Today's Some Like it Hot, We Like it All: "Outer Space, Fairytale Antagonist Chic"

Apparently we aren't the only ones who "Like it All."  Check out Maison Martin Margiela's first shot at interior design:  La Maison des Champs Elysees in Paris.  He (or maybe "they"...the mystery man's design team) continually blow our minds with their clothing collection.  If you think you've never heard of him, you're probably wrong....just give another hard listen to Jay-Z's hit song "Run This Town."  We are longing for the day when we get to see this hotel in person.  Paris anyone?  We're labeling it "outer space, fairytale antagonist chic."  

We're pairing it up with Givers "Up, Up, Up" music video which is a bit like dreams we've had about flying (although "Saw you First" is still our favorite song by them, but there is no video.) And don't forget about "Something Else" a whimsy collection by Natalie Wood.

All systems GO!

DnD

A see-through rock house?

This is our perfect idea of a country house except we weren't crazy about the interior until we found out it was a Bed and Breakfast.  We always prefer a more minimalist/clean/modern feel when it comes to a hotel, but we would never choose to live that way in our everyday lives.  Whatever strikes your fancy, ya know?  Anyway, we would imagine that walking through that doorway into the glass room must feel a little like a scene from The Lion, Witch, and The Wardrobe minus the evil ice queen.....

Check out the architects who did this place here.

Happy Winter,
DnD

Today's "Parallel"- Navy & Tan

There is something so classic and beautiful about just plain ol' navy!  Maybe it's the whole nautical thing?  Makes us dream of sailing away to a far away land.  We aren't really sure, but one of our favorite songs in high school was "Come Sail Away" by Styx.  Anyway, the point is that classic ol' navy can be given a swift and modern kick in the "behind" by dropping in a touch of tan or gold whether you're decorating a room or getting dressed.  Scroll down for the deets....

Clockwise from top left: Alexander Wang silk tank $445, Jossi sweater $46, Dorothy Perkins P coat $99,  Zadig & Voltaire cardigan, J Brand super stretch velvet legging,  topshop riding boots $280, Pratesi leather backpack $498

Clockwise from top left: Gracieve sequin knit sweater $54, Marni longsleeve tshirt $255, Khaki sweater inkfrog.com, Wrangler twiggy stretch jeans $140, Zara boots $100, leopard Balmain jacket, All-saints boots $270, Kaelen Luanna skirt $425, Giussepe Zinotti Wedge $625

Smooth Sailin',

DnD

Today's "Imaginary Client"- Big Pond, Small Fish

We are having fun now, can you tell?  This will be a weekly post.  Our heads are overflowing with ideas so we're testing them out on imaginary clients.  For some this may be a bit far fetched so feel free to look at the pretty pictures.

So for this first one, we'll call her Jane.

Jane: "Hey Dan and Dash, I just moved to the big city and put a big fat deposit in for an apartment in the EV (East Village); I'm 22 years old about to start my first job at a PR company and well basically that makes my decorating budget about nil.  I always have to be inspired by my surroundings though or I simply can't survive so I need your help."
DnD:" Listen Jane we've all been there at one time or another so we are geared up to give this a go and see if we can help you.  We're on board budget wise, but what sort of vibe are you going for?"
Jane: "Funky, a little girly, cozy, with a touch of vintage."
DnD: "Done and Done."

Okay so here's what we came up with for Jane.  We almost could have called this the Overstock Challenge.  (Side note: We love overstock.com...you have to dig through a bunch of "stuff" to find the treasures, but we love a good challenge...it's no different than a trip to the flea market.  We may start doing a weekly feature where we design a whole room from overstock.com.)

First we started with this fun vintagey floral wallpaper from Graham & Brown for $75 a roll.  Then we found this easy breezy cream shag rug at Overstock for $80.74.  Then enter the molded white plastic rocking chair from Ezmodfurniture for $159.99 (we recommend two of these eventually when the budget permits.  Add in those gorgeous Lamps, also at Overstock. $178.99 for the pair.  We can't remember where that fancy trellis print pillow came from but we don't recommend buying it either.  We are giving strict instructions to head to the fabric store and pick out a similar printed fabric for $10 a yard and ask a friend who can sew to make them for you as a house warming gift.  Industrial side table which we want you to use as a bar cart was found at Urban Outfitters on sale for $129.99.  (We recommend pushing this up against a wall away from the rocking chair or in a different section of the apartment)  Then to really knock it up a notch we recommend these two photos from 20X200. $50 each.  (20X200 is an amazing site that our friend Emily Johnston Anderson told us about so we are passing along the love)  We love the juxtaposition with these two pieces of art, but really we chose them for the symbolism.  Yes, that city is Cairo, Egypt and not NYC but you are the little lamb my friend, ready to be set free in the big bag world.  Alright, we are nuts, we know.  We didn't forget about the "cozy" part though.  We are obsessed with this all glass indoor/outdoor portable fireplace from Overstock for only $215.54.  In fact, we are getting one for our own bedroom to back right up against one of our 3 brick walls....can't wait!!!

So aside from a few trips to the flea market to add your own special touch, we think you are pretty much good to go.

Good Luck little lamb,
DnD

FOCUS ON THE PHOTOGRAPHER - Chris Court

Art is in the eye of the beholder, and a photographer often gets a bird's eye view into some of the most ridiculous spaces on earth.  

Welcome to Chris Court's world. Incredible shots in some equally incredible spaces! Um, yes, can we please invite ourselves into the world's that exist on the other end of your lens, Chris????  Pretty please?!?!?

We don't know where this is, but we're ready to pack up, move, and draw a bath immediately.

FOCUS POCUS!

Over 'n out.

DnD

Today's "Some Like it Hot, We Like it All"- 2 designers and a band

Alright we created this post because we simply had to.  Some people are into just 1 thing, but we are into a LOT of things.  We love any kind of design whether it be art, interior, or fashion.  We also really love food; we also REALLY love when our food is designed.  And if you continue reading our blog, you will soon learn that we are obsessed with music of all kinds.  So anyway, you get the point.  We're really hoping this blog can be one big artistic fusion of all the things we love!

So today we are featuring 2 Designers: Anouk B & Alexandar Wang, (Anouk B is really more of a stylist, but for the sake of the blog title, we're calling her a designer) and a band: The Kills.  Remember them?

First, Anouk B is a girl after our own hearts.  We love EVERYTHING she does.  She calls herself a stylist, but really she's an artist.  She says her technique is "perfect imperfection" which usually yields amazing results when someone is as talented as she is.  We think she is the epitome of our style and one day we'll have a home inspired by some of her styling in all black, white and gray, filled with endless textures and lots and lots of love.

Second, Alex Wang can do no wrong.  We aren't too sure there is really much more to say.  Isn't it a little eerie how parallel his stuff is with Anouk's?  (Side-note: we like to merchandise everything in our lives, even our blog posts!)

Lastly, The Kills are just modern day Rock N Roll and we love them.  We also know they're old school but for the sake of merchandising our blog post we had to go with them.  They just matched perfectly, alright!  Um so yeah, Allison Mosshart also sings with Jack White in their band called The Dead Weather, (probs more on that later) and Jamie Hince is Kate Moss's husband so they are collectively just one big bundle of beautifulness.  These are two of our favs:

Rock & Roll!  It's FRIIIIIIIIIII DAY!

DnD