by Jay

Our recent trip to the City of the Angels (Los Angeles for those not fluent in Spanish) also resulted in the sweet union of architecture, music, fashion and sexiness.  Lizzie and I share an appreciation for all of the above. But, let me just shut up and get to the video you must see if you, too, love architecture, music, fashion and sexiness:

Despite the fact that we’d already left the Golden State, we were transported back as I was showing Lizzie some of my favorite videos of Cibelle who did “London, London” with Devandra Banhart – together, two of the most interesting and beautiful voices in music today. Then, I clicked through some more Banhart videos and BAM! A beautiful woman (who I later learned was Banhart’s girlfriend, Rebecca Schwartz ) was sitting naked in a tub with Banhart.  Even sexier are the first few frames of the video, when you see  John Lautner’s famous “Rainbow House“, also known as the “Garcia House”. Lautner, a student of Wright, gave birth to the “Googie” style of architecture. I must give credit to my dear friend, Don, for introducing me to the vast world of architecture over 20 years ago. My appreciation for this amazing field has grown ever since, particularly the architecture of Los Angeles, where Frank Lloyd Wright and all his descendants (his son Lloyd Wright, Rudolf Schindler, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, et al) designed and built some of the most celebrated architecture in the world.

The lovely dovey, sexy music and sweet flirtations of Banhart and Schwartz set the stage as the two lovers playfully model an array of stylish Oliver Peoples frames that cherryontop this video. Shot in the gorgeous light of the magic hour; sweetness ensues, in a Mad Men-esque way – well, at least a la the episode in California where Don proposes to Megan. Oops, spoiler alert … but, you get what I mean about the whole mid-century thing.

Because I’m the type of guy that likes to get to the background on random things, I was led here: Nowness.com. Lisa Eisner‘s piece is quite possibly the sexiest little video I’ve had the good fortune to see. Lizzie has had a thing for Oliver Peoples for quite some time and after this slice of heaven, I do too. So there you have it: music, architecture, sexiness and fashion, not necessarily in that order and all jumbled together in a sweet symphony.

Hi.

We’d really like to make it to 200 likes by this March 31. We think it’s super realistic. Do you?

Tell your friends about our FB page. Tell us what you’d like to see more of + hear more about. We’re listening.

Thanks.

Jay + Lizzie

"full summer", 8" x 10" mixed media on wood panel by Lizzie Mara

by Lizzie

Think About Tomorrow Or Don't, by Margret Lee 2007, Dikeou Collection, Photo courtesy of Amy Whitaker of Museum Legs

Jay and I have had an amazing 2012 so far. Our new brand has made some great strides in such a short period of time + this has been such a rewarding + thrilling few months. This moment brings me to sit and reflect on all the inspiring women Treat Design Co. has brought me face to face with.

While in Atlanta in January, I met buyers + taste makers from stores far + wide. I have such great respect for the female business woman. The ambitious, bold, + brilliant who truly shine. One of those that stands out was Tamara Dillard the owner of the charming Sophie’s in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is the epitome of fashionable, fun, & has a darling business in North Chattanooga, selling objects for the home, flowers, + vintage. Just my ticket – as I adore all three of her store’s categories. If I lived in Chattanooga, I’d want to hang out with Ms. Dillard + frequent her shop for lovely gifts, bouquets, + that fab find from the past.

A toast to Tamara from Sohie's! I spotted these on Sophie's FB page + love that she stocks this pretty line - they're just like the flutes we used in Atlanta to toast to the new collection at KP's house!

In February while in decompression mode, after the hustle + bustle that was America’sMart, Jay and I were invited out on the town with some friends who love art like us. The event was at Dikeou Collection in celebration of the new Clyfford Still Museum which officially opened just months ago. To honor the time Still was prolific, The Dikeou Collection hosted a poetry reading, beatnik style. Visiting the collection, curated by Devon Dikeou is like taking a walk and falling through the rabbit hole, to find yourself in a land of amazing modern art, wit, humor, & cutting edge expression.

Somehow I Don't Feel Comfortable, 2000, by Momoyo Torimitsu - Photo by Amy Whitaker of Museum Legs

The Dikeou opening was also celebrating the release of the 20th edition of ZingMagaizine – published by Dikeou. Oh, how lovely it is to be exposed to such a inspiring collection + a woman dedicated to art. YUM.

