I first “met” Simone LeBlanc through her inspiring blog and our friendship has blossomed from there. Back track three years and you’d find us commenting back and forth on each others posts – we had a friendship even though we had never met in person. In January as I was planning my trip to LA, I reached out about shooting her workspace because I knew from her instagrams and sense of style that it had to be beautiful and inspiring. Let me say, as you walk up the stairs to Simone’s workspace you are transported into a lovely cabin that has inspiration in every nook and corner.

Simone’s company offers personal styling, gifts, and creative services. She is the creative director for her clients personal lives – it can range from simple day to day creative details, or projects of a much broader scope. When I was visiting her workspace she was putting together a leather-bound book for a fathers 60th birthday – his children were compiling memories, quotes and photos to give him. All of the details Simone was piecing together were amazing.

Now, sit back and enjoy this stunning workspace.

What tips would you give to those that work out of their home?

I love working out of my home – it has always been a dream of mine to have a studio that is conducive to quiet creativity. I am often out in the stores and with clients and for 3 months out of the year I rent a raw space for my Holiday production – so you can imagine how I relish in the calm of my home!

My best productivity-at-home tips are to schedule small breaks throughout the day, away from the computer. These can be 10 minute breaks even. I schedule a late morning break, lunch, and then one again in the afternoon. I’ll walk away from the computer, make tea, stretch my legs. Constant computer work can be a drain so this helps me stay refreshed and focused.

My official start date of my business was in the end of 2011. I had been working as a lifestyle/tastemaker consultant with private clients and the gifting needs kept increasing while at the same time inspiring me. It felt like the floodgates opened – as soon as I started focusing on gifting, the projects started coming at warp speed. So I can almost say my gifting service chose when to start on it’s own!

When you get a project where do you first look for inspiration?

I look through my gifting inspiration library of ideas. I’m constantly collecting and gathering concepts – details that are waiting to become fully formed projects. For me, the real magic of my business is that although their may be similarities at the root of an idea, each project becomes unique because of the client and their recipient. Each idea takes on the personality of the people involved, which makes the creative possibilities endless. I have a library of ideas – each containing parts that are tweaked and shaped for each individual.

During your busy season, how do you manage your time since most of it is before the holidays?

Plan for the unexpected – that is the golden rule of Holiday Season. I have a stellar team – we work as a stealth, focused, creative little workshop and schedule ourselves for intense work mixed with self – care. I (attempt) to plan and schedule every step of the production to the nth degree – which allows me to say yes to the unexpected projects. I schedule in morning hikes, yoga and a trip to the Korean Spa when possible. It’s a given that I’m going to be working on high speed for 3-4 months straight and it will get intense, so mixing in down time is absolutely essential. My fiance now knows to book something special for us starting on Dec 27th – I need silence and nature to unwind!

The one that takes the cake these days is when I recreated a room from a client’s childhood home, photographed it and presented it as a piece of art. It was incredible and invoked so many emotions – memory, disbelief, nostalgia, gratitude. It was an extraordinary project and the unveiling was a truly personal moment between the couple.

What the source of your never ending inspiration?

I’m a romantic at heart who longs for era’s past. This keeps me endlessly inspired and searching for the ephemeral….fleeting moments of emotion and beauty.

I love the open mindedness required when traveling. This instantly allow me see to see things differently – knowing that my surroundings, the creations & life around me were built from completely different reference points than my own is liberating. I never know what will surprise me next – the light is different so color combinations are fresh to the eye, the smells and sounds are unfamiliar so they mesh in a new and unexpected way. When I travel it is often for pleasure so I am in a mood to absorb.

Whats the perfect hostess gift?

The gesture of giving is the perfect gift. It’s much less about what you bring and more about the idea of bringing that shows gratitude.

Stay away from flowers that need tending to or food to be opened that evening – a gracious hostess will feel the need to include the food or prepare the flowers and that can disrupt her flow for the evening. A unique & specific wine from a different country in the spirit if the season is lovely; a prosecco or lambrusco that reminds you of travel and can set the stage for a future evening together is fun. A sampling from you favorite chocolatier or specialty salt is always a great idea. Keep it simple and in the realm of a gesture. Also – stock up on hostess gifts along the way. I have a small gifting closet of items that are inexpensive, but interesting and beautifully packaged. Olive oils from trips to Napa, incense from my favorite spot in Big Sur – something simple with a story is always appreciated.

A huge thank goes out to Simone for letting me visit her beautiful home and workspace. When I have a workspace of my own I’ll definitely be taking inspiration from this feature.

