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Posts by Jaime Derringer

Jaime Derringer is editor of Design Milk, a blog dedicated to art, architecture, and design. Design Milk originally began as a collection of Jaime’s favorite finds on the Internet, and soon branched out beyond home décor to art, architecture, and technology. In addition, she co-owns a company called BAKERY that assists bloggers, artists, and small business owners build and improve their online presence.

Jaime daydreams about sofas and gets excited about lamps, which is why she’s right at home here on ShelterPop. She longs for the day when she can have an alpaca named Blanche, and finally feels like she’s halfway there.

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The Ultimate Boys' Bedroom

ultimate boys dream room

Can you imagine having all of this in your bedroom when you were a kid? Photo: Perianth

A little imagination goes a long way in a shared bedroom for two young boys.

What do most little boys dream about? Some might say cowboys, video games or Star Wars, but most of them will likely say sports. But how do you design a sports-inspired-but-stylish room for two young, active boys?

This was the challenge presented to New York-based interior designer Hilary Unger. Through her companies, Perianth and Buy My Eye, Hilary transformed a boys' bedroom in an East Side townhouse into a no-holds-barred dream space. She said goodbye to the race car beds that once filled the room, and she said hello to a rock-climbing wall, boxing/punching bag, mini basketball court and more.

Take a peek inside this fun and functional children's room after the jump:

Decorating, Bedroom, Cool Homes

Read all On the Hunt posts

High vs. Low: Arc Lamps

Two versions of an iconic mid-century floor lamp.
$2,696 arco lamp by flos
$398 arc lamp
Photo: Chiasso

The arc lamp has been a modern interior staple since Achille & Pierre Giacomo Castiglioni designed the Arco lamp in 1962. However, the price tag for owning one of these legendary lights is daunting: An original Arco lamp, manufactured by Italian company Flos, costs about $2,700. (That certainly puts quite a dent in the ol' wallet, and can muck up your plans for an authentic Eames lounger and ottoman.)

This doesn't mean you need to rethink the mid-century plans for your living room! There are many imported imitations of this classic design on the Internet, but personally, I like Chiasso's arc lamp the best. It doesn't try too hard to be the Arco, but it still has that elegant, modern feeling. It also won't hurt too badly when you pay the bill: At just under $400, you'll have saved almost enough for that comfy lounger you wanted.

Save even more money with these low-cost alternative to pricey designs:
- High vs. Low: Mid-century Modern Pendant Lighting
- High vs. Low: Leaning Floor Mirror

Decorating, Luxury Living

The Kimber Modern Hotel in Austin

kimber modern austin hotelThe exterior of Kimber Modern takes you back to the 1950s. Photo: Casey Dunn/Kimber Modern

A Palm Springs-style getaway in the middle of Austin.

There are people who don't really care where they stay when they go on vacation and just book the cheapest hotel available. Then there are those who travel and feel that the hotel in which they stay is just as important a part of their vacation as the sites they visit. The latter would likely enjoy a stay at Kimber Modern, a new hotel located in Austin, Texas.

Reminiscent of the boutique modernist hotels of Palm Springs, Kimber Modern appeals to the pickiest of modern travelers. From the architecture right down to the fixtures, this hotel hasn't scrimped on the details.

Let's venture inside after the jump.


kimber modern austin hotel

Who knew you could enjoy relaxing like this in the middle of the city? Photo: Casey Dunn/Kimber Modern

The owners of the Kimber Modern Hotel, Kimber Cavendish and Vicki Faust, planned to build a hotel on an overgrown, sloped lot in South Congress just east of Austin's downtown commercial district. Burton Baldridge Architects took on the challenge to change the 12,000-square-foot lot of weeds into a modernist getaway. The final plan was a triangular design with a large courtyard. The building fits in well with the neighborhood, acting as a bridge between bustling city life and the quiet residential suburb beyond it.

kimber modern austin hotel

Each room has modern amenities and quality furnishings, suitable for the modern couple. Photo: Casey Dunn/Kimber Modern

