Jenny Plake Designs

method Ocean Plastic: From Beach to Bottle

2015-08-29T07:42:00.001-07:00

I am touched by people like those at Method, who help find solutions to ocean pollution! Hits home to my family in Hawaii, but more importantly to the place we all call home; Planet Earth.

"Change the world, make it a better place, for you and for me..." -Michael Jackson

5 Star Oscar Party

2015-02-21T17:39:00.001-08:00

5 Star Oscar Party by jenny-plake featuring black cocktail napkins

Occa Maison fake fur blanket
$915 - occa-home.co.uk

Drinkware
wayfair.com

Silver flatware
williams-sonoma.com

Kitchen gadgets tool
switchmodern.com

Black cocktail napkin
etsy.com

Vase
switchmodern.com

Mina Victory textured throw pillow
lampsplus.com

Wall art
switchmodern.com

Accent chair
switchmodern.com

Old hollywood furniture
kathykuohome.com

Jennifer Meyer Jewelry star earrings
shopbop.com

CR03-40 Joy.n3 Stainless Steel
switchmodern.com

Italian Caffe

2015-02-20T20:20:00.001-08:00

Italian Caffe by jenny-plake featuring a wall planter

Glass lamp
roomandboard.com

Capital Garden Products wall planter
burkedecor.com

Arte Italica white espresso cups and saucer
blisshomeanddesign.com

Restoration Hardware textured throw pillow
restorationhardware.com

Bistro dining table
onekingslane.com

Large Hanging Planter/Basket with hand spun Brass bowl & antique chain...
etsy.com

Eclectic Living Room

2015-02-20T14:10:00.001-08:00

Eclectic Living Room by jenny-plake featuring a magnifying glass

Gold lamp
furbishstudio.com

Thermal blanket
wayfair.com

Canvas wall art
grahambrown.com

Textured wallpaper
$305 - occa-home.co.uk

Visionnaire grey vase
$3,025 - luisaviaroma.com

Harbor House throw pillow
designerliving.com

Magnifying glass
zgallerie.com

White candle
blisshomeanddesign.com

Tufted couch
homedecorators.com

Modern cocktail table
highfashionhome.com

Agate table
deringhall.com

Laminate Wood Planks LAMINATE FLOORING
homedepot.com

Quotes that I love: Henri Matisse

2015-02-04T10:56:00.000-08:00

Let's Talk Positive Vibes

2014-04-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

A friend reminded me today about an important lesson... words are powerful. There are many ways in which words can control our lives, and when we share these words between friends, family, co-workers etc., the choice for me is positivity. You may not hear it from others, but choosing your own words wisely can make a big difference. It may seem a bit cliché, but having these positive maxims around can really be the key to your success. Here a few of my favorite axioms, mottos and proverbs:

Quotes that I love: Oscar Wilde

2014-03-04T19:31:00.001-08:00

Holiday R&R

2013-12-10T07:46:00.002-08:00

This winter season, no matter where you call home, snuggling up with a throw blanket is what feels right. The security of a bundle of warmth calms the anxiety and reduces the stress of the holiday hustle. So, while you shop for the best deals or work those extra hours to provide for the holiday givings, remember to take time for yourself and relax with your favorite throw. Snuggle buddies, open fireplaces, and holiday drink of choice are always great additions!

xoxo,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Art History Meets Halloween: Part I

2013-11-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

Being a Halloween fan and Art Historian has it's fantastic connections. The history of Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve, dates back as early as the 16th century, and is a celebration of remembering the dead or saints (hallows). In it's beginning as a holiday, festivities were much like with modern day; feasting (although there were much more apples than plastic wrapped sugar), costume wearing for telling spooky ghost stories (okay, well more like folk stories), and of course the tricks or games played believed to have started by the Irish (Oh, those pranksters!). Also, it is the eve of All Saints Day, November 1st, which marks the end of harvest season and beginning of the 'darker' part of the year; winter season (later came day light savings time). There are various accounts on whether it is considered a pagan or religious holiday depending on which part of Europe you ask. However, today it seems different cultures have made it their own concoction, which is the reason for this treat of a blog post. The following examples show strong inspiration for today's classic halloween characters: mummies, skeletons, witches, ghosts and spiders. If we remember Karl Freund's 1932 film, The Mummy, or the now iconic serial killer mask from Wes Craven's Scream series, these art historical images pose as inspiration for the ever popular holiday characters and costumes. Although, the artworks shown here were not originally created for the holiday spirit. Some remember the dead, study the dead, symbolize the dead, strip down to the bones, commercialize the bones, and so on... they are still images that continue to inspire with their individual art historical statements.

