I just love getting assignments from magazine editors!  They always ask me for lists… of anything from big ticket goodies to super budget-y finds.  I get to (online) shop and dream and create new vignettes in my head.  It’s just about the best thing ever.  My latest assignment was given to me by The Knot… a really chic wedding magazine.  The list – a simple rundown of my 10 decor obsessions for Spring.  Done!

The Goods…

Handmade Blue Nature stool at Barneys New York, $5998

Recycled cotton Nesting Dolls throw at Green With Glamour, $115

Organic Botanical Embroidered bedding at Pottery Barn, $49-$299

Carmel chair at Green With Glamour, $2950

Recycled glass goblets at World Market, $37

Bucephalus living sculpture by Robert Cannon at Eco First Art, $8600

Courtney pendant lamp at Green With Glamour, $625

Organic Crab pillow at Green With Glamour, $73

Recycled polypropylene Casbah rug at CB2, $80

Gold Kalamkari napkin at Ten Thousand Villages, $6

Here’s to a happy & stylish Spring!

I will admit it… I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to furniture design.   I guess I get it from my mother, also an interior designer.  The two of us almost got ourselves kicked out of The Getty Museum for examining too closely the inlaid detail of a commode.  Well, the incident was almost repeated when my mother & I visited The Huntington Library to check out the visiting Charles Rolhfs exhibit.

Unfortunately for the people of Southern California, the exhibit has just moved on, but I strongly suggest you check to see if it’s coming to a museum near you.  It’s headed to New York’s  Metropolitan Museum of Art next.  Anyway, having grown up in Chicago – where the dark & linear designs of Frank Lloyd Wright still rule, the work of Charles Rohlfs (of which I wasn’t at all familiar until this exhibit) was a revelation!

Though Charles Rohlfs only designed furniture for about a decade due to lack of sales of and interest in his work at the time, he has been named as an influence by everyone from Gustav Stickley to Philippe Starck and is considered to be one of the first Modernist furniture designers.

One of my favorite pieces – a coal bin on loan on loan from LACMA

Another favorite of mine, a chafing dish.  (I’m a sucker for entertaining pieces.)

If you do find yourself near the Met between mid-October and mid-January and like to nerd out on well-designed furniture… get thee there!

So, Treehugger did this fantastic feature on a bunch of designs done by Latin American designers, many for Chile’s “Remade” contest (link, in case you read Spanish).  They were are wonderfully creative, but I just must talk about 3 in particular!

Have you ever???  And I LOVE that they utilize the bending waist!  The Barbie Doll legs salad servers are from the brilliant mind of Chilean design student, Catalina Villa.

Between you and me… I actually lose sleep over the amount of plastic bags this planet is producing, using and discarding – which in turn makes Chilean design student, Camila Labra, my heroine because her entire line of boots is made from old paper bags!  I already have an email out to Camila, asking about purchasing… will let you know when I hear news.

 And finally, the best possible use for those old mixed tapes some ex-boyfriend made for you.  I mean, C’mon…what the hell else are you going to do with something that has 5 tracks by Soundgarden on it? (but save the Mudhoney & Afgan Whigs… that boyfriend may not have been all bad).  Anyway, this shrug is actually knit from yesterday’s cassettes and is the perfect union of past & present!  Created by Fernanda Henríquez, Cindy Silva, Paulina Vilches and Teresa Monreal… more Chilean design smarties.

So, Treehugger did this fantastic feature on a bunch of designs done by Latin American designers, many for Chile’s “Remade” contest (link, in case you read Spanish).  They were are wonderfully creative, but I just must talk about 3 in particular!

Have you ever???  And I LOVE that they utilize the bending waist!  The Barbie Doll legs salad servers are from the brilliant mind of Chilean design student, Catalina Villa.

Between you and me… I actually lose sleep over the amount of plastic bags this planet is producing, using and discarding – which in turn makes Chilean design student, Camila Labra, my heroine because her entire line of boots is made from old paper bags!  I already have an email out to Camila, asking about purchasing… will let you know when I hear news.

 And finally, the best possible use for those old mixed tapes some ex-boyfriend made for you.  I mean, C’mon…what the hell else are you going to do with something that has 5 tracks by Soundgarden on it? (but save the Mudhoney & Afgan Whigs… that boyfriend may not have been all bad).  Anyway, this shrug is actually knit from yesterday’s cassettes and is the perfect union of past & present!  Created by Fernanda Henríquez, Cindy Silva, Paulina Vilches and Teresa Monreal… more Chilean design smarties.

This is a new category for Living GWG… inspired by art consulting firm, White Box Projects.  I know, for many, buying artwork can be a daunting endeavor – but with the help of a friendly and knowledgeable art consultant, like White Box Projects’, Beth Caldarello… find the perfect piece for your space can be the awesome experience that acquiring art should be!  WBP just launched and currently reps 7 truly talented – and quite varied artists, but photographer Mickey Smith is my absolute favorite…

 ”Money” & “Blood” by Mickey Smith

But I’m also digging on the Gouache works by Frida Larios…

 So, if you need a little hand-holding, introductions to the works of up-and-coming artists or even just straight advice on what art suits your space… check out White Box Projects.  Undaunting, exciting and well-selected art for all!