[uhp-steyt fan-see] - adjective

1. not exorbitant or extravagent by city standards, however in a rural setting (like upstate new york) it is in fact, quite fancy.

2. a wonderful blog dedicated to art, design and other things that are indeed upstate fancy.

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Feb
09
housewares
ARTIST INSPIRATION with wook woodworking

Please welcome Alexandra Snook and Edward Way from Wook Woodworking sharing what inspires them 

Ed and I are husband and wife, and we run our own small furniture design company.  I would have to say our primary inspiration is always the natural world.  Repetition of form and natural textures as in the beauty of old weathered wood, the spiral in a shell, or the smooth undulations in the grain pattern of Cherry are all inspiring.  Wood itself is really our greatest inspiration.  The variety of species and their corresponding colors, textures and grain patterns never cease to amaze us.  Motivation, however, can come from an entirely different place.  Reflecting on the works of great designers, architects and sculptors is usually what gets us really fired up about creating.  And once we have a  concept, it’s into the studio we go, working days, nights and weekends and often skipping meals and not getting enough sleep. Great design incorporates function and form in a seamless fusion, and amazing designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Gehry and Ray and Charles Eames (looking very cool on their motorcycle in the picture above, might I add) all exemplify this.  In terms of our personal style, we probably most relate to an Asian aesthetic.  Clean lines, impeccable joinery and appreciation for the original material all greatly influence our work.  We also love to use sustainable materials and try to do so whenever possible.  We are always on the lookout for new products and materials that satisfy our want to produce eco-conscious pieces.  

Thanks so much for letting us share our inspirations with you- Alexandra and Edward 

wook

Dec
02
housewares
PLEASE SANTA pretty please…

I know I say it a lot but I have to have these vases from Pretty Random Objects.  I have had my eye on them for quite a while and they now have a pre-order for their large squirrel vase. I not so secretly want an entire family of them to live in my apartment but would be very happy with just one to call my own. They remind me of the adorable bird vases from J. Mendicino available at Three Potato Four. Which would look great paired up with the squirrels as well. Maybe this year I will have a very woodland Christmas. 

Oct
17
housewares
CHEW ON your own underwear

My corgi Einstein has an unnatural obsession with underwear. In the two years i have known him he has managed to ruin about $300 in bras and underwear. So this find is the perfect fix. These plush underwear chew toys from Casbah Kitten are cute, inexpensive and it now is acceptable to leave your underwear on the floor. She has some great toys for both cats and dogs and is a proud member of efa (etsy for animals) where the profits from their shop goes to animal related charities. 

Oct
15
housewares
MY FAVORITE BOOK SHELF for my favorite books

I love a good book. Last week I just finished reading one of my favorites (the perks of being a wallflower) for close to the 12th time. Since I read so much my bookshelf is overflowing and my favorite books are getting hidden by bigger newer books. Now I never meant for this to happen, my favorite books are near and dear to my heart and I in no way want them to feel neglected. I want them to feel like part of the family.

And that is why I love the idea behind the custom bookshelf by Mineisclouds. You can take your favorite books and make them the center of attention in any room. And all of your favorites will be lined up and the same height so no one will feel more important then the next. I’m all for equal rights for favorite books.