King Tutankhamen, Thebes, Egypt, Dynasty XVIII, ca. 1323 BCE, Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Anatomical studies of the human skeleton sketches, Leonardo da Vinci, ca. 1510

The Incantation, Francisco Goya, oil on canvas, 1797 – 98, Lazaro Galdiano Foundation, Madrid

Amorōnagu "girl who fell from heaven", is a tennyo (celestial maiden) from the folklore of the island of Amami Ōshima, in Kagoshima prefecture, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, first half of the 19th century

Nissaka Man receiving a child fron a ghost, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, ca. 1844. This night scene illustrates the moment when the ghost of the murdered woman hands over her baby to her husband. The rock upon which her blood flows becomes the abode of her spirit which cries out every night.

Head of a skeleton with a burning cigarette, 1886

Vincent van Gogh, Oil on Canvas, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

The Scream, Edvard Munch, oil, tempera and pastel on cardboard, 1893

Vampire, Edvard Munch, Lithograph, 1895

Human skull consisting of seven naked women's bodies  Photograph: Philippe Halsman, 1951, after a drawing by Salvador Dali

Maman 1999, Steel & Marble sculpture installation by Louise Bourgeois, 2008, Tate Modern, London

Self portrait with skeleton by Marina Abramovic 2003 Photograph: Marina Abramovic/Sean Kelly Gallery New York

For the Love of God, Damien Hirst, Platinum, diamonds and human teeth, 2007

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A Decorator's Life: Women in Art

2013-09-16T11:32:00.000-07:00

The first to recognize the need for beauty was Elsie De Wolfe (1865-1950). The Victorian Age was in need of her interior design aesthetic which was light, fresh and delicate. One of the major influences on Elsie's career was her trip to France and the study of the Parisian entertainment life. Jules Cheret's posters of whimsy that targeted women's fashion and femininity were sure to inspire. This new form of art that decorated the streets of Paris during the modern 19th century France brought forth the women in advertising as their liberation as individuals began to emerge within the then very gender separate public sphere. Enjoy these decorative celebrations of the golden ages of posters by chromo-lithography master Jules Cheret and the women who represented them!

Current obsession

2013-07-03T08:11:00.003-07:00

Current obsession: Patio designs
Traditional New Mexican adobe architecture with modern elements. Bright colors and clean lines make for a fresh environment with this indoor/outdoor space. I would love to entertain here!

R Brant Designs courtesy of 1Kind Design

Juxtaposed Drinks & Interiors

2013-07-01T11:47:00.000-07:00

The St. Germain Cocktail

2 parts Brut Champagne

1 1/2 parts St. Germaine

2 parts Club Soda

Stir ingredients in a tall ice-filled Collins glass, mixing completely. Think of Paris circa 1947. Garnish with a lemon twist, mint, or cucumber. Pair it with the French home interior.

Color-fool: Inspired Pink

2013-02-21T02:21:00.000-08:00

PINK

Pink, it's my new obsession, yeah

Pink, it's not even a question Pink, on the lips of your lover 'Cause pink is the love you discover Pink, as the bing on your cherry Pink, 'cause you are so very Pink, it's the color of passion

'Cause today it just goes with the fashion Pink, it was love at first sight Yeah pink, when I turn out the light And pink gets me high as a kite And I think everything is going to be alright No matter what we do tonight

by Aerosmith

Pink is the inspired color of the month of February, and just like the very sexy Steven Tyler serenades, "Pink, it's the color of passion" and "red but not quite". The rock band Aerosmith, whose song "Pink" won the Grammy Award in 1999, where the first to make the color an attitude sensation. I personally love the color just as much as the song and music video. Aerosmith made pink very rock 'n roll. The compiled photos illustrate a "lingo" of all sorts of ways to wear, flaunt, design, illuminate, and rock the color pink.

