Noziska's

Meeting the Noziska sisters last January was nothing short of serendipitous.  A friend of a friend suggested we meet up over some business ideas and next thing I know I'm spending the afternoon with two of the most interesting, inspired, and talented ladies I have ever met.  Kasey was transitioning from a career in fashion styling to starting her own wallpaper line and her sister Whitney just happened to be tagging along.  Whitney taking a break from her past ventures to do some writing in her quiet home town of Pleasant Grove.
The two of them grew up in Pleasant Grove and flew the coup as soon as they finished High School and have been living all over ever since; San Fransisco, New York, London, and LA to name a few.  They dream big and both have exciting ideas constantly whizzing around it seems.  Kasey just got her wall paper picked up by Anthropologie (not bad for her first try at the biz) for a limited time so check it out and order away!

Maine

Among many undocumented (well, documented professionally anyway) projects I have worked on I can now add THE most charming camp in Maine.  My very good friends and clients on the east coast let me in on yet another one of their amazing hide aways.  In less than 2 months I got the scope of the job, went on a scouting trip, and was able to whip up a livable summer get away for this gracious family.  Here are a few of my humble iphone snap shots of the process.

DIMORE STUDIO

One of my very very favorite design firms was featured on T magazine the other day.  Their interiors are straight out of my dreams - especially considering that they have clients that give them these kinds of budgets and freedom.

My favorite quote from the article is the last line and it defines why I admire them to a T

"….the process is clearly more art than science, and anything but formulaic."

Albert Hadley Sketch

From this sketch alone you can tell this legend just has fun with his work.  Come on . . . . polka dots on the wall and a bath tub in the bedroom?  A legend I tell you.

Utility Canvas

After being introduced to Utility Canvas a few years back via Remodelista I have continued to follow their work and constantly keep them in mind for my own.  They make tough canvas quilts and throws with a fantastic hand which give them a balance of tough simplicity that I find myself constantly gravitating towards.  With a current project on a lake house in Maine they instantly came to mind as the right solution, so while I was in New York this trip I took the time to stop by their shop rather than purchase online.  I ended up meeting the company founders who are just the characters you would imagine to be behind this line.  Living part time in the Hudson Valley, part time in the city, and part time at their home in Maine they share my own necessity for the urban and rural in my life.  They also frequent Japan since they have recently opened a store there so we were able to swap stories about favorite shops and the like.  They were so encouraging and helpful while talking about starting a business (relevant to both Tom and I) and producing a product you are excited about.  I left feeling like I'm really a part of something.  Not completely sure what, but it makes me want to keep pushing forward in this ever challenging and elusive career of mine.

Japanese Shopping

Shopping in Japan was a treasure hunt.  There were so many interesting perspectives on products, materials, and style.  We were blown away by how many of the brands they have are companies in the USA, but with a completely different aesthetic.  Japanese style had the most daring colors and combinations - very quirky and funky.  The same brands in the US would be a lot more subdued and conservative.

There were also a lot of stores with a beautiful combination of technical pieces and heritage pieces.

Here is a short list of some of the best:

visvim

Gregory

Chums

Beams

Manastash

Wild Things

The Gentlewoman

I may be late to the boat on this one, but I'm no less taken by what I have seen of this magazine.  I love the simplistic layouts and the women it features.  Can't wait for a copy of my own!  Also they use one of my favorite type faces (as you can tell from my most recent logo above).  See more here

Gino Sarfatti

Beautiful lighting and article about Gino Sarfatti (a lighting designer) on T Magazine the other day - see more here.

Harman Wilde Website Update

Harman Wilde recently updated their site and used some of my drawings for their project layouts.  I love the way they lay things out with the materials images, then the drawings and then the project itself.  Britt Chudleigh did a lot of the photography for them as well and it was fun to work with all of them to get the site together.  I'm lucky to have people like this keeping me involved in fun projects!

Snippet & Ink - Lizzie's Wedding

Being in on Elizabeth and Brian's wedding was a treat.  They were so flexible and open to ideas (including a short dress for the bride & pink tie for the groom!) and gave us all a lot freedom.  It was especially easy because I always told Liz (we are good friends going back to elementary school) that I wanted to get married in her aunt's backyard - so all I had to do was conjure up my ideas of a laid back, sophisticated, summer event from my (our) dreams.  With both Sarah Winward and Leo Patrone on the team it was all destined to be seamless.  Luckily Snippet & Ink thought so too as they featured it on their blog today.  See more here.

I think this is one of my favorites of Sarah's bouquets - and that's saying a lot!

JMB Logo

For quite some time I have been needing a branding re-vamp and I have finally got the one and only KP on the job - see her stuff here.
I have loaded the logo above and would love some feed back.  I am going from Jessica MB to simply JMB, something I have wanted to do FOREVER.  In my portfolio I will have my interiors work, my freelance and collaborative work, as well as some of the events that I have been a part of.  I want to expand into any/all aspects of interiors and artistic direction and this is one of the first steps in getting my "look" to catch up with my aspirations.
For the 3 or so people that read this blog please give me your opinion.  I'm liking the direction of this logo, but I'm not set on anything so give me your feedback!

D&G FALL WINTER 2014

There is always loads of fashion eye candy this time of year, but something about the Dolce & Gabbana's collection for fall/winter really caught my eye.  The detail rich fabrics, the over the top decoration and accessories involved all balanced out by a simple and direct language of the imagery.  I was romanced at first sight.

Japanese Lighting

Much like the furniture we didn't find many great lighting shops in our wonderings.  My favorites were always hidden in the most unexpected places.

Kyoto Coffee Shop

 One from a bed and breakfast we stayed in while in the mountains

Lighting in one of the ski lodges 

Another from our bed and breakfast

One of the many versions of lighting in the Tokyo fish market