Design Patois

Sunday, August 31, 2008

My QR Code -- http://tinyurl.com/58fcou

I work a bit for a French company, Baracoda, that makes Bluetooth barcode scanners used in warehousing, hospitality, education, medical institutions and on and on. So codes elicit a bit of excitement in me.

Understandably, my ears perked up when I started reading about QR codes (developed not too much of a surprise, by a Japanese company) being used in retail. You can generate one for your website here at the QR Code Generator. There's a Ralph Lauren ad (below) featuring one in recent New York Mag back cover. The photograph is odd, because I was in the car and it is from an Iphone. It made me wonder if one could "find" or "design" really attractive QR codes. No, perhaps I should finish reading the newspaper.

Good Morning Neighbor

I bumped into a neighbor recently asked her what she was doing with these flowers.

She explained that she's been saying "good morning" to her friend this way for many years. What a novel and charming way to start the day.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Patterns: Paisley

For the past few weeks, I've been musing on paisley. It's a classic. One week, I couldn't find anything worth mentioning. The next I was inundated with images.

The perforated lanterns, above are from River, the wonderful shop in Essex CT belonging to my friends John and Joe. No one has better taste than they do. No 1. They opened in a new location there and it has changed the balance of the town. The following three images are Etro products. A tray, a throw that no Iphone can do justice to and a gorgeous tablecloth. I have successfully edited out Joe's leg. Cute as it might be. A word on Etro. The website is darling; not too great as a functioning site, but darling. Check it out.

Crate & Barrel sports this pillow along with some paisley linens.

Target has an understated paisley shower curtain reminiscent of Les Indiennes

And three good examples from the Bergdorf Goodman website. Check out the Stephen Dweck engraved paisley (silver?) earrings.

Love the Loro Piana cashmere scarf here.

Stella McCartney has the asymmetrical paisley print dress. Might have to see this in person.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Yew Tree House Antiques

Stopped by Yew Tree House Antiques when I was in the city last week. Located at 414 East 71st Street, just off the FDR. What drew me in was a table full of bulb forcing vases.

Totally smitten by these colorful bulb forcing vases from the 18th & 19th centuries. Imagine being in rainy England (or Ireland for that matter) and having the pleasure of fragrant flowers growing out of them.

The two toned turned wood on this English chair is kind of quirky. The photo was taken with the Iphone, so it doesn't do justice to the green on this velvet chair.

The unusual look of the Scottish "Orkney"chair, below, is beyond quaint. The linen seat must be a restoration.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

The Septemberists

No photograph. No cool graphic. But I am so impressed by my friends at Cool Hunting for featuring this delightful concept from Charity Water.

Is this a trend? Are other month people this cool? I'm a Feb. Do we do anything other than dole out Valentine's day messages?

Monday, August 18, 2008

Summer's Silent Star

Ok, so summer is corn and tomatoes and basil, but it's also sweat, sand, laziness and zinnias. Oh yes, forgot the over-grown zucchini.

For some it's Nantucket or the Hamptons, but for me the humble zinnia says it all. Blooming from July through the nasty Ag Fairs in August I find it an honorable expression of lovely ordinariness. Vibrant colors, fragile stem, by the way -- though it looks tough to the uninitiated -- it's a timid reminder amidst some of the snazzier touchstones of the season.