Not only the soft pink color, but an interesting and unexpected shape like these hearts can provide a romantic atmosphere.

A piece of colorful artwork can help make your look cohesive.

PINK OUT! ;)

Ur A Clever One!

2013-01-22T10:54:00.000-08:00

Frame It Tape by Urban Outfitters

...why didn't I think of that? Urban Outfitters still manages to stir my creative juices with product ideas like this "frame it tape". Professional Interior Designers might claim it lazy, tacky, cheap or worse, but that is exactly what I love about it...being a starving student and all. Let's face it, college students making it on their own in this crazy world don't have the time or enough coins in the piggy bank to design their dungeons. Break away from the Ikea people! Think outside the box with Urban Outfitters (pun intended). Frame out your life, and be clever minded about it. You still have the freedom to do so! Thanks again UO, for making my life beautifully easier!

I welcome your ideas for the use of this Frame It Tape in the comment box below!

Picasso: Dove of Peace

2012-10-06T06:12:00.000-07:00

“Everyone wants to understand art.
Why don’t we try to understand the song of a bird?
Why do we love the night, the flowers, everything around us,
without trying to understand them?
But in the case of a painting, people think they have to understand.
If only they would realize above all that an artist works of necessity,
that he himself is only an insignificant part of the world,
and that no more importance should be attached to him
than to plenty of other things which please us in the world”

Pablo Picasso

That's Questionable

2012-10-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

A question that sparks curiosities... Were advertisement and entertainment posters of the 19th century considered decorative art? Were they considered street art and did that mean graffiti which is equivalent to today's graffiti? Since they were a new form of art, what were the overall intentions and public opinions regarding them? Did they decorate the streets or pollute them?

Bloody Beautiful!

2012-09-29T01:57:00.000-07:00

In celebration for the season premier of DEXTER starting tomorrow night on Showtime, these wall murals scream bloody wonderful! Blood as an art form? Yes. Dexter is a blood splatter expert (among other things) and these murals by PIXERS are sure to make your walls come alive! The wallpaper graphics are a crossbreed of a Polanski horror film and a Pollock drip painting... horrifyingly genius.

PIXERS is a company that decided interior walls should be more than just a gallery space for famous history paintings (ahem...Mona Lisa). So, a team from London started making graphic images to display as wall murals. They showcase 20 million wall murals, prints, posters, and stickers on their website ranging from a variety of subjects for all ages. Wallpaper comes in 4 different types of installation, from easy self-adhesive to manual vinyl install... but don't worry because they even have a 'how to install' video for all types. There is also a program on their website that helps you view each mural in a room.

The best thing about this product is their Eco green printed stamp of approval.

I can't help but wonder what Dexter would say about this room...

Images via freshome design & architecture

"The Scam" A book poster

2012-09-28T14:41:00.001-07:00

What did it mean being a woman in Paris during the 19th century? How are the gender roles represented in art and are these representations accurate? The most interesting illustrations of Parisian life are the lithographic posters of advertisements attributed to Jules Cheret, the father of the poster. The 'real world' of bourgeois society had a clear distinction between genders and their roles in public and private spaces. Men had freedom to appear equally in both public and private areas, whereas women were subjected to a domestic and private role. It is of no surprise then to see women in the spotlight of most of the posters to feed the hunger of the male dominated voyeuristic public eye.

So, why do we see an equal number of men and women in this Jules Cheret poster? Still we need to notice that the prominent figure giving a squeakish smirk is female! Well, the French would understand from the title that this was an illustration for a book about people living in the fast lane written by Felicien Champsaur titled 'La Gomme' or a scam and le gommeux referring to swells or a cheap dandy... Well the dandies here are in their top hats frolicking around with women attached to their waists (prostitutes?), but who is deceiving who? That fiery redheaded female, tipping her feather hat, so much cleavage she could easily expose herself....but does she want to "expose" herself? We will never know unless we read the book!!!

