Design Milk Travels to… Honolulu, Hawaii

There’s little need to ever sell the idea of a getaway to any of the islands of Hawaii. The epitome of an ideal vacation destination, Hawaii is rest and relaxation manifested as an archipelago of eight major islands. The mix of tropical landscape, picturesque warm waters, luxury resorts, and the ever present aloha spirit permeating Hawaiian culture makes visiting Hawaii the Shift-Control-Option of vacation destinations. Although my own heart always longs to return to the lush island of Kauai, it’s Oahu’s Honolulu – the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Hawaii – which admittedly offers the greatest balance between luxe resort amenities, truly fine dining, laid-back island vibes, and a surprising amount of design culture and history dotting its city limits. The following Design Milk guide is here to help you make your first or tenth visit to Oahu your best one yet.

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WHERE TO STAY

Photo: Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club

The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club: Tucked amongst the towering and impersonal resorts lining Waikiki Beach in the heart of Honolulu is the surprisingly intimate, yet always lively Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club. The Surfjack is like finding your very own private party; guests are young and beautiful, and there’s a fair chance some sort of festivities will be happening during your stay (in our case, a magazine launch in the evening, a local designers’ craft fare in the morning). The rooms are modest, but decorated in a sophisticated island-midcentury modern style that makes returning to the room after a long day under the sun a welcome refuge. Look out your balcony and a highly Instagrammable pool presents a clear reminder your stay is likely to elicit a high degree of FOMO amongst others once shared. On the ground level the hotel’s own Mahina & Sun’s serves up a delicious menu of organic cuisine and cocktails, while the adjacent Olive and Oliver boutique sells a mix of island-tinged modern design wares, clothing, and small carry-on friendly gifts made by Hawaiian designers to bring back home.

Photo: The Modern Honolulu

The Modern Honolulu: If you’re looking for more of a traditional large scale island resort to bask around the pool, but one catering to a modern aesthetic, The Modern Honolulu is a fitting hotel destination decorated with enough thoughtful graphical and textural finishes to keep your stay playfully personal. Every guest is welcomed by “Wrecktangle”, an art installation by artist Herbie Fletcher capturing the broken jagged remnants of genuine surfboards broken while riding atop and within the massive tubes at Pipeline.

Despite the dramatic introduction, your stay will undoubtedly be more relaxing. Rooms here are minimalist and mostly white, sparse in a good way that allows for swimwear to be thoughtlessly tossed off after a long day basking at the beach and exchanged for casual evening wear before heading back out into Honolulu’s nightlife. Every room is accessorized with its very own ukelele to help guests strum their own rendition of island vibes.

Photo: The Laylow

Other notable hotels: The Laylow \\ Vive Hotel Waikiki \\ Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa (ideal if you want to spill out from your room right onto Waikiki Beach) \\ Stay Hotel Waikiki \\ Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki (the luxe option) \\ Halekulani (especially recommended for their half-day Art and Architecture tour)

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WHERE TO PLAY

Let’s be realistic, when in Hawaii most of your time is going to be spent along the beach swimming, snorkeling, and basking in the glorious warmth of the tropical sun. That said, there are few spots where design, art, and architecture might pull you away from the beach towel lifestyle.

Photos: Interior stairway and living room of Liljestrand House, included on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Liljestrand House Honolulu Hawaii: Honolulu isn’t necessarily the first place that comes to mind as an architectural destination, but that’s what makes a visit to the Liljestrand House the sort of special surprise that delights the design-minded into recognizing the time capsule of residential gems dotting the island. Designed by architect Vladimir Ossipoff in 1952, the elegant harmonization between landscape and structure have earned the home praise within the pages of Atomic Ranch, Western Interiors and Design, on the cover of Metropolis, and in the book The Hawaiian House Now.

Both sides shown of Baba’s Door, side door of Spalding House, by Tony Berlant, collaged metal, 1988.

The Spalding House: The Honolulu Museum of Art’s secondary site features galleries of art, a permanent installation of David Hockney’s L’Enfant et les sortilèges, a café, pop-up gift shop, and sculpture-filled gardens overlooking Diamond Head and Honolulu. Admission is a great deal since it permits entry into both locations.

