New York City

My traveling theme this spring is going strong, huh? I leave tomorrow for New York Design week. Looking forward to checking out ICFF, Surtex, and seeing friends, new work, cool new ideas and all the boring old shit too. I always use this time to check out some of my favorite museums and shops. Lots of walking and just being in the city makes me super happy.

Looking forward to introducing my friend Shari to the Neue Galerie and Cafe. Like heaven!

We happen to be staying at the same hotel as all of our girlfriends! The Jane.

Naturally I have to stop off at my other favorite place in NYC, Bemelmans.

Going to go visit my friend Alyssa's sister's macaroon shop in the village: Bisous Ciao

Naturally we have to spend a ridiculous amount of time at ABC...I used to go there almost every day when I worked in NYC, my office was right around the corner. I used to dream about being independent and come shopping there in the middle of the day...oh how times have changed!

May have to pop into the shoe department at Barneys...

I miss my Brooklyn too, going to hit up the Williamsburg Brooklyn Flea.

Been trying to hit up Eataly every time I go to New York, maybe I can see it this time.

Where is your favorite place to hit up in New York? Anything to suggest?

Beautiful People

This is so beautifully written, and I think no truer words have ever been written. Becoming a loving, gentle person is a true upside to misfortune. I hope that when I go, people will say that I was one of them.

Via.

Bermuda Biangle

48x60 inches. Its one of only two really big ones I have right now. I am having it scanned I think. What do you think? Prints??

Could you live in a loft?

I kinda can't stop trolling over this listing for Simon Upton's loft in Notting Hill, London. (hello Julia Roberts could like totally come knocking on the door.) I love the all white, the tasteful, industrial touches like the metal railing, painted brick and concrete, the lucite? "so you don't fall from the bedroom" guard. Decor wise I like, kinda Hemingway - Out of Africa ish. I would personally need less clutter, but how bang'n is that huge wall orgy over the long console thingy? Epic.

If I lived here with O he would be constantly draping his old t-shirts over that lucite wall, and I would be constantly rolling my eyes at him for it.

I wish O would keep his office this neet. I think you might feel like you are coming off of a crack high if you saw it. I mean, all itchy and grossed out. Isn't that what crack is like?

This is that console thingy I was talking about. Love the black and white, reflection of the glass serving as texture, and the pop of red. The proportions...all great. Hate the fabric hanging though...and the rug. Not pictured is the private rooftop terrace. You had me at roof...the perfect spot for a place to chillax.

Hiring...sigh

Um. Pretty awesome.

More beach inspiration

Everyone loves beachy colors. Any painting that has turquoise in it is a hit. I personally like the light, dusty pink next to the olive color, and the various shades of blue/green together. Beachy, but a bit more sophisticated.

I really loved the moody colors, boho patterns and laid back luxury of the outdoor grill at Soho Beach House. I think you can get the same feel from this color palette. I really love a peachy coral, especially mixed with cream and black. Note about black: never a straight black, always a mix of colors that eventually turn dark, but not black.

Donna Karan dress

Dear Universe,

Hi, its Michelle. Please give me the money to buy this dress. Like, just send cash in an envelope please, or if it has to be all in Pesos or something, whatever. Just...I promise to like always walk old ladies across the street, and never scowl at smelly homeless dudes and I will give thanks before every morsel of food from now on -even drive through fries. Dude, for real. Just please let me have this dress.

Love,

Michelle

Soho Beach House

It was pretty awesome. I don't know what else to say on the matter, I mean. It would sound too braggy. Starting with our arrival at the Soho Beach House, and unexpected upgrade to an ocean front suite (holy shit it is beautiful, thank you sososo much SBH!), the stunning beaches, sunshine, attentive service, beautiful ground and decor, and hilarious people watching. It was an epic birthday. O and I will most certainly be back.

It feels like cheating to post pictures from instagram... But anyway I had to show you the stunning suite we stayed in. Everything was unique, and beautiful. I had to get my butt to the beach right away, so I didn't stick around to document every beautiful detail.

You know, these kinds of trips are so important to re-fuel, get away from the daily to-do list and come home with a fresh perspective; new colors and textures swimming around in your brain. The staggering in-box can be tackled with a little less of a chip on the shoulder. O and I are learning to simplify and he is teaching me that I actually need to travel around and experience places that I long to experience.

I have catalogued some of the things that I saw and liked. Lets go over them shall we? Seeing these images is reminding me how soothing it is to have ocean views out of every window, and to be able to hear the waves crashing, rhythmically and constantly. The hotel common areas were truly beautiful, but I wasn't able to snap any pics, they have a no phone/camera policy that they enforce.

Just two of the color inspiration images I took. I have more for later in the week.

Later this month I will be visiting New York for design week, and then LA for Jane's bachelorette weekend. I was a little nervous about all that "being away from the studio" but I decided that I wouldn't want to change it now, so I might as well loosen the ol butt-cheeks and enjoy it! Enjoy the freedom, because it won't last forever.

Also I was nervous that via instagram my life would seem so lux, so glamorous, so...expensive. But, I decided not to worry about that either. I mean, obviously I am only posting the beautiful, and the things I personally want to look at again, and remember. I have an instagram account because I figure that you all want to see that too, and I want to look at other creative's sources of daily inspiration too. Sometimes it can seem like a mystery, the way an artist lives, and her perspective on what she looks at, and surrounds herself with. Well, nothing this day and age is a mystery, but you know what I mean. I hope you all enjoy taking a peak and keep your "real life" perspective fresh and near.

I have been helping my mom with some design decisions, and it has helped me realize how differently our brains process information, and how we make decisions in general. When I explain why something works, her eyes light up when she sees it too. It has made me better at expressing what is inspirational to me, why I choose certain colors or textures or lines. I think its good to pass that along to you guys too. Hence the color palettes.

15% off fo yo mama yo

I have a mother's day special going on! Oops, forgot to tell you. Enter "fifteen" at checkout to get 15% off of your order. I should have named the code: "Ilovemymama" or "motherofalldiscounts", or even "numbertoyomama". But I got lazy.

1. I am going to be in Miami until Sunday. So...make of that what you will.

2. Remember that part in Idiocracy where they go into the Costco and the greeters say "I love you." That has been making me laugh all week.

3. If you order anything, then it will ship on Monday the 6th (or maybe the next day...depending on how much I like you.)

TTFGIF

Doing anything fun this weekend? I am going to be painting, and writing some blog posts. I am having a small crisis: I hate all of my paintings right now. I have this need to express something else with my painting right now...and I have to hunker down and make it happen or I will wither and die. Uh! I am an arteeeest, so I get to say dramatic stuff like that.

I also am going to make the final push to finish up our house (or at least tie up loose ends.) Our dishwasher has been needing to go for a while, and it has become so loud that we can't talk to each other in the kitchen when its on...yeah. Its gotta go. Also, hello gas stove! Thats happening too.

In other, other news. Did you see the Hable Construction lady's house? In Athens, Ga? Hoot Hoot! Hubba Hubba and other Three Stooges noises! You know I love me some HC.

Lordy! I love me some pattern on pattern action. Getting kinda panty over here.

Also, whats a good white, light grey color that you like?