Copenhagen Carafes

How pretty are these Copenhagen imported carafes? I love simple and elegant design like this. Makes me want to have an outdoor candlelit dinner party. :)

(photo via Lawson-Fenning)

Eames: The Architect and the Painter

A few nights ago I Netflixed Eames: The Architect and the Painter, which is a documentary about the iconic design couple, Charles and Ray Eames, behind the Eames chair and major contributors to the world of architecture and design. 

I knew very little about the designers beforehand other than having seen their famous chair in dozens of books, magazines and websites throughout my life. Their name is synonymous with timeless, beautiful and functional design. If you search for furniture on Craigslist or Ebay, you will undoubtedly see "Eames or Eames-inspired" sprinkled throughout item descriptions. Sometimes this is accurate and other times, the seller is just trying to pull a fast one (you are too smart for this though, I know.) 

What's interesting about the doc is that in addition to discussing the artists' work, you get a glimpse into their personal lives and idiosyncratic behavior. Interviews with former employees and colleagues show the couple very honestly and you get a sense that despite their design aesthetic being so clean and modern, the couple was pretty quirky. For example, one night they hosted a dinner party in their fabulous home and for dessert, they brought out a beautiful flower arrangement. A "visual treat." One guest was so annoyed and still hungry that he left to go to Dairy Queen. Can you imagine?! 

If you have a chance to watch this, let me know what you think! Would love to hear your thoughts. 

Let's get down to business

(Creative - pull tab!)

(Pop!)

(Minimal)

(Playful)

(Letterpress)

The seesters and I are in the process of finally getting business cards. Bring it, 2012! So I've been searching the web for some inspiration. There are so many great styles to choose from but I particularly liked the ones above. Do you have business cards? What style do you prefer? Minimal, artistic, letterpress?

P.S. Here's a great post with the coolest business cards from Alt Summit 2012.

Dreamy Dame: Eva Zeisel

This morning, I was planning to blog about Apartment Therapy's new website design. But as I started playing around over there, you know what happened? I went down the rabbit hole that all you bloggers are familiar with, and I stumbled upon a post about a new modern vintage store, Ampersand Vintage. From there, I went to their own blog and eventually found this post about this amazing artist, Eva Zeisel. Have you heard of her? She was a big deal! And totally Dreamy Dame material: creative, talented, beautiful, and incredibly strong. I wish I had learned about her earlier.

Eva Zeisel was a Hungarian born ceramics artist and industrial designer who passed away last December at age 105. She worked up until she died, and was known for her award winning designs, prolific career, and fascinating life, including a 16 month period where she was imprisoned by the KGB who falsely accused her of plotting to assassinate Stalin. Can you imagine? Her life was very fascinating and inspiring indeed.

You can read more about her on her official website, on the blog where I first leaned about her, and on the Huffington Post. Hope you are as inspired by her as I am. 

Guest Post: Megan on Magazine Racks

Iron and burnished leather rack

Michael Sodeau Sprung Magazine Rack

Front Page Magazine Rack by Kartell

Ringo Magazine Rack by Black + Blum

Magino Stool / Magazine Rack

Today we have a Guest Post by our lovely friend Megan, who likes interior design as much as we do. Enjoy! xo
-------------------------------

Hey DOPT readers - Initially, when I started this post, I wrote all about my former life in California, and how this lead me to dreaming about the land of magazine racks. Then I deleted my entire post by accident and all I had saved were these images. So I suppose that is all the universe wanted me to share with you :) Do you like them? What do you do with your magazines? Do you lay them out on a table? Are they hidden underneath your bed? Do you own a magazine rack?

Shipley + Halmos on The Selby

Just stumbled upon the Shipley + Halmos studio visit over on The Selby and if you haven't seen it yet, check it out now! The design duo cannot be more awesome and their space is absolutely to die for. My favorite part? Their rolling library ladder! I want! 

Images via The Selby. 

Have a dreamy (designy) weekend!

Hello sweet peeps! It's Claudia, the oldest of the three sisters here. I'm very excited to be posting today since it's been aaaages. How have you all been?

I've been quite busy with work and a move (le sigh!). For those still getting to know us, Lisa Michelle and Karina both live in hip Williamsburg, Brooklyn, while I live a few minutes away in Manhattan with my husband, Alex.

We recently moved from the East Village into a charming pre-war apartment in Chelsea. This weekend we'll be rolling up our sleeves, and unpacking the last of the boxes. I'm also hoping to decorate. I already got started with the frame wall above (that's Alex and me, bottom left, on our wedding day :). I'm obsessed by frame walls.

How about you, peeps? Working on any design projects this weekend? Hope it's productive! :)

Now, some fun links for your Friday...

New York home design for small apartments (Thanks, Megan!)

Jennifer Aniston's Hipster Evolution (funny.)

Topshop Tumblr, I love you

Martha Marcy May Marlene - I watched an early screening Wednesday. Kinda intense but amazing. Opens today in NYC. Highly recommend.

Inspiring video - Elle's Women in Hollywood

For my vegetarian friends, I made this last night and it was quite yummy!

Halloween - Get into the tasty spirit with Martha

And lastly, our pumpkin carving party last year :)

Have a dreamy weekend! xo!

Rainbow Design

Maybe because it's so gloomy here in New York today, I am still craving color (see yesterday's post :). Which is why this Japanese building caught my eye. Can you believe it's a bank?

(Via Swissmiss)

Plastic Tent House

This awesome tent house, built in 1975, uses semitransparent corrugated plastic walls to create the feeling of a giant tent. I wouldn't mind escaping here for a weekend. How about you? :)

(via NYTimes)

Hip Home: Laura + Diego Garcia

Loving this Vogue photo tour of Laura + Diego Garcia's New York apartment. Who knew the Upper East Side could be so hip? :)

(via The North Elevation)

Recyclable House

Can you believe this Kansas house is made from recycled shipping containers? So cool. See the full tour here. Would you live here?

(Via the sassy shack)

P.S. Speaking of green - Happy St. Patty's Day!

White + Wood

My love for modern white + wood continues. What do you guys think? Too modern or just enough?

See the full house tour here. (But be warned: you may get serious house envy :)

(Photos via Desire to Inspire)

Pile O' Books

(Photos via Emmas Design Blog and The Selby)

I was thinking of creative ways to display my books since my current bookshelf has completely maxed out space. I saw these design inspiration photos with books and magazines on the floor and thought it was such a cool and unique idea, if done right. I currently have this on my window sill, but it does not look very organized (FYI: don't adorn this look with junk mail and bills!) The key is to use varying sizes and display them like a pyramid or have them all lined up perfectly, with the title facing outwards.

What do you think of this design look? Have any of your own book decorating suggestions? xo.

A French Desk

I work from home the majority of the time so having a fully functional and attractive work space is important to me. Karina and I usually set up our computers on the kitchen island and have found it pretty great, but we do often get sidetracked the minute one of us gets hungry and decides to make lunch. It means we have to clear everything off and either take a break or continue working on the sofa. So because of that, I've been casually browsing Ebay and Craigslist to find something that could work in our apartment.

This morning, I stumbled upon this. Designed by Samuel Accoceberry, the landa desk features a channel for cable management, a red dust barrier to prevent dust from getting into between the cracks of the wood and incorporates functional details and hidden storage spaces. So while it looks like an Ikea desk, it's actually so much more! I bet I would be very productive with this desk.

(Photos via Design Boom.)