Minakani

Just when I thought I might be slightly over all the wallpaper madness, I come across Minakani a Parisian based textile Atelier. I fully realize these might be making the blog rounds but how could they not? They are too incredible not to share.

You can find more about the paper here. But I would also check out their whole textile portfolio over here. Have fun.

Celebrate

So I took a couple days at the end of last week and the beginning of this one to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. She turned 80 last week! Doesn't she look great. A talented artistic and loving woman who raised my Mom and my Aunts in NYC all on her own. I owe her so much for all she's done for me. And I wanted to take a moment to thank my Mom* and Aunt Linda as well who helped pull everything together for a perfect family gathering.

*My very talented and artistic Mother took this incredible photo of her.

Tales of Endearment

So yes, I've mentioned Tales of Endearment already but it was so good that I couldn't help but share a few more of my favorite photos and urge you to do a little exploring. Seriously! This is an incredibly amazing site and I have no idea why it took me so long to find it.

Where type dies and goes to heaven in Paris.

Wow, anyone familiar with Kidimo? You should be. Something like this on the left coast, best coast, west coast would certainly make sense.

Crushing Hard

Michelle Harper isn't the first eccentric I've swooned over. But wow, I'm currently over the moon. I came across this gal when Into the Gloss posted a Top Shelf feature on her. My immediate thought... WHO IS THAT?! And can I please spend just one day with this gal? Seriously she has to teach me some of those hair piece tricks. Oddly enough I blogged about her already but didn't know her name.*

So I did what any gal would do who just fell head over heels would do... I did a quick google search to see what else I could find and landed on Tales of Endearment **where I get to see not only more of this gorgeous creature but her home too. It doesn't always happen that one who has sartorial taste and style also happens to know a thing or two about interiors as well. A boon, to say the least.

*I NEED one of those gold wigs couldn't anyone point me in the right direction.
** This is the most sublime site. I think it will quickly become a fave. I'd head over stat.

Potrero Modern

I thought it might be fun to tease you with some sunshine... okay no, not really. But while little Buddy had me on daily walks I was realizing how many modern structures existed in the neighborhood. If you have ever heard a San Francisco architect's laments you will know that one of them is the overwhelming zeal for the ever present and ubiquitous Victorian and how it seems like the whole of San Francisco feels like every new building should be repeating history regardless of present building practices. I won't bore you with the ever-loving details but I will share with you some fine modern specimens.

The two above were my favorite. Forget about saving best for last. The top an Aidlin Darling residence... Aidlin or Darling actually lives there but at the moment I forget which one. I toured it during the AIASF Home Tours. It is pretty much my dream house. An almost 2 bedroom with a studio in back and an artist studio in the basement. And the second, well, I'm not sure who lives there but I like it. It's form, material, color, restraint. Anyone know who lives there? Wanna give me a tour?


But some only offer a glimpse of something modern. Perhaps a clue to an interior remodel into something more open and austere leaving the exterior as is. The rest of both these homes are far more traditional than the details show here.


We even have ourselves a brand new modern library which I have yet to visit but really should. I'm sure the views out the back side of it are incredible.


Some 1960's potential. I say potential because if you were to move into one of these beauties you could do minimal upgrading/remodeling and have that new/old modern abode you always hoped for. But I do think they are quite lovely the way they are too. Especially the two above with the colorful paint jobs.


These two fell into the previous category before they had mini-facelifts. Do you see what I mean now?


These two are just a bit more than modern details. They've added a whole modern third floor right on top of their traditional home. I'll add that this is definitely the more expensive route folks. That third floor pushes you into an entire structural upgrade. Oh but what an upgrade it is if it affords you the best views in the city. The bottom of the two I've actually toured during one of the architecture tours that happen every September. It's incredible! And it has one of the details I would love to have in my home one day. An entire wall filled with shelving and books. Floor to ceiling, front to back covering three floors!


And then there is the glitzy and the massive. To be fair all three of these are either at the top of a hill or on the side of the hill that is rising so by nature they are going to look much larger than their neighbors across the street who can burrow into the hillside. But wowzers they still are large. I do have give it to the developer/builder who designed and built the bottom 2-unit (@2.5 million dollars a piece, sheesh) they did at least use decent materials. If your contractor/builder/realtor tries to sell you on granite anything people, you should know that is not a luxury material it's a cheap material that typically doesn't even look that nice and absorbs all light around it. Although in some applications it is quite nice and well done like say the exterior in nice dimensions like the bottom half of the unit above.

The middle photo went a little nutty with the slats and titanium(?) siding for my taste. And the top photo, well they could have tried to not make their home an enormous massive block. A little delineation here and there would have helped the cause. A little play on geometry? No? Okay At least you used good materials/windows.

And then we have the we're doing our own thing over here. The home on the left is interesting for the fact that it's still sitting on top of the Potrereo bedrock and I can't figure if it's two units or one with a really interesting floor plan. The second one I've always kind of loved. It's got a bit of what feels like Japanese flair. I don't know why that is I can't quite put my finger on it. Anyone know the story behind this one?

Alright this is the end of your Modern Potrero tour. Did I miss any? Thanks for coming on a walk with me.

Just because...

Butts from Mike Mills on Vimeo.

And illustrations of butt's are funny. And I LOVE Mike Mills. Although I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree on that last one. Sorry Mike.

Mater

Sure you think of Denmark when you think of design and you think of Denmark when you think of leading the world in sustainable practices. But would you gather that the Danes are guilty of both at the same time. Well if you have perused or purchased any item by Mater you would know that to be true. We all know that these two ideals don't have to separate entities but hey do you know where that chair you are sitting in comes from and who made it and what it's made of? We should all demand a little more Mater don't you think.

p.s. Mater also carries pieces designed by Space designer of Noma in the previous post.

p.p.s. Speaking of who makes our products and where they come from. How about that iphone you are holding or that imac you are tap tap tapping on. Do you love you mac products as much as I do? You should really listen to last weeks This American Life. Perhaps Apple should talk with Mater?

All photos via Mater

Meshmatics

Rick Tegelaar - Meshmatics from Oostfilm on Vimeo.
Incredible video of industrial designer Rick Tegelaar on the creation of his Meshmatics.

Thanks to handful of salt for bringing it to my attention.

Booklover

Being a self-professed book lover myself, I couldn't help but be smitten by these book shelves built by another lover of books.

Check out SSB-1 and the CSB-1 both by Erick Haywood over on Book/Shop.