The Office

354-Office-1-Design Crush

 

After sharing the first floor of my house here last fall, I’d planned on doing the same with the second floor this spring. As you can see… it’s taken a wee bit longer. You got a glimpse of the office earlier this year when it got a new paint job, but today it’s the whole deal. (The master bedroom and guest room will follow in the next few months.) Ready?

 

354-Office-2-Design Crush

 

If I’m being honest with myself, I’m 110% surprised at how much color is in my office. It’s tempered in every direction you look by white and black, but it’s still more than I ever would have guessed.

 

354-Office-3-Design-Crush

 

I upgraded my desk to one that would afford me a little bit of storage. The closet in this room is teeny tiny and triangular in shape, it’s located directly over the angled staircase below and has to accommodate its high ceiling. I went with the Prairie School Desk. (Do you just associate Land of Nod with kids? You’re wrong, they’re so much more.) I love its sleek and modern profile and the way it coordinated with a few other things I already had selected for the space.

 

354-Office-4-Design-Crush

 

The VITTSJÖ shelving unit bears the burden of a lot of what a closet would normally be responsible for. The tempered glass and metal are super sturdy, so I’m able to hide a lot of clutter in boxes as well as design books and the blank journals that I can’t seem to stop collecting. Do you like the pops of brightness my yellow accessories bring to the table?

Plants give any space life, and I was determined to make my office feel as light and airy as possible. Modernica’s Case Study planters have been a longtime favorite and this seemed like just the place to use one. (Please note that I have the stand turned upside-down here to add some extra height.) The sturdy ceramic pot and wooden base add a nice earthy touch to an otherwise empty corner.

I debated whether or not to put down a rug in this space and ultimately decided it needed it. I embraced the opportunity to pull in some more color and pattern with this Surya Frontier design from Rugs Direct in salmon, light grey, and navy. It pulls in the light pink accents around the room all while remaining surprisingly neutral.

 

354-Office-5-Design Crush

 

While I’m all about hanging art everywhere, I deliberately wanted lots of open wall space here. Aside from a few mood board-type things over my desk, the only other thing on the wall is this Never Read the Comments print by Serif & Script. Always a good reminder for anyone with a presence online, no?

 

354-Office-6-Design Crush

 

I plan on sandwiching a few things under this I Can See Clearly Now Desk Mat. I’m thinking favorite photo booth shots, important notes, etc. Bonus: It does double-duty as a surface protector for my desk and laptop!

 

354-Office-7-Design-Crush

354-Office-9-Design Crush

 

I finished things off with a curtain rod sporting ball finials and Little Arches curtains (More color! More pattern!) I was nervous that it might be a bit much and clash with the rug, but the pattern ended up complimenting the rest of the room better than could have been expected.

I’m thrilled with the way this space has come together and can’t wait to see how it evolves. Time to get back to work!

 

354-Office-8-Design Crush

 

Prairie School Desk c/o Land of Nod // VITTSJÖ shelving unit // Case Study planter c/o Modernica // Surya Frontier rug c/o Rugs Direct // Never Read the Comments print by Serif & Script // I Can See Clearly Now Desk Mat c/o Land of Nod // curtain rodball finialsLittle Arches curtain c/o Land of Nod

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Amanda Happé

Amanda Happe-1-Design Crush

 

Toronto-based Amanda Happé is decidedly gifted in the painting and drawing areas of life. (As well as in the beautiful-long-red-hair area, but that’s another story.) Not one to shy away from color, Amanda embraces it wholeheartedly through all of her work. Her latest is a series referred to as Runes Waterfull of stark imagery and simple shapes on clean white backgrounds.

