Photo of the Day 05.02.12

<p><img alt="Pinned Image" src="http://media-cache7.pinterest.com/upload/74450200060030434_0xVjGAAY_c.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" /></p> <p>I am currently beyond obsessed with this ultra-chic, all white look from the stunning Elle McPherson who has not aged in the last 20 years. Sure, anything would look great on a tall, thin, gorgeous model, but I <em>really </em>love this outfit. It is white done right. She looks polished and elegant, yet completely relaxed. The embellishments on the cardigan and the edgy cuff really tie the look together for me. Does this look strike your fancy? Would you dare to wear an all-white ensemble or do you prefer a little more contrast?</p> <p> </p> <p align="center">{Image via <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/37788084343830172/">Pinterest</a>}</p>

Photo of the Day 05.02.12

I am currently beyond obsessed with this ultra-chic, all white look from the stunning Elle McPherson who has not aged in the last 20 years...

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Design Under the Influence: Bertoia

<p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11082" height="639" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dining-room-wood-table-Bertoia-chairs-Mikel-Irastorza-Nuevo-Estilo.jpg" title="Mikel Irastorza via Nuevo Estilo" width="600" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>"If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them." - Harry Bertoia</em></p> <p style="text-align: center">Hello, it's Erika from <a href="http://smallshopstudio.com/blog" target="_blank">small shop</a> with our 14th edition of "Design Under the Influence"! Today I wanted to share a little bit about the man behind one of the most iconic chairs around: the Bertoia chair.</p> <p style="text-align: center">Like <a href="http://paloma81.blogspot.com/2012/03/design-under-influence-saarinens-tulip.html" target="_blank">Saarinen</a>, Bertoia was a sculptor by trade. It comes as no surprise that he taught metal working and industrial design at an art college in Michigan. He was often brought in to collaborate with Eames and <a href="http://paloma81.blogspot.com/2012/03/design-under-influence-saarinens-tulip.html" target="_blank">Saarinen</a> on their projects as well. And you probably didn't know that he also was a jewelry designer, even creating the wedding rings worn by Charles and Ray Eames.</p> <p style="text-align: center">But he struck designer gold with his introduction of industrial wire mesh in his collection for Knoll in 1952. So much so, his commissions allowed him to devote himself fully to his first love: sculpture. He eventually went on to explore how metal can affect and produce sound, creating "sounding sculptures" like large wind chimes. His pieces can be found at museums and sculpture galleries in Chicago, Brooklyn, Honolulu, Philadelphia, Dallas, Minneapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, and the Smithsonian American Museum of Art in Washington D.C. Go check them out for yourself — I hear the installations at Chicago's Aon Center and the Chicago Botanic Garden are supposed to be quite an experience!</p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11095" height="595" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/small-shop-design-under-the-influence-bertoia.jpg" title="small-shop-design-under-the-influence-bertoia" width="500" /></p> <p style="text-align: center">Bertoia received awards from the American Institute of Architects in 1973 and the American Academy of Letters in 1975. Yet even today, we are still using his innovative forms in so many types of rooms. Like the <a href="http://paloma81.blogspot.com/2011/11/design-under-influence-platner.html" target="_blank">Platner</a> and <a href="http://paloma81.blogspot.com/2012/03/design-under-influence-saarinens-tulip.html" target="_blank">Saarinen</a> collections, these iconic pieces can stand alone or be paired with just about any furniture style, creating an instantly eclectic space:</p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11080" height="700" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/black-bertoia-desk-lily-fi.jpg" title="black bertoia desk by lily.fi" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em><a href="http://www.lily.fi/juttu/keskenerainen-0" target="_blank">lily.fi</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11079" height="593" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/black-bertoia-bedroom-white-green-striped-rug-lily-fi.jpg" title="black bertoia bedroom white green striped rug by lily.fi" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.lily.fi/juttu/keskenerainen-0" target="_blank"><em>lily.fi</em></a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11077" height="658" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/black-bertoia-armchair-living-room-gallery-wall-lily-fi.jpg" title="black bertoia armchair living room gallery wall lily.fi" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em><a href="http://www.lily.fi/juttu/keskenerainen-0" target="_blank">lily.fi</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11073" height="622" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bertoia-armchair-living-room-fireplace-via-witanddelight.jpg" title="bertoia armchair living room fireplace via wit and delight" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>via <a href="http://katearends.com/blog/2010/08/a-special-wedding-gift/" target="_blank">wit and delight</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11075" height="673" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bertoia-chairs-rustic-table-944.jpg" title="bertoia-chairs-rustic-table-944" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://jldesigns.blogspot.com/2011/02/organic-desert-retro-tablescape-for-944.html" target="_blank"><em>JL Designs for 944</em></a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11091" height="673" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bertoia-chairs-rustic-table-patio-9441.jpg" title="bertoia-chairs-rustic-table-patio-944" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://jldesigns.blogspot.com/2011/02/organic-desert-retro-tablescape-for-944.html" target="_blank"><em>JL Designs for 944</em></a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11074" height="450" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bertoia-chair-fur-fireplace.jpg" title="bertoia-chair-fur-fireplace" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/103090278940500820/" target="_blank">(source)</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11089" height="658" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/swedish-loft-vintage-black-desk-bertoia-chair-Marie-Olsson-Nylander.jpg" title="swedish-loft-vintage-black-desk-bertoia-chair-Marie-Olsson-Nylander" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Marie