Designers can be inspired by anything - travel, film, a distant memory - the most important thing is what happens next. We were looking at modern art when we designed the Labyrinth bedding. The key was to take all the  influences from different art movements, like abstract expressionism and minimalism, in a way that seems relevant today. Labyrinth has a little bit of Twombly, Marden and LeWitt all mixed together. It's subtle, monochromatic but not too quiet because it manages to be a straightforward geometric and meandering maze at the same time! 

1. Brice Marden  2. Labyrinth Ash Pillow 3. Labyrinth Duvet Set 4. Cy Twombly 5. Sol LeWitt

I always love seeing where designers get inspiration, so thought you'd like to see where Batavia came from...

Lately we've been more inspired than usual by the fashion fashion industry's take on textiles. Their interpretation of old world styles has us looking in a fresh new way at traditional print and pattern. Gucci's bold ikat and Givenchy's take  Moroccan motifs set us of to comb the globe for new ideas...  

Bingka and I are out circumnavigating the globe, putting the finishing touches on the furniture line....Where are we and what day is it? We have been on so many planes and to so many countries that I am starting to feel like Angelina. I have seen so much and am so inspired I thought I would share some of the materials and inspiration from our furniture design files.

Have I ever shared how much I adore stripes? I just love the possibility of stripe designs - from bold and nautical to quiet and delicate. Here are some of my favorite striped items right now.

Top Row from left:

Shower curtain from Brookfarm General Store

Epice tote via evencleveland blog

Middle Row from left:

Madewell striped long sleeve shirt

Agnes Martin lithographs

Turkish Hamman towels from Laviva Home

Bottom Row from left:

Fog Linen trays from Brookfarm General Store

Deck towels available at Partners & Spade

Guess which images here are found in nature and which ones are painted by hand? No, it’s not a trick question! Even though these trees look like they are painted by some color-loving abstract expressionist, this is actually how they exist in real life! These Rainbow Eucalyptus trees shed layers of bark and then darken at different times, giving these trees their multi-hued looks. If you want to try crafting your own versions with little branches and twigs, Ginette Lapalme’s painted sticks are good inspiration for a fun diy project.

Images of Rainbow Eucalyptus trees from:
http://www.terragalleria.com/pacific/maui/maui-north/picture.hawa2592.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124573@N00/2324710383/in/set-72157604068292271/

I am loving this trend! It has the ease and just enough slouchiness of someone casually taking off their shirt and tying it around their waist, but these are the more refined, more grown-up versions of that idea. It's quite clever of these designers to focus on a really functional thing on a garment like a sleeve, taking away what it is originally meant to be, and turning it into a design detail.

1. This is my dream sweater right now! I would just live in it all year long! Collection K via Reborn

2. A button down shirt as a skirt? I love it! Alexander Wang via La Garconne 

3. A very nice take on a crisp white cotton summer blouse. Slow and Steady Wins the Race via Creatures of Comfort 

4. Shini from Park and Cube illustrating how to look chic in a shirt-as-skirt

Last week I showed you some photos I took at the NY botanical gardens. Now I am going to share with you some gardening-related things that I like!
 

Pictured clockwise from top left:

Guy Wolff pots- some of my favorite handmade pots. They come in so many different pretty styles. When I went to the botanical garden I picked up a few new ones in the gift shop!

Wire planter from terrain.

Backpack from APC- ok, so I guess this isn't specifically for gardening but I imagine this would be a good thing to have with you while you take a hike to check out the local wilderness.

Pot and plant stands from Campo de Fiore - another favorite of mine. I love these pots because they have been aged in a greenhouse and when you water your plants some moss grows on the surface of the pots.

Celia Birtwell watering can available at Sprout Home. I think Celia Birtwell's drawing style is so charming- she was married to Ossie Clark and designed all the prints for his fashion line. By the way, this is a very nice mother's day present!

Canvas and leather tool bag from Orvis - this is a very handsome storage bag for hand tools and gardening gloves.

This is my fantasy to have a wall of greenery! Picture from Elle Decoration (UK) May 2010 issue

I am crazy for the Prada Spring 2010 collection! Even more than any individual piece, I love the spirit of the collection - sparkly and bright but easy and unfussy. This look translates so well into the home - an updated chandelier that adds some sparkly interest while also seeming very down to earth, a modern lucite chair that has an unexpected rustic canvas seat, and a coffee table shaped like a giant gemstone adds glamour. Also, the grayish-blue in the picture on the top right corner would make the best wall paint color, don't you think?

Pictured:

Prada Spring 2010 images courtesy of Prada.com

Giogali chandelier available at Design Within Reach

Prada plexi and leather sandal

Small Montauk Turquoise Drop Pendant from Alexis Bittar

Plexi-craft George II chair

Alexandra von Furstenberg Bullet cocktail table

From Nina's Design Notebook: Desert Storm

This look from Balenciaga's Pre-Fall 2010 look book is so great - the colors of the sweater immediately reminded me of a trip I took to Moab, Utah a couple of years ago. I loved the grandeur of the landscape there and I hope to go back to visit again! In the mean time I will occupy my mind thinking about this cupboard from Nightwood, and desert-inspired tee's from Cavern.