beauty of disconnection

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh

Sometimes we take a while to figure things out, it might even be a few years or a decade. It's always interesting to me to see common denominators in various media, and in chats with friends. A while ago I wrote about our increasing difficulty to focus on anything for a longer period of time as we are distracted pretty much every minute. Today I read a post on Ivan Campuzano's blog who did an interview with Leo Babauta, creator of zen habits and mnmlist about a book about the VERY thing. It was written publicly, online, in small bursts, with feedback from readers throughout the writing process. I will share it on the right on my blog for you to read by downloading it for free (also you can find the link by clicking on the picture above).

I recognize myself in Leo's words here: "By focusing on one thing at a time, small changes, little baby steps, I’ve been able to change a bunch of habits: I quit smoking, started running, began eating healthier, started waking earlier, and became more organized. And I’ve accomplished a lot more, taking on one project at a time and using the power of focus and the power of play to accomplish things" How right you are Leo!

One of the things Leo mentions early on too is how beautiful it is to disconnect from the hubbub. I have found since we moved onto the farm out into the Wop Wops (a.k.a. middle of nowhere) that it's been easy and addictive to disconnect from the City, work and any general conundrum. It creates peace and the ability to find balance. My husband has found the same. We could not picture ourselves living in a city or town again, nor would we want to. We certainly feel blessed with where we are living.

Solitude can be a rare thing nowadays as it's harder to do and worse! anti-social. However, by choosing to pull the plug on social get togethers and remembering who you are and what you set out to do, it can be a very healthy thing instead. It is positive to meet and see uplifting people from time to time, just allow for time for yourself too. Claim your space to breathe and think, because trust me, others will always find something to distract you, whether they do it lovingly or not.

"This stuff works. And it’s tremendously liberating to discover that you can find focus, you can simplify, and you can change your life. - Leo"

it's a kind of

Love.

The word is out: there is not just a few kinds of lovin' heck no there's HEAPS! Check it out here Extremely funny.

What happened to old fashioned "I just love ya babe" and that'd be that? No that is OLD school now. Yep. Get used to it. And there's so many varieties now to "name" the type of relationship. Just recently Lady Gaga has entered into a Spiritual Ceremony. The plot thickens.

source of link: fastcompany with thanks.

fun works

We usually expect Design to be practical, functional. What about another aspect that is important? The fun to use it, the sheer beauty of the design. It turns out that our brain is wired in such a fashion that we can be more creative, and better problem solvers, if we are happy. So it also pays to use design that makes us happy.

I'm a big fan of having fun. What makes you happy? As Don Norman puts it: "so that's the new me, I only say positive things."

interior

It's always good to gain a fresh perspective. In this case quite literally: coffee shop D'Espresso in Manhattan.

Source: here

Interview

Interview

Shauntelle Hamlett of the wonderful interior blog A Beautiful Abode, has done an interview with me a while ago that has been published last Friday: oh my goodness! I'm sharing it with you here (slight delay on account of visual layout hiccups):

INSPIRED BY LIFE: AN INTERVIEW WITH BONVIVANT DESIGN’S MIRJAM SPRONK

Mirjam and Nico of Bonvivant Design

I have a treat for you today– a new interview!

I actually virtually met interior stylist and designerMirjam Spronk of Bonvivant Desig

almost exactly a year ago via Twitter. Immediately I was drawn to Mirjam’s unique 

style and, most specifically, to the way she draws inspiration from her New Zealand 

surroundings and incorporates it into her design products.

Originally I intended to publish this interview earlier in this year but ya’ll know how life

has a way of derailing your best intentions, right?  I’m glad that I am finally able to 

publish Mirjam’s interview now and I know that you guys will find it just as interesting

as I did!

Although I’m familiar with your background from reading your blog, Mindpopsicles, 

would you share a little bit about yourself with my readers?  Are you originally from 

New Zealand?  How did you go from earning a degree in Mixed Media to becoming an

interior stylist and product designer?

I was born in the Netherlands and lived there most of my life. My husband and I emi-

grated to New Zealand in 2002. We fell completely in love with the vast spaces, 

abundant nature and the great variety in scenery. The people are friendly and helpful, 

still having that trusting trait that the Dutch society seems to have lost due to its 

‘hardening up’ as people live so close together.

After 5 years of study with a BA of mixed media, I had set up my own design studio; 

work consisted mostly of graphic design work with incorporated illustration: I designed

logos, brochures, stationary, leaflets and book covers. I also had a stint at a publisher

firm and a Real Estate agency before heading out to Down Under.

