DIY Trend

WHAAA? ANOTHER POST? lol It’s for homework guys… Isn’t it cool that I get to blog as an assignment? ANYWAYS. Since I talked about color trends in my previous post, I’ll continue to talk about trends.

A trend that I think will forever be popular is the classic “Do-It-Yourself”.  I think that now, especially with the economy, people are tackling more do-it-yourself projects. Whether it be altering clothes or revamping a thrifted cabinet, DIY will continue to be a trend. Sites like Pinterest that has its own category devoted to DIY, continually inspire people to tackle these so called DIY projects.

DIY has its pros and cons. My friend, Luke, talked about how DIY is killing the design industry because since people are designing their own websites, blogs, logos, etc… they don’t need the help of the professionals anymore. Which is very unfortunate for us designers because since people are doing everything themselves, it’s getting harder and harder to find design jobs. We’ve had speakers come to our business practices class and talk about how they went from having 20 + clients one day, to having less than 10 then next. So DIY could really be a factor that affects the design industry.

However… I, myself, am a DIY-er. I love doing everything myself. I like working with my hands and building things. I’m always curious on how things are put together.I think it’s a trait that I got from my father. DIY, for me, helps me not only to save money, but to think creatively. Like a good example would be the elephant sweater I had made a year ago. I saw this:

at some random website. I wish I could remember… It was the original website where the sweater came from. I think it was a UK based site. Anyways, I saw this sweater, fell in love with and I was about to get it until I found it was only a kid’s sweater! AH! I really wanted one! So what did I do? I made one! I’m not the greatest when it comes to sewing, but the sweater turned out pretty great!

So I guess I agree with both sides. I can sympathize with the designers because… well… we want jobs! But I can also sympathize with the people who do want to do everything themselves. Tackle their inner handy-man (or woman).

So to end this post, I want to share a couple of DIY projects that I want to pursue, and I hope you do too!

When I first saw this post in Design Sponge, I got excited. It’s so pretty! I want to make giant paper flowers! Maybe even put them in my room! I could feel like Thumbelina! lol and it would be really fun to have a photoshoot with giant paper flowers! fairy photoshoot? yes! AH! the possibilities are endless!

Big project! I don’t want to do exactly what he did, but It would be awesome to build something out of recycled materials. Pictured below is Michael Reynolds. Here’s a little snippet from the site: “Michael Reynolds founded Earthship Biotecture, a company that specializes in designing and building Earthships, in the 1970s. He wanted to create a home that was not only sustainable, but also mostly self-sufficient and within financial reach of the average person. Earthships generally cost between $50,000 to $100,000 and can be built by just about anyone, regardless of whether they have any previous experience.” Isn’t that cool?

That’s it for now! I gotta work on other things :)

See ya!

Westweek

A couple of weeks ago, I had went to the Pacific Design Center with my friend Carlos to attend Westweek which is just a gathering for a lot of designers so that they can check out new trends in the industry by visiting the showrooms, listen to talks and demonstrations given out by famous designers, and pretty much just mingle with other designers (and students like me!)

I didn’t get to take too many pictures because I was too busy looking at the showrooms and chatting up with people.

So here’s the breakdown of the picture set.

1. The atrium of the PDC. They have a lot of fabric showrooms at this level and Carlos and I went crazy. Before going here, we had stopped by Schumacher and they gave us some goodies and fabric samples to choose from a big box!

2. We went to the David Sutherland showroom for out last stop and they had these gorgeous light fixtures. I could imagine this particular luminaire at a high-end/up-town boardroom.

3. Another luminaire from David Sutherland.

4. And another one… I thought this was really cute though, which is why I took a close-up.

5. I have an attachment to this particular side table. I had used this EXACT side table for a project a year or so ago and I didn’t realize that the manufacturer was David Sutherland. So I was pretty happy when I saw it at the showroom. Also, the credenza in the back (you can’t really see it much) was really cool.

6. We ate at Pizza Rustica after which was just around the corner from the PDC.

7. My lovely friend, Carlos.

8. We then went to the West Hollywood Library across from the PDC. It was really nice. If you guys ever get a chance to go, you should definitely check it out. They have this really nice tree installation along the stairs going up. We didn’t notice it at first because it was so high, then Carlos had glanced up and we just started taking pictures.

9. Even the ceiling on the second floor was really cool.

10. It was a very nice library. We wanted to stay and read some books but the library was going to close soon.

 

That’s about it! I just wanted to share that with you guys :)

 

Roman and Williams

Roman and Williams is one of my favorite design firms. I came across their work a few years ago when I was looking at pictures of flat file cabinets, which I love (and will be posting about soon).

I love their style. I feel like if I were to walk into the spaces that they designed, I would be transformed into another time period. It reminds me of the 60′s. To me it looks modern but in a classic way.

