Another Welcome Addition

As I reported last December, CB2 landed in our neighborhood, brightening the corner of 31st and Hennepin with its window displays of home décor.  Just a few months later, I'm happy to tell you yet another retailer has joined the party.  Jonathan Adler, a celebrity designer known for his cheery and fun furnishings and accessories, quietly opened his latest retail outpost on Lake Street, between Holmes and Humboldt Avenues.

Yep.  That's two blocks away from our place.  Just like CB2.  Me likey!

Of course, I had to venture in and check out the wares.  The space, like his designs, is bright and colorful.  Packed with all sorts of fun finds, the room feels like the perfect place for a happy hour.  Sipping Kir Royales while relaxing in one of the many fab chairs and couches - sign me up!  In fact, when we stopped in on Saturday afternoon, the friendly salespeople handed us mini-cupcakes!

As usual, you'll get a better idea of the new digs by seeing my photos, so I'll zip it and show you the scene:

The entry lures you right in:

The store is pet-friendly, which is evident not just by some of the items, but also by the cute pooch hiding in the background:

I did a little research on the website and it sounds like JA got his creative start with pottery, some of which you can see below, and many of which are on display throughout the store.

"Whoooo" could go cuckoo in this store and snap up multiple things?

While perusing everything, we ran into our friend, Ini.  He's probably the most stylish (and style-setting) guy I know, and a total sweetheart.  He also owned the late and much-loved Ivy boutique.  I can only hope he'll return to the retail world someday soon.  Damn, I miss that store!  Here, Ini (left) and my DH take a break from shopping.  Two handsome men in some equally handsome chairs:

Speaking of handsome, I'm already coveting this great couch:

Here's a snap of the couch from the website.  And look, Minneapolis store - now open!  Indeed it is!

I'll take the cream chair and ottoman while I'm at it:

As you can see, Jonathan Adler's newest location is a spot where I could part with a good chunk of change.  His designs are fresh and different from the other stores around here, and it adds to the great mix of businesses.  What's nice is you can buy just one piece, yet still change up your dining table/shelves/odd corner in the bedroom completely with that sole purchase.  Or, heh, you can go wild and get that couch.  And chair.  And ottoman.  And...

Welcome to the neighborhood, and thanks for the enabling :)

**P.S.   In the very small event that JA is himself reading this little post, you've got to answer a question for me...  are you actually a Rush fan (your "About" section on the website details your choice of shirt while doing summer camp pottery)?  Because this Rush fan would love to know.

Clothes? What clothes?

With all the retailing stuff that I get, whether via email or catalogs, it's not unusual for me to sometimes like the setting better than whatever the model is wearing.  Sometimes I like the furniture, other times it might be the whole room arrangement.  Maybe this is because I'm an architect and design buff, but I suspect that's a stupid assumption.  I'm sure many people can appreciate the decor without having gone through the torture of art/architecture/design school.  I hear life is peachy for you first years in the JD program ;)

Regardless of your college studies, I'm sure we can agree that the backdrop matters as much as the pantsuit, stilettos or to-the-floor sequin dress on display.  Anthropologie seems to favor that disheveled European hamlet world, while Macy's prefers sleek office buildings.  J. Crew was on a kick awhile back with the California mid-century mod home, which I've since seen popping up in other places.  They also did an issue set in a large train station, and it made me want those pencil skirts and cardigans *that much more.*  Thanks to carefully filtered light and color choices, the scene sets the mood of the clothes, and I want to step into that space and have a look around.

Or, sometimes I just want to steal a chair.  Pass on the pleather-ish yellow pants, though.

The above ad, sent out by retailer Singer 22, is showing off an outfit that reminds me of Ronald McDonald (and now makes me shudder at the thought of the recent re-launch of the McRib...).  However, I enjoy the hazy lighting and definitely like this chair/couch thing.


Shopbop is showing off a cute little number on the gal, but I'd much rather buy that big, comfy couch. In yellow.

Here's another photo from Shopbop.  Yes, it's nice that the clean, sleek lines of the color-blocked outfit harken back to the mid-century mod look of the room.  Someone tell her she's off the clock and can go right home.  I want to move in and throw a dinner party in there.  Now.

And here's an image from the aforementioned J. Crew catalog issue:

This is the Kaufmann House, for you design enthusiasts, designed by architect Richard Neutra.  Again, I want to kick out the models (I might swipe her dress, though) and move in.  And, of course, throw a dinner party.  Or maybe a pool party, as there's a pool lurking in the dark to the left of the house.

I found the photo attached to an interesting blurb in Metropolis magazine's online archives; the writer talks about architecture "selling out" to, uh, sell products to the masses (it also drops the whole "cool music getting commercialized" conversation on the plate).  If you're so inclined, give it a read, and I'll follow up next time with some thoughts on the topic.



Images:
#1 - Singer 22
#2 & #3 - Shopbop
#4 - Metropolis Magazine online

Swan Kick, Part One

It’s Monday, but my brain says it’s still Sunday.  Or maybe it just fast-forwarded right to Friday at 5:00 PM.  At any rate, it doesn’t want to help me write anything substantial tonight.  So, I thought I’d just share something I like and have been longing for.

Formerly for sale on one of my favorite e-tail sites, Threadless.com, this little gem is a t-shirt design that has since sold out.  It's called Swan Kick.  Click on the photo to get the 411 I was able to find on the designer.  Because you can request shirt re-prints, I’ve been pestering them to do just that.  Man, I love this t-shirt.  I waaant this shirt.  Heck, I would kick someone for this shirt.  Menacing, I know.

As a longtime Threadless fan, I’ve enjoyed buying a number of their great offerings over the past few years.  It’s set up so anyone (or it seems that way) can submit a design for a shirt.  The submittal then gets voted on by the Threadless-going public.  As you can guess, the most popular designs win.  They then get printed up and retailed out.  Love it.

Ish.  I feel like I owe this design words more eloquent than my braincells can muster.  It's fun.  It's bright.  And it involves kicking.  I love kicking.  But it’s also Monday.

So, happy lethargic Monday.  Enjoy the image.  I’ll follow it up with an explanation in the next post.  You’ll be amused, I promise.

Image:  Threadless.com