Plastolux, I'm Your Fan

Here's another great example of an inspiring blog, Plastolux. I found this blog through another favorite, Grassroots Modern. Once again, we have a talented designer who has been able to amass a great collection of modern pics and his own creations (fortunately, on a DIY Modern budget) and shares them with us via the Web. I have to admit, when I first heard about blogs, I chalked them up--or rather, dismissed them--as an electronic ego document (i.e., a medium where people could tell all in their public "secret" diary); I know, that's pretty harsh. Now, I'm a reformed cynic and see the light; blogs can be incredible resources for whatever moves you. For us, it's family, food, and design. Plastolux is an example of where I can get my design fix...and a few modern DIYs. The Modern Mailbox (above pic) Eero Saarinen Side Table, and IKEA TRABY Hack are great DIY projects.

Sunny Modern San Diego (2 of 2)

Doors, doors, doors. The entryway to a home can make an immediate impression and disclose the aesthetic that lies beyond the threshold. To say the least, I was greatly inspired by the dwellings that surrounded my hotel in San Diego. During a conference last week, I stayed at the Porto Vista Hotel in downtown (just a block off of India Street in the center of Little Italy). My mile walk to and from the conference hotels was a real joy, as you will see from the photographs above. These are several examples of inspiration that will likely find their way to our upcoming plans for renovations. The first photo is bland (admittedly); however, the stoop/step made from aluminum sheet metal typically used for truck bed tool boxes is wicked smart. This material would make a great base for our recently purchased Come In/Go Away Doormat from Phorm in Springfield, MO. The second photo won't likely make it in any of our designs, but the pivot point being a third of the way in on the door is really cool. It's not entirely clear in the third photo, but the use of rusted metal makes for a very modern look, especially when paired with a simple design. (Do I hear planters and a few welding lessons in my future...? Why, yes I do.) Finally, the slim door windows in the last two photos take the prize. We've been considering some Doorlite Kits from Crestview Doors; now we're convinced that it is a great look. The bonus: all it will require is our existing door, $79.00, and a little patience.

Sunny Modern San Diego (1 of 2)

CUT METAL DETAILS: It is amazing what a laser, high-pressure water, or torch can cut. Above are several examples of details I saw over the last week in San Diego, primarily near Little Italy.

Given the time and talent...

I have always enjoyed working in my garage on various design projects and have such admiration for anyone pursuing it with more talent and time than me. Here's a good example, Studio Build, out of Kansas City. Great design and craftsmanship are apparent in projects such as the Modern Planter and Custom Dresser. Thanks for the inspiration.

Mama MIO

MIO is a great little design firm out of Philadelphia that prides itself on creating affordable, sustainable design. Recently, they've received more attention because of their outdoor line due out at Target this month. During a recent stop at UMA in St. Louis, I bought two boxes of their Paperforms Ripple tiles. I had wanted something substantial on our livingroom walls, and this seemed to be a striking and affordable option. I plan to paint them the same white color as the wall above a floating bar I plan to install in the coming weeks. I'll post the results as soon it's all done.

Why We Love St. Louis

As I mentioned in a previous post, we had been jonesin' to see the Eero Saarinen exhibit at the Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis. This morning we headed to the city and made a few stops (and discoveries) along the way. We first landed at the City Museum. This is an amazing place that's basically an indoor and outdoor urban playground assembled from you-name-it salvaged architectural structures. We took the above photograph to show a portion of the outdoor play structure. On the ground floor, there's a ball cage connected to five stories of tunnels, towers, salvaged fighter jets, and slides. Oh, and there's more...but I'll just leave it there for now. Next, we stopped at UMA (Urban Materials and Accessories), a very cool store. After that, we made it to the Saarinen exhibit. Finally, we headed over to Delmar Street Loop to grab a bite before we left for home. This was a great find for us. Basically, it is a six-block section of Delmar Street filled with shops, restaurants, and clubs. Highlights include: City Sprouts (baby), Blueberry Hill (food), Pin-up Bowl (bowling), Subterranean Books (books), Ziezo (clothing), Componere (gallery) and Good Works (furniture). We'll be heading back for more.

Spring Sprang '09

Ah, Saturday. A break from the usual grid is always good, but this weekend was really great. The weather's finally beginning to act like spring (although they're predicting snow for Monday). Early Saturday morning, I prepared the new garden beds before we ventured to the farmers' market to pick up some herbs. It was the market's opening weekend, so there were only a handful of sellers compared to the peak summer months. While there, we were also able to pick up a few pounds of 100% grass-fed and finished beef from Lick Creek, our favorite local provider. They're just down the road, so we hope to visit the farm soon. Later, we planted the herbs in the livestock tank. I had to drill holes in its bottom to provide proper drainage. It was awful; I felt like Emmet Otter ruining the washtub. (Did anyone else see Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas when they were a kid?) Josey had a great time digging in the dirt, playing with worms, and helping to plant the herbs. Finally, we capped off the afternoon with free food at the Schlafly tasting at Kindling in Carterville, which will be our new stop for all things wet and spirited. Kindling (website under construction) has been getting quite a bit of positive buzz around here. Their recent Belgium Beer pairings dinner seemed to be well received on several blogs, including the Beer Philosopher. (Here's the menu.) A lot of folks around here were excited to see that they're carrying Dogfish Head beer (a favorite of ours, too, when we lived in Boston). We bought a pack of Breckenridge Brewery's agave wheat, which is quite good. As they say out in MA, "We've got ourselves a great packy, now."