Hey All!

Just wanted to let you know we have some great sales going on right now. If you’ve been coveting an iconic piece from Kartell, now is the time to hop on it! Prices have been slashed 20%, today through March 25, 2013.  You may not even realize how many iconic pieces Kartell offers; check them all out here.

Kartell FL/Y Suspension Lamps

Here are a few that have been on my wish list for quite some time; I think if I had to choose just one today, it would be the Kartell Masters Chair as it is so clever, and because The Master just arrived from Netflix, so I’m taking it as a sign. The Masters Chair combines the silhouettes of three iconic mid-century modern chairs, Arne Jacobsen’s Series 7 Chair, the Eames Shell Chair and Eero Saarinen’s Tulip Chair. It’s the one in the top left corner below:

Pablo Tube Top Colored Small Table Lamps

Also, Pablo is 15% off now through March 19, 2013. From floor (lamps) to ceiling (lights), Pablo has an innovative and stylin’ solution for just about any lighting you may need. Check out all Pablo products here. Here’s a sneak peek at at a few of my favorites.

I caught myself watching one of my favorite movies from my youth this weekend, 1983′s classic Valley Girl, and it was still like as totally bitchin’ as it was when I first saw it at age 11. It is all this movie’s fault that I sound stupid by saying “like” all the time. The fashions that once seemed so completely dated and ridiculous, now THIRTY YEARS OLD, were  looking pretty fly to me again.

Royal blue is enjoying a resurgence right now, in fashion and home design. We’re digging the punch of electric blue on the powder coated base of the Eastvold Elko Credenza:

And in the Brooklyn style of the Build Your Block Contemporary Building Pillow:

You know that line about “before you leave the house, remove one thing” (I think Coco Chanel or Diana Vreeland said it). Anyway, the Vals did the opposite, they were very into accessories and would look in the mirror before leaving the house and then add five more things, including a bandana:

Today, we can take that Valley Girl love of accessories and boil it down to a more modern look, with one colorful statement ring like this one from fruitsuper:

Instead of ’80s heart-shaped sunglasses, go for a fun heart-shaped necklace (also available in “HIS”):

Finally, you can shop at the mall like a Valley Girl, but those plastic bags are grody to the max! Find something that’s way better for the environment and your outfit, like Flowie’s Market Totes:

We also love remembering boom boxes. The Analog Nights Pillow from Aimee Wilder brings me back to the ’80s but has an updated and fresh retro look:

Gratuitous pre-dinosaur egg purchasing Nicolas Cage shot:

Valley Girl Bonus: Moon Unit Zappa’s hit song interpreted by the Solid Gold Dancers.

Today we’re sitting down with Damian Velasquez of Half 13 to learn more about his vibrant and sculptural line of outdoor furniture.

How did you wind up designing furniture?

I started my path of design and fabrication at 11 – I used to hang out with my father while he made silver jewelry. The time we spent together at the bench was when I started learning about the joinery of metals. I continued to make jewelry throughout high school and college, but it wasn’t until I returned from backpacking through Europe in 1989 that memories of Italian furniture design would unknowingly shape my future forever.

I embarked on a journey of self education from that moment on – I taught myself to weld, to work with wood, acrylic, glass and concrete. I continue to build on that base of knowledge 23 years later.

Half13 O Table

What is your studio like? How do your surroundings influence your designs?

My studio is 7500 square feet of machinery and tools. All aspects of fabrication including CNC plasma cutting, woodworking and powder-coating is done in-house.

I haven’t ever been able to attribute a direct influence from my surroundings to my work. I started back in the day when “Southwestern Style” was at its peak. Modern furniture was not very strong in New Mexico back then. I think what does influence me is the fact that I do live in a unique part of the country and that fosters my desire to be unique in my endeavors as well as my designs.

Where did the name Half 13 come from?

Half 13 is the term for the size of the diamond and guage of the expanded metal that is used in the construction of my outdoor furniture line.

Half13 Philly Club Chair

Are there any furniture precedents or designers who inspire your work?

The Half 13 line came about from my love of the chair “How High the Moon” by Shiro Kuramata. Because I was not formally educated in furniture design I never really had any exposure to the history of designers before me to latch onto. I have always loved Shiro’s chair and never though of it as an influence until one day I decided to try my hand at using expanded metal as a medium for furniture. I soon appreciated the challenge posed by this material and the difficulty manipulating it. After much persistence, the current line was born, and adheres to my core values of function blended with aesthetics.

Did you see a hole in the outdoor furniture market? If so, how are you filling it?

I actually envisioned the Half 13 line as a way into sculpture, but soon realized after much feedback from clients that there was a lot lacking in the outdoor furniture market. I quickly addressed the issues posed such as comfort, durability and ease of maintenance; that is why these pieces are now fabricated from stainless steel.

Thank you so much to Damian for letting us get to know him better today.

Shop all Half 13

Watching Fashion Police: The 2013 Academy Awards got me thinking about how these fashions will influence interiors in the months to come. Here’s a look at some of the dresses and the trends we hope to see emerging from them:

Charlize Theron’s very minimal Dior was controversial. Most commentators hated it but I loved it; it was very appropriate considering that the futuristic sci-fi she starred in, Prometheus,  was nominated for awards:

The dress looks like a paper origami sculpture on top. Perhaps it will bring back origami birds:

Photo by Bobo’s Origami Photography

Nominee Naomi Watts and Halle Berry both donned very futuristic dresses. Photos do not do Berry’s Versace justice; the coolest thing about it was the way it moved, especially on stage in the spotlights. Naomi’s silvery gray Armani may have taken a cue from the popular interior color, with fashion following home design. I think its chair counterpart is a timeless tulip chair in platinum:

The Fashion Police crew unanimously voted  for Jennifer Lawrence as Best Dressed. Perhaps it was a sympathy vote for this moment? The Dior couture dress is the opposite of Theron’s, and clearly was not at all functional. I think she’s an amazing actress and seems like she’s completely natural and down to earth, unlike that other winning actress, but the only way I’d adapt this dress to interior design is via a vase full of white peonies.

Photo by Diane James Design

Reese Witherspoon went for a retro glam royal blue Louis Vuitton stunner. The color is also a fashion favorite of the Obama ladies. Are our interiors ready for royal blue? While turquoise and teal have been having their moments as of late, we haven’t been seeing royal in interiors as much. I think it’s high time. if you’re not ready walls saturated in royal, try a sofa like this one:

Photo uncredited on Pinterest; please leave us a comment if you know where it came from. I feel like I saw this coffee bean burlap ottoman in a treehouse-y house in Silver Lake on Apartment Therapy years ago but I’m not sure!

What did you think of the Oscar fashion trends? Were there any that inspired any plans for your home? Let us know in the comments section.