SIXX DESIGN

One fascinating duo that continues to inspire me as I crave anything and everything inside the world of interior design is none other than husband and wife, Cortney and Robert Novogratz. A couple whose done it all, from parenting seven children to designing homes that are receiving international acclaim.

Many of you might recall the couple from Bravo’s past docu-series “9 by Design.” A series that followed the duo over the course of six months as they raised a large and growing family in New York City while working on large-scale design projects. Projects that included a home conversion of a gun shop located on edge of Soho, a 24-room hotel on the New Jersey Shore called The Bungalow Hotel and a 10,000 square foot glass house on Manhattan’s West Side Highway.

Cortney and Robert are no ordinary property developers as you can see. On any given week, this hip and artsy couple overlooks construction, architecture and interior design that landed them a reputation as one of the best development teams in the business. With their NYC based design firm, SIXX DESIGN has a “true knack for creating dream homes out of wreckage.” A one-of-a-kind specialty that allows them to decorate with rare and inspiring collectables in spacious settings, yet face overwhelming challenges against rapidly ticking clocks.

Together, the duo and children of seven make New York City seem like there is no better place to raise a large family. While renovating and selling houses is a challenging business, the Novogratz risks have exceeded far and beyond. With unique designs always underway, their process is constantly evolving and changing as they go. Being around curious people, respecting the fast pace city and loving what they do is of course a key contribution in Cortney and Robert’s strive to be different. The couple also finds that mixing modern furnishings with remarkable vintage artifacts found in flea markets and antique shops is their way of setting themselves apart from others. It’s all about finding something that no one else has.

Since SIXX DESIGN took shape in 1995, the unique pair has developed and designed living spaces in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Trancoso, Brazil and Soho on Thompson Street. Not to mention, the firm has touched down in almost every interior design magazine out there as well as made headline after headline in New York Post, The New York Times and Daily News.

What can I say, the Novogratz are one ball of inspiration. So much of an inspiration that I bought the duo’s book Downtown Chic. A fresh, new design and decorating book that offers their realistic advice on how to create original, warm interiors with ease. Cross your fingers for a second season, as I will be!

Anthropologie

The electric American brand, Anthropologie, makes one appreciate innovation, artfulness and good design in a whole different light. Ever since 1992 when the company very first opened in Wayne, Pennsylvania, its offered customers a one-of-a-kind and compelling shopping experience. Aimed to attract seekers of the unusual and different with the clever details and fine craftsmanship of their products, Anthropologie is a place for anyone and everyone. With a distinct and unique look to each of their buildings, purchase or not, one is bound to find a special source of pleasure when visiting. According to statistics, visitors spend an average of 80 minutes per visit compared to an average of 15 minutes per visit with any other “traditional” clothing store. Shocking indeed.

Everything about Anthropologie screams inspiration, from talent to creativity. Generally speaking, the store is focused on the idea of turning the ordinary into the extraordinary. Whether it’s a talented person, inspiring trip or something as simple as a plastic bottle, practically anything can provide Anthropologie’s visual team with help on themes for the windows and displays. After all, bringing the windows and in-store displays to life is what the store is most known for and they always do so in way that retains the overall look of the brand.

 

With its unbelievable soulfulness and sincerity, I’ve been drawn to Anthropologie ever since stumbling upon several years ago. With its “esoteric and individual signature” I’ve been nothing but appreciative of this brand. Not only have I been a continuous customer, its cleverness has driven my inspiration in so many unimaginable ways. From window displays to home décor, I’ve taken bits and pieces to incorporate in art of my own as well as create a lamp birdcage from scrape. There is hardly a product or concept that doesn’t catch my eye. It really is amazing how inspiring the simplest things can be and being in a welcoming community makes it that much easier to explore. One would be ever so silly not to admire the talent in finding ways to reuse existing items and transforming them into something entirely new.

Anthropologie, a store available to mainstream American shoppers, has taken the French flea market to a whole new level and created a world of its own. A world where consumers can reclaim, aspire and dream. With 82 stores across the country, the company sees its customer as an “affluent but not materialistic” woman between the ages of 30 to 45. Truthfully I feel it’s a store for all ages with its mix of clothing and accessories, bath and body products, home décor, bedding, antique furniture and so forth. That being said, Anthropolgie continues to amaze me with its innovation, artfulness and good design.

ELLE DECOR

Ever since I’ve had a home of my own, I’ve been into the whole home decorating. By this I mean I’ve completely gone from an interest in clothes to an interest in furniture. Instead of buying the latest trend in fashion, I find myself shopping for the next accessory to accent my room, living room, common area and kitchen. Interior design seems to be more up my alley than fashion design. It’s kind of funny, because most people would not see me as the one to be so in to what fabric goes with what and so forth. But I must say I have an eye for that sort of thing and living in a house full of ten girls allows me to explore others tastes and interests. As you can imagine everyone has a mind of their own, but that doesn’t stop them from coming to me with questions on what to do next with their room or what they could do to help improve it. It really gives me a chance to excel in home decor and keeps me up to date with the latest styles, design, and remodels.

