On My Desk :: A Touch of Gray...

...or more than a touch, but it's perfect to post on a gray, rainy day.

This material set is from a conference center I worked on last year.  I have switched jobs in the meantime {twice} so I have no idea if the project was ever completed, but I love the materials anyway.  The palette was grays and whites, though the wall paint isn't in the photo.  The shimmery wallcovering was planned for niches with a stone topped credenza and nice lighting.  The matte fabric was intended for a moveable wall.

I selected some beautiful glass chandeliers as well, but the ones I selected were over $10,000 each and that was not in the budget {I made a trip to the high rent district to find them, obviously}. 

I really hope some day I can pop in and see if the renovations were completed, I work nearby and I have gotten really good at talking my way past security guards...it's a great skill to have.

AOL's Offices

I recently started working on an office renovation that promised to be fun and exciting.  Then we got the initial pricing back from the plan where the client got everything they ever dreamed of {I did too}.  Now things have to be chopped in half.  Reality bites.  The funny thing is, the client took it better than I did, though I pretended otherwise until I returned to the office.  In the end, it's my job to give people the feel they want at a price they can afford.  So that is what I will put my ego aside to do.  It really helps that the client is interesting and fun to work with so I know things will work out in the end.

With that out of the way, let's look at offices for companies who have money to spend on design and money to spend on their offices.  Or people who have money to spend on people designing a cheap but nice office {it may not seem like it, but it costs money to design things like this even if the final materials aren't expensive}.

AOL's Palo Alto office {found via Dezeen but from 2001} is one of these offices.  The thing I'm most enamored with are the 'X' lights in the bright colors.  Well, that and the mix of colors and the relaxed industrial vibe.

I would want to hang out in both of the spaces below and work, or read a book.  Not exactly work activities...but fun activities.

{all images via Dezeen.  Office design by Studio O+A.}

United Colors of Benetton :: Spring Window Display

Spring has finally arrived in New England, it's sunny and warmish {this means temperatures start at 30s and 40s in the morning and go up to 60s and 70s during the day}.

I figured it was finally an appropriate time to post Benetton's spring window display from last year. 

I think it's the second or third swing window display I have posted but the swings here are wide enough and sturdy enough to hold the bags without incident.

Boston

In the true Boston spirit, this photo was taken while illegally double parked.

Burberry Window Display :: Golden Balloons

This balloon window is appropriate this week because I not only did my taxes on time {I still do them myself and it gets tricky with the self-employment parts}, but I managed to make it through last week alive. I started a new job recently with new responsibilities, new clients and projects, and my second week was truly trial by fire. I wish someone presented me with gold balloons like this {gold bars would be nice as well}.

I Think I Have Found The Future...

...the future where you buy a skirt online on Saturday and it's teleported to your door on Monday morning.

I have only ordered from Zappos once before in my life and I don't remember what happened, perhaps this is normal.  I'm super impressed.

Nanette Lepore Rainbow Skirt

I'm also happy this skirt is longer on me than it is in the model.  I'm planning on wearing it this summer because, although most people wear lighter colors in the summer, I'm so pale {think glow-in-the-dark white} I look washed out in them.

Are there any colors you gravitate toward as the weather gets warmer?  Has an online company teleported anything to your door lately?

 While it would have been fantastic to receive a free skirt in exchange for writing this post, I paid for it myself.  I'm just writing this because I'm happy.

John Robshaw for Duralee

Back when I was working next to the Design Center, I spent a bunch of time walking through the showrooms and checking out the new fabrics and wallcoverings.

 I enjoyed seeing the Duralee window display with John Robshaw fabrics.  The round shape of the coral pillow is perfect for that fabric pattern, and the wallcovering reminds me of the fabric on this bedspread.
 

My favorite pattern, other than the floral on the wall above, is this one.  It's oversized and if I didn't have more fabric than I need at the moment, I would certainly want it for myself.  It would go really nicely with the lamp I currently love.