On a recent trip down the California coast, we stopped at Nepenthe Restaurant, a Big Sur family-run institution since 1949. In addition to the incredible views of the Pacific Ocean and the tasty Ambrosia Burger, I love the architecture.
Rowan Maiden, a disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright, designed the unique redwood and glass building that sits on a cliff 800 feet above the water. Embodying true indoor-outdoor living, the seating is dispersed throughout the interior of the structure, the surrounding decks, and a large front patio with a huge fire pit. Everything about the site is inviting, making Nepenthe the consummate gathering spot for locals and travelers alike.
But the feature I most associate with the communal, laid-back atmosphere of Big Sur is the tiered built-in bleacher at the entrance to the restaurant. At any given time, you can see people sipping cocktails, sharing appetizers, reading books, or sunbathing. Despite being fixed to the ground, this type of seating offers the most open-ended of options. For us, it presented a place for the kids to play while we enjoyed lunch at a nearby table.
Hey design fans, ICFF just wrapped and our favorite blogs and personalities were there in force. Here's a smattering of their latest and greatest finds. ENJOY
Design-Milk full show recap
Unpluggd - The Best of the Rest at ICFF 2010
Core77 - Design Week
Apartment Therapy
ChicTip at ICFF
Yesterday we had an opportunity to visit the Shaw Floors campus in Dalton, GA. We were given a behind the scenes tour of the facilities and shown the process it takes to bring a carpet line from conception to market.
Shaw also introduced us to their latest product, Tigressa SoftStyle. We don't consider ourselves carpet connoisseurs and are always skeptical of new products that get slapped with fancy names or have significant marketing dollars behind it. But Shaw's approach of sharing their carpet construction from soup to nuts and being transparent about the entire process was refreshing and we couldn't help but get behind Tigressa SoftStyle, here's why.
There were a few Christmas products on display at the National Hardware Show this year and the LiteLocker stood out for us. Although the material seems a bit flimsy and we're not sure how well it will withstand rain, wind and the elements, the concept is brilliant.
The LiteLocker installs around a garage or on gutters and during the year the lights are hidden away but when it's time to decorate the LiteLocker simply opens to reveal your string of lights. This relieves tangled wires and you'll be assured of few broken bulbs and time spent on the roof installing the lights.
Here's a brief demonstration video.