My first job in New Zealand was apple picking. This is a great idea for meeting the 

most interesting (local) people, building stamina and losing weight. I have fond memo-

ries of that time, even though it was very hard work! But being outdoors, in the most 

beautiful scenery that the Otago region has to offer, all that sweating and cursing made

it absolute gold.  It was a very de-urbanizing experience and an eye opener too.

Beautiful New Zealand

copyright photo: Nico Vos

After that we traveled New Zealand extensively and decided to head up to the biggest 

city on the north island, Auckland. I found work as a sales person working for a furniture

 and interior accessory store and after 3 weeks I was asked to become the branch

 manager. I worked my hardest and learned a lot. Not only was the styling in the store

 and advising customers on their interior a learning curve, so was dealing with 3 staff. 

Acquiring managing skills through experience taught me many things about New 

Zealand culture and people in general. It also gave me experience by trial and error on

what works in interiors, and what doesn’t.

When we moved South, I found work as a branch manager for a furniture and interior

design store.  Styling interiors comes naturally to me and I really enjoy it.  My boss used

to say that good interior design comes from breeding it in to you, not from going to 

school.  I certainly think an education helps, but you do learn most from experience, 

training your eyes on shape, form and designing in 3d.

Hemptech "Cows and Couches" Fabric

When I visited your website, Bonvivant Design, I was immediately drawn to the fun

“cows and couches” pillows and was excited to discover that the fabric was your original

design.  I’m always talking to my readers about learning to draw inspiration from any and

everywhere.  You definitely epitomize that idea in the way you use your natural environ-

ment to inspire designs for both your interior products and your jewelry line… Can you 

share with us your process of moving from inspiration to an actual design?  Does this 

process change for you depending on the project (i.e. is it different for creating jewelry 

versus styling rooms versus fabric)? If so, how do you approach these different types of

 projects?

The reason I started (graphic/product) designing again was because it is my passion 

and I was missing it in my daily work. I am a creator, so whether this is 3d (interiors) or

 2d (graphic/product design), they both have their place in my world.  My predicament is 

that I have too many ideas!

From inspiration to actual design– there are two ways of going about this.  If I receive a 

brief then I stick to that. If it’s free range , I can bounce ideas around and try different 

things.

Designing for www.hemptech.co.nz has been fun as Lynne lets me run riot with New 

Zealand based themes. We simply started talking about it one day and the fact they are

an eco/sustainable New Zealand fabric manufacturer gave me the angle for ‘celebrating

 kiwi identity’. It’s a niche and it’s brilliant.

Drawing Inspiration from Nature

I have an affinity with New Zealand nature so that’s what I started off with.  I basically 

sketch on the computer using Adobe Illustrator. I also utilize what I may have brain-

stormed around with before.  For the Hemptech project, I started by drawing a con-

ventional sofa. I was thinking of an ad I’d seen that had a sofa sitting in a field of grass.  

New Zealanders have a great passion for living on their deck in summer.  Looking at 

the sofa on the screen it reminded me of a cow illustration I had done some months 

before. I opened the file, copied the cow into the sofa file and worked from there.

The zebra was a trial and error as I wanted to introduce an exotic element.  Most Kiwis

in their early 20s depart for what they call their big O.E. (Overseas Experience) or they 

will go in their 50s.  Many of my customers tell stories about Italy and France, but also 

about Africa.  Hence the zebra pattern implemented in the ‘Cows and Couches’ design.

My design work has foundation and it has reason, but a lot of it is playing around. One 

idea leads to something else, and I like a dose of humour in my work. Life doesn’t have

to be so serious. Why do we let it become like that? So my design process is a big jump

and skip in my brain. First I have the parameters, then the fluffing and playing, and then

the reality check to see if what I set out to do has been achieved.

Bird of Paradise Pendant - Bonvivant Designs

My jewellery work is again celebrating that New Zealand flavour. I also design 

fun things that I like for myself, for example an eccentric peacock based on a real life

one that friends in the Netherlands still have. The design process usually has me 

looking up wildlife pictures and information online, checking the anatomy, what 

characteristics it has. I aim to hone in on the specific elements that underline New 

Zealand based design. As my life is here, I don’t see the point of incorporating Dutch

elements, although I’m a huge fan of Droog design and Marcel Wanders.  They too 

possess whimsical and surprising elements. I love that. Bold and strong: great 

impact and massive wow factor. I guess I never was one for subtleties.

People are often hesitant to start creating living environments that they really love 

because they’re afraid they will make a mistake.  Have you ever started a project and 

felt it was headed in the wrong way?  How did you handle that challenge?  What 

advice would you give people to overcome this fear?

