March 17, 2014
12 March DIYs
Click on each image to go to the project.
All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
March 14, 2014
Time to Brag: Kolo’s Noci
So let’s get real. I love talking about my pets, an embarrassing amount really. I adopted my two oldest cats, Roxy and Peanut, when I was in college. I have almost an entire photo box full of their first few years of life, but then this thing called digital photography happened. Which meant that a decade later when I adopted my dogs Piper and Bebe, and my kitten Rainey, everything had changed. Yes my iPhone is full of photos that I will most definitely whip out and gush about to you, but I don’t have any printed photos of my furry loves.
Peanut’s huge, manly tomcat toes make a cover appearance.
I first became acquainted with Kolo as a grad student, in fact I used one of their Newport album as my art direction portfolio right out of school! I love the clean lines of their photo books and the beautifully smooth, high-quality paper within. I swear, they have the ability to make even mediocre photography shine.
Just hanging out in a clothes basket, as you do when you’re a cat.
Kolo has grown as a brand since being founded in 1999, and now offers a great range of products. What really stood out to me is that they can “load” an album for you. You upload photos to their free unlimited photo storage, fill the album of your choice with the images, and Kolo prints it all using Canon technology with stunning clarity and color trueness for a super reasonable price. Trust me, these are not the cheesy photo books you’re familiar with. They’re quality in every way, including the environmentally friendly raw materials used in all Kolo products.
Piper uses those amber eyes to get every single thing she wants.
I filled the Noci with 24 photos of my five furry children between its Ivory covers. This was my first experience with Kolo’s Canon printing and I’m completely impressed. Not only do the colors pop right off the page, but the paper feels substantial and luxe. The Noci is the perfect size to create a brag book or remember a specific event, or for business it would work great as a small portfolio or product catalogue.
Bebe playing boss on Halloween and Rainey snug as a bug in a rug.
You’ll also be happy to know that most of Kolo‘s albums are available as printed books or as classic albums where photos can be swapped out. The Noci Original is the same price empty or loaded, which is crazy! My plan is to eventually have several of these cloth-bound albums lining a bookshelf in the fantastic color palette offered, they all work really well together because they’re designed to.
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. All words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Design Crush going!
Posted In accessories, house and home, paper goods, sponsored post
March 12, 2014
Katy Skelton
Katy Skelton creates beautiful products, and she does it right. Everything in Katy’s Made in the USA line is designed and manufactured with social responsibility in mind – responsible manufacturing, fair wages, and property safety equipment and training are all requirements. Not to mention high quality in-house design and construction, and Katy’s well-versed background in the industry. It has to feel incredible to be able to attach your name to something like that.
March 11, 2014
Elephant Landing
I love getting the down and dirty back story on products and companies that I want in my home. I love it even more when I find out that the story is a good one, one that I want to be a part of. Such is the case with Elephant Landing, a beautiful line of textiles founded by Caroline and Jayden (who you may know as Woodnote Photography) and created by women in India. You can watch the beautiful background story, then peek at the entire line of textiles. Both are bright and full of promise.
March 10, 2014
Spring Update: Minted Art
It’s been almost a week since the last snowfall, so I’ve decided that spring is definitely almost maybe here. Probably. Anyway, I thought I’d do my part to urge it on by starting some spring updates around the house.
My first refresh is the art in my master bedroom, because it’s been several years since I hung a large-scale photograph by Kelly Lynn Jones above my bed and called it a day. This room is my sanctuary and I really wanted to add to that vibe, especially considering my office is directly across the hall.
I went with four prints from Minted that gave me that daydream-filled, relaxing feel that’s so necessary to helping me unwind at the end of each day. The color palette helps reflect it as well, while the white frames I chose for all four pieces hold everything together cohesively.
To keep things interesting I made sure to select varied sizes – 30 x 40″, 24 x 18″, and 16 x 16″. To be honest, this is the most art I’ve had in this bedroom. Ever. I was nervous that it might start to feel cluttered or just be too much but it really isn’t, and I couldn’t be happier with the end result.
Staredown by Amy Carroll // Salinity Now by Denny Holland // Aperture 4 by Susie Allen
// Grass with Seeds by Jorey Hurley
This post sponsored by Minted. As always all words, opinions, and experiences are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep Design Crush going!
Posted In house and home, paper goods, prints, sponsored post, walls
March 4, 2014
Country Road
Country Road is anything but country in style. Sleek pieces with curves and an incredibly appealing color palette make this Australian company simply Scandinavian by design. Great quality, value, and attention to detail doesn’t hurt either. I’d love to outfit some open shelving with the entire collection.
(via sfgirlbybay)
Posted In house and home
February 26, 2014
A Sunny Afternoon
If these textiles from A Sunny Afternoon don’t make you want to pack up a picnic basket and eat al fresco, well, nothing will. I’m going ape for the bright, abstract napkins and dish towels that have me mentally rummaging through my belongings for a big, bright blanket to set up on. (There’s even a beautiful picnic basket if you need more inspiration!)
February 21, 2014
Trending: Shibori
Hand Dyed Indigo Silk Shibori Scarf by Lizard Land // Black Shibori Oversized Foldover Clutch by Aiko Threads // Original Shibori Fabric Notecards by Cape Cod Shibori
Tie-dye is experiencing yet another comeback, but not just any tie-dye – shibori. Shibori is a Japanese process for resist-dyeing cloth by binding, folding, twisting and compressing. There are tons of ways to manipulate fabric for shibori, each one creating different designs and patterns. And right now it’s showing up everywhere in the home and on the runway.
Shibori Pillow Cover by pillow1 // Hand Dyed Shibori Scarf with Fringe by Oh Suzanni // Blue Shibori Dip Dye Pillowcase Pair by Noble & Iron
Blocked Tote by Job & Boss // Shibori Hand Dyed Indigo Dinner Napkins by Squid Whale Designs // Shibori Wristlet Clutch by Sea & Stone
Posted In accessories, accessories, bags, cards, house and home, kitchen, paper goods, trends, wear it
February 20, 2014
Susan Connor New York
I’m thrilled to see Susan Connor of SusyJack fame branching out into the world of textiles! She’s a self-taught pattern designer whose new new shop – Susan Connor New York – is full of textiles that are both modern and relaxed. Most of the pieces are being created in limited runs to afford Susan the ability to consistently explore and create new and exciting things. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how this line evolves!
February 19, 2014
12 February DIYs
Click on each image to go to the project.
All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.