Flooring Solutions for Every Space

A few weeks ago, our dear friend Judy Prays requested pointed guidance on flooring solutions. Having just left Brooklyn for LA, she had an endless to-do list, and getting her apartment in order was one check in need of web aggregation. Scroll through our list of colorful solutions, as options range from custom to DIY.

Birds + Fish:

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The Fish Rug by Eva Zeisal at The Rug Company, Bird Scallop Printed Rug at Urban Outfitters and the Flock Rug at CB2.

Florals:

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The Como Collection at Funky Rugs, Calvin Klein Floral Loom at Funky Rugs, and the Blosson Tree Rug at Urban Outfitters.

Earthy:

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Forest Floor Rug at Angela Adams, Gold Leaves Rug at Spacify and Branches Rug at Spacify.

Puzzles:

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Puzzle Perser by Katrin Sonnleitner, Against the Grain at Flor and Puzzle by Puzzle Floor.

Floor Stencils:

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Home Offices of De Leon & Primmer Architecture Workshop, JA45 Mokko stencil featured on Apartment Therapy and Catherine’s hand painted floor pattern featured on Design*Sponge.

Bold Geometrics:

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Kashmir by Kyle Bunting , Lemon Ginger by Madeline Weinrub and The Xian Collection by Brink and Campman for Funky Rugs.

Sticker/Adhesives/Appliques:

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Electrical Tapped Floor in NY Mag, Large Floor Sticker at Rockett St. George and Nenuphar stickers at Made in Design.

Graphic:

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The Xian Collection by Brink and Campman for Funky Rugs, Crystals Rug at Angela Adams and Jorun Rug at Ikea.

Painterly:

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Bois at Jamie Drake Rugs, Tibetan Modern Rug at Spacify, Blue Rink at The Rug Company.

Additional Contributions by Emily Gup.

May 1, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Follow-up: Beetle Jewels

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On a November trip to Paris, Pattern Pulp noticed a wash of insect repeats on everything from silk pillows to woven monograms. Fast forward five months and it appears that this trend has traveled west, as we’re seeing beetle influences everywhere. Samantha Gregory, the VP of Communications at Tory Burch successfully represents her company in this bold monochromatic repeat for her April feature in California Magazine. Back on the east coast, Christopher Marley creates luxurious insect mosaics, showcasing his bizarre connoisseurship in the installation entitled, Pheremone at Barneys Madison Avenue location. As usual, Dazed and Confused stylizes seed concepts at their best with this Alexander McQueen and Swarovski Spring/Summer 09 collaboration.

April 29, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Interview: Beci Orpin

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The creative work flowing from Beci Orpin’s Melbourne studio is incredible. Just click on Orpin’s site and you’ll understand that her world of graphic design is more magical than most. A menagerie of colorful mushrooms and fantasy-inspired silhouettes march across the screen with unabashed purpose, preparing the user for a unique mix of commercially friendly, widely applicable artwork. While many are familiar with Orpin through her women’s clothing line, Princess Tina, she has recently closed the doors on this decade long endeavor in an effort to focus on other creative pursuits. Check out our Q+A for a glimpse at Orpin’s creative process in addition to where you can find her creations in the coming season.

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PP: What websites do you generally start your day with-do you have a daily routine for news/blog/information consumption?

BO: I don’t usually have time to check blogs on a daily basis, I would says it is probably more of a weekly occurrence but when I do, the some ones I like are:

reference library
stork bites man
lena corwin
loobylu
meet me at mikes
fine little day
design sponge
the design files

PP: How did you discover your talent and how has it evolved over your career?

BO: I am not sure I discovered it – I had some sort of weird tunnel vision – there was nothing else. Drawing and creating is all I ever wanted to do. I remember 2 defining moments – one when i was 6 and drawing a picture of a wedding, and one when I was about 14 and drawing a cat. I cant remember exactly what happened, but while doing those 2 drawings something clicked and it confirmed that being creative was what I loved, and wanted to do with my life.

PP: Do you discuss your work with other designers? If so, how does that impact your creation process?

BO: Most of my friends are in creative industries, so I guess as part of our general conversation we talk about work. If I am stuck on something and need advice, I know I can always get honest and useful opinions from my partner/husband Raph and my assistant Leah. I think its a very valuable thing to get others opinions, especially when you work for yourself – its easy to get trapped in your own world.

PP: Where do you usually work on your patterns and what is your preferred method of creation + execution?

