A couple of years ago I helped design a kitchen for a couple in Sanford, Maine. My work included space planning, elevations, 3D perspectives and a rendering. This summer their dream kitchen was completed and they are thrilled with the final outcome.
AFTER:
RENDERING:
BEFORE:
This past week Derek had to go to Austin, TX for work and I was lucky enough to join him. The city’s incredible energy reignited my creative fire and I absolutely loved every minute of it! To top it off his company was kind enough to put us up at the chic Hotel San Jose. I immediately felt at home amidst the harmonious blend of rustic gardens, natural materials, and urban modern decor.
I love the story behind the space as well. Liz Lambert, originally a New York trial lawyer turned hospitality designer, transformed this 1930s motor lodge into an urban bungalow-style hotel with a communal outdoor courtyard, lounge, and pool area. Located in downtown Austin it is the perfect oasis to retreat to at any time of day. I loved walking out our bedroom door into an open garden, filled with native Texas plants, rustic pathways, and tucked away seating areas. I am more than ready to go back and stay there again!
(Unfortunately I forgot my camera and wasn’t able to document the space so I had to go to the trusty internet to find images. In doing so I learned the Hotel San Jose has Polaroid cameras for guests to use!!)
We ate breakfast every morning at the adjoining coffee shop, designed by Liz Lambert.
{images via Seeds and Fruit, Free People Blog, Remodelista, More Ways to Waste Time, and Claudia Bravo!}
A truly inspirational staircase! Form, function, and beauty all joined together into perfect harmony!
{via Designspiration}
{via Cool Hunting}
Last week I did some perspective renderings for WKArchitects, an architecture firm based in Boston. Below are two different views for the Lobby and Reception Area of the space they are designing.
To see more of my work please visit my website at karenblackerby.com
An awe-inspiring 3,000 square-meter “home” design by YTL Design Group and Jouin Manku.
This is a great photo showing the beautiful elements incorporated into this residence. The scale of the wooded fixture and rock slab island is breathtaking! Gorgeous!
This is the most gorgeous stairway I have ever seen! Amazing craftsmanship!
I like to be reminded that ceilings can be just as interesting as walls and floors.
{via Chicquero}
Turkey is still on my mind…what an incredible place to travel. One of the many things I love about travel is the exposure to landscapes that are completely foreign to me. The region of Cappadocia captures that sense of awe, mystery, and romance that every traveler dreams of. It is characterized by its unusual rock formations, cave dwellings, and is engulfed in a rich history dating back before Christ. Being an Interior Designer and an artist I love to see places, homes, designs out of the ordinary…it really puts the imagination to work. Cappadocia did exactly that! Since this area has been discovered by tourism some of the cave homes in town have been converted into hotels. Derek and I had the opportunity to stay in a couple of these super cool and unique cave pensions. It was such a fantastic experience!
The town of Goreme
SPELUNCA CAVE HOTEL
Spelunca Cave Hotel – one of the places we stayed
At one time each of these rooms were individual homes that each family carved out by hand.
The niches, fireplace, and bathroom were all carved out of the rock itself. In the past if a family needed more room they would add a room or space by just carving out a new area.
VILLAGE CAVE HOUSE HOTEL
{image via Escapio – Unique Hotels}
Village Cave House Hotel – another wonderful cave pension we stayed in.
It is a traditional family run cave pension with a delicious freshly prepared breakfast.
{image via Escapio – Unique Hotels}
Each room has a balcony.
The entrance to our room.
{image via Escapio – Unique Hotels}
I love the character of the rooms!
One of the best ways to explore the unusual landscape is by bike. Derek and I rented mountain bikes and spent the day riding the crazy terrain.
It’s so enjoyable to see a colleague’s skills beyond the workplace. Recently, a past colleague of mine at the architecture firm ADD inc contacted me on linked in, introducing me to her amazing artistic talent. Designer/illustrator/artist, Pilar Botana‘s portrait paintings are fantastic. I love how she fills up the entire canvas; the play between realism and illustration; and the way the hair and background bleed off the canvas.
This gorgeous summer house designed by BAK Arquitectos, located in the province of Mar Azul outside of Buenos Aires, does a wonderful job incorporating the natural landscape into the design of the house.
{via Gardening & Landscape Design }
Lindsey Adelman‘s custom made lighting collection is absolutely stunning. Crafted and assembled in her New York City studio, the Bubble Series features hand-blown glass globes and custom plated hardware.
{viaTheDesignerPad }
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about container living. Through my research I came across this wonderful artist retreat situated on 50 acres on the fringes of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park in Scotland, called Cove Park. The retreat was founded in 1999 by Eileen and Peter Jacobs as a place for artists of all kinds to research and develop new projects. Cove Park has created two different types of accommodations that are environmentally focused. The Pods, designed by Andy McAvoy, are made of green oak and their curved roofs are turfed to blend in with the environment. The Cubes, designed by Urban Space Management, are converted freight containers joined together to produce individual units of accommodation and work spaces.
What a place to get inspired and create!
{via Been–Seen }
karen blackerby 