Photo: Exotic pool at Doris Duke’s estate Shangri La.

Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design: Hopefully by the time of your visit this gem currently going through renovations will be reopened for public tours. The home of American heiress and philanthropist Doris Duke (1912-1993), the residence was transformed into a museum in 2002, displaying Duke’s collection of art and design pieces collected over the years of her extensive travels throughout North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia and reflects architectural traditions from India, Iran, Morocco and Syria. The permanent collection features over 4,000 objects that include more than 2,500 objects from Spain, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Central Asia, India and parts of Southeast Asia.

Photo: Sean Connelly, Thatch Assembly with Rocks (2060s), 2017 ; Honolulu Biennial Foundation

Honolulu Biennial: Schedule your visit accordingly (in 2019, so you have some time to plan ahead of time) and you can be amongst only the second group to attend the second Honolulu Biennial. The inaugural 2017 Biennial was curated by Fukui Nanjo, Director of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo and former commissioner of the Japan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (1997) and commissioner at the Taipei Biennale, with artists from Hawaii, the Pacific Islands, Asia, North America, Australia, and New Zealand put at the forefront. We expect the followup to improve upon the foundation set by 2017’s show.

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WHERE TO SHOP

Photo: IN4MATION

IN4MATION: The spot to get outfitted with streetwear, skate and surfwear appropriate for island living. Their in-house brand of tees and hats sporting the “HI” logo beat out any other touristy-themed island wear in our book.

Photo: Olive & Oliver

Olive & Oliver: The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club’s very own aforementioned boutique proved to be one of our the friendliest and best stocked boutiques for gifts. With two additional locations – one for men (Oliver), another for women (Olive) – fashionable local brands are complemented by some keen curated homewares and accessories from the mainland, like ceramics from LA’s Kat Hutter & Roger Lee.

Photo: Roberta Oaks, Honolulu

Roberta Oaks: No visit to Honolulu is truly complete without a visit to Roberta Oaks, a boutique decorated with vintage and midcentury decorative pieces that has become synonymous with the revitalization of the Hawaiian shirts as truly modern and stylish pieces worthy of integrating into your everyday wardrobe upon returning to wherever you call home. Designed and handmade in Honolulu, Roberta Oaks is a wonderfully welcoming hostess of her namesake shop; she’ll do everything to help you find the perfect shirt or dress that will undoubtedly result in envious and knowing glances amongst the growing number of Roberta Oaks converts.

Photo: Owens & Co

Owens & Co: The ampersand in the shop’s name makes it clear this shop is of the trendy variety. And indeed it’s wares reflect a contemporary eye for the beautiful, particularly their stock of most gift-worthy graphical Cultivate Hawaii MAKAI Tea Towels, each design inspired by the very forces that shaped the islands.

Photo: Sig Zane/@russellmitsudaphotography

Sig on Smith: Imagine Undefeated, but with sandals switched out for sneakers, colorful aloha shirts instead of streetwear. Sig Zane Designs has been around since 1985, but they’ve remained defiantly relevant with modern interpretations of island motifs that honor the past while represent the present.

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FINAL WORDS

Honolulu is often denigrated in comparison to more groomed resort-styled destinations across the various islands. But what I’ve learned during my numerous visits to Oahu and the other islands is that Honolulu is a remarkable city currently bubbling with young creatives and diversity uniquely its own. Its brimming with energy, but only a few minutes away from the laid-back life attributed to Hawaii. If you simply leave the bounds of the cookie-cutter resorts, there are memorable friends and memories to be made amongst locals and visitors alike at spots like The Pig and the Lady and Piggy Smalls, cultural events like the Honolulu Biennial, and even gazing under a monumental sculpture serving celestial purposes. We hope to see some of your own Hawaii adventures off the beaten path tagged on Instagram with #designmilktravels so we can add to this abbreviated list of Honolulu favorites.

