sustainable design open house

tara from design within reach recently sent along word that the ala moana studio will be hosting a sustainable design open house for the malama learning center on thursday evening. the kapolei campus is envisioned to be a spot for lifelong learning and a gathering place for lovers of the arts, culture, and the environment while being a model of sustainable architecture for hawaii.

a design competition for the center received over 200 submissions and architects from eight inc., the honolulu/sf/ny firm that created the winning proposal, will be on hand to discuss their plan. it looks to be a lovely modern open air campus that thoughtfully combines natural elements while incorporating sustainable standards like powering the campus with solar energy, recycling gray water, installing a green roof, and siting buildings to take maximum advantage of trade winds (when possible) to attain leed certification. cheers to that!

the non-profit center is still in the planning stage and looking for donors and volunteers to help make the dream a reality.

the dwr open house will also feature an expert on the green roof concept plus installations by guest artist bundit kanisthakhon of tadpole studio.

• when: thu, jun 5th - 6p to 8p
• where: dwr, ala moana
• fyi: light pupus & drinks will be served

stepping into summer

hope your holiday weekend was pleasant! to help you ease back into work mode, i gathered up a little eye candy to welcome back summertime. today's inspiration: a roundup of pretty doormats that cheer up this utilitarian staple with a dash of modern island style.

1 - add a touch of whimsy to your doorstep with a school of flying fish.

2 - delicate cherry blossoms dance across the entryway.

3 - stomp your feet while saying "she sells seashells by the seashore" 3x fast!

4 - anthropologie's partridge-esque mellow hummingbird design sings with color.

5 - greet guests with a tropical shower of chrysanthemum blossoms.

6 - finally, a grassy lawn with zero maintenance.

or, get crafty and whip up your own doormat design with a little help from martha stewart!

sister act II - space moderne

money tree * monstera * danish flowers

space moderne is the etsy outpost of designer momi antonio-barnes who opened up shop on the indie emporium to offer her small but stunning collection of handmade accessories online. like her sister, momi left the islands to attend college on the mainland where she launched a well received jewelry line while still in art school. after graduation, she made a stopover in miami before landing in baltimore which is the home base for space moderne, the little design house where momi continues the family tradition of making beautiful objects.

like the mid-century designers who inspire her, momi follows the philosophy of form follows function with a focus on construction and design details. simple objects like wine pockets and luggage tags have a minimalist aesthetic and pops of color allow the pared down designs to really shine. everything in the shop is perfect for gifting although i must confess that i am completely besotted with space moderne's entire collection and find myself coveting one of everything.

blue bird ipod case

sea kelp pillow cover

vine linen tea napkins

hibiscus clutch * monstera ipod case

and, island design fans will be pleased to know that many of space moderne's accessories are available in a modern remix of hawaiian style. if something catches your fancy but has already been sold, simply convo momi with a request and she will be happy to make one just for you (custom orders are also welcome).

click over to charm city craft mafia for a behind-the-scenes peek into space moderne's world.

sister act - kapuanani designs

ipu heke + mahalo

as you know, it's etsy day but today i decided a double feature was in order after discovering two very talented sisters who shared a crafty childhood in hawaii and who both continue to create lovely handmade goods on opposite sides of the mainland.

first up, kapuanani designs, the etsy showcase of graphic designer amy antonio who whips up everything from hand printed stationery to sweet accents to pretty up your space. the portland based designer honed her design chops while working at the legendary powell's book shop and now splits her time doing freelance work and serving as the pr director for the ke kukui foundation, a cultural/arts non-profit for the pacific nw's hawaiian community.

amy's work seamlessly blends her two worlds from the note card series that gives a little love to the culture
of the islands via the age old art form of block printing to the playful magnet board that promises to tidy up a messy desk with a little lighthearted flair.

woodgrain magnet board

custom design work is welcome (contact amy for details) so click over to kapuanani's etsy shop for a peek at the in stock designs for a little inspiration!

maneki neko roundup

the jumping off point for this little roundup of maneki neko were these amazing chocolate lucky cat confections from suedy's koo-ki sushi of california (via love notes). with maneki neko beckoning passersby all around hawaii, i dashed off to etsy to find a few crafty alternatives that put a twist on this island tradition in unexpected ways:

1 - homemade zen offers custom amigurumi creations or pick up your sticks and diy with a handy crochet pattern.

2 - i love the idea of a maneki neko wall sticker in place of the traditional ceramic statue (available in 60 colors from sweeetnothing).

3 - or perhaps a limited edition framed print by artist maeve donohue.

4 - take your luck mobile with a petite cell phone charm from bndesign.

5 - button boutique's maneki neko ponytail holders are a sweet accessory for your little one.