Design To Get You Laid

m | monroe design — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:02:17 +0000

My newest endeavor DesignToGetYouLaid.com in collaboration with Zac&Co. Surely, the name gives you an idea of what it’s all about, however, it’s more than just skin deep. (We needed a catchy name to draw attention to the more important information at hand).

Mostly, we write about the single guys apartment: The interior spaces, furniture, objects, textiles, cleanliness, etc.. I like to focus on the psychology behind each space, while giving design advice. Overall, the goal is always a healthy, happy, productive living space that improves their owners wellbeing while impressing visitors.

From the About Page: “What: Most guys just need a few pointers and some quick fixes, while others need a serious overhaul. Is your space ‘cock blocking’ you? We’re here to help you find out. We focus on straight men’s apartments, and the female perspective. Why? Because that is what we know. You need the help, and we have the skills, so really why not? We will not delve into gay men’s spaces, because, well- let’s be honest- they don’t really need us. There are other great sites for that, like our friends at TheQueerInterior!“

A lot with a Little…

m | monroe design — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:43:24 +0000

In Nicaragua (and in any case without a lot of money) – people find ways to do a lot with a little.. I love this house, spotted on the way to La Playa Hermosa. So simple. so colorful. It feels like a happy place.

This fence was beautifully made, using basic materials in an interesting way.

Obsession | Fictional Landscapes

m | monroe design — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:42:02 +0000

Three things I love: books, sculpture and anything in miniature. The combo is to die for.

Artist, Guy Laramee carves landscapes into books. He has two incredible series of carved book landscapes/ structures entitled Biblios and The Great Wall, where the dense pages of old books are carved to reveal serene mountains, plateaus, and ancient structures. Of these works he says:

“So I carve landscapes out of books and I paint Romantic landscapes. Mountains of disused knowledge return to what they really are: mountains. They erode a bit more and they become hills. Then they flatten and become fields where apparently nothing is happening. Piles of obsolete encyclopedias return to that which does not need to say anything, that which simply IS. Fogs and clouds erase everything we know, everything we think we are.” -Guy Laramee (via thisiscolossal.com)

Laramee’s next show will be in April of 2012 at the Galerie d’Art d’Outremont in Montreal. (via kastormag)

Similarly, UK-based artist Kyle Kirkpatrick constructs these awesome tiny landscapes by carving into layers of pages in old books.

“My practice is primarily concerned with the notion of the imagined landscape. I present man-made objects and natural materials simultaneously to form carefully and meticulously composed installation works. I capitalize on intrigue taking objects out of context reinventing their use, pushing the viewer to see beyond what I present before them, a glass could be interpreted as a lake or a metal bracket a cliff.” -Kyle Kirkpatrick (via thisiscolossal.com)

Book | ‘It’s in the Bag’

m | monroe design — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:07:49 +0000

Winnifred Gallagher has done it again. Not half way through my flight to Portland, OR and I’d already read the entire book from start to finish. “It’s in the Bag | What Purses Reveal and Conceal” is short and to the point; a quick read at 100 pages. Gallagher writes in a way that is extremely accessible, making for quick and interesting information on any topic.

Previously, I read (and recommended), other books by Winnifred Gallager, “The Power of Place” , “House Thinking” and “Rapt” to name a few. Focusing on the psychology of interior spaces and home among other things, I was obviously drawn to almost all of her other works. “It’s in the Bag” was an unexpected subject matter for Gallagher, however, I was equally as drawn. As it’s name suggests, the book is about the bags that we carry, their contents, trends, and their meaning.

It is really interesting to step back and think about what our everyday objects say about us. In this case, the focus was purses (feminine mostly) – but other books, such as Snoop focus on other personal items in a different but equally as intriguing way.

Our emotional ties to the purse (as well as other everyday things) are often poorly understood. There are historical references and in depth descriptions on “the parallels between the purse’s growing significance and women’s expanded lives” p. 99 IITB. Gallagher finds ways to blend fashion, history and psychology in a way that is easy to take in and enjoy.

