The Tipping Point

INSPIRATION

We’ve long been supporters of the Tipping Point for it’s unwavering efforts to fight poverty in the Bay Area. Their mission is undeniable, but they also happen to have a great logo, informative and inspiring infographics, a well-designed website, and, most importantly, a very powerful impact.

Last week, they stepped it up another notch with their annual fundraising gala. With the help of the ever-talented event planner Stanlee Gatti, the Tipping Point hosted 1,200 supporters at a dinner auction at Pier 48, at which they raised an unprecedented $12 million.

The theme was Bay Area Under Construction – only Stanlee could make a construction site look compelling and elegant. The hall was filled with orange glowing lights, the tables and chairs were draped in caution tape-trimmed custom fabric, and the signage was a fun combination of street signs and stencilled spray paint. It was a great reminder to everyone that, as a community, we were there to help build a better Bay Area.

Thanks to the entire Tipping Point community for inspiring us not only in design, but, more importantly, in giving.

tippingpoint.org

Event Planner: Stanlee R. Gatti Designs
Caterer: Paula LeDuc
Photographer: Drew Altizer Photography

TippingPointEVENT2

Barn Vows

INSPIRATION

We’ve always loved the rural simplicity of this save the date for a wedding at Buttermilk Falls Inn — a Hudson River estate with a working farm. We love barns and farms as wedding venues for their simple and rustic settings. For Romy and Jesse, we tried to evoke the feeling of pastoral Hudson Valley, New York through color and simple silhouettes.

There are tons of fantastic farm venues, but below are a few our our favorites:

1) Long Meadow Ranch Winery and Farmstead in Napa
2) Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York
3) Stone and Flowers Retreat in Santa Cruz
4) The Inn at Round Barn in Vermont

BarnVows

 


NOLA Charm

INSPIRATION

I went to New Orleans for the first time this weekend and fell in love with all of the Southern charms of Louisiana. From the music to the food to the architecture to the big hats (it was Easter Sunday afterall), I was so inspired by the deep heritage and colorful traditions of the city. Below are just a few highlights from a fun weekend in The Big Easy.

NOLA

photo credit: street, crawfish, hat, tiles, cemetery, second line, oaks, bbq, sazerac


Tiled Inspiration

INSPIRATION

We’ve been thinking about retiling our bathroom recently and have been having so much fun researching all the different shapes and pattern options. Repeating patterns like the bathroom wall pictured here are such an inspiration for letterpress details like these designs from over the years.

Patterns

photo credit: bathroom


The Succulent Succulents

INSPIRATION

Living in the Bay Area, we are blessed (or cursed depending on how you look at it) with the perfect climate for successfully growing succulents. For some (read: me), they have become an obsession to grow and to highlight in your home and garden. And why not use them in your wedding, too? Check our these gorgeous and unique approaches to incorporating succulents into your special day.

SucculentCollagephoto credit: boutonniere, centerpiecetablebouquetcake, chair arrangementtable setting, terrarium


What's Your Favorite Non-Color?

INSPIRATION

Eve and her girls recently got into the “what’s your favorite color” discussion. They were stunned to hear that black made Eve’s list. Ok, scientifically, black and white are not colors, but let’s not get technical. There is something so elegant and determined about strong black and white design. Case in point:

1) Ralph Lauren Spring 2014 collection
2) Ace Hotel collaboration with Timothy Goodman
3) Napa Valley wedding invitation by A Day in May
4) Vogue Magazine, June 1950
5) Jo Malone’s branding
6) New Orleans wedding invitation by A Day in May

blackwhite5
photo credit: ralph laurenace hotelvogue cover, jo malone


Shades of Gray

INSPIRATION

Gray is far from blah. There are warm grays, cool grays, silver grays, white grays, blue grays… We love the perfect combination of different shades of gray on gray on gray in cakes, bouquets, outfits, and other fun wedding day details.

The blending of grays works well in print, too, like in these Napa wedding invitations, where we fused different gray papers, gray lettering, and gray design details.