Yes I have started out on projects in my early days where due to lack of experience I 

had to muddle my way through. Of course I wasn’t very proud of that, but one has to 

work with what one can. Usually I would see later where I could have done better, but 

we always work with what we have available to us. So don’t beat yourself up! I think the 

interesting thing is that whatever you feel comfortable with, or what you like is a great 

starting point. Hold on to what you love. Don’t throw out important story pieces just 

because they clash with the latest trendy sofa. Something may not appeal to for 

example a friend of yours, but it’s confidence that makes it all work.

Seating Area designed by Mirjam Spronk

I suggest what really helps is taking magazines and simply cut out what you like: work

per room, so have a binder that contains tabs and sleeves in which you can insert pictures 

of what you like. From say 6-10 pages you can then deduce what jumps out and what 

describes your taste. You can make a list of what needs to be done in the room: do you 

really need to paint? Is it worth wallpapering? If you got very snazzy furniture or Art it may pay

 to forgo elaborate wallpaper altogether! Generally I would say: the walls are the least of 

your worries unless the existing walls can’t be cleaned or have ugly wallpaper: the key is 

to be aware of what draws the eye and work on that. Do you have a very busy carpet? 

Take it out, there might be a great floor underneath. Otherwise cover it with a plain coloured

 carpet, which is easier on the eyes.

Here in the States, we’ve really been suffering from the recession.  I imagine that this has 

probably touched you and your clients down in New Zealand as well… Would you share 

with us your top three tips for cutting costs while meeting your design goals?

1) Re-upholster. One of the biggest things I have discovered this year has been that 

re-upholstery jobs have shot through the roof!  If you are considering doing a recover, check

 whether your chair or sofa is worth salvaging.  It may be worth buying a quality piece that 

is newly made if it costs only a fraction more than a re-upholstery job.

2) Auctions!  I’m not sure if you have quirky auction places in the US but you sure have a 

few here in Dunedin.  At these auctions you can get lucky and pick up a few pieces (that you

decided on beforehand so you don’t get carried away!) If no auction rooms are available, try 

E-Bay. I would use auctions or E-Bay to find second hand drapes for bedrooms or studies 

for example. That will save you quite a bit. Also lamps are great to find on these sites, or 

even wallpaper for a great hallway.

3) Save before you buy! It makes sense to get a few quality pieces and work with what you
have already. Quality lasts and you will see the difference!  Make a plan to get a piece in say

6-12 months and put away a certain amount a week in a separate bank account that will go 

towards your interior. You’ll be surprised how small amounts per week add up over 6 

months!

Living Room designed by Mirjam Spronk

Final question… and it really relates back to the idea of people being afraid of making

mistakes in their homes.  I think a lot of people settle for “safe” looks in their homes 

because they don’t have confidence or trust in their own design eye.  People will buy 

matched sets from some retail store and live in homes that don’t exactly reflect their 

spirits because they don’t believe they can buy individual pieces that speak to them and 

actually pull a cohesive look together.  What advice would you give a person in regards to 

learning how to develop and trust their own sense of style and design?

I still remember seeing this old lady getting on the bus on my way to high school. She 

was wearing this shiny leather coat that was very trendy, a bright pink scarf and a cooky 

hat. Now, everyone in the bus was staring at her and there were some snorts from the 

young crowd, but everyone followed her later getting off the bus. Why? Because she had 

the guts to go bold.  It’s all about attitude. If you genuinely want to create a wonderful 

unique interior that is yours, then go with your instinct.

I will tell you an interior design secret that I discovered many years ago through hard work:

• if in doubt, whatever you do in a room, if you stick to a 3 colour rule you will 

have to  try very hard to go wrong.

For some reason the magical 3 brings harmony and it’s a great rule of thumb. If the sofa is

brown leather, the drapes are blue and the rug is plum, you can bring in orange vases for 

example. But not green as well.  That makes seating one colour (1), drape or rug as another

since blue and plum are in the same family (2), and accessories another colour (3). I’m 

counting table lamps etc as being part of the accessories. Now, if you have paintings or art 

work it would help that the 3 colours are in there or the largest part in there. Naturally this is 

an over simplified solution, but it is definitely harder to pull of a dazzling interior with more
colours then 4. It takes quite a bit of experience to get it right.

Bedroom styled by Mirjam Spronk

My other rule of thumb is group the ornaments and declutter.

I have seen numerous fireplaces with dotted bits n bobs on the mantel piece. There is 

a place for knick knacks, but I would not suggest having them scattered through out the 

house. Try to group them, either on one shelf or on a hall table in, for example, one 

dominant colour way. This creates peace and stability. Too many distractions on the eye 

creates un-ease. For the same reason de-cluttering is vital. A more zen like approach 

creates peace. Clarity in the home brings clearness in the mind they say and I have to 

agree. You can still have fun in a room and add zing, panache and vavoom, just try and 

keep it organised in some fashion so you can take in the room in one swoop and not 

hurt your eyeballs with too many distractions.

