Pendleton me.

Lodge Chic. Camp Style. Native Motif. Logger Wear.

There’s a pretty large obsession with all things vaguely Native American or Northwestern looking going around these days. I am not immune. I wear an obscene amount of plaid. It all culminates for me in Pendleton. Pendleton Woolen Mills produced its first wool blanket in 1909 at their mill in Pendleton, Oregon. Fair enough. In 1923 they produced the country’s first “men’s wool plaid shirt” – although I imagine that women were fully capable of wearing them. Over the years, Pendleton expanded its line of apparel and home goods to include iconic plaid wool skirts, the “ ’49er ” jacket and of course, the most awesome and beauteous National Park Blankets. 

Here is the glorious Glacier National Park blanket in action:

You can get them with a carrier strap, for when you need to make sure it’s securely strapped to your saddle, or your Royal Enfield WWII re-issue motorcycle, etc. But if you aren’t paying attention, watch out, because this;

Can turn into this;
Apparently their Pendleton attacked them in their sleep and has formed a protective shell. I know it’s popular, but I really feel this whole idea is best left to those with the appropriate heritage. You know who you are. Otherwise, in my opinion, it just looks a teensy bit over the top. (Update – I found out who makes these coats and I have to say I really enjoy their collection on the whole. After all, people should just wear what they feel the best in. I saw a scarf tonight at a friend’s house that’s to die for. They have shops in these cities.) Pendleton has done some nice collaborations with Opening Ceremony and Urban Outfitters. I prefer it when used for home goods, like this total bodaciousness;

I’m sure I could use all of these somewhere. Sigh. These beauties are from the etsy shop indian vs indian which gives its location as being in, where else, Portland, OR. Do you know what it is to covet, Clarice? Because I covet all 250+ items listed there.  A good Pendlton blanket for your bed or sofa is still my first love. Did I mention they’re reversible? Note the upper right-hand corner.If you are in the Portland area, you can be a lucky bastard and go to the Pendleton Factory Outlet in Washougal, WA. Behold;

Oh God it hurts. The sale signs mock me. It comes by the bolt. Ugh. I’m a covetous puddle.

One last thing;
Oh baby.

xo,

=—>

And then Baby Jesus put a Douglas fir in the living room…

‘Tis the Season of Listing.

I can’t afford any of the things listed here. That doesn’t stop them from being awesome. You may be saying to yourself that perhaps this list comes a little late? Ok, yeah. You’re right. Now let’s move on;

Dear Santa,

1. No it’s not a lump of coal, its an (Irony Alert!) $85 piggy bank. It’s covered in chalkboard paint! It has a cork snout! I lurve it.

2. If wishes were dreams, every boy and girl would get these magic music items from Phila Audio Corporation for Kwanzchanukahmastide. These are probably the most beautiful turntables I have ever seen.

Yeessssss. 

3. Let’s be honest. This sweet little contraption would start paying for itself pretty fast. 

That’s right, you too can be fabulously modern, immaculate, intellectual looking and streamlined whilst making your own wine. Ooooohhhh, so organized…Things like this make me way too happy. Actually, I’m sorry to report that I don’t know if you can buy this anywhere. I believe it was a student project and I can’t remember where I found it. Bad, I know. In the reality I inhabit, far from spotless syke walls and studio lighting, I would probably just make a huge mess. My cat would certainly massacre this thing, and there would be wine stains everywhere for ever and ever Hallelujah.

Lastly, (4.) There’s this super cool and quite practical bike shelf from Knife & Saw. It will, however, fall out of the wall and spontaneously combust if you try to put anything other than a fixed gear on it. Natch.

Just kidding about the fixed gear thing. I’ll bet Dad could make one. Dad can do anything. Thanks Dad.

Happy Holiday to all.

=—>

Plywood If I Could

People have already blogged about plywood. Don’t care.

I first started noticing plywood being used to aesthetic ends in restaurants around Brooklyn a couple of years ago. Plywood continues to grow in popularity and people are doing some pretty rad things with it. Plywood’s relatively low cost encourages use on a large scale, thus we get the floor to wall to ceiling applications that have been cropping up. It’s been used to make high falutin’ stuff for decades, MoMA in NYC has a show running until February, 2012 called Plywood: Material, Process, Form featuring Mid-Century Modern beauties. Historically plywood has been generally perceived as a cheap building material, and it is, which isn’t a bad thing. It also has sustainability going for it. Not to be confused with particle board, (which has also been having a bit of a moment) plywood is commonly used for quick and dirty projects, or things like sub-floor, but it can also be “molded” or “bent” using various techniques involving steam and whatnot to make some really badass furniture.

You may be familiar with exhibit A:

Eames Plywood Lounge Chair, aka the LCW

This chair is a classic and you can certainly spend a fine fair amount of cash on one if you wish. You can also get knockoffs for somewhere in the $150 range if you google responsibly.