Here are some photos:

This is the fourth street loft, which is my absolute favorite residential project that they’ve done.

Their office is amazing. I’m actually using it as inspiration for a project for my space planning class.

Hope you enjoyed the little spotlight on Roman and Williams, and please go check out their work here. They have other amazing designs in their project list.

Credits:
photos from the 4th street project (source)
photos from their office (source)

Heirloom and Three French Hens

So a few days ago, I said that I would talk about a couple of stores that my cousin and I went to while we were on our mini Claremont adventure.

First one up is Heirloom:

1. They have these awesome glass lamps, which you can learn how to make in one of their classes.
2. I really like the wood materials that they used for their walls and their floors. I love love love the reclaimed wood that they used for their walls.
3. They have cute little displays and products.
4. Local artists can sell their creations in the store like local wood artist, Chet Lewis.
5. An assortment of handles.
6. They have cute and interesting cards, this one says “I love you like a back-alley hooker loves crack.”
7. This one says “Save the drama fo’ yo’ mama.” Teeheehee
8. I loved this Book luminaire, and the filament lamp was a nice touch.
9. On our way out the store… I noticed this corner which I totally missed on the way in! I quickly made my way and looked through the little knick knacks that they had and I had bought something (see picture below).
10. Heirloom sign
11. Entrance to the store

This one is the Three French Hens:

1. I’m not really quite sure if this was for sale, or if it was a decoration… but I really like it.
2. I like the build in shelving/display that they had in the store.
3. Chain light fixture.
4. Vintage table, clock, typewriter, among other things.
5. Vintage typewriter. I love vintage typewriters. Well, just typewriters in general. When I was little, I would play with my dad’s typewriter and set it up in my little desk and I’d have an office.
6. They have a bunch of vintage books for sale as well.
7. They also had a handful of design books that I wanted to buy oh so much!
8. Some artwork on the wall by a local artist.
9. I thought it was really cool to see a stoplight. I wanted to take it home with me as well…
10. What a beautiful door! It’s a little skinny, but it’s very tall — and I love tall doors.
11. Some lovely bottles.
12. The sign in the front of the store.

p.s. Here’s what I had bought from Heirloom. Some watch parts and mini clothespins. They look big, but they’re really small… The clothespin is less than an inch.

Design Inspiration

My aunt that lives in the Philippines recently sent me and email saying that she’d like me to design some doors for her new house that she’s getting built. Her house is going to have a Modern Asian design and she’d like the doors to have an organic design that still relates to the house.

Pretty awesome huh? I’m really excited.

The first thing I thought of when she said Modern Asian is that I knew it was going to be boxy and geometric with a lot of clean, straight lines. So the first thing I did was to go on google and houzz to look for some inspiration.

Here are several images that I was inspired by:

asian exterior design by austin architect Webber + Studio, Architects

asian exterior design by san francisco architect John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

asian exterior design by san diego architect Silva Studios Architecture

asian entry design by san diego architect Silva Studios Architecture

So I got to the drawing board. I was initially going to sketch it out and color it but I thought that doing it in illustrator would be easier and faster.So here are the results! I was told to use 3-4 stains, and the doors are going to be constructed entirely out of wood. Simple, organic, and geometric.

I should have numbered them… but my favorite ones are the 5th one in the 1st row; the 1st one in the 2nd row; the 2nd and 5th one in the 3rd row; the 1st, 3rd, and 5th in the 4th row; the 3rd, 4th, and 5th in the 5th row; and both doors in the 6th row.

but.. ahh.. I like them all…. >_<

Which did YOU like?

New toy!

I wanted this to be a separate post…

I just wanted to show you guys my new toy! I would use my dad’s tablet from work before to do graphics and design but ever since I got my macbook, I haven’t been able to use it because Lion doesn’t support PowerPC apps and software.

So I got the Wacom Bamboo Capture a couple of days ago (it was my mom and dad’s Christmas gift to me – THANK YOU PARENTS!) and it’s been working great! I love it already! I’m designing some doors right now for my aunt (something you’ll hear about in a post within the next week) and I did the logo, and bloglovin sign earlier for this blog.

I can’t wait to do more things with this! I’m thinking a freebies/downloads section. I’ve designed some backgrounds/wallpapers before and I’d like to put it up among other things that I can digitally make. :)

What ghost?

So this past weekend I spent the night at my mom’s work with her (she works at a high school dormitory which used to be an old hotel) because my dad asked me to accompany her just so she isn’t alone and so she can sleep. Turns out there might be a ghost(s) in the hall because someone (or something) messed with my mom’s desk while she was out of the office for about 15 minutes. She looked back at the security tapes in the hallway but she didn’t see anyone go into her office. Creepy huh? Luckily I didn’t see anything or observed anything strange that happened.

I decided to take a few pictures around the grounds before dinner was ready.

