artist feature: bernd and hilla becher

I was first introduced to the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher in grad school. I had almost forgotten about their amazing photographs until a recent conversation jogged my memory. The German duo, a husband and wife team, began shooting industrial structures in the 1960s. Referring to their work as typologies, they developed a rigorous way of shooting to emphasize the similar formal qualities of structures types.  Objects of interest included water towers, frame houses, coal tipples, cooling towers, grain elevators and other examples of industrial architecture.

The Bechers legacy is extensive - influencing a whole generation of photographers which is now referred to as the 'Becher School'. Bernd died in 2007 but Hilla continues to work rearranging existing photographs into new presentations. Below are a few examples taken from their huge body of work.

Bernd and Hilla Becher - Stoneworks, 1982 - 1992 - Sonnabend Gallery

Bernd and Hilla Becher - Industrial Facades, 2012 - Sonnabend Gallery

Bernd and Hilla Becher - Grain Elevators - Sonnabend Gallery

Bernd and Hilla Becher - Watertowers (Temple) - Sonnabend Gallery

Bernd and Hilla Becher - Framework Houses, 2011 - Sonnabend Gallery

olive green interiors

Sometimes the most random of things pop into my blogging mind - today - olive green interiors.

from top left - home of Sisse Jonassen via Design*Sponge - olive green and light blue kitchen via The Kitchn -  home of Glenn Lawson design by DISC interiors via REMODELISTA - design by Gregory Mellor - design by Fairfax and Simmons Architecture - via Savvy Home - via Apartment Therapy - via The Animal Print Shop

designer feature: mark d. sikes

Where to begin....Mark D. Sikes is a man of many talents. He has his own L.A. based interior design firm, maintains a crazy successful lifestyle blog and most recently launched a women's sportswear collection. To start, I really love some of his interiors work. With an untraditional background in marketing and merchandising, Sikes started his own firm in 2011. He self-describes his aesthetic as "all-American" with "European sensibilities" and has been published in just about every major design magazine.

While not verified, I think how Sikes really rose up in the design world is through his blog. With a tag line of - chic people, glamorous places and stylish places - Sikes covers all things interiors, fashion and design related. I personally like that his posts are relatively short, contain lots of pictures and really focus on the class and timeless elements of design.

Finally, Sikes just released his first fashion collections which is all stripes! Just white and navy too! Considering I love all things stripes, I am totally into it.