LotusHaus

Zen's 7 Ruling Design Principles

Today I am inspired by these Zen design principles adapted from The Wabi-Sabi House book via Care2.com.

Zen’s seven ruling principles are guiding lights of design. Once you read them they make real sense for an authentic design plan for your home.

Asymmetry (Fukinsei): Stiff, formal symmetry, suggesting frozen finality and artificial perfection, can be fatal to the imagination. Asymmetry lets us be loose and spontaneous—more human than godlike. It means we can get by with one—or three—candlesticks, and all the china doesn’t have to match.

Simplicity (Kanos): Zen eschews gaudy, ornate, and over embellished in favor of sparse, fresh, and neat. It’s the triumph of craftsman style over the cluttered Victorian parlor.

Austerity (Koko): Zen asks us to reduce everything to “the pith of essence.” Don’t love it? Can’t find a use for it? Let it go.

Naturalness (Shizen): Zen is artless, without pretense or self-consciousness. It’s bare wood, unpolished stone, and flowers from the backyard.

Subtle Profundity (Yugen): Within Zen lies a deep reserve, a mysterious, shadowy darkness. The hint of soft moonlight thorugh a skylight would be yugen.

Freedom from Worldly Attachments (Datsuzoku): The Buddha taught us not to be bound to life, things, or rules. “It is not a strong bond, say the wise, that is made of iron, wood, or hemp,” he said. “Far greater an attachment than that is the longing for jewels and ornaments, children and wives.” It’s the simplicity movement, not keeping up with the Joneses.

Silence (Sejaku): Inwardly oriented, Zen embraces the quiet calm of dawn, dusk, late autumn, and early spring.

Aviva Stanoff } Nature and Design - An Everyday Celebration

I have long been inspired by Aviva Stanoff and her amazing body of work since I discovered her Brooklyn design studio many years ago. (Check out my eco-luxe color & trend board). Aviva embodies the union of her Japanese heritage and the modern metropolis lifestyle.

"From her North Hollywood roots in 1970’s bohemian California to tending to the flowers surrounding her grandfather’s Buddhist temple in Okayama, Japan, Aviva Stanoff represents a cultural tapestry...She finds inspiration in the subtle palette of nature, the deliberate minimalism of tradition, and the city sunset seen every night from her design studio window. She translates these inspirations into pattern, color, and beautiful environments."

With roots in the fashion textiles industry, the Aviva Stanoff collection is known for its high end, heirloom quality pillows and soft goods that are hand-dyed, etched, and painted one at a time in her Brooklyn studio by skilled artisans. Real foliage is used to create the prints you see and with a special technique these elements are embossed into plush velvet leaving the texture and essence of nature for you to enjoy. For more inspiration, check out this video and watch Aviva explain how she creates her work. I guarantee it will awe and inspire!

A Gathering of Elephants } Darling New Film & Limited Edition Eames Plywood Elephant

Today I attended a wonderful presentation by Eames Demetrios, the grandson of the famed designer duo Charles and Ray Eames. As the director of the Eames Office in Santa Monica, an archival gallery, boutique, and gift shop of all things Charles and Ray, Eames Demetrios and his endearing family are making the rounds to celebrate Charles Eames 100th birthday (June 17th) every month for a full year. There are exhibits and special events taking place all over the world. One such special event is the limited edition run of the never before produced Eames Plywood Elephant that was designed in 1945.

Charles and Ray urged us all to "surrender to the design journey," and in this spirit, Demetrios has journeyed into art, writing and filmmaking. In conjunction with the Plywood Elephant's release, Demetrios created a darling film called, "A Gathering of Elephants," that breaths life into these elephants as they overlook the hustle and bustle of LA. The film is due to be webcast soon. Check out this sweet trailer and read Eames Demetrios' blog for a behind the scenes look. Oh, and if you want to pre-order these fabulous Plywood Elephants (available in red or maple, delivery in November), you can do so here for $1907. Remember these are limited edition! Oh, how I wish I could get one for me and my red head friend that's expecting and loves elephants!

