the stars of spring
Spring has sprung here in Nashville, and it's my favorite time of year. It's beautiful, warm, and breezy weather, and everyone is out walking.
For me, though, it's the flowering trees. They're all the more special because they only last a few weeks.
My first reaction when they popped was, "We don't deserve beauty like this."
My wife and I always say, "Good luck competing with God on design."
The buds are capsules of possibility, dormant for most of the year, bursting onto the scene and blessing us with color for not nearly long enough. It's a metaphor-rich environment.
Trees are the complete package, almost overwhelming in bloom.
They make everything look good, even the ugliest utility infrastructure outdoors. That’s why I’m obsessed with using them both inside and out.
I was reflecting a bit on this morning's walk.
I realized a great design trick: highlight one stunning object and let everything else play a subtle supporting role.
Clearly, this works with trees, both indoors and outdoors.
via @kyukahouse
You can do less when a star like this anchors the space.
But this goes beyond indoor greenery.
Art too.
The "steal the show approach" is a great technique for calm, neutral, or minimalist design.
Below we have an exceptionally beautiful oil painting surrounded by subdued comfort.
Let the drama take center stage and command the room.
Umberto Matineo - Rome Apartment for World of Interiors, photo by Simon Upton
You could apply this to anything that is "loudly beautiful."
Make it the feature and don't compete too much with it. It's really just creating an obvious visual hierarchy.
A bed would work.
unknown via Pinterest
Lights too.
Meyda Islington Pendant.
Or chairs.
I hope this gives you something to think about during your weekend.
Identify the showstopper and style around it.
Now on my end, spring is calling - specifically the front and backyard.
The urge to head to Lowe's Garden Center for a plant or two and end up spending $500 seems inevitable.
I'm going in.
a few things I saw this week
I was very briefly in NYC for a new project and a couple of meetings. I got to see In Common With's Quarters in person, and it did not disappoint.
New York’s charm lies in its unexpected design gems tucked inside plain office buildings. Because of space constraints, staging is a high art form there, and what people are able to do with small spaces is a beautiful thing to behold.
Quarters
Large plants as a service. In another life, I'd absolutely do this for a living. Check out these two accounts, both in LA, that will deliver and maintain huge plants and trees in your space.
A Pattern Language Twitter. A Pattern Language is a cult design book by Christopher Alexander, laying out a series of principles for the design of gardens, homes, and towns that make them feel right.
This Twitter account, although seemingly no longer active, incorporated APL's rules alongside a series of photos, and it's a great way to educate yourself and do some visual learning.
