0 Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Friends!

So... I didn't really intend to take such a long break from the blog.  Or even a break at all for that matter.  It just kind of happened.  I think I needed to just live in real life and kind of go with the flow for a while.  I hope this new year will bring a new balance to my life and allow me to getting back to doing the things that I love and have brought me pleasure over the years as well as finding new sources of inspiration and happiness. I hope the new year brings great things to your life too! 

Jess

2 Rose Bowl Flea Market

We went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market this weekend...it was hot and busy but there were lots of fun finds...and we came home with a few! The vintage science kit kind of blew my mind.  That awesome box is filled with vintage sciency-things...so you know I bought it.  Also got some great vintage black card catalogue drawers, which fit perfectly into an Expedit (photos to come). Brit got a great vintage Sunset magazine all about family camping, it has great diagrams and photos.  I really wanted that vintage black lamp to match my yellow one and that triangle cage thing...but I refrained.

0 I'm Back! And My Week in Photos

I'm back...blogging from my shiny new Mac Book Pro!  It is taking a little getting used to using a Mac, and blogging without Photoshop, but I'm learning pretty quickly.  Otherwise, I've been fighting yet another sinus infection, so we've spent a lot of time on the couch.  Last weekend we did try a new breakfast spot: The Grand Casino Bakery and Cafe which was amazing...and had another little pool party which is always fun. Hope you had a good weekend...

0 My Week in Photos

Almost caught up...Last weekend we visited Abbot Kinney in Venice.  We had lunch at Lemonade, which was really good, and did a little shopping at Urbanic Paper and Firefly.  I'm completely obsessed with succulents and cacti (even more so than lately) so I did some appropriate documenting. Another theme for the week: wood slats, preferably on the diagonal.  I also did a little exercise in finding happiness in the little things around me (work was stressful, I needed a coping mechanism, but it's a good exercise to do all the time). Speaking of happy, I finally hung the banner Brit made me for my birthday in my room.

1 Last Weekend Recap

I have to sneak in last weekend/weeks recap before this one starts!  I've had annoying computer and internet issues this week that have slowed me down, but that's ok.  So some highlights from the past week:


1. The weather was weird the past week in LA, this thick fog rolled in and you couldn't see anything, and then it rained, but there were also periods of beautiful sunshine.  We liked that part.
2. Brit now has an awesome hanging herb garden on our patio, that we are really excited about. It required some interesting and awesome items...like a machete (not really, it's a folding hand saw, but that's what we are calling in) and neon zip ties.
3.  We also got more succulents and cacti (because we didn't have enough already) and did some planting.
4.  Including planting a new aloe vera in my newest  Perch! Campy Planter...I love them so much!
5.  I also got some new Russell and Hazel Binders (I'm obsessed with the yellow one) and a BKR water bottle.  I'm totally guilty of drinking smart water from plastic bottles, because I hadn't found a reusable bottle that I like.  But I think this one might be it. 
6. I had brunch at the Jonathan Beach Club which was delicious and beautiful with great company.  Then I spent some time at my parent's house and got to hang out with my favorite doggie, Tilly. My dad started a vegetable garden while we were there, and my mom was cleaning the pool area.  One of my next tasks is going to be to design their pool/outdoor area, including landscaping and furniture.  The view is awesome, and I have a feeling we will be spending a lot of time there this summer.

1 Design Love Fest's Loft Shoot from Rue Magazine

So let's start off this new year with a great Los Angeles loft tour!  Bri Embry of Design Love Fest has a fantastic fun sense of style that is very apparent in the design of her loft.  I adore the sophisticated gold accents mixed with graphic stripes and fun bright sprinkles of color.  So fun!

See more (and photos from):  Bri's blog: Design Love Fest, on photographer Bonnie Tsang's Blog and in the Holiday Issue of Rue Magazine

3 Oh How I Love the Rorschach...

Me and the Rorschach.

From an adventure at LACMA a few weeks ago.

