I had the pleasure of spending a week in India and my journey was really incredible. I was there on business and between our travels throughout New Delhi and Jaipur I was looking through my lens at this fascinating culture. Feeling blessed to travel for my job but even more blessed that I get to experience a country through color, food and the fabulous people I came in contact with.
Jaipur Market
Jaipur Roadside Flower Market
New Delhi Farmers Market
Photobombed by a Drongo while photographing New Delhi
Street Art New Delhi
Tricked Out Trucks..love all the decorative tassels and pom poms!
In preparation for Karma Chauth..celebrating health and happiness in honor of your spouse by fasting for an entire day.
Curated Color with Tonal Touches..perfectly explains my last two days shopping stores in this amazing city. Paris never disappoints..especially when it comes to creative color.
So this happened…a few days ago I was in a city that inspired me on so many levels…Lisbon.
First let’s start with the obvious..it’s natural color, Terra-cotta from the intricate tiled rooftops to its original azulejo tiles…
Lisbon sunny skies are an inspiration to all, known for its amazing weather, azulejo tiles favoring blue color combinations as well as vibrant painted blue doors…Lisbon is feeling the blues.
Next up, golden yellow…like Lisbon’s weather..this sunny shade of yellow ripples throughout this beautiful city, emulating its sunny and energizing weather.
Green paired with coral and yellow create a light citrus palette perfect for Lisbon’s creative charm. From interior design stores to green inspired subway tiles…it’s a sea of green!
Red, being a color of passion and adventure, was spotted in some of the most famous areas of Lisbon and entrances to many historic sites.
And of course Millennial Pink…this shade of pink was here long before millennials were born…truly makes the city have an antique color quality among its long history!
Inspired yet….Portugal’s capital truly inspires on so many levels, especially if you are a creative soul…it’s creative color, terrific textures and wonderful weather are the perfect blend for an inspirational adventure.
Loved spending time in Lisbon Portugal this past week and look forward to returning to this charming and historic city. Since it was my first time in Lisbon, I did what everyone says you should do while visiting…wander the narrow streets and enjoy discovering all the different areas of this wonderful city!
While wandering I kept noticing all the colorful laundry hanging in front of, above or behind the homes in Lisbon Portugal that were colorful and creative…most of the time complimenting the tile or paint color of the exterior….I know this sounds a bit odd, but it’s true as I spent 3 days hiking the steep streets of Alfama, Bairro Atlo, Principe Real and Alcantara only to be in awe of their laundry!
Loved seeing all the colorful and fun loads of Lisbon Laundry drying naturally outdoors. Such a beautiful and charming city…and I feel that their laundry lines are truly part of this charm. I guess it’s the designer in me…but I started to see color palettes, not laundry!
Check out my laundry list below…
Looks like this load of laundry truly matches the azulejo tiles on the house! “Denim Delight”
You gotta love tonal 💙 laundry, talk about color coordinating your style! “Feeling the Blues”.
Love these brilliant brights framed by the terra-cotta tiles and deep blue sky. “Primary Power”.
Nice to see Millennial Pink as the backdrop to this load of Lisbon laundry! Tonal reds and pinks play nicely with gray and black BUT love that pop of neon yellow! “Millennial”
Inspiration is everywhere!!!
Now I am heading back home to do my laundry and I can promise you it will NOT be as interesting or inspiring!
Inspiration is everywhere in Lisbon, especially if you love Azulejos Tiles. Today these tiles are dominant in every Portuguese city and embedded in its history and culture.
The word “azulejo” means “small polished stone” and although they are not a Portuguese invention, by the 18th century no other European country was producing as many tiles as Portugal. Over the years, azulejo tiles have become an art form used for a variety of design applications both in exterior and interior home design.
Spending time in Bairro Atlo and Principe Real, two older areas of Lisbon, I spotted various azulejo tiles on homes in different color combinations and patterns. Below are a few of my favorites.
Heading back to our art/design studio in New York City, Design Works International, feeling inspired and excited to create our newest textile collections….and we just might have the perfect name….Artisan Aesthetic!
Last month in NYC I spoke about print, pattern and color trends at Surtex NYC, representing our design studio, Design Works International, a lifestyle/product design firm specializing in the home, fashion and accessory industries.
Out Of This World…literally..we are talking Galaxy inspired prints, patterns, embroideries with an iridescent sensibility and style. Nocturnal tones of deep purple, indigo and magenta are part of the color plan to heighten the vibe of this celestial superstar.
Even after a year of playful pineapples…we are still craving for more…NEW this season…the use of millennial pink mixed with metallic and textural accents.
Somewhere Over….yes it’s all about iridescent finishes and rainbow colorways in fashion, home and decorative accessories. The more color…the better and these saturated shades are cross generational…NOT only for the millennial crowd.
