minzuu collection | a giveaway.

meet M I N Z U U  - an online shop inspired and started by a group of enthusiasts for culture, history, and artisanal handicraft that curates handmade home goods from artisans around the world. All these beautiful products carried by M I N Z U U are made with traditional (and often endangered) craftsmanship and most of which are fair trade certified. From around the world, they curate home and personal accessories like bedding, throw pillows, ceramics, and jewelry that combine modern designs with century-old techniques. Each item directly connects to its own cultural origin, displays a fusion of the old and the new, and empowers a community of artisans to thrive. M I N Z U U evokes the meaning “nation” in East Asian languages and symbolizes the exploration, appreciation, and celebration, of the rich diversity in our daily life. to celebrate M I N Z U U's collection and its artisans, we're giving away $500 of M I N Z U U's merchandise of your choice.

to enter to win a $500 gift card towards any M I N Z U U's merchandise of your choice, simply:

• follow M I N Z U U on instagram.

• comment below letting us know you followed on M I N Z U U on instagram.

• please comment by thursday, may 5th, 12pm PST.

• as always, be sure to leave a way to reach you via twitter, facebook, email or your website.

• hurrah! this giveaway is worlwide.

• we'll announce a winner selected by random number generator on my twitter account the week of may 9th, so be sure and follow along.

NEW DESIGN SHOW NYC - field trip

NEW DESIGN SHOW NYC - field trip

inspiring studio spaces.

artist isabelle tuchband's atrium art studio via the selby.

even though i really like working from home, i love having the luxury of the studio space i share in downtown L.A. - it's just such a creative escape from the norm, and can often inspire me just seeing what the other creatives there are up to. these spaces are something special, and i hope they inspire you a little. if you'd like more studio space inspiration, check out sites like freunde von freuden, in the make, and the studio work. you might also view our past studio tours, and check out my pinboards working girl and studio spaces. enjoy the tour!

designer Lotta Nieminen's downtown brooklyn studio via designsponge.

Jemima Kirke's Studio via Semaine.

artist Kai Samuels-Davis' workspace via windy lane studio.

GamFratesi Studio via yellowtrace.

fashion designer Lee Matthews' home studio photographed by Sean Fennessy via the design files.

ariele alasko's rustic and whimsical workshop via designsponge.

artist sabine steinmair in her studio via Living Corriere.

artist julian meagher's sydney studio via the design files.

Bruce Rowe's Anchor Ceramics studio via makette.

sydney home studio of artist ken done via freunde von freuden.

swedish summer cabin of production designer, artist and interior decorator Carouschka Streijiffert via photographer martin lot.

Casey Neistat's handmade new york studio via wired.

Guts & Glory design studio live/work space via designsponge.

Elizabeth Suzann's fashion design studio via facebook.

see san francisco – a sweet anniversary giveaway.

it's the one year anniversary of launching my book, see san francisco and i thought it might be nice to celebrate with a giveaway! i've been overwhelmed by the generosity of those of you who not only have bought my book, but took the time to share your own photos from the book on Instagram! every time i get tagged and see your pretty pics of my book it puts a big ol' smile on my face - so thank you! if you've not seen see san francisco, here's just a few of my favorite images - makes me nostalgic for my city by the bay now that i'm here living in L.A.! the book is a travel pictorial of san francisco and i tried to share the vibe of the 'real city' - as seen by someone who lived there (for 20 years!) - a kind of insider sneak peek of each neighborhood, what i loved best about them and a little history of how each of the city's unique neighborhoods came to be. to celebrate the anniversary, i'd like to give away 5 copies of see san francisco!

enter to win one of 5 copies of see san francisco, simply:

• pin any one (or more!) of your favorite book images here in the post onto any one of your pinterest boards and tag it #seesanfrancisco and @sfgirlbybay.

• comment here on the blog letting us know you pinned, by tuesday, may 3rd at midnight pst.

• hurrah! this giveaway is worldwide!

• as always, please be sure to leave a way to contact you via twitter, facebook, your blog or email.

• we'll announce the randomly selected winner later the week of may 3rd on my twitter, so be sure to follow along.

• all photos by victoria smith.

BLUE PRINT NY 2016 - milk & honey

BLUE PRINT NY 2016 - milk & honey

STATIONERY - kirstie allsopp

STATIONERY - kirstie allsopp

wear this there: palihouse.

perfectly low-key and designed to a T, L.A.'s palihouse in santa monica is calling our names. slip in for a coffee, or cocktail in the masculine-refined atmosphere - might we say just the right amount of rustic for a city girl like us. should you want to extend your los angeles stay, the palihotel on melrose avenue is equally as charming. for such outings, we suggest a coquettish take on menswear with a laid back suit, and moroccan inspired slides. to keep you from wasting away in such a beautiful scene, one of daniel wellington's latest time pieces will keep you on track. take 15% off dw products with the code: SFGIRL.

wear this there: zara roll up sleeve jacket and cropped trouser with front pleat; need supply babouche slides in black; ban.do i am very busy tee; kehana clutch bag from anthropologie; steven alan optical monroe sunglasses; and daniel wellington dapper reading in rose gold.

• photos via the palihouse and remodelista.

SCRAPBOOK - crate paper : shine

SCRAPBOOK - crate paper : shine

Tailored and Edited with pops of orange…

Dan Mazzarini and Brian Humphrey of New York interior design firm BHDM really created a beautiful home for their client. I like the bulk scale of all the pieces especially the black cabinet.

To see the entire home tour, head over to Domaine Home.

{Images via Adam Macchia}

Filed under: Decor, Decorating, Furniture, Lighting, Living Room, Office Design, Wall art Tagged: black, gray, Interior Design, orange, tailored

on the down-low.

the urbanite.

there's something so comfy about a low, slouchy sectional sofa. i myself opted for a sectional when i moved to L.A. - i wanted a really cozy, comfortable place to entertain where guests felt welcome to kick off their shoes, parade around barefoot and curl up on a cozy sofa, so i bought a white one with easy to wash slipcovers. i love the look of a real 'down-low' sofa, too. it's oddly kind of sophisticated for being so comfy and almost futon-like - they can look perhaps a bit minimalist moroccan, and then in other settings give off a sort of bohemian beachy look. but i think a low sectional sofa just says, 'come on in, have a cocktail and make yourself at home'.

la buhardi .

a few great sources for the slouchy sofa look are the Belgian Linen Edlyn and tassa both at anthropologie; this Collins Marled Chenille Sofa; a low bench or platform bed or daybed; or even a twin bed with a little imagination can be used as a slouchy sofa. in one of my first studio apartments, i pushed a twin bed and box spring up against the wall, without a frame directly on the floor and added a big white quilt and bunch of mismatched print throw pillows and voilá - instant seating area in a really small space (for not a lot of money!). forgive me the many, many images and examples here, but there's a lot of looks to choose from when it comes to down-low comfort and coziness.

gardener & marks interiors.

cose di casa.

clockwise, l to r: wabisabi; the design chaser; bo bedre; brie williams via the style files; elle decoration uk; and arch daily.

laure joliet for new york times t magazine.

bohemian homes.

Hotel Wiesler in Graz, Austria, via yatzer.

behance.

homify.

life styled.

merchant design studio.

home of Danielle de Lange, of the style files.

kk living.

vogue.

elle decoration.

boligliv.

milk magazine.

ulfg bohlin.

purple area.