One magazine I find most inspiring out of many and constantly refer to is ELLE DECOR, where style lives. It is the “ultimate guide to decorating and design” plus much, much more. The leading edition in a worldwide network of 25 ELLE DECO publications, the magazine reaches more than two million readers, and its influence extends over five continents. This magazine is a place where you’ll find anything from ideas and inspiration to tools that help you decorate, renovate, and entertain with style. For 20 years, the magazine has covered style makers, trendsetting interiors, and must-have home furnishings from an international point of view. Basically, ELLE DÉCOR provides readers with everything you need to live well and this is why I find it so inspirational. 

If it weren’t for ELLE DÉCOR’s exciting new ideas and inspirations, I’d be lost. It is a magazine I will hold on to for years to come. It keeps me doing what I love and there is nothing better than that!

About ELLE DÉCOR (media kit):

Essence: What is the Brand's reason for being?

The only media brand dedicated to international fashion for the home, ELLE DECOR is a chic and sophisticated Global Positioning System for the world of design.

Excellence: What does the Brand do better than anyone else?

First to recognize the relationship between fashion and interiors as facets of individual style, every issue inspires its readers with laid-back luxury, stylishly accessorized settings and well-dressed rooms they want to wear.

Belief: What does the Brand stand for?

ELLE DECOR stands for authentic spaces created over time by creative, worldly tastemakers who are actively engaged in the process of fashioning their lives.

Emotional Bond: What makes the reader love the Brand?

ELLE DECOR makes the luxurious accessible and the accessible look chic, inviting readers to see themselves at home in its pages. Always original and all about the mix, the magazine embraces every style, from classic to eclectic, English country to modern, surprising, seducing and delighting its readers with the turn of every page.

Global Network

ELLE DECORATION, the world's largest design magazine network:

• 25 editions
• 28 countries
• 9.2 million readers globally

ELLE DECOR

• Circulation 593,945*
• Audience 1.9 million**
• The leading luxury design magazine in 2010 and 2009: #1 in ad pages and advertising growth***

Source:
*ABC June 2010; ** MRI Spring 2010; ***MIN 2010 

Cirque du Soleil

By the time this weekend rolled around I was eager to get out after being cooped up all week due to such frigid weather. With my “other half” in town visiting, we thought it’d be a nice change of pace to do something out of the ordinary. That is when we decided to purchase tickets to Cirque du Soleil’s show, OVO, in Frisco and man was it worth it!

For those of you who don’t know, Cirque du Soleil is a “multifaceted creative force” where strange characters lead you through unbelievable sets and surreal atmospheres to the sound of entrancing music. From acrobatic performances and dance to dexterity and grace, Cirque du Soleil stands on the dividing line between reality and fantasy as it takes you into unknown worlds. With 20 different shows around the world, they draw inspiration from all sorts of cultures to “extend the boundaries of the imagination and blur the lines between artistic disciplines.”

At a glance, Cirque du Soleil is a Quebec based company that came about in 1984 and since then has thrived to “evoke the imagination, invoke the senses and provoke the emotions” of people all around the world. Starting out with only 73 people, the company’s employees and artists have now grown to an astounding 4,000. Such talent represents over 40 nationalities and speaks 25 different languages. With 100 million spectators since 1984, I had to see for myself what the buzz was all about.

Built on values and convictions, Cirque du Soleil ensures limitless possibilities by placing creativity at the core of all its happenings. Such creation on track, artists and creators are given the freedom to bring their most incredible dreams to life. This reminds me a lot of my own values, because I often find myself surrounded with creativity.

After seeing this original show it opened a new door in my mind. I mean some of the stunts these select performers display look literally impossible. It gives a whole new meaning to “anything is possible”. I am so attracted to these acts because of the originality, the talent it takes and most importantly it illuminates my imaginary sector of the brain. The Cirque du Soleil has given me a much more creative and inspirational side. It has come to set my goals much higher than ever before and has made the unreachable reachable. This charismatic story gets the crowd involved and keeps the viewers on their toes. Like I said before, I’ve seen it first hand and am a witness to the positive outcomes of taking the time to see it. After seeing the show I felt rejuvenated, like I could do anything in this world; reach any goal and overcome any obstacle.

Sad to say, but lately my motivation has been lacking. Thanks to the Cirque Corporation I have arose from my slump and have found inspiration to get back in touch with my creative and intellectual side.

PAPYRUS

As the week went by I thought to myself what in the world will I blog about next, but after spending a good while browsing around the bookstore it came to me…PAPYRUS greeting cards. When picking out the perfect card, I am one of those who use to spend hours doing so and rarely would I leave the store feeling completely satisfied with my purchase. After all the whole concept of buying a card is for someone close to your heart or someone who has touched your life in some way so of course you want it to be special. For some a card is simply a card, but for me it’s more than that.

