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!}
The series I am currently working on is an observation of my life’s direction and lifestyle choices. My artwork challenges me to slow down in both a physical and conceptual manner which counters my otherwise whimsical and unrestricted personality. I gravitate to the use of nature as my primary medium and relish in the process of finding my “canvas” and allowing it to inform the final concept. My process of creating these eggshell mosaics is very meditative. Interacting with the chickens and noting the subtle differences in the shape, color, and size of their individual eggs further connects me to my medium. With only a loose sketch to define the pattern, I become hyper-focused on fractions of an inch, and create this free form puzzle.“Wallpaper” and “Away we go” are micro and macroscopic self-reflections which directly correlate to the near and far field read of each piece.
Away we go [eggshells / found wood / steel frame 28 1/2 x 28]
With so many opportunities and choices in life, it is very difficult to pick a path and stick to it. After enjoying years of capricious travel and re-locations, my perspective has been shifted and I’m now ready to leave my nomadic ways behind. I’m approaching this epiphany cautiously, though, and am finding a connection to barnacles who root down solidly, but at times to movable objects that are at the whim of the sea. I find life to be similar in that try as you may to actively control your path, you too can find yourself guided by the ebb and flow of the tides.
[My husband, Derek Logan, builds and welds the steel frames for my pieces!]
[detail of Away we go]
WALLPAPER [eggshells / found wood / steel frame 10 x 37]
“Wallpaper” is a dialogue between the artist and interior designer within me. My passion to use natural and re-purposed materials speaks to the renewed interest in returning to the land and how it has influenced the current design trends. The texture of the placed eggshells evoke a similar soulfulness to that of peeling paint and it’s link to the history of a place. Playing off the idea of “weather” chipping away paint, the eggshell pattern reveals a natural motif reminiscent of vintage wallpaper. The combination of these elements conjure up feelings of nostalgia from childhood memories and are the material language of contemporary lifestyle choices.
[Steel frame built by Derek Logan]
[detail of Wallpaper]
Please visit my website Karen Blackerby to see more of my work. Thanks for stopping by!
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}
Furniture maker, Dave Wiley, and I collaborated on a custom-built closet and shelving area for a home on Martha’s Vineyard. A beach grass design was incorporated into the closet doors to harmonize with the natural beauty of the Martha’s Vineyard beaches. The closet doors are made out of reclaimed wood flooring from an original portion of the home which was demoed for renovation. The end result is beautiful!
Derek and I have been exploring the area in and around Jackson, WY on cross-country skis, downhill skis, and hiking boots and have just fallen in love with it. Teton National Park is a 15 minute drive from our house. It has amazing cross-country and backcountry skiing, as well as an incredibly beautiful and contemporary visitor center. After a brilliant day of exploratory cross-country skiing we were lured into the eye-catching structure. Designed by the Seattle-based office of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the building’s tactile materials and expressive forms reflect the jagged shaped mountains to the west, while the douglas fir columns in the interior evokes the idea of a forest. This is definitely a worthwhile building and exhibit to check out!
{via House Variety}
When I lived in Boston, my finance and I built a swing for our artist loft, which I posted about on June 14, 2010. It was a perfect seat, great entertainment, and a beautiful design. I always like seeing creative materials/designs for indoor swings. Here is a cool one I just came across, the Swing Necklace, by German interior designer Johanna Richter, made of either beechwood or wool felt.
{via TheDesignerPad }
This winter we are living in Jackson, WY and have immersed ourselves in the beauty and awesomeness that surrounds us every day. Daily we are exploring the area, either on our downhill skis, cross country skis, or hiking boots. Between my enjoyment for winter activities and my recent project of designing a hotel room, I was instantly captivated by the Whitepod Resort in Switzerland. Designer Sofia de Meyer, developed this unique hotel that links man and nature in a very eco-friendly way. Set amongst the majestic Swiss Alps with stunning views of Lake Geneva, the 15 dome-like pods are designed to blend in with their surroundings, not only visually but also by having a low impact on the environment.
{via TheDesignerPad }
karen blackerby 