Olsson Nylander</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11081" height="554" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/contemporary-dining-room-area-dome-pendant-lights-bertoia-Stephan-Jaklitsch.jpg" title="contemporary-dining-room-area-dome-pendant-lights-bertoia-Stephan-Jaklitsch" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Stephan Jaklitsch</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11078" height="675" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/black-bertoia-armchairs-mid-century-modern.jpg" title="black-bertoia-armchairs-mid-century-modern" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>via<a href="http://www.mid-century-modern-interiors.com/" target="_blank"> Mid-Century Modern</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11086" height="563" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/kitchen-saarinen-bertoia-white-peter-pawlak-elle-decor.jpg" title="kitchen-saarinen-bertoia-white-peter-pawlak-elle-decor" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em><a href="http://www.peterpawlak.com/" target="_blank">Peter Pawlak</a> via <a href="http://elledecor.com" target="_blank">Elle Decor</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11071" height="573" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/beachy-dining-room-bertoia-chairs-navy-white-photographer-douglas-friedman.jpg" title="beachy-dining-room-bertoia-chairs-navy-white-photographer-douglas-friedman" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Photographed by <a href="http://douglasfriedman.net" target="_blank">Douglas Friedman</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11084" height="560" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/dining-room-white-yellow-bertoia-chairs-alexandra-angle.jpg" title="dining-room-white-yellow-bertoia-chairs-alexandra-angle" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.alexandraangle.com/" target="_blank"><em>Alexandra Angle</em></a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11088" height="675" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/small-shop-glitter-guide-window-seat-bertoia-chair.jpg" title="small-shop-glitter-guide-window-seat-bertoia-chair" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em><a href="http://smallshopstudio.com/blog" target="_blank">small shop</a>* for the <a href="http://theglitterguide.com/2012/02/14/style-at-home-erika-brechtel-of-small-shop-studio/" target="_blank">Glitter Guide</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11072" height="455" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bedroom-neutral-bertoia-chair-marie-claire-maison.jpg" title="bedroom-neutral-bertoia-chair-marie-claire-maison" width="450" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>via <a href="http://www.marieclairemaison.com/" target="_blank">Marie Claire Maison</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11087" height="500" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/porch-bertoia-armchairs-martha-stewart-living.jpg" title="porch-bertoia-armchairs-martha-stewart-living" width="400" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>via <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/274242/creative-outdoor-spaces/@center/276985/outdoor-living" target="_blank">Martha Stewart Living</a></em></p> <img alt="" class="aligncenter" height="526" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/white-bertoia-armchair-living-room-wall-shelf-via-vtwonen.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" title="white-bertoia-armchair-living-room-wall-shelf-via-vtwonen" width="400" /> <p style="text-align: center"><em>via <a href="http://www.vtwonen.nl/" target="_blank">vtwonen.nl</a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-7004" height="570" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/industrial-chic-stairs-chandelier-bertoia-barcelona.jpg" title="industrial-chic-stairs-chandelier-bertoia-barcelona" width="391" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Photographed by <a href="http://www.ivisual.com/verger/" target="_blank">Pierre-Jean Verger </a></em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11085" height="424" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/jenna-lyons-dining-room-bertoia-sidechair.jpg" title="jenna-lyons-dining-room-bertoia-sidechair" width="400" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Jenna Lyons</em></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11070" height="490" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/at-home-with-white-by-atlanta-bartlett-dining-room-saarinen-bertoia.jpg" title="at-home-with-white-by-atlanta-bartlett-dining-room-saarinen-bertoia" width="400" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.atlantabartlett.com/" target="_blank">Atlanta Bartlett</a></p> <p style="text-align: center">Don't you love the kids' chair version too? Easy way to add this chic piece of design history to your space (*like I did!).</p> <p style="text-align: center">For more on the man and the legacy he leaves behind, please visit: <a href="http://harrybertoia.org/" target="_blank">www.harrybertoia.org</a></p> <p style="text-align: center"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3079" height="70" src="http://smallshopstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/xoxo.jpg" title="...xoxo" width="200" /></p> <p style="text-align: center"><em>Top image: Mikel Irastorza via <a href="http://www.nuevo-estilo.es/" target="_blank">Nuevo Estilo</a></em></p>

Design Under the Influence: Bertoia

"If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like sculpture. Space passes right through them." - Harry Bertoia H...

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Love it or Leave it: Cork Walls

<p><img alt="Pinned Image" src="http://media-cache4.pinterest.com/upload/185210603395350137_aJNNoVbO_c.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto" /></p> <p>I recently came across this image of a space by the fabulous Miles Redd. Now, I <em>LOVE</em> Miles’ work and he really can do no wrong in my book, but I am pretty certain that the cork wallcovering he used in this room is going to elicit a pretty visceral response from all of you. It’s one of those things that you either love or you hate, wouldn’t you say? Personally, I really like the idea of using it in a less formal space like a kids’ playroom or home office. What are your thoughts? Love it or leave it?</p>

Love it or Leave it: Cork Walls

I recently came across this image of a space by the fabulous Miles Redd. Now, I LOVE Miles’ work and he really can do no wrong in my book...

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