Dutch Design Inspired Animal Lamps

Dutch design: by Moooi design

Finally, have fun! Decorating or styling your home can provide tons of energy and 

satisfaction! Try not to do it all in one week or a month–good things take time and it’s quite

alright spreading your renovation out over a period of time.

*********

You can learn more about Mirjam by visiting her design site, Bonvivant Designs or by 

reading her blogMindpopsicles (which is a great place to find inspiration and positive mojo 

when you’re having a bad day!).  You can also follow Mirjam on Twitter.  I hope you’ll leave a

comment here to help me show our appreciation for Mirjam taking the time to share with us– 

and there’s an extra big THANK YOU to her from me for being so kind and understanding 

when this interview wasn’t published any where near the time I told her it would be!

’til next time, happy budget decorating!

xoxo – Shauntelle

Thanks everyone for making the time to visit Shauntelle's beautiful blog and Shauntelle for her time!

the conversation?

Did you ever think of yourself as being amusing? We forget sometimes. Life is so serious and all.

(image by Gapingvoid)


Of course the more serious we take ourselves the less fun we are likely to be. Ah. Yes quite a revelation. I didn't mean that we have to be entertaining all the time by any means, but by golly we might as well be pleasing. I mean why not? (Apparently researchers have developed the means to automatically find "trolls" on internet posts who are in need of anger-management: read here)


In several conversations with (online) friends and the hubbaliscious, a trend of what-we-would-like-to-see versus oh-I-actually-meant-that and yikes-I'd-rather-be-doing-this-instead was popping up. Our abilities to "play nice" are getting a bit frayed. If on twitter we can only have 140 characters and on Facebook a bit more, the fact that we reduce the message by shortening it doesn't necessarily imply that the reader "gets" what we're broadcasting. Not anymore. And also: if we are feeling frustrated, tired or what-have-you, why take it out on other people?


Most people are in a hurry. The "information absorption rate" is dropping. The ability to cope and showing signs of irritability have increased a lot across the board. So, do we still have time for each other? Can we make time to "chill out"? Ah yes. Prioritizing. And saying: no. And thank you. Please?


As Fastcompany puts it: "Constant connectivity means we are constantly distracted. It's now difficult to be truly alone. As a result we never get a chance to think deeply about who we are and where we are going. This links to Nicholas Carr's point in The Shallows that our thinking is becoming hurried, cursory and superficial. Interesting counter-point here. We have never been so connected and yet U.S. research is showing that we have never felt so alone.

24/7 access to everything is creating a culture that values immediacy over and above almost everything else. We can no longer wait for things to happen. Again, this can give rise to a lack of rigour and reflection but it can also cause serious mistakes. I'd predict a single-tasking movement as a reaction against multi-tasking.

Digitalisation is creating too much information and choice. There is now so much to consider that we take shortcuts to knowledge."

(except taken from post: Mind map of the Digital Age.)

So, all the more reason to unhook ourselves from the web, and return to the actual world. My favorite pastime is at home, sitting in a grass field in the sun in my farm overalls, watching the goats and highland calfs gently chew their cud, not showing a sign of worry in the world. They look content, calm and healthy. Escapism or not, it beats playing Farmville on Facebook any day of the week.

moooi

Dutch design company Moooi (which translates from Dutch to beautiful) has just opened their new store in London! From the website:


"The World of Moooi will be revealed to London under the creative direction of designer and Cofounder Marcel Wanders. The new canal side residence will be located at The Dock’s distinguished White Building, a Grade II listed stucco house dating back to the late 1900s. Joining Moooi in the 250m² ground floor space, is Dutch resin flooring specialist Senso, who will be marking this event with the international debut of a unique range of flooring designed by Marcel Wanders, with a print true to the style of Wanders’ ‘new classics’, giving the spectator a playful three-dimensional illusion.

The permanent showroom will house Moooi’s design icons in coexistence with the new products launched at the Salone del Mobile 2010 in Milan. The introductions include the new Monster chair by Marcel Wanders, the tenderness and grace of Nika Zupanc’s 5 O’ Clock table & chairs and the exotic elegance of the Emperor lamp by Chinese designers Neri & Hu – all seen for the first time in the UK. Amongst the iconic products on display will be the extraordinary Smoke collection by Maarten Baas, the inventive Brave New World lamp by the young British duo Fresh West, Skai table tops as an addition to Marcel Wanders’ successful Container Table collection and the soft glow of Raimond Puts’ LED lamp, last year’s star."


or simply put: isn't it awesome?

www.moooi.com

text from website: http://www.abitare.it/highlights/la-casa-bianca-di-moooi/