It's time to HIVE...

The Airstream project is finished!...and I can finally reveal all the details.

You may remember Graham and Lance from our joint open studio last february. They are the two owners of Hive (aka the Airstream). Hive is a mobile lounge that you can rent for events like weddings, private parties, or functions. It drives to wherever your fete is and opens up to reveal a fully stocked bar and lounge for your guest to hang out in. Isn't it an amazing idea? Check out Hive's website and definitely email or call for info if you are interested. I think I may throw a party just to have HIVE there!

All photos by Reid Haithcock Photography.

IN CONSTRUCTION: Trillium Brewing Co.

 Yes, it's still not finished, but getting closer. After a lovely coffee at Barrington Coffee Company this weekend, we stopped by Trillium to see how things are going. I am in love with the bar top. It's made from 22ft. long wood beams that JC (the owner and my friend) salvaged from a demolition project nearby.   These beautiful old-growth wood has such character. A little tung oil rubbed in and the grain of the wood is now the star of this show.

Here are a few snapshots of the progress.

 

 

NEW WORK: Tea Tin Herb Garden

It was one of those dreary, rainy weekends here in Boston. All I wanted to do was watch movies, eat popcorn and take long afternoon naps, listening to the rain. Admittedly, I did a lot of that. But at one point during Sunday I peeled myself off my very comfortable new sofa and went to the drawing board.
A few days earlier, I had been inspired by this blog to transform my empty tea tins into lovely little pots for herbs. And on Sunday I was moved to design a lovely little water catching device for my soon to be mini herb garden.

Designing led to drawing which led to water color. It ended up being a good Sunday afternoon, despite the rain. Next step, to build!
Would you make your own tea tin herb garden...and what are your favorite pretty tea tins? I'm excited to search for some unique ones this week.

Little by little

Everyday progress is being made on the new space (and graphics...new banner!).

 

New seat cushions for VeeVee!

My favorite place to eat in JP is VeeVee. Literally, down the street from my apartment, it's a lovely neighborhood spot always filled with friends and amazing food.
I recently was asked by the lovely owners to make new seat cushions for the tables that occupy the bay windows of the restaurant. Today, I wheels the striped cushions down the street and set them in place!
I love how the striped fabric transforms the space. What do you think?

Sometimes...I make it just for me.

Having a business where I create and make things that I intuit others will love, I rarely find the time to make something for myself, or my home. More often than not, I'm "stealing" something off the MAKE.GOOD studio shelf and calling it mine.

Last night seemed like a good time to change that.

It started with a bench. This treasure lives in my front hall (I use the word "hall" loosely as it conjures up images of a grand entry in an old, perfectly restored Victorian, which is not the current situation). I love this bench, and my entry dearly. This lovely piece comes from a long past. It mostly reminds me of the years it lived in any one of my beautiful friend Alyson's apartments. One of which we shared. Before that it belonged to someone in her family. But this now bench, once a coffee table, is a treasured piece that I have loved since the day I inherited it. It's one of those things I plan to have for a very long time.

I had made a cushion for it, which helped it's transformation from holder of coffee, to supporter of humans. And last night I made two little pillows designed just for it, solidifying it's identity as bench.

The pillows are made from old burlap bags used to transport coffee! They have these beautiful markings on them, and a wonderful faint aroma of raw coffee beans that's a constant reminder of their origin and how far they traveled to get here, to live on my little bench.

Coffee bags are closed using a simple stitch made of burlap thread. I modernized the details and used a bright orange cotton thread. Don't you just love the little punch of color!

What treasured pieces do you love in your home? I'd love to hear their story...

Two bathroom renovations, go!

I'm in the middle of design for two projects, both involve a bathroom renovation, addition or both. What do you think of these combinations so far? Don't you just love the linen hand towels in the lower image? I'm ordering some for myself right this moment, and they come in black too!

 PAINT: Benjamin Moore Pebbel Beach
TOWELS: Ralph Lauren
FIXTURES: Kohler
MIRROR: Restoration Hardware
TILE: Ann Sacks

Little plates, little plates.

It's the season for being home, staying in, and cuddling up to cozy things. Nesting, we call it; the phenomenon that comes when summer ends, bikes get put away and the fire place once again becomes the center of the home.  It's the season for holiday celebrations with family, eating well, and eating plenty.
I love designing and making handbags, but as an architect I have a soft spot for anything home related. And about a month ago I realized the shift in my customers from wanting bags to wanting things to make their nesting time more beautiful. They are no longer wanting to buy hip bags and totes that remind them of how far away next summer is, but instead are searching for pillows and linens in tactile fabrics and warm colors. And so I happily shifted my focus to the HOME COLLECTION. There are pillows and linen napkins. But the latest addition is my favorite, adorable 5" dessert plates, hand painted some with dots others with branches! They are perfect for winter parties and make any food feel extra special. Which color is your favorite?

So-Not-Russian Nesting Gourds

I have a confession to make. I have always wanted a set of Russian Nesting Dolls. Why, you ask? Well, I can't remember when the obsession started, but I do know it goes way back. I can't remember a time when I didn't love these cute little pieces of carved wood that, when opened, revealed a smaller replica of itself inside. I think it's the genius design that gets me. The adage "form follows function" comes to mind, except they are completely useless aside from being decorative. None the less, I have lusted after what I see as an object that still stands today as an example of great design.
So why I have never bought myself a set is perplexing. Perhaps I have been waiting for a trip to Russian to treat myself to an "authentic" one.
Well, my wait ended when my girlfriend Rebecca, upon discovering this obsession, took it upon herself to end my wait. Brilliantly, she opted for a modern, abstracted version of the classics. I call them my So-Not-Russian Nesting Gourds. My favorite is No.2, with it's pretty little polka dots. Which is your favorite?

chair.love

Oh the joy of owning an Eames Molded Plastic Rocker!  
I am so in love with everything the Eames' have made, and now I have a little piece of history in my very own living room. I love the way this chair feels both delicate and solid. It's smaller than I expected, but has a huge personality! What's your favorite piece of furniture?

I'm pretty sure my Womb Chair has a crush...

sneak.peak.3

Where do the long days of summer go?...away too quickly, it seems.
Thought I'd share a few things that have been in the works while I've been away from blogging.

before.after.1

We all have those random pieces of furniture that we acquired because we recognized their "good bones." They sit for years untouched, waiting to have layers of paint stripped, and their beauty revealed.
I have a few of those myself...
Here's a little preview of what I'm hoping will be some great transformations from before to after.

just.tuesday

A few things in the works...on a Tuesday.

design.brewing.4

You may remember this project from a few months back.
I don't want to reveal too many details for the concept, but the images below are of the architectural proposal...with a few particulars left out.
I hope the images speak for themselves!

film.crew

Last week a film crew was at my apartment doing a shoot. No famous actors or anything like that, but it was a fun filled day watching the action taking place in my very own living room.

Here's a little peak into some of what was going on...

design.brewing

Oh the excitement!
A close friend recently asked for help with design ideas for his new venture. I don't want to reveal to much yet, but here is a taste of what's in the works.
I'm so excited about this project and so far the inspiration board is...well... inspiring!

kitchen.makeover.3

It's almost done!...almost.
It's amazing now that I look at these pictures how much the color of the cabinets changes depending on the lighting. In real life they appear most like the first photo, very deep blue.
In case you want to steal this look, the colors are Benjamin Moore Tomato Red on the walls and Midnight on the cabinets. Don't forget primer, otherwise plan on a very, very long painting process.