“a purse that conveys a woman’s timeliness and taste, trumps one that merely displays her wealth.” -p.55 IITB

In related news, a very interesting blog post by DachisGroup’s Shadi Afshar “Sorry, Gucci, But You’re Not Luxury”.

Holiday gifts | part one

m | monroe design — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 04:46:30 +0000

One of the best gifts for any occasion is a philanthropic one. There are endless great places, online and in person, to buy from sellers that donate some (or all) of their profits to charity. Here are a few: Oxfam, FEED, WestElm, MAC VivaGlam, AidToArtisans. These are all win-win, as the Giver is doing good for charity while the Gifted is receiving something tangible that they can feel good about.

Ring by Gretchen Jones, sold by Piperlime for Aid To Artisans:

Treasure&Bond is an amazing new shop that opened earlier this year in SoHo. “100% of all our after-cost profits go directly to programs that benefit people in need, right here in our own community.” -Treasure&Bond. Their retail space is well designed and their merchandise, well curated.

With my recent travel schedule it has been hard to nail down any in-person shopping time for the Holidays, but I didn’t want that to affect my gift giving quality. Etsy and Supermarkethq are two great places to find some seriously unique quality gifts at any time of day. These are not philanthropic like the above, but they are great gifts anyway!

Everything on this seller’s page is awesome:

vintage style wood letters:

love these prints:

cut paper- not cheap, but so cool:

The print versions are more affordable. They are comprised of only thin vertical black ink lines- still very cool:

Unique jewelry at reasonable prices:

colorful map print:

chair love.

m | monroe design — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 06:49:51 +0000

Here are a few of my favorite chairs, right now…

Eames Aluminum Group, Herman Miller

Emu Re’Trouve, Patricia Urquiola (Coalesse)

Hug Lounge chair, DeLaEspada, Leif.designpark

Nest, DeLaEspada, Autoban

Monster Skin wingback, Josh Longo

Atlantic, Bernhardt, culdesac

Hyde, Bernhardt, Fredrikson Stallard

Click to view slideshow.

Threestones Photography

m | monroe design — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:07:16 +0000

The Threestones house (by Architect Nick Deaver) in Austin, Texas was recently photographed by Forma Productions. Here are a few from the final cut!

**New website posts for the garage renovation can be found here. Also, the Master Bedroom closet renovation can be found here.

Click to view slideshow.

Closet renovation

m | monroe design — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 01:20:28 +0000

A small, but fun, renovation within the Threestones house project was the Master Closet. The former laundry room is connected to the master bedroom, but it was never fully built out to match the quality of the home or Master Bedroom needs. Now, this space matches the rest of the AIA home.

Closet design by m | monroe design

Threestones house by Nick Deaver, Architect

Final photo by Forma Productions

BEFORE

PROCESS

Momo | Sushi

m | monroe design — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:30:16 +0000

Last night I went to Momo in Bushwick for dinner with my girlfriends and it was amazing! The company was great of course, but I’m blogging about the food, not how wonderful my friends are. The extra long, live edge, farmhouse tables filled the space for mixed party seating… with simple linear lights overhead- simple and great.

Specifically, the Pork Betty and the Sushi Bomb (with spicy tuna) were to die for. I think it’s safe to say that this place rivals Nobu.

’tis the season… for boots!

m | monroe design — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:46:59 +0000

After countless wonderful seasons and cobbler repairs, my favorite leather boots, are finally retired. It was a sad day when I realized that they were completely unwearable. Their remade soles and heels were worn down to crooked little non-supportive stumps, and they had far exceeded their $50 vintage store worth… followed by $65 repairs. They ended up being as much as a new pair, but these ones were worth it. Why ladies? What it is about that one pair of shoes, jeans or a purse that we just can’t get enough of? I. don’t. know… but I can tell you this: I loved those boots, hard, and it has taken months to find (and settle on) their acceptable replacement.

The originals: Designer unknown, vintage Italian leather, purchased from 10ft Stella Dallas in Williamsburg

The replacements: Dolce Vita ”Georgia” in brown, purchased from Zappos

While searching for the replacements, I also found these lovely black boots on endless.com by Pour La Victoire. With two new favorites, replacement in a few years will be tough!