1 H.D. Buttercup

So, there are some things about living in Los Angeles that I hadn't really let myself fully think about before I moved here.  Like, I can go to HD Buttercup whenever I want.  That place makes me so happy, I can't even tell you.  So, these are some of my favorite things that I saw on my trip a few weeks ago...

I apologize I was in too much of a furniture induced ecstatic haze to get credits...

1 Awesome Finds from My Morning Walks...

It really is quite beautiful where I live.  I'm very much enjoying my morning walk/runs.

11 My New LA Room

It just occurred to me that I haven't shown you guys my new room in LA.  This is the room that my sister and I share in our townhouse in LA.  It used to be her room that I stayed in for visits, now it is my room that she stays in when she comes home from college.  It has been a mess, because my dad gutted our attached bathroom last November and has been VERY slowly working on it since. (hence the empty door frame in the last pic)

This is a temporary place for me to live, so I wanted to incorporate enough of my things to feel like home, but not go too overboard.  The floor plan is totally wonky because we need two beds and the walls are interrupted with all sorts of doors and nooks.  I still need a fantastic rug, and a bookshelf to go on the little wall to the left and behind the tv wall.  I haven't really put together my little vignettes yet.  Also, these photos are kind of horrible, you will have to forgive me.

I absolutely adore my vintage dresser that we picked up in Palm Springs.  I look forward to shopping Craigslist and estate sales while I'm here to hopefully get some more great vintage furniture for my next apartment.  My plan is to live here probably until next summer, or until my roommate comes home :) and then find an apartment of my own.  That way I can save up for something great.

I scored those fantastic Michael Kors sheets at TJ Maxx. You can't see the design in these photos, but they are essentially as smaller scale version of the same patterns as the curtains, but in turquoise and white.  I'm also pretty impressed white those black storage shelves.  We have had those forever (I actually asked Santa for them when I was like 12...I've always been this way), and were planning on getting rid of them.  However the closet isn't all that big, we needed more storage, and having the beds in the L-shape (which I like because it feels like a bed and a couch) creates an awkward narrow space where they fit perfectly.  So, we kept them, got two more shelves, and filled them with canvas bins for storage.  Then, I hung my favorite giant Stendig calendar (which stills shows that its August, but anyway) on the front to hide everything.

So what do you think?  It's not perfect, but if you saw the condition it was in when I arrived...whew! I've worked wonders.  My sister visited last weekend and said, "wow, it looks just like your apartment but all in one room." Haha....

2 Malo Restaurant and Lounge from Kelly Lamb

I had seen this building before driving around LA, every time I saw it I gasped....It's so awesome.

When I was researching these fabulous planters the other day, I realized that this is the Malo Restaurant and Lounge from Kelly Lamb's portfolio...anyone been there?

1 New Inspiration for My Bedroom In LA {Part 1}

Column 1:
Pouf from Muovo + Thomas Paul Pillow + CB2 Pablo Tables + Cavern Collection Blanket
Column 2:
Vintage Hand Bookends + Rug from Suki Cheema + Pyrex Planters from Three Potato Four
Column 3:
Quilt from Suki Cheema + Leather Butterfly Chair Cover + West Elm Seedling Duvet Cover + Wood + Resin Boxes from West Elm
Column 4:
Suzy Jack* Arrow Clips  + Striped Throw from Bo Concept + Succulent Love Succulents + Letters Lulubell Composition Book




Column 1:
Chelsea Kelp Fabric fron Tonic Living + Black and White Highway Sign + Leaves Mobile
Column 2:
Marimekko Oiva Plate + Pod Pillow from Be Still Shop + Wolfie and the Sneak Badminton Print
Column 3:
Vintage Yellow Arrows + Marimekko Oiva Mug + Bent Arrow Ring
Column 4:
Lines and Arrows Pillow from Be Still Shop + Harbinger Company Wood Box + Thomas Paul Pillow

It is time to get serious about my room in my parents house in Los Angeles, which will be my new home for a little while.  The room needs to suit my style, incorporate my sister's style since we will be sharing the room when whe comes home from college some weekends and holidays, and eventually act as a guest room for both of us and my grandparents in the long term.

