creative stimulants

Saatchi & Saatchi in Bangkok by Supermachine Studio. 2011? Via The Coolhunter.

Saatchi & Saatchi.

Ogilvy & Mather in Guangzhou by M Moser Associates. 2008. Via The Coolhunter.

Ogilvy & Mather.

ANZ Breakout & Learning Centre in Melbourne by Hassel. 2007. Via The Coolhunter.

ANZ Breakout & Learning Centre.

Google in Zurich by Camenzind Evolution. 2008. Via The Coolhunter.

Google.

We were taught for so many years that the office was a serious space: a space where we should separate work and play, business and pleasure. But, why does it have to be a a dull space? I've read over the years that people who are more comfortable in the environment tend to bring in a greater quality of work. Companies such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Google, Ogilvy & Mather and ANZ have come to present to the world a different kind of office: a space where you CAN mix business and pleasure. At least the visual kind of pleasure, where the eyesight can rejoice in different colors, shapes, themes and all kinds of wonders.

A través de los años, se nos ha dicho que la oficina es un espacio serio: un espacio donde tenemos que separar el trabajo con el juego, el negocio y el placer. Pero, por qué tiene que ser un lugar aburrido? He leído a lo largo de los años que la gente que se encuentra cómoda en su lugar de trabajo tiende a desarrollarse mejor profesionalmente. Compañías como Saatchi & Saatchi, Google, Ogilvy & Mather y ANZ han venido a enseñarle al mundo una oficina diferente: un lugar donde SE PUEDE mezclar el negocio con el placer. Al menos el placer visual, donde se puede alegrar la vista con diferentes colores, formas, temas y todo tipo de maravillas.

dorothy draper

Dorothy Draper

The Greenbrier via Jane Hall Design

The Greenbrier via HGTV

The Greenbrier

Dorothy Draper exhibition at the Museum of New York City

"Never look back, except for an occasional glance, look ahead and plan for the future. Success is not built on past laurels, but rather on a continuous activity. Keep busy searching out new ideas and, experimentally, keep ahead of the times, or at least up with them." -DD

Every day I get more involved with decoration, and every day I bump into unexpected discoveries. Today's finding is that of Dorothy Draper, a pioneer woman and one of the first decorators known in the industry. She "professionalized" the industry when she established the first interior design company in 1923. She invented "Modern Baroque", a style described as many describe herself: vibrant, splashy, colorful...mostly used in large public spaces. To say the least, the restaurant from the Met is nicknamed after her as "The Dorotheum". A true legacy indeed, and a true mentor to follow!

"Nunca vuelvas a ver para atrás, excepto por la mirada ocasional, mira hacia adelante y planea el futuro. El éxito no está construido en el pasado, sino en la actividad continua. Mantente ocupado/a investigando nuevas ideas y, experimentalmente, mantente adelante del tiempo, o al menos no te quedes atrás." -DD

Todos los días me siento más involucrada en el mundo de la decoración, y todos los días tengo encuentros inesperados. La del día de hoy fue Dorothy Draper, una mujer trabajadora y una de las primeras decoradoras conocidas en la industria. Ella "profesionalizó" la industria al establecer la primera compañía de diseño interno en 1923. También, inventó el "Barroco Moderno", un estilo que muchos describen como la describen a ella: vibrante, llamativo, colorido...usado mayoritariamente en grandes espacios públicos. Queda corto decir que el restaurante del Met tiene de apodo "El Dorotheum". Un gran legenda y una gran mentora a seguir!

a little goes a long way

Can't remember where I got it from. Sorry! Btw, how lovely
does the polka-dots looked combined with the zebra-print?
No me acuerdo de donde la saqué. ¡Perdón! Por cierto, ¿qué tan
lindos se ven los puntitos combinados con el patrón de zebra?

Via Trendy Room Decorations

Via Homes Interior

Via Elle Decor

Via Decor Pad

I've been helping my aunt decorate her new bachelorette apartment, and I wanted to create spaces with true personality. The apartment as a whole is not that big, but each space is clearly marked...reason why I figured it would give me lots of room (mind the pun) to play with. I've got three main spaces that I want to focus on: the living room, the staircase and her bedroom; I can then use them as center marks to give the other spaces splashes here and there. For the bedroom we chose a black-lace wallpaper, and I have some ideas I might share a bit later when I have them clearer in my mind. Now, for the living room (which is the first space you run into when you open the door) I wanted something big...and I found it! It's an animal print wallpaper...most specifically a zebra-print! Now, it's not the typical zebra-like patterns we see everywhere: it's got big thick lines and a mixture of black, champagne and silver colors (no white). All in all, it's not that overwhelming. In fact, I might dare to say it's classy and somehow calming. So I went into a bit of research for inspiration on decor using zebra-prints, and came up with the conclusion that a little goes a long way when it comes to using animal prints. Now, I might not be following that word-to-word since I'm using it on a whole wall, but the wall is quite tiny so I think it will work just fine. To highlight it it, I'm thinking of putting a red couch (of course!), but then soften the rest with ivory-like colors. Any thoughts? How about some golden accesories?

