Lovely Loft

While working on specifications for bathroom partitions ( i know, too much excitement for one day) I stumbled upon this image in a google image search for "bathroom partitions". I love everything about this bathroom in this amazing loft... check out that shower floor! way cool.  You should really read more into this amazingly designed space over at apartment therapy. The space is filled with ingenious little solutions to everyday living spaces. (Not to mention this place is filled with awe inspiring beauty).

Professional Portfolio: Cafe Ristretto

This was a free lance project I did in the fall of 2009 (during my thesis... eek! talk about being overloaded!) for my current employer. This contract job landed my full time position with the company.

I was asked to look at an existing kiosk type coffee shop in the PTI airport in Greensboro. It was previously apart of a nation wide chain that was now being bought individually and therefor they wanted to breakaway from that existing look that connected them with their past.

Here are some of the images of what I was working with...

This is the design I came up with..Not a huge change. But subtle hints make a difference. There were also changes that needed to happen to allow a better work flow that required moving around equipment as well as upgrading some of the machines.

The seating area across from the small cafe was also considered in the face lift design...

This was my idea for a more modern space... New furniture, updated paint scheme, some contemporary light fixtures, and a few nice pieces of art.

Branding Identity & Logo exploration was also part of this job since the company was breaking out on their own from the former chain's identity. I tried to incorporate coffee culture in the name without being so cliche. 

The final logo and name came down to Cafe Ristretto. Ristretto is the Italian word for "limited" or "restricted". In the art of espresso, it is the way to pull a short shot in a quicker manner than normal so that a limited amount of water is extracted through the grinds and has less contact. This produces a bolder flavor in the espresso, resulting in a fuller bodied and flavorful shot.

The idea of ristretto is embodied in this fast moving environment of an airport coffee shop because unlike most coffee shops, where people come in and relax, taking their time drinking their hot beverages, this a quick transaction while the customers are usually rushing off to make a flight. So the cafe has a limited amount of time to make that great impression on the visistors, but the experience should be a flavorful one, that in its concentrated state, leaves a positive mark on the users.

Looking Back...

Looking back at last year, while looking ahead to what will happen in 2011, Im so happy that no matter what this year brings I have my wonderful soulmate by my side. I wanted to take sometime to look over the highlights of last year... and to also document those highlights on my blog, since I was way to overwhelmed and busy last year to start my blog!

These are our engagment pictures taken in March of 2010 ( Matt popped the question February 13 at the Proximity! I will blog about that in a Valentine blog coming soon!). We were so lucky to get to work with Lucy Clement. I know we will be using her in the future to capture all of life's happy moments. She is sooo talented... check out her blog and the post on our session here.

The first grouping is my favorite collection from the day.  They were taken outside a modern home store (that I LOVE) in downtown Greensboro called area.

The entire session was shot downtown. Lucy has such great vision...I didnt even know these buildings were back here off Elm street! (And even if I did, I would never be able to see the potential the way she does.)

LOVE these alley way shots...

We stopped by the Mellow Mushroom...Where we ate on our first date ;)

It started raining... no problem! we took cover under this construction site!

... And then the elevator in the garage...

The sun came out for the last few shots...that I adore!

Thanks Lucy! You're the best!

Colorful Seasons

I made this little rotating color scheme for a client's custom coffee label today. She wants her labels to change with the season ( and the colors in her logo) i love it. so festive. So im using this little chart. I saved it to my desk top and i keep getting drawn back into it. I love these colors... separate, together, in their "seasons", or  in their rows, mix and match, pick and choose. they all look yummy! Isnt color wonderful? I cant wait to start painting!

818 Interior Feature...My Fabulous Bent Plywood Thonet Chairs

Love this chair! My mom found it for nearly nothing downtown in Memphis. Shes always bringing me wonderful treasures...always keeping her eyes open for me! And better yet she found not one but 3! Two of them look like this one. The other's seat is straight in the front rather than being curved. Right now I have the two that match on either side of the bookshelf in my living room and the "odd" one in the office. They are sooo comfortable too. One day Id like to use them at the dining table. Im trying to hunt down more info on them...no luck so far, except for this image on apartment therapy....

I love me some chairs ;) You can never have enough greatly designed chairs!

Bring on the brushes!

I just found a crazy good deal on some canvases while searching for a new sketchbook. Ive been wanting to get back into painting as another realm of my design process.  So Ive made the step to purchase (maybe more than enough) canvases, now I just need to invest in some good paint, and even better brushes. So excited to start spreading my thoughts and visions in color all over those crisp white canvases!

Check out DickBlick to indulge in some canvases of your own ( at a ridiculously low price)!

                                       

  {Image provided by freelancefolder.com}

Brainstorming for my Future Brainstorming Room

Well now that most of the rooms in the house are pretty much decorated (for now) Id like to start thinking about our office space.We have some great built-ins one of the walls and I have 2 desks...One is wooden with saw horse bases that Im thinking about painting white. The other is smaller with a metal base and glass top from West Elm. I have some nice chairs in there as well. Now I need to tie it all together. Im really big on organization ad everything having a designated spot.
I found some great inspiration images from some fellow bloggers...

I love how this space sticks with one color for the most part and adds a few pieces of complimentary color that pop out. I really like all the cubes, a spot for everything! The large pinup board is also great!

I found this image through Coco + Kelley

{Image Courtesy of Martha Stewart Living, May 2010}

I love the tack board surface in this space...perfect for hanging straight edges and triangles ( and maybe a picture or two too!)

I know this is more of a closet but i love the clean white pallet thats bursting with color EVERYWHERE! I really like these storage pieces too...Lots of drawers, shelves, and cubbies!

Find out more about these two from Apartment Therapy.

I love the quirky, yet somewhat traditional lights, black and white palette with bright pops of color. The white simple boxes look great in the cube structure, framed by the windows and great curtains. What a great space to work in! I found this great image on 7th House on the Left's blog...Click here for more info from where it originated from, as well as MANY more workspace images! Tons of inspiration here!

I love this table! Mine is somewhat like this, mainly because of the sawhorse bases, but they are still in their original plain wood state. I really admire how the table is not just pushed up against the wall but placed in the middle of the space so that the user can face visitors and simply have a better outlook..guests or no guests! A much more positive feel to the conventional "shove it against the wall" method.  I found this on 7th House on the Left's blog as well but here is the story about the designer behind the space, Rebecca Loving.

I hope my workspace turns out as beautiful and inspiring as these lovely spaces!