Ceramic Mixing Bowls: Rainbow Nesting in the Kitchen

While I am a big fan of all things white for the Kitchen, I know I would have a big smile on my face seeing a rainbow nesting in the Kitchen.

Below, a beautiful, ceramic 7 piece mixing bowl set by Waechtersbach, a German company founded in 1932.

 
I love the combination of the simple footed shape and the glossy brilliant colors.
While the set can be used for mixing and serving, it is not dishwasher, oven, microwave or freezer safe and at $199.99, definitely not budget safe. 

Duck link: Williams-Sonoma

Below, a more budget friendly option is the Sensations II 8 Piece Mixing Bow Set by Gibson, an American company founded in 1979.

While the shapes may not be as elegant, the colors may not as be as brilliant and the bowl size may not be as large as the Waechtersbach set, this set does have several advantages. In addition to being used for mixing and serving, the set is dishwasher, microwave and oven safe and at $23.98, a steal to boot.

Duck link: Walmart


We all can afford a little color in our Kitchen.


 

Helga Steppan: See Though-All My Things

In this fascinating series titled "See Through-All My Things" from 2004, the Swedish artist, Helga Steppan, gathered all her personal belongings, grouped them by coloring and photographed them.

I am intrigued by the deconstruction and reconstruction her belongings.
Each still life beckons the viewer to take a closer look at the elements that have lost their individuality within the monochrome whole. 

Via TrendLand

Chris Cobb at Adobe Books: Rainbow Installation

I have rainbows on my mind this week.

I spotted this post on Remodelista on arranging books by color and I thought, crazy or inspirational.  At first, I thought, crazy, as I would NEVER be able to find my books, but, in the hands of an artist, this idea can be beautiful and inspirational.

In late 2004, the artist, Chris Cobb, created a temporary installation piece within Adobe Books, a bookstore in San Francisco.

The piece titled "There is Nothing Wrong in This Whole Wide World" required a team of 16 volunteers and the artist, working overnight, to arrange 20,000 books by color.

Watch and hear the artist during the installation process:
Chris Cobb: Adobe Books Installation

A simple concept that transformed the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Via Superhero Journal

Theurel & Thomas and Anagrama: Maison du Macaron

The macaron is an elegant French confection, small, delicate and intense in color.

The branding development agency, Anagrama, successfully highlights the essence of the macaron in the interior design of the Theurel & Thomas patisserie, located in San Pedro, Mexico.

The simplicity, elegance and detailing of the all white interior both contrasts with and intensifies the beautiful colors of the French macarons.

Via PlayMeDesign

Horst Gläsker: Stairs and Rainbow Stripes

I remember taking an email questionnaire being sent between some friends with basic questions. The one question that made me hesitate was to name my favorite color.  How could I possibly just name one favorite.  There were so many favorites in my life: sea foam green when I was five, tangerine when I am tan, fuschia when I am happy, black when I am blue......

When everyone's answers were posted, the most brilliant answer to this question was simple. The answer was RAINBOW.

Here is a beautiful piece that is art, architecture and rainbow:
Scala (2006/2008) by the German artist Horst Gläsker.

Prof. Glaesker painted the 112 steps of the Holsteiner Treppe in Wuppertal, Germany.

The words stenciled on the steps are words of human emotions: love, to seduce, to pine, to fall in love, sympathy, to dance, kissing hands, admirer, exuberant, to get the tingles, passion, attractive, to flourish, to allow......

I would love, someday, to scale this rainbow.

Via Poppytalk-The Townhouse

Burkhard Schäller: Minimal, Modular and Mobile Kitchen

Take a look at the beautiful graphic quality of this Kitchen by the German interior designer, Berkhard Schäller.

Three different collapsible modules can be combined to create a minimal, modern and mobile Kitchen.

