Work Outdoors

Memorial Day isn’t actually the first day of summer (that is June 21) but today in Los Angeles it is a perfect sunny 70 degrees. It feels like everyone should be at the beach or hiking or at least outdoors. For those of us at our desks I’ve found two treehouse offices. I love the idea of working high above the garden surrounded by green. Below is a timber-lined office in Brentwood, Los Angeles designed by Rockefeller Partners Architects. (Photo by: Eric Staudenmaier. Via Dwell).

Peter Frazier, a customer experience consultant, built his own tree house office in the woods, below. You can see more on Peter’s Flickr stream. Via Home Design Find.

The Garage Conversion Continues

The Edison Bulb is the lighting equivalent of a 4-inch Christian Louboutin pump. A light is made for lighting. A shoe is made for walking. Neither the Edison nor Louboutin achieves its design function all that well. (Louboutin himself once told me that some of his shoes were made simply for wearing in bed.) However, both objects are brilliant at being beautiful. More on Louboutins another time, but let’s focus on how pretty these simple MIT Cage lights are from Schoolhouse Electric, in matte bronze and hanging from the pitched ceiling by a simple brown twisted cord. You can find the carbon-filament Edison bulbs at specialty lighting stores, where the clerk is likely to roll his or her eyes when you ask for them. But your eyes will thank you not only for the very soft, calming glow these bulbs cast but for their sheer beauty.

High Five

Our weekly trip around the web:
1. Belle Maison A blog by interior designer and retailer (Modern Chic Home) Julie Thigpen. Sometimes it is nice to immerse yourself in all things pretty. Where to start: Her home office posts, of course.

2. Unit Editions A very cool publishing house that puts out affordable design books – imagine that! It’s a collaboration between Tony Brook (Spin) and Adrian Shaughnessy (ShaughnessyWorks) and, yes, their site is beautifully designed. Where to start: The awesome “Your Studio” series for work spaces all over the world.

3. Unhappy Hipsters I know, I know…I wrote about this hilarious blog already – as did half of the blogosphere at the time. But it’s still going strong and it’s still laugh-out-loud funny. Where to start: At the top.

4. Swiss Miss Brooklyn-based designer and blogger extraordinaire, Tina Roth Eisenberg, produces a great daily stop for all things design. The blog just turned 5 (which is 50 in web years). Where to start: Interesting office space with an amazing shelf system.

5. Trendenser I can’t actually read this blog – it’s Swedish. But the pictures are enough to keep you coming back. Where to start: Today’s post starts with a bright white dining room  populated by Eames chairs.

The Garage Conversion: Storage

I love magazines, and I hold onto my favorites as if they were antiquarian books. I can always find inspiration leafing through a back issue of Vogue or Tatler, and I consult my library of back issues of Bon Appétit, Gourmet and Saveur almost daily for reference. I stocked up on these handsome Knuff magazine files at Ikea (two for $9.99) made of birch plywood. You can stain or paint them, but I love how they look untreated.

Inspiration: Illustrator Jordan Awan

Here is a slightly different take on our home office interview. Illustrator Jordan Awan drew his work space for us. I think it’s a nice change of pace. I’m a big fan of his work. Let me know what you think. Maybe more illos are called for!  Check out his work at Springtime Studio and his blog here.

1. How long have you worked from home? And where is home? I started doing freelance illustration upon graduating from Pratt Institute in 2007. I have an apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, that I share with my wife, Morgan Elliott, who is also an illustrator. I typically do editorial and print illustration for clients like The New Yorker, The New York Times, or McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, though I have also done work as different as designing billboards for Puma or drawing patterns for dishware.

2. Describe your style? How would you define your aesthetic? That’s tough! I probably need a few drinks to answer this accurately. I’m typically attracted to an essentialized aesthetic, which is what I aim for in my illustration as well. I try to make every line count; no decoration or superfluous marks are allowed. The same goes for my living and workspace, I suppose!

3. As an illustrator with multiple clients how do you keep your office organized? I’m thinking here of the physical space but also your computer. Are there any particular programs you find really useful? Living in New York, I (along with everyone else in the city) am forced to make every square foot of my apartment count. My poor office shelving is working overtime to help me keep supplies, sketchbooks, papers, and everything else in order. A system that works for me is: whatever I’m not using at any given moment immediately goes back into storage. This helps me keep everything organized while at the same time opening up my workspace. As for my computer, I have developed a system where work is categorized first by client, then by year, then by assignment. Each assignment folder has all the reference, sketches, versions and finals.

4. Is there any piece of home office furniture you covet? I’ve always wanted an Eames Storage Unit. It would make organizing papers and supplies so much easier. I also need to bite the bullet and get a laptop at some point soon!

5. What is a desk accessory you can’t do without? I have a vintage Dazor drafting lamp that I’ve come to depend on. It’s a classic, the same kind that illustrators have used since the 1940s. It gives off the crispest light that is perfect for keeping my eyes focused on the detail of what I’m drawing; it’s also articulated in such a brilliant way that I can get light from any direction.

The other office item that I can’t do without is this turn of the century drafting table, which was manufactured at an engineering school in Worcester, Massachusetts. The angle of the top is adjustable, as is the height, making it perfect for every medium. Mine was a gift from Morgan’s father, who remembers his father (an illustrator) working on one exactly like it. Back in the 40s and 50s, there was a resurgence of interest in this kind of classic drafting table; apparently, all the young illustrators in New York and Westport, Connecticut would use them and refer to it as “working on the board.”