BO: I work with patterns in many forms, although a lot of my pattern work is for textiles. I have also created patterns for wallpaper, murals, stationery and packaging. As far as method, it depends on what the pattern is for. I don’t have a preferred method and will just do whatever is appropriate for the job. I am really liking hand-collaged paper mixed with computer lately.

PP: When is the last time you took a professional/creative risk?

BO: Last November I decided to stop creating the women’s clothing line, Princess Tina. After 8 years I had just had enough and felt it wasn’t relevant to my life anymore and decided to put all my energy into freelancing, my kids line (tiny mammoth), and a new line I am doing under my own name. It was a risk because Princess Tina was still generating income for us and giving it up meant that income was no longer going to be there. Though from the beginning, Raph and I decided that we don’t run our own business just to make money, we have to love all the projects we work on 100%. I have never regretted leaving for one second and think by dedicating more time to other things, they will in turn replace some of the income Princess Tina brought in…. or maybe i will have to get real job instead!

PP: Do you incorporate commercial trends into your work and if so, is this a factor that drives your design?

BO: I try not to follow trends as such, but I think it does happen sub-consciously sometimes. Obviously when you are following a brief from a client, sometimes you have to follow trends. If I do, I at least try and interpret them in new ways.

April 27, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Street Finds: Houndstooth Renaissance

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Once relegated to suiting basics and formal attire, the traditional Scottish houndstooth pattern has experienced a renaissance in recent months. While most people are used to seeing this checkered staple in black and white, interesting applications have begun to surface, ranging from bright and bold for humans to innovative and luxurious for pets. This black and yellow skirt, worn by a fashionable New York City commuter, is as punk as it is feminine. Tankers replace checks, adding edge that is quickly softened by broad feminine pleats. Hopping into the world of pet fashion, this subdued intarsia sweater from Vogue Knitting is a sophisticated must for the knitters out there.

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Grove, a high-end home goods store in the West Village always provides an inspiring browse. The items on display usually translate trends throughout other home good categories. This houndstooth pillow is a tactile translation of journalism-inspired palettes. Next time you’re reading The Economist, Newsweek or The Daily Beast, take note of the color schemes, as red and black take center stage and are used to communicate urgency- a message many home designers have recently embraced. Courtney Skott, a west coast creative, solves the age-old dilemma of the room divider with her life-sized Houndstooth Screen. This pivoting sculpture provides a functional and artful way to interact with your furniture.

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As noted on Inhabitat a few weeks back, Commonspace’s collaboration with Matt Penrose produced a collapsible dog tent for apparel and lifestyle brand Freeman’s Sporting Club. Made from biodegradable plastic and pieced together by interlocking puzzle-piece components, the sum of the parts result in a houndstooth print. It’s wonderful to see a traditional pattern applied in innovative ways, even if the idea is geared to an unrealistic process.

April 17, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Digital Dividers

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Digital influences are everywhere- from Invader’s pixelated street art to fashionable home goods and clothing themes, typically invisible details are gaining recognition across non-digital platforms. Dutch designer Nienke Sybrandy‘s sheer curtains are a coder’s delight. Her tree branches are compiled of assorted letters and numbers and are laid out within a monochromatic palette. In an alternate world, the LA designers behind the Oumi label have embraced this fashion friendly fusion by pairing transitory pixels with satin and knit.

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When assessing which patterns are most successful, it’s important to consider the role of color. If a palette isn’t balanced, the eye will wander to the dead spots or over accentuated details. These pixelated animations by the Japanese design team, Kashiwasato display type and movement for Microsoft Office’s 2008 for Mac launch. Carefully choreographed squares cover the screen in chaotic movement, revealing digital disarray reminicent of a visual virus.

April 10, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik

Gifts: Marking Your Territory

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It’s always a little tough finding gifts that are foolproof. Unless instructed otherwise, I always try to go the creative route, as I love initiating artistic moments. While at the home goods concept store, Future Perfect, in Williamsburg this past weekend, I stopped in my tracks at these ingenious crayon rings. The chic pyramids come in a playful palette of primaries and can be coordinated with any wardrobe. Doodling on the go just got more fashionable.

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If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to DIY fashion, check out Wishing Fish’s T-Shirt Graffiti, as it’s under $10 and a perfectly sensible gift for any child (or adult). If you’re aiming for personable luxury, Longchanp offers a blank canvas for their signature Le Pilage bag, though I’d be worried about making a mistake with every mark!

April 7, 2009 | By: Shayna Kulik