Luckily I discovered Papyrus when I came to TCU. I don’t know what it is about Amarillo and small towns, but for some reason I never came across this brand until I landed in Fort Worth. PAPYRUS was founded in the family kitchen of Marcel and Margrit Schurman in 1950 and the word comes from the earliest form of paper crafter from the papyrus plant. The company believes in embracing all that life has to offer.  By that they “elevate everyday living and moments in that journey to become joyful events, visual statements and objects of beauty that convey a sense of self and punctuate the way we experience life.”

After 61 years and over 450 stores, PAPYRUS has come a long way. A company that offers an array of products including custom printed announcements, entertainment products, gift bags/wrapping, greeting cards, stationery, journals, note cards and other little goodies. They are now united behind the Schurman Retail group banner and operate multiple retail brands such as Carlton Cards Retail, American Greetings retail and Paper Thread (another one of my favorites). In providing the finest of the finest products, PAPYRUS continuing mission is to “establish itself as the undisputed destination and brand of choice for social expression products and services of exceptional quality, diversity and taste.”

Clearly by the sound of things, you can see that these greeting cards along with the other products are of the highest quality and it really does feel as if the customers are in mind when designing. They are cards filled with a great deal of consideration and creativity. I have found immense customer satisfaction and now I find myself spending hours deciding between cards instead of trying to find that perfect one. If you ask me, everything PAPYRUS is perfect. Regardless the occasion, they’ve got it all and boy do I love their stores.

Needless to say PAPYRUS is yet another that gives me endless inspiration. I’ve now started buying their cards for future art projects and ideas. See so for yourself  by visiting their website below. 

http://www.papyrusonline.com/ 

Collection :: Birds

I am not much of a collector, but one thing I find myself buying over and over are birds. Yes birds, not real ones of course. Call me crazy, but I am head over heels in love with them. I’ve always been an animal lover and by that I mean there has rarely been a stage in my life where I have been without some sort of animal around. Growing up our family has always been huge dog lovers, golden Labradors especially. They are nothing but all around great dogs… smart, energetic, house friendly, perfect for hunting. You name it. 

Other than such wonderful dogs, I always found myself bringing home a random animal for periods at a time that I could personally call my own. Gosh I’ve had everything from rabbits to itty-bitty shrimp, but the one animal that stuck with me, were birds. I can remember being a freshman in high school, coming home one late summer afternoon with a baby, baby bird. Some friends and I had been down at the lake when one of the dogs had pulled out a nest from inside the reeds. After retrieving it, I had found that two out of the three birds hadn’t made it. I was devastated and immediately took action to save the third considering the mother wouldn’t be back after being removed from its location. Of course I was frustrated with the dog for sticking its nose where it didn’t belong, but dogs will be dogs. 

So me being me, I put the little one in a shoe box, lined it with paper towels and punched holes in the top before heading home where my mom and I pulled out bird book after bird book as well as searched the web on how to save the little bird with no mother. My mom being practical and all told me our chances of saving the newborn were slim to none, but she helped me anyways knowing that I wasn’t one to give up without putting up a fight. I went as far as feeding it blended up worms and soil that I had dug up from the garden. When I wasn’t feeding it, I was hoping and praying the poor guy would pull through. The important thing was to keep it warm and handle as little as possible. I did so by setting it up next to my bed with a light bulb overhead. 

As you can imagine it made all sorts of noises, but that didn’t stop me from being by it at all times. I was attached. Unfortunately the little guy only made it a few nights and boy was I crushed! Long story short, I’ve been inspired by birds ever since. Inspired to the point of collecting them in all shapes and sizes, photographing them when given the chance and frequently drawing them as my main subject. I’m surrounded with bird décor, including the birdcage I turned into a lamp and filled with birds. Sometimes I wonder if it’s a little too much, but then again birds are the one thing that can make me smile on any given day so why not. If it weren’t for that baby bird, I might of never appreciated the qualities of birds that I do now.

bōk-ō

A book is a set or collection of written, printed, or blank pages fastened along one side and encased between protective covers; a long written or printed literary work; a major division of a treatise or literary work; a libretto. Books are made up of skin, paper, tablets or wood or ivory, parchment, or other various materials and within a book are single sheets known as leafs. Each side of a leaf is called a page. 

Written, printed, or blank, books have always been an inspiration of mine. In their simplest form, books are books, whether opened or closed. When opened they deliver insight, meaning, and purpose. They tell us stories, full of mystery, laughter, and thought. When closed they are just. They can be used as props or even creatively showcased on a-shelf. 

Books come in all shapes and sizes. Most are full of color, while others are black and white. Some may include text only. Some may include pictures only. Books can be boring, but they can also be full of life. Books are both big and small.

I don’t necessarily love reading, but more so the way a book is presented. By presentation, I mean the way one can use a book other than to read. For instance, in photography you can stack books this way and that way to make an amazing photograph. You can also fold the pages to create interesting designs, such as flowers and what not. It’s all about the layout. 

The pages within books are just as fun to work with. I am always cutting up pages to turn something old into something new. Cover a wall full of pages, whether text or pictures. Create different shapes out of the pages to hang from the walls. Or simply create an interesting object that can be useful in some way. 

Like I said, books are books and I love any and all things that have to do with books.