Our latest hotel-style find (meaning, we're bookmarking a little design inspiration here), is this incredible and peaceful getaway Airstream in Malibu we found on Airbnb recently. As it's page boasts, "Escape civilization on your own private deck with unrivaled views of the Santa Monica mountains rolling down to the Pacific ocean below". And we're loving that deck!

Originally built by a nature-loving Malibu designer as his personal getaway from a busy hectic schedule, the Airstream was stripped down to its bare aluminum studs, into a large studio with three large frameless glass panels that slide open to a huge cantilevered deck surrounded by pristine and untouched nature just a short drive away from LA.

Let's take a look!

BC-based ceramicist, Genevieve Dionne  will be presenting a selection of her recent new ceramic works starting next Thursday, July 19th/18, hosted by Hinterland Design. The collection will include ceramic drawings, small vessels, and larger red clay vessels that she's recently been working on.

Kevin Schmidt, 'dIY HIFI, 2014 - 16, wood Lowther DX55 speakers, DIY kit tube amplifier, cables, hardware. Courtesy of the Artist and Catriona Jeffries, Vancouver

Kevin Schmidt: We Are the Robots
Jul 14–Oct 28, 2018
Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby

DIY-Inspired Creations Unveiled at the VAG

A new interactive installation happening at the Vancouver Art Gallery this summer will have DIY-er's and nerdy audiophiles alike converging to see BC-based Multimedia artist, Kevin Schmidt's interactive installation, We Are the Robots.

The exhibition spotlight's Schmidt, who draws on aspects of conceptual and performance art while embodying the do-it-yourself (DIY) sensibilities of an amateur inventor. The title, We Are The Robots is inspired by the origin of the word robot, in Czech robota, meaning "forced work". Showcasing Schmidt's exploration of DIY knowledge production, the presentation points at the utopian aspects of mass knowledge distribution that we see over the Internet, like how-to videos on YouTube for example, and the pressures to commodify and brand knowledge that circulates through this system.  Schmidt uses this interactive electronic art installation to pose questions about the nature of DIY projects and its' impact on both the environment and our values.

The seawall from Steveston Village to the Britannia Shipyards here in Richmond, B.C. is one of my favourite places to go for a stroll after dinner in the summer. Many of the buildings at the shipyard were built from 1885 onwards, where multi-ethnic residents (Chinese, European, Indigenous Peoples and Japanese) lived and worked at the Britannia Cannery and Britannia Shipyards. The historic site is also a place you can visit to see how they lived. The bunkhouses especially, are my favourite, and if only they still made such quaint places to live now. Some are painted in hues that remind me of homes you may see in the northern parts of Europe or the Maritimes here in Canada, and others have unpainted weathered siding which really asks the question, "why do we even paint"? I love the look of the one above especially (almost looks black , but is unpainted). Last night on our stroll I snapped a few pics. It was golden hour and the light was beautiful.  Let's take a look:

With the big heatwave that seems to be covering most of North American this past week, it's time to dig up some cool treat recipes to keep the temperatures down! And if you're like us, and don't want to incorporate a lot of sugar (spiking up that insulin level) which most conventional recipes or products tend to offer, here's a few non-sugar, non dairy (good fat) alternatives from our archives. Happy Friday!

1. Blueberry Swirl Coconut Ice Cream
(Above) We've taken our favorite coconut based ice cream recipe and added a swirl of fresh blueberry syrup (sans sugar). Click here for the recipe.

This post is in partnership with Society6. Society6 recently added wallpapers and murals to their product family which are printed on self-adhesive woven polyester fabric panels that are easy to stick on and off without messing up your walls. 

In our final installment of our series, "3 Murals, 3 Spaces, 3 Parts",  we chose a mural which makes us feel like we're right in the middle of a spaghetti western. Joshua Tree / California Desert by Adventure Awaits was an obvious choice for us, since Joshua Tree is on our must-see list of places to go. And, pssst! I think this one just might be my favourite.

Room For Tuesday

Always on the lookout for the cool decorating tricks for outdoor summer space projects, we've been collecting a few ideas on our Patio + Deck Pinterest board this past month or so, and think we have  a few gems to share in a proper round-up with you. So many talented ideas out there, from carports to quaint backyard cabins, here's a few outdoor spaces that have caught our eye as of late!

