One of our favorite designers for events is none other than David Stark. David works in a world free of constraints and expectations. Here, he hired to create the mood for an evening gala called ART NEXT for the American Friends of the Israel Museum. The logo for NEXT was transformed as a huge installation piece hanging from the ceiling. Created of welded steel, florescent flagging tape dramatically draped from all points along the type. The effect, especially when the light hits it, is radiating and dynamic.

Photography // Susan Montagna

With less than a week to go before Christmas is upon us, we thought we’d share a cool piece of art/holiday decoration. Hopefully this beautiful tree installation can inspire your last minute holiday decor. This delicate installation, made up of 3.3 miles of elastic cord, was developed from the Danish design duo at Studio Roso for the Victoria & Albert Museum.

“The project schedule was three weeks so Studio Roso emphasized on using readily available materials and processes, in order to meet the tight deadline. The project ran with all phases in parallel: Design, detailing and fabrication was all a combined process.”

I’m totally loving textile artist Amanda McCavour Spirograph-like disks of yarn. She weaves these pieces of yarn onto a water-soluble fabric that melts away and leaves a bowl like shell form. Accumulation is an installation at Toronto’s Gladstone Hotel Cafe. These disks of beautifully threaded flowers cascade down the wall and inspire my own imagination to come up with new ways to decorate.

I love the holidays! More opportunities to host and break out my special cocktail menus and party dresses. I am so inspired by this Kate Spade shoot. What a great way to reinvent the holidays. Can’t afford a tree? Draw one. Want a new holiday idea? Go crazy with the glitter! How cute and delicate.

I ask you, is it too late to whip up a holiday extravaganza with only three weeks to spare? I hope not, because I’m on board to make this happen!

Photography: Alison Conklin / Styling: Styled Creative / Cakes and Cupcakes: Brown Betty Desserts / Paper Materials: Two Paperdolls

read on to hear more about the shoot from the Kate Spade team!

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Last week marked my first guest blogging experience with Brooklyn Bride! I had a lot of fun picking inspiration for the site. My inspiration this week was on the color Coral. I’m kind of in love with this color. The best part is, depending on what colors it is paired with, it can transcend all seasons. Look for more of my upcoming guest posts on my inspiration at Brooklyn Bride or right here at Local Social.

1. Interior by Herzog & Meuron’s | 2. Shades by Group8 | 3. beach wedding via StyleMePretty | 4. Invitation by Be True Designs | 5. Bird Confetti from BHLDN | 6. cake and coral fringe via 100LayerCake | 7. Coral House by Group8

On a cold, gray day like today, these playful oversized knitted objects bring a little cheer and a feeling of warmth. I want to surround myself with them and take a nap.

Urchin Pouf by Christien Meindertsma

Aran Rug also by Christien Meindertsma

Knitted stools by Claire-Anne O’Brien

Knitted poufs and giant blanket/tapestry from hardblogcafe

I stumbled upon the artist, Sipho Mabona, while researching origami after I spied this wonderful installation by Meva made of countless folded windmills (note the beautiful shadows cast on the ground below).

Above images are by collaborative, Meva, via designboom

Mabona’s work makes me smile as it encompasses some of my favorite elements – minimalism and whimsy – along with a touch of the unexpected. His installations run the gamut from conventional paper constructed birds and fish to less typical subject matter like full scale interiors and life sized figures made entirely of paper. Continue on for a few examples of Mabona’s work all referenced from his website.

*Origami is a very effective technique to use for an event or an unadorned wall in your home as it is fairly simple & affordable to create and packs a big punch! Click here and here to get started.

I’m super into this table decor from Hey Look. This is so fall! It’s versatile enough and just right for a light meal with friends or even a somewhat formal dinner for the holidays. I’m in love with the gold vases and use of ferns. They even took the time to style some very cute corsages for the guests. I love that! I’m a big fan of the corny, “hello, my name is tag”, but in a much more subtle sophisticated way and this way (with gold flowers) is much more personal and intimate.

The setting: Chris French Metal Shop. The artists: an array of established and up-and-coming Oakland locals featuring the wonderful sculpture artist, Ann Weber, photographers Melissa Kaseman (who graciously documented the event) and Greg Goodman, as well as ceramicists Sara Paloma and Whitney Smith. The food: designed and put together by Caleb Jones from Michael Minna with assistance from Maggie Weber-Striplin with Pachamama Cookery who served up her signature pierogies as an appetizer. And last but not least, the music: Uriah Duffy and Max McVeety. These were our most recent collaborators all responsible for a wonderful Oakland art event that we hosted on June 25th of this year.

The concept for Vessels came from a desire to merge different media of art while celebrating Oakland in a unique pop-up style food-infused event. The status: a raging good time with more events to come (stay tuned!).

Photos // Summer Makovkin’s Photography. // We veiled the chefs in a screen of multi-colored yarn to create texture and mood…a beautiful pop of color infused into an industrial metal shop setting. It’s really easy to do and makes a great backdrop. // Sara Paloma’s vases. // Our long dining table filled with colorful vessels.

Photos // Ann Weber and Sara Paloma // a delicious pierogi // Whitney Smith and Sara Paloma demonstrated their talents

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Today’s post is inspired by decor ideas in the works for City Slicker Farms 10 year anniversary event tomorrow night: Collective Plate. Herbs combined with other flowers or even by themselves are a simple and lovely way to brighten and invigorate a space. And they feel like fall-ish too.

jonathan fong style

lovely things

dazzle gardens

cafe johnsonia