Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Inspired Display // Anthropologie Natick, MA

I am now two days into my new job as Display Coordinator for Free People, and I have to say I am absolutely loving it! My trip to Boston has been a bit of a whirlwind, visiting four different stores in two days so I'm off to bed now, but wanted to share this stunning Anthropologie window display we saw today in Natick [a suburb outside of Boston]. Inspired by my favorite artistic movement, abstract expressionism. it took my breath away...


Isn't it gorgeous? These display artists are damn good at what they do...Enjoy!!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Art + Style // Painterly Fashion

Happy Monday! Fashion and art have always gone hand in hand, but I love the way the lines are blurring lately without all the painterly fabrics and color blocked motifs. I loved the way ELLE pulled it all together in their beautifully curated art themed issue this summer, and since it is so in line with what I do here on The Daylight I couldn't resist sharing...

images via ELLE

And of course I also couldn't resist putting together some pairings of my own. Inspired by Richard Diebenkorn's Ocean Park paintings (and my new coffee table book), I narrowed down some of my favorites from the series to go with some shoes I am currently coveting. And fortunately there is no shortage of bold, saturated footwear this season in my favorites hues...

Ocean Park #68, 1974 // ASOS AGGIE Suede boots
Ocean Park #38, 1971 // Chloe colorblock wedges
Ocean Park #30, 1970 // Dune Bono Snake Print platforms
Ocean Park #79, 1975 //  ASOS HEART leather sandals
Ocean Park #115, 1979 // ASOS POPPET Platform

On another note, I am off to Boston today to start my new job with Free People and I could not be more thrilled. I've been so excited, nervous and totally euphoric waiting for this day to come and I can't wait to get started! Most of my first day will be in the air traveling cross country, but I'll have a packed few days ahead of me with the East Coast's display artist and I'll report back [from Boston] soon, until then, Enjoy!!



Friday, January 27, 2012

Insta-Daylight 01

Happy happy Friday!! With all my client projects wrapped up, my car cleaned and my office organized, I'm looking forward to the first weekend I've had off in 6 months! I'll be soaking up time with dear friends and time enjoying my beautiful city. In the mean time, I wanted to share some snippets of what I've been up to lately via instagram, my latest obsession....


And there's more where that came from, you can find me on instagram @lauraburkhart. I hope you all have a gorgeous and inspirational weekend...Enjoy!



Thursday, January 26, 2012

Style + Living: Blushing Kilim

Lately I can't get enough of vintage Kilim motifs, and surprisingly for me, I'm loving them in warm, bright, and even blushing hues. The Persian patterns add the perfect amount of rhythm and texture with a worldly feel. And I'm so inspired by the unique ways the motif is popping up in art, fashion and interiors...


Here are some of my current favorites from around the web. I'm seriosuly considering infusing these warms hues into my life a bit more, they might be just the fix for the Winter chills...Enjoy!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

My Daylight: Transformative Spray Paint

Last week, the 6 inches of snow and icy hills of Seattle shut down most of the city for the bulk of the week, forcing us to take a little stay-cation. And I have to say, it was heavenly. Of course after the second day we were more than a little stir crazy but we made use of our impromptu days off to cozy up by the fire, frequent the local coffee shops, and work on all the projects around the house we've never quite made time to do....


As I've mentioned before, we are renters so we're definitely limited in the home improvements we can actually do, but you can always paint! Painting is the easiest way to make an impact in a room at very little cost, and is easily reversed by slapping on a different coat of paint. So, we decided to make a bold impact and paint our front door! I have to say, this was no small task. Inspired by Pendleton's Portland collection, it took a lot of intricately cut tape, and several coats of spray paint, but I absolutely love the way it turned out.


Our 85 lb pup, Phinney, pretty much just laid around between happy romps in the snow. This gorgeous book on Richard Diebenkorn, one of my favorite artists, was a thoughtful gift from my Aunt, and makes the perfect addition to our coffee table. 


We filled the empty space above our bed with this vintage mirrored artwork I found for Jake at our local Goodwill. It was such a great find, I had a guy actually offer to pay me more for it while I was carrying it around in the store!


We painted our dining room walls a soft grey and finally replaced the paper lantern I've had since college with this vintage brass pendant I found on a last minute trip to The RE Store in Ballard. If you're in the area, you must check it out as it is the best place for vintage and scrap fixtures, hardware, and more. 


Jake's most recent Goodwill find, his beloved typewriter, is creating a fun ongoing dialogue as friends add to page every time they come by. 


