L.A. Looks

Posted by Erin, Staff Writer

As a teenager I associated Los Angeles with shiny sports cars, Luke Perry (plus the rest of the 90210 gang), and a brand of hair gel. Over the years, I've found much less superficial things to love -- namely the sunny weather, access to unspoiled natural beauty, and fresh produce. (And by fresh I mean, straight from a tree: I have the luxury of plucking blood oranges from my friend's yard to create fresh-squeezed mimosas.) Possibly the best thing is that with each return trip I discover something new to like. On a recent restorative weekend visit (courtesy of accumulated airline miles), I found two places to add to the list of L.A.-musts.

Musso & Frank's, the oldest eatery in Hollywood

Shaken & Stirred: Saketini

Posted by Blueprint

Our drink of the month is the Lychee Orange Blossom Saketini. Sure, it's a mouthful to say, but it goes down easy enough. Trust us, we tested.

Lychee Orange Blossom Saketini

*For those of you in search of the inside-out martini glasses shown above, they are by AlissiaMT and can be purchased here.

Read on for the recipe...

Hang-Up Job

Posted by Blueprint

If you're at all like us, you're a hotel toiletry kleptomaniac who can't resist slipping every mini bottle of suds into your carry-on. When you arrive home, you carefully add the new additions to your arsenal of bath products (cleanser/scrub/lotion/miracle-in-a-bottles that are picked up every week), which dutifully line your sink, toilet tank, and bathtub like little soldiers. Just us? Well, we came up with a quick, easy way to keep all of your potions at hand while keeping them out of the way.

Wire hanging basket organizer

Keep reading for instructions.

Hold The Phone

Posted by Erin, Staff Writer

Phones scare me. Their design is my main beef (although see how menacing they can be in the hands of certain divas). Colorful face plates, flashing lights, and dangling charms are not really my thing. So, one of my resolutions for 2008 is to install an archaic sounding "landline" or "fixed-line" phone.

For inspiration, I checked out the wares in this weird phone gallery. Initially, I was drawn to the Zack Morris phone (you know, the original cordless phone that weighed about 20 pounds) and the zany Pac-Man phone (I'm a devotee), but decided they were far too kitschy. I moved on and finally settled on the sleek Trimline phone, whose simplicity is timeless. As is the price: most Trimline phones can be had for less than $30. I loved the splash of color that the yellow Trimline phone added to our ottoman photo, so now I'm vacillating between electric blue or red.

Things got momentarily complicated when I spotted this rotary phone from the '40s at Three Potato Four.  Oddly, it also comes in a brilliant red and bright blue and is the phone of my dreams. But who needs two phones? Plus, I'd be breaking another resolution if I splurged on it: spend less money.

'40s rotary phone from Three Potato Four

Have you come across any fine looking phones?

*We just got a great tip in our comments section: Zinzi spotted the beautiful 'Target' telephone on Bloesem today. Thanks!

White Forest Pottery

Posted by Blueprint

Blueprint's contributing style editor, Scott Horne, recently received this exquisite porcelain bowl with a gold wire rim and has since become enamored with the all of White Forest pottery, handmade by Nancy Bauch.

Gold weave bowl

Inner Glow: Michele Varian Cluster Lamp

Posted by Blueprint

Looking for a modern alternative to the chandelier? Look no further than this stunning mouth-blown glass lamp that can be laid on its side or hung from the ceiling. The organic shape reminds us of a dahlia and breaks free from fusty traditional crystal lighting.

Cluster Lamp from Michele Varian
9-by-12-inch lamp, $280
16-by-20-inch lamp, $480

Wallpaper by Wook Kim
Pattern: "Diana"; Style: "Luna"

Vintage table from Shabby Chic

Painting by Penine Hart of Penine Hart Antiques

Glass Knuckles

Posted by Erin, Staff Writer

Our personal fashion guru, Katie Hatch, has been obsessed with Jane D’Arensbourg’s elegant glass jewelry for ages. She recently (finally!) scored a pair of D’Arensbourg’s glass drop earrings and couldn’t be happier. While D’Arensbourg is well known for her delicate links, I love the idea of these knuckle-duster rings rendered in precious glass. Were I fluent in fashion-ese, I might wink at their inherent contradiction by calling them “pretty tough.” But I won’t.

