, Lara Fishman, los angeles, make over your space, makeover, mid-century, NY, Paul McCobb, redesign, redesign california, redesign home, remodel, remodel california, space, Storm Interiors, Westchester County

Design Meets Fashion: White Fur

Written by Sara on October 12, 2011 — Leave a Comment

Fur is an amazing way to add texture to an outfit or room, and it’s also incredibly stylish and luxurious (and cozy!), especially when it contrasts with surrounding textiles and colors. If a fur coat is too much of a statement for you, go for a vest or a piece with fur trim. The same goes with home decor; if a rug is too much, go for a shearling throw and use it to cozy up a chair, stool, or nook. TIP: Faux & vintage furs are a great way to go in terms of affordability & “friendliness”!