6. What would you change about your own workspace? I’m actually pretty satisfied with my workspace; I think that in New York, once you spend a few years doing paintings while sitting on your bed or hunched over the kitchen sink, you’re thankful for even an empty corner! But if I could change anything, more space would be nice. And yes, I did once spend a year in a studio apartment doing paintings over the kitchen sink.

7. What do you most love about your space? I get great sunlight and fresh air through two big windows. That makes such a huge difference when I’m working! It also allows me to have plants in my work area, which makes the space more inviting.

8. What inspires you? Oh, anything, everything… mostly drawing in my sketchbook or reading fiction and philosophy. Going out for long walks in the city never fails to inspire me, too.

Unplggd: Desk Style

“Canadian designer Kitmen Keung sent us his newest design (we also are quite fond of his Long-D Dual Time Desktop Alarm Clock design), the A4 Mouse Pad. Made from siliconethe A4 is one part mouse pad and another part storage surface for a variety of home office supplies, such as clips, erasers and pens. The design offers a slightly inwards corrugated sloping edge surface which also happens to create a handsome minimal detail to any desktop.

Colors announced are platinum gray, charcoal gray and tangerine orange in a matte finish. We’re still awaiting word back about availability and pricing, but we hope to nab one ourselves, since we find ourselves in need of a mousepad ourselves…might as well be something as decor friendly as the A4.

By Gregory Han”

The Garage Conversion: Unpacking

Today is the day! My new George Nelson Swag Leg Work Table will be delivered any second now. I’ve been frantically unpacking all week—stacks and stacks of books and magazines, which is a real challenge because I’m genetically predisposed to alphabetize books within their subject categories and organize magazines chronologically. In the unpacking process, I’ve uncovered some real gems like a favorite Lee Friedlander poster from the MoMA exhibit in 2005 and a 1960s Gucci portfolio of my dad’s, which he gave me when I started college. Here it sits patiently on a white leather Eames Aluminum Group chair, awaiting the arrival of the new table..

The Playlist: Lulu Powers

Los Angeles-based chef and caterer-to-the-stars Lulu Powers is out to remind people that entertaining is supposed to be fun—not a chore. Her new book Lulu Powers Food to Flowers aims to inspire readers to enjoy themselves alongside their dinner guests (it’s a party, after all), so it’s no surprise that the playlist she created for us is lively, energetic—and would pair perfectly with her Ginger-Lime Cocktail (take a listen, then try the recipe here).

What do you listen to while you work? When I’m working, I love to listen to upbeat music. My tastes are very eclectic—I could be listening to anything from Elton John and Diana Ross to Linkin Park and Lady Gaga.

How do you listen? I mostly listen to my iPod through my home stereo or sometimes through my computer.

Do you have any favorite music websites? I like Pandora, iTunes, and kcrw.com (especially Eclectic24).

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste? My husband, who is very into music, knows my taste and always suggests things. Susan Mazo, a dear friend of mine who works for Warner Music Group, always has great recommendations. And every radio station I listen to—if I hear a song I like, I find out who the artist is and put it on Pandora. I also may hear a good mix in someone’s house and ask, “Who is this??”

Does music influence your work? I love “happy” music—fun, fun! I want my work to put a smile on my clients’ faces, like I would a friend coming for dinner. They walk in the door, they hear fun, happy, upbeat music, you give them a cocktail, and they’re bound to have a great time…

Read on for Lulu’s playlist

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Heather’s Garage Conversion

What was the most challenging aspect to the remodel? Hands down, the garage doors. We live in one of the most historically intact neighborhoods in the country, and so when selecting doors, it was crucial to preserve the visual integrity of our 1920s cottage (yes, 1920s qualifies as “historic” in Los Angeles). But try finding a good-looking carriage door that doesn’t cost the moon and stars for your garage. It’s harder than you think!

So our contractor, Billy Hartman, built it. He had a welder make a metal frame, which he then covered with wood. I ordered some cast-iron straps and pulls from House of Antique hardware. And for paint, the color idea came to me while I was sitting on our front steps getting ready to go for a long run to clear my head. Slate blue! The color is Benjamin Moore Affinity #495 Azores. The dreamy cream trim around the door is a custom color and we will be repainting all the wood trim on the house this gorgeous hue next month. Also, the dingy Navajo White currently on the exterior stucco will also be repainted next month in a heavenly warm gray. And so the love affair with paint continues…

David Airey on Working From Home

5 years ago brand identity designer David Airey took the plunge and went freelance (the view below is from his Edinburgh, Scotland studio). This month he marked his 5th anniversary with 15 pieces of advice for those thinking of shifting gears and working from home. While the tips are certainly slanted to designers, there is lots of pertinent general advice so I thought I’d share the post in it’s entirety.

“This month brought with it my five-year anniversary as a self-employed graphic designer, so I’m taking the opportunity to offer 15 pieces of advice to those thinking of “going it alone.

1. Look at the big picture Creating a modern business plan will help you think through the hard issues.

2. Tell your friends and family about your self-employment You never know what contacts they might have. Those close to you will want to help.

3. You will lose potential clients because your pricing is too high But also because it’s too low. Whether you like it or not, the rates you set will immediately give others a perception about the quality of your design work.

4. Don’t stress about pricing Design pricing is something independent graphic designers struggle with at some point. The best way to learn is through experience, and remember, you can always negotiate your price down from your initial quote, but never up, so if in doubt aim high.

5. You will make mistakes We all do. Learn from them, and move on.

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