Tai Kung Lu

Photo by Robert Petril

I took this very simple photo (above) a few years ago in Shanghai. At that time, it symbolized change or transition to me. I loved the contrast of these two walls coming together. It seemed to fit how I felt about my own life path. I was well into my transitional journey through the world of design and creating things inspired by my own unique visions.

These walls are located in a back alley near a place I loved and frequented when I was living there. A street called Tai Kung Lu. A place where you can find many artist's studios, outdoor cafes, quaint little restaurants, and boutiques. It was one of my favorite inspirational hangouts.

Tai Kung Lu (Photo by Robert Petril)

I can remember so many days there dreaming about where I wanted my life path to lead. I was doing what I loved, but I still felt that part of me was stuck in a different life. Like I really didn't belong there, and my dream was reaching towards nothing but more uncertainty. Yet the urge to continue reaching has never diminished. And today I know exactly where it was all leading.

 
Back to the photo at the top. While the contrast of the two walls coming together is so beautiful, the stucco represented the norm or the way everyone says things should be. The brick on the other hand displays a wonder of texture, depth, variance, and contrast within itself. It's much more beautiful to me. The multitude of flaws make it feel much more authentic than the stucco to the left.

Tai Kung Lu (Photo by Robert Petril)

I'm so grateful that I saved this very simple photo in my collection. I feel I was guided to save it and use it today. I'm on the verge of realizing some really important dreams. Ones that I fought through so much negative feedback, uncertainly, and sacrifice to achieve. And most recently I've met the love of my life. A person beyond all my dreams. Now I know why I saved this photo. It's the perfect canvas for those life wisdom quotes...

Click photo to enlarge

◦

Tai Kung Lu

Mix It Up: Your Artwork Doesn’t Have to Match the Sofa

There’s nothing better than finding the perfect piece of furniture for your home. It’s comfortable, it fits the dimensions of your space, and best of all, it fits your personality. But sometimes it can be a struggle to find artwork to match your furniture.

The solution? Don’t worry about matching! Here’s a little design secret: There are no rules that say that your art has to perfectly coordinate with your interiors in color, size, or aesthetic. In fact, when your artwork has an oddity to its size, or is displayed in a nontraditional way, or even if the subject is unexpected, that’s what makes your home a real home!

Your artwork should reflect you, your personality, your family, and your lifestyle in a way that creates a treasured home environment. Here are a few ways to bring the unexpected into your home art gallery.

Break away from the traditional. Remember when artwork would always be hung according to rigid standards? You may have chosen a patterned sofa or set of chairs and tried to find art in the same color palette. However, there are plenty of ways to style a look without being overly matchy-matchy. Imagine a black-and-white striped chair with a bright red and orange abstract print above, for example. Colors can be complementary, or you could have just one color in common to tie it all together. 

Stay under budget. Just because you sprang for an investment rug doesn’t mean you have to buy an original painting to match. No matter how nice your furniture is, you can find inexpensive artwork to match. Instead of choosing a pricey painting, why not display your favorite prints? Calendars are a great source for multiple prints that can be arranged together using uniform frames. It’s really all about expressing your unique style so that when you look at it all together, you can’t help but smile.

Choose your locations wisely. It’s a good idea to consider the function of each room before deciding which art will live in it. Start out by grouping your artwork together and determining which rooms you want to display which pieces. If you’re worried that small children or rowdy guests will disturb your artwork, consider pieces that are not breakable for common areas. A few long hanging wires spray-painted with plastic coating or a grouping of long picture shelves could hold your children’s favorite books or Lego creations. Or if the kids are older, you can pair artwork from your latest travels with cherished photos of your kids to give your room a new focal point.

Add an air of eclecticism with a gallery wall. The great thing about gallery walls is that they fit in with just about any décor. If you have boxes of treasures hidden away, look through them and pick out meaningful pieces to display, from your kids’ artwork to favorite family photos and beloved prints. Think outside-the-box by mixing colors and patterns. Robert’s own bright and multicolored furniture designs work so well with a mix of old and new accessories, and a gallery wall is the perfect way to accomplish that look.