From The Inviting Company Note Card Collection - So glad we were able to connect with Pam. What a fabulous woman!

March is here and I had the absolute pleasure of meeting two more inspiring women. The first is Pam Hatcher of Inviting Company. Pam’s been in business in our industry for nearly two decades + goodness she is both knowledgeable + humble. What a beautiful combination.

Pam insisted I meet Kelly Plank-Dworkin; the founder + president of Swoozie’s. So, as luck would have it, I met Kelly that very day at Swoozie’s new Denver store when I attended their grand opening gala. The celebration that Kelly’s team hosted for the Denver opening was in one word – GRAND. Everything from the hot-pink-illuminated refreshment tent out in front of their sparkly new store, to the plentiful + gracious staff  showing off the beautiful assortment of product – this opening was spot on in the world of retail meets Page Six parties.

Image courtesy of Mountain Living Magazine via FB

I reflect on this eclectic mix of women, including the one I’ve given credit to in several of the photos above (Amy Whitaker of Museum Legs) and pause to soak up the inspiration. I’m grateful + energized.

by Lizzie + Jay

Our website is still under construction, but so are our products! So we’re practicing patience. However, while we wait, we have a super fun little gem to share: a sneak peek at our new line: www.TreatDesignCo.com/ Thanks to a wonderful website designer and architectnamed Garrett Knoll!

Please do take a peek and enjoy some the images of what we have in store!

Go ahead, take a peek!

We are so excited about the next phase of our budding business. Lizzie met with a super hip Denver paper store last week & the owner was like, can you “Pulllllleeeeeease bring these products into my store, like, tomorrow?”! Such a nice compliment. Ahhh, the test of patience. Why is it so hard sometimes?!

Matthais Heiderich's Circus image reminds me of how I'd describe our home sometimes. It's colorful, entertaining, and seems to have 3 rings going strong from 6am 'til 8pm... and then add company and it's like our 3 monkeys have an audience. If you have kids, you know just what I'm talking about. It's show time.

 

You know the drill. Company is coming + it’s a good kick in the pants to get your housekeeping act together. Right? Well, that’s how it goes for us. Entertaining is not only incentive to whip the house into shape, but it gives me that push to go ahead + dive into our design dreams or shall I say, design obsessions.

You know how it goes when you get obsessed with a color? For me, I start noticing it EVERYWHERE! I’m feeling like this about electric yellow lately & I have been trying to decide where to use it in our house. I decided on testing it out in a small – statement space. I spent some time pinning. Thinking (or fixating, rather) about electric yellow:

Our foyer is 66 years old – as is our cute little cottage. With it comes the charm of the 40′s, including darling tile, coved ceilings, + wall niches. Even our front door, still original, has a sweet art nouveau peek-a-boo window. It’s a dear space. When our family took the space over from it’s previous keeper, there were nails everywhere – ghosts of what was once hanging. So, being equipped to cover each and every one with some sweet little image, frame, canvas, or panel I took care of business and threw art onto those empty nails with joyful abandon. Good gravy, it was such a hot mess, you’d think I’d never studied art installation had you seen the initial status of our walls. The walls of this entry way were in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint, too. So with the inspiration of company coming to visit, I popped the lid on a can of paint in just the right shade of yellow. Truly, this is a beautiful shade of lemongrass + silk. It is the color of a beautiful silk sash on a dramatic grey taffeta dress one would imagine seeing on PBS’s Downton Abbey. Are you with me? It’s almost yellow – almost green inspired by the lotus in one of my paintings (see below the image of the scrumdiddlyumptiousness) + the color of this enchanting French macaron:

Look at the yellow in this image of macarons I found on Pinterest. Oh, the color!

12" x 12" Four Friends or Garden Party I

The ceilings, in their coved glory, were just begging me to do something special to command attention to their loveliness. Inspired by seeing a brilliant example of organic, free hand scallop detail around a doorway of Lotta Jansdotter‘s studio in a book called Open Studios published by Chronicle Books, I decided to have a go at this whimsical embellishment! How I adore all things, Chronicle. Oh, how I hope we collaborate with them one day soon.

Voila!

So playful + dramatic all at once!

For the love of color! I’m grateful for mustard + ochre + lemons + citrine + gold + daisies + sunshine.