Karen Kimmel } Artist and Sculptor - Inspired by Ikebana

My heart is on fire, having discovered Karen Kimmel an inspirational and brilliant artist, painter, sculptor and social event creator!!! In 2006, she developed Flourish, a performance that created a limited edition of 100 art objects for the Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions Annual Art Auction Benefit. Inspired by Ikebana (yay!) and the idea of multi-purposing beautiful objects (yay!), she designed floral inspired, stencil-like, plexi auction paddles that were given to guests (top left) for use during the art bidding. After the auction, guests returned the paddles and they were transformed into Ikebana sculptures with live flowers (middle right and below). This is creativity, community and commerce at it's finest! See-utilize-transform-take home-enjoy! I'm so in love with this holistic experience and it's beautiful outcome! I wish I could have been there to experience it first hand and to take home one of these beauties!

P.S ~ Check out Karen's "Social" exhibit that she did for Paper Magazine's LA Project, where wood veneer, ultra suede, flowers and foliage were transformed by two floral designers into heartfelt wearable corsages and boutonnieres! Ridiculously amazing!

Stewart + Brown } Organic Outfitters

I love husband & wife teams! Stewart + Brown is fabulous sustainable fashion company with style and substance. The limited edition, small run collections are sustainably balanced with offerings of organic cotton, hemp, linen, Mongolian cashmere and surplus fabric. Cruise the website to learn more about the families and stories behind this great organic brand! Can you tell that I love timeless cultural pieces like wraps, sarongs and kaftans?

Fewti Wristlets } Fire, Earth, Wind, Timber, Iron

Earlier this year, at the Seattle Gift Show, I had the pleasure of meeting the designer behind San Francisco based accessories line, Fewti. With an eastern philosophy that embraces the universal elements of Fire, Earth, Wind, Timber and Iron, Fewti (the acronym for all 5 elements), creates beautiful silk handbags and handmade jewelry. I really love these chic and origami-like wristbags. Visit the Fewti site for more accessories and to find a stockist near you.

Bliss Living } Global Modern Style

For some blissful home decor, head on over to Bliss Living and (1) check out their summer preview of global modern bedding, decor and accessories, (2) get inspired by Mei Xu, and the story behind her international company and watch the MSNBC video about her business. (3) Then, go into deeper bliss at Chesapeake Bay where you will discover that Mei Xu is also responsible for the beautiful candles and aromatherapy items that you have probably admired at Target and Pier One.

Julep } fab organic nail parlor and entrepreness!

Ok, where do I start? First, I love Daily Candy Seattle for keeping me in the know. Second, I love the divapreneurial vibe we got going on here in Seattle...Crave, StartUpJunkie, Mac Fashion House, Raw Threads, (my fashion friends) etc. And lastly...Think Green It's Friday!

From Daily Candy I found out about Julep Nail Parlor in the University Village. I love everything that the founder, Jane Park, is about and has built for her salon. She thought of EVERYTHING! And did so in modern, green style. I am so inspired by her business model! This former corporate Starbucky has created the coolest, hippest & most organic nail experience that I have ever come across so far. As a modern gathering place, the Julep concept focuses on sharing your pampering experience. The beautifully designed furniture and lighting are designed to be mobile so your party can gather around and enjoy each other's presence. Don't forget about the fellas. Julep has a special "man"-icure for them too, so they can also join in the party.

Julep makes my stylish green heart sing! Here's why:

• Lotions are paraben free, and use natural and organic ingredients (and they're still trying to do more!).
• Nail vernis colors are gently formulated to be free of formaldehyde, toluene, and dibutyl phthalates.
• Nail vernisseurs have access to health care benefits.
• All employees provide excellent customer service thanks to Jane's "Julep Immersion Program"
• Paper shopping bags are made with 10-30% recycled paper content.
  
• Purchase 100% energy from windpower.
• Installed LEED (Leadership in energy and environmental design) approved flooring in the parlor.
• Installed a dual flush commode in the restroom (to learn more, visit the Environmental Home Center).
• Used environmentally preferable paint.
• Support the local community through our Corporate Giving Program.
  
• Donate $1 to The Nature Conservancy  on behalf of each guest who brings back her "little orange bag" of disposable implements.
• Gives an inside look into this startup venture with the Julep blog (love it! so inspiring!)

Ok, so I'm booking an appointment right now! Who wants to join me?!

