Designing Homes a Few Kids at a Time

If you love design and haven't heard of the Novogratz family, you need to listen up.

This week, the first season of this family fun series wraps on Bravo and it has been one wild ride. With a brood of kids in tow, seven and counting, the Novogratz are a couple who turn subpar, and often once commercial, spaces into stunning homes, working mostly in downtown New York City.

Image: Sixx Design

I love this show for a variety of reasons. For one thing, I love interior design and this show packs a lot of it into a 45-minute weekly dose. For another, the Novogratz have a bustling family life. With seven little ones bouncing around, they make time for things like basketball fundraisers, birthday parties, and playdates while also juggling the responsibilities of a growing design business. Notably, however, you don't see this couple hacking off their kids to their nanny 24/7, although they do have one. The children are a big part of the parents' lives and its evident in the way that the children are portrayed. When the husband and wife team go to London, for instance, they bring along their older children and take time out of their promotional touring to play tourist with their children. This show also features a happy marriage. Contrary to most family reality shows, the Novogratz aren't getting screentime for HD-quality fights. Instead, they seem to play off of one another's personalities in a mostly encouraging way, bringing out the best in each other and suggesting that they work better as a team than as two distinct parts. And yet, the Novogratz don't claim to have it all together, and readily admit that they make mistakes and have to roll with the punches. When you have lots of kids, that's pretty much a necessity, especially if you live in Manhattan.

Most of all, I love what the Novogratz' work proudly stands for: a sprinkling of design can bring hope and beauty to even the darkest places and serve as a catalyst for enriching homes and communities. The home is front and center in this show, and the Novogratz proudly display their knack for design by entertaining, helping friends decorate their homes and offices, and offering their home and their creative skills towards raising money for noteworthy causes.

To see more of the Novogratz' work, visit their website Sixx Design or check out their book Downtown Chic.

Sewing Hope Through Kenyan Fabric

Image: Suno, Fall 2010 Collection

On a recent trip to Barnes and Noble, I stumbled across the designs of one Max Osterweiss and found myself intrigued. In 2008, Osterweis launched a line known as Suno, which draws from Osterweis' experience gathering textiles from Kenya and working with Kenyan tailors. One of the things that immediately captivated me about Osterweis' line was his use of color and pattern to tell a story in his designs. Another more subtle tone, although still apparent, was Osterweis' commitment to the Kenyan culture. Osterweis' designs have a consistent bold feel to them that celebrates Kenya's heritage and traditions, while making them accessible to the Western consumer. I really love the richness of this brand and what it represents. Here's a quick excerpt from a 2009 interview Osterweis did with HandeyeMagazine:

H/E: Can you summarize the vision behind Suno for us?

MO: I’d like to create a visible and sustainable brand that produces high quality clothing out of Kenya while using and developing local talent. I was motivated to do something in Kenya after last year’s post-election violence, something that would help Kenya psychologically, economically, and cosmetically - in the sense that people from the outside would be able to appreciate and be introduced to a different side of Kenya. 

Osterweis' designs blend whimsy with elegance to create looks that make a statement. The styling on the Suno site reflects this approach, as many of the outfits mix patterns and palettes and pair already bold looks with vibrant accessories. Yet, the aesthetic feels approachable and fun. For a more everyday look, I imagine one of Osterweis' colorful skirts paired with a plain white tee and boots for a Friday night concert or one of his bright and cheery dresses with a simple ponytail and flats for a Saturday brunch with family friends. Regardless, i'm sold on Osterweis' intricate and interesting mix of colors and fabrics as well as his commitment to fostering Kenya's culture and economy.

Image: Suno, Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

A Taste from Down South

Image: Southern Flourish, Spring 2010 Issue

I've been following a blog called "Everyday Musings" by Olivia Rae, who is based in Charleston, SC for several months now. Through a visit to the blog earlier this year, I learned about an up-and-coming online magazine called Southern Flourish to which Rae is a contributor.

The spring issue of Southern Flourish just launched and i'm super-excited. As a girl who grew up in the Carolinas and fondly recalls her Southern upbringing, this magazine speaks to some of my own story and the wonderment that is life in the South. One of my favorite aspects of growing up Southern is the appreciation that I have gained for bringing touches of beauty to everyday life. The South embraces elegance, finery, and decorum. Rather than stifle them, Southern men pride themselves on their lady-folk's ability to pull together classy dinners on the lawn complete with fancy flowers, ornate fabrics, and carefully-chosen place settings. While 'ere a Northerner might scoff at a woman who takes "too long" to get dressed, a good Southern man knows how important just-the-right-look can be for a woman who is making a social appearance and realizes that a cake that takes 24 hours to prepare is probably better than one that can be whipped up from a box. And this is what makes Southern Flourish wonderful; it embraces the good life that is life in the South.

