Comfortable Dishes?

Comfortable dishes?
Is there such a thing?

If so — May Luk creates them.

Worn, homey — and yes, ruralist.

A little hot and saucy too, I suppose.

Horizontal...

I love all the horizontal lines appearing via

the bedspread, shutters, and beams.

(image via slumber designs)

John Dugdale's Hudson River Valley Farmhouse

Photographer John Dugdale captured these

images of his Hudson River Valley farmhouse

for the New York Times magazine in 1993.

The photos ran just before an AIDS related

stroke robbed him of most of his sight. Since

then, he continues to work with help

from an assistant. To watch a video of

Dugdale explaining the process he now uses

as a blind photograher, click here.

These walls are what really captured my attention.
Simply ethereal.
Visit Dugdale's website to view his beautiful work.
(Click on the images above to view them full-size.)

Essence Lot No. 9 — Forest Floor

Not sure why I wasn't already familiar

with Tatine, but I was really excited when

I discovered their Seasons of Enchantment

collection at Ochre in NYC a few weeks ago.

Beautiful packaging, vintage-inspired

amber jars, and unbelievable fragrances

create a unique line of artisinal, small batch

candles that delight with each and every scent.

I decided on Forest Floor for my purchase.

Wet dirt mingled with rain-soaked ferns,

damp wood, stems, and leaves magically

creates a fragrance of mossy overtones

with heady damp garden soil. You simply

have to smell it to believe its magic!

Margo, the creator of Tatine, began making

the handcrafted line 13 years ago and named

it after her late grandmother. To view all of

Tatine's lines and learn more about each

fragrance, just visit their lovely website.

(Click on image to view the beautiful package)

African Sketchbook...

Cape Town's African Sketchbook is a place

where fabric is considered the most important

element of interior design. The most impressive

part is that each piece is painted by hand.

Here, sheet music is blown up against

a background of awning stripes.

Story and color palette are the two building

blocks that dictate each creation.

The artists are the company's foundation.

The artists have no formal art training, but

they do want to work. That desire turns

unskilled labor from nearby townships into

talented and valued artists.

Creators Di and Anne wanted to play a role

in the future of South Africa and its transition

to democracy. South Africa is a country that is

still stricken with poverty, unemployment, and

a large population without a high school diploma.

The London Daily Telegraph calls African Sketchbook's

designs a "through the looking glass experience."
Drama, drama, drama.

This interior shot is from Cape Grace, a 150 room 5-star

hotel with handpainted curtains, upholstery, and tapestries.

_______

For more information and images,

visit African Sketchbook.

Pizza Pie in the Sky...

Think you know what a pizza joint should look like?

Think again. Check out this industrial-style pizza

spot in London called Pizza East.

The caramel leather banquette is definitely

an improvement on the traditional red & white

checkered tablecloth.

Rustic floors and lots of light = one heavenly interior.
Yeah, that's stacked wood — and you all know how I
feel about that. In this case, stacked pizza boxes
join in the fun.
The large communal pizza table is another nice addition.
_____________

Images via Arch Daily.
More gorgeous photos available at
the Pizza East website.

More great packaging...

A fox, some flourish, and fonts — Oh My!

Outstanding packaging from

Aubin & Wills.

We just don't swing enough anymore...

German designer Johanna Richter has created

this poetic swing from balls of gray felt.

The length of the swing can be customized

for a perfect fit.

via Sleek Identity

Rose Tarlow and her interior foliage...

Reading the recent spotlight on Rose Tarlow

in the July/August House Beautiful made

me remember these wondeful images from

Veranda. I can't tell you how much I obsessed

over Rose's brilliance in allowing the creeping

vines to invade her interior walls.

Tarlow has a new flagship store in L.A. and

a new showroom in New York — as well as

a new line of home furnishings.

"I'm not a writer. But words and furniture have a lot in common. Both are inanimate. They don't move themselves. Yet they can move you." — Rose Tarlow

I'm in the mood for Fall...

After viewing Michael Bastian's Fall 2010

collection, I am suddenly and completely

in the mood for cooler temperatures, layers,

and golden falling leaves.

This collection shows a new edginess for

the consumate cashmere connoisseur.

I especially like these love/hate gloves.

And I do love some grey and gold.

Dare I say, it's a little old school RL?

Once again, great unexpected colors

show up throughout the collection.

Wouldn't this be a chic "quick run to the grocery"

getup for the season?

Yes, Bastian's tweeds, plaids, and cords

are still here.

Urban Dead Poets Society?

What a look! Long live the Doc Martens!

It is so much easier for a beautiful

runway model to pull off such bold color.

images via GQ