How Lovely: Louise Gray

I have mentioned before that Minneapolis has an abundance of amazing creatives.  Today I wanted to share Louise Gray with you.  These stunning modern quilts are the result of Alexandra Gray Bennett and Jocelin Johnson's collaboration.  Aren't they beautiful?  My favorites are No. 1 and No. 3, but I would take all of them.  I grew up with my mom and grandmother quilting and am so glad when I see this medium executed through the lens of contemporary design.

--grace

Decadent Design: Hackwith Design House

I hope you all had an amazing weekend.  If you have some spare time today you really must check out Minneapolis Fashion Designer and maker Lisa Hackwith at Hackwith Design House.  Her clothing is beautiful, simple and chic.  Her attention to detail is what really makes the pieces special.  Plus the photography is stunning!  An inspiring stylist is in our midst.   Pictured above are the Indigo Miller Crop Top, Black and White Swim Suit, and the Kelby Top.  I love it all!

--grace

Currently Loving: Anthro

Zach and I went into Anthropologie while we were waiting for our dinner table on Monday and it was full of new and beautiful objects.  Their new May merchandise is worth swooning over!  Some over my favorites pictured above are the Latte Serveware (haven't we all been waiting for these?), the Bangala Armchair, and these sweet Ceramic Critters.  I also love these, these, and these.

--grace   

Decadent Design: INT2 Architecture

I ran across this inspiring interiors firm from Russia, INT2.  Their work is breathtaking!  The project above is the design of an old apartment in the center of St. Petersburg.  How great is the tile in the bathroom?  Look at more amazing projects here. 

--grace

Decadent Design: Forage Modern Workshop

Recently (sometime in the past couple months) Zach took me to this modern design store in East Lake Minneapolis.  It is brimming with great furniture, products and print.  It even has one of my favorite magazines, Cereal.  Mike Smith, James Brown and their buyer Rebekah Cook have filled the shop with a variety of inspiring local and global creative work.  They have a small selection of Minnesotan Designer Matt Eastvold's furniture (who works in the same shop as Zach).  I also am loving this quilt.  If you are looking for a quick read, Forage has a great feature on Design Milk here.  If you find yourself in the Twin Cities you should stop by... or at least look at their website here.

--grace

Decadent Design: Dishware

I know it's a bit late, but I will wish you all a happy Monday anyways!  Zach and I have recently been searching for new dishware.  I honestly don't know how we will ever choose.  There are so many beautiful dishes.  The first is the Mallorca dishware by Paola Navone.  How great are these bowls? The second set is the Organic Metal Rimmed dishware from West Elm.  The final set is Ceres Dinnerware with the sweetest Nature Dessert Plates.  The Giraffe is my favorite!  My mom has just switched to Hue Dinnerware paired with magical Gemma Plates (and I love those too).  Do you have a great set of dishes?  If so, where did you get them??

some sweet sounds below

--grace

Decadent Design: 2Day Languages

I am in love with the interiors of 2Day Languages in Valencia (via Domaine).  What a great color palette, ombre walls and elegant ceiling treatment.  Check out all of those beautiful chairs! 

also, Zach and I got tickets to the hilarious Aziz Ansari, so excited!

some sweet sounds for your day below

--grace 

Decadent Design: Light + Ladder

I have been looking for inspiration for my final Workshop project.  One of my ideas is an indoor herb garden.  I came across Light + Ladder.  They are a Brooklyn based product design business that sells beautiful minimalist planters.  Two of my favorite are pictured above: the Hex spora and the Spora.

some sweet sound for your day below

--grace

Decadent Design: Asia Pietrzyk

How was your weekend?  Mine was amazing!  After studio my night was full of surprises including Spicy Shrimp Pasta, Crispy Edamame, a projector showing Parks and Rec, my favorite movie snacks, and a beautiful ring.  As it turns out, I have the best boyfriend ever!  I hope your weekend was just as wonderful.  On Friday I posted an illustration of Asia Pietrzyk.  She is an illustrator from Stolkholm, Sweden and I love her style.  Her portfolio and Etsy are under construction, but look at her blog here.  You can waste hours looking at it!