Jane D'Arensbourg bubble glass rings (now available through her website)

Dallas Shaw Wallpaper Paintings

Posted by Blueprint

We were planning on using some prints by Florida-based artist Dallas Shaw in upcoming issues of Blueprint…so we figured we'd pay our respects here. When we contacted Dallas she told us that she'd just launched a new website to better showcase her work, which draws heavily from fashion.

Our favorite pieces are her outline paintings on wallpaper. She mostly uses vintage papers but gave up a great source: “Some of the newest pieces are done on more modern wallpaper from Mod Green Pod -- plus a few other rare textiles I’ve found throughout my travels.”

Painting on vintage floral wallpaper

Ottoman Empire: How To Make An Ottoman

Posted by Blueprint

Ottomans -- those lumpy footstools most often associated with the title sequence of The Dick Van Dyke Show (he trips over one) -- have become a sort of decorating punch line. They just can't seem to shake their fusty, '70s living room set reputation. The first step to overcoming their burnt sienna corduroy roots is to choose a modern graphic pattern. The second step is to make them versatile. So we created an easy-to-make ottoman from two floor cushions (which can still be used on their own), and then added wheels for mobility.

Our thoroughly modern ottoman

January Jumpstart: Inspiration & Ideas

Posted by Blueprint

In gearing up for the January Jumpstart contest we’re holding with Apartment Therapy, we'd like to point out some great resources straight from the pages of Blueprint. If you're thinking about wallpapering a small space, a piece of furniture, or using it as a decorative motif, you’ll want to bone up on the techniques and refreshing ideas from our July/August story, The Cutting Room. Our How To Install Wallpaper guide is a must-read if you’re looking for stellar tips and exciting sources for waking up your walls – or anything else you want to plaster with graphic paper.

Create the illusion of a chair rail by applying two differently patterned wallpapers

Hanging Art With Ellen Hanson

Posted by Blueprint

Don't call Ellen Hanson an interior designer -- she prefers the "old-fashioned" ring of 'decorator.' Excluding her preferred title, there's nothing antiquated about her decorating. We've admired Ellen's work for a long time and are particularly awed by her beautifully unexpected compositions of art for her clients, and herself. Hanging art is a great way to add color and unity to a room, but when done haphazardly it can be distracting, disjointed, and a plain ol eyesore. (No surprise then, that it’s what home experts cite as one of the biggest decorating mistakes they see.) So we asked Ellen how she composes an arrangement and what her tips are for hanging art.

Ellen's living room composition

Radiohead-Free January

Posted by Kerstin, Online Editor

While everyone is busy downloading Radiohead's In Rainbows this month, why not try one of these not-so-on-the-radar options?

Rockfour, Memories of the Never Happened
Though they hail from Tel Aviv, this band's influences are more '60s British psychedelic than Middle Easten. Taking a cue from The Byrds, early Pink Floyd, and King Crimson, Rockfour's Memories is energetic, sprawling pop-rock -- an ideal backdrop as you primp for a girls' night out.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, 100 Days, 100 Nights
A neo-soul release from a stylish and confident lineup, this record sounds more like a rare, unearthed gem from the funk heyday than from a band formed in the late '90s. Jones has a gusty, smooth voice that can jazz up any random Wednesday night. Add a martini, and you've practically got a juke joint.

Richard Hawley, Lady's Bridge
After serving time in Brit-pop acts Pulp and The Longpigs, in 2001 Hawley became a solo artist and created his own sound: his haunting baritone croons anguished lyrics over lush arrangements. This mellow, wistful record -- filled with dreamy, gentle songs -- is the perfect accompaniment to a Sunday afternoon spent on the couch.

