Raised by Design

Friday Links

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raised by design friday links
image credit John Haslam

I hope everyone does something they love this weekend, while remembering all of the brave men and women who have protected our freedom to do what we love. Not trying to bust out a guilt trip. It just feels good to pause and appreciate. There’s a lot to thank them for. Here are my Memorial Day links:

  • Did you know that poppies are the flower of remembrance on Memorial Day? It all goes back to this poem from 1915. Poppies!
  • Poppies have also inspired interiors for decades and were especially popular in the 1970’s when Margaret Thatcher was Britain’s Prime Minister. Poppies were her fav. I put together a Pinterest board to give you some poppy inspiration! To make your poppies really POP (har har), pair them with neutrals or blues.
  • I posted this link on my Facebook Page yesterday, but in case you missed it, the Jealous Curator is now curating an online shop! YES. I’m jealous of the Jealous Curator.
  • This week I visited the National Stationery Show where there were some really inspiring things happening. My cousin-in-law Maiko Shimizu’s booth for her stationery line Letter Collective Brooklyn was particularly bad ass. Shop the collection here!  I love her chintz animal notecards. Tell all your friends.
  • I also took a swing through the Kip’s Bay Decorator Show House (going on through the end of May in NYC). Amazing things were happening in there, including black vinyl + chintz fabric walls, metallic accents on concrete range hoods, sparkly ceilings with glass skull objets and console tables based on the Blood of Christ. If you’re around, just GO. They won’t let you take pics so you’ll just have to take my word for it.
  • Oh also, on a totally unrelated note, let’s take a moment to be thankful for the full facial eye roll – one of life’s greatest gifts.

Happy Memorial Day, all. I hope you feel awesome in your bikini this weekend. I know you worked hard all winter drinking whiskey and eating cheese like me, so you’ve earned it. Let ‘er rip!

Loveyoubye, Mags

Around the House

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It’s raining today. Which means I’m inside. I haven’t turned the TV off from the news this morning which means I can hear some super excited lady screeling on The Price Is Right…ding! ding! ding! Turning…off…now…phew! Ick.

Being in here reminded me that I need to share some snaps with you of the inside of our little house. We’ve done a lot of work to Lil’ Spot in the last 4 years – a full scale renovation, actually. We still have lots of other projects to tackle – like renovating our basement, replacing our vinyl siding (which isn’t so bad, but is starting to show its age) and putting on a new roof (which is spitting shingles onto our driveway). Since the day we put an offer on this place we’ve talked about putting on a second floor someday. But that’s a far off someday.

We’ve done most of the fun stuff though: put a fresh coat of paint on all the walls, installed new carpeting in both bedrooms, gutted our bathroom, revised our floor plan, designed a totally new kitchen in a new location and built a deck. These days we’re just tweaking. And by we, I mean me. And by tweaking I mean driving my husband nuts moving things around.

I’m also psyching myself up for the basement project. Which I’m totally dreading because I’m scared of spiders. I know it’s pathetic but it’s the biggest thing keeping me from just doing it.

Here’s what it looks like in here these days:

raised by design - living room

raised by design - entry table

raised by design - caffe latte

raised by design - kitchen

raised by design - kitchen counter

raised by design - kitchen shelves

raised by design - kitchen shelves closeup

raised by design - kitchen shelves - houseplants

Loveyoubye! Maggie

 

rbd makes: metallic stone coasters

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raised-by-design-metallic-stone-coaster-DIY

Making your own stone coasters with metallic color blocking and geometric patterns is a super easy project with big results that will fool anyone into thinking you are a design mogul. A set of four would make a great gift for almost any person in your life and for any occasion. Guys would like these. Gals would like these. Heavy drinkers. Shmoopie newlyweds. Design snobs. College grads. Should I keep going? No? Ok, here’s the how-to:

