Victorian-Inspired Art

When I was reading the on-line art zine What You Make It recently, I became enamored with the incredibly beautiful drawings of artist Julianna Swaney. Each of Julianna's Victorian-inspired prints have so much complexity to them, you'll find yourself getting lost in the striking details. I can't get enough of Julianna's beautiful work, which is available for purchase on Etsy. For those of you living in the NYC area, a few of Julianna's pieces will be part of an exhibition in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at the AG Gallery on N. 3rd Street through December 31st. I can hardly contain my excitement that her work is coming to New York!

Say Goodbye to Ordinary Greeting Cards!

In reading Design Sponge this morning, I was turned on to the husband and wife design team of O Plus D, who have a line of incredibly fun, racy, and very witty greeting cards that will be sure to make that special someone in you life laugh, or maybe even cry. From "Here's Your F***ing X-mas Card, I Hope You're Happy" to "Happy Birthday You Old Bastard," O Plus D has something for every occasion. I love that the cards have a retro look to them and are very colorful. Nothing boring about these little numbers. So the next time a beloved friend gets engaged, why send them a canned greeting card when you can send them a "I'm So Happy For You, I Could Just Pee!" card?

Metal Artist

Women and metalworking don’t often go hand-in-hand. That’s why when I met artist Kristina Kozak, the owner of Mine, a home design store in Williamsburg, I was ecstatic to learn that the beautifully designed metalworking pieces in the store were her own creations. Gothic-looking bed frames, hand-wrought table and chairs and decorative window guards, are just some of her custom-made metalworking designs. Who knew that a casual Sunday afternoon stroll along Grand Street in Williamsburg would open up a whole new world to me - one of twisted steel and metal. Next time you’re in Williamsburg, stop by the store and say hello to Kristina. She’s the inspirational artist and entrepreneur leading the way for other women in the field – she’s hard to miss!

The Tree Bed

Thanksgiving is upon us friends, and I thought today's post couldn't be more appropriate. What other holiday can you eat like it's your last meal and then spend the rest of the evening on the sofa drifting in and out of sleep with the rest of your relatives? Blame it on the turkey I say. Yes, Thanksgiving is definitely a time for family and food, but it is also a time for catching up on much needed sleep! So when I was reading Apartment Therapy this morning, I literally let out a sigh of longing when I laid eyes on the "Tree Bed" by Shawn Lovell Metalworks. Just looking at this beauty makes me want to put on my warmest flannel pajamas, curl into bed, and drift into slumber enveloped in the warm embrace of its branches. Ahhh...one can dream.

Playful Pottery - Update

Hi Guys! I have a Jonathan Adler update for you...I made an exciting realization yesterday. For the last year, I've worked a mere two blocks away from the Jonathan Adler store in SoHo. Oh yes, friends. Many a shopping day has been missed there, but that was all about to change. I was giddy just thinking about getting out of work so that I could visit the shop.

At 6 p.m. I casually made my way out of work, quickened my pace up Grand Street, and then went full force into a jog rounding Greene Street until I entered wonderland. Awash in vibrant colors, the shop was a visual delight! On-line photos do not do the collection justice. There is so much to see in the store - from holiday ornaments, to vases, to pillows, to candles - everything is beautifully crafted and extremely unique. You can find me here on lunch breaks from now on.

Playful Pottery

Jonathan Adler's pottery collection is one of my favorites this season. Modern and stylish, I especially love the beautiful Fontana covered box with gold accents, the ceramic snail box, and the Utopia Vase collection. Whimsical and playful - it reminds me of something out of the Alice in Wonderland tea party scene. Yet don't be fooled, his pieces are exquisitely made and add an element of luxury to your home. If only I could afford them all...

The Trend Continues: Wall Graphics & Flats

Boring white walls? Not anymore! Wall graphics have been all the rage this year. And my apartment is no exception. I'm a big fan of Blik Wall Graphics. They're super easy - peel, stick and you're done! I spent hours one Sunday arranging Blik's "Flock" design in just the right pattern. My living room looks absolutely divine now. The only bad thing about having these beautiful designs on my wall is having to admit to friends that, "No, I didn't paint them myself."

Now, the trend continues with Inhabit's Wall Flats. These peel-and-stick adhesive tabs are simple, modern, and best of all, earth-friendly. They're made from 100% bamboo pulp - one of the world's fastest self-replenishing resources - so no need to feel guilty about your spending. Just keep telling yourself that.

[I'm off to Boston for the weekend to visit a friend so posting will continue on Monday. Have a good weekend!]

The Addictive Beauty of Thomas Paul

I have a serious addiction to Thomas Paul. In my eyes, this man can do no wrong. From pillows to dishware, he brings elements of my favorite design periods – Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Fifties Modernism, and Sixties Pop Art – to create gorgeous home accessories. When you join the Thomas Paul cult, you no longer look at plates and trays in the same way. They become Art. You’ll find yourself proudly displaying dishware prominently on walls throughout your home. Your personal living space becomes a gallery and you, the curator. Not only are Thomas Paul home designs beautiful, but they are durable and extremely affordable. You can see an assortment of his line at Velocity Art & Design and Elsewares.

Ghost Clock

I guarantee that if Yee-Ling Wan's "Ghost Clock" was front and center on your mantle, guests would notice. A stunning interpretation of the traditional Baroque style carriage clock, this spectacular piece of design features ornate etching (comes in either black or white etching) and Roman numerals on a glass front, an intricate chrome mechanism and a reflective mirror backing. It is at once modern and traditional for those of you who teeter between worlds. The Ghost Clock was on backorder for some time at MOMA's on-line shop, but fear not, it's back in stock - and just in time for the holidays!

