La Boutique

Next best to vintage shopping is boutique shopping. While usually way over priced, small boutiques are one of my favorite sources of inspiration. I love that they support and promote local artists & crafters and you can almost always find unique gifts and ideas.
These iron cast wall hooks would look great in a long entry way, too bad I have to wait on that one. Maybe my next house..

These hand-stitched journals were hard to resist. With loads of patterns to choose from and revealed binding. You could tell that every last detail was cared for down to the soft and aged quality of the delicate paper.



This boutique, located in the 1st arr. in Paris, was filled with irresistible items, I just wished my suitcase could hold everything. I made it out of the store light handed but of course not empty handed. Great vintage looking 'femmes' & 'hommes' signs will make a great addition to my new home now that my boyfriend and I are moving in together. I will add pics of them when I get them hung.

Brunch

I have recently rediscovered my favorite meal of the day: Brunch. A combination of breakfast and lunch. Who could ask for more? I had almost forgotten about this amazing weekend tradition until staying in Paris where brunch is almost a must on Sundays. Brunch is an excuse to gather with friends, eat great food (and a lot of it!), and get out and enjoy the day, especially during the beautiful summer weather. I definitely hope to make it part of my weekly routine when I return back to the states.
Whether you cook a big brunch from home or go to your favorite local cafe, it is definitely worth the effort and preparation. Take a break from your busy life and treat yourself to an enjoyable and delicious brunch once a week, you wont regret it!
Our Menu:
Café or Tea
Orange or Grapefruit Juice
Fresh Yogurt
Fresh Rhubarb Sauce (like applesauce)
Chocolate Croissants
Seasonal Jams and Marmalade (blackberry and tangerine)
Whole Wheat Toast
Eggs (scrambled or over-easy)
Fresh Fruit

Yes, sounds never ending but trust me, you will be full and content at the end of this meal!

Happy Brunching!

Black and White film photography might be one of the most rewarding hobbies. The process of finding your shots, preparing your film and finally watching it come to life is truly an amazing experience all around. Film seems to capture something that digital cameras miss. The moment seems to become a still frame of an old Hitchcock movie, where every gesture has a symbolic meaning. While it is purely a side hobby of mine, I admire artists, like Cindy Sherman, who can create an entire story from a single image.
I like this shot because its revealing and concealing at the same time. Everything is bare and out in the open besides the face which is turned away and hidden behind sunglasses. It seems seductive but uninviting. The whole image becomes an oxymoron.

This shot is of my sister in a New York City apartment building. This is one of my favorites because it almost intrigues you to figure out where she's going. The florescent lighting and the dark exit way give the scene a sort of mystery which I enjoy.

This image was taken on the Florida beach across the street from my old house. To me, it symbolizes my life growing up in Florida. Simple, naive and almost unaware of the unorderly world surrounding it.

The Beauty of the Store Sign

As I have already mentioned, Typography holds a special place in my heart. I think it actually skipped a few beats after seeing these beautiful examples. I am always on the look out with my camera in hand, especially this summer in Paris where good design lived on every street corner.

I love the simplicity of this store sign. So classy and clean yet unique at the same time.

This logo caught my eye immediately. I walked by this Parisian shop everyday on my way to work and was intrigued by it more and more each time I saw it. The ambiguity of it all is spectacular.

I think the color of this sign is what attracts me most. That and the great oddness of a circular sign protruding from the storefront.

I am not a huge fan of toys and games but after seeing this sign I think I would love to spend the whole day in this store. I imagine the inside being as full of character as its vintage sign.

I wish I had the guts to design like this; unafraid of mistakes and uneven lines. This sign inspires me the most because it truly captures the easy going 'carefreeness' of the designer.

Hello!

Beginning my blog, I thought I should start off by sharing a bit about myself and what inspires me. I am a graphic designer living & working in Los Angeles. Design to me is not as much a job as it is a passion. I feel so fortunate to be able to do what I love doing for my job, and hope that I can help and inspire others in the process.

Simplicity in design is my weakness. A clean combination of modern and classical style is what I strive for in my own work.

Great vintage finds make my day. The idea of reusing something old and beautiful without having to manufacture something new is rewarding in itself. Slowly but surely I hope to build up a great vintage collection to one day fill my entire house.

Beautiful typography is unfortunately one of the things we lack here in the United States. While traveling in Paris this summer I was ecstatic to walk down the streets and be surrounded by great type design, like the flower shop, Vertige, I stumbled upon.

My last great weakness: dessert. More specifically chocolate, and even more specifically, French chocolate! Anyone who knows me, knows I don't mind skipping dinner from time to time, but dessert? Not an option.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and I hope it helped inspire you as well!
Visit my design website at: dukdesign.com