Blue Kitchen

 

 

 I am working on a lot of kitchens at the moment - so while researching I've noticed that I definitely pause and admire the kitchens with colour. While you can't go wrong with a classic white kitchens, there is something rather lovely about the depth and richness of using a colour, like this calm blue grey one in Copenhagen, designed by Kobenhavns Mobelsnedkeri. It contrast beautifully with the timber floor and the dark hardware.
Photographs via Remodelista.

Christmas Tree Decorating

Here's a fun job I did yesterday...
I got an email on Friday afternoon from a branding company asking me if I could decorate a Christmas tree for their government client - and if so, quickly. Once I saw the photo of the sad looking tree, I had to say yes. I visited the office that day - saw the aqua and blue colours behind the reception desk therefore had the jumping off point for the decorations. Shopped in the weekend and on Monday afternoon, I decorated the tree. This is how it went...

The tree - before.

Moved the tree onto the carpet (closer to the waiting area) and the branches got some loving treatment.

Add fairy lights (x 3 sets of 200) and covered the stand with turquoise tulle.

And covered the tree in decorations - all 296 of them and pop the star on top.

Mission accomplished.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Grey by Studio Bakker

Spotted on Emma's Design blog - these gorgeous and restful grey interiors by Stef Bakker, a Dutch interior designer, stylist and art director. Nice.
Photographs via Studio Bakker.

Inspiration Profile - Alana Broadhead

Welcome to this week's Inspiration Profile and we have Alana Broadhead from Fancy - 'an online magazine devoted to the best design from New Zealand. And from around the world. But mainly from New Zealand.'
Fancy is fresh and colourful and so are all the other projects Alana has under her belt - read further to learn about Design Yeah and Foundry. Happy Friday all.

Alana Broadhead

Fancy

Name: Alana Broadhead

What do you do:  By day, I’m a copywriter and brand strategist, which I’ve been at for 13 years. And also by day, and by every-other-moment-I-get, I run a NZ Design Blog called Fancy. It’s filled with graphic design, homewares and textiles, furniture and amazing interiors from NZ and around the world. I’m also beginning to work on other design projects, which is a dream come true for me.

Where do you live: I live in Mount Maunganui, where it’s summer longer than anywhere else in New Zealand. Come visit! I used to live in Auckland, and I do miss it sometimes, so as of next year, I’ll be spending a couple of days a month there.

What are you working on: I’m working on doing more and more of what I love – design and blogging –  and less and less of the ‘real job’.

Right now, I am waiting for Design Yeah 2013 to come back from the printer. What’s Design Yeah? It’s a calendar that features the work of 12 of NZ’s best graphic designers and illustrators, but…and this is the best bit… it also converts into 12 limited-edition, A3 art prints!  I’m also working on the re-design of Fancy (a fresh new look), and a design event which I am putting together for next year.

I’m also working on inventing a new name for blogging, because it always makes me cringe! Bloggy bloggy blogger. See? Awful word.

Prints from Foundry - all for sale.

Who/what inspires me: I’m inspired by all of the designers I post about on Fancy, and anyone who does what they love and follows their passion.

I’m also inspired by the idea of doing ‘Good Work with Good People’. To me, this means awesome design and interiors projects, with passionate and ridiculously talented, yet totally generous and down-to-earth people.

I work best: I’m at my creative best in the morning, but I’m so much more productive in the afternoon.  Still trying to work on that balance thing… we all are, right?

What I do when I’m stuck for inspiration: When I’m stuck, I just need to clear. my. head. I know there are ideas in there, waiting in the wings to be called up, I just need to clear some space on the stage. Some of my favourite ways to clear my head are to re-style my own spaces at home, or to get in the car and head for the open road – windows down and music up far too loud. Anything off-computer and off-iPhone, really.

Steal this Idea Interiors from Fancy

Inspiring Interiors from Fancy.

 

The best advice I have been given is: "Do Your Thing" and "Have ridiculous self-belief, but be a nice person."

Blogs that I enjoy: This list is VERY very (very) long, but here are a few:
DesignLoveFest,  DesignforMankind,  Decor8,  SwissMiss, Say Yes to Hoboken, Oh Happy Day

My favourite room at home is: My little studio. Because it is 100% my space, I can have anything I like in it, and I change it up often. Everything around me in this room inspires me. Only this morning, I picked up a huge wall banner from the printer - that I’ve designed - to put on one wall. 

Alana's workspace.

 

What am I looking forward to: I’m alwayslooking forward to the next new awesome bit of NZ design I see, so I can share it – be it a new piece of furniture or a brand identity.

I’m also looking forward to growing Fancy beyond being just a blog. I have so many ideas for homewares and other design products, and would eventually like to realise them. I’m looking forward to the future of NZ design, and to my part in it.

Want to keep up with Fancy and all their news? Go to their website, follow them on Twitter or Facebook and check out their boards on Pinterest.

 

Design Pick n Mix post from Fancy.

Design Pick n Mix

All visuals are used with permission by Alana Broadhead.

Spindle Back Chairs

Host restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark by Norm Architects.

Hyperion Public restaurant in Los Angeles, USA by Claire Stansfield

I love the use of the spindle back dining chairs in these two diverse restaurants from opposite sides of the world. I think there may be a childhood influence here as I seem to recall a similar chair when I was younger. The chairs rock in the black, whites and greys.
Photographs via Remodelista.

FILMography - Matching Film Stills with Real Life

 

Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard from Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

 

Robert Redford and Barbra Streisand from The Way We Were (1973)

Robert Redford in Three Days of the Condor (1975)



Diane Keaton and Woody Allen from Annie Hall (1977)

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally (1989)




Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in The Adjustment Bureau (2011)

 

Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner in The Avengers (2012)

This is FILMography - a fantastic website by New York journalist, Christopher Moloney. He has recreated more than 250 film scenes around his famous city using film stills and comparing them to the real life locations. It's amazing to see from the old films what hasn't changed. Go on, have a look and find your favourite film moments.
Photographs via FILMography.

New Norm Dinnerware

I had to share these beautiful images of the New Norm Dinnerware, designed by Copenhagen architecture and design firm, Norm and produced by Danish designhouse, Menu.
"When midsummer’s blue skies transform to the grey depths of autumn … When the dense forest tranquillity opens harmoniously on to the fresh and rolling sea … When the changing light, landscape and seasons are both an essential part of life and a source of eternal joy … Then you are in Scandinavia." The dinnerware range is centred around the basic white plate, which can change its look with a smaller grey or blue plate. Beautiful.
Photographs via New Norm.