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Here is a start: Look around your living space. Do you surround yourself with things you really like or things you like only because they are absurd? Listen to your own speech. Ask yourself: Do I communicate primarily through inside jokes and pop culture references? What percentage of my speech is meaningful? How much hyperbolic language do I use? Do I feign indifference? Look at your clothes. What parts of your wardrobe could be described as costume-like, derivative or reminiscent of some specific style archetype (the secretary, the hobo, the flapper, yourself as a child)? In other words, do your clothes refer to something else or only to themselves? Do you attempt to look intentionally nerdy, awkward or ugly? In other words, is your style an anti-style? The most important question: How would it feel to change yourself quietly, offline, without public display, from within?
Attempts to banish irony have come and gone in past decades. The loosely defined New Sincerity movements in the arts that have sprouted since the 1980s positioned themselves as responses to postmodern cynicism, detachment and meta-referentiality. (New Sincerity has recently been associated with the writing of David Foster Wallace, the films of Wes Anderson and the music of Cat Power.) But these attempts failed to stick, as evidenced by the new age of Deep Irony.
What will future generations make of this rampant sarcasm and unapologetic cultivation of silliness? Will we be satisfied to leave an archive filled with video clips of people doing stupid things? Is an ironic legacy even a legacy at all?
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— How to Live Without Irony (via slightlypretentious)
I found this little gem over at one of my favorite blogs, Design Sponge. So genius, I love it.
Kara Pasley at http://karapaslaydesigns.com/ built this media console out of mismatched, vintage drawers.
I would like to take a moment to publicly applaud the genius at Sprinkles who came up with the idea of a CUPCAKE ATM. Yes, that’s right, cupcakes - on demand - 24/7!
image via abchome.com
image via anthropologie.com
image via loomrugs.com.au
I saw these at ABC Home when they debuted their inspirational “Color Reform” collection, and now i’m suddenly seeing these amazing overdyed rugs everywhere! The great thing about these area rugs is that they can completely transcend design categories. Add a muted color in a traditional setting to create an antiqued, nostalgic feel, or if you need a pop go with a bright hue in a modern space for interest.
As my career in interior design progresses and Left Bank Collection has a few more projects under its belt I feel confident that many of the hiccups will cease and a sense of intuition will kick in. Until that time, I’ve found some great and simple guides I wanted to share to help along the way…
image via blog.inkspotworkshop.com
image via google
image via brandsushi.com
Spring is here and so are stripes! Thick, thin, black and white, colors, you name it.
image via theperfectpallette.com
image via wendyslookbook.com
image via anthropologie.com
image via paloma81.blogspot.com
I am accustomed to hitting the Schumacher showroom when I’m in need of an imperial trellis eye candy fix, but since her new line debuted at Kravet, I find myself torn. If you understood the previous sentence, let’s be best friends.
What I know of the beloved 80’s is pretty much derived from pop culture and a few nostalgic photographs of my early youth. I have to say, from what I’ve seen it’s too bad I was too young to remember this decade. Trends, they say, come and go. Well, I’m excited to say that NEON is back and better than ever. Be conservative, a small pop is all you need to make a big impact.
Glam up any space with the addition of anything made of Lucite. The transparency and weightlessness is great for balancing out a heavier piece of furniture.