I think you guys understand my style.  Luckily my sister shares some aspects, she likes black and white and bold graphics. She is also kinda into native american things right now, so I thought I would incorporate this into our inspiration board. 

When I started this I realized that many of the things that I've been blogging about lately work into this theme...very convienient.  I'm working on a board of finished rooms that embody this style too. 

So, what do you think?  Any inspiration images come to mind?

1 Before and After at Design*Sponge

I love seeing the Before and After posts at Design*Sponge, this one in particular.  I would LOVE to do built in shelves with a ladder {even though I'm kinda afraid of ladders} in my room in LA.

Click over to Design*Sponge to see the before and more after pics.

1 Monteverdi Young Chair

If I were in LA now, and had $750, I would so buy this chair.

I am very much looking forward to shopping Craigslist for my new digs in LA.  Craigslist in NOLA kinda stinks.

20 A Big Announcement...

Friends,

I have a big announcement....I am moving to Los Angeles at the beginning of September!!!

It has been oh so difficult to not discuss this with you, but I needed to wait until I let my soon to be former job know.  It has been killing me not to share with you guys.

It wasn't a completely easy decision to make.  I have lived in New Orleans for almost exactly 10 years {10! insane!}.  I don't regret my decision to live here one bit, I truely think it was the right thing for me to do. I love this city even with all its flaws...love it.  There is something so enchanting about it, its culture, and the people.  I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it was to go to college here...Tulane couldn't have been a more perfect fit.  I love the memories that I have from that fantastic time in my life {even with the hell that was Architecture School.} 

My first "real job" has also been more than I could have ever asked for.  I have learned so much, for which I have to thank my amazing coworkers.  I wasn't even sure I still wanted to be an Architect when I finished school, but now I know it was the right choice.  The friends that I have made with some of the people that I work with are ones that will last forever. It is hard for me to think about leaving them...

That said, the reality is I am to a point that I hate being away from my family.  I miss them, a lot.  I can't tell you how excited I am to be able to see them more than just  a few times a year.  And...I will be in Los Angeles.  I'm so excited about the opportunities that will create.  Although on the one hand it is scary moving to a new city, I think that uncomfortableness is kind of good too.

I don't actually have a new job just yet, but I'm working on it! If anyone knows of any Architecture firms that have any openings, please let me know! Or maybe someone wants to hire a full time blogger.  That would be ok with me too.

So, that's it! Here I go!

Jess

0 Los Feliz Residence

Los Feliz Residence from Techentin Buckingham Architecture.

Found thanks to Mocoloco.

2 Jovanovic Residence by Lorcan O'Herlihy

Lorcan O'Herlihy is one of my favorite Los Angeles architects.  The Jovanovic Residence is pretty fantastic. That view isn't bad either.

2 I'm in LA!

I'm in LA for the next week, so things will be a little light around here while I'm away.  I'm super excited to be going to Dwell on Design, and I hope to have some great new finds to share when I get back.  I'm also going to get to see my little sister dance for the first time in at least a year, so I'm also excited about that {she's attending the Debbie Allen Dance Academy Hip Hop Festival}.  Be sure to follow along with my trip at my twitter account.

Also, while I'm away one of my bffs from NOLA is staying at my house, having a little staycation, and kinda pretending to be me. :)  We are calling her Fake Jess during this adventure.  Follow along with what is going on with Fake Jess at her twitter account. 

Hope you guys have a great week!

PS, How fantastic is that kitchen?  Found thanks to Design Is Mine.

2 Poketo Los Angeles, I'm Yours...

If I were in LA this weekend I would totally go to this.

I wish I were...

Also, that second image convinces me once again that I need a black wall in my future.

0 Glendower Residence from Bestor Architecture

Glendower Residence from Bestor Architecture...this one is in Silver Lake.  Do you know how much I like Silver Lake? A lot.