Hope you enjoy!

(OH… I stitched my pictures again. The reason I’m stitching them is because I want to conserve space in the media library for other pictures :) Plus it’s easier to upload since all i have to do is pick one file hehhehe :) )

Here’s my description of the pictures by row:

Radiators. I’ve never really seen a radiator up close and I thought it was really cool.

House. There’s a house on the right side of that hill (where the trees are at). I wonder if the view is really pretty from up there…

Light. I really like light fixtures and this one caught my attention.

Bridge and Bath. That’s the bridge that connects the dormitories to the school. Then there’s another radiator in the bathroom but what I was really interested in was the tile on the floor. Cute little hexagons – simple.

Railing. As I was walking back to the dormitories, I looked back at the sunset and took a picture through the railings. I though it looked pretty cool.

Books and Lace

Hello!

First of all, I want to say that I’m so grateful to have been featured on “Freshly Pressed” yesterday as well as today!!! aaahhh!! two days in a row! I was so happy to receive such great comments and got some new followers too! Might I say… I’ve been feeling pretty inspired and motivated since yesterday. This was exactly the kick I needed to get this blog going.

So here it is, as promised, I’m showing you the awesome finds that I got while I was on my trip.

Two old books (The Scarlet Letter & War and Peace) from the 57th Street Antique Mall located in East Sacramento. Then the lace tablecloth, two lace doilies, and three lace ribbons that I found at a small thrift store on the way to Yosemite. (Sadly, I didn’t remember the name of the town)

The lace table-cloth is a little stained so I still need try to get the stains out. The ribbon on the top right, which came in a set of 3 that’s about 30″ long, are damaged and there’s a lot of stains. So if I can’t get the stains out of those ribbons, I’d salvage the good parts and maybe make some earrings or jewelry of some sort. (Unless I come up with a better idea) I think I’m going to use the lace ribbons that’s located in the top middle section for these skirts that I want to make that I saw on pinterest one time.

well.. these ones are actually shorts but hey.. shorts are awesome.

and then there’s this one:

Then the lace doilies… I really wanted to make the lace doilie lamps I’ve been seeing around like these:

If not lamps, then maybe some cool lace bowls for decoration or maybe I’d incorporate it to kind of a mixed media painting. RIGHT? that’d be cool…

Ok farewell for now. I’m off to do my laundry and accounting homework. fuunn…

Kitchen

We were assigned to design an accessible kitchen 2 weeks ago. I’ve been working on my design throughout the weeks, and did not procrastinate; but somehow I still ended up staying up the night before it was due to finish everything! I was so stressed. This project confused me, gave me headaches, and irritated me. In the end though, I was proud of the overall design. This is for my Codes class, so all we have to do is design spaces that are up to the building codes and such. Our teacher always tell us that we don’t have to design things in detail, like aesthetic wise, just make everything simple and standard. Of course, being myself, I tend to make everything harder for myself. I’ll go that extra mile to make everything pretty or detailed. My classmates already know that I have something “crazy” in mind to do for projects. (Even though I don’t think it’s that crazy…) I tend to design high end looking spaces… fancy.

I just wanted to show you guys where I got my inspiration from and I wanted to show you my finished colored design. (Things to keep in mind: Yes, my lines aren’t straight. We’re suppose to freehand all the inking and I think I did alright. Not my best though. Whenever I ink my lines, I NEVER  breath. I hold my breath when I’m drawing a line so I don’t mess up. Doesn’t work sometimes though. hahah :) )

traditional kitchen design by boston kitchen and bathVenegas and Company

contemporary kitchen design by new york interior designer valerie pasquiou interiors + design, inc

modern kitchen design by san francisco architect John Maniscalco Architecture

traditional kitchen design by providence interior designer Kate Jackson Design

contemporary kitchen design by other metros interior designer Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

contemporary kitchen design by interior designer Robin Miller

AND HERE ARE THE FINISHED DESIGNS!

so here’s the floor plan. We were given that space to work with, all while thinking of the necessary clearances and such for the wheelchair to able to roll comfortably around.

here’s the elevations for the floor plan above. The top one is of the north side of the floor plan. It’s actually the one I was really excited about because of the backsplash that I did. The detail of the tile is off to the side but it got cut off, but at least you can somehow see it :). I showed my teacher and she was like “It’s Beyooootiful!” (hehehhe) Bottom left is of the west side which has the floor to ceiling windows. Bottom right is of the east side which has french doors. (pretty simple)

And last, here’s the elevations for the island. Pretty simple as well, I had no room to add any extra drawers and cabinets because I had to put seating for four. And If I put it in the side of the microwave and cooktop, it would have collided with those appliances.

Did you like it? I hope you did :) Even though this gave me headaches, and I literally wanted to trash my trace paper.. I love doing this.

So now off to my next project! Hotel suites!

- Francis