The hotel has five rooms, a suite, a common area, laundry facilities and a courtyard. The owners also have a 26-foot Airstream trailer set up as a conference room. In each room, you'll find a modern wood bed, a built-in desk and other minimal furnishings. Luxuries include 500-thread-count sheets, free wi-fi and Malin and Goetz bath products. Designer amenities include Philippe Starck and Duravit bathroom sinks, Modern Fan ceiling fans, Eames molded plastic desk chairs and Offi Perch Lounge reading chairs.

kimber modern austin hotel

The common room has a full-sized kitchen, free coffee and a fun gathering area complete with mid-century icons. Photo: Casey Dunn/Kimber Modern

The common area features a sitting area with Arne Jacobson egg chairs clustered around an Eames elliptical table. Here, and in the rooms, the walls and floors are painted white, which makes the primary colors of the decor really pop.

kimber modern austin hotel

Local artwork and custom built-ins make each of the rooms feel special. Photo: Casey Dunn/Kimber Modern

The hotel's artwork was very important to the owners, and was all hand-selected. Pieces were chosen from three local artists, Martha Gannon, Margo Sawyer and Valerie Fowler and hang throughout the building. It's touches like these that make Kimber Modern a destination unto itself.

kimber modern austin hotel

In the suite, the oversized bathtub and generous quality bath products invite you to spend your day inside! Photo: Casey Dunn/Kimber Modern

For more boutique places to stay, take a look at the Ace Hotel or this (fancy) trailer hotel.

Wish We Could..., Luxury Living, Design, etc, Architecture

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Rainbow-Colored Decor

Rainbow-colored home goods under $100 to brighten your day.

Rainbows are a mythological symbol of many things, including a bridge, hope and peace. They also bring to mind that special moment after the rain when the sun shines through the clouds and things are beginning to get brighter. Why not bring that brightness and peace into your home with some inexpensive rainbow-colored decor?

rainbow colored decor

Colorful décor can inject some happiness into a dull room. Photos: Delia's, Crate & Barrel, The Conran Shop and Foster's.

From top left, clockwise: this Stripe Rug will bring happiness underfoot, $49.50 at Delia's; celebrate every day with the Marimekko Kimara tablecloth, $8 for napkin and tablecloths start at $40, Crate & Barrel; mix up some color with this Footed Multicolor Bowl Set, $60, The Conran Shop; this tumbler from the Origo Dinnerware collection sports a multi-hued and modern twist on a basket weave pattern, $24, Foster's.


rainbow colored decor

Even if they're not a perfect rainbow, these pieces make a bold statement.Photos: ChromaLab, Alice Supply Co., PBTeen and Overstock.com.

From top left, clockwise: It's always party time with this Color Grid Clock, $65, ChromaLab; you can always count on Alice Supply Co. to brighten up the dullest of objects, like this Striped Door Mat, $32, Alice Supply Co.; the Pura Vida Duvet Cover and Sham isn't just for teens, $29 to $139, PBTeen; while the afternoon away in this Dreaming of Rainbows Hammock (it couldn't have a better name!), $55, Overstock.com.

For other cheerful and colorful decorating ideas, check out these posts:

- When Pink Rooms Work
- One Color, Five Ways: Orange

Decorating, Color, Everything Under $100, Shopping, Design, etc

Read all Daily Drool posts

Inside Paloma Picasso's Moroccan Home

Paloma Picasso's Moroccan mansion is a world of relaxation and inspiration.

paloma picasso house tourPhoto: Christopher Sturman/Harper's Bazaar

Paloma Picasso's name should sound familiar to you -- she's the daughter of the legendary painter Pablo Picasso. Paloma is also an artist in her own right: She's been designing jewelry for Tiffany & Co. for 30 years.

Paloma Picasso and her husband Eric Thévenet come to their Marrakech, Morocco home for a month or two several times a year for relaxation. The couple recently opened the doors of their luxurious house to Harper's Bazaar and photographer Christopher Sturman. Picasso's home is what you might expect from a modern, glamorous artist and fashion legend: It's chic, artsy and full of inspiration.

Although it is picture-perfect today, the mansion needed some TLC when it was first purchased. The couple removed overgrown shrubbery, added a glass roof and renovated the patio with a simple dish-shaped fountain and simple geometric bricks (right).