1.  Carport Makeover
(Above) The oh-so-talented Sarah of Room For Tuesday created the most adorable outdoor dining space in what? Yes, her carport! And how beautiful.  Check out her blog for the amazing transformation before and after!

Fans old and new of Field Notes will be happy to hear they just launched a new set of notebooks for the summer to collect. The space-themed set, "Three Missions", celebrates fifty years since America was in the midst of a historic quest to land a man on the Moon.

This post is in partnership with Society6. Society6 recently added wallpapers and murals to their product family which are printed on self-adhesive woven polyester fabric panels that are easy to stick on and off without messing up your walls. 

Continuing with our series, "3 Murals, 3 Spaces, 3 Parts",  today we're sharing the next mural we picked, OK by Anna Dorfman. Anna (whom many of you may remember), is from the much-loved blog, Door Sixteen. She's also a book designer based in New Mexico via New York, and we've always been a fan of her style. Her OK Mural, I thought, would be the perfect pick-me-up in our home studio, especially with our grey winters here in the Pacific Northwest.

This post is in partnership with Society6. Society6 recently added wallpapers and murals to their product family which are printed on self-adhesive woven polyester fabric panels that are easy to stick on and off without messing up your walls. 

Murals have been around for centuries, with examples dating back to even Paleolithic times, and although the figurative paintings have been around for all of these years, it's only in recent times have we seen them appearing in domestic interiors. Usually commissioning an artist to paint a mural was an activity exclusively for interiors of public buildings or the likes of castles or mansions, but with the introduction of wallpaper, murals have been appearing more and more in today's homes.

What's even more exciting is the newest technology, removable papers, making the approach to having an actual mural (or wallpaper design), available in any space, including rentals, more of a reality.  So when Society6 asked us to create a few vignettes in our home studio using one of their latest products, self-adhesive wallpapers and murals, we were super excited to try them out and bring some real art into our space on a giant scale!

Summer officially is upon us in a few days, and we're pulling out some of our favourite summer DIY projects from seasons past. From a cool vintage trailer reno to DIY citronella candles, here's a few ideas to kick things off for the season ahead!

If you're looking for a unique spot to stay if you're ever in the Catskills (New York) area this summer, this off-the-grid container cabin might be the spot.  With a 30-foot waterfall (100 yards north of the cabin), staying in the cabin is an experience according to it's owners, not just a simple overnight stay.

Lined in timber, the renovated container cabin offers everything you need for a rustic and tranquil experience including a DIY wood-fired hot tub (a 120-gallon galvanized tub) which uses the nearby stream water to fill it. There's even a yoga platform if you're so inclined and an outdoor fire pit.

After checking it out, we kind of want to make one for ourselves!  How about you? Let's take a look!

Earlier this year we wrote about new products from Ukraine-based, FILD. And now we're inspired again by colours their new collection and minimalistic aesthetics of the brand. The super team came together to create images of Pebble Grey Moods. Perfect for a tranquil space.

Photography: Andrey Bezuglov
Location: FILD Store
Style by: Kateryna Vakhrameyeva

The Bunkers is a newly opened Bed and Breakfast located about an hour north of Ghent, Belgium. Originally built in concrete on the brink of World War I, the heritage structure has been restored by a Belgian family with a love for architecture.

Dorothea Lange, Home of Rural Rehabilitation client, Tulare County, California

If ever there was an art exhibit that was made for Poppytalk's readership, Cabin Fever just might be it. The Vancouver Art Gallery launches their Summer 2018 Exhibition this week beginning with Cabin Fever (running June 9th - September 30, 2018) which explores the history of the cabin in North America both as an architectural form and a cultural construct. From renderings, artworks and commercial products as well as architectural models, plans and full-scale interventions, the exhibit surveys this iconic yet humble lodging's utility, adulation and prevalance in Canada and the US.

My Vintage Lane is a 50's inspired mobile caravan bar and cafe based on the Gold Coast in New South Wales, Australia.  Recently we stumbled upon their feed on Instagram and were instantly smitten! The caravan which was built from scratch made to look like vintage is available for weddings, engagement parties, to corporate events, photoshoots, birthdays and garden parties.  Let's take a look!