DIY Painted Stone Coasters - Raised by Design
You’ll need a few supplies, all available at home improvement stores, craft stores, or online.
  • 4″ x 4″ stone samples or tiles – mine are honed limestone samples leftover from a design project, but you could do this project using these or any stone that you prefer; just keep in mind that a honed finish is easier for paint to adhere to than a polished finish
  • craft paint in various colors – I used Martha Stewart Crafts Multi-Surface Acrylic Craft Paint in White, Rust, Gold and Sterling
  • painter’s tape – I like Scotch-Blue Painter’s Tape by 3M for Delicate Surfaces because it peels away easily and cleanly (we use this tape to paint our home as well)
  • paint brushes – every art teacher I’ve had confirms the notion that ‘the brush doesn’t make the painter’ so don’t buy expensive paint brushes; the ones I use are from this super-cheap value pack
  • felt squares – you know, the ones that cost a PENNY! 
  • scissors – you all know where to buy scissors, or probably have some already, but I like to have one pair marked “FOR FABRIC ONLY” so they stay nice and sharp and I stay nice and uptight
  • hot glue gun + glue sticks – super easy to get your hands on one of these, and every home should have one to keep things dangerous, just make sure you buy the glue sticks that are the right size for your glue gun
  • stone sealer for honed finishes – I think this one is your best bet, although it does come in a pint size at some stores
raised-by-design-stone-coaster-DIY
No prep – just tape and paint! Wait for paint to dry in between coats for best coverage. Also, peel your tape away at a 45 degree angle soon after you paint for the cleanest line. Don’t wait for the paint to dry before you peel because it may peel up with the tape – a great tip from James’ uncle who is a contractor.
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It’s fun to experiment with different patterns and colors – use a wine cork to make polka dots if you’re in the mood.
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I like a little opacity for a brushed look, but if you want to have a solid coat I would aim for at least 3 coats.
Raised-by-Design DIY metallic painted coasters
You can decide if you want to paint the edges or leave them natural. On some of my coasters I did a dipped look and wrapped the tape all the way around and painted the edges only where I had painted on the surface.
raised-by-design-painted-stone-coaster-DIY
Once your paint has dried, cut out a square of felt to size and use the hot glue gun to adhere it to the bottom of your coaster as a backing. Then swipe on a coat or two of sealer and you’re done!

raised-by-design-DIY-stone-coasters

raised-by-design-stone-coaster-DIY
Tie them up with twine and a gift tag for easy wrapping. Pair the coasters with a bottle of Lillet or Celebtration Ale for a killer gift!

Loveyoubye! Maggie

 

Friday Links

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raised by design links 5.16.14

This week I didn’t get much up on the blog. Sorry, not sorry. I’ve been working on a lot of backend stuff this week, including tweaks to my logo/header/likeness as I get ready to open up my Etsy shop (finally). I also blew off a whole day to stalk POTUS as his 5-chopper entourage landed at the former GM plant in my town. I had helicopter envy.

POTUS in Tarrytown
image credit: my pal Katie who woke up her sleeping baby to walk down to this industrial wasteland like a couple of crazies and witness this with me – I love her.

Anyway, I promise lots of design posts / DIY projects and real blogging next week. In the meantime, here’s where my head has been this week:

Field Museum, Chicago, IL – photographer unknown

Happy weekend! xo Loveyoubye!

One Day Only: Albany, NY

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Last week I spent a day in the capital of the Empire State – Albany, NY.  I hadn’t really ever been to the capital (outside of a dazed campus tour of SUNY Albany in the late 90’s). I wasn’t expecting much, knowing that Albany is still recovering from the urban decline the city experienced in the 80’s. But there were a few pleasant surprises in downtown Albany.

I was most excited to see the impressive brutalist architecture at the Empire State Plaza, which was built under the direction of Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller between 1966-1978. The lead architect on the complex of government and state buildings was Wallace Harrison whose work includes the United Nations, La Guardia Airport, and the Lincoln Center complex, including the Metropolitan Opera House.

