Cupcakes. Who would’ve thought that with one transient shot on a Sex and the City episode, these delectable delights would still be trendy four years later. Before, there was only Magnolia. But now, there’s Billy’s, Crumbs, Georgetown, Buttercup Bake Shop, Cupcake Stop and Sprinkles. Even still, something’s been missing. When it comes to the slightly tougher, slightly rougher cupcakes, where could one turn? Butch Bakery.

As the site says: These ain’t your grandmas cupcakes. Butch Bakery sells manly treats in patterns such as Woodland Camo, Houndstooth and Wood Grain. To boot, there’s a flavor for every type of guy in your life. Frat boy turned banker? Beer Run (chocolate and beer-infused cake with beer butter cream frosting), Dreamy Don Draper? Try the Sidecar (Brandy-soaked lemon [...]

Filled with smiling toasters, teapots, and cupcakes, how can you not fall in love with the playful and upbeat designs of Piktorama (aka Amaranta)? Born and raised in South America, Piktorama spent a majority of her youth in Caracas and her later art making years in Buenos Aires. Currently residing in Miami, Piktorama combines her talents as an illustrator, animator and fine artist. Piktorama’s main inspiration: cupcakes, a delicious treat for any artistic or culinary palate. It’s certainly a recipe for success. Her stimulating artwork is catching the eyes – and taste-buds – of designers and food critics alike as her vibrant designs bring to life one of life’s greatest pleasures. Check out our Q&A with this irresistible Latina to learn more about her perfect taste in desserts and patterns.

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PP:  How would you describe your aesthetic?

PIKTORAMA: [...]

Kelly Wearstler is a force to be reckoned with. Carving out a stylish nook for herself in the home-goods sector, she’s managed to capitalize on Hollywood’s desire to be decadent and different. You’d be sleeping under a rock if you’ve missed all of her carefully placed press editorials over the past month. Everyone from The New Yorker to Lonny Magazine to Elle Decor in Australia has weighed in to compliment her maximalist style and make note of her new book, Hue. Wearstler is a well crafted luxury brand and has skillfully inked deals with like-minded product labels, such as Schumacher, Sferra and Bergdorf Goodman, expanding her reputation, influence and quite frankly, her appeal. This collection of Pickard China is one of her latest collaborations and [...]

It’s always fascinating when creative parallels emerge within unrelated markets.  Vitra, a leading furniture concept store recently unveiled it’s Vegetal chair by suspending several black and white styles in their Meat Packing District windows.  No more than two miles south, Burberry’s signature plaid has taken a similar route, by tossing it’s famous pattern in it’s Soho location window. This youthful touch looks like the work of Christopher Bailey, Burberry’s newish Creative Director.  Merging plaid elegance with organic fast food, Sis. Deli + Café, a chain of restaurants in Helsinki, Finland, has proven that consumption and convenience can be effectively translated without bombarding the customer with incessant messaging.

There’s no shortage of inspiration when you live in a city that celebrates beauty and revels the grotesque. Today’s highlight captures the natural colors around town that can be used as a source of inspiration.  From Vutera’s speakeasy neon lighting in Williamsburg, Brooklyn to this glass mosaic on New York City’s newest elevated park, The Highline, summer’s color combos are just as vibrant in nature as they are in city dwelling.

This wall in Brooklyn speaks  to several months of messaging.  Once symbolic of a crumbling part of town, imagery such as this now serves as marketing inspiration for retailers such as Barneys and Urban Outfitters.  Veering away from the grunge factor, this doorbell and name plate from San Francisco’s Russian Hill district, is both an amusing display of typography and a beautiful [...]

After taking a quick glance at the above imagery, one would assume these designs came from the same origin.  Not the case.  On the contrary, the symbols used in the downtown sex shop logo, Babeland, are the same markings used to promote AIDS awareness at the 14th St. subway station.  Positive and negative signs have always implied a balance of contrasts, and while it makes sense that both categories would seek inspiration on the same avenue, the final message is somewhat lost.  Then again, perhaps there’s brilliance in the fact that these signs are interchangeable. 

Highlighting another world of opposites, fast food giant, McDonalds has recently released the campaign, Give it Love, using a mcnugget and fry combo to connote a kiss and a hug.  In a breakfast aisle on an alternate universe, Annie’s organic bunny love cereal [...]

In another lifetime I’d be designing window displays.  Not the corporate-sheik windows that come in a box over from China, but the ad hock masterpieces that merge high-end concepts with low budget materials.  One of the cheapest tools designers can use to showcase their ideas is perishable foods.  A mass market example of this can be found in M&M Premiums latest advertising efforts, where monochromatic sculptures reveal the latest flavors. Combining everyday materials for a more permanent display, Anthropologie sews bread loaves together with red shoe string to convey fashionable kitchenware in their Fifth Ave location.  

Continuing with the bread theme, Anthropologie creates a splash of texture contrasts, spiraling doughy slices against the back wall.  The resulting sun motifs are as clever as they are creative. Even Simon Doonan, Barney’s famed Window Dresser agrees [...]

No matter how detail oriented you are, Motoi Yamamoto will still beat you to the punch.  Using salt and an extraordinarily steady hand, this Japanese artist merges organic influences with the most basic of natural elements, salt, to his build his masterfully intricate installations. Yamamoto’s work has progressed from an inquiry on death to the exploration of salt as a meditation on life. “Now I believe that salt enfolds the memory of lives…salt is used across culture as an antibiotic, preservative, and purifier.  Salt is a life-sustaining element.”  For the full story on Yamamoto’s work, pick up a copy of this month’s  Theme Magazine- unfortunately the online version omitted the story.

It doesn’t take long to see techniques reinterpreted and trends take hold when an artist gains global acclaim. Using sugar in place of salt, Marian Bantjes, [...]

Diane Von Furstenberg’s latest window display showcases mismatched patterns and fabric textures throughout her dress and bag collections.  Referencing bright and iconic summer shapes, reminiscent of j.crew flip flops and Tory Burch tunics, DVF’s approach to the upcoming season is blaringly optimistic.  That being said, I’d be curious to see how the recession translates into next year’s spring/summer collection, as today’s economical dip was hardly a factor when these ensembles were designed over a year ago.

L.A. Styles

While in Silverlake last month, I stumbled across Sally Bartz’s collection of handbags under her newly founded company, Halsea.  Inspired by west coast colors and summer icons, Bartz’s crab monograms and bamboo squares decorate luggage, tote and weekend bags, providing a breath of fresh air from LA’s hipster styles.

London Styles

UK designer, Peter Jensen has a playful [...]

Originality is the benchmark for every creative release, particularly when a review’s involved. Designers love to observe, dissect then reinterpret.  Fusing mismatched edges with polished mineral patterns, malachite ensembles have begun to surface in many upscale home good departments.  This forest sculpture, comprised of glass angles and green reflections translates commercially as beautiful 2D cabinetry.  Merging wood, paint and pattern, Fornasetti achieves similar success with his gold cutlery malachite trays.