A big thank you to Martha Stewart Weddings for featuring our Thistle Quilt in their Summer 2014 issue! Check it out on newsstands now.
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| Allem Studio Thistle Quilt featured in the Martha Stewart Summer 2014 Wedding Issue |
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Featured in Martha Stewart Weddings!
Monday, July 7, 2014
Behind the Scenes of Our Latest Photo Shoot
Photo shoots are not only vital for our business (our website would be something less than stellar if it there weren't any pictures of our products on it!), but they're also a lot of fun. It's always great to see creative people do what they do best. With that in mind, we thought we'd take some behind the scenes shots of our latest photo shoot. Have a look, and get a little sneak peak at some of our upcoming designs!
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| Our photographer prepping the scene for a photo of one of our new lumbar pillows. |
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| These single shots of our pillows are what you see when you visit the Allem Studio website. |
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| A group shot of some of our latest designs. |
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| Previewing the shots. |
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| Camera ready: new designs! |
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| A little sneak preview of some of our latest designs. |
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Decorating with Neutrals
by Nicole Lindquist
Sometimes people seem to think rooms decorated with neutral tones (shades of white, ivory, taupe, beige, gray, black, and, depending on who you talk to, navy) can come across, at the very least, as boring and, at worst, as cold and clinical, but we're here to tell you that is a big ole myth. While Allem Studio is all for using bright pops of color to jazz up a tired living room or breath new life into a stale bedroom, a lot of decorating magic can be done with a neutral color palette. Whatever your personal style aesthetic you can create a visually interesting room with just a few neutral tones. Black, gray, and white are great for a modern style, while creams and ivories are excellent for creating a warm and inviting space. From old world charming to beach house chic, neutrals are enormously versatile. The key takeaway is that neutral definitely does not have to mean plain!
Take a look at our design idea for a living room using neutral tones and Allem Studio's own Johar Charcoal and Porte Lumbar pillows. And if you'd like to replicate this design idea in your own home, check below the image for a list of all the items featured that make this space the epitome of elegance.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Dazzling Dining Room
by Nicole Lindquist
Dining rooms are all about function, but that doesn't mean that they can't make a statement. Despite the relatively small corner of the home it occupies and its fairly simple furnishings there are ways to make your dining room a gorgeous showcase of your design sensibilities. Getting bold with your color scheme is one way to ensure this space wows. Vivid pops of color will add huge visual interest to the room and allow your personality to shine through. A punchy wall color or a uniquely colored dining table, chairs, hutch, or buffet will also create a great focal point for the rest of your design. Decor is also not to be forgotten. Have fun with artwork and lighting. A dining room is a great place to hang a fantastic chandelier. And don't discount something as simple as eye-catching new placemats or table runners and a striking new dinnerware set to really dress up a too-plain dining space. Check out our mood board below showcasing some beautiful and colorful dining room furnishings and Allem Studio's own Jaali table runner, placemats, and napkins.
1) Allem Studio Jaali Table Runner
2) Allem Studio Jaali Placemat
3) Allem Studio Jaali Napkin
4) Ro Sham Beaux Libby Hanging Light
5) "Shining Through I" Painting Available on Zinc Door
6) Redford House Livingston Hutch in Blueberry with Raw Cotton Interior
7) Dash and Albert Diamond Canary/White Indoor/Outdoor Rug
8) Redford House Carved Dining Table in Tarnished Silver
9) Redford House Swedish Cane Side Chair in Tarnished Silver
10) Global Views Small Cobalt Gold Swirl Vase
11) Global Views White Bulb Shape Vases
12) DwellStudio Teema 6" Blue Soup and Cereal Bowl by Iittala
13) DwellStudio 5 Piece Oro Gold Cutlery Set
14) DwellStudio Teema Blue Saucer by Iittala
15) DwellStudio Teema 10.25" Blue Dinner Plate by Iittala
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Beautiful Seville
by Nicole Lindquist
In the name of showcasing the amazing sights (and sites!) that the world has to offer and perhaps to encourage the spread of the travel bug, we're developing a series of blog posts to highlight the places around the world that have sparked our creativity over the years and given rise to some of our favorite Allem Studio designs. For example, our Seville products, pictured below, were created to embody the spirit and aesthetic of their namesake city, the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia in Spain.