Let's go inside and take a look at the finished space, shall we?

paloma picasso house tour

Paloma's jewelry designs (left) and a painting of Paloma by her mother (right). Photo: Christopher Sturman/Harper's Bazaar

From Paloma's own jewelry to paintings by both her parents, the home is accented everywhere with art. Being the daughter of two painters, what else would you expect but a fabulous collection? The home features works by her father and two paintings from Paloma's mother, Françoise Gilot, one of which is a portrait of Paloma as a child sitting in Pablo Picasso's French garden (above right).

Paloma Picasso by her pool

Paloma in her indoor pool oasis in Marrakech. Photo: Christopher Sturman/Harper's Bazaar

The architecture and decor of Morocco is so colorful and unique that it often becomes the inspiration for Paloma's jewelry. Although the couple spend time relaxing in their Marrakech retreat, Paloma often sketches while at the house and faxes her sketches back to Tiffany where they are turned into prototypes.

paloma picasso house tour

Inspiration is everywhere in Paloma's Moroccan retreat. Photo: Christopher Sturman/Harper's Bazaar

In her large living and dining area (left), the couple added two bright red built-in bookcases full of artwork, book and trinkets. Interspersed are two small Picasso gouaches. The home's entrance (right) includes a vaulted ceiling with dark beams, offset by a colorful geometric pattern. The table, door and accents are all very dark and pop out beautifully off of the white wall.

More Morocco: If you like this home, you will just love this Moroccan garden we featured last year.

Luxury Living, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, Celebrity Homes

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A Dali-Inspired Villa

villa dali netherlandsVilla Dali is aptly named for its main source of inspiration. Photo: 123DV Architecture

"Home is where the art is" in this spectacular art-inspired villa.

123DV Architecture's latest creation is more than just a home, it's a real piece of art. Inspired by the paintings of Salvador Dali, Art Nouveau forms, traditional Spanish architecture and nautical life -- yes, all in one home (!) -- Villa Dali was designed with an unusual combination of influences.

According to 123DV, the homeowners are big art fans, and wanted a house that truly reflected their personal tastes. 123DV took on the challenge and created a spectacular, unique and livable artwork.

villa dali netherlands

The interior walls of the home are curved, spinning outward like a shell. Photo: 123DV Architecture

On the exterior of the house, you can see the influence of the homeowners' passion for Spanish facades and stucco. The architects used Dali's taste for surrealism and optical illusions to create a home that appears to change from every viewing angle. The structure of the home was inspired by a nautical shell: The center of the home features a double-story cylindrical space, from which the interior spins outward, with almost all of the interior walls curving.


villa dali netherlands

The bedroom features a simple palette of white and wood. Photo: 123DV Architecture

The home's furniture has been custom designed to mimic the curves of the walls. Flat, plain surfaces and lines wouldn't work for this space -- they would be too disruptive to the flow.

villa dali netherlands

Check out the portrait of Dali on the dining room's sideboard! Photo: 123DV Architecture

For me, some rooms, like the bedroom, could use punches of color or pattern. Dali's beautiful paintings were often detailed and very colorful, and I would have liked to see more of his vibrant world throughout. Fire-like pendants over the dining table are one example of a well-placed pop of color (and surrealism) that complements the home's simple white and wood palette.

villa dali netherlands

The office bookcase is reminiscent of the Art Nouveau pattern of the entrance. Photo: 123DV Architecture

Other examples of custom furnishings are the shelves and furniture in the home office. (It's so handsome, I'm not sure that I could get any work done in this office -- plus, it looks like it has quite a beautiful view, too!)

villa dali netherlands

The design was inspired by Dali's concepts of surrealism and optical illusions and the homeowners' love for the sea. Photo: 123DV Architecture

The interior photos and architecture drawings make it plain to me why Villa Dali was selected for the World Architecture News (WAN) long list for 'Best House of the Year 2009.'

For more unusual and artful spaces, check out this treehouse office or this 727 airplane hotel.

