Awesome Before & After

I totally love weekend home projects that are not only realistically doable and affordable, but also those that truly make a dramatic, noticeable and functional impact. Dig this awesome little $85 entryway makeover courtesy of crafty couple Jami & Nato. Made from a small batch of 1x6 and 1x3 boards they've created this killer built-in panel effect complete with hooks and shallow shelves.

Check out all the start to finish photos over at here: The Nato's Entryway Makeover.

Great job guys, thanks for sharing and also thanks to Apartment Therapy.

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HMK

Roll Up Travel Charger

This Roll Up Travel Charger looks pretty sweet, nice thinking Restoration Hardware, and it's on sale!


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HMK

Chalk Bored?

Wow. If you haven't seen the amazing custom chalk lettering projects by Dana Tanamachi do yourself a favor and check out the time-lapse videos of some her projects. Initially I was expecting to see a projector or perhaps some stencils but she simply and methodically attacks the chalk board in the same way that one might scribble an idea in a notebook or journal.

I think the thing I'm really digging and responding to, above and beyond the tactile, is the sheer, stark beauty and simplicity of the white chalk on a basic black board - classic in every sense.


It's no surprise that she's not only from Texas, but she's also part of Louise Fili Ltd., home of one of my favorite designers and the reigning queen of some of the most incredible typography and packaging projects of the last 40 years.


Super inspiring. If this doesn't make you want to turn of the technology for an hour or so and bust out some chalk or at least a pen and some paper you might not be the old school, soulful artist/designer your think you are or used to be. But it's not too late - turn of the machine, pick up a pen and paper and get back to the fine art of thinking on paper!

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HMK

The Thomas Beale Cipher

The Thomas Beale Cipher from Andrew S Allen on Vimeo.

Wow, this is so nicely done, enjoy!

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HMK

Custom Bike Saddles

Really digging these engraved Brooks bicycle saddle seats from designer Kara Ginther. Sweet!

Mucho Mas: Kara Ginther Leather.

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HMK

Schell-Wheeler House by Johnston Architects

Wow. Totally digging this awesome, smart home designed by Johnston Architects PLLC and built by Tall Tree Construction.

Blow-down trees from storms provided the logs that were milled into siding, fascias and trim. A ground source heat pump, supplemented by solar water preheating supplies energy to the house.



More: Schell-Wheeler House by Johnston Architects.

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HMK

Thanks to the smart folks over at Design Milk.

Winter!

I'm totally loving this cold weather we're finally getting down here in San Antonio. Walking Ringo and Dazy around the block late the other night in the cold fog remided me of my first job in 5th grade delivering the Denver Post on dark snowy mornings on the Air Force Academy. Toatally quiet and peaceful being the only person awake making the first trails in the new snow.

When I dream of winter it looks and feels exatly like this awesome shot from Czech pohotographer Marta Cernicka at: Marta Cernicka Foto.

Time for some hot chocolate...

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HMK

Refill Required

Mmmmm.... Coffee....

Genius.

Somehow found this here: HERE.

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HMK

Gino Sarfatti Wall Lamps

Unfortunately, this awesome pair of wall lamps has already been sold:

Gino Sarfatti pair of wall lamps for Arteluce, model nr. 238/1. Black metal Lacquered ring where a glass ball is resting, edition Arteluce 1960 Italy.

Fear not, there are still some really great items available form the good folks over at Furniture Love.

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HMK

What's Up, Dock?

Me likey. Turn your wall outlet into an iPhone charging dock. For $25 bux you can rid yourself of cable clutter and have a groovy slideshow rolling right there in your kitchen. Vey cool.

DLO Wall Dock.

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HMK

Nice Shelves

Totally digging these concrete, poured on site, built in shelves from the Waldfogel residence designed and built by Ehrlich Architects.

And the rest of this 8,000 square foot Palo Alto, California home is quite stunning as well: Ehrlich Architects

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HMK

New York Public Library Logo Evolution

Marc Blaustein, art director for the library system, confirmed to the New York Times that the old logo, with white lines on a circular black background, “had a hard time maintaining its detail as it shrank.”


The strong lines on a vector format mean the new logo can be scaled to a range of sizes, especially prescient in the internet age, when as many people are likely to see the logo on a digital screen as they are in print.


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Grande gracias to the smart folks at FlavorWire.

Lacie USB Keys

These are really sweet.

Lacie recently introduced these nice little USB keys. Designed by french ID firm 5.5 Designers, clean, simple, functional and overall a nice, hip update to the now ubiquitous jump drive.

Priced right at $24.99 for the 4GB, $31.99 for the 8GB, and $51.99 for the 16GB.

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HMK

Be Nice

I think my almost 7 year old laptop is on it's last leg making me an unpleasant person to be around today.

If I was mean to you today I'm truly sorry. I missed lunch too...

You can find this sweet poster at: Concrete Hermit.

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HMK

Oldbook Vintage Masking Tape

Very cool idea from Esty shop Nothing Elegant. I'm really digging this way cool ephemeral looking masking tape made from traditional Japanese "washi" paper.

This unique multi-use masking tape looks flat-out gorgeous. Ideal for color coding, labeling, school and art projects.

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HMK

Thanks to Design Vagabond.

Ubuntu Restaurant

Not that I'll be heading to Napa any time soon, but I've been following the incredible work of San Francisco architects Michael Baushke and Stuart Hills, founding partners of Apparatus, since 2005 after discovering them via an article in Custom Home magazine.

Their work, inside and out, is absolutely stunning.

Their latest gem is a new restaurant in downtown Napa, occupying a two-story volume in a 19th century stone structure. The space was transformed using sustainable and recycled materials to accentuate the inherent beauty of the existing building. There is no “theme”, only the natural textures and colors of essential materials, the activity of the open kitchen, and of course, wine.

Do yourself a favor and escape for a few moments: Apparatus Architecture.

The awesome photos are by Jen Siska.

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HMK

Illustrations by Emma Kelly

I'm really digging the fresh and energetic style of London illustrator Emma Kelly, I think you will too: I Like To Draw Things.

Really nice work.

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HMK

The Flight Chair

The Flight Chair design concept by Matthew Weatherly would look perfect in my house or just about any chiropractor's office.

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HMK

Thanks to Design Milk

SHIFT Cottage: Superkül Inc.

Totally digging the SHIFT Cottage from Toronto architects Superkül Inc.

The site for this 2000-square-foot family cottage on an island in Georgian Bay was chosen for its topography and orientation. Nestled into the exposed, washed granite of the island and against a line of trees, the cottage is sheltered against the strong winds off of the water.

The graphic lines of the cottage are designed to further marry it to its site—highlighting through contrast the wind-sculpted trees and craggy rock of the Bay that make its landscape unique.

A glass link bridges between the cottage’s two volumes—one containing living spaces, the other sleeping and washing areas—and a wood deck terraces down to fold into the island on three sides.

Wicked nice. Check out more shots and info on this fabulous place: Shift Cottage.

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HMK

Thanks to Blue Ant Studio.

What Goes Around...

Smart stuff for Global Coalition for Peace from Big Ant International. As part of the "What Goes Around" campaign to end the war in Iraq, each one of these posters is designed to wrap around poles and pillars.

Very cool concept, copy with a nice execution.

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HMK

Thanks to Oberholtzer Creative.