Triko } The Art of Life

While working on my { fashion Design } porfolio, I was taken back to my time at the streetwear brand Mecca USA (whose production office is in Seattle, WA). I was living in San Diego and traveling back and forth between Hong Kong and New York. At the Mecca NY headquarters, I had the pleasure of working with the progressive, eclectic and hilarious nuyorican, Héctor Estrada. Little did I know back then that we would both be creating sustainable lifestyles of eco-conscious design. Hector is a fellow creative and the inspirational founder and designer of the sustainable street-wear line, Triko. Triko is a premium brand that aims to inspire by promoting environmental and social issues through its designs and lifestyle. What I like most about Triko, is the zen like philosophy that Hector has established behind the brand. It makes you feel good to be hip, organic and mindful. I also love Triko's dedication to wildlife and the donations to environmental causes made each season. Now, I wonder if he has a womenswear line yet...hint, hint, wink, wink! Also check out NAU, the progressive Portland based outdoor brand, whose style reminds me of the  clothing brand, Transfer, one of Hector's previous brand creations.

iLove my Apple...I just wish it were Green!

Greenpeace created the Green My Apple campaign to persuade Apple to remove the worst toxic chemicals from all Apple products and production lines and to offer free "take-backs" (ie. return to Apple for recycling) for all their products everywhere they are sold. As a result, on May 2,  Greenpeace celebrated a green victory. "A Greener Apple" was splashed on the front page of Apple's site, with a message from Steve Jobs saying, "Today we're changing our policy." See what Greenpeace had to say about Steve's message here. This fantastic slideshow book was sent to Steve Jobs using Aperture to serve as a nutritious reminder from all green Mac fans everywhere. Yay!

Herman Yu } paperworks in perfect balance

Herman Yu is one of my favorite Seattle based designers! Her cards and calendars are naturally modern and have such an enlightened quality about them. I also love her design philosophy: "In her work she tries to achieve that perfect balance of form, function, color, and pattern to create modern, simple, refined and useful products...Herman finds inspiration in the surprising details of the everyday - the abundance of color at the farmer's market, a particular bare branch, a shadow pattern, a beautiful rock, and always the effects of light on everything."  You can find her cards at two of my favorite Seattle boutiques Kobo and Bitters Co. And for more enlightening floral inspiration watch this video.

Kalon Studios } Sustainable from Berlin to LA

Kalon Studios is a LA based husband and wife design company that makes beautiful Sustainable furnishings. Husband, Johannes Pauwen is of German and Tunisian Bedouin descent and wife, Michaele Simmering is American. I love husband and wife teams, they make for a happy family and a happy world! I also love how their design philosophy embraces my global call for all to enliven your inner space!

"To be kalon is more than being beautiful; it is having a beauty that both is and inspires excellence. For the Greeks, this meant a beauty linked with moral worth and usefulness...The Greeks believed that an object that was kalon had a beauty powerful enough to inspire excellence in those who beheld it. It is our sincerest hope that our products will do this as well - that the thoughtfulness and consideration put into each object we’ve made will pour back out into the homes they grace and the world of which we are all a part." ~Kalon Studios

This LA based husband and wife team have created a beautiful & sustainable collection of essential furniture pieces and well crafted nursery furniture. "The project they are most proud of is their daughter Io Zara Pauwen for whom they both designed and named their children’s collection ‘IoLine.’" (Isn't that wonderful?!)

Nau } beauty, performance, sustainability

Nau, (pronounced “now,” meaning “welcome” in the language of New Zealand’s Maoris), is a Portland based sustainable outdoor apparel company, that has really captured my green heart. The holistic nature of their design philosophy, modern styling, and sustainable processes epitomize to me the Emerald standard for all retail enterprises.
 
In addition to well-fashioned and well-thought out product, they have also launched an environmentally responsible retail concept that satisfies the demands of us socially conscious customers. The key to their strategy involves blending an online store with brick-and-mortar storefronts, that they've coined, "Webfronts."

Currently in Seattle, Portland, Boulder and Chicago, these Webfronts appear to be like any other store: physical locations where shoppers can browse, try on garments, ask questions and purchase items. But the stores feature computer kiosks to allow customers to research products and, if they choose, buy them online for home delivery at no charge. Because purchases are made online, the stores can carry less inventory, thus reducing costs and reducing impact on the environment. Webfronts require less square footage, thereby cutting down on building materials and decreasing energy use.

I'll be sure to check out our store here in Seattle (actually it's in Bellevue, which is east of Seattle) and give you a full update. But in the meantime, check out their beautifully designed flash website and watch this incredibly tactile and inspiring video for a stylish and interactive look into the Nau philosophy of beauty, performance and sustainability.