 

 

Banding Together

Posted by Blueprint

Mc & Co is an outstanding home and style boutique in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that Page and Shane have been raving about for months. (Check out Shane's blog about Mc & Co from March.) They are constantly inspired by owner Corinne Gilbert’s eye for outstanding design – in both the products she sells and the store displays she creates. If you are in the NYC area, and want to be inspired you should definitely swing by.

Ceramic sculptures by Joan Bankemper, mirrors by Mc & Co

So when Page was asked about a particularly interesting necklace she often wears no one was surprised to discover her source was Mc & Co. The necklace in question is composed of insanely fun, brightly colored rubber bands, and is an instant conversation starter. It combines the idea of simple childhood pastimes (discovering multiple uses for office supplies like making paper clip into jewelry and enjoying rubber cement’s transcendent fumes) with high art.

Page's rubber band necklace

But Page bought it for a different reason: “I was attracted to this necklace at MC&Co because I collect rubber bands. Plus, I love the modern, graphic and colorful pattern it creates when you wear it with black or white.”
While we’d like to give the artist who created it credit, Page informs us that Gilbert has lost touch with the artist and is hoping she will surface. “Apparently the unnamed artist made a few necklaces for her and then disappeared,” says Page. Lookd like we'll just have to make them for ourselves...

 

January Jumpstart: Making Pillows

Posted by Blueprint

Well, the first project for the January Jumpstart contest has been announced on Apartment Therapy. AT's own Laure is going to make pillows for her Danish modern sofa. We can't wait to see what fabric she chooses -- we're sure it will give the sofa a dramatic face-lift.

Laure's project

In her post, Laure mentioned two fabric websites she's been eyeing for the makeover and we couldn't resist chiming in with some of our favorite sources.
Marimekko (Which is where you can find the fabric swatch posted on Blueprint's main page.)
Reprodepot Fabrics
Mood Fabrics
Of the Young and the Restless
John Robshaw
Hable Construction
Virginia Johnson
Madeline Weinrib
Denyse Schmidt
Just Scandinavian
Julia Rothman

Also, be sure to check out the newly posted January Jumpstart schedule which also outlines the categories in which we will be judging each entry. Have you entered yet?

Shoe Strap Bracelet

Posted by Erin, Staff Writer

My friend Lauren is always wearing a cool bracelet -- brown criss-crossed leather with metal buckles -- that reminds me of something by luxury brand Hèrmes. When I asked her where she got it, she said that she made it...out of ankle straps plucked from a pair of shoes.

She buckled the opposite ends of the two ankle straps together to form one longer strap...

...then wrapped it around her wrist and buckled the remaining ends.

And the best part is that she can re-attach the straps when she feels like wearing the shoes again. How resourceful! 

Collecting: Vintage Spoons

Posted by Blueprint

It's a given that Blueprint's contributing style editor, Scott Horne, has impeccable taste. (He also has a wicked sense of humor.) His discerning eye (along with those of our incredibly talented home department) was a large part of what made the pages of Blueprint frame-worthy. So when Scott endorses something, we listen.

One day Scott brought in a tiny silver spoon that he found at a flea market to add to his collection. We found it surprising that such an aesthetically evolved person would have a collection of silverwear, especially since most spoon collections seem to consist of kitschy commemorative spoons found in gift shops. Scott's spoons are art objects in and of themselves -- all unique, handmade, and slightly bent from use -- and laid on a stack of papers, one tiny spoon would make an unusually handsome paperweight. But of course, Scott had already styled the spoons in a more interesting way. He arranged the spoons in vintage bowls, put them in a wooden box that sits on his coffee table, and added a fork and simple metal objects -- a horn, ring, etc. -- to complete the arrangement. We thought it looked too beautiful not to share.

Scott's spoon collection sits artfully arranged on his coffee table

Collecting is a passion of many Blueprint-ers and Martha Stewart staffers. We find collecting to be a very personal hobby -- learning what objects someone obsesses over can be very revealing. What do you collect?