PANTONE, POM POMS AND FEATHERS

I spent most of my weekend locked up by myself working on some new Hysteric Haus designs. It was pretty frustrating, but I was able to come up with sketches of some new stuff. Picking colors is always the hardest part..there are so many possibilities! Sometimes the Pantone book makes it more difficult….

I did happen to notice that my nail polish, “Did It On ‘Em” by OPI is a close match to Pantone 381 U.

Playing with color combinations.

I like to use pom poms as a color reference due to their texture. They can help me visualize how something may look in material form, as opposed to a coated Pantone chip.

I have also been using feathers to help me see color in a more textural way. Plus, it makes things more exciting!

LISTENING TO COLOR

Figure at Night Guided by the Phosphorescent Tracks of Snails

Joan Miro 1940

I’ve been listening to classical music lately during my hellish commutes through Southern California. I find it turns an average, uninteresting drive into an epic journey through time.  I live in a fantasy land in my brain and orchestrated music, classical or not,  always gets my imagination flowing. A mild form of synesthesia kicks in and sounds turn into colors and colors turn into feelings. It’s quite overwhelming at times; but awesome nonetheless.

On my drive the other day, listening to  KUSC 91.5, they played Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Being a  mild Woody Allen fan, I instantly thought of the opening scene from Manhattan. Once I got over that imagery, as cliché as it sounds, I got lost in the music. The moodiness of the composition evoked  shades of blue, violets and grays.

This  got me thinking about music in relation to our designs for Hysteric Haus. So I asked myself: If my brand were a musical act, who would it be? What does Hysteric Haus sound like?

  

Organized chaos comes to mind. Chaos along the lines of Boredoms, OOIOO, Deerhoof, M.I.A. .

Experimental/psychedelic/tribal/colorful cacophony.

Maybe that’s a bit ambitious-but I like the way it sounds.

INSPIRATIONAL VIDEOS

Japanese artist Shojono Tomo has a crazy, colorful and youthful design aesthetic. This interview by Tokyo Fashion takes a look into her studio as she discusses her works and new found fandom in the United States.

THIS IS MY DREAM COME TRUE. Tilt’s “Panic Room” at the Au Vieux Panier Hotel.  The room is their canvas…so awesome and SUCH attention to detail for what, at first glance, appears to be a chaotic mess.

Check out what inspires Amy Phamous’ style in the latest episode of The Fashion Statement

THE HYSTERIC HAUS BOOTH @ UNIQUE LA

We were very pleased with our booth this time around….it was very bright, open and textural.  AND we had plastic, wood and fuzzy walls!

Hysteric Haus picture frames debuted at this show…people liked them-we had to keep replenishing our stock!

The pillows really pop against the white walls. Our super sexy white flooring also does wonders for the overall effect.

It’s true! Our products are made locally with lots of love.

Lucky cats always travel with us.

Plastic Surgery sold out at the show! More will be produced within the next few weeks.

ALLEN, KEATON, PERRIAND AND PROUVE

Antony chair Jean Prouve 1954

 table Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouve 1956

This Sunday night on PBS, Robert Weide’s American Masters – Woody Allen: A Documentary premiers.

Though I am not a fanatic, I definitely went through the phase within the last few years of watching as many of his films as possible . They always make me so sad. Sad because his films are stories about people and people are such complex and sensitive beings.

During the height of my interest in Allen’s work; I attended a field trip with my “Survey of Architecture and Interior Design” class to view the works of French designers, Charlotte Perriand and Jean Prouve. I immediately fell in love with their work.  Though my style tends to be colorful and in-your-face, I have such an appreciation for clean, simple design.

While the docent at the Gagosian Gallery  was speaking about some particular piece, I hear this loud, pretty much obnoxious clicking sound coming from the mouth of someone standing next to me.  Finally, I look over to see what this person was doing…and it was Diane Keaton. Frumpy black trench coat and all. She continued on the tour with our small group…and then disappeared when it ended, before I could say something-anything at all to her. But WTF would I have said anyway?!

The point of the post is this:  Woody Allen makes me think of Diane Keaton who reminds me of the work of Charlotte Perriand /Jean Prouve, which reminds me how much I love design, which excites me and motivates me to keep working.

And, I’m going to watch the documentary.

ONE DAY I WILL OWN AN EAMES LOUNGE CHAIR

I’m so excited to see this Eames documentary! They played such a major role in 20th century design through their furniture, films and passion.

Eames: The Architect and the Painter opens in LA Novemeber 18th!

Of course, their most iconic piece is the Lounge Chair…it’s beautiful.  The process of making one of these chairs is fascinating and labor intensive. It’s cool to see things made by hand, with such caution and attention to detail.

This is my dream chair…the one Vitra released a few years ago reinterpreted by Hella Jongerius. The colors and the materials on this is perfection. Walnut, white and chrome. Super sexy and quite a feminine contrast to the original. His and hers Eames Lounge Chairs? YES!!!!