What else am I missing? Comment below with your favorite sites to stay, visit and shop and I’ll check them out!

from Design MilkDesign Milk http://design-milk.com/design-milk-travels-honolulu-hawaii/

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The Rock: A Home Built into a Mountain by Atelier Général

Located in Shefford, Quebec, Canada, The Rock is a house that’s built into the slope of a mountain and surrounded by maple trees. Atelier Général designed the black residence to look as if it was growing out of the mountain.

The upper floor houses the living spaces and it projects out offering a covered space underneath where you enter the home. A wooden staircase connects the entrance to the main floor.

Around back, a large deck extends the living space into the rocky side of the site.

Large, floor-to-ceiling windows and doors frame the surrounding maple forest and vegetation.

The minimalist kitchen is finished in white pine veneer, white surfaces, and black accents for a modern/rustic look.

Photos by Adrien Williams, courtesy of v2com.

from Design MilkDesign Milk http://design-milk.com/the-rock-a-home-built-into-a-mountain-by-atelier-general/

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What to Expect When Working with an Interior Designer: A First-Timer’s Guide

You should ask several questions before working with an interior designer for the first time. Image: Toronto Interior Design Group | Yanic Simard

Working with an interior designer is a positive — and dare we say game-changing — experience for many. However, if you haven’t done it before, the idea of hiring someone to undertake this task can feel intimidating. That is, if you don’t know what to expect from the process.

With that in mind, we’ve created a first-timer’s guide to hiring an interior designer. If you think you’re ready to take the plunge, please continue. We’ve outlined what you need to know to determine if going the professionally designed route is right for you.

Set your expectations realistically. Image: Toronto Interior Design Group | Yanic Simard

Have realistic expectations

Most designers will tell you that, as much as we all love to watch home design shows, their prevalence has done them a bit of a disservice. Thanks to TV magic, the designers on those shows pull off projects with tight deadlines and shoestring budgets that would never fly in the real world.

On TV, there is often a team of laborers working behind the scenes to complete the work in record time and their salaries are built into the budget for the show, meaning design recipients only need to pay for the cost of materials. Realistically, you should be prepared to cover the cost of materials plus any additional labor cost. Keep in mind that hiring additional labor can help get the work done faster, but it will also increase your bottom line.

Of course, every project is different. The best way to get a handle on an anticipated budget and duration is by asking potential designers for this information upfront. Don’t be afraid to reach out to more than one to get a realistic picture of what to expect.

Don’t give up until you find someone who’s the right fit. Image: Elizabeth Metcalf

Take the time to find the right fit

Not all designers are created equal. Like all of us, each designer has his or her own unique personal tastes, quirks and business practices. To make sure your project is a success, it’s important that you and your designer are on the same page with a lot of these details. You may need to interview a few before you find someone who’s the right fit.

In the design world, this interview is called a consultation. It can be an in-person meeting or held over the phone, and it can be paid or unpaid. You can use this time to ask to see samples of the designer’s work, learn more about their process, and ask about business practices, such as their preferred methods for communication and billing.

You can also use this time to let the designer get to know you. Feel free to bring in a few photos or items you intend to use for design inspiration. Let the designer know about your specific quirks and personal preferences. By the end of the meeting, you should have a good sense of whether the two of you will work well together.

Billing practices vary among designers. Image: Martha’s Vineyard Interior Design

Billing isn’t standard

Billing is another feature that varies among interior designers. Since most own their own businesses, they are free to set their own fee structures. However, it typically works in one of two ways. Either the designer charges an hourly fee — with or without the cost of materials built in — or charges you the retail price for merchandise and takes the upcharge as the fee.

Both methods are considered typical. You just want to be sure you’re aware of how much you’re paying for services. Reputable designers will provide you with a thorough budget before they start making purchases, so seeing a cost breakdown shouldn’t be that difficult. If your designer seems resistant to the idea, you may want to look elsewhere.

Great communication is the key to success. Image: Michele Safra

Communication is key

Above all, good communication is the key to making sure your project comes to fruition the way you’ve been hoping. Sometimes, newer clients are hesitant to make their true opinions known because they feel they’re less knowledgeable than the designer, but at the end of the day, they’re the ones who need to be happy with the end result.