And lastly, I created a mini installation with wire letters from Urban Outfitters, gold spray paint, turquoise yarn, and a Lego Space Needle


It's amazing how much our environments effect us. Having a home that inspires and calms me is almost as essential to my well being as my yoga classes. What fun projects have you created in your home lately? Would you live with a door this bold or is it too crazy for you? I'd love to hear what you think, Enjoy!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Monday Morning: New Horizons

Happy Monday! Today I'm inspired by the textured abstract landscapes of artist Mike Bell, they feel like bright and unique horizons bursting with light. And as I am officially a week away from starting my brand new job, these works express my excitement and anticipation beautifully...


And in the mean time I'll be spending the rest of the week tying up loose ends, organizing my life and finishing up some home improvements that I'll be sharing with you all very soon! [And for a sneak peak find me on instagram @lauraburkhart] Enjoy!

Friday, January 20, 2012

Love it / Live it: Presently Faceted

Happy Friday everyone!!! We tend to spend a lot of time worrying about and preparing for the future. So I try to constantly remind myself to focus on the now. To thoroughly be present in and enjoy each and every moment is to enjoy life. This installation piece by artist Doug Aitken says it perfectly, representing the multi-faceted and bright experience of a single moment...

'Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy'
 - Guillame Apollinaire


I've had an eye on this little faceted end table from West Elm for way too long now, I just need to find a spot for it. I love the way it's faceted surfaces catch the light differently creating a tonal effect. Hoping you find joy in every little moment of your weekend and you faceted excitement in the present...Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

SNOW DAY!

Please excuse my absence this week, as we are in the midst of 'the biggest Seattle storm in a quarter century'. I know, it sounds a bit dramatic, but Seattle rarely if ever gets enough snow to actually make a snowball with, so the fact that we are going on 6 inches and accumulating has everyone very excited. So while I'm splitting my time between trekking through through the snow to find the nearest latte, and holing up inside by the fire working on home improvement projects that are well overdue [photos to come I promise], please enjoy a little snow-capped inspiration from artist Cem Tan...

Cem Tan via Saatchi

And I hope you're all having a wonderfully Wintery week as well...Enjoy!

Monday, January 16, 2012

Come Fly with Me

Happy Monday my friends! It SNOWED in Seattle this weekend [sort of a rare occurrence] and with no place to go and a lovely bright white view, I had plenty of time to reflect, recharge and re-organize in preparation for this brand new adventure I'm about to embark on. I have two weeks until I start my dream job and I can hardly contain my excitement. The more I learn about Free People and what's in store for me, the more I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming! The first two months I'll be jet-setting all over the country meeting the talented women behind the brand, opening up shiny new locations, and soaking in the inspiration of what my fellow display artists have imagined and created in their own stores. I sure hope you'll come along...

source unknown / Prism of Threads

So far on my calendar I'll be heading to Birmingham, New York, Austin, New Orleans, Boulder, Portland, San Fransisco and on my first day, Boston! I am SO incredibly excited to meet the other display artists and to see how the Free People culture has developed in each different city. And as I'll be flying out every other week, I'm rounding up some travel necessities to do it in style...


gloves, watch + sketchbook via Urban Outfitters / duffel, camera case + suitcase via Free People, scarf via Little Paper Planes, boots via Need Supply

I especially love the idea of the 'One Sketch a Day' Visual Journal. You could do it with any blank journal and what a wonderful mental break to see how your feelings come out on the page visually day after day. Hope you're all recharged from the weekend as well and ready to take on a brand new week, I'm starting it with snow angels [as soon as I find a spot with enough snow]...Enjoy! 

Friday, January 13, 2012

Love it / Live it: Texture + Triangles

Happy Friday!!! This gorgeous print by artist Aaron Farley reminded me of the way the bright white mountains looked yesterday against the blue/grey sky. [And it also happens to be one of these affordable pieces of art] I love the juxtaposition between organic texture and geometric depth and all on top of a natural ombre landscape...


And this little coffee table combines the same elements just as beautifully doesn't it? Hope your weekend is all play and no work...Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

I want to live in...Desert + Sky

Today I'm dreaming of desert getaways and this sun soaked architectural beauty in Joshua Tree. I love when a design creates a perfect marriage with it's landscape and this indoor/outdoor structure takes every grain of sand and patch of blue sky into consideration...

images via Arch Daily

Architect Robert Stone created this rental space with every existing surrounding element in mind and the outcome is extraordinary because of it...Enjoy!

"Somewhere along the way  I became interested in the meaning, as well as the form, in architecture."-Robert Stone.