Make your kids the star of the show. Family photos look great anywhere when done with style. Skip the photo studio and have a few of your favorite snapshots printed as over sized black-and-white photos… perhaps one of each family member sticking out their tongue out or blowing out their cheeks? This look is so much more personal than posed studio shots and will remind you of special times together.

So, if you think your artwork has to match your furniture perfectly, then consider these ideas to give your interiors a fresh look. You will never look at artwork the same!

Laurie Laizure is the CEO of Customized Walls and founder of the largest online community for design pros. Laurie’s work has been featured on various cable networks as well as top publications in the interior design world such as New England Home and Country Living magazines. She also writes on her own blog, William Sonoma Designer Marketplace and for Shutterfly.com. Connect with her here: Google+ 

◦

Mix It Up: Your Artwork Doesn’t Have to Match the Sofa

High Point October 2014

When Lazar asked me if they could create a sofa from my LOUNGE design, I said sure!! See the result at the High Point Market | The World's Home for Home Furnishings!

Let's see how they did...

Showroom IHFC D817
(Design Center 8th Floor)

See you there!

◦

High Point October 2014

Kelly Rutherford: Kid film crew was ‘Incredible’

 

 

 In the family comedy “The Stream” actress Kelly Rutherford plays a mother whose son embarks on an adventure to get to the mall without permission. Children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America helped to produce the film and the organization receives 20 percent of the video proceeds.

Learn more about the film...

 "The Stream"

Available now on DVD!

iTunes

Amazon

◦

Kelly Rutherford: Kid film crew was ‘Incredible’

We will miss you Robin!

 

 

 

Robin Williams 1951-2014

You will be so missed, and always treasured.

www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

◦

We will miss you Robin!

Furniture Fashion Week #hpmkt

 

It's like Fashion Week, but for the Home!

I will be showing LOUNGE, Crosby, and Hazel Collections in new fabric selections by Lazar's cover guru Debra Venti.

@Lazar Industries IHFC-D817

(Design Center 8th Floor)

April 5-10, Will you be there?

More Info & RSVP 

You can follow the crowd, or you can blaze a whole new path!

-RP

◦

Furniture Fashion Week #hpmkt

The tip of the iceberg...

The drawing board has been very busy these days. So many new things about to happen. And, I can't wait to reveal what we're up to. Stay tuned, there's big news coming soon!

"If you can dream it, you can do it" - Walt Disney

◦

The tip of the iceberg...

THIS JUST IN! Showtimes...

Showtimes for Opening Week are here!

We need YOU to fill the seats on Friday, October 18, 2013, 80% of the proceeds go to help the kids from The Boys & Girls Clubs of America!

It's more than just a movie...its a mission!

 www.thestreammovie.com

◦

THIS JUST IN! Showtimes...

THE STREAM Opens October 18th!

...THE STREAM opens October 18th., at select Regal Cinemas!

 

The Official Trailer

 A wonderful family movie, and each ticket sale benefits the kids at The Boys & Girls Clubs of America. So let's go to the movies on October 18th! :)

Where you ask?

 

 

NEW YORK:

UA Kaufman Astoria Cinemas 14 & RPX

35-30 38th St., Astoria NY 11101

Regal New Roc Stadium 18 & IMAX

33 Le Count Place, New Rochelle NY 10801
 

CHICAGO:

Regal Round Lake Beach Stadium 18

550 East Rollins Rd., Round Lake Beach IL 60073

Regal Cantera Stadium 17 & RPX

28250 Diehl Road, Warrenville IL 60555 (city / north suburb location tba)

PHILADELPHIA:

UA Riverview Plaza Stadium 17

1400 S. Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia PA 19147

UA Washington Township 14

, 121 Tuckahoe Rd, Sewell, NJ 08080

Regal Peoples Plaza Stadium 17

1100 Peoples Plz, Newark, DE 19702

 

BOSTON:

Regal Solomon Pond Stadium 15

591 Donald Lynch Boulevard, Marlborough MA 01752 

 

LOS ANGELES & ORANGE CO.

Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26 & IMAX

7501 Carson Blvd Long Beach, CA 90808

Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 IMAX & RPX

65 Fortune Dr.,Irvine,CA,92618

 

SAN FRANCISCO / OAKLAND:

UA Emery Bay Stadium 10

6330 Christie Ave Emeryville, CA 94608

 

SAN DEIGO:

Regal Parkway Plaza Stadium 18 & IMAX

405 Parkway Plaza, El Cajon CA 92020

 

WASHINGTON DC / BALTIMORE / VA:

Regal Majestic Stadium 20 & IMAX

900 Ellsworth Drive Silver Spring, MD 20910

UA Snowden Square Stadium 14 

9161 Commerce Center Drive, Columbia MD 21046

 

ATLANTA:

Regal Hollywood Stadium 24 @ North I-85

3265 NE Expressway Access Rd, Chamblee GA

Regal Atlantic Station 16 IMAX & RPX

261 19th Street NW, Atlanta GA 30363

 

MINNEAPOLIS:

Regal Brooklyn Center Stadium 20

6420 Camden Ave North, Minneapolis MN 55430

 

DENVER:

UA Colorado Mills Stadium 16 & IMAX

14500 West Colfax Ave., Lakewood CO 80401

 

DALLAS / FT. WORTH:

UA Grand Prairie 10

510 Westchester Pkwy, Grand Prairie TX 75052


 

 

Website

Come on! Let's go to the movies! :)

◦

THE STREAM Opens October 18th!

Why pink is Badass...

 

 

 

 

And you thought that pink was just a girlie color...HA!

◦

Why pink is Badass...

THE STREAM going to Regal Cinemas Nationwide!

Some really exciting news coming from Dreaming Tree Films! Last summer I had the privilege of working as production designer with the kids from The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, on the feature film called "The Stream". It's now official that it will launch on select screens at Regal Cinemas nationwide. Here's the official release...

It was a truly amazing experience to work on this film. Our task was to turn multiple rooms, interiors, and outdoor spaces back to 1981. A challenging task, but one I feel my age gave me an advantage. I was a teenager myself during the period of this story. My memories of my own, and my friend's houses in the early 80's were burned deep into my brain. Let's just say...the design sensibilities of that time were not the most alluring. We're talking the age of brown paneling!

Here's the bedroom we created for the lead characters Ernest & Bobby, played by Jacob Williams and Michael Capperella...

And here's the parent's room played by Kelly Rutherford and Christopher Gorham. Doesn't this room bring back some decor nightmares!? lol

 

 

One of the most challenging tasks was to find the cars. In some cases, I actually chased cars down I passed on the road. Two cars that I managed to get stopped (and I not killed) will appear in the film.

This film is a great adventure for families, and a great cause at the same time. A large portion of the proceeds of ticket and DVD sales will benefit The Boys & Girls Clubs of America. And the kids from the Clubs helped to make the film. This made working on this film a truly special and wonderful experience. And, some pretty big Hollywood peeps stepped up to help the cause. 

Gossip Girl Star, Kelly Rutherford

Mario Lopez, Kelly Rutherford, Christopher Gorham, and Rein Wilson all star in this feature film. Here's a glimpse behind the scenes with Mario Lopez on set...

 

 

Actors Mario Lopez and Noura Boustany-Jost

Needless to say, it was an experience of a lifetime. I feel so grateful to have taken a part in getting it made. I hope you go out and see this very family friendly coming of age film this coming October. Below is the list of theaters and dates. Let's support our kids, and have some great family fun doing it! This movie was a blast to help make, and it will be a blast to see up on the silver screen! For all the up-to-date information, go to The Stream website.

 

 Christopher Gorham wants to see you there :)

 

Coming October 18th.

In the meantime, here's a behind the scenes look...

  ◦

THE STREAM going to Regal Cinemas Nationwide!