October 31, 2018

Istanbul

Styling WITH Turkish Accents FROM OUR MARKET

October 31, 2018

Istanbul

Styling is an essential step of the design process, and adding that special touch to transform a space is easy using our one-of-a-kind home decor pieces from our Istanbul Market.

To help illustrate the many ways in which to weave these artisanal treasures into your space, we've pulled together product groupings and styled them within the context of different rooms. Whether you group together one of these ideas or go for that single special accent piece, these vignettes are meant to inspire how you can spruce up your interior in anticipation of the holiday season. Layering textures of richly embroidered suzanis against vibrantly colored fuzzy mohair tulus are sure to wow your guests and give the illusion that you’ve been busy shopping in exotic destinations.

LIVING ROOM

SAPPHIRE BLUE + PINK GROUPING

Quilted rug on floor adds dimension
Layer silk embroidered suzani pillow against fuzzy mohair tulu pillows

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Indigo Quilt from Early 1900s

Antique Suzani Pillow from 1880s

Sapphire Filikli Pillows Made of Silky Angora

Indigo BLUE + BROWNS GROUPING

Place shaggy wool tulu rug on floor for coziness and warmth
Mix boldly patterned suzani pillows with solid cotton indigo pillows

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Checkered Hand Woven Wool Tulu Rug

Vintage Embroidered Silk Suzani Pillows

Mazandaran Indigo Blue Pillows

BROWN, PINK + BLUE GROUPING

Place cozy wool tulu rug on floor
Drape Angora tulu over the back of the sofa
Balance with graphic patterns and colors

Featured Products

Checkered Hand Woven Wool Tulu Rug

Silky Angora Tulu from 1960s

Graphic Mashrabiya Pillow

ORANGE + BLACK GROUPING

Place beaded wool + Angora kilim on floor
Drape moody tulu over the back of the sofa
Layer luxurious textures of tulu, embroidery and vintage silk velvet

Fuchsia + Black Grouping

Mix varying sized pillows for a cozy nook
Layer large bold graphic suzani pattern against solid fuchsia with texture

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Embroidered Uzbek Samarkand Pillow from the Early 20th Century

Fuchsia Filikli Pillow Made from Silky Angora

Cranberry + Black Grouping

Drape red tulu on back of sofa to contrast against patterns + stripes
Add ottoman for a spot to kick up feet or set a decorative tray

Neutral + Soft Pink Grouping

Drape large scaled suzani pattern over headboard
Layer varying patterns in a similar color palette

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Vintage Stitched Cotton Suzani

Floral Pillows from the Mid-20th Century

Vintage Patchwork Pillow

Coral, Pink + Neutral Grouping

Showcase suzani pattern as a bed cover, highlighting the intricately stitched border
Create focal point of pillow grouping by adding a lumbar pillow

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Unusual Uzbek Suzani from the 1930s

Hand Embroidered Pillow from the Mid-20th Century

PLEASE NOTE:

If an item is "SOLD OUT," please contact us at orders@lotusbleudesign.com: we can source similar items. If you see an item that isn't part of our collection, please let us know: we're able to create custom pillows and order similar products. If you need help with styling your home, please check out our services section or write your inquiry into design@lotusbleudesign.com.

Jeannie Fraise

April 23, 2018

The Art Behind Art Lover's Atelier

Jeannie Fraise

April 23, 2018

A unique aspect of the art collection behind our most recently published project, "Art Lover's Atelier," is that the artists are predominantly women, spanning a wide age range, from young and emerging, to mid-career and mature artists, representing different stages in their careers and thus diverse perspectives.

color scheme - Art Lover's Atelier — color scheme - Art Lover's Atelier

inspiration - Emily Gherard, "Untitled," 2011, oil on canvas

Emily Gherard, "Untitled," 2014, oil painting on wooden panel

Each piece of art was chosen to deepen the design narrative of the interior throughout the entire process of this project; the large-scale oil painting over the bar was the jumping off point and art was also the completion of this project.

Discovering artists was a joint effort between the client and Lotus Bleu and were sourced through many different channels; from social media, local & international galleries, to art fairs like the annual FOG Fair and West Coast Craft, and finally working with an art consultant to expand our repertoire even further, by introducing us to Bay Area Artists.

Informed by studies in art history, Jeannie and Kaoru have worked for various museums and art institutions in both New York City and Japan respectively. Tracking women artists holds a special place in Jeannie's heart, as she pursued her PhD. at Stanford in Gender Studies and Women Designers, namely Florine Stettheimer.

For the key focal spaces that called for statement pieces, Lotus Bleu worked directly with up and coming artists to specify custom commissions within the parameters set by the interior design; color palettes of materials, specific dimensions and context of the space into which the work would ultimately be displayed.

THE COMMISSION PROCESS DIFFERED BY ARTIST, BUT GENERALLY ENTAILED THESE STEPS:

1. Inquiry and requesting an estimate based on an inspiration image

2. Upon establishing contact with the artist and approval of budget by client, send space references to artists (fabric, wallpaper, paint samples, pictures of existing room)

3. Communicating throughout progress of work: artists provided either a sketch for approval and/or progress photos

4. Completion photo for final approval

5. Custom framing and Installation. For the Tracie Cheng painting, "Above The Clouds," a custom 12k white gold leaf gilded frame was selected to reflect the gold lines as well as chrome in rest of the room

Navigating through the complexities of working remotely required diligent correspondence with the artists, relying on color references through Pantone or powdercoat numbers, and frequent exchange of digital images.

Tracie Cheng, "above the clouds," 2017, mixed media on wooden panel

inspiration - "Storm at Sea," 2014

sketch for approval

completion photo

Sally England, "Ripples," 2017, mixed media

inspiration - "Untitled"

progress photo

completion photo

To round out the collection, we work with Satellite Of.Love, a local gallery located in the Mission, representing mid-career Bay Area artists. We were able to broaden the scope of medium to include sculpture and verre eglomise.

Patricia Lyons Stroud, "Touch," 2016, carved redwood

The breadth of art is also represented in the wide age range of the women artists, from the younger Sally England and Tracie Cheng to the most senior Patricia Lyons Stroud, who experienced WWII as a child and immigrated to the US as an adult. The varying stages of the artists' careers and their perspectives adds to the depth of the collection. Patricia Lyons Stroud, through her life experiences, extends her multi-decade investigation into liberating the forms, life energy and joy from individual pieces of wood to create evocative pattern and form. Sydney Cohen, an adjunct professor of painting/drawing at the California College of Arts, poetically applies thick layers of paint in unique color combinations to create unusual organic forms on her canvases and describes her work as "a preference for the most indirect path."

Each unique perspective of the artist comes together to create a cohesive, but variegated art collection which not only complements the interior, but also creates a stimulating environment, where one can live and engage with art on a daily basis. Putting together a harmonious interior space with phenomenal art gives us great joy and contentment, not only for the final concept, but through the process of discovery and interaction with each artist and their representatives.

Patricia Lyons Stroud, "Hold 3," 2016, carved redwood with patina

Sydney Cohen, "Binocular 400," 2017, acrylic on wood

Jeannie Fraise

January 10, 2018

LB Team Design Inspiration through Travel 2017

Jeannie Fraise

January 10, 2018

Our travels are so integral to who we are at Lotus Bleu. They invigorate and inform our always evolving creative approach. With each visit, we solidify existing partnerships with specialized vendors and artisans and foster exciting new ones to keep our sources fresh and original.

Our team has traveled to many destinations over 2017, from which we've culled design inspiration. Here are some of our highlights, from coast to coast and around the world.

LOTUS BLEU IN PARIS