Good designers actually prefer decisive clients. Definitive opinions make their job easier in the moment and they know that happy clients are more likely to lead to future business. So, if you want to request changes from your designer, go right ahead.

That said, the earlier you give feedback, the easier it will be to make changes. Particularly, if it’s given before purchases have been made. Purchases can be returned or just remain unused, but that privilege may come with an extra fee.

Use these tips to make your designer experience a good one. Image: Elizabeth Metcalf

For those who have never hired an interior designer before, the idea of doing so can feel out of reach, but it doesn’t need to be. We’ve created a first-timer’s guide to working with an interior designer to help you take the plunge. Use the advice in this post to make an informed decision as to whether hiring professional help is the right choice for you.

Have you ever hired an interior designer? If so, do you have any advice to add? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

The post What to Expect When Working with an Interior Designer: A First-Timer’s Guide appeared first on Freshome.com.

from Freshome.com - Interior Design & Architecture Magazine https://freshome.com/working-with-an-interior-designer/

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2017 Gift Guide: Home & Kitchen

Two of my favorite gifts to give are items for your kitchen and, in general, gifts for the home. I love to look for gifts that you might not be able to find anywhere else that could work in any space. I love the hunt of the find. I’ve rounded up 18 different items that could cover everyone on your list — from your mom to your uncle to your sister off at college. There’s even a cooking set that would be great to use with children this season. Happy holidays! —Erin

Images above, from top left, clockwise: Brass Oval Coasters $105, Ceramic French Press $120, Dash Dish Towel $24, Loop Handle Cheese Knife Set $32, Ring Dish $32, Pink Sconce $97, Vintage Moroccan Stripe Throw $495, Striped Mug $40, Art, contact for price

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2017/11/2017-home-kitchen-gift-guide.html

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In Nevada City, a Rustic Retreat Handcrafted with Love

There’s one debate my boyfriend and I keep having time and time again — I want to stay in an apartment in the city, he eventually wants a house and a garden, if not a bit of land, too. But although I’m a city girl at heart, I sometimes find myself browsing real estate listings for old homes out in the country. Finding that rundown farmhouse that I could fix up to my heart’s desire is definitely a daydream I keep on having. When I stumbled upon Ariana and Scott DeFalco, two teachers who made their own farmhouse dreams come true on the outskirts of Nevada City, CA, I was instantly inspired. Today, I couldn’t be more excited to share a project that they worked on for over two years — an old barn, which they lovingly converted into a guest cabin for their parents and extended family.

Before buying their farmhouse five years ago, Ariana and her young daughters used to visit the abandoned property with the neighbors’ permission. Never expecting that she and Scott would be able to buy the house, Ariana spent hours imagining what it would be like to live on that beautiful plot of land, completely surrounded by nature. The place even included a partially converted barn, which she thought would make a perfect guest cabin. It wasn’t long before daydreams became reality, and an opportunity to buy the old property presented itself.

Converting the barn into a warm and welcoming cabin was a feat that Scott accomplished in his spare time on weekends and holidays. Ariana and Scott both wanted to preserve the rustic feel of the barn, emphasizing the original timber plank floors and building off of their worn look and feel. With a minimal budget, Scott started by gathering salvage materials and pieces, including old, weathered redwood fencing, an old enamel bathtub, and vintage sinks. While he did use power tools, much of the finer details were accomplished with an old Disston miter saw from 1908, an old Stanley hand plane and assorted Japanese hand saws.

Ariana and Scott feel that there is so much to be grateful for when it comes to their skillfully crafted guest cabin and their back-to-the-land life in general. “It’s beauty, peacefulness and the feeling of being able to offer such a labor of love to our friends and family to stay should they need shelter or just want to visit.” I hope peeking into this rustic retreat will inspire you as much as it did me.

Ariana and Scott’s cabin is also available to rent on Airbnb whenever family members aren’t visiting!  — Sofia

Photography by Kat Alves 

Image above: Ariana and Scott converted an old 425-square-foot barn on their property into a rustic retreat for friends and family. The open-plan cabin is filled with salvaged and thrifted items for a worn, authentic feel.