Boho Style continues to increase as a lifestyle look and we are seeing the resurgence of Folk Florals..[did they ever go away] as wallpaper, clothing, home accessories and garden tools in Americana color combinations that coordinate beautifully with denim…another trend that has cross generational appeal.
This is the last of a 3 part series …so if you missed part 1 and 2 please take a peek either at Color, Chaos and Creativity or at Design Works International’s blog.
All prints and patterns designed by Design Works International are property of our studio until a purchase agreement is signed. If interested in purchasing prints, our website is Designworksintl.com or call our studio at 212-594-0777 ext 112.
Stay tuned for our next series on new color combinations…2018
Finally had a moment to explore the streets of Wynwood in Miami and they did not disappoint…if you are a fan of graffiti, updated eateries, craft beer and interesting boutiques, this is your inspirational paradise!
Best to park (download pay by phone) parking app and walk the streets to view as much graffiti as possible. The artwork is truly amazing and is varied in style, scale and medium. Some pieces are 3-D, others are etched techniques, airbrushed and mixed media. Colors run the gamet from neon, primary, earth tones and black&white.
As a designer, the vibe I felt was a celebration of the Arts, a restoration of an industrial area that is now surrounded by colorful love through design! Reminded me of the streets of Soho back in the 1980’s….probably because the same family that helped inspire Soho NYC back in the day had a similar vision for Wynwood in Miami.
In 2009, The Goldman Family had a vision for this area and the Wynwood Walls were born consisting of 6 separate warehouses where the exterior walls serve as giant canvases for the greatest street art collection ever assembled in one place. (@wynwoodwallsofficial http://www.wynwoodwalls.com)
Posting some of my favorites and apologizing in advance if I could not find the artist to give the proper “shout out”to! Best to view on your own and fall in love with this creative town paying homage to culture, design, style and artistic freedom!
@kobrastreetartWYN Wood Block
CryptikEarnest Zacharevic Lithuania
Wynwood Gallery Suggestions:
Art Fusion
Bake house Art Complex
Wynwood Warehouse Project
Wynwood 28
Wynwood Blank Canvas Project
If all this art viewing and innovative shopping motivates your appetite try some of the following innovative restaurant choices in Wynwood:
SuViche Wynwood
Wynwood Kitchen
R House Wynwood
KUSH
Morgan’s Restaurant
Joey’s Italian Cafe
Alter Bar and Restaurant
GK Bistronomie
SUGARCANE raw bar and grill
Made in Italy Gourmet
Baccano
MIAM Cafe
The Lunchbox
Concrete Beach Brewery
The Butcher Shop Beer Garden and Grill
Juicy Lu (Vegetarian)
Bunbury Miami
Wynwood Brewing Company
Pride and Joy BB
Wynwood Shop Suggestions
Nomad Tribe
Special thanks to the Goldman Family for allowing a space like this to exist…but I have been a fan for years as I was married 28 years ago at The Green Street Cafe in Soho NY owned by this trendsetting family!
So inspired by the colors of Paris through architecture and natural lighting. It truly is a painters paradise where organic color takes center stage.
Even with overcast skies the neutal tones of Paris are inspiringThe perfect palette with a touch of terra-cotta to compliment this neutral sensibilityLove how shades of blue compliment nuetral tonesThe perfect paint palette for the season..Paris!
A Designer’s Paradise….vibrant colors fill the streets and artisan shops of Medellin Columbia-also known as the City of Eternal Spring because of its moderate temperatures all year round. Situated in the Aubbrua Valley and surrounded by green mountains, this progressive Latin American city is quickly becoming an international cultural destination.
The food scene is fantastic with both local and international flavor. Carmen, one of my foodie favorites offers elaborate meals created by husband and wife team Carmen Angel and Rob Pevitts who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco.
A must see on the art scene is the Museo de Arte Moderno, this industrial chic space houses exhibitions that change every quarter. On the premises you should visit their two museum stores that showcase local artisan products that are affordable and curated beautifully!
The Art Hotel, a boutique hotel situated in the El Poblado area, is a perfect place to rest and relax while enjoying your stay in Medellin, Colombia!
New meaning to “wearing many hats”!
Ode to Artisans with these indigenous Colombian hats found at Museo de Arte Moderno.
Music is part of everyday culture.
Ode to Atisians with traditional Colombian patterns on ceramic found at Museo de Arte Moderno.
Vibrant stripe handwoven hammocks.
Ombre Artisan Baskets
When your transportation matches your graffitied wall.
Jaipur Market
Jaipur Roadside Flower Market
New Delhi Farmers Market
Photobombed by a Drongo while photographing New Delhi
Color, Chaos & Creativity 