Finding Inspiration through Nature

16 Monday May 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, The Great Outdoors, The Home

Tags

design, moss, natural, nature, nature inspired, organic, plants, trees, woodland

Finding inspiration for any event or project is really important. It helps bring out creativity and push you to come up with amazing ideas. Nature is one place I have always trusted to give me inspiration. Whether it was a painting, a poem or designing an interior space, Mother Earth has never let me down. The fact I love about nature is it will never die or get old and certainly never become outdated. With the beautiful elements of nature, you can create spectacular designs that will stand the test of time.

I took a photograph in New Hope a couple of years ago that popped up while I was looking through old work. This scene has always been in the back in my mind because I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I loved how the building was old and had ivy growing all over it. It showed a sense of age and vintage appeal I really connected with. Although a bit overgrown, the grass added a nice element to the space. The green tones and softness in its freedom brought a nice texture to the water behind it. And how can you not love the view of the trees across the water. You can’t see it here, but there is a bridge to the right that introduced a hard element to the area, making the naturalness almost fantasy like.

As an inspiration, this setting brought images of moss, dew and various neutral tones to the surface. While playing with these pictures in my head I came up with a conservatory theme. I love this idea for a room in a home, especially for a foyer or a sitting room. This, for sure, will be something I explore in my new home.

When pulling inspiration from the photo, try not to be so literal. I would recommend bringing in wood furniture that has a rustic, aged feel. Gray blues would be nice on the walls. This would mirror the sky and water. Incorporating real plants is a must. I imagine leafy plants and herbs in terra cotta pots and various clay vessels. Showcasing vintage crates and cheese boxes will bring more vintage appeal. Laying down moss inside of them would look earthy and raw.

I wouldn’t include metals so much as I would glass but bronze and rusty finishes would be fitting. Old jars of all sizes and colors would be great. Fill them with small rocks or pebbles, even tiny succulents would work. You want the room to feel lush without being congested. Be careful not to modernize it to much. This theme is not about being modern or contemporary, it’s about authenticity. Floors should be natural elements such as wood, brick, stone or cork. It will help tie the whole space together.

Here are some more ideas and products that will inspire this theme:

Vanuatu Twilight Wallpaper

Are You Being Served Wallpaper

Inspiration: Vintage Planes

04 Wednesday May 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Shop Gray Star Design

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Tags

boy, children, invitations, invites, party, planes, vintage

Check out a new invite I designed – now on sale in my Etsy shop. I came across these cute plane images and fell in love with their vintage appeal. So I thought they would be perfect for a little boy’s party. So adorable! The set comes with 12 invites and 12 matching tags for party favors.

Inspiring Invitations

28 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Invites & Save the Dates

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design, events, invitations, invites, parties, weddings

So you have something to celebrate and you’ve decided to throw a party. It can be a birthday, a baby or bridal shower, engagement party or just a little get together to catch up with some friends. There is one thing you must have. Invitations! Yes, you can buy them and fill in the blanks or have them personalized with your info online, that is somewhat easy. The real challenge is making them meaningful.

Sure you can send out simple invites. No problem. However, when a celebration comes around that is truly one of a kind, you should put a little more effort into it. Just think of the event and the decor involved. Your invitations should reflect the event so your guests get a little sneak peak as to what is up ahead. It is also nice if they reflect you or who the event is for.

Personally, I feel the invitations and save the date’s if you’re planning a wedding, should excite your guests. Don’t you want them to count down the days? Sure! Especially, if it’s a big event. I mean, you’re celebrating for a reason. This is your chance to show some style, uniqueness and authentic design. Start putting down the bricks and lead your guests down the yellow brick road, all the way to your fabulous event.

There are no rules except one: make sure the text is readable. If your guests can’t make it out, you might not have everyone come, haha. I love designing items like invitations. Like cards and stationary, you have a certain amount of space to work with so you don’t really need to think about size. It’s all about the design. So this is why I say make it spectacular. It’s the first thing people will see!

Here are some invitations I found that I feel are really great. I hope they inspire you as much as they did me. Remember, think out of the box and explore your options. Research, research, research! Get creative and have fun.

NY Wedding DIY Venues – The 5 Boroughs

26 Tuesday Apr 2011

Posted by melissaoconnor in Event Locations & Spaces

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

blanchet flowers, brooklyn, events, flowers, long island city, manhattan, new york weddings, prospect park, queens, queens county farm museum, the foundry, the liberty warehouse, the palm house

Ok guys. I already shared venues in Long Island. Here are some great spaces to consider in the 5 boroughs – NYC, Queens and Brooklyn. Remember, there are always places in your area where you can have an event. You just need to do your research. There might not be one up the block but I can guarantee you will be surprised as to what you find.