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2017/11/in-nevada-city-a-rustic-retreat-handcrafted-with-love.html

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2017 Gift Guide: Kids

There’s something about shopping for kids that feels way more fun than adults, right? Maybe it’s getting to re-live our childhood during the hunt for the perfect gift, or seeing the unfiltered joy on the face of the child opening it. Either way, you can’t beat it. From books to blocks to playhouses, we’ve rounded up a little something for every child on your holiday gift list.

Octahedrom Crayons Set of 15 by Kid Made Modern \\ $13
You can never go wrong gifting a kid new crayons. I mean, was there anything better than opening a fresh box when you were little? And these crayons are even cooler with their two-toned design and multiple edges you can draw with for hours of fun.

Make A Face by Rock & Pebble \\ $40
A wooden disc with pieces a kid can add to show various emotions and facial expressions. Teach them about their emotions or just let them play and make funny faces – either way, it’s hours of fun.

Andy Warhol Wooden Dominoes by Mudpuppy \\ $30
With Warhol’s colorful, camouflage artwork adorning them, these dominoes bring a twist to the traditional game. The set includes 28 wooden pieces that fit within a wooden box with a sliding lid for easy storage.

A B to Jay Z from The Little Homie \\ $30
I love this book. Whether you want to gift new parents with a book that’s a little less mainstream than say Dr. Seuss, or to a kid of music lovers, either way, this book is the perfect way to teach impressionable children their ABCs and the best of hip hop.

Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity by Sarah Suzuki \\ $20
It’s hard to escape the Yayoi Kusama popularity boom and for good reason. Her infectious and visually enticing art not only makes for Instagram-worthy photos, but her use of colors and repetitious patterns are super enjoyable to stare at, so you know an illustrated kid’s book of her work will have the same effect on the little ones.

Alphabet Blocks by Pat Kim for Areaware \\ $36
A twist on traditional alphabet blocks, these remove the block and leave you with 26 wooden letters in mahogany and pine. The “blocks” can help kids learn to spell or if they’re a little bit younger, they can enjoy stacking them and using them as shapes.

Funkis Doll House by ferm LIVING \\ $225
ferm LIVING designed a miniature version of a Funkis House (short for functionalism), which is a Scandinavian style of house that became popular with its flat roofs, square shapes, and straight angles. This modern dollhouse is made of natural plywood and can be played with on a flat surface or hung on a wall.

Knit Rainbow Cushion \\ $48
This colorful rainbow pillow is bound to bring any kid happiness as they’re lounging around watching TV or reading a book.

The Nugget \\ $229
This set of four foam elements (1 sturdy folding base, 1 soft folding seat cushion, and 2 supportive pillows) can be arranged to form a sofa, bed, lounger, tent, or any variety of other configurations of forts a kid wants to build. Nugget is made to be furniture or to be used for play, but the options are limitless.

Palm Springs Playhouse by Sarah Walsh \\ $169
Playhouses don’t have to only be brown plastic boxes or pink Victorians, they can also be modern, and in this case a nod to mid-century architecture. Complete with a slanted roof and clerestory windows, this Palm Springs inspired playhouse is decked out with desert themed motifs.

from Design MilkDesign Milk http://design-milk.com/2017-gift-guide-kids/

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Kuu: A Reversible, Moon-Inspired Pendant Light by Elina Ulvio

Elina Ulvio is back with a series of reversible pendant lights that were inspired by the moon. Kuu, which is Finnish for ‘moon’, are designed to provide direct and indirect light by simply rotating the pendant’s inner circle. Thanks to its wireless connection, the light can rotate endlessly within its oval enclosure.

The lamp can rotate throughout the day as the light changes with passing time and it can go from direct to indirect depending on your needs. Not only does the light change, the fixture’s appearance does too with the round and crescent shapes evolving, much like the moon does.

Kuu will soon be launched by Danish brand Mater.

