Houzz Inspiration

I was thrilled to get an e-mail from Robyn, introducing her new website, Houzz. If you haven't heard of Houzz, it is really amazing. A "Flickr type" of site for home decorating!

On Houzz, you can browse photos, get ideas from hundreds of designers from around the world, and save it all in your virtual idea book. You'll find everything from professional designers and architects, to non-professionals, sharing photos and source information. Searching for a specific paint color? You'll find it there.

The great thing is that you can browse by style, room, space and cities. A little overwhelming, but very inspirational!

I found myself perusing many of the photos in the "eclectic" section. Right up my alley. This office (above) was featured in Domino magazine awhile back. I think this would be my dream office, if only I didn't have my huge piles of paperwork!

Rather than ripping out magazine pages, you can organize everything online. Although, I still like tearing those pages out!

Upload photos of your own space and create your idea book...

So be sure and head over to Houzz and start your idea book! I promise you'll be there for awhile!

photos from houzz.com

Feed Sack Chic

The May issue of Country Living features some great uses for feed sacks. I've sold "feed sack" chairs before and love the juxtiposition of the feed sack on a fancy French chair. Perhaps a bit uncomfortable, but has a unique look for sure!

Cute little pin cushion...

Corkboard made from a Guatemalan coffee sack!

Old French chair upholstered in a 1906 feed sack...

All photos courtesy of countryliving.com

Paper Relics

Witty Marie Antoinette greeting cards from Paper Relics

I was thrilled to discover the talented Hope Wallace of Paper Relics, while perusing through this month's Country Living magazine. I visited her website and had fun filling my shopping cart with these unique greeting cards!

I love the images and fonts on these cards designed by Hope

Hope is a collage artist and designer who works out of her home studio in the outskirts of Baltimore. She sells the most whimsical greeting card line, collage prints, ephemera and even does design services!

I contacted Hope and we had a wonderful chat on the phone. She is going to do some design work for Paris Hotel Boutique. I'm thrilled to have found her and can't wait to see what fun design she comes up with for my greeting cards.

These whimsical postcards incorporate antique elements and evoke a bygone era

1800's type fonts designed by Hope

You can view Hope's paper goods here and her design services here.

Photos courtesy of Paper Relics

Advertising as Art

Paris Hotel Boutique 2008 holiday card by Creative & Co.

I am so impressed with the work of Coleen Rider, of Coleen & Company, an antiques & vintage décor retail studio located in Los Angeles. In addition to selling her fabulous wares at her studio and online, Coleen has just launched, Creative & Co., where she specializes in e-mail ad campaigns & promotions, website ads and graphic design work. I was so taken by Coleen’s e-cards that I commissioned her to design my Paris Hotel Boutique holiday card (above).

Coleen & Company's 2008 holiday card

Coleen & Company's 2007 holiday card

Coleen has an amazing eye for color and juxtaposition. It was so much fun working with her on my card. She has a unique process for developing her artwork by getting to know her customer and tailoring her design to capture your personality & viewers. We collaborated about ideas by Coleen inquiring about everything from my favorite colors to what message I wanted to convey, then translating it into online art form.

Coleen's element of whimsy is what really excited me. I told her to surprise me with the card and when she e-mailed me the draft, I was more than thrilled! The most exciting part about working with Coleen is that her artwork is one-of-a-kind and doesn’t look like a mass-produced commercial e-mail. Thanks Coleen for creating my fabulous card!

Coleen & Company studio in Los Angeles

If you want more info and rates about Creative & Co., contact Coleen Rider at 310-839-2908 or e-mail, info@coleenandcompany.com.

All photos courtesy of Coleen & Company and Paris Hotel Boutique

The Work of Shepard Fairey

I hadn't heard of Shepard Fairey until I saw the iconic poster of Barack Obama that has become a cultural phenomenon. Los Angeles-based street artist, graphic designer, and illustrator, Shepard Fairey's "Hope" and "Progess" signed/numbered posters are selling for thousands of dollars on eBay.

His work has a very vintage feel to me, using beautiful colors and graphics. "Utilizing currency motifs and a Norman Rockwell aesthetic, Fairey employs the graphic language of the subjects they critique. Blending Art Nouveau, hippie, and revolutionary propaganda styles, he celebrates subjects advocating peace."- Kellis Landrum

You can read an interview with the artist here.

Airspace... Brilliant!

I just stumbled upon the fabulous website, Airspace , via Anna at Villa Anna and Di at Designer's Block. I think I'm going to be spending countless hours on the computer perusing their site!

Airspace, based in the UK, is an inspiring website filled with magnificent locations for film and photographic industries. Their selection of locations are broken down into categories of every style imaginable from French, feminine and grandeur, to quirky, retro and eclectic. You must visit the site. Whatever 'look' inspires you, you'll find it there. I just spent time looking at their "quirky" & "grandeur" locations. Here are some of my favorite photos...

This home is called "Mile End" and is 'Napoleonic chic meets opium den'!

"Mile End" is a four story Georgian house in East London...beautiful wooden floors!

Many antique props and furniture...{I love the juxtaposition of periods and colors}

Elements of whimsy...

This house is under "grandeur" and is called "Richmond Road." It is a spacious home in London. I LOVE this bathroom!

Stunning feminine, antique and romantic interior--love the portraits!

Beautiful French boudoir furniture and mirrors...

Great display of apothecary bottles...

And how cute is this room? Look at the two black poodles!

All photos from airspace.. have fun!

La Terraza del Casino

The restaurant La Terraza del Casino in Madrid, Spain looks amazing. An interiors project by Spanish artist/designer, Jaime Hayon of Hayon Studio, explores the balance of an aesthetic link between past and future using his very personal style. And how lovely it is, isn't it? I love the neutral palette and balance of traditional and modern. Very clean and refreshing.

A Beautiful Blog

I just discovered the lovely blog, mer mag. The blogger, Merrilee, is an illustrator, painter and designer, and has used her talents to create a breathtakingly beautiful blog. It covers everything from fashion to home decor. It has great eye-candy and is informative as well. I recently discovered it when she used one of my paintings (above) as her color inspiration for a blog post. Wow!

Here are some samplings from her blog. For more of Merrilee's inspiring postings, click here.

Above: Merrilee's post about her obsession with"glam" decor and photos from This is Glamorous

Abaete's spring 08 collection has Merrilee dreaming of delicious Neapolitan ice cream and carefree summers

Last but not least, Merrilee designed these shoes (above) for Fluevog. Named Merrilee,

these nostalgic saddle-style shoes reminded Merrilee of her magical childhood. Now that's impressive!

Photos courtesy of mer mag