Searching for Inspiration - An American Adventure
Posted by Milo Hutchings on
We’re always on the lookout for inspiration and ideas for new products and one of our team has recently been travelling in America, taking in some major cities from New York to New Orleans. It got us all thinking about our journey as a business so far - from the influences that have inspired our existing collection to the collaborations that have led to us working with craftsmen and women from around the world. Some interesting links emerged between the designs that made up each city and the products that make up Stuff of Dreams.
First up, Chicago - the birthplace of the skyscraper and a city that has continued to produce innovative and original architecture ever since. A visit to the impressive Art Institute was followed by the smaller but equally exciting Museum of Contemporary Art, where the building’s beautiful spiral staircase reminded us of our handmade Livingly mobiles from Denmark:
Next up, New York and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum, where the building’s beautiful interior drew parallels with the strong lines of our striking Groove Lamp:
Our Herb Lester Guides came in handy exploring New York’s more bohemian edge.
No trip to New York would be complete without a visit to MOMA, where a number of exciting exhibitions including an introspective on Björk and Andy Warhol are currently running - the only disappointment was missing out on Scorcese Collects, an installation presenting 34 of the great director’s film posters (opening May 30th). If you’re quick you can get a fix of American art at the Royal Academy, where a rich overview of Richard Diebenkorn’s abstract and figurative paintings is running until June 7th.

To New Orleans via Boston, Washington and North Carolina.This city’s bold and colourful architecture is brimming with the strong splashes of colour we try to inject into many of our ranges. A trip to Bywater threw up these exciting furniture makers, Monkey wid-a Fez who specialise in unique, custom made items.
The city’s history and heritage still has a strong presence and the industrial structures of the Garden District reminded us of the importance of preserving manufacture and skilled craftsmanship today. Our handmade journals often use intricately woven African fabrics and are carefully put together by bookbinders here in London.
And if you’re looking for something to jot down your thoughts with, check out some of the new items in our writing collection…
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- Tags: America, Architecture, Design, Frank Lloyd Wright, Guggenheim Museum, Handmade Furniture, Journals, MOMA, New York, Photgraphy, Richard Diebenkorn, Royal Academy, Writing