Luxury Living, Famous Homes, Design, etc, Architecture, Cool Homes

Read all Makeover Minute posts

Purpose Restoration Turns Trash into Treasure

purpose restoration dresser beforeRusty old metal dresser before. Photo: Purpose Restoration

Los Angeles's Purpose Restoration saves furniture from a death sentence.

Would you throw this metal dresser out? It's covered in rust, dirty and missing drawer pulls. It looks like trash to me, but not to Jason Fox and his team at Purpose Restoration. When they looked at the dresser, they saw see a beautiful, silver dresser accented with green handles -- and that is exactly what they created from this dilapidated, unloved piece of furniture.


purpose restoration dresser before

Brand new modern silver dresser after Purpose's restoration. Photo: Purpose Restoration


Purpose Restoration was created by 35-year-old, Pratt Institute-grad Jason Fox. About a year ago, Fox decided it was time to leave his boring job and get creative with his hands. We're glad he did -- and so are the furnishings that he's rescued from a landfill fate!

Purpose Restoration restores and refinishes old furniture, giving it new life and a new home. They also create custom furnishings and custom blinds fashioned from reclaimed material. Jason's restorations take traditional furniture and put a modern twist on them so that they feel current.

Jason's inspiration comes from Japanese graphic design and graffiti and tattoo art, which can readily be seen in pieces such as the Fisherman Coffee Table. However, when speaking to a Los Angeles Times reporter, he noted that he wanted his pieces to feel more streamlined and artistic than an Ed Hardy shirt. (Ed Hardy is known for his Sailor Jerry-style tattoo art.)

Purpose Restoration's creations were recently on display at High Profile Productions in Culver City, CA. Among the pieces on view was the cart below. What was once a TV stand takes on a totally new personality as a kitchen cart on casters, complete with an edgy paint job of knife silhouettes. I never would have thought of that, and certainly couldn't make that ugly TV stand look so fresh!
purpose restoration kitchen cart

Brand new modern silver dresser after Purpose's restoration. Photo: Purpose Restoration

Love a good furniture makeover? Check out this before and after dresser project.

Green Design, DIY: Done in a Day, Design, etc, News & Trends

A High-Tech Dollhouse

Step aside Barbie's Dream House -- designer Elaine Shaw has created the ultimate modern dollhouse.

modern high-tech dollhousePhoto: Elaine Shaw

Elaine Shaw has designed a contemporary dollhouse even Richard Meier would approve of. The mod mini-house is called Clearview and it available through Elaine's website, MIAIM, for about $636 (unfurnished).

Approximately 1/12 the size of a real life house, the contemporary residence features one bedroom, one bathroom, an open staircase, two glass-fronted balconies and a roof terrace.

Not only does the home have tiny posh furnishings and artwork, it's also stocked with the latest technology, as Elaine wanted the Clearview to reflect what people actually have in their homes from the furnishings right down to the appliances.

Long before designing the Clearview house, Elaine received a degree in retail design and management in Central London, and worked in a design practice for a few years designing retail outlets an residential properties. Following that, she had a brief stint making and selling miniature tropical aquariums, but she quickly found that boring. Looking for a dollhouse for her daughter, Onyx, inspired Elaine to design a contemporary doll's home. "I didn't want a traditional house in my modern one," Elaine says.

modern high-tech dollhouse

In the dining room of this miniature masterpiece is a petite dining table complete with sideboard, centerpieces and table settings. Photo: Elaine Shaw

modern high-tech dollhouse

Elaine knows a miniature plumber that could get her toilet working! Photo: Elaine Shaw

Inside, the miniature palace features a television, a refrigerator with a working door, functioning lights and even a computer complete with keyboard and printer. The iMac is one of her favorite pieces because it looks real, as is the toilet (unworking) because it was a labor of love to get it to look just right. Believe it or not, Elaine says could get the toilet (pictured above) to work -- she knows a miniature plumber! Individual interior components/furnishings can be purchased separately through MIAIM.