GrayBlog

LOVE ME

INSPIRATION

It’s Valentine’s Day and we all have love on the brain. Curtis Kulig, artist, photographer, and illustrator, is best known for his iconic Love Me work, and he comes to my mind often around February 14.

When you stumble upon one of Kulig’s paintings or artful scrawls on the side of a building or high up on a billboard, it makes you smile… It’s the playful yet sensual lettering. It’s the bold yet sweet sentiment. It’s the honesty. It’s the love.

Happy Valentine’s Day!


FOG Design + Art Fair

INSPIRATION

This past weekend San Francisco hosted the first ever FOG Design + Art Fair in collaboration with the SF Museum of Modern Art. One of our favorite event designers and visionaries, Stanlee Gatti, was on the Steering Committee and we commend him and the rest of the team for putting together such a fun and innovative celebration of modernism.

Here are a few of our favorite pieces from the fair. Photos courtesy of artsy.net

TaskLamp
Greta Magnusson Grossman, Task lamp, circa. 1948, R & Company

 

Lake

Hiroshi Sugimoto, Lake Superior, Point Isabelle, 2003, Fraenkel Gallery

Screen Shot 2014-01-23 at 8.18.38 PM

 

Ed Wormley, Prototype Rocking Chaise, 1960, Converso NY

Vessel

Jeff Zimmerman, Faceted sculptural vessel, 2012, R & Company

BlueWoods

Eric William Carroll, Blue Line of Woods, 2010, Highlight Gallery


David Hockney: A Bigger Exhibition

INSPIRATION

I finally went to see the David Hockney exhibit at the de Young Museum and was blown away. The halls were filled floor to ceiling with his vivid, colorful canvases. It reminded me of a wedding invitation we did a few years ago in which we printed one of the groom’s own paintings on the vellum overlay. Not only was it a wonderfully personal detail, but the bold colors elevated the entire invite.

Color is so transformative and powerful… as is Art. The exhibition closes Monday so if you haven’t been yet, go now.

Additional info can be found at artsy.net

Hockney

Photos courtesy of hockney.famsf.org and sfgate.com


Mrs. Jaster's Garden

INSPIRATION

One of Lesley’s favorite children’s books (from when she was a little girl) is now serving as inspiration for a fun new project in Italy.

Mrs Jaster's House Mrs Jaster's Garden Bird View Mrs Jaster's Urn

Opera House – Argentina

INSPIRATION

On a recent trip to Buenos Aires, Lesley toured Teatro Colon, the famous Argentine opera house. The architecture and history was amazing, but the highlight of the tour was stumbling upon a ballet rehearsal of Sleeping Beauty. Lesley was able to watch as the ballerina and her gentleman prepped for their evening performance. If you find yourself in South America, Teatro Colon is definitely worth the trip!

Teatro Colon BA BLOG

Eve's San Miguel Siesta

INSPIRATION

Check out this sensational splash of color! Eve soaked up the Mexican lifestyle this summer during a trip to San Miguel de Allende with her family. Here’s a peek into her festive vacation … enjoy these shots around town as well as some pics of her daughter and sister.

Eve Mexico BLOG

check out "the glow"

INSPIRATION

Eve and I are just in love with this blog … check out “The Glow” and soak up wonderful photography, cool tips from cool moms in New York, some down-home recipes, and some great ideas for funky baby names.

http://www.theglow.com/

The Glow

A Day in May menus for Laurie Arons

INSPIRATION

Laurie Arons is one of our favorite event planners in San Francisco. We have worked together on more events that I can count, and we are always impressed with her creativity and her attention to detail. Check out the images below which showcase some of our dinner menus in action at her events ….

http://www.lauriearons.comLaurie's Menus

Amsterdam Signs

INSPIRATION

Lesley has just returned from a trip to Amsterdam and wanted to share several of the inspirational signs found all over that design-crazed city!

Amsterdam Signage