anthropologie's circus-inspired ads

Ok Anthro...first there was the "science-inspired" decor a couple months back, now you have circus-inspired ads that closely resemble my own circus-inspired wedding. I think Anthro should be considering offering inBloom a design job!!

Look at these photos...the tent, the old suitcases, the signs, the big DOILY, the furniture scapes out in the fields, and a zebra instead of Spyke the miniature dwarf pony! Yup, I think inBloom would do just dandy with a budget the size of Anthro's!

the bare bulb trend

Last year when I was looking for inspiration for a Prohibition themed event I designed, I noticed that a design store on Queen Street called Commute Home was using caged dangling light bulbs as pendant lights hanging over their furniture. It had such a beautiful industrial feel to it that I loved. It wasn't easy finding some back then to use but luckily we did find a pile of plastic ones in the basement of the venue that worked for the theme. On my trip to NYC a few week ago I noticed there was a big booming trend of using dangling bare light bulbs in the window design for stores. They had them everywhere...it was like the same window designer did all the windows in NYC...I want that job!! Unfortunately I didn't catch and pictures of the windows as I forgot my camera that day {of course!} but I did round up some pictures on the web.

These are all courtesy of Design Trends.


These are from Anthropologie.

And I can't remember where this is from, or the pic at the top but I sure do like them.

science-inspired design

Anthropologie has a funny sub-category of room decor called "Science-Inspired" and it made me giggle. But then when I checked it out I realized we were totally 2 years ahead of Anthro when we re-decorated our Dad's bedroom! Our Pa is one smartsy pants with a PhD in BioChem AND a biotechnology company. Since finishing his PhD and starting his first diagnostic company when he was only 25 years old, he proudly held on to his lab beakers and erlenmyer flasks and would sometimes stare at them all lovingly as they were getting all dusty in the basement.

When we re-did his master bedroom, we decided to add his "vintage" science tools to the room decor and used them as a cluster of "vases" on his dresser. In his bathroom we set out apothecary jars filled with bathroom stuff to keep the theme going. So Anthropologie, us Bloomers were the real trendsetters here!! I just needed to say it one more time because it sure makes me proud.

But, I'm thinking most people don't have a brilliant science smartsy fartsy of a Pa who kept his potentially radio-active lab paraphenilia, so you can get some knock-offs at Anthro instead!

anthro mail

Hopefully you aren't too sick of my adoration for Anthropologie yet? Because I got two pretty pieces of mail from them this week {in the midst of my bills and flyers} and I just had to share. Each piece is simple, but well designed and cuter than can be. I'm scratching my head at how they were able to pull off these seemingly handmade pieces for a mass mailing though. They are just too clever!

paper wisteria tree

If you admire Anthropologie's displays {and you know I do!} then be sure to check out this lovely blog. Ruthi Auda is a display coordinator for Anthropologie, and created this wisteria tree using branches and tissue paper. The paper nerd is in love...how exquisite! See Ruthi's blog for more amazing creative inspiration. {via the beautifully re-designed Once Wed}

anthropologie in toronto

What a fine day it is today...not only is it Earth Day, but my favourite store ever opened its doors in Toronto at the Shops at Don Mills. You have heard me gush about Anthropologie here, here, and here. I'm itching to check it out, but I also remember the lineups and craziness when Crate and Barrel opened last fall, so I might just wait a bit as a favour to my clautrophobic side. But I can barely stop myself...afterall there aren't too many stores that have blogs and Flickr collections dedicated to their inspiring visual displays, products, graphics and beautiful sense of design.

According to Toronto Styles, the first window and store displays will be focused around honey bees. It will reflect in abstract ways upon their role in our world. Bee related iconography like hives and honeycombs will be recreated with unexpected materials and whimsy. I think artistic inspiration is a good enough reason for an excursion to check it out...don't you?

oh anthro

Yet another inspirational photo from the beautiful Anthropologie...can't wait until their Spring opening in Toronto. My once-in-a-while trips to NYC, or browsing their store online just doesn't cut it.
Have a great weekend and hopefully my blogs will be a little more inspired next week!

together at last

A Teatro Verde flagship store and Anthropologie together in the same building?
I am in h e a v e n.....

howdy

A brand new shiny blog! I have coveted many blogs in the past few years, and I'm so happy to be stepping into the network of fellow designers and artists out there. Stay posted for inBloom updates, objects of inspiration, and things that are just pretty cool...
I will be back soon but I'll leave you with this wonderfully quirky image from a past Anthropologie catalogue. A sucker for anything green, I just loved this funky chair, especially contrasted against the black and white newspaper collage. Word on the street is that Anthropologie will soon be opening a store in Toronto...yippee! The store has not only the loveliest products, but the displays are spectacular. On a trip to NYC a few years ago, I stepped into the Anthro store at Rockefeller Plaza and just gaped for a good twenty minutes, unable to comprehend it all. I'm counting down the days.