Affordable Art

I'm not one to participate in the shopping craze that is this time of year.  But, I do like a deal and there is truly no better deal than affordable art.  A collection of 'real' art (not from Home Goods, Target, or even better resources like Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn) can be extremely difficult to build.  That's why artists like these are incredibly exciting.  They offer beautifully done, totally cheese and kitsch free, large scale, ART!

  

These first two images are by artist Michelle Armas.  She is an ex corporate brander who escaped the stress of the 9-5 to pursue a life as a painter.  Her work is BIG, modern, and ... pretty.  These 35 x 40 prints go for $150.00.  She also recommends an extremely affordable framer that will get you a floater frame for under $100.00.

Next up is etsy shop owner Debbie Carlos who will get you these large poster prints for $40.00-$150. Imagine the giraffes installed above a moody office desk and the quiet flock print above a headboard.  Her posters offer a dramatic and high impact statement. 

New York City Hotel: The Nolitan

Hello ladies and gents.  I just booked a room an NYC's newest hotel and I am super psyched.  That sounds pretentious, but really it's just fact, I promise.  It's been a few years since I've made the trip and I thought I had better do it right.

  

  

The Nolitan, designed by Grzywinski+Pons (check out their website - they rock it with an amazing portfolio), is in Manhattan's much loved Nolita neighborhood and the first luxury boutique hotel in the hood.  It's...well...it's just plain cool.  Complete with concrete ceilings, floor to ceiling windows, private balconies...must I go on?  I am already sad about checkout.

Above is the floor plan of the 'Neighborhood Balcony' where I'll be living for the weekend. And below is the branding by Marque.  I hope to come home with at least a biz card...and maybe, just maybe a note pad.  Looking forward to giving this place a review upon my return!  I'm sure it will be rave.

Be Project : Small Space Living Room and Dining Room

Hey ya’ll!!! I’ve been working with two wonderful ladies to create a more livable space in their Philadelphia city town home. They have been challenged with a tight (tight tights kind of tight) living space cut in two by the stairs to the second floor. My job is to create flow and continuity between these two spaces and to make sure that they are working hard to satisfy multiple functions.

 

Their home is SUPER CUTE and has a few great, albeit quirky, architectural elements to work with. These two girly-girls have great taste and picked the two images above as their inspiration. They love the patterns, bright spaces, and pops of color in both. I couldn’t agree more!

Sooooooo….here are my plans! 

First is the existing plan in which the living room space is extremely small and the dining room is extremely spacious. The front door opens up right into the seating area so everyone is trying to get past the TV to get inside. So what did I do?

I swapped the living room and dining room to create a sense of entry as well as a more roomy seating and entertaining area. The new layout in the front room will act as an entry foyer, with bench and storage case, as well as a dining room, game room, office space, etc. The living room is a TV room and social seating area. It also has a desk for a laptop or a surface to grab a quick bite by the window to the kitchen. Below the desk are two leather stools which can be pulled out when extra seating is needed. Big changes are on the horizon ladies!!!! I’ll be posting the mood boards for the two spaces shortly.

The Art of Arranging an Art Arrangement

Ah, yes...a very familiar topic.  Indeed.  BUT!  I have recently stumbled accross a few art installations that have really got me aching for some blank walls.

 This chopped up landscape could be a fabric, a quick drawing, or even an edited photograph.  Totally DIYable.  This is just about the hippest traditional setting I've seen yet.  The warm hues in the wall art are right on with the runner.  The varying densities of the organic lines that exist in both really vibrate!!  Then, of course, there is the geometry in the wall paneling and the frames...???  Perfection.

These next few are simply a series of individual photographs attached to a wall.  Framed, unframed, the impact reamins.  While it may be difficult to find a frame this size, retailers like Home Goods, IKEA and your local thift shop may have very affordable mirrors with interesting frames.  Just pop out the mirror, paint the frame (if you so desire) and pin up your favorite pictures from your latest escapades.  Switching out the pics is uber easy so this is a great way to maintain an evolving personal gallery.

Cozy, Healing Bedrooms. That's what I want.

Close the drapes, turn out the lights, bring me some tea, a box of tissues, and a scary movie. Feeling under the weather today and I could really use any one of these spaces to curl up in for a nice long nap. Apparently, being sick has given me a new appreciation for canopy beds...

Getting Started on My Bloggin'

With the launch of Be Interior Design Studio comes the launch of the Be Blog.  I did my blogging homework and researched things like...traffic, key words, followers, ads, personality versus autonomy, none of me versus all of me, should I upload pictures of my cat, is anyone going to read this except for my mom anyway?

After all of my homework I figured I might as well just get started and see where it goes.  I'll do my best to give you all of the Be information you are looking for, and entertain you with various topics and such, whatever they may be.

I am a major follower of many inspiring blogs and hope that with my own I can at least entertain myself as much as they do.  If nothing else, I will improve my grammer skills.

So, to get started here are a few things that are inspiring me today.  Yes, there is a picture of my cat...you have to start broad, right?

a mix of cozy and winter white spaces, my cat keeping warm on the radiator, and dreaming of warmer weather from a recent trip to Matha's Vineyard.