inspiration...privacy please

There are lots of privacy questions to think about when you are in a public workspace. Your concerns could involve intellectual property, confidentiality, identify theft safety, internet privacy, as well as your basic individual employee privacy. We probably have all been there, sitting at the desk trying so hard not to hear the conversation your co-worker is having with their spouse, client, or boss. My go-to was my noise canceling Bose headphones, worth every penny! The office I was in allowed music to be blasting from three different sources playing three different styles of music, had constant pages over the intercom, along with the occasional dog bark and group critiques at walls that surrounded me. It made for a fun atmosphere at times, but difficult to stay on task and actually get work done. This need to muffle all the sounds that distract us in a busy fast paced world is the challenge many designers are addressing. I love the distinct look, shapes, colors, materials, and functionality of these pieces.

I hope to see them in context soon!

1. Buzzihood by Buzzispace. This was one of my favorite discoveries at Neocon. Their showroom was beautiful, featuring all their clean line design product. They work with PET fibers and design a variety of pieces that address acoustical concerns. They also had a nice, soft color palette that I think will add playful pops of color to any office space.

2. Vitra Sphere Table by Hella Jongerius. First developed as part of the redesign of the North Delegates Lounge at the seat of the United Nations in New York is now available for all, being produced by Vitra and released for sale in 2013.

3. Workbay Task Chair by the Bouroullec Brothers. This chair is designed with an eye-catching hoodie to block out surrounding sound. Maybe this chair instead of headphone?? I also think the dramatic effect of the "turn around" would give you a feeling of power!!

4. Windowseat Lounge by Mike & Maaike for Haworth. I didn't have the guts to chat with the designers while I checked out their pieces in the Haworth showroom, but maybe I should have gotten over myself! They have an impressive portfolio. They even designed one of my favorite bookshelves, the Juxtaposed series and their firm was just purchased by Google.

5. Rewrite Desk by GamFratesi came out in 2011 and I have always liked the shape and material choices. It feels like a welcoming and peaceful place to work. I can see rows of them in a light filled library!

Enjoy today.
Rachel

inspiration...a new kind of work

This past week I had the pleasure of walking Neocon, an interior design conference at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. Merchandise Mart is a fascinating building, when it opened in 1930 it was the largest building in the world due to it's 4 million square feet, and it has it's own zip code and post office! My feet were hurting by the end of my visit and I was only able to see a fraction of the show. All the gorgeous furniture show rooms were open for browsing and there were keynote speakers and credit classes for those in the field. I pulled together some of the office trends I noticed.

"One should not forget that office environments are changing and that

the furniture will outlast many office concepts. This means it has to

take part in the evolution, not stand in its way."

Erwan Bouroullec quote in Vitra space

With a focus on office, many brands are finally catching up and often leading the way in the office designs for today and the future. Water coolers are now hip coffee bars, flat screens are not just for entertainment but sharing ideas, the tablet gets enlarged "Minority report style" and the cubicle gets a softer more comfortable redesign. The focus being on collaboration areas and hi-tec nooks built for overseas conversations. Keynote speaker, Lauren Rottet, observed that the future office will take cues from residential homes and the formal reception area will be obsolete in some new business structures. It is all about casual and comfortable to let that creativity and communication flow!

TREND 1: The Layered Work Space: Still keeping a traditional workspace, this office layout thinks on all planes, adding sleek storage areas as well as casual seating for when you want to chat with co-workers.

Bernhardt / Three-h / Knoll

TREND 2: Rocking and Rolling Chairs: Chairs that move or bounce while you sit/talk. The simple rubber exercise balls are upgraded front and center and the rocking chair is redesigned for conference spaces. Maybe repetitive movement helps with concentration, or we want to work on our core strength while we balance on a ball in a meeting not just behind our desks?

Bernhardt / Martin Brattrud / Steelcase  / Dauphin

TREND 3: Privacy Please! As the office space shifts to a more open floor plan, designers are creating pieces that allow for private moments on your phone/tablet or with one other person—all hushed with soft padded fabric like quilted felt or wool. High walled sofas and cocoon chairs give you a space to work that is muffled and comfortable.

