Buen Viaje

 Akumal Beach

I'm signing off until my return from Akumal, Mexico.  Have a lovely weekend and I'll see you all when I get back!

xoxo,
Fig Studio

Fresh Cut: Tenancingo Market

Tenancingo Flower Market

Illuminate: Peach Margarita

Photo and Recipe by MattBites

1.  Miller Paint 0753 Baby Vegetable

2. Miller Paint 1068 Best of the Bunch

3. Miller Paint 0846 Pure Laughter

4. Miller Paint 0376 Bleached Meadow

Glimpse & Gander: La Purificadora

Legorreta + Legorreta's renovation of a 19th-Century water purification factory in Puebla, Mexico resulted in this simple and elegant top-tier boutique hotel: La Purificadora.  The high-contrast center stair floats above the dramatically lit lobby and the bright upholstery sets itself apart from the strong yet open architecture.  Every material has a purpose and a place, with no distracting or unneeded decoration.  It's officially on my list of must-stay hotels!

Hunt & Gather: Altamura Organizer

I love the simplicity of this leather sling-style organizer.  Get your magazines out of that bucket and on the wall!  Designed and artisan made in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico by Casamidy (my current obsession)

Mexico Bound

Mexico: Beautiful patterns, rustic simplicity, and boundless inspiration

1. Ikat print pillow

2. 1940's Mexican tin lantern

3. Codan Mid Century silver pitcher

4. 19th Century Mexican mesquite wood tavern table

5. 1940's Mexican organic spherical earthen terracotta

6.  Casamidy Altamura armchair

7.  Ann Sacks zig-zag terracotta tile

8. Ann Sacks Beau Monde Marylin glass mosaic

9. Otomi Fabric

Fresh Cut: Lilacs + Egg Press

Photo by Me

Lilac branches from Mom's yard + Egg Press wrapping paper I picked up at their latest sample sale.  Happy Weekend!

Illuminate: High-Gloss Machinery

Photo by Megan.  Be sure to check out her daily photo blog!

There's nothing like the gleaming finish on a brand new Vespa.  I'm particularly smitten with that beautiful deep blue. Of course I would require a sweet & sophisticated helmet like this.

1. Sherwin Williams Tempe Star 6229

2. Benjamin Moore Tangy Orange 2014-30

3. Benjamin Moore Blue Bonnet 2050-70

4. Benjamin Moore Calm OC-22

Glimpse & Gander: Pompeo's Hideaway

Ellen Pompeo's Hollywood Hills home is designed by Martyn Lawrence-Bullard

Ellen Pompeo's home is a refreshing take on California casual and a far cry from Hollywood's often unobtainable glamor.  Mixing Moroccan art with vintage woven furniture produces an approachable and comfortable interior, while letting the 1920's Spanish style architecture take center stage.  View the rest of her home here.

Hunt & Gather: Compass Trestle Legs

Compass Trestle Legs - Matthew Hilton for SCP @ Horne

A solid base for any surface your heart desires

At the Shore

Cotton candy, ice cream, and your summer soundtrack:  It's all at the shore.  A little East Coast boardwalk inspiration for your Monday morning:

1.  Sunnies by BBC/Ice Cream

2.  Pedlars Cafe Lamp in Cherry Red

3.  Alessi Big Love ice cream bowl and spoon

4.  Navy striped pillows

5.  Classic transistor

6.  Vintage ice cream cafe chairs with tablet table

7.  Coney Island sailors

8.  Young Folk

9.  Vintage Boardwalk

10.  Hobby horse race

Fresh Cut: Light as Air

 photo by me

Our little airplant housed within re-purposed nuptial decor

Illuminate: Honey & Spice

 

 Image and recipe courtesy of Sweet Paul

 Inspiration can happen in the most unlikely places. It just might be on your dinner plate.

1. Benjamin Moore Brookside Moss 2145-30

2. Benjamin Moore Warm Comfort 2010-20

3. Benjamin Moore Concord Ivory HC-12

4. Benjamin Moore Grand Teton White AC-42

Glimpse & Gander: Go Jet

Torn from the pages of Lonny's April issue, Ashley Putman's bold and simple hall creates a beautiful balance between traditional and modern sensibilities.  Small print wallcovering creates varied levels of texture and when viewed in detail, a surprisingly chic pattern.  The high-gloss door lightens the space, despite it's black color.  When carefully applied, dark tones can create high drama without closing you in.

Hunt & Gather: Hospicio

 

Casa Midy's tailored rustic pendant:  Hospicio

Urban Backwoods

Our current project cannot yet be referenced by name, but rest assured, Portland's Pearl District isn't going to know what hit it when this family-run legacy moseys into town.  It will serve as a cozy second living room in this decidedly glassy and somewhat sterile NW Pdx neighborhood.  A meeting point for friends, a place to finally write that novel, or just grab a fine cup of coffee to go; we can't wait to get this project underway.

  

Our goal is to join two distinct regional aesthetics into one holistic genre all it's own: 

Urban Backwoods.  Taking cues from Portland's logging history and our client's developed branding, we chose essential elements to create a functional, beautiful, and finely detailed environment.

 Essential Elements

1.  Vintage industrial cage lighting

2.  Real Wood.  How can you have backwoods without some of nature's finest?

3.   Klein Tools canvas bag does double duty as a newspaper caddy

4.  Thonet.  Classic.

5.  Simple dowel chair serves both a functional and aesthetic purpose

6.  Locally and skillfully crafted goods

7.  Artfully arranged mounts

8.  Antique coffee mills and related equipment

9.  A roaring fire is essential during Portland's long winters

We will be sure to keep you updated on our progress!

Structure

Without structure, there'd be no interior design. While Fig Notes has mostly relevant content, we're looking to add a bit more discipline into the mix.  Starting Monday, we're going to try a weekly schedule on for size:

Musee D'Orsay image taken on our last trip to Paris

Monday You're My Inspiration: a collection of imagery used to express ideas related to Fig Studio's current, past, and fictional designs.

Tuesday Hunt and Gather: hand selected home and lifestyle products to consider for your space

Wednesday Glimpse and Gander: Imagery of finished spaces from around the world and why we like them

Thursday Illuminate: Your weekly dose of color consultation

Friday Fresh Cut:  It's back!  The short-lived Sunday poesy post is back and better than ever.  Go ahead and smell it!

Of course, we are going to sneak in a few extras here and there.  After all, we're not going to deny our creative spirit some freedom!  Don't forget to check us out on Twitter, and get your dose of behind the scenes action.  I promise, sometimes it's exciting.

Have a rejuvenating weekend! Ya'll come back now, ya hear?

Cheers,
Fig Studio

Thank you for being a friend

You know the game has changed when potential clients ask "are you on Facebook?" before they ask to see your portfolio or website.   Fig Studio is now fully live and ready for fans.

Taken at the Picasso museum in Antibes, France

Earlier today it dawned on us that this little blog is over a year old now!  Thanks for sticking with us as we continue to seek new ways to present our work and inspiration to our readers.  We have some new formatting coming your way in the next couple of months and starting next week, we'll introduce a new rhythm of daily posts.  We are continually inspired by our creative colleagues, friends, and clients who encourage us to keep reaching for new avenues and ideas.  Stay tuned for change!


Cheers!
Fig Studio