JuBella.com - Get Your Creative Dose

I wanted to post this earlier this week, but as you all know, with so much going on, I never know how my days will pan out. Nevertheless, there is so much being siad and debated about the disaterous incidents in Haiti. Most of the imagery that we see of Haiti, even before the earthquakes, have been filled with poverty and distruction, which does exist, but by no means is that the only side of Haiti. So, with that said, I wanted to take a moment to show the beauty of design/decor within Haiti amidst so many spectrums of heartache. Even in the smallest of homes, you will find bright and spicy colors that I am sure brings joy to their families, even when times are bad. It just goes to show that home really is where the heart is and no matter what type of abode you are given, you should always make it beautiful for yourself and for those who live within it…true thankfulness at it’s best!

The images within this post are form Marie-Louise Fouchard’s and Roberto Stephenson’s book: “Interieurs d’Haiti. I immediately noticed a common color palette used within the larger and smaller homes, and thought it would be fun to celebrate the colors of Haiti’s design for this post. Most of the homes here were adorned with: rust orange, mustard/golden yellow, cobalt, turquoise blue, seafoam green, rose, brown, and of course green! I am in love with not only the colors but with so many of the elements that are used within these rooms, and the art and textiles are fabulous!

I have been posting a bit about the beauty of Haiti on my other blogs as well. This past weekend I made a Haitian Tea Cake, which I enhanced with warm spices that you would find in chai. If you get the chance, do try out the recipe: Haitian Tea Cake Recipe.

Happy Monday Everybody! I sure do hope that everyone had a wonderful valentines, love, friendship day weekend? My weekend went pretty well, and I think I got a lot of goals accomplished…aaw goal accomplishments..makes ya feel good! Nevertheless, I wanted to address a topic that I have been thinking about as each one of my favorite magazines fold under. One magazine that I really do miss is Adorn. Do you guys remember that mag. I loved it because it was filled with creative people and photography and the small size made it easy to carry around. Nevertheless I was heartbroken to see it go so early, then came Blueprint, and now Domino! Ugh!

I hear a lot of people asking and saying…”well, what will we read now?”. I think as a design blogger myself that blogs and the web in general is going to be the next form of our beloved “magazines”. With the economy dropping beneath the waistline and the advertisers following closely behind them, I think that it is important for traditional news and media genres to rethink their strategy and to look towards the web for growth. Yet, I do feel at a loss with being able to flip through creative pages. I always think that maybe it would be more feasible for mags to just done some sort of annual/collectors issue. Wouldn’t that be great to have a mega Domino collectors edition that’s only printed once a year!

Anyhow, I myself am looking forward to the transitions that will be made within the design media, as I know it will happen & to all my fellow design blogger, I think you are all wonderful. The beauty of blogging is that we all have our own voice and style, even when we post about the same topic. Kudos to all of us!

What magazines have folded that you were heartbroken over?

UK Photographer James Merrells portfolio is absolutely delightful! The image above is so simple, colorful, and composed just perfectly. It really makes you stop and observe each individual element in the photo don’t you think? And I love the light roses and pinks paired along with the yellow/mustards!

The shades of blues and olive greens in the rooms below are so soft and elegant. and I love that sofa with the baby blue, teal, and olive pillows and eggplant. The chair works quite well with such a formal design, and the same goes with the hint of eggplant in the bedroom in the top right hand corner.

While the first composition below is not quite my style, I think that pop of red of the milk carton up against the grey/blues, browns & tans, and black is perfect!

Simply perfect! The bedroom & parlor/living room below gives the essence of Marie Antoinette don’t you think? I love the way the lighting just softens and brightens the rooms…it really is eye candy! And once again the compositions in the rest of the photos are so sweet and simple…very much telling a story in many ways. Bravo to James for having such a stunning photography portfolio!

Brooklyn based Photographer Melanie Acevedo’s Interior & Lifestyle portfolio is quite lovely. I am sure many of you may recognize her work from editorials, including Elle Decor, Real Simple, and Domino spreads. That white canopy bed is so fantastic and the deep turquoise in that kitchen is divine…I heart turquoise of all shades!

I really like the Indian inspired textile line of Les Indiennes by designer Mary Mulcahy. The color waves are rich, neutral, and simple, and carries a nice quiescent feel of India, and if you love to collect lovely photography of interiors and textiles then be sure to order yourself a copy of their 50 page “coffee table” catalog for only 10 bucks!

I love the enchantment and serenity that London Based Interior Stylist Lucyina Moodie brings to her photo shoots.

I love the imagery, products, and the philosophy of the Side Attraction 3 collection. Based out of South Africa, their pieces are rich in color and texture, embroidery, beads, leather, and tie dyeing; and to top it all off they outsource work to the local crafters in disadvantaged communities. A percentage of the proceeds of the sales are channeled back into the community! I scanned these images from their catalog that you can order for free (psst…they send you a nice little coupon along with it too!) I only wish that I had those “Blooming Pillows” The flowers are made from felt and the centers are crocheted!

