I’ve been holding on to these photos for a while, but to me, they have a timeless feel. These patterns are reminiscent of children in a schoolyard jumping rope or playing red rover. Holding hands, like paper dolls, these black and white motifs are expressive and organized all at once.
The first two photos are from Selfridges in London, and the pillow above is from Milan. They’re darling, and artsy and have a mature, whimsical feel to them.
Who here’s heard of Paul? Before heading to Buenos Aires, I knew nothing of this magical land of homegoods. After seeing it on many a friend’s Foursquare list and my own Fortnighter itinerary, I was determined to visit ‘the Merci of BA.’
The store is located off the main road down a peaceful gardened path. For the New York readers looking for a comparison, it has an ABC Carpet meets South American vibe throughout. It also feels a bit like Corso Como of Milan.
The home accessories are high-end, comfortable and air on the side of neutral. The patterns when enlarged are sketchy and imperfect, and when smaller are even prisms of geometry.
These knitted mounts are interesting. I’m not a fan of taxidermy, but this interpretation takes the edge off in a delicate way. They feel like creatures of the netherworld.
Everything’s mixed and matched with subtle embroidery, soft texture and screen-printed detailing. Though a star is a star is a star, I was still drawn to this Sabe Bonito pillow- it has a seasonless appeal that you just want to curl up and read a book on.
PBS recently launched the Idea Channel, a biweekly web series featuring host, Mike Rugnetta that ties popular icons, products and trends to established art movements. The first episode is quirky and informative and just the type of tv content I’d want my child to watch (if I had child).
This episode explores the iconic Nintendo game Super Mario Bros, comparing it to surrealist art. Rugnetta – a composer, programmer and performer, as well as one third of MemeFactory offers a fun, kid-friendly perspective, with lively graphic accompaniment and interesting comparisons. What do you think?
When buying or revamping expensive furniture, it’s quite difficult to suppress your inhibitions and trust your creative gut. Back in July, The New York Times highlighted Pamela Bell, one of four original founders of the Kate Spade brand. Bell took it upon herself to reinvent the concept of doodling and let her children go wild on two pieces of antique furniture. The results, though alarming to some, were well received my most. Fast forward a few months, and it’s time to inspect how this idea of laissez faire fabric graffiti seeped into the marketplace. On display at Elizabeth Bauer, a store for modern traditionalists, sits a wonderfully adapted high-end interpretation of this style. French handwriting covers all visible fabric, representing a playful pattern on pattern effect. This chair is as flamboyant as it is elegant.
Bold & Expressive Marks
Leanne Shapton’s illustrations exemplify the perfect balance between a refined color palette and playful shapes. Much of her work can be found in bookstores and on the shelves of home libraries. Resultantly, her expressive style is often paired with highbrow literature.
Thin & Intricate Lines
When inspecting the doodle, delicate markings are just as important as sweeping gestures. The 60’s math toy, the hypotrochoid art set, marries the idea of precision and fun for anyone who can get their hands on these serrated wheels. Using a similarly detailed approach, the artist, Marian Bantjes is continually reinventing her line. Here she merges type with surrounding shapes for a colorful invitation. Dale Kaplan achieves her own interpretation of scratch, creating a high-end pillow by using nothing more than a sewing machine and thread.