inside Wayne Coyne's home

The Oklahoma residence/music studio of Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips has been featured all week in the blogosphere. The design was done by Fitzsimmons Architects and the space is magical and inspiring.

As you can see, the exterior is rather unassuming

The interior is what makes this space so unique

I love the hanging fireplace

Coyne's imagination is always running wild and the space is an extension of this. In an interview with Design Milk, he describes the bedroom as "strange, artistic" and the bathroom as "strange, futuristic."

About the bathroom pod, he says, "now you are entering into the, drug damaged, artist element of our home."

(images via Fitzsimmons Architects)

Bob Dylan: artist

Still a little nostalgic for Copenhagen, I found myself on the website for the Statens Museum (the National Gallery of Denmark). I was excited to learn that they will be exhibiting work by musician/writer/artist Bob Dylan.

The exhibition, which runs from September 2010 to February 2011, features drawings and sketches made while on the road during the period of 1989-1992. Some new pieces will also be introduced, including some acrylic paintings, which will be shown to the public for the first time.

This exhibition documents the artist's progression from drawings and sketches, to canvas, to large scale acrylic paintings. Dylan takes his viewers on tour with him, as witnesses to the people and places he has observed over the years.

"I just draw what’s interesting to me, and then I paint it. Rows of houses, orchard acres, lines of tree trunks, could be anything. I can take a bowl of fruit and turn it into a life and death drama. Women are power figures, so I depict them that way. I can find people to paint in mobile home communities. I could paint bourgeois people too.

I’m not trying to make social comment or fulfil somebody’s vision and I can find subject matter anywhere. I guess in some way that comes out of the folk world that I came up in." Bob Dylan

A selection from the Drawn Blank series is currently being exhibited at the Halcyon Gallery in London until April 10 2010.

images from Halcyon Gallery

a rustic cottage retreat

This weather makes the idea of a quiet evening at the cottage by the fire sound very appealing.

I've had designer Jill Brinson's home bookmarked for a while now. The designer describes the space as part loft, part farmhouse.

I love the use of reclaimed beams, which were salvaged from several North Carolina tobacco barns, with the light wood flooring.

An eclectic mix of rustic charm with elements from industrial-style warehouses

The huge windows throughout the home bring the outdoors in

images by House Beautiful

a visit: the Drake Hotel

Having Toronto as a home base, I've never had the opportunity to stay at the Drake Hotel but once I saw what I was missing...I'll have to take a mini vacation there soon (or at least recommend it to out-of-towners!)

The hotel was designed by a team which included Toronto's 3rd UNCLE (who also designed most of the furniture). Located in West Queen West, the hotel includes guest rooms, a bar/lounge, dining room, cafe, music/banquet/theatre venue, yoga studio, two outdoor patios and staff areas.

The design includes many details to maximize storage and functionality in the small space, such as tables that fold down from the walls and headboards (like the side tables in the image below) and the use of pendant lamps (no table needed!)

The renovation of this historic building was done in a way which would preserve the original structure but would still allow it to evolve over time.

The merchandise and graphics, designed by pod 10, were created uniquely for the hotel. Exclusive toiletries by Malin + Goetz.

images by the Drake Hotel

a visit: the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen

While we were in Copenhagen, we visited the famous Royal Hotel. The hotel, including the interior and all the furnishings, were designed by Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen. The hotel was completed in 1960 and was the city's first skyscraper.

Much of the interior has changed but the iconic furniture remains.

All the rooms have been updated but one, Room 606, which remains the way Jacobsen designed it. It is available for booking!

The Egg and Swan chairs were designed by Arne Jacobsen especially for the space. The swivel base of the Swan chair allowed the guests to spin in their seats, making them active participants in the atmosphere of the busy hotel.

Along with the Swan chair, the Egg chair is believed to be one of the first upholstered swivel chairs.

The hotel even features Arne Jacobsen's famous Banker Clock. The clock indicates the hour with a blackened square in a stack of twelve boxes. Definitely a piece on my wish list!

(Furniture images by DWR, interior images by me)

2010 Colour of the Year - Turquoise

Every year Pantone announces its Colour of the Year. The winner this year is Turquoise!

According to their press release, turquoise "evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing."

I've always been a huge fan of turquoise, whether as a wall colour or accent colour.

Below are some inspiration images I've been collecting over the years of my favourite interiors which incorporate this beautiful colour.

The above images are from fashion designer Liz Lange's home featured in House Beautiful, which was designed by the wonderful Jonathan Adler.

From the Condesa df Hotel in Mexico (above)

From the portfolio of photographer Dan Duchars (above)

Scandinavian inspiration

I could really see myself doing interior styling as a career. It is such an amazing way to combine my love of interior design, photography and magazines.

These are some images from the portfolio of Morten Holtum, a Danish photographer.

His work makes me completely nostalgic for Copenhagen. Living there, it is impossible not to fall in love with the Scandinavian design esthetic; classic pieces combined with clean lines, and strong punches of colour. The Danes brought functional, stylish design to the masses.

Royal Copenhagen dinnerware is so beautiful and timeless.

Great use of Panton chairs.

The combination of white walls and natural wood flooring is so unmistakably Scandinavian.

images by Morten Holtum