I asked Elaine if it was harder to design for mini houses and she explained, "Architecturally it's not harder, just different... You have to think about access for the owner and available space in both. On the plus side, I don't have to worry about insulation, planning, permission, health and safety or most of the other problems you get when you design a real house!"

modern high-tech dollhouse

The kitchen features European-style cabinetry and appliances and a bar with bar stools. Photo: Elaine Shaw

modern high-tech dollhouse

There are even mini appliances, food and decorative accessories. Photo: Elaine Shaw

Elaine says she has plans to create more dollhouses, and she notes that Art Deco is the most requested style for future designs. She explains that while her first buyers were serious collectors, she hopes to bring dolls houses back into fashion. "I'm aiming at new customers who don't yet own a doll's house," she says, "And it seems to be working!"

modern high-tech dollhouse

The tiny computer (with printer and mouse!) is one of Elaine's most prized accomplishments. Photo: Elaine Shaw

So, what does Elaine like most about her new mini-job? "The best thing is that I am free to design anything I want, and that is a designer's dream."

Want to read more about doll-worthy homes?

- A modern dollhouse roundup
- A modern day hobbit house
- An Eloise-themed room at the Plaza -- designed by Betsey Johnson!

Luxury Living, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, Architecture, Cool Homes

Read all Yes Please posts

5 Desks with Hidden Storage

Desks fit for an aspiring Bond, James Bond.

Whether you're living in a tiny apartment, you're an aspiring Bond girl or you've got secrets to store away, you'll appreciate these sneaky storage options. Actually, we've noticed a trend lately in multifunctional pieces -- Maybe it's designers attempting to give consumers more bang for their buck. Still, secret storage compartments are nothing new. In fact, they've been discovered in antique desks from the 1900s and earlier. Today's designs are fresh and modern -- and definitely cool.
storage desks

The Studio desk features a sliding compartment for your cables and accessories. Photo: Bluelounge

The Bluelounge Studio Desk (above), $599.95, is designed specifically for laptop users. A sliding storage compartment is located on the desktop surface in which you can hide your peripherals and excess cables. I could use one of these, as I've got a mess of cables and wires all over the place.

storage desks

The Flip Table lives up to its name with flip-up storage and drawers. Photo: No Problem

The Flip Table by Signe Baadsgaard (above) from No Problem (inquire for purchase) is a small-space dream. It is a functional workstation that can double as a kitchen or dining table. When you're done doing your paperwork for the day, just flip open one of the many top surface compartments for easy storage, and you're ready for a dinner party!


storage desks

The flip-up compartments of the Arbor Desk get smaller in size from left to right. Photo: Outofstock

Outofstock's Arbor Desk (above, inquire for price) is a sleek yet simple design made for light paperwork and laptop work. It contains a front-opening drawer as well as four top-opening compartments that get smaller as you move from left to right, making it easy to organize your items by size. Clever and convenient.

storage desks

The sliding cover on the Hidden Laptop desk moves from side to side to reveal either a drawer or laptop storage. Photos: Scandinavian Design Center

The A2 Hidden Laptop desk, (above) $915 at Scandinavian Design Center, is a great little piece that can double as a table or console. The left side moves so that you can hide your laptop away when guests come over. On the right, there is also a drawer for accessories or doodads.

storage desks

Luke Rigall's Novanta desk is the only accessory you need to store your computer and iPod. Photo: Luke Rigall

Technophiles rejoice, as this desk is made just for you. Luke Rigall's Novanta desk (above) is designed for those of you who need techno-storage. The Novanta has a built-in iPod/iPhone dock and speakers as well as three drawers in the front. According to Yanko Design, the desk also features USB and audio hub, monitor stand, power strip, cable channeling and mouse. It's the only accessory your computer will ever need. Unfortunately, we don't know if this will ever go into production. As for now, it's still a prototype, but keep your eyes on this one. Until then this pricier option exists.

If you don't want to invest in an entire piece of furniture, consider creating your very own secret storage compartment. Also, check out our post on secrets to a clutter-free desk!

Decorating, Cleaning & Storage, Shopping, Your Home, Storage & Cleaning, Storage & Organization, Furniture

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Life in a Pimped-Out Airstream

We've always loved the retro-vibe of the Airstream, but these designer trailers sport as much style inside as they do out.

christopher deam airstreamDesigner Airstream trailers make some feel like they've died and gone to heaven. Photo: Christopher Deam

Sure, Airstream trailers are fun to look at, but could you live in one?

