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!!

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!!

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...

sources from top: Rejoice the Hands / Penabranca / Design Sponge / aplaceidliketocallhome / Sabo Skirt / All Saints

 James Rowland Shop / YASTK / Loom Rugs / Urban Outfitters / Down Home Honey / YASTK

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!

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...

Mike Bell via Saatchi

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!

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!

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!

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! 

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!

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.

Free People Office Inspo + VERY BIG NEWS!

So believe it or not, I actually had this post drafted before I found out the very exciting news I am about to share. For those of you who've been following along here, you may have noticed I've been a bit cryptic about the 'uncertainties' and 'big changes' that were ahead for me in 2012. Well, after 3 months of interviews and projects, and much anticipation, I have just been offered the job of my DREAMS at the company of my DREAMS at FREE PEOPLE!!!

Starting in February I will be the display artist for the Northwest District of Free People, creating and managing displays for 10+ stores in Washington, Oregon, Nor Cal and Colorado! I cannot even put into words how absolutely elated this makes me. I've been working so hard trying to create a career and make a living, trying to stay true to both the artist and the designer in me, and to be able to bring it all together for a brand that I absolutely love and respect is a dream come true.

So, since part of my time will be spent working with the other creatives in this amazing environment at the Free People home offices in Philly, and part of my time will be working out of my own home when I'm not traveling around to Northwest, I'm scheming up a way to make my home office feel just as beautiful and inspiring...

pendants via Snob / coasters & wooden office supplies via The Curiosity Shoppe / nuLOOM chair / pencil cups via Suzy Jack / Rug via J.H. Minassian / desk via World Market

Since I cannot seem to track down this chair, I am going to have to whip out the staple gun again and reupholster a Good Will find instead. I already have one in the basement just waiting for re-invention and I'm about to order this fabric for the job. I cannot wait to share everything that is to come and for you all to come along with me as I turn the page to my next life chapter and take on a whole new world of adventures!

Love it / Live it: Artful Flooring

Happy Monday readers!! Today I'm inspired by colored smoke mixing in nature's quiet moments from Floto + Warner. There is something both eerie and optimistic about them that has me intrigued...

And yes, I am still drooling over these over-dyed rugs from ABC Carpet. I am painfully aware how far out of my budget they are but hey, they have to go on sale someday right? In the meantime I'm soaking in the color inspiration and lusting over the way they mix vintage and modern in the most elegant way.

Love it / Live it: Pattern Play

Happy Friday everyone! I'm a huge fan of color, and until recently I had very little if any black in my wardrobe or home, but lately I've been loving black and white textures and patterns. Keeping the palette minimal allows for mixing and layering of a variety of influences without feeling too busy. I love the way this editorial from Russian Vogue was styled and the way it feels like it could fit seamlessly into any culture or time period...

This new ottoman from West Elm would go so perfectly in my home I'm tempted to actually get rid of a piece of furniture to make space for it. I'd love to use it in lieu of an end table so it could double as extra seating when guests come over. All it needs is a gold tray on top and it would be a match made in heaven. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend full of inspiration and adventure...Enjoy!

My Daylight: Life is in the Details

People often ask me what design style my own home is and well, there really is no good short answer. You might say it is one part vintage, one part Navajo, one part Uzbekistan, one part Abstract Expressionism, three parts thrifted and oh yes, lots of gold...

Just thought I'd share some of my favorite details in my home right now. My man and I are thrifting fanatics and some of our absolute favorite pieces were found in the most unlikely of places. Such as the screen printed burlap piece in the first photo, found for $5 in a tiny thrift store in Napa. And this last piece is the newest addition to our collection, recently found at our neighborhood Goodwill. But it is the eclectic combination of it all, old and new, patterned and textured, that excites me the most. Have you guys had any good thrift finds lately? Enjoy!