DESIGN FOR MEN

The online editorial Sewn From the Soul from Street Etiquette blows me away.   In celebration of Black History month, seven stylish friends from New York united to create an piece that speaks to our history and the evolution of style. The power comes in their clear interest in incorporating styles from the past while infusing elements of today. The monochromatic palette ties the ensembles together which range from rugged and casually hip to refined and sophisticated. I had to include some favorite shots but these are just a taste.  The shot of this little boy made me think about how my mother and my aunt used to dress me, classic and dapper.  Can we get kids to dress like this again?  I would wear just about all of the looks portrayed in this editorial.  My favorite outfit is the gray turtleneck and wool trousers with the white belt worn by the guy on the far left.

Definitely check out the Sewn from the Soul  editorial by clicking here.  I am feeling quite fortunate to have found their striking blog as well, talk about inspiring fashion.

Designed by Platform 5 Architects of London, Mapledene Road is a renovation of a property that was formerly a crack house located in the conservation area of Hackney, a borough of London. The design team revived this structure creating spaces that flow into each other. The exposed brick on the interior adds warmth.  Subtle architectural moves add life to the facade while creating extra living areas within. One of my favorites is the protruding glass cube with window seat. As for decor, I love the simplicity of the palette punched up with pops of color as in the lavender chairs in the dining area.

Images from Platform5Architects

Boston area thrift store chain, Boomerangs,  opened a new boutique concept in Boston’s South End. At Boomerangs Special Edition, a collection of gently used high end items are sold at low prices. The store idea came from the success of a booth this summer at the antiques market in the South End, where employees selected designer pieces to sell.   Soon, consigned pieces from local artists will be carried but they are not planning to sell furniture or home accessories at this time. So Boston readers, stop by Boomerangs Special Edition located at 1407 Washington St. For more info, click here to check out their website.

Image from BostonGlobe

Built in the  1900s, the Chandler Inn is one of Boston’s most affordable boutique hotels.  Recently local interior designers, Dennis Duffy and Eric Roseff designed the newly renovated Boutique Queen (above) and Boutique Twin (below) rooms.  Both room types were a challenge for the designers as there was not a lot of space to work with.  These rooms needed to include multifunction areas including the console style desk below the screen rather than an entertainment unit or credenza.  The result is a space that is big on style and easy on the budget.  Click here to check out the Chandler Inn website for more info.

Images from Chandler Inn

Bythreads, based in Copenhagen makes these really awesome slim, journal sized laptop bags made of quality materials including full-grain leather, environmentally friendly materials, and neoprene. The cases are sleek and simple and 13 or 15″ MacBook safe, tempting me to go out and buy a MacBook to justify the purchase.

Image 1 from Stylecrave; Images 2-3 from Bythreads

Trapped at home due to what I am calling,The Great Snow Storm of 2010,  I am coping by fantasizing about warmer weather, specifically spring gear.  One of my favorite stores, Reiss did me proud with their Spring 2010 collections for their main line and 1971 (more casual, less expensive) line.  The following are some of my favorite looks.

IMAGES from Reiss

You can come out when you can properly explain the differences between Modernist architecture and postmodern ornamentation. – Unhappy Hipsters

Sometimes designers can take themselves too seriously…intellectualizing every little spatial concept or geometry in a design.  Loving the blog Unhappy Hipsters which pokes fun at the pictures painted in photography of the lives of the design savvy, well hipsters.  We all know the sort, they read Dwell religiously, they are designers or wanna be’s, they agonize over fashion decisions but want their ensembles to appear effortless…heck, I fall into this category.  And yet I find the posts hilarious, deriving great satisfaction from mocking the incredibly staged shots.   Another perk is that while I am laughing, I can be inspired by the often beautiful designs depicted.  The above is one of my favorite posts - the caption had me laughing out loud at work.  And I mean come on – what is the purpose of those little prison windows?  This blog is my new favorite work diversion.   Special thanks to Doug for sending this my way.

Photo by Craig Cutler; Dwell, February/March 2006 via Unhappy Hipsters

I am still beaming from last night’s win.  In their first Super Bowl ever, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31 to 17 in Super Bowl XLIV. The Saints played consistently well despite a rocky beginning. Perhaps it was the vibe of the performance by The Who at half time or some inspired speech by head coach, Sean Payton because they came out in true Black and Gold form the 3rd quarter. The onside kick surprised us all but set the tone. I felt them saying to themselves, who dat said they gonna beat them Saints, whot dat! And the pick 6 by Tracy Porter late in the 4th quarter, followed by their last touchdown sealed the deal.

Knowing the consistent game of the Colts offense, I wouldn’t let myself celebrate the victory until the clock hit zero. And then I yelled…so excited for the Saints -a well deserved win. I am sure the celebration will continue right into the Mardi Gras season. Laissez le bon temps roulez fellas! Let the good times roll!

Photograph by Ronald Martinez / Getty Images, via NPR

The Ale House Inn, an urban lodging experience in the Market Square district of Portsmouth, New Hampshire opened  last Spring.  Owner, Doug Palardy wanted to restore the historic 1880s warehouse back to it’s original luster.  Victorian decor dominated in the previous incarnation of a B&B.  Palardy, the creative mind behind Motley in Boston’s South End, envisioned a hip, lofty boutique inn with updated modern elements. The common areas have vintage charm while the guestrooms are refined blending luxury with the comforts of home.  In the design of the inn, he was inspired by the lofts and brick townhouses in Boston.  The name pays homage to the building’s history, formally the home of the  Portsmouth Brewing Co.

Palardy said, “There were two options before we opened: small country Victorian B&Bs (which are a bit run down), or larger hotels like the Hilton & Sheridan (same as you can get anywhere). We knew there was a void for design savvy folks that are attracted to downtown Portsmouth.”  The inn is surrounded by all the shops, restaurants, cafes, and historic sites that make Portsmouth a destination for tourists making it the perfect place to stay for those looking for an urban vacation.

While perusing old magazines, I stumbled upon this spread in Elle Decor. Architect, Adam Rolston designed this weekend home for himself and his partner.Building this home from scratch, he had to work on a budget which meant incorporating many ready-made components in the design. What I love about this home is the eclectic assembly of vintage elements. I am pining for my very own set of Toledo stools like the ones in the kitchen. The bedroom is relaxing in gray and the thoughtful display of found objects mixed with artwork and accessories makes the space cozy. All I can say is that I can certainly picture myself weekending here.

Images from Elle Decor