It turns out that these retro cuties make for a very comfortable home -- at least that's what we learned after we chatted with several Airstream enthusiasts about their designer trailers. (We even peeked at Airstream Life, the must-read for anyone who loves their Airstream as much as life itself!)

California Dream

Californian architect Barbara Brown and her husband Dan Shugrue own a 1988 Airstream Excella 25 that they restored and decorated in their own style, which they call "a 1960's 'vision of the future.'"

One of their top priorities in the restoration was to make sure that the trailer remained road-worthy. In other words, they didn't want it to be so precious that the design didn't function for them.

designer airstream

Barbara's 1950's-meets-the-future design incorporates lots of silver metals and black accents. Photo: Barbara Brown

Call Barbara's space-age style "retro-modern." Her trailer is infused with contemporary materials (think: a sleek black vinyl banquette meets silver pedestal table). Or, it's like "George Jetson meets Eero Saarinen," she says. Still, the trailer is very livable.

To keep up with the inevitable wear and tear, Barbara used a durable Chilewich floor mat that has an aluminum weave. The kitchen and bathroom are decorated with stainless fixtures and door pulls. Barbara also used the lack of color to create focal points. For example, the black vinyl booth and black plastic laminate in the bathroom contrast nicely with all of the silver.

Other high-style details include perforated metal, a retro-style microwave and a floor-lit path to the bathroom. Despite the high-stylin', this couple's main focus is traveling: they've logged about 33,000 miles so far exploring the Western and Southern states, as well as Canada.

designer airstream

Barbara's kitchen features mostly stainless steel fixtures and finishes, adding to the modern space-age feel. Photo: Barbara Brown

christopher deam airstreamChristopher Deam's designer Airstream was a big hit with the modern Airstream community. Photo: Christopher Deam

Airstream As Guest House

Another Californian, Michael Epstein, owns a Christopher Deam edition Airstream that launched in 2007. If you don't know Christopher Deam, he's a pretty famous designer who has a penchant for Airstreams and mobile living.

Michael says he initially planned to build a guest house, but instead opted for this designer trailer for both economy and efficiency. He put it in his back yard. "I liked the modern feel and it seemed younger and fresher," Michael says.

His guests seem to love the privacy, although Michael has never stayed in the trailer himself. Since it's used quite often as a guest house, he doesn't use it for travel: essentially the trailer is fixed in its position and can't be moved.

designer airstream

Just about everything in Paul Welshmeyer's Airstream does double duty. Photo: Paul Welshmeyer

Have Airstream, Will Travel

Paul Welshmeyer is another Californian Airstream enthusiast (I sense a location theme here!). His stylish 1958 Airstream Traveler trailer is "designed to work," he says. He's logged over 10,000 miles with his family, spending a week each December camping in the Mojave desert. His children have practically grown up in the trailer.

However, it wasn't always stylish or functional. When he first bought the trailer, he and his boys ripped everything out and took the contents to the city dump. "We never looked back," says Paul. From then on, it was a two-year labor of love.

Once the trailer was completed and after various tests to be sure that it functioned well for travel, Paul and his family have been enjoying it ever since. Notably, Paul, an architect, won an American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Exceptional Residential Design for his Airstream design.

What's so special? Inside, he used perforated wood and custom designed furnishings to update the 1950s trailer without removing the charm of the original design. Everything was designed to have at least two uses, and often this camping trailer became an office for Paul on job sites.

designer airstream

The travel trailer can also double as an office when Paul, an architect, is visiting job sites. Photo: Paul Welshmeyer

The Airstream community is tightly knit -- a love of functional design seems to bring these enthusiasts together. Many know each others trailers and communicate online about their travels. "There are not many Airstreams out there," says Michael Epstein, "and I believe this has formed a bond amongst owners."

Wish We Could..., Gardens & Outdoor Living, Famous Homes, Design, etc, House Tours, Architecture, Cool Homes

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