Yulia Brodskaya

Amazing papergraphic illustrations by artist Yulia Brodskaya.

image via Drawn Archives

image via my.zetdesign.net

A Collection of Cool

Have you ever seen a jacket or pair of shoes in a store and think to yourself, "Am I cool enough to wear this?"  Well today I came across a website of industrial chic items and wondered if my home was cool enough for them.

Don't get me wrong -- I love my home and I strive for it to be fresh and modern with a touch of quirkiness along the way.  I would like to think that if I purchased one of these special items that I could make it work but I'm not sure.  I mean, look at these.

Industrial Container Cabinet

Industrial Bin Cabinet

Industrial Container Coffee Table 

And that's just to show a few.  Here's more.  What an awesome bar cart this would be.

Industrial Factory Station Cart

Amazing as both a tv stand and storage.

Industrial Metal Console

I originally spotted this on Making It Lovely.  Do you really need a formal dining room?  Could you imagine a cafeteria table in there instead?

Industrial Cafeteria Table

Très chic, right?  And oh so cool....

Birds on a Wire

image via Mimi Lou

A sweet pillow from French shop Mimi Lou. The line drawings are super cute when paired with a polka dot background.

image via Pistachio Press

And I love the simplicity of this letterpressed card from Pistachio Press  found at Felt & Wire Shop.

Swirly Rainbow Goodness

Multi-Colored Lines, 2011

I am loving this painting by Jennifer Bartlett.  It is enamel over silkscreen grid on baked enamel steel plates.

The contrast between the angular square shapes and the organic swirling colors is fantastic.  While I could never replicate this exactly, I find the technique and colors inspiring.  Perhaps I could do a variation of this as a DIY project?  Definitely something to think about.

Mirror Clusters

I spotted this unique approach to displaying mirrors in a catalog from Soft Surroundings and I can't stop thinking about it. 

I think layering a selection of mirrors--different sizes, shapes, and frame types but all in the same color makes a striking effect on the wall. Here is a close up:

images via Soft Surroundings 

I spotted these overlapping mirrors in Anthropologie a couple of months ago and I think this works well too. I like that the frames, while both very ornate, are different here.

image by The Pink Chalkboard

Pottery Barn is also showing the layered mirror look with this trio of mirrors.

image via Pottery Barn

And while not a mirror, I just spotted this collage frame in the latest catalog from Restoration Hardware baby & child that follows the same look:

image via Restoration Hardware baby & child

(This example is actually one single frame. Brilliant!)

I love this clustering idea and I want to give it a try. I just need to start collecting mirrors...add it to my to-do list!

Angela Adams - everything but the rug

A few weeks ago, I posted about Angela Adams rugs.  Her playful, nature-inspired patterns are also featured on a wide array of other non-rug products and I just had to share my favorites with you.

Fun and vibrant trays

Glasses to match those trays

(Between last week's post on Fishs Eddy glassware and now this, can you tell that I've been breaking quite a few glasses in my house lately? Glassware has definitely been on the brain. Time to invest in some new ones!)

Graphic labels make me happy. They are perfect for dressing up a plain white envelope or being used as a gift tag on a simply wrapped, colorful box.

Notecards in pretty patterns and letterpressed?  Yes, please.

These next two are called mini hand-wovens.  These versatile pieces work on the floor, as a wall hanging, as tabletop decor, etc.  I think this one would look great in a little girls room.  It's feminine without being over the top girly.

Then there is this one with great colors and pattern, but my favorite thing is the way the rug relates to the pink flowers in the sink.  I think I spy pink peonies just hours or days away from being in full bloom -- my favorite!

Plates, cups, and dishes...oh my!

I spotted a fun example of graphic wallpaper above a backsplash in a recent Moen faucet commercial entitled "Washing Dishes."

Here are a couple of close-ups:

And here is a view from a little farther away:

all images via YouTube

I especially love how the big, bold silhouettes are paired with the stainless steel counters, faucets, backsplash, and shelf. So clean and simple. Great styling!

Fabulous florals

Which would you choose?

That Anthropologie has done it again. All are bold. And awesome. I'm considering the rug for my entryway. I saw it a few months ago and have been thinking about it ever since. Then recently I spotted the wallpaper in Lucky Magazine and the chair on Making it Lovely. 

Love them all. 