Some sweet sounds for your day below


--grace

Fantastic Finds: Vintage Apartment

If you have any fondness for vintage furniture, or a soft spot in your heart for the 50's Mid Century Modern look at vintageapartment.com.  I found it via one of my favorite blogs, Oh Joy! and wish I could have it all.  Pictured above are the Metal Magazine Rack, Tweed Slipper Chair and Walnut Nightstands.  I also like this and this.

My brother and I were talking about this song the other day and I can't seem to get it out of my head.  Sweet sounds below:

--grace

Let's Get Organized: West Elm

 I like to be organized, even though it does not always happen.  Check out some of these beautiful organizational products from West Elm: Industrial Rail System, Bamboo Laundry and Mesh Wire Storage.

--grace 

Decadent Design: d-raw

Our project this semester in studio is a retail/restaurant space in an old warehouse.  I have been looking at restaurants for inspiration, and this one is my favorite so far.  The design for Zizzi won a Restaurant and Bar Design Award in 11-12.  Isn't the lighting enchanting?  For more information look here.

--grace

Decadent Design: Magazin

Check out this beautiful bed and night stand from Magazin.  It is a simple modern bed that has absolutely no metal.  Carefully engineered joints piece together for an elegant, minimalist bed.  Beautiful, right?  I also love this chair.

Some sweet sounds for your evening below.

--grace

Product Love: Tiny Scalloped Bowls

How cute are these Tiny Bowls?  They are available in more beautiful colors and are perfect for rings, bobby pints and little nicknacks!  They remind me of these bowls from Anthro.  They were designed by an amazing ceramic artist, Emily Reinhardt.  She is from Homaha too and has this great blog and etsy shop.  Aren't these vases amazing?

--grace

Home Sweet Home: Melbourne Home

Check out this amazing loft in Australia, just over 800 square feet.  Look at more pictures from The Design Files.  I want to live there!

Some sweet sounds for your day below.

--grace

Decadent Design: Blu Dot

The other day, Zach and I went to Boxlab, while we were waiting for our table at one of our favorite restaurants, The Chef.  They have gotten a lot of new merchandise in since the new year.  One of my favorites was Blu Dot Furniture.  Blu Dot is a company based out of Minnesota that makes beautiful modern furniture. The first thing that you should do is look at their catalog or order one here.  You are in for photographic treat!  Next follow their Pinterest.  The best board is Our Process, which has videos and sketches by their designers. Finally, (hopefully my sister appreciates this one) go to Target.  Blu Dot did a collection for Target called Too.  It seems to be clearancing out, but I do love these stools.

What an unexpected wonderful find!

--grace

Decadent Design: The Noun Project

Zach and I were looking at Kickstarter today and found this awesome website called the Noun Project.  It is a website that is free and gives you access to millions of high resolution icons.  Zach found an Imaginary Friend icon pictured above.  How great is that?  It is designed by TNS from the Noun Project.  Click on this link to view more of his icons!  I also like these boots and bribe.  Join the the Noun Project now and get some amazing icons!

--grace

Decadent Design: Naomi Wilkinson

Hello all!  Things have been crazy with final projects and tests.  I won't get back to Omaha until this weekend because of everything going on!  While i was waiting for one of my projects to render, I found this great illustrator Naomi Wilkinson.  Check out her Etsy!  Also don't you love the holiday cheer above? 

Listen to this amazing cover from one of my favorite movies ever... 

--grace

Decadent Design: West Elm

Happy Halloween everyone!  Are you doing anything fun tonight?  I will be celebrating in studio... I's not exactly in the Halloween spirit, but my favorite part of the holiday is that after Halloween, all of the Christmas decorations and foods populate stores.  Don't these Canisters and this Tea Pot seem perfect for winter things like Christmas Cookies and Chai Tea?  I can't wait for Holiday decor.

also, this Yoga video was wonderful

enjoy your holiday!

--grace

Far Away Places

During my lunch break today I got lost looking at this blog.  There are some beautiful cabins on there, and many are in the Nordic countries.  I have been looking at study abroad options for the summer.  Our school has been affiliated with DIS in Copenhagen.  It looks amazing, but the program is quite expensive due to the high cost of living in Denmark.  On the other hand, the high cost of living contributes to the Dane's high standard of living and helped them rank #1 on the UN's World Happiness Report.  Have you studied/been abroad?  What country would you recommend?


--grace