Bernhardt / Buzzispace /Buzzispace / Haworth  / Buzzispace / Haworth / KI

TREND 4: Colorful Prints & Patterns: Looking down to your feet, brands were having fun with lux area rugs of cozy chunky knits or patch panels with leather. Upholstery gets cutouts with stitched overlays, and rugs and pillows are a vibrant mix of colors and graphic prints.

Key trend colors were vintage lime green, bright orange, lipstick red, shades of grey, fuscia, berry and ultra marine blues.

Buzzispace / Coalesse / Coalesse  / Haworth / Herman Miller

I look forward to more of this week's exploration of the new kind of work space!

Enjoy today.
Rachel

inspiration...living in books

Today is Friday and Chicago's blue sky is calling my name. I am off to explore! But one final post featuring the artist Jane Mount. She is an artist who paints portraitures of book collections, knowing that books can often reflect the owner. Her style is charming and fun and she recently published a book filled with different kinds of book collections. I love that she took this honest idea and turned it into a thriving business! I need to think about my bookshelf portrait and get my order in pronto!

You can download this template above (here) and share your ideal bookshelf!

images and information here: idealbookshelf.com


Have a happy weekend!

Enjoy today.
Rachel

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Thanks for sharing this week with me! Here is a quick summary:
Printers Row Literary Fest and Rookie Magazine
The art of the bookshelf: Product designers have fun with book storage
Fake bookshelf wallpaper and even the real thing!
What's in your desk drawer with Alaina of To be Shelved 
Journal Entry: What book changed your life?
The revealing bookshelf: connection between shoes and books

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Next week will be about New Kind of Work. I attended Neocon this week and want to share my finds!

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inspiration...the revealing bookshelf

I think shoes and books are the two most immediate/intimate ways you can get to know a person without even saying a word. People watching in a park or swinging by your new friend's bookcase and you can find out loads of information about people. Yesterday on my way to get coffee, I was wondering if my shoes and my books were saying the same thing, speaking the same language. My first reaction was "nope," but the more I pondered it the more I would say, "well, maybe."

Here are a few shots of a couple of cubbies in my bookshelf:

So as you can see I love art, print and pattern, letterpress and screen printing, interior design, graphic design, modern furniture design, fashion, memoirs, Pottery Barn, gardens, poems, color, and of course Audrey Hepburn.


Here are a few of my favorite shoes and how they might connect with some of my books.

1. What Would Audrey Do? by Pamela Keogh paired with the Patagonia Maha Breaths
I helped design these flats while working with Patagonia's footwear team. They are so comfortable to wear and when I pair them with black capri pants I feel a bit like Audrey.

2. Pantone The 20th Century in Color paired with TOMS linen in coral
My past TOMS purchases were for grey or black, but the coral reminds me to have some fun with color and not take myself too seriously. I am such a huge fan of color and I enjoy reading how color was used in various parts of everyday life throughout the 20th century.

3. Grace by Grace Coddington paired with Sam Edelman cat print slip ons
What can I say, Grace Coddington is the crazy talented cat lady of the fashion world. She stole the show (and all our hearts) in The September Issue and these shoes just remind me of her. I also feel a bit more fashionable wearing them. Not sure if that is true or not, ha!

4. Let my people go surfing by Yvon Chouinard paired with Patagonia Bandha slice
I loved working on the Patagonia brand, I learned so much about their voice and what makes them tick. It is an incredible brand and a great place to visit and work. When I wear my slice sandals, I feel like I am in California listening to the lapping waves.

5. Garden Anywhere by Alys Fowler paired with my Hunter boots
Hunters are my kind of sexy and gardening is fun and this book shares how you can garden (and be sexy) anywhere! Perfect combo.

How do your shoes and stack of books connect? What interesting information have you found out about someone based off their shelf titles?

Enjoy today.
Rachel

inspiration...pretty new postcard

from pretty friend!