The construction and planning of the Plaza was somewhat of an engineering and financial debacle, but the result is a cluster of structures that surely can’t be ignored. Preservationists and beaux-arts enthusiasts have dismissed the collection of imposing buildings as mediocre behemoths of modern architecture. Most people hate brutalist architecture. I really like it.

Cultural-education-center
Cultural Education Center
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Agency Office Buildings – Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
The-Egg-Triangles-and-Arches-Alexander-Calder-Empire-State-Plaza
From right to left: Corning Tower // Triangles and Arches by Alexander Calder (1965) // Trio by George Sugarman (1969-1971) // The Egg Performing Arts Center // The Justice Building // The New York State Capitol
Cultural-Education-Center-Empire-State-Plaza-Albany-NY
Cultural Education Center
Agency-Building-1-Empire-State-Plaza
Agency Building 1
NY-State-Capitol-Building
New York State Capitol

I spent most of the day exploring the [FREE!] New York State Museum and walking the Plaza. The museum kicks ass – I highly recommend it.  I don’t use the words “museum” and “kicks ass” together very often. I’ve only learned to love museums in the last 8-10 years. Anyway – this one kicks ass!

iroquois-longhouse
The view from inside a reconstructed Iroquois longhouse in the Iroquois Village Exhibit
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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird specimen in the Birds of New York Exhibit – told ya!
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Atlantic Right Whale skeleton in the Sea Port Exhibit – I love a good whale skeleton

I would also recommend taking yourself on a Modern Art Scavenger Hunt and try to find as many of the 92 works of Abstract Expressionism spread throughout the Plaza as you can. I only had time to see about 20 pieces. Nelson Rockefeller was an art enthusiast and assembled the Empire State Plaza Art Collection which is pretty amazing and includes works by Jackson Pollack, Mark Rothko, James Rosati and Isami Noguchi among others. It’s been called the greatest collection of modern art that isn’t housed in a museum. Did I mention it’s FREE?! Here’s a full list of the works in the collection. 

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Untitled by Donald Judd, 1968, NY State Museum

I’ve lived in New York for over 11 years now, my family for decades, but I still don’t feel like a New Yorker. Maybe it’s because I still sport a strong Chicago accent. Maybe it’s because I still dream about moving back to the West Coast. Maybe it’s because there’s just so much to get to know about this huge state and I’ve barely scratched the surface.

New Yorkers: Go to Albany! It’s cooler than you think. And can be done in One Day Only.

Loveyoubye, Maggie

Friday Links

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RBD links

Before I go get to this week’s links, don’t forget to enter the Mother’s Day Giveaway on Instagram! Tag a photo of something that reminds you of MOM #raisedbydesign through Sunday 5/12 @ midnight EST! Random winner gets to pick one of these air plants living in a funky vintage holder. C’mon guys!

3 Vintage Air Plant Planters
conch shell // 1940’s hand painted panda // lusterware elephant

Ok, so. This week had a lot going for it: Cinco de Mayo, our unofficial first-date anniversary {8 years!} and Mother’s Day! Here are some links I’ve been checking out this week:

The Fountain Coffee Room at Beverly Hills Hotel
via Couer d’Couer
Beverly Hills Hotel
Beverly Hills Hotel entrance via Kiwi Collection

Have a slammin’ weekend! Loveyoubye, Mags

In Like With: Watermelon Red

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These days I can’t get enough of this poppy red color! It’s kicky. It’s everywhere. It’s watermelon. I’m drunk in like with it.

