2020 | en shell space

SCULPTURAL LAMPS: WHEN ART MEETS FUNCTION

July 11, 2020

Gone are the days of boring ole table lamps. Lighting can be as artistic and sculptural as it can be functional. Lighting is one of the easiest ways to bring in character and handmade elements into any room. We have so many brilliant makers and creators blending their craft with the need of functionality. I’ve been stalking these sculptural lamps through all avenues of the Internet, gone on a deep dive viewing vintage makers, and have come across some mind-blowing mediums. There are all types of stunning hand-thrown ceramics for starters, but I’ve also seen lamps made from paper-mache, carved wood, and corrugated cardboard that have completely knocked my socks off. Not only is the lamp base a complete showstopper in itself, the lamp shades have taken on a whole art form, too. Shades are being made from bespoke linens, jute, grass cloth, raffia, and wicker coming in an array of simplistic or sculptural shapes. There’s never been a better time to be a lamp! Say bye-bye to lamps that make you yawn and welcome the beauty of masterful craftsmanship into your home with open arms.

Feast your eyes on a few of my favorite table lamps below. Be prepared to be inspired!

Row 1: Atelier Vime , Marta Bonilla , Ferm Living
Row 2: FAINA Design , Kassandra Thatcher via Spartan Shop , Harvey Bouterse Ceramics
Row 3: Urban Outfitters , LRNCE , Danny Kaplan Studio

SCULPTURAL LAMPS: WHEN ART MEETS FUNCTION

COLOR STORY: MUDDY RED WITHIN THE HOME

April 09, 2020

Ceramics by Saija Halko made of basaltic volcanic ash collected from the Faroe Islands.

Hi everyone! How is everyone hanging in there? 2020 has been a wild ride, to say the least. Currently, I’m living on Waiheke Island in New Zealand, and I am loving this time to slow down and soak in my surroundings. It gives me extra moments to notice all the little things and appreciate the things we tend to take for granted during the busy day-to-day. I am fortunate enough to be living on a beautiful island surrounded by serene beaches, lush forests in every shade of green, and the songs of all the native birds…WOW what is life?!

My husband and I have been working at a winery for the past 5 months or so, and during this time of lockdown, we have been so appreciative to be able to work as essential workers. We’ve been working harvest and picking grapes for the 2020 vintage, and boy is it some back-breaking work. Through the sweat, sunburns, and bee stings, it has been incredible to get out of the house and connect with nature. In the vines, it has become meditative to snip the grapes and watch the leaves blow and turn as the season is transitioning into autumn.

I’ve always been one to be inspired by nature. As a kid, I would have buckets of collected rocks and seashells, and I would pick leaves and flowers to be pressed inside my books. Thinking back, you could probably still find some of the four-leaf clovers I pressed inside of my parents’ hardcover books at home. That being said, I still am one that gets filled up when I have those sensory overload moments in nature. It’s good for the soul!

I don’t know if it’s me being a little homesick, but lately, I’ve been so fond of that burnt, muddy, earth-toned, deep red hue. It reminds me of the stillness and solitude of the desert and has me reminiscing road trips through the Southwest. Here in New Zealand, I’ve seen that same deep red in the volcanic rocks in Wellington. As an ode to my current color obsession, I’ve compiled some of my favorite home items in an array of rusty red hues. Nature has and always will be a starting point for me staying grounded and an inspiration for what I incorporate inside my home.

I hope you enjoy the read and hope it temporarily takes your mind off of things. Stay healthy and stay well my friends!

Photo of the Argentinean Desert by Pampa

From Clockwise: Marble Cup , Woven Trivet , Ceramic Dome Pendant , Textile Art Piece , Ceramic Sculpture , Rust Coffee Cup , Handwoven Rug , Marble Platter , Stone Flatware Set , Burnt Terra Planter