The Foundry – Long Island City
This is one of the best places I have seen in the area. This 2,000 square foot industrial space has history, natural elements and romance all in one. It used to be d The Albra Metal Foundry and is now restored and truly magical. You can have your ceremony there as well. The foundry has an interior space, a courtyard, a mezzanine and a terrace area for cocktails. There is even a greenhouse on the property. You can rent all of it for your event.

Rates start around $7000 and vary depending on the spaces you include for your event. It can hold up to 200 guests for cocktails and 125 for a sit down dinner. You are renting the raw space so you would have to hire caterers and rentals. The site provides a hostess, a doorman and a parking attendant. If you want a unique, elegant and NY feel to your wedding, the foundry is a great choice.

Blanchet Flowers – Manhattan
If you decide to have a small, intimate wedding, Blanchet Flowers is a sweet pick. You can guarantee the space will smell and look beautiful – I mean geez, it’s a flower shop! Talk about whimsy. It would be perfect for an engagement dinner or party as well.

The Queens County Farm Museum – Floral Park
For a rustic, historic farm wedding I highly recommend this quaint venue. Yours truly has picked it for her special day! This pick is DIY all the way so if you want total freedom, this works out great. I would only suggest it if you love animals and the farm atmosphere.

You can rent the Barn Complex for $1600 (4 hours) and $200 each additional hour, the Pavilion for $800 (4 hours) and the Orchard for $2200 that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. Chairs and tables are included in most packages and they are really lenient with their permit rules. You can even add on animal feeding and hayrides. Yay! For a fun, whimsy, vintage wedding you will find this restoration farm affordable and lively.

Prospect Park – Brooklyn
Being surrounded by nature is a perfect way to start you and your fiance’s new life together. It’s no surprise NYC parks can bring that Earthly feel to your special day. Prospect Park offers a gorgeous Boathouse to rent for events as well as the Picnic House.

Renovated in 2002, the Boathouse features two levels and a balcony. Built in 1905, the Beaux Arts style building represents elegance, style and pure class. The historic space is available for events 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. every day. It can accommodate up to 125 guests and 220 if tents are on site. Six security staff, a bridal suite and free guest parking are included. They have an exclusive caterer, The Movable Feast, so unfortunately you have to use them but I’m sure they will work with you on whatever you have planned. Ceremonies can be booked 10 a.m. to noon on weekends from April to October. The rate is $750 which includes 40 chairs and one staff member.

Built in 1927, the Picnic House is a 4,000-square-foot brick and glass enclosed pavilion. It’s a Renaissance style building that overlooks Long Meadow and its vast 90 acres. It can accommodate up to 175 guests for dinner and up to 250 for cocktail parties. The Picnic House is available Tuesday through Sunday between 8 a.m. and 1 a.m. and is rented in 8 hour blocks. Prices range from $3375 to $4800 and chairs and tables are included. Elegance, nature and historical style gleams brightly, making it perfect for a wedding.

The Liberty Warehouse – Brooklyn
Located on Pier 1 in Red Hook, the Liberty Warehouse sits on New York’s historic shipping yards on the tip of the water. This historic pre-Civil War space was built in the 1850s but recently renovated. It has two large and small rooms as well as a stage area. It’s 3,000 square foot waterside patio has a stunning view of the NY harbor and the Statue of Liberty. It accommodates up to 600 for a sit down dinner and 1,000 for cocktails. There is a bridal suite and valet parking.

Perfect for your ceremony, reception and after party if your guests are up for it. The venue provides all food so you would have to take care of rentals and all design elements. You have a choice of The Governor’s Room, the Bridge Room or the Harbor Room and all are exquisite.

The Palm House – Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are a beautiful place to have a wedding. There is a Victorian Glasshouse and Garden Pavilions to die for. For a New York celebration that is magical, this venue will bring on the sunshine. Having your ceremony in the 52 gardens on site will amaze and brighten up the day. You can choose to have it inside as well. The Lily Pool is a perfect place to hold cocktails while the reception can come alive in the Palm House.

Daytime (11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and Evening (after 6 p.m. for 5 hours) rates range from $1335 to $5085 and catering fees start at $130 to $150 a person. If you have a nice budget to work with and do not want a traditional wedding, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens make a perfect place. It’s possible to stay under 20K if you have a small celebration.

I hope these venues were of some inspiration to you all. Remember, research!! Be smart and do your homework. See what works best for you and make it happen.