Blueprint arrived over the weekend, but for those of you who do not yet have a copy, I promise this sneak peak won’t be a spoiler. I’m sure lots of you have your subscription copy anyway, so let’s discuss!
This is a surprisingly solid issue, given their first two issues created lots o’ chatter in the blogosphere about its lack of cohesion, over-priced finds, and ‘been there done that’ products and ideas. Some of you were split down the middle, not knowing what to think.
This time, you’ll see a sharp, refreshing contrast. Everything works. It’s vibrant. The styling, gorgeous typography, Marthaesque layout, well-written, informative content — it’s a full course meal. A beautiful collection of things, from entertaining tips to peep toe flats and gorgeous rooms that are well arranged and attainable. I was glad to see Editor-in-Chief Sarah Humphreys bare a bit of her soul with a home tour of her newly decorated 307 sq. ft. foot West Village pad (does everyone live in the village these days?!). It was designed by three Blueprint editors. That was quite cool, at least according to me.
Here are a few tear sheets from my issue, heading straight for my look book.
Find 01. Holly Waterfield’s office space and West Village (see what I mean!) boutique, Camp, are featured. I love how she layers her collections, everything with such care, creating warmth and charm. Here’s her desk…
Find 02. Using job jackets as frames. Brilliant. When I worked in town, I used the black ones constantly to insert project plans in for one wall, and next to my computer, photos I’d taken to perk me up. I had no clue that they were available in a myriad of colors, and to use them in the home as art, well that’s just clever! Some Blueprint tips: Insert lightweight children’s books that you love, vintage magazine covers, kids art, food labels, origami papers, calendar pages (letterpressed or illustrated), greeting cards or postcards, digital photos, and seed packages. I’d like to add favorite textiles, wallpaper, stamps, and current magazines (or just their covers) that you find inspiring to their list. Blueprint lists Lineco as a resource, but their website doesn’t show these jackets, so you have to call them. I suggest googling “job jackets” or “job ticket holders” until you find what you need. You can also try Filmguard, they carry them in several primary colors, or try Media Street.
Find 03. This was an exciting find. Polaroids neatly arranged on the wall with acid-free double-stick tape behind a plexiglas sheet. I want to run out and buy a polaroid camera right now. Everything old is new again, including polaroids. Another major find in this photo is that killer stainless-steel table. I love metal tables, but hadn’t known about this resource until now. Visit Restaurant Services online for affordable metal, this one starts at $281.
Find 04. Oh the Parsons table. Margaret Russell calls it the little black dress of interior design, the one piece everyone should own. I’m on board. But it’s not the Parsons that I’m interested in here. It’s that photo over it. It’s an oversized picture of an Italian beach scene that the homeowners love, and not in a small way, either. It’s large and in charge. Mounted on gatorfoam board (which Blueprint assures us is stronger than foam core), you can mount it with velcro tabs from the office store. Turn your favorite image into art for as little as $100 at Duggal. Love!
Find 05. Sarah’s apartment. Great spread, lots of ideas, loads of detail (even a floor plan), and beautiful photos. I love her new shelving systems, styled as perfectly as you’d expect from Martha staffers, and her superb sofa and fabric divider between the kitchen and living room space. Not shown, but worth a mention, is her iMac cozy. I actually started designing these about 8 years ago for friends and then, when the new sexy iMacs came out, saw no need to keep producing them because most people feel Apple is like Prada, it makes a statement. Seeing her iMac cozy made me rethink all this… It’s back to the machine for me!
With talk of a new Blueprint Saturday afternoon Block Party on the Style Network, their own blog due to roll out soon, and the Blueprint radio hour, Tuesdays at noon EST on the Martha Stewart Living Radio channel 112 on Sirius, it looks like Blueprint is ready to dig in. They even plan to roll out 6 issues this year, so it doesn’t look like Blueprint is fading into the sunset, but building for a very strong, and confident, delivery for ’07.