While there is certainly both good and bad to being Southern, there are many things about the South that are very good and this magazine celebrates them: freshly-picked bouquets of spring flowers to brighten a room, a smartly-calculated sportcoat and bowtie combination ala shaggy Southern gent, the incredible culinary offerings and climes of Southern beaches, ahh I could go on and on. This magazine, though, is not just about a culture of over-accessorization. It includes discussions on topics such as organic agriculture, sustainable fashion, and buying local. All around, a good read if you're hoping to brush up on Southern culture or just looking for a little something to whet your visual palate. Not a fan of the South? Have a read; I think you might find yourself surprised at all it has to offer.

“A culture is made-or destroyed-by its articulate voices.”-Ayn Rand

Barry's Beauts

"Style has nothing to do with money and everything to do with discipline and restraint. Quality speaks for itself, and I think we should build our interiors over time incorporating quality. A dark, polished wood floor will look great even with sparse furnishings." -Barbara Barry, Style at Home interview

A few weeks ago, I ran across the lovely work of designer Barbara Barry at Barnes and Noble in a book called Inspired Styles. The book provides work samples and biographies from several different interior designers and I was immediately struck by the design choices and philosophy of Barry. Her less is more approach to interior design, even in high-end spaces, allows room for viewers to appreciate the elegance of choice pieces, be they a bold wallpaper, or a stunning mantel. This design approach allows viewers to feel restful and at home in her spaces as their eyes are not overwhelmed by competing elements. Barry's look reads Hollywood Regency with a softer edge and has a kind of timeless transcendence to it. In the Inspired Styles book, Barry describes her sense of design as one that "emerges from a philosophy rather than a style...based on principles of balance, proportion and symmetry. This sensibility shows in her work, as Barry's postmark involves making a room work functionally-less as a gallery space, and more as a livable space-while dressing it up with a few striking touches of glamour.

Barry's designs for the Brentwood Residence, Image: Barbara Barry Company

Barry creates spaces where residents, shoppers, travelers, diners, etc. can relax and be comfortable while also enjoying some of the finer things in life. What makes her distinctive is a strong, but tastefully editing, eye for details-she masterfully paints the fine lines that make a picture pop without impeding a viewer's appreciation of the overall aesthetic. Barry has an excellent sensibility for finding pieces that work well in a given space and work well together, blending new and old to create spaces that feel homey and down-to-earth but also chic and high fashion. This knack has enabled Barry to work for a varied clientele, including restaurants, hotels, homes, retail boutiques, and more, both domestically and abroad. In addition to space design, Barry has also tried her hand at product design, creating lighting, linens, and tablescapes that leave viewers gasping. 

A sample of Barry's offerings through Wedgwood

A true treat for the meandering artsy types who like to find inspiration from high-end designers and make it their own, Barry's work offers just the right blend of luxe and hand-me-down antique. To read/see more about Barry's work visit her website.

A Burst of Flavor for Your Walls

Imagine a pack of fruit-striped gum morphed into a wall hanging; what comes to mind? Well the folks at Flavor Paper have gone there, creating colorful, juicy wallpapers that pack a real punch. One of my favorites is their Fruits of Design brocade-patterned paper in gold and blue (see below).

Why This Blog?

About a year ago I ran across a simple quote by a designer and philosopher, of sorts, named Alexandra Stoddard which goes: "Live by the trinity of what is true, good, and beautiful." I liked this statement because it was crisp, clean, and to the point. All too often we are overly flowery with language when what is really needed is a sharp, simple statement. And yet, simultaneously, the world also needs imaginative language, and oftentimes beauty comes in the form of a blooming metaphor, a simile that bubbles under our skin like a bottle of freshly-popped champagne, or an image that awakens both the literal and the figurative eyes.

This series of reflections is meant to serve as a resource for those who recognize their deep aching for beautiful things and know that it is good and life-giving to rejoice in the created world but simultaneously recognize the need for balance and simplicity. And so, this little ripple in the blogosphere will attempt to carefully walk the line between asceticism and overindulgence, stumbling most certainly at points. Its story: a celebration. Put concisely, the purpose of this discourse is to rejoice in the those things that are thoughtfully crafted, be they songs, stories, or objects, and push others to think deeply about how these things ignite and enrich the human experience.