Isabel Marant Store, Los Angleles

I stumbled upon these photos somewhere on the internet of the new Isabel Marant store in LA. It looks like it's pretty closeby, near the Beverly Center. I'm really in love with the interior, I am going to have to make a point to go see it in person. I will try to find out the designer of this space, they really nailed it with this project. It's difficult sometimes to explain a design philosophy, and they say a picture is worth a thousand words. I feel like it is totally my "style". I love the raw concrete floors, the use of steel, the wood shipping crate coffee table, the burl wood chair,the BKF Hardoy (butterfly) chairs, the use of the natural plywood to create the sculptural niches, the Jean Prouve potence lamp, the use of the bold accent colors...I love everything about it! If anyone knows who to credit the photos to, please email me and Ill update the post. Thanks!

I must know!!

While working on another project, which I'll be posting pretty soon, I came across this vintage fiberglass modular booth thing-a-ma-jig, and I simply have to know more about it. It was sitting in a yard in an industrial area, and it really caught my interest. I don't know anything else about it, and I can't make out the name. It looks like maybe "INGRAE" or "INGRAO" or maybe even "IVGRAP"? I can't make out the logo, and nothing really comes up when I search any of those. I suppose it's probably some long defunct Scandinavian Modular start-up company from the 60's. It sort of reminds me of those "Futuro Houses" from the same era, when people were really experimenting with the use of fiberglass and modular concepts.

It's being used for storage presently, but it looks like some sort of concession stand. It has a little countertop ad sliding window on one side, a door on one face, and windows on either side. It may have been some sort of jobsite office or ticket booth as well. I really dig the look of it, and it totally inspires me, My senior project in Architecture school was a modular/panelized system as well. I was talking with a guy on the yard, and he said it was probably about 40 years old, and that it was for sale for only $800! (Like I need another project), I'll just keep driving by and obsessing over it for now I guess...It would be awesome as a little home office or pool cabana, I just don't have the space right now though. If I could find some use for it I'd be all over it!

Blu Dot

Blu Dot is a company that I have been following for the last few years. I really liked the story of how they got started, and their philosophy is pretty much the same way I feel. I have been mentally planning a sort of pilgrimage to meet and interview all of the designers that I am influenced by, and these guys are on my list. One of my goals is to be able to work with my friends and family, and it seems like that's just what they did. I would love to learn more about how they did it. I really like a lot of the designs, we have spec'd a few of their pieces through work. They seem pretty functional, versatile and well thought out. One can see that a lot of thought went into the production, or mass-production rather, and they really tried to keep the pieces affordable. Anyhow, here is their mission statement taken from the Blu Dot website:

Millions of New Homes Needed!

I just thought I would share this vintage WWII era propaganda poster I scored on eBay a little while back. I loved the artwork and colors, and especially the subject matter! I framed and matted it, and it's going in my bedroom...