More Beatles Inspiration

Since my last post featuring The Beatles in home decor, I found a few other examples of artwork inspired by The Beatles that I wanted to share.

image via Fresh World Market on etsy

image via the love shop on etsy

images via Sugar Boo Designs

Inspiration...children's books

Since my son was born, I have become well versed in children's books.  His favorite book changes from week to week but one series that has become a regular in our reading rotation are the Spot books by Eric Hill.  They are lift-the-flap illustrated books featuring a dog named Spot.  My favorite in the series is Where's Spot? since it shows Spot playing hide and seek in his colorful house.  Take a look at some of these images:

Spot's house is so fun and cheery that I would want to live there.  And then I realized that to some degree, I kind of do.  Check out this console from Ikea:

The curvy shape on the bottom looks like it was drawn by Eric Hill.  And the yellow color is so very Spot.  The one in my house is black, but still.

I don't have a bright green bureau, but I did purchase this punchy little number after reading about it on Jenny's blog.

The "grand" piano in my house is of the miniature variety and not the huge statement piece that it is in the book.  My son's is black, but look -- it also comes in pink!

And finally, a coincidence for sure, but the staircase in my house is nearly identical to Spot's -- complete with the little cubby door under the steps!  My staircase is white, but perhaps yellow is something to consider in the future....

Have you ever been inspired to decorate based on a children's book?

Miami Contemporary Artists

I often walk past The Fabric Museum and Workshop during my lunch break and I have been a longtime admirer of its window displays. For the past month or two, I have been struck by this book that is displayed in the window:

by Paul Clemence and Julie Davidow, image via Amazon

I think the cover design is absolutely gorgeous! It is so happy, colorful, and eye catching. The intense color reminds me of some of Jillian's earlier posts too, seen here and here.

This book really makes me want to visit Miami!

Fishs Eddy glassware

Seeing these polka dot glasses in this Elle Decor article reminded me of the fabulous store Fishs Eddy in New York.

They have a great (and unique) selection of dishes, glassware and gifts.  There is so much to look at enjoy in that store.  Here are my favorites in the glassware department.

Imagine pouring your morning orange juice into these fun menagerie glasses:

For the bridge and tunnel crowd:

And the Coca Cola lover in your life:

This kitchen weapons glass has the cutest sayings.  Look at the center glass towards the top -- it says "you're so butch"!

Or there is my husband's favorite, Heroes of the Torah.  He has given these as gifts to quite a few friends.

Are your glasses nearly as fun as these?  Mine aren't.  I think I need to remedy that.

Flower Petals

Back in April, Jillian and I both posted about flower petal pillows that caught our eye. I really enjoy petal inspired design, especially this bedding and shower curtain from Anthropologie:

image via Anthropologie's catalog, issue 5, 2011

image via Anthropologie

If I didn't already own this ruffles bedding, I would pick up that bedding in a heartbeat. All of the layers of fabric are just so luscious!!!

(P.S. You can see our past flower petal posts here and here).

Avalisa

After seeing this post, Mindy realized that the first Angela Adams rug shown in the post is somewhat similar to a rug I have in my home -- the Avalisa bubble wool rug.  I bought it in blue/brown for my son's room when he was first born.

Had he been a girl, I would have gone with the pink/brown one.  Aren't the colors great?

In perusing the Avalisa website recently, I came across some fine art that they do as well.  This purple allium reminds me of the bubble rugs.  In fact, there is another rug called the wonder wool rug that is similar to the bubble one but with smaller scale circles.  It's offered in purple, too, which would make an amazing pairing with this piece of art:

The name of this print (rainbow kiss) is just as sweet as the image itself.

Years ago, I saw really large prints like these paired next to each other and framed in a playroom.  I instantly fell for them and still think there is something so simple, graphic and kind of cool about these sitting side by side, dominating a room.

apple and pear (sold separately)

Pear graphics get me every time but "paired" (ha ha) next to a graphic red apple?  Perfection.

Vintage Austin

I went to Austin a couple of weeks ago for my cousin's college graduation (congratulations Caitlin!) and while there, I was able to browse a few shops for some vintage treasures. My favorite was called Uncommon Objects. They had such a great collection of stuff...every corner was filled with fun finds.

Great graphic posters and signs.

I love type so I really enjoyed their selection of letters.

It was hard for me not to buy them all...

(all images by The Pink Chalkboard)