(images from blueprint)
What did you think of Top Design tonight? I loved the challenge, finally something a bit more realistic, yeah for that. Who wants to get us started? All I can say is Goil rocks and Go Kelly! She is the best, love how strong and confident she is… Who can rock hair like that, am I right?
See ya later, decorat…oh, whatev!
(image from top design)
Reader Stephanie is looking for letters, “Do you know of a place to buy Letters? Individual letters made from metal, wood. Variety of sizes? I want to get a collection of S.” – Stephanie.
Image from Living Etc.I’m thinking to check out eBay and search under “Vintage Letters”, “Antique Sign Letters”, “Sign Letters”, ” Marquee Letters”, or “Letter S” perhaps? Although I tend to bet the best ones are at flea markets… Of course, I’m sure websites exist that sell them. Maybe try Buy Sign Letters, Sonrisa Furniture, or these chunky cardboard letters at Re-found Objects?
Hmmm. We may need to consult master letter expert, Victoria. (See her previous letter posts here.) Maybe she knows where you can find a good S or two. She seems to love Timeless Treasures in San Francisco. Maybe you could call them? Oh, and I found this thread over at Typophile, these peeps seem helpful. You could jump in on that conversation.
Fabric letters from Anthropologie. Oh, and don’t form words that are mean like this… he he. Image via NY Magazine. Can you imagine doing this? Don’t laugh. It gets worse. I actually met a couple years ago that had a neon sign over their bed that said the s-e-x word in bright pink, so I guess anything goes these days. Or not!
Image from Wary Meyers. Ah. Much more tame than the last image. :)
The living room of Kristian in Frankfurt via Apartment Therapy.She found her letters at a flea market. Very nice – simple yet bold.
Can anyone help point Stephaine to some resources? Online, perhaps?
Did anyone catch the Gillingham-Ryan family (from AT) on Oprah yesterday? The show was all about living in a small space and focused mainly on Nate Berkus’ designs, as well as a couple of small space owners, and products that could be used in tight quarters. What did you think about the studio that Nate designed for Martha, a very gracious lady (she was so cute) with two cats, Prada and Louie? Did you like the tented room?
What about the new Nate apartment in the village? Here are a few pics of his new place, in case you missed the show.
It’s gorgeous, huh? I love his white bertoia chairs, and found it very interesting that he painted everything white (even the hardwood floors) and then painted his doors and cabinetry in a high gloss dark blue (so dark it looks black, as he said). I like how he positioned some of his art, and found his bedroom to be soothing and so stylish – especially that vintage chandelier he found. I seriously loved that thing. Painting the a/c unit white was clever, as was the furniture placement around it, the unit seemed to disappear into the wall. Looks like his new place will be in the next issue of O at Home magazine, hitting newsstands on March 6th, so we’ll have larger images to drool over.
But the tented room… Hmmm. I am still trying to swallow that because I had cats at one time in my life and recall their love of climbing. I imagine them swinging from all that fabric. Martha seemed so happy though, she was not only star-struck by Nate, but seemed positively giddy over his work. Speaking of… We all like to look at pretty homes, so here’s a few of my favorites from his portfolio online over at Nate Berkus Associates.
I like seeing grey with beige and lavendar.
We all need architectural details and soaring ceilings like this…
Fantastic black wall, drama! Those b/w chairs are gorgeous,with the hint of yellow in the room as an accent. Nice.
(images from oprah.com and nate berkus)
Love is Blind is a team of two British talents, product designer Patrick Laing and fashion textiles designer Abi Williams. I love their new collection of blinds, so unique and definitely more interesting that the standard white ones we see here in America at Home Depot’s everywhere. There are currently 7 designs total (“hand show” is not shown), but I feel mostly drawn to 2 of designs – the tree, perfect for those in the city who may not look out and see as many as they’d like, and of course I love the plants because I think the color and pattern is fabulous, especially for a kitchen. You can find the blind collection from Love is Blind exclusively at Bodie and Fou online.
(images from bodie and fou)
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Google +
Flickr
LinkedIn