So, as I mentioned before, I have lots and lots of interviews that I have been collecting as we were getting Jubella ready for launch. One of them is an interview I did with Victoria, aka sfgirlbythebay quite a while ago. She took some time to chat a bit about her design inspiration and all things lovely about living in San Francisco! Obviously, for anyone hooked to the design blogosphere, Victoria is quite the inspiration and I am so honored that she took out a few moments of her time to give her creative dose & to grace the pages of Jubella! So, here you go, be inspired by her San Francisco Suite that is filled with so much charm, character, style, and creative decor!

Jubella: How long have you been keeping your design journals?

Victoria: I have been keeping ‘Idea Journals’ with daily journal, sketches and thoughts for over 12 years. The design/inspiration journals I started about two years ago. I used to keep all my tears from magazines etc. in folders, and then it came to me that I could paste them into these journals and have an on-going record of my taste (which is constantly evolving) and what’s inspired me over the years.

Jubella: What elements do you like to include within them and do you have a favorite one out of the bunch?

Victoria: I keep tears from magazines and catalogs I get that I think I may like to work into the design of my home, or maybe even a friend’s home. I also keep ideas that I think I might be able to use down the road should I move into my own home. I also keep photos, drawings, quotes, sketches - anything that sparks my interest. Even fortunes from Chinese fortune cookies. I don’t really have a favorite - certain pages really stand out for me when I go back and look at them.

Jubella: How often do you incorporate elements from your design journals into your own home?

Victoria: Quite often. I am constantly changing and re-arranging my rooms, changing out color schemes and mood, so there’s lot of inspiration from these journals reflected in my rooms.

Jubella: How would you describe the style of your home & what is your favorite spot/room?

Victoria: I saw the book ‘Bohemian Modern’ by Barbara Bestor featuring the fabulous modernist homes in and around Silverlake, CA. When I saw the gorgeous photographs and her definition of ‘BoMo’ I knew that was what my style was. I’d never really had a name for it before that - I always just called it flea market eclectic. It’s really about creating a space that’s self-expressive, comfortable for entertaining, and enjoying the simple pleasures of your surroundings. Home has always been important to me and is my safe haven from the hectic world.

My favorite room is the living room. I scored some great mid-century modern white vinyl chairs and a great flokati white fluffy rug on craigslist and I can sit and look at them with lots of pleasure. It was one of my better finds. The bay window and doors to the little terrace bring in lots of light as well, so it’s a room with lots of good energy.

Jubella: What are some of your favorite pieces and why?

Victoria: The mid-century modern chairs and flokati rug as I described above for sure. I also have an art deco buffet I found at a yard sale about 15 years ago. It moves everywhere with me. I got it for $5.00 - it was covered with white paint, so I stripped and sanded it and polished it up. I love it! I also love my kitschy portrait of ‘Rico Suave’ I found at the huge Alameda Flea Market. He’s not really Rico - I just named him that. I wish I had more great portraits like this one and am always on the lookout for inexpensive ones.

Jubella: What boutiques, on-line shops, and other resources did you utilize the most when it came down to decorating?

Victoria: My biggest resource is craigslist.com. I find everything there, even my apartment and my dog, Cooper. It’s the best and you can find really great deals. I also shop the Alameda Flea Market on the 1st Sunday of the month - it’s another great resource for vintage finds. As far as retailers go, I frequent Ikea, and a lot of little boutiques around San Francisco. I love Nest, Swallowtail, The Apartment, X21 and Timeless Treasures, all of which carry fun vintage finds.

Jubella: What do you love most about your apartment and living in San Francisco?

Victoria: My apartment is really pretty special. I love the tall 13′ ceilings, the ton of light I get through the living area windows and the copper-faced fireplace is lovely. My neighbors are also pretty amazing. We have a wonderful sense of community; we call our two ’sister buildings’ Buchanan Manor. We look out for each other and have fun BBQ’s and holiday parties. When I broke my ankl and couldn’t leave my apartment for six weeks. One of my neighbors organized a group to take turns walking my dog and helping me out. I am so grateful for them.

The location in Pacific Heights is not as diverse as I would like, however it’s beautiful and very centrally located. Living in San Francisco is amazing. Clear blue skies (I grew up in smoggy L.A.) and fresh air are great, and you can walk just about everywhere. The things I love best about San Francisco are all the diverse neighborhoods. They’re all so unique, whether you go to the Haight for second-hand threads, or North Beach for excellent espresso, it’s all very small-townish. San Francisco is only 7 miles by 7 miles, so you can get around really easily as well. And, just a few minutes over the Golden Gate Bridge and you can find yourself immersed in nature - Mt. Tamapalias, Marin Headlands, Muir Woods - it’s all so close and such a great quick escape from the city when you need it. I love being surrounded by water. I find it very peaceful. And I think my personality suits the pace of this city.

Jubella: Why is creativity important to you?

Victoria: I’ve always been creative, even when I was little. I was always involved in extra curricular art classes. My mother is an interior designer, so I think it’s in my genes. I’ve always found logical solutions to problems, but think from a right brain perspective. I just find artistic, creatively talented people fascinating and inspiring to be around, so that’s pretty much who I surround myself with. Most of my friends and colleagues are photographers, art buyers, painters, fashion designers, writers, or work in a creative field. I just get excited seeing what they’re up to and feed off their creativity.