 

Amanda Happe-2-Design Crush

Amanda Happe-3-Design Crush

Amanda Happe-4-Design Crush

Amanda Happe-5-Design Crush

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Time to Pack Your Modern Backpack

Backpacks-Design-Crush

ROW 1: Baggu Backpack in Canvas // Square Backpack in Mustard // Minimal Nude Backpack
ROW 2: Yami Backpack // The Whitepepper Graphic Print Canvas Backpack // Wherever You Wander Backpack in Pink
ROW 3: JanSport Heritage Jayhawk Backpack // Hershel Supply Co. Heritage Mid-Volume Backpack
ROW 4: The Twill Snap Backpack // BURTON Tinder Pack // AEO Colorblock Backpack
ROW 5: Cognac Leather Canvas Caravan Backpack // The Transport Rucksack // The Kane Backpack in Pink and Mint

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Lorna Simpson

Lorna Simpson-1-Design Crush

 

Lorna Simpson is a very accomplished artist, having created everything from large scale photo and text works to her latest – manipulated photographs from the 1950s. All of Lorna’s work confronts and challenges conventional views of gender, identity, culture, history, and memory, while each piece explores interactions, relationships, and experiences in contemporary America.

 

Lorna Simpson-2-Design Crush

Lorna Simpson-3-Design Crush

Lorna Simpson-4-Design Crush

Lorna Simpson-5-Design Crush

(via The Jealous Curator)

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Cosmic Diner Collection

Cosmic Diner Collection-1-Design Crush

 

I’ve always been fascinated by space, so why not make room for it in my kitchen? Italian designers Diesel Living and Seletti’s eleven piece Cosmic Diner Collection is made of porcelain and decorated with realistic images of the planets, the sun, and several moons. I love that several of the pieces could pass for abstract if you didn’t know what you were looking at.

 

Cosmic Diner Collection-2-Design Crush

Cosmic Diner Collection-3-Design Crush

(via bltd)

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Yung Cheng Lin

Yung Cheng Lin-1-Design Crush

 

Yung Cheng Lin‘s manipulated photography is attention-grabbing, that’s for sure. Her latest series strives to bring attention to female body modification through a digitally imposed piece of red string threaded through her subjects’ skin.

 

Yung Cheng Lin-2-Design Crush

Yung Cheng Lin-3-Design Crush

Yung Cheng Lin-4-Design Crush

Yung Cheng Lin-5-Design Crush

(via Booooooom)

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ENTLER

ENTLER-1-Design Crush

 

If you were to create a modern lamp with old-fashioned telephones as inspiration, you might end up with something like this ceramic lighting collection from ENTLER. Sturdy bodies support elegantly curved necks and all is covered with a glossy finish, making me feel like I could lift one up for a conversation.

 

ENTLER-2-Design Crush

ENTLER-3-Design Crush

ENTLER-5-Design Crush

ENTLER-4-Design Crush

(via Design Milk)

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Johan Barrios

Johan Barrios-1-Design Crush

 

Columbian artist Johan Barrios works in graphite and watercolors to create some of the most beautiful mixed media results. The finished pieces leave me feeling as though I’m looking at washed out film that’s been dipped in a series of chemicals. But nope, just raw talent.

 

Johan Barrios-2-Design Crush

Johan Barrios-3-Design Crush

Johan Barrios-4-Design Crush

Johan Barrios-5-Design Crush

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Happy Weekend

1-Design Crush

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10-Design Crush

This week on Design Crush:
Check out these ten fresh art prints for your dose of Print Edition: August.
I took a trip to Kennywood for the first time since 1999!
Tessa Horrocks‘ pebble-centric art has me looking for the nearest stream.
Canopy beds done right.
I’m ready for fall, thanks to Lieke van der Vorst.
I’m getting so much use out of my DIY modern shower memo board!
If Drew Tyndell styled up the outside of my home like his art I wouldn’t mind.
These slivered marble hooks are so pretty and handy.
Loving the summery paintings of Seth Smith.

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Seth Smith

Seth Smith-1-Design Crush

 

While I realize we technically have over a month of summer left it also feels as though we’re crawling towards the finish line. That’s what Seth Smith‘s paintings feel like to me, the last few days and week of warm weather before school and other obligations start to creep in.

 

Seth Smith-2-Design Crush

Seth Smith-3-Design Crush

Seth Smith-4-Design Crush

Seth Smith-5-Design Crush

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