Cashmere Love

Cashmere is my newest addiction. I'm a little late to the game. I have been aware that it is regarded as essential, but I never really felt the urgency of shelling out $100+ for a sweater. Now I'm a believer for one sole reason: temperature control. It's amazing in making you feel warm yet not overheated. Brilliant for the extreme interior/exterior temperature changes during the fall and winter in a place like New York.

UNIQLO's cashmere sweaters are currently 20% off, which make them attainable for just under $70. Not the highest quality you can get but great for cashmere novices. Plus they've got any color you can dream of.

Billyburg knows good design

Familiar gripes about Williamsburg aside, there is some great stuff to be found (and less people to encounter) if you venture off of Bedford Ave. In the spirit of gathering inspiration and ideas for a client, Kat and I went on a small design tour last Friday. No, I haven't branched off into interior design, but it's good practice to tease your senses with real-world textures, shapes, lines, colors and contrasts before making any sort of graphic statement on the screen.

I'm not going to complain about the prices (but I will make a nod toward the irony of W'burg restaurants being filled with young people on a weekday... seriously, how these people make their income to spend on expensive design is a mystery), but the design stores were accompanied by good-natured and relaxed shop-people who actually allowed us to take photos. I really love the "craftsman" feel of design of all forms these days, lying somewhere between DIY and DWR.

(Moon River Chattel - ocean and botanical-inspired mercantile at 62 Grand St b/w Wythe & Kent)

(The Future Perfect - high-end but endlessly witty and well-crafted pieces at 115 N 6th St & Berry)

(A&G Merch - next door to The Future Perfect at 111 N 6th St & Berry. Felt like a grown-up version of Urban Outfitters, in a good way.)

This is the house that Will built

I know a lot of architects for not actually being an architect myself. Here are the fruits of my friend Will's labors. Will is the only architect I know who is self-employed, so his first completed boutique design project in downtown San Jose is very exciting. If you ever need anything designed and built, you can e-mail him - willpowe12@gmail.com. (Happy Birthday, Will!)




Azuki
112 Paseo de San Antonio
San Jose CA 95112