So, there you have it. Plywood is classy. There are different grades of plywood, including marine plywood which is good for projects that might go in the drink.

Now for some plywood Glamour Shots;Single Family House by Andreas Fuhrimann Gabrielle Hächler Architects

Oh how fresh! Oh how modern! Is it also trending right now to not have any art on the walls? Ok I guess the walls ARE the art…hmm. Also, someone needs to go rescue that chair that seems to have lost its balance. But don’t mistake me, I REALLY like this and would deffo live here.

Sebastian Cordoleani Molded Plywood Chaise Capas

Hey you, I like you. I’ll bet my friends would like you too.

This has been shown many places. I think it was originally posted on Design-Crisis, but it’s just so bang on I had to.

Interior by h2o architectes in Chatou, Paris

from MoMA.

Look at this crazyness! Apparently it was “designed for a family”??…hmm…okay, I guess if you want to spend all your time keeping your kids from climbing up that narrow stair of a shelf thing and probably killing themselves then go for it. But on the other hand it does somehow look oddly like a magical Montessori preschool. 

Daniel Blochwitz for Aswoon/Susan Woods Studio

Wheeee!!!!!!!! I would probably slowly slide off this mid-conversation while awkwardly trying not to spill my wine. But at least the wood sofa would still look cool.

from Remodelista

So bottom line – would you want to be surrounded by this much wood? (oh the pun temptation) I don’t know if I could, but it sure makes for some delicious photos.

Besos,

=—>

White Riot.

Clean, Clear, and Under Control.

There are so many practical things to consider when renovating a house. But let’s not. Instead, let us indulge in some design porn as it’s sometimes referred to. My house is, as a realtor would describe it, cozy. So I’ve decided to go with a neutral palette in order to maximize the light and feeling of space. Basically, if you can’t find me, it’s because I plan to be here until further notice;

from myscandanavianretreat.com

My old parlor floor apartment in Greenpoint, BK had a very old-master-y feel which was certainly accentuated by the color choices (Navy living room including the base boards and window sills? fo’ shizzle)  I had an admittedly somewhat purposeful, um, “artful clutter” thing going on, which I am excited to discard like over-processed split ends. Bring on the white box and the afore loathed Mid-Century Modern. I know that this screams “I want rebirth! I want clarity! New chapter please!!” and you know what? I don’t care. I like it. I’m not abandoning my old tastes, it’s just that now I am open to a bunch of stuff I previously wasn’t, like the ubiquitous Eames shell chair, modern light fixtures, Scandinavian teak everything and modern gray flannel sofas;

from The Brick House

I want them all, now.

Of course, I’m not going to completely give up on color. I’m looking forward to my pristine and clean white box so I can do stuff like this;

Heaven. There’s no art on the walls, and don’t you look clever and sophisticated with that Pendleton Blanket. And yes, I am obsessed with Pendleton Blankets. The All Pendleton Post will happen soon.

remodelista

Mmmmmm…..like a glass of warm milk…….

Of course, I’ll probably want this in 6 months;

from Design Crisis

Ta for now,

xo,

=—>

Retail Lust and Denial; Opening Ceremony

Opening Ceremony is cooler than you.

Iowa is cold, and it’s almost Christmas. Or as I used to know it in NYC, Holiday. So naturally I’m wishing I was strolling through some Anasazi ruins in these perfecto print espadrilles from Soludos available for a reasonable amount of de neiro at Opening Ceremony. Look at the delicious print! Can’t get enough of the Navajo/Native American type stuff lately. Or is it Kilim? Don’t really care as long as i can put my foot in it. Heh. 

As long as I am in cold climate denial, and on a completely season inappropriate Opening Ceremony shopping spree (yes, two items is a spree in my spendthrift reality) I might as well get this darling little one-piece;

I wonder if they would honor my request to make sure the particular suit sent to my door didn’t have the lovely crotch flower. Little much.

They even have cooler Pendleton Blankets with cooler prints for way more money than I will spend on a blanket. All these items together could dress one badass crazy beach bum.

Standing Rock Blanket

I have mixed feelings about Opening Ceremony. It’s the type of establishment people love to hate on, because it can come across as pretty darn snooty. It has a DIY cool kids clique-y lunch table vibe with a 5th avenue price point – all of which makes me feel embarrassed and somehow shamed. Perhaps this uncomfortable ego/id stew is a large part of why people have so much Hipster Loathing? However, if I’m being honest, I have to admit that if I found anything they sell at some place a little less in your face cool (Chloe Sevigny just designed a line for them for Jeebus sake) I would buy it and feel great. But hey! It’s pretty! And Good Lord why am I taking shopping so seriously!??!?! So The End. =—>