today, i am super excited to be sharing a post about "what inspires me". i'm participating in the blog it forward project organized by victoria of sfgirlbybay- 300 bloggers are posting on this topic over the course of six weeks!
i'm going to admit, this was a tough one to put together. i see inspiration as a work in progress for myself. i've continuously been engaged with design since i was just a kid, whether through art, architecture, fashion, or photography; together these passions and inspirations are building together to drive me creatively forward. starting this blog just a few months ago has really given me a personal outlet for all this energy, and i am having such an awesome experience with it as i learn the ins and outs of this new world!
one thing i know for sure- i am a tried and true california girl. nothing else inspires me like the beautiful scenery of my home state and the innovative, progressive spirit of the california people.
so here you go, my "california-inspired" inspiration:
i love the delicacy of this. design and fabrication by design firm ball-nogues
kite aerial photography by charles benton. shown here, the point reyes national seashore, one of the most incredible places i've been in california.
these gentlemen and ladies do some really innovative work and have their fingers in a little bit of everything. ace hotel palm springs by los angeles collective commune design
jose villa photography.
jose is from my hometown and an incredibly esteemed wedding
photographer. to me, so many of his pictures really capture the
california lifestyle. these images happen to be of one of my favorite
places, enjoy cupcakes. also, check out sarloos and sons.
in california, roses still bloom in december, which i always forget until i go back, and i find it so amazing now! (more images)
anything ideo has ever come up with. brilliant, revolutionary company. i was in their offices once and all i can say is that they seriously rock. (image via)
urban ore salvage yard in berkeley. i can't begin to tell you how many hours i've spent here getting inspired, or how many "treasures" my family has driven five hours back home to southern california. if anyone out there knows of a place like somewhere between washington dc and new york, please tell me where...
the u.s. federal building in san francisco by morphosis. the software behind this design is really spectacular and i think the level of visual detailing is incredible. i could get lost in this for hours. (photo via)
photo via i heart napa. i love her blog and photography.
gorgeous gardens by flora grubb. turns out, she was the mastermind behind the design i posted about here.
kelly malone, who is doing very awesome things over at workshop in sf. i'd love to take some of these classes.
empty la by matt longue (
image via).
my grandfather was a civil engineer for caltrans and helped design freeways in socal. i've always been slightly obsessed with
them. isn't this an amazing sight?
interior design at the avalon hotel by kelly wearstler. her work just epitomizes the perfect mix of casual glamour for me. via lonny mag.
i love how this looks like waves. cnc-milled headboard cabinet by min | day
california is all about local partnership and collaboration- here, gap teamed up with sfmoma to celebrate the museum's seventy-fifth anniversary. the perfect skater boy meets art student tee.
i love this photo by pretty petal studio. it makes me dream.
the view from the penthouse restaurant at the huntley santa monica.
calmly inspirational, especially at sunset with a glass of wine. also,
the bike path down along the beach there is a lovely place for a
thoughtful morning jog. (image via)
julia morgan's berkeley city club. my great-grandfather was an architect back in the day in the spanish colonial revival era of los angeles, and i've acquired a couple degrees in it too. i think the changing california vernacular is a fascinating study.
there's nothing like a sunday drive down a back country road (more home here)
and i could very well keep going, but it seems like a great stopping point. tomorrow, be sure to check in on the next blogger up, jo of where women create.
-- love YAYA --
ps. dear philadelphia, don't stress, i love you too!!!