He estado ayudando a mi tía decorar su nuevo apartamento de soltera, y quería crear espacios con gran personalidad. El apartamento como tal no es muy grande, pero cada lugar está muy bien definido...razón por la cuál pienso que tengo suficiente espacio para jugar. Tengo tres lugares claves en los cuales me quiero enfocar: la sala, la escalera y el cuarto, y con ellos puedo partir para darle vida al resto de los espacios. Para el cuarto escogimos un papel tapiz negro de encaje, y tengo algunas ideas que tal vez puedo compartir luego, cuando las tenga un poco más claras en mi mente. Ahora, para la sala (lo primero que se ve cuando se entra al apartamento) quería algo grande...y lo encontré! Es un papel tapiz que asimila el patrón de la zebra! No es el típico patrón de zebra que vemos en todo lado, sino más bien tiene líneas gruesas y una mezcla de negro, champaña y plateados (no tiene blanco). Definitivamente no es abrumador. De hecho, me atrevo a decir que es elegante y de alguna manera tiene un efecto calmante. Así que hice un poco de investigación para encontrar inspiración en decoración que use patrones de zebra y llegué a la conclusión que al usarlos, un poco llega muy lejos. Ahora, tal vez no siga esa conclusión al pie de la letra, pero la pared es bastante pequeña así que pienso que debería funcionar bien. Para resaltarlo, pienso poner un sillón rojo capitoneado (¡por supuesto!) y bajarle el tono a lo demás pienso usar tonos color hueso. ¡Oigo opiniones! ¿Qué tal si uso accesorios dorados?

a nod to the whimsical

‘As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.’ Carl Jung. This is how Aesop, a trendy Australian brand of plant-based beauty products, opens a very contemporary yet simple web page. What's most striking about Aesop is that they take design to every corner of their brand, from their identity to their retail. Their interiors have been undertaken by big shots such as Ryann Russel, March Studio, Jo Nagasaka, amongst others. It's been said that the brand has a love affair with recycled materials (seen in the repetitive use of cardboard to display their products and sometimes even to decorate the entire retail space) and repetition of daily objects.
Aesop's atmosphere is one where the products became secondary and experiencing the brand becomes the concept. Although it might be an idea that many could argue with negative criticism, for most if not all of us designers it's a nod to the whimsical! Apothecary, contemporary, warm, classic and modern all mix into one jar of semi-natural goodness!

window fever

As I've been writing lately, I've been immersed in the wonderful art of decoration and styling. However, my latest drools dropped thanks to the majesty of window displays. I've always said I would love to become a prop/set stylist and work in a magazine, but suddenly this form of art is really calling to me. I'm 23, still young and learning, but I feel like I want to rush into my future. Who knows, maybe one day...hopefully! (some images have been taken via The Window Display Blog and Another Normal).

heavenly beautiful!

OK...so I had a bit of insomnia last night and had some time to kill. One of the few Costa Rican design-savvy blogs/e-mags we have is Zorry Zorrito, and it has grown in disproportional ways. So y-day while I was scrolling down the e-mag, I found this post about a café in Mexico City called Cielito Querido (means Beloved Heaven). In their homepage they describe themselves as A unique shelter that gets its inspiration from the history and the Latin warmth, to reinterpret our popular culture and reinvent the experience of drinking a cup of coffee. Designers Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena took charge by taking a retro approach maybe situated in the 50's, still using the pastel colors palette but trying- specially with their use of typography- not to fall in the kitsch, as many have pointed out. I must admit it's definitely one of my favorites so far!

retro me fancy!

WOW! Who said responsibilities could take up your whole life?! Ha! Work work work, no play? Well, to be honest my play is looking into blogs, pics and books about art, fashion, design and food! J'ADORE searching for sources of inspiration that always end up coming handy. So here I am sitting on my bed with the computer in my lap (replacing my boyfriend that's in a spectacular trip in India {insert jealous face here}!), coming from store-hopping through various furniture stores and thinking about decoration :) So here ya go, my favorite results from today!!!