A Work of Art: The Centerpiece

The Australian home design company, Millicent & Frank, has created a beautiful line of table centerpieces that are works of art unto themselves. The first piece below, made of timber, was a finalist in Australia's Home Beautiful Magazine's Product of the Year Awards. The only problem I forsee with one of these gems is that if you don't have a very large dining room table, you may run out of available space for things like...oh, I don't know, wine glasses for example. But who'd want to cover this equisite design with an unsightly gravy boat? I'd be willing to take my chances on space just to have one of these lovelies.

Down Home Painting

I've recently become a very big fan of the painter Dolan Geiman. Mix a hearty blend of pop art and folk art with a rich sense of Americana, and you've got Dolan Geiman. Dolan was raised in Virginia on his family's Christmas tree farm and was heavily influenced by the rural South. He currently lives and works in Chicago as a painter and "rescued" clothing designer, but his Southern roots are still very much alive in his work. Check out some of his very affordable panel paintings on Trunkt.

Forest Life

The nature trend is in full-swing right now. Wood-carved antlers welcome guests into our 400-square-foot windowless apartments and owl figurines clutter our bookshelves. Yes, I admit, I'm guilty of this trend too. In this crazy bustling city of ours, forest life brings an element of serenity, peace and harmony that so many of us crave. Fortunately, for people like me, the nature trend doesn't seem to be dying out just yet. The Roost Shop at Velocity Art and Design just came out with their new "Log Collection," made up of beautiful porcelain log vases and votives. Check out the adorable little mushrooms running up and down the sides of the vase. I'm predicting these little beauties will end up in my apartment by the end of the week.

Living In Color

Maija Louekari, the multi-talented 24-year-old Finnish designer and illustrator, never ceases to amaze me. Maija's incredibly vivid use of color in her textile patterns makes me feel like I'm in a kaleidoscope world where the sky is a vibrant mix of reds, purples, blues and pinks. I'm in love with the new fabrics she's created for Marimekko called "Kassiopeia." I've been wandering from room to room in my apartment for the last two days trying to find something I can reupholster.

Fit for a Queen

Eighteenth century France comes to life in Rosanna Bowles new tableware collection. Her Rococo Noir line and Dauphine Candlesticks speak to the modern woman who yearns for old world European style. Her exquisitely beautiful dinnerware turns every meal into a royal occasion. When guests are calling for dessert, the only logical response for a queen - "Let them eat cake" of course!

Rococo Noir Collection

Dauphine Candlesticks

It's a Christmas Miracle!

Yes, friends, one of my favorite designers is finally within reach...

of my budget that is. The amazing Dutch designer Tord Boontje is collaborating with Target for Christmas 2006 to bring his magical tableware, candelabras, and all-around fantastical home design products to us all. Tord's designs make you feel like you're in a fairy tale world - floating through an enchanted forest speaking to the animals along the way.

For those of you in New York City, you'll get to experience Tord's enchanted forest first-hand, when he brings his iconic designs to life in the heart of Union Square. Starting December 4th, in celebration of his collaboration with Target, Tord has created an interactive lighting installation called "Bright Nights," filled with his signature animals and magical designs. "Bright Nights" is free and open to the public from Monday, Dec. 4th thru Tuesday, Dec. 26th. Open every day from 4-11 p.m.

I couldn't possibly end this post without sharing some of my favorite Tord Boontje pieces with you:

garland lights

petite jardin armchair

Prints Gone Wild

Fortune shined on me Saturday, November 10th, when Cannonball Press presented "Prints Gone Wild," just a hop, skip and a jump away from my front doorstep in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Some of the country's best graphic artists and letterpress print studios arrived at the Supreme Trading Gallery on N. 8th Street to showcase their finest work. Oh, and it was fine my friend.

As my sister and I strolled through the gallery of Supreme Trading, I was dazzled by the black and white letterpress music posters, woodcuts, silkscreened prints, and hand-illustrated journals, calendars, and note cards. It took everything in my power not to break out my credit card and start buying early Christmas presents for every friend, family member and co-worker.

One of my favorites from the show included the work Yee Haw Industrial Letterpress and Design Co. in Knoxville, TN. Their one-of-a-kind journals would get anyone's creative juices flowing. And their letterpress note card sets, especially their "Flowering Trees of Appalachia," are so incredibly beautiful.

My other favorite at the show was another Tennessee native - Bryce McCloud from Isle of Printing. Bryce's Nashville roots definitely came through in his work. He had some of the coolest old-timey looking prints I've ever seen.

Welcome

Welcome to Homestead! Homestead is a website dedicated to independent artists and the visionary work they're creating in the home design and product design field. Each week I'll share my favorite textiles, furniture, prints, fabrics and ceramics, as well as discuss exciting new trends occurring in the industry. I'll also provide links to my favorite home design stores and pass on information about design fairs, trade shows and other special events taking place in the New York City area. This blog will serve as a daily journal about my design finds, as well as an ode to independent artists and their vision. Thank you for visiting! Enjoy!

About Me

I grew up in Tarrytown, New York and moved to Brooklyn eight years ago. By day, I'm a writer for magazines and non-profit organizations. By night, I'm an amateur knitter, sewer, furniture remodeler, and all-around home decor junkie.

Thanks for visiting!