Asparagus Interiors Inc.

I’ve been working on 3 projects this week that have proved to be advancing with technology. Using Pinterest/asparagusdesign, allows me to communicate a “whole approach” to selecting fabric, choosing furniture and setting the “scene” for client involvement.

At Asparagus Interiors, I value your input and welcome your feedback.  Presenting selections in a collaborative arrangment only helps us work better together.  Tired of cataloging inspiration images pages ripped out of a magazines? Consider sharing your Pinterest board and see the design come together.

 This month, Chicago Home Improvement Magazine, featured a custom framing project I’ve been working on.  An opportunity to display photographs in a fun and vintage inspired way.  The custom frame allows you to use funky magnets to display your images and artwork.

Made with a magnetic steel insert, the frame was created from reclaimed wood out of old Chicago doors – by Foundre.

Check out the article at:
Chicago Home Improvement Magazine Jan/Feb:  Homefront Article – Asparagus Interiors Feature

Looking for a backsplash that’s clean, fresh, modern and relatively low cost? Consider glass.

With a basic color, metallic finish or wallpaper backing glass can take your backsplash to a more simplified cleaner look.  Sleek, easy to care for, and reflective.  Glass is a finish that opens your space and keeps your kitchen light.

Example – I liked: Modern Oslo Apartment found on Busyboo.com / twitter: busyboo

Contemplating a kitchen redesign but can quite get a grasp on the end result?  This weekend I began working with the Autodesk Homestyler.  

With its integrated furniture and finish features, you can get a 3D vision of your redesigned space before any ground is broken.  Consider discussing a 3D plan with your designer.  It’s nice to get a peak into your world from the top down.

This  year’s Renegade Craft Fair – Chicago – proved to show crafting has been taken to a new level.
Check out my favorites from the show and possible last minute holiday ideas.

• PLYtextiles - Modern design + salvaged materials.  Yard wrapped trees and felted pillows.
• Lilian Asterfield - Custom sewn scarves made of silk ties.
• Outside Oslo – Scandinavian Inspired Fabric
• Maker & Maker – Ceramics (note: Bison piggy bank)
• iamhome – Wood Art, Chalk Board Sculls, Tree Magnets
• Yellow Grey – Organic Designed Jewelery – unstructured / lovely
• Row Boat Press – flipp’n love this coffee poster – all their prints are just simple and fun
• Mok Duk, by Anne Benjamin – Illustrator / Poster & Printmaker

Twitter: @RenegadeCraft

Its’s that time of year in Chicago! Craft Fair Season – I highly recommend checking these shows out! If you are into fine art or indie crafts these two shows are where you need to be this weekend.

One of a Kind – Show, Merchandise Mart, starts Dec 1-4th.  Mix of fine art and fine craft.  Nervous about going to the Mart – don’t be, you could spend all day there and really fall in love with the art and design.

Renegade Craft Fair – Chicago, Dec. 3&4th.  My all time favorite show (Summer and Winter) in Chicago.  A collection of indie – crafts that represent the “etsy” crowd but in a tangible, local and real way.  I love the scene here and the sense of creativity amongst those who think outside of the box.

 I just stumbled upon Rock My Soul – on this rainy Thanksgiving week.  Fall is approaching, but I can’t seem to let go of the bright – vivid graphics that make me so happy.

According to their site, “Rock My Soul pillows are fun, funky pillows made from natural organic cotton and inspired by the 60’s and 70’s. They are the perfect accent to any room as they provide a pop of colour and visual interest. Throw pillows have the ability to bring a room together by picking up different colours in a room thus creating a feeling of harmony in a space.”

Created in Canada, influenced by San Francisco – all things sunny / fun and funky!

Twitter: @RockMySoulAmy

Veteran’s Day – 11/11/11, also my father’s birthday.  Happy birthday Dad! – My friend Max gave me a “Traditional” styled poppy flower sent from her mother Linda – from London. Always interesting how the style translates as well as the local tradition.  This poppy has a style of it’s own – Classic, Red and Remembered.

Why are the Poppies worn in America?
“The wearing of poppies in honor of America’s war dead is traditionally done on Memorial Day, not Veterans Day. The practice of wearing of poppies takes its origin from the poem In Flanders Fields, written in 1915 by John McCrae. According to VA.gov

Also noted on Wikipedia: “The red remembrance poppy has become a familiar emblem of Remembrance Day due to the poem “In Flanders Fields“. These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I, their brilliant red colour an appropriate symbol for the blood spilled in the war.”

Yesterday, I attended the REGREEN workshop – “Implementing Residential Remodeling” – on track to complete REGREEN training offered by USGBC and ASID.

An awesome opportunity to learn more about green / sustainable building and design practices as they apply to residential remodeling.  This real-time work session went into the nitty gritty of how we can apply green practices to the process of residential remodeling.  Starting with the building envelope and working thru to finishes.

Two excellent speakers and educators – instructing builders, architects, contractors and designers in green building practices:

• Annette Stelmack, USGBC LEED Faculty… among many other designations – a designer and excellent speaker on the topic of green interiors and green building practices (Inspirit-llc.com).
• Peter Yost – Director, Residential Services – BuildingGreen.com, great source of knowledge of green building practices, energy efficiency and construction methods.

Looking for a place to post your favorite keepsakes (Postcards, Kids Art, Photographs, Reminders).  I sourced materials from two local companies to create these custom magnet boards made out of recycled materials and raw steel.

FoundRe: Created the custom frames made out of found vintage materials.  Notice the pealing paint – it’s all about character.