Happy Weekend!

2012-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

https://www.facebook.com/urbanoutfitterseurope

The History of the Poster

2012-09-26T01:31:00.000-07:00

Where did the poster originate? How did it survive? Who were the Fathers of the poster, advertisements, and the art behind it? What were they advertising? What were the social and political issues during this time? What was the Belle Epoque?

All my questions are answered in this creatively illustrated video by Yaneff Designs.

Parisian Pastimes

2012-09-25T01:29:00.000-07:00

"Palais de Glace"

The French language sounds so elegant and yet whimsical at the same time. These 19th century posters can be defined in the same fashion. Jules Cheret and George Goursat were French artists who captured the Parisian atmosphere of ice skating during the 1900's, a popular pastime attributed to King Louis XVI. Posters were a way of advertising iceskating venues, such as Champs-Elysee, with fashionable high society women in the spotlight. Was this a device for merely rendering Parisian leisurely activities, or the dawn of high fashion advertisements?

(Jules Cheret)

Jules Cheret (1836-1932) was a master of using the lithograph technique in his posters as a way of showing sheer happiness and flighty movement of these women; characteristics that synchronize the vivacity of iceskating. These lively women iceskaters, however, are not only showing off their best sit spins and backwards crossovers, but also doing them dressed to the nines! The images are a clear illustration of 19th century's exquisite female performing everyday life with grace and beauty; a comparable image to today's fashionista's balletic walk down the high fashion streets of modern day Paris.

(Georges Goursat)

Georges Goursat (1863-1934) used a technique called pochoir, french for stencil, which is a labor intensive way of using cutouts to apply color by hand during the print making process. Instead of using warm colors like Cheret above to indicate a sense of warmth and happiness, Goursat creates a chilling atmosphere with cool grays and negative space to represent icey-whites. The joyfulness is still created by the S-curve of the woman skater facing away from the viewer as if she is finishing a swirly spin that we can follow by the carving of the ice below her. I think one of the main objectives of these posters is to entice the public into the spirited life of Parisians, especially during a time of female entertainers of Montmarte cabaret!

To Be Colorful

2012-09-18T01:19:00.004-07:00

Today... choose to be colorful! Not just muted or tinted, but bright, bold, and beautiful! Make a statement with striking hues that will cheer up your day. Don't be afraid to mix up your color wheel and do not feel like you have to match everything! Make it your own colorful creation. Start with an old chair and revamp it with new lustrous fabric...illuminate your windows even more with drapery to compliment the natural shining light...or if all else is done already, BE CREATIVE and paint your own masterpiece to set your walls ablaze!

What does is mean to be colorful? Be yourself!

Italian Desgin: Palazzo Gorgoni in Puglia

2012-08-23T02:06:00.001-07:00

Located in a 18th century city, Galatina, Italy, this charming Baroque palazzo exudes historic character, contemporary living and artistic touches. Palazzo Gorgoni features a grand entry courtyard, pool courtyard with hydromassage corner, roof top terrace with amazing views, wonderfully preserved marble staircase and architecture, contemporary steel kitchen, luxurious bedrooms and baths with charming artwork and much, much more!

OH! Not to mention that this one of a kind Italian palazzo is exclusively for rent! Think Puglia has all the details. It sleeps 16 people and ranges in price from $16,070. To me it looks well worth the price for a one of a kind Italian experience with 16 friends!

Images via 1kindesign

Buon Weekend!

2012-08-16T00:26:00.002-07:00

Off to visit a friend near the Amalfi Coast of Italy!

xoxo

Fashion: Michael Kors Fall 2012

2012-08-11T15:18:00.001-07:00

Fall Catalog 2012 via Michael Kors!

MK's twitter question...

Are you more on-the-go movie star or relaxed, rugged rocker?

Why not be both? I think every fashionista has their own need for a new edge whether it be movie star or rock star. Also check out MK's youtube video here! Be you, be a star.