COLOR STORY: MUDDY RED WITHIN THE HOME

CURRENT STATE OF GRATITUDE

February 26, 2020

Photo taken by Nicole Kaczenski of en shell

I just welcomed year 31 here on this planet earth. I’m happy to report that I am going into this next year with an overwhelming feeling of contentment and appreciation of life. I’m feeling super freakin’ grateful right now for all the zig-zags that have led me to where I am now. My hubby and I were chatting on the phone with my mom-in-law this morning, and she mentioned a very important fact that I haven’t necessarily thought about before. She mentioned that our lives here in New Zealand have been a lot of moments where we “have had nothing and have turned into something special”, and wowww that really hit home. I didn’t think that at age 31, I would hardly have any physical possessions, would be living in a tiny studio apartment with my husband, and also sharing a 20-year-old car that was on the verge of breaking down at any given moment, but here I am… and I am feeling damn grateful for it. I feel so content with what I have, yet I still have so much appreciation for a future that I don’t even know exists yet. I’m grateful for my ambition to accomplish goals and looking back, I’m proud of myself for goals that I have met even though at the time, I don’t think I was fully aware that the goal-achieving was even taking place. I think my little girl self would be pretty psyched on my adult version self, which is a hugely rewarding feeling.

As of late, a ritual that I have been trying to make room for is taking more time to self-reflect and shine gratitude on all the little things and moments that light me up. I’ve been trying to make more of an effort to actually acknowledge those times where I don’t seem to have a care in the world. I’ve been making a weekly routine to sit down, with incense lit, and write in my journal about those positive instances that make a difference in my day and week. I write down things that I am grateful for, the things that I am proud of myself for, and I set intentions towards steps and paths that I want to take soon. It really has been making a huge difference in me feeling centered and level headed during this limbo-land of uncertainty that I am currently experiencing. To me, it’s a way of practicing the art of surrendering and letting go so that I can be fully submerged in the beauty that is taking place right at this present time.

Below are a few personal images from the past few months and a fun collage I made of some moments, objects, and feelings that just make me feel full. Reflecting back, I am feeling quite proud of myself for making moves towards creating a life I’ve always dreamt of, and for that, I feel pretty damn cool.

Image on left: seashells collected on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. | Image on right: recently thrifted blouse.

Image on left: the eve of my wedding day in Cayucos, CA. | Image on right: polaroid taken in Gisborne, New Zealand.

A collage of meaningful moments, phrases that pack power in my current day-to-day, and a mix of imagery that portray my current state of gratitude.

CURRENT STATE OF GRATITUDE

HOSPITALITY DESIGN - INSPIRED BY HOTEL LES ROCHES ROUGES

January 14, 2020

Photo by Lucy Williams of Fashion Me Now

Hello world! Wowie, it’s been a hot minute since I have gotten to post on here. For those of you who don’t know, my husband and I are currently working at a winery on Waiheke Island in New Zealand for the season, and WOW has it been busy and consuming most of my energy these days. It is peak tourist season out here, and we are HUSTLING the wine. Want to know about a fabulous island-grown Syrah or a Bordeaux style blend? I’m your girl!

On the more creative side of things, I am happy to present to you a new room design inspired by the lovely Hotel Les Roches Rouges – yep, you’ve most likely seen this beautiful space all over Instagram and Pinterest, but how could you not post tons of photos of this space? It is quite the photogenic scene. Hotel Les Roches Rouges is located in a town called Saint-Raphael in one of most iconic of places, the French Riviera. This gem of a vacation destination overlooks the Mediterranean, and it proves to me once again that the Mediterranean is having a major design rebirth over the past few years.

Hotel Les Roches Rouges gives off an approachable and relaxed spot to vacation while also maintaining an aesthetically inspiring and coastal cool atmosphere. Created by the team of Perseus, Hotel Les Roches Rouges is designed for the modern traveler, and it has a modern design to match. The building originates from the late 1950’s; however, it has been reimagined by architects Hugo Sauzay and Charlotte de Tonnac of Parisian design firm Festen. The hotel gives a nod to the mid-century, French modernism that reflects the time of the 50’s and 60’s while also staying current with pops of earth tones, modern art, and custom-made furniture. I love the layers of natural elements like woods, wovens, linens, and terra-cotta. Sprinkled throughout are vintage finds making for a flawless balance of old and new. The entire vacation space feels abstract while also managing to stay organic and cohesive.

So here it is – a room design inspired by the glorious Cote d'Azur hotel. It’s warm, it’s relaxed, and it’s modern and refreshing. Perhaps this design is my way of manifesting a future Airbnb? Also, if you would like to see more beautiful imagery of what inspired me for this design, then please keep scrolling!