takenobu igarashi

i studied igarashi in school and most admire his use of simple, clean lines in axonometric alphabets and product design. after 25 years in graphic design, he moved to los angeles to study sculpture. his current work includes mostly sculptures for public spaces all over japan, with the involvement of marble, terracotta and wood materials. during his graphic design years, one of his international clients was meiji milk products company – one of my favorites for japanese chocolate candy.

image sources: igarashistudio & rosenbauer

private pools

i have a thing for swimming pools in that they intrigue me and frighten me at the very same time. i don’t really know why this is, but i do know that this seems to be the case when viewing photos like these ones. a feeling similar to that of when riding a roller coaster or viewing a horror film overcomes me. curious i know, but these photos will most likely not elicit any feelings of fear in most, only pure calmness and serenity. i hope you do enjoy!










images via: architectural digest

five things

happy weekend loves! it’s been a while since i’ve done a favorite things post. we are moving eight days from now. life is hectic and always changing, but change is inevitable. and with that, i leave you with this quote: if you’re in a bad situation, don’t worry it’ll change. if you’re in a good situation, don’t worry it’ll change. ~ john a. simone, sr.

love bakes good cakes

1. silpat silicone cookie sheet liner $39.95 • williams-sonoma
2. marseille navy oven mitt $12 • williams-sonoma
3. lemon olive oil cake $40 • dean & deluca
4. le creuset classic round dutch oven $305 • williams-sonoma
5. peugeot u’select lacquered pepper mill in dijon $55 • williams-sonoma
6. cuisinart 14 cup food processor $199.95 • williams-sonoma
7. revere copper bottom teakettle $22.99 • amazon
8. global 10 piece knife block set $910 • williams-sonoma
9. fire king jadeite small refrigerator dish w. lid $40 • ebay
10. bamboo cutting board • totally bamboo
11. anchor hocking glass jadeite swirl mixing bowls $299.95 • ebay
12. wooden cooking spoons $7.50 each • dean & deluca
13. french vintage enamel salt box • tias

oh! and something important to remember:
“if you’re afraid of butter, use cream.” ~ j. child ✵✌

a light breakfast w. a hawaiian twist!

welcome to chez kristina! we’re serving up fresh eggs straight off the farm, courtesy of my father-in-law’s neighbors, that which we scrambled with a bit of coconut milk; sweet potato hash with orange peppers & spices; fruit pots which include sweet cantaloupe, pineapple and blueberries; hot rice drizzled with soy sauce and sprinkled with black sesame seeds – in hawaii and japan, rice is included in many of the morning time meals – we have organic whole grain bread, which lends a satisfying textural bite; and to top it all off, fresh pineapple/orange juice and strong kona coffee.

bungalow bathroom

image source: 1912 bungalow

i have a strange fascination with bathrooms – ones from the 1920′s to be exact. the high tank toilets especially, are creepily cool to me. it’s sort of similar to my strange fear/fascination of swimming pools. though i can swim, i fear them and am drawn to them at the very same time.

image source: uk architectural antiques

image source: polperro press

mello yello

1. sweetheart sunnies $14 fredflare
2. chartreuse enamel bow stud earrings $48 shopbop
3. foley + corrina emerald mid city tote $395 shopbop
4. glossy heart cosmetic bag $4.80 forever21
5. red hots necklace by kristina
6. grove stand lemon tote $6.99 modcloth
7. lafco yellow daffodil candle $55 bella claire home
8. fleur-de-lys tumbler $8 anthropologie
9. clean perfume $38 urban outfitters
10. citron du sud classic toile two-wick candle $42 bella claire home
11. coral kimchi blue slingback heels $59 urban outfitters
12. tory burch limoncello large cosmetic case $95 shopbop
13. shimmering shamrock nail polish $2.80 forever21
14. mango scented nail polish $2.80 forever21
15. mello yello classic logo ladies t-shirt $23 amazon

happy birthday mom!

by kristina

she is a gemini
and an artist
she is beautiful
funny
and light-hearted
she is a teacher
who is gifted
she is a believer
who is loving
she plays the piano
the guitar
and sings
she is strong
she is a friend
a wife
a grandmother
she is real
she is a mother-in-law
a sister
and a daughter
she is the best mom ever.

love,
kristina & frank

la salle de bain

by kristina

josephine baker: 1906-1975

this amazing, american born, french entertainer holds somewhat of a special place in my heart, because she was both a client and good friend to my grandfather. baker had adopted twelve orphaned children of mixed decent, for whom she affectionately called, the rainbow tribe. she wanted to show that children of different ethnicities and religions could be brothers and sisters.

josephine baker had given this beautiful, mustard yellow, glazed ashtray to my grandparents as a gift. chateau des milandes is inscribed on the inside the small castle in the south of france, that was the main house of the lords of caumont, prior to baker buying it in 1947. she had told my grandfather that she had wished for my both my grandfather and grandmother, along with miki sawada {granddaughter to founder of mitsubishi} to all come live with her, once retired. but this never did happen.

five things ~ good things edition

 {vintage salt & pepper shakers by lustro ware: for yummy hard-boiled eggs}

although it’s not quite yet friday, it pretty much feels like it is. and that’s always
a good thing right? when i do a five things post, i find it difficult to keep it at five,
which is also a good thing. i suppose i will try and get everything in at some point
or another, or maybe not. (and yet another good thing) and with all that being
said, i leave you with five things that contribute to my smile today!

                         {vintage baubles from a nice, france flea market}

             {a few cookbooks that i’ve been meaning to give some love to}

       {chocolate mini eggs w. candy coated shells, or what’s left of them}

                  {my trusty wrist watch & bracelets from my mom & sister}

david hockney

i love his art. so moody and bold, is how i describe it. the sun is always shining and the colors are electrifying. he was an important contributor of the pop art movement in the 60′s and is considered one of the most influential british artists of the twentieth century.

musical chairs

by kristina

1. copenhagen chair {egg chair by arne jacobsen – 1958} restoration hardware
2. key west wicker chair ballard designs
3. butterfly wicker chair vincent sheppard
4. bordeaux all-weather wicker chair williams-sonoma
5. poang chair sketch {noboru nakamura} ikea
6. vienna bentwood chair {michael thonet – 1859} crate&barrel
7. vitra lounge chair {charles eames – 1956} vitra
8. marais a chair {xavier pauchard for tolix - 1934} dwr
9. wassily chair {best-known bauhaus design by marcel breuer – 1925 aka model b3 chair} steelform
10. aeron chair {don chadwick & bill stumpf – 1994 dot-com bubble} herman miller
11. lc1 basculant chair {le corbusier – 1928} steeldomus
12. maxwell leather chair restoration hardware

p.s. i’d like to wish my niece, lillian rose who turns 1 today, a very happy birthday!!

antique finds

over the week-end my husband and i took a drive to mt. horeb, a quaint little town with street-lined boutiques and old-fashioned bakeries. once i enter an antique store, beware, i just can’t leave! i left with this anchor hocking refrigerator dish in it’s striking signature green hue. and although i already have far too many, i just couldn’t pass up on these cute little schlitz juice glasses.