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Historical architecture inspiration.

There are more gorgeous houses, cottages, cabins and fishing shacks in Beaufort than I’ve ever seen anywhere else in the world. As always, pulling a few ideas from them to take back to camp… (sort of a holiday- interest board for future projects).  Old ivy on masonry- nothing could be prettier.  Weathered cedar shingles. (Hmmm- possibly reclad an old bldg and make it a new sports equipment shed?) The inside of a post office that was converted into a marketplace- their bathrooms where so simple + humble + perfect. Love the large del-style wall tile. (Maybe for the kitchen project…

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Some vacation inspiration to take back to the cabins….

 There’s nothing like a holiday that inspires you to look at things a little differently- the southern coastal islands are dotted with seaside fishing cottages, cedar-shingled boat houses & a rich layered history of generations of oyster factories. (So don’t be surprised if you see a bit more navy gingham, roped handrails, taxidermy fish and white wainscoting at camp next time you’re up for a visit)!  Charlie perched on a dock fish cleaning station. (We want one of these) A local (and our busboy) at one of the oldest family companies in the area ‘Hudsons’. Hudson’s kayak racks were impressive…

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TRNK-NY visits camp

They came from J.Crew & Armani then started their own gig, hit the road, traveling the country seeking out makers & artists, so we were excited that they wanted to add us to the ‘visit’ list. about TRNK: We tell the stories of men we admire – real men who’ve created spaces that they proudly call home. We make these stories interactive, allowing readers to discover product inspired by the person and space.We sell products with integrity, and share the stories of their makers. Meet  TARIQU & NICK:“We are design lovers and urban explorers. After beginning our careers in the…

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girlcrush.

I just found a new blog (to me) that is so sweet.‘birdie blue’. — Voted number one in the POPSUGAR creative moms blog. She shoots, she writes, she has a freakishly adorable house and daughter.I feel equal parts envy and urgency to go organize my junk drawers (well, lets just say it. every room in my house is a junk drawer.) Check out her post on (gulp) both my books- she has such a loyal following.God bless you, ladies! xocharliefrankiet + d

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100 year old Chicago Hardware store

Tucked just under the train tracks 1 block east of Lake street-in the meat packing district-is a teensy hardware store that is untouched by time.Rubber boots to shovels, half of their stock has been on the shelf for (what appears to be)several decades at least. It reminds me of my dad’s garage when we were kids growing up in Beardstown, Illinois.It was called “Surratt’s Auto Service”… and had a similiar patina. If you consider a thick coat of dust patina I hope they never change.

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Brooklyn Love Affair Part 5: TOMMY GUNS

NEXT STOP: Tommy Guns  A museum of epic proportions. My iphone pix will not do this place justice.  (see their gallery shots at bottom). First off, the owner- Russell Manly (i mean, how could that name be any more perfect?) is a complete gentleman. We stumbling in, and found that we could not leave. He’s english, looks like a Harley Gang member, and is an insanely talented artist. the space is like walking back in time. a barbershop specifically- circa 1920.  it’s outfitted with everything period.  (down to the cash register) He sells new old stock toiletries that you cannot…

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Brooklyn Love Affair Part four: THE LIBRARY

NEXT!  The Brooklyn Art Library. This is the library that houses all of the amazing volumes of sketchbooks that have been created by the traveling art journals send round the world. the final resting place for amazing art in the form of collage, painting, sketching.  We’ve had a couple of these journals make their way to our annual Art Camps, but I could never have been prepared for what we witnessed when we walked through these doors. Thousands of books to explore. we could have moved in. some snaps from our visit: some examples of some of the sketches within:…

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