Raised by Design IN LIKE WITH: Watermelon

  1. Someone’s nuts would look good in these Color Glazed Prep Bowls in Cranberry from West Elm. $5
  2. Hip-anema Nail Color by Essie is tall and tan and young and lovely. $8.50
  3. Red Chinoiserie Bookends at Chairish that say, “I only read when I’m not busy cocktailing, which is never.” $165
  4. This vintage Dooney & Burke Trooper shoulder bag from Belmodo is totes Melanie Griffith circa Working Girl. $165
  5. Sometimes combining multiple trends works so well it stings, like with this punchy tribal Selva Rug from Moorea Seal. $240 
  6. Wearing this Juicy Watermelon Watch from Cakes With Faces would make me feel like Brandon Walsh and Kelly Taylor are going steady again, like in the good old days. $48.70
  7. Yes to all of this rock/candy/diamond/mountain stuff happening in Pop Limited Edition Print by Tyler Healy. $80
  8. You don’t even need to suffer through drinking Campari to pretend you’re cool with these Vintage Ombre Tumblers from Plank and Pearl. $32.14
  9. Don’t you kind of need this Watermelon Shower Curtain from Serena & Lily for your bathroom even though you’re all growns up? Me too. $68

Get yourself some! Loveyoubye, Maggie

 

Bangarang! Desktop Freebie

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Hey peeps! Yesterday I did something that felt a little scary…I put myself out there. Not just out there, but out there on Facebook. Amongst my peers. That’s a major leap to take when you’re just starting out and I have new respect for everyone that’s done it before. You remember the feeling, right?

On the other side of just doing it, it feels GREAT to start spreading the word about Raised by Design. So in the spirit of taking leaps, here’s a desktop wallpaper freebie I made for you. Just click on the image below, right-click and save as your desktop picture. And be sure to follow RBD on Facebook so we don’t miss a beat!

bangarang! desktop wallpaperLoveyoubye! Maggie

Mother’s Day Instagram Giveaway

/ design influencers, family / 4 Comments

This week, as we approach Mother’s Day, I want to direct your attention to this blog’s name.  It’s all there: the story of how I finally came around to redirecting my career, going back to school, launching my own business and starting this blog all in the name of bringing design back to the center of my life. I was Raised by Design.

interests

I’m convinced that there is creativity in everyone; and it works like a muscle that needs to be kept fit. Some people never tone it up, like my triceps, for example. But others spend their lives constantly creating until it ends up being the strongest muscle they have. No successful artist or designer is born out of pure talent. They’ve been trained, influenced and inspired by a community of family, friends, teachers and designers before them. And at its core, that is what this blog is really about: the ones before us.

For my Mom’s part, it was through her career as an artist, author, teacher, designer and home-maker that I learned to live and breath design. Anyone who steps into my home, peeks in my closet or skims through my portfolio can see where her influence lives in me.

So to celebrate Mother’s Day here on the blog, and to kickstart my blog series about Design Influencers, I’m hosting my first ever giveaway through Instagram. I’ll be posting images all week on my Instagram feed of ways in which my mother, Charlotte Lyons, has influenced me to become a designer. Things that she’s given me that now have a place in my home or lessons I’ve learned from watching her make her home.

And I want to spread the love around and see how YOUR mom has influenced you! I also want to GIVE you one of these vintage cuties with its new air plant buddy (books stay with me!). See how to enter for the giveaway below.

lusterware elephant
vintage lusterware elephant
seashell airplant holder
awesome seashell decor
panda airplant holder
hand painted panda

Here’s how to enter:

  1. Download the Instgram App for iPhone or Android if you haven’t already and follow me! @reallymaggie
  2. Take a photo of something that shows how your Mom has influenced you and post it to Instagram with the hashtag #RAISEDBYDESIGN (it can be anything!)
  3. You can post as many pics/entries as you like between now and midnight EST on Mother’s Day – Sunday, May 11th
  4. I’ll select a winner at random on Monday morning and announce it both on Instagram and here on the blog.
  5. If you win, you’ll tell me which of the 3 vintage cuties you want to claim as your prize and I’ll wrap it up and ship it to you!
  6. Then you’ll tell your Mother, wherever she may be, that you love her.

Moms are the best, right?!!?!

Loveyoubye, Maggie

 

FRIDAY LINKS

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RAISED BY DESIGN LINKS

Don’t know why I chose this Lily Pulitzer candy striped motif for the links post this week. But I did. Happy Friday! Here’s what I’ve been peepin’ around the interwebs this week. A lot of girly stuff.

You guys have a great weekend! Loveyoubye, Maggie

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