Photos by Karin Ulvio.

from Design MilkDesign Milk http://design-milk.com/kuu-a-reversible-moon-inspired-pendant-light-by-elina-ulvio/

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How To Take Care Of Yourself During the Holidays

Doing everything we have to do in life gets remarkably harder this time of year. Between Insta-smiles at parties, gift decision paralysis and just finding five minutes of silence, the happiest time of the year can leave us feeling depleted, and then, guilt-ridden for feeling exhausted. Before you know it, it’s over and if we’re not 100% (if there is such a thing), we spend the new year ruminating over the coulda, shoulda, woulda’s of the last 12 months.

Here are just a few quick reminders of what you already know deep inside. Take them and use them for the next few weeks. Screenshot them, save them to your phone photos, or just write them down and review them every night before you go to sleep. Taking a quick peek at them with your morning coffee or tea, helps tremendously too. Be well and enjoy each day.

Seriously. Despite all of the warm and fuzzy thoughts from sweet holiday movies and cards from friends and family we have stored in our minds, real life isn’t a movie. Holiday or not, good, bad and “meh” things (and feelings) happen. Put your conditioned expectations of this time of year away – for good. Let the warmth of a smile or the surprise of a kind greeting move you instead.

Think of boundaries as the one tool that keeps you sane. Boundaries aren’t fences – they’re pieces you use to build strength to actually share more with others by honoring yourself and your limits. You, your body and your mind should not be bound by a constructed calendar of must-do and must-feel events and sentiments. The holiday spirit is best used at a pace that works for you and year-round.

During this time of year, the first things to go to provide some relief in an overly-hectic schedule are regular bedtimes, healthy eating and trips to the gym or stretches in our living room. Don’t change these beneficial habits. If you start to trim 30 minutes here and there to accomodate parties, shopping and other holiday activities, your healthy routine will suffer.

Be it it food, alcohol or simply overextending yourself socially, the holiday season sends us messages that this is the time to indulge. If you want to, do it! But if you have any doubts or hesitations, honor that and give it a second thought. Remember that you’ve (hopefully) committed to sticking to your healthy routines, so if you have the extra time or desire to participate having kept up those routines, just keep the moderation idea in check!

I have to remind myself of this at least 5 – 6 times per day, everyday. During the holidays, I literally have to remind myself that I’m in charge at least 15 times per day. If pressed with in in-person requests or invitations, don’t commit immediately. “Let me think about it and look at my schedule.” is a perfectly polite and legitimate response and may even inspire others to put the same thought into their replies this time of year.

I hope these tidbits help you remain healthy, calm and safe this time of year. –Caitlin

from Design*Sponge http://www.designsponge.com/2017/11/how-to-take-care-of-yourself-during-the-holidays.html

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Celebrate a Monochromatic Holiday with Society6

Even before Thanksgiving, everyone I know was decorating their homes with red, white, and green everything. Now that Thanksgiving is officially over and I feel like it’s finally appropriate to start celebrating the holidays, I’m in full decorating mode but I’m not the biggest fan of red and green hues. Fortunately, Society6’s artists know how to celebrate the holidays without all the colors of the rainbow. Here are a few monochromatic home decor items that tone down the colors but still fully celebrate holidays and the winter season.

Golden Antlers floor pillow by Roehrs Avenue

Wintertime art print by Zsalto

Winter diamonds wall tapestry by /CAM

Cute forest pattern bath mat by 2lips

Adolfo coffee mug by Laura Nagel

Snowflakes pillow by CharlotteWinter

birch watercolor wall tapestry by Color and Color

Christmas black and white pattern mug by marinaklykva

Winter Drive wall tapestry by Hannah Kemp

Christmas throw pillow by CharlotteWinter

In an ongoing effort to support independent artists from around the world, Design Milk is proud to partner with Society6 to offer The Design Milk Dairy, a special collection of Society6 artists’ work curated by Design Milk and our readers. Proceeds from the The Design Milk Dairy help us bring Design Milk to you every day.

from Design MilkDesign Milk http://design-milk.com/monochromatic-holiday-society6/

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