I don't know about the rest of you but I am exceedingly thankful the last traces of "grunge" design are finally dying out. What a breath of fresh air to see white space again. I have been diving into a new project lately. While taking notes on a few EXTREMELY successful stores and their websites, I had a few thoughts to share... Things I found these sites and brands all have in common?
They are all modern yet interesting and artistically tasteful...
My take on all of it??
Retailers are making it very easy for the average person to incorporate bits of vintage, antiques, or art into their homes, even if they have never been collectors of this kind before. The Urban brand with stores such as Anthropologie have created a revolution of DIY - inspired by the green movement and fueling the current Pinterest phenomenon. They lend us clever ideas all wrapped up within their own marketing - making it so appealing that even the average non-artistic household has bought into this retail giant! We are obsessed with how this store has engaged the creative side of our brain. We make visits to Anthro not to buy anything at all; just to be re-inspired. Whether or not we create our own look-alike projects from random objects or we purchase Anthro's overpriced Volcano-sented candles ... they've got us.
Its a love-hate thing for me. I love the inspiration I glean by wandering the store however, I hate the millions of ideas that plague my brain, distracting me from the mounds of work patiently waiting for me. I love, yet hate the visions of grandeur that this little white washed and mult-patterned store builds in my already beleaguered mind. I attempt to hold back sudden bursts of, "I can TOTALLY make one of those!!" My head spins as I quickly look around to see if I am out of earshot of any employees looking annoyingly cute even though you know it took seven pieces of clothing to accomplish this one outfit and a startling $850 from their meager pay check. I snap a quick pic on my phone and walk away.
How are they doing this?
Notice they NEVER over design anything. It is the rough-mixed-with-refined that intrigues us.
Where is your inspirational place? What is it that drags you (and your wallet) into its intriguing doors? I'd love to hear!
Laura