Flora Grubb

I had to head back out to Bayview this morning to get a mirror on my car fixed. While I was waiting, I stumbled into Flora Grubb for some coffee and immediately I was taken by the beauty of the grounds, especially inspiring bathed in the early San Francisco morning sun. I cannot wait to go back and do a little shopping. Besides the amazing plants and great coffee (it was Ritual!), my favorite part was the kitty sleeping in the sun. So all and all, I guess I’m glad my mirror broke because I finally made it in here and I had a nice morning. Enjoy my pictures and make sure to check out the Flora Grubb Gardens website! xo

Happy Earth

I’m really excited about Vitamin Green, a book about contemporary sustainable design and architecture from around the world, which I discovered over at Refinery 29, and out later this month.   Here’s a peek at a couple of the projects inside:

A public garden thrives in NYC, where an abandoned railway used to be

Harmonia 57, a building with a plant based exterior, bringing San Paulo, Brazil some extra fresh air

Check out more pictures and read more about the book (which is sustainable itself! cover, recycled egg cartons and pages, sustainably sourced paper) here. Happy happy Friday my friends. xo.

Indoor/Outdoor Love

There are these yummy places, I think, that happen where indoors and outdoors meet and merge…like these two sweet spots spotted at  desire to inspire.

Your Rainbow Panorama

Olafur Eliasson’s Rainbow Panorama tops the ARoS art museum in Aarhus, Denmark:

Exterior View

Visitors inside the panorama

A rooftop view

Visualization from within, via Eliasson

I love it! A great experiment, I’d say, in the psychology of color. How does seeing the world through different colored ‘lenses’ affect your bio rhythms (does red elevate your heart rate? does blue calm you down?) and/or mood? And just a really fun, innovative and attractive installment. Cheers!

Just A Great Door…

Via Jessica@Black.White.Yellow @ Pinterest

Have a good day. xo

Exterior of the Day

Sometimes you know all you need to know by the first glance. One look at this Copenhagen home and I know I like it.

Via La maison d'Anna G.

Happiness is…

…a pink staircase!

Via Pinterset, via Colour Plant, Tumblr

St. Mary’s/ Double Take

Well here’s something I didn’t know….looks like our St. Mary’s was designed in the likes of Tokyo’s, built earlier in the same decade. Both are modern and  beautiful on the outside, and while I’ve only had the pleasure of seeing the SF version from the inside, I’m sure Tokyo’s is just as breathtaking! Although….the Tokyo version does lack a certain (in)famous afternoon shadow produced by the SF St. Mary’s…curves.

St. May's, Tokyo, via www.photius.com

St. Mary's, San Francisco, via www.everywheremag.com

(thanks Inebriated Press for the 2 o’clock shot!)

Public Spaces

When looking for some architectural inspiration, museums are often some of the first places I turn. Art in and of themselves…. I think a stroll through SFMoma is in order soon, complete with a stop on the rooftop garden. Another favorite building of mine, right across the street, is the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts

SFMoma Rooftop Garden by Jensen Architects

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Image by Smart Destinations

Design Spotlight: The Eames House

Charles and Ray Eames were an amazing duo, and are two designers I admire a lot.The Eames House, or House # 8, was built in 1949 of industrial material as part of the Case Study House Program. It remains a primary example of modern architecture and is located in Northern California.