Jubella: Top 3 design / creative inspirations?

Victoria: I love the Bohemian Modern book I mentioned above and all beautiful homes photographed inside - that really inspires me and makes me wish I owned my own home. I love seeing my friends’ homes - there’s a few that I always aspire to. There’s always one or two aspects of their homes I admire - a lot of them are very minimalist - something I struggle with. I also really love the studio of designer Amy Butler. I like how she manages the mixture of vintage pieces with fresh, modern color. I really think she has a great eye.

Jubella: Favorite color combinations?

Victoria: It changes - all the time! Right now, I really love lots of white as a ‘base’ color for my furnishings. The I accessorize a lot with slate greys, soft blues with small spots of olive green and yellow. Ask me next month and it will probably have changed. Aqua and green seems to always be a predominant part of my decor.

I love the colors and design of this room by Designer Amy Lau…

Once upon a time long long ago I had dreams of becoming an Architect. I use to render tons and tons of dream homes and floor plans at my drafting desk in which my parents bought me one Christmas along with a fresh set of prism color markers that came in a holder that spun around (I miss that table). Anyhow, I started writing Architects in what had to be the 6th grade, asking them for advice on colleges and portfolio preparation. I would flip through the pages of the Architectural Digest that my parents subscribed to just for me! (ahem, yes I was in the 6th grade reading Architectural Digest:). I would jot down the names of all of the Architects that I liked. Well to make a long story short, I received some fantastic responses from some of my favorite and influential designers that really did inspire me to reach for my dream. Although, once I reached high school I decided that architecture was not my cup of tea(much to technical & detail oriented), so I turned my eye to Interior Design, and once again I flipped through Architectural Digest (because in the 90’s there were not nearly as many design magazines as there are now) and wrote down all of the Designers names. So I thought it would be fun to highlight a couple of them who I remember being ecstatic about & who took the time out of their busy schedules to write a young lady who they had never met back with autographed catalogs and solid words of advice.

First off is Architect Steven Ehrlich. I still love his contemporary style…clean lines, and industrious organic color palettes. Simple, modern, and super fresh!

Next is Designer Juan Montoya of New York. I must say that the majority of his decorating style is no longer of my personal taste, however I wanted to highlight him because he played a major role in the Interior Design industry and like I said, I was truly stoked about receiving a letter back from him!

So, that’s all. I want to give a big thanks to Juan and Steven for giving a young girl great design to be inspired by! I received many more, but these two had the most up to date sites/portfolios to highlight, after all it was in the 90’s when I wrote them. Another Designer who wrote me back was Janet Bussell, who was the Designer for Chers Malibu home. I was really excited about that one! Oh, and by the way, I did not do Interior Design either…in the end, I found my passion in Textile & Fibers! It fulfills all of the artistic ideas that are dancing around in my head…Go figure! But obviously I still carry a special love for all things interior and architecturally inspiring and will still sketch up an imaginary floor plan or residential design in a heartbeat!

One of the best in the industry, Adriana Barra is one of my absolute favorite Fashion Designers. I am not quite sure what the best words are to describe her style, but the closest thing that I can think of is Tropical-Gypsy-Bohemian. I know I know, but those are the words that come to mind when I gaze at the tropical patterns and textile designs that she uses for her long bohemian sun-dresses and “dashiki” inspired blouses. her use of pattern is incredible and the color is so rich and vibrant. I would love to be able to visit her stores in Sao Paulo & Rio De Janeiro Brazil, which is decorated quite lovely and seems to change with each year. You should definitely take a tour of her website, because it is filled with lovely imagery and gorgeous pattern, as well as a lot of hidden treasure links to click around on! Who are some of your favorite fashion designers?

Home for Sale: home includes a flat screen tv & dvd player, large porch, custom cabinetry, hardwood floors, Dutch French doors, beamed ceilings, and superb landscaping! Perfect for tea and slumber parties. All tenants must be under 4 feet tall! I am in awe over these amazing playhouses that are apart of the “Project Playhouse Showcase” in California. Project Playhouse is a wonderful fund raising event that happens every year that benefits HomeAid Orange County, a non-profit organization that builds and renovates shelters for the transitionally homeless in the community.

If you are anywhere near New Port Beach, and you have kids, heck, even if you don’t have kids. This would be a worthwhile event to ooh and aah over! Playhouses will be on display Saturday, September 6, 2008 through Saturday, October 11, 2008 and the only time you can take a tour of the inside will be on September 6, 2008 from 11:00 – 4:30pm. Click here for more information including ticket prices.

I love when I come across little treasures on the web that are filled with rich colors, textiles, whimsical charm and amazing creativity. I get quite excited when I find such a site and this is how I felt when I discovered the designs of Fashion Designer Maya Prass. Her use of color is superb and her culturally inspired pieces are exactly my type of style. This is a must see site for anyone that is inspired by pure fashion goodness!