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| Both photos feature Allem Studio Seville Euro Shams, Seville Navy Pillow Cases, and the reversible Seville Duvet Cover. The photo on the left also features our Seville Quilt, Rita Pillows, and Marilyn Lumbar Pillow. The photo on the right also features our Marilyn Pillows and our Zoe Pillow. |
There is no doubt that travel can be a highly rewarding experience, even just listening to the globetrotting adventures of others has the power to energize and motivate. There is so much beauty in the world that it's difficult not to be awed and inspired by all manner of natural and man-made wonders. And Seville is certainly not short on beautiful spaces to spend a little (or a lot!) of vacation time. In fact, this historic inland port city is home to three(!!!) UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Perhaps this is less surprising when one considers that the city is more than two millennia old and spent time under Roman and Muslim rule before coming under Spanish control, providing it with a rich cultural heritage and a unique mix of architectural influences.
With so much to see and do, a trip to Seville is sure not to disappoint. First on the list should be outings to the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Alcázar, the Archivo General de Indias, and the Seville Cathedral. The Alcázar was originally built as a fort when Seville was under Muslim rule, and, as such, it serves as an excellent example of Moorish architecture. It was subsequently turned into a royal palace and is still used (in part) by the royal family of Spain today. According to Wikipedia, this makes the Alcázar "the oldest royal palace still in use in Europe."
The Archivo General de Indias (in English, The General Archive of the Indies) is a great pit stop for any history buff. The building houses all of the documentation related to Spain's overseas empire, including Christopher Columbus' journal. The building itself was constructed in the late 16th century and provides an interesting example of Spanish Renaissance architecture.
The Seville Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, was built throughout the 15th century and completed in the early 16th century and is the largest cathedral and third-largest church in the world. This grand church houses the remains of Christopher Columbus and offers tourists the opportunity to climb to the top of its bell tower, the Giralda, for a fantastic view of the city.
Besides the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Seville offers plenty more to see. While the city can lay claim to one of the largest Old Towns in Europe giving visitors plenty of opportunity to steep themselves in its rich history, there are also more modern architectural wonders to behold, including the Metropol Parasol. This all-wooden structure was completed just three short years ago and houses, among other things, a museum, a market, a public plaza, and terraces that offer great views of the city. Its unique design is certainly something to behold.
In addition to all of the sites to see, the fact that Seville was a primary center for the development of flamenco dancing and has multiple popular festivals including the Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the Feria de Abril (April Fair) should not be overlooked. Indeed, there is just as much to do in Seville as there is to see.
"Bored" is not a word that will roll off the tongue of any visitor to this beautiful and fascinating city. Do you have your passport ready?
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| The Alcázar of Seville - CC Image by Michal Osmenda |
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| Moorish Architecture Inside the Alcázar - CC Image by Emmanuel Brunner |
The Archivo General de Indias (in English, The General Archive of the Indies) is a great pit stop for any history buff. The building houses all of the documentation related to Spain's overseas empire, including Christopher Columbus' journal. The building itself was constructed in the late 16th century and provides an interesting example of Spanish Renaissance architecture.
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| The Archivo General de Indias - CC Image by Anual |
The Seville Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, was built throughout the 15th century and completed in the early 16th century and is the largest cathedral and third-largest church in the world. This grand church houses the remains of Christopher Columbus and offers tourists the opportunity to climb to the top of its bell tower, the Giralda, for a fantastic view of the city.
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| The Seville Cathedral - photo courtesy of Jasmin Shergill |
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| The Giralda - CC Image by Paul Hermans |
Besides the three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Seville offers plenty more to see. While the city can lay claim to one of the largest Old Towns in Europe giving visitors plenty of opportunity to steep themselves in its rich history, there are also more modern architectural wonders to behold, including the Metropol Parasol. This all-wooden structure was completed just three short years ago and houses, among other things, a museum, a market, a public plaza, and terraces that offer great views of the city. Its unique design is certainly something to behold.