All images ©Burkhard Schäller.
Via PlayMeDesign

Deim Chau: Porcelain, Toothpicks and Paper Sculptures

As a child, I was fascinated with all things tiny, especially dollhouses, miniature furniture and porcelain tea sets.   I always wanted to play house, but not within a space created with child scaled furniture, but within a doll's house, without the doll.   In my mind's eye, I was a tiny figure and  I could walk from room to room and sit on a tiny chair, eat at a tiny table, pour a tiny teapot and sleep in a tiny bed.  These were exercises in visualizing the act of living and as an Architect, I still practice this same exercise, in very much the same way, except I am in my Client's shoes.

I am reminded of this childhood fascination after seeing these images from the work of the artist Diem Chau.   Using common materials and methods, her work captures moments in our shared communal memory. 

I am instantly transported to comfortable spot  in my own little world.

Still Trying by Diem Chau, using porcelain cups and saucers, toothpicks and paper:

 

Below, Origami by Diem Chau, using porcelain bowl, toothpicks and paper:

Below, Mahjongg by Diem Chau, using porcelain bowl, toothpicks and paper:

Lodge Cast Iron Skillet: The Kitchen Workhorse

I lost my favorite pan, the Lodge Logic 12" Diameter Cast Iron Skillet, on our move from New York City  to the Caribbean last year.

I LOVED this pan. 

I bought it many years ago and in the Kitchen, we were both the same, young and unseasoned.

But in no time, we changed. 

Like as a trusty steed, my pan would await me everyday, a workhorse at the stove top.

Together, we would practice basic cooking techniques: sauteing, roasting, frying, poaching, steaming, stir-frying, baking and so on.

We had a symbiotic relationship. Each day, I developed as a cook and each day, my pan developed a patina.

While its exterior of crusty, hardened oil manifested its age, its interior, glossy and smooth, demonstrated its experience.

Out of respect for my old Kitchen companion, I did not want to replace the pan until we moved into our new apartment, a couple of months ago.
I found it at our local Target store for under $20, only a few dollars more than I remember purchasing it for years ago.

My new pan is similar, but is different from my beloved one.

The new one is befitting our new life, it is pre-seasoned and is ready to get cooking.

London Undercover: Umbrellas with With and Style

I recently had to dispose of my favorite umbrella and even though it has rained several times in NYC since my loss, I have resisted picking up just any umbrella.


My thoughts of food and fashion this week remind me of these tasty umbrellas from the British company, London Undercover.


They combine functionality and cheekiness in just the right proportions for the perfect undercover recipe.

Cheers!
  
Below, Fish and Chips Umbrella:

Below, English Breakfast Umbrella:

These can be purchased online in the US from Any Old Iron, a specialty shop in NYC selling menswear from the UK.

Lisa Farmer: Curious Creature Containers

Ask anyone who knows me, I love bags and am attracted to curious creatures of nature, so how could I not be lured to these bags that are bag and creature rolled into one.

Sure, most animal shaped bags are pure kitsch or are for children, but these fabulous handmade pieces, designed by Lisa Farmer, are portable art that I would love to tote around.

 Below, Fish Out Of Water:

Below, Holy Mackerel!:

Below, Fly In The Ointment:

 Below, Bug In His Ear (This one is my favorite):

Via Trendland

Fulvia Bonavia: A Matter of Taste

Food and fashion, friends or enemies?

While the first thing that comes to mind are diets and eating disorders, the images from the book "A Matter of Taste" by photographer Fulvio Bonavia make me think otherwise.

These delicious images celebrate the tasty marriage of food and fashion.

 

 Source: Trendland

 

Stripes-Animals

I am fascinated by stripes.

At its simplest, the pattern is a series of bands on a common background.

I love to wear stripes and yes, they are horizontal stripes.
Even if I am told by the fashion world that they can make one appear wider than reality, I am not fazed.

Stripes make me happy and like these beautiful creatures of nature, I wear my stripes with great pride.


 Plains zebra, Image Source:

Albino Zebra, Image Source :

Siberian Tiger, Image Source:

White Tiger, Image Source:

Skunk, Image Source:

Bongo,  Image Source:

Brazilian Tapir, Image Source:

Numbat, Image Source:

Okapi, Image Source: