Showing posts with label architecture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label architecture. Show all posts

Friday, 3 September 2010

Inspiration 9.3

I keep telling myself that I'd never really want to live in a modern house, that I need the protection of sturdy beams, insulation and plaster to feel at home -- then I see images like this, and the feeling is a lot like love.

Wishing all of my New England readers being visited by Hurricane Earl a weekend as tranquil as this looks.

via Bits of Beauty, Small House Style

Monday, 23 August 2010

Inspiration 8.23

I love how the architect carved out this little enclosed space in such an airy bathroom. Something about applying liquid eyeliner or using a heated eyelash curler brings out that primordial cave-dwelling need for tight quarters, doesn't it?

via Kika Reichert

Monday, 2 August 2010

Inspiration 8.2

I'm not usually a fan of modern architecture, but the skylight here is just gorgeous. I would love to see a smaller scale version of this room off of a more traditional country house.

Saturday, 15 May 2010

Weekend Obsessions: Fluctuat Nec Mergitur

As some of you may know, I'm headed to France in about 30 days (!). Naturally, my normal levels of francophilia have shot through the roof, and I wanted to share all of the awesome stuff feeding my excitement sourced from around the Web.

1. First, I am truly obsessed with the Paris' motto and coat of arms, "Fluctuat Nec Mergitur," which translates to, "She is tossed by the waves, but does not sink." So lovely, I would actually like to make that my own official motto. Supposedly, you can find the coat on architecture throughout Paris, and you know I'll be on the hunt for beautiful photos to snap. A few I discovered on Flickr above and below. (Image credits [and great photographers]: Jean Michel-Voulat, Dorenrof Claudius)

2. One of my stops on the trip will be St. Tropez, and I am loving Garance Dore's dispatches from the resort right now, particularly her shopping finds, including vintage shop Le Marché Du Marin and Rondini sandals. If you want to see pure, unadulterated glamour, go check out her blog right now.
3. While we're on the subject of St. Tropez, my friend Tristan from Liminality is there right now, and snapped this gorgeousness. I basically died when I saw it.

It reminded me to dig up this older photo he took in Paris of models post-show, which I also love.
4. I can't talk about models in Paris, without thinking of Antonio from The Singular. His photos provide tons of packing inspiration.

5. Finally, Nichole from Little Brown Pen takes the most amazing photos of Paris. I love that she captures the details -- cafe chairs, the vivid reds and blues of a shop's awning, and beautiful architectural details most people never notice. It's easy to take beautiful pictures of Paris -- but Nichole's photos actually take you there. Stop by her Etsy shop to take a little piece of Paris home.

Wednesday, 30 December 2009

Gorgeous Photos of Architectural Ruins

One of my favorite things in the world is a long summer drive in the country passing by abandoned farmhouses, barns and sheds. I know it's kind of creepy, but I'm so intrigued by what happens to objects and places when humans stop caring for them.

That's why I was ecstatic to discover Ruin from Brian Vanden Brink, a massive anthology of photographs of abandoned American homes. Aside from the stark prettiness of the pictures, the book is also a wonderful portrait of early(ish) American architecture from the shotgun houses and manors of the South to Midwest farmhouses and New England cottages. In his introduction, Vanden Brink writes:
"Maybe these buildings fascinate me because they represent all of us; maybe they are symbols of our own impermanent status here on earth - metaphors of our transient lives and inability to stop the passing of time...A couple of weeks before my dad died last year, my brothers and I were helping him out of his bed to go to the bathroom. As he struggled down the hall, he said quietly, "take a good look boys, this is going to be you sooner than you think." He was right. Our lives go by so quickly and we leave behind relics of our time here and of what we thought was important. Deep down I know this earth is not my home. `I'm just passing through,' as the old gospel song says."
Below I've included a selection of photos from the book, but I definitely recommend getting your hands on it if you can. It's even more beautiful in person.