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| The Metropol Parasol - CC Image by Rubendene |
In addition to all of the sites to see, the fact that Seville was a primary center for the development of flamenco dancing and has multiple popular festivals including the Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the Feria de Abril (April Fair) should not be overlooked. Indeed, there is just as much to do in Seville as there is to see.
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| Women in Flamenco Dresses at the Feria de Abril - CC Image by Ed Tarwinski |
"Bored" is not a word that will roll off the tongue of any visitor to this beautiful and fascinating city. Do you have your passport ready?
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Pops of Color for Your Patio
by Nicole Lindquist
Now that spring has most definitely sprung we're finally starting to coming out of our winter hibernation and head outside to enjoy the much-anticipated warmer weather. And with more and more time being spent in the great outdoors it makes us want to turn our backyards/patios/balconies (whatever form your little haven of fresh air and nature comes in) into a proper oasis. At Allem Studio we believe that your outdoor space can and should be as beautiful, warm, and inviting as your indoor space.
However, anyone who has ever tried her hand at landscaping knows that it can be just as much work (and just as much of a headache) as renovating. Personally, we prefer a much simpler route towards a beautiful backyard. That's why we've designed a line of outdoor pillows to adorn your patio sets and other outdoor furniture. Flowers aren't the only game in town anymore. Check out some of our designs below for a new way to introduce a pop of color to your backyard!
The Allem Studio designs featured above are: top row (from left to right): Crab Red Pillow, Nautilus Navy Pillow, Starfish Pillow, Damascus Navy Pillow, and Cherry Pillow; middle row (from left to right): Waves Sky Lumbar Pillow, Worli Yellow Pillow, and Berry Lumbar Pillow; and bottom row (from left to right): Knottica Navy Pillow, Phul Orange Pillow, Waves Green Pillow, Sindoor Peach Pillow, and Aris Sky Pillow. Check out our website for even more colors and styles!
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Crazy for Chevron!
by Nicole Lindquist
There is almost nothing better for freshening up a space than the addition of a bold pattern. One pattern that we love here at Allem Studio is chevron, as seen here, here, here, here, here, and here. And this is just a small sample of our chevron printed products! Told you we love it!
The word chevron comes from French and refers to the rafters joined to create a roof. Not surprisingly, as the name suggests, a single chevron looks something like the uppercase Greek letter lambda, i.e., an inverted V shape. However, the pattern is often repeated on textiles and in design and architecture to create a zigzag or wave-like effect.
The word chevron comes from French and refers to the rafters joined to create a roof. Not surprisingly, as the name suggests, a single chevron looks something like the uppercase Greek letter lambda, i.e., an inverted V shape. However, the pattern is often repeated on textiles and in design and architecture to create a zigzag or wave-like effect.
Given the mod look of this pattern, you might be surprised to learn that it actually has ancient roots and can be traced back nearly four thousand years to pottery found on the island of Crete in Greece. Since the 18th century chevrons have commonly been used as insignia to denote officer rank in various militaries around the world. Chevrons are also often seen on coats of arms and have frequently been used historically as a layout for hardwood flooring where the pattern is referred to as "point de Hongrie."
In more recent history, the chevron pattern was adopted and popularized by several fashion houses, particularly Missoni, which incorporated the pattern liberally into their trademark multicolored knits. Due in part to the influence of the fashion industry, chevron exploded in popularity in the 1970s and has recently been enjoying a resurgence. You can now find chevron on just about anything you can think of for your home from chairs and coffee tables to rugs, lamps, and pillows.
With such a long history and such diverse applications, chevron can quite appropriately be described as classic, retro, or modern depending on how one chooses to use the pattern in an interior design scheme. We've created a mood board using our Chevron Orange Pillow as inspiration.
With such a long history and such diverse applications, chevron can quite appropriately be described as classic, retro, or modern depending on how one chooses to use the pattern in an interior design scheme. We've created a mood board using our Chevron Orange Pillow as inspiration.
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| The Allem Studio pillows featured in our mood board this week are our Chevron Orange Pillow and our Casablanca Navy Lumbar Pillow. |
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