In case you haven’t guessed yet – I judge a book by its cover. Yep. I unabashedly admit that I will buy a more expensive mayo, or what-have-you, because it looks good. I appreciate, and am happy to reward, good design… plus that mayo reminds me of English mayo which I have a particular soft spot for (and probably a few soft spots from, but I digress.)

So when I first saw this packaging by Tokyo design agency Akaoni, I thought, yes. I love the simplicity, the bold and playful designs, the kraft coloring…

…and when I searched for the source of the image that I had seen I discovered something even better! The images were from a blog called Creative Roots, which explores nations through art and design – graphic design, photography, architecture… You can search by continent, by nation, or simply follow the stream. It’s definitely worth a look.

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I am so happy when people really go for it. Whatever it is. This apartment in Stockholm is a prime example (and it could be said, a primary example, but I’m not going there tonight.)

In the redesign of this turn-of-the-century apartment, Swedish architects Tham & Videgård Hansson take their inspiration from the changing seasonal colors in a nearby park. They create a veritable parquet playground of hues, merging and mixing, converging and contrasting, from one room to another. The oversized parquet floor and wall panels move through electric shades of green, yellow, orange, red, and pink, to the calmer browns, grays, and black. What an extraordinary vision to dream this up.

They say the client hoped for a design that was not your “standard blond Scandinavian” interior. I’d say they hit the nail on the head.

Images courtesy of Dezeen.

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I love it so.

Image courtesy of Crush Cul de Sac.

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…more like butter.

From CB2.

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Alliteration aside, I am mesmerized by the transformation of this old mill into a spectacular collage of color, texture, and kitsch. Designer and owner, Mitri Hourani takes as his maxim Antoine Lavoisier’s quote “Rien ne se perd, rien ne se crée, tout se transforme” – or “”Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed.”

While harkening back to one of the major rules of physics, this idea serves to inspire the designer to use found objects and reinvent them to have a new life. The result, a dramatic and ebullient display of clusters of light, layered tapestries, and creative kitsch.

All images courtesy of Marie Claire Maison.

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From the looks of things there’s a lot more awesome going on there than just the door… but the door, oh, the door…

(It would make a wonderful addition to a room I know.)

Image courtesy of The Style Files.

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I find myself completely smitten with Australian tabletop line, attia. Not only do I love their sense of design, but the philosophy behind it. The attia range inspires a warm minimalism that celebrates the human rather than the machine. Attia values products that are energized by the makers touch, things with soul – and loves the patina that time and use leave behind.

Their line consists of ceramics in black and white and natural wood pieces. Their focus is on natural finishes – matte rather than gloss – muted tones and shades mix with the natural tonal shifts that wood provides. The rounded, irregular shapes have a primal, organic sensibility that I love.

…and oh yes… there’s the egg cup.

To see more visit them at attia.

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Obsessed with it.

Image courtesy of Dwell.

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Palette courtesy of Kuler.
Image #1 courtesy of Design is Mine.
Images #2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 13 courtesy of House to Home.
Images #11 & 12 courtesy of Remodelista.
Image # 14 courtesy of French By Design.

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Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

Image courtesy of pinterest.

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