Photos by Caitlin Flemming

When I started this Workspace series I knew it would open doors to share creatives here in San Francisco and the west coast, but today I’m taking you to Brooklyn. When I first started following Rebecca Atwood’s journey creating her beautiful pillows and one-of-a-kind artwork, I knew her debut collection would be stunning. With the help of Nicole Franzen, who captured Rebecca’s inspiring workspace, I’m thrilled to share photos of her space, process and lastly a few photos of her look book shoot. What first drew me to her collection was the stunning color palette of blues (my favorite) that was inspired by living and growing up in Cape Cod. But what completely had me was that each pillow is created by Rebecca and her team in New York – I think it’s incredibly important to produce as much as possibly locally and Rebecca definitely embodies that.

Enjoy Rebecca’s lovely interview of where her inspiration and where she sees her line going in the future – she has big plans!

When did you decided to take the leap and start your own line of pillows and one-of-a-kind artwork?

If you asked me 3 years ago if I would ever want to have my own business I would have said no.  The idea to start my own collection started with a little tiny thought that became something I couldn’t shake.  I’ve designed home products for 6 years but needed a change career wise, and wasn’t sure where I wanted to go next.  I wanted a new challenge, something that would really push me…and I also wanted to create product that I feel passionate about.  There is a lot of product out there, but honestly I often can’t find just what I want.

Where did the inspiration come from in this debut collection?

So much of this collection comes from my personal history and memories.  I grew up on Cape Cod.  The water and soft neutrals of the coastal landscape became so much a part of my sensibility.  I think that is one of the biggest influences for me.  My family also saves everything, so I was always surrounded by antiques.  My Mom has dresses from the 1920’s, beautiful hand painted china, and an attic full of interesting objects etc. We weren’t a family that never used the good china and silver – my mom taught us to live with these beautiful things.  Why have them if you aren’t going to use them?  She let us play with the antique dolls, even if we did play a little too roughly.  I think this idea of wanting to create product that is truly special, but also not so precious you can’t use it comes from my Mom.  My pillows have been made with a lot of care and attention – but are meant to be lived with, and can be thrown in the wash if they are dirty.

You know I love blues – did you always think you would start with a blue hued collection?

It’s definitely happened naturally, and I think that’s again because of where I grew up.  Blue was so much a part of the landscape that for me it is a neutral.  I wanted to use colors you can layer and live with, and that you won’t be sick of in 6 months.  I’m not sure I realized how much I do love blue until I started putting this collection together.

Can you explain your design process? It’s so interesting!

There’s the practical part of my process, which means really planning out my calendar and starting with a deadline and working backwards.  Once I do this, it gives me a bit of piece of mind and allows me to create the time for spontaneity.

I try to build in a bit of time every week to paint in my sketchbook – time that isn’t necessarily trying to create a design but to get ideas down weather they relate or not.  I go back to my sketchbooks constantly.  For me everything starts there.  The next thing I do when starting a collection is to pull together an inspiration board – sketches, colors, fabrics, little notes with reminders, all of that goes onto it.  Then I begin working on the color palette.  I usually have some general ideas in mind, but I start by playing around with different dyes and fabrics to see which colors really sing together.

Once I have that framework set, I start playing around with artwork ideas and seeing what colors they work with.  I start making swatches – testing out dyeing techniques, prints on different base fabrics, in different colors, etc.  I generate a lot of different ideas on a small scale pretty quickly.  I try not to think about it too much and just make.  With the swatches I can start to see the collection really taking shape.  Sometimes something unexpected happens in this process and things fall out and new ideas come in.  I usually make another board with my favorite swatches.  I like to try and let this sit for a week or so to give myself time to edit, see if anything is missing, etc.

Once I decide on the swatches I start making fabric and designing the pillow layouts.  I usually make loose thumbnail drawings of each design in my sketchbook so I can see how everything will look together.

When did you decide to add artwork to your shop?

I actually had the idea to sell artwork before I decided to start my own collection of textiles.  I’ve always painted, for as long as I can remember, and actually studied painting in college before falling in love with textiles.

When you first launched was your goal to produce everything in New York?

One of my intentions with the line is to bring back closeness to the production process.  In a lot of product development today the relationship between the designer and the maker is very disconnected.  I want to really be a part of how my product is being made, because that comes through in the final result.  Of course, for the first season that means I’ve been making everything myself, and having it sewn in the garment district.  It’s been about as close as you can get and I love it!

Another objective is to do a small part in supporting the tradition of textiles.  Right now this means I’m making a small donation to Aid to Artisans for every pillow sold.  With time I want to work with artisans around the world to bring awareness and admiration to their areas of expertise.  I’ve worked in India a lot for previous jobs and absolutely love my trips there.  The soft voile quilts from India just can’t be replicated anywhere else, and they are my favorite quality of quilts.  The hand embroidery and beading is also amazing.  I think every sourcing decision should be because you want to bring the best product out there.  When I do expand my sourcing routes, paying workers a fare wage and doing everything as ethically as possible is very important to me.

When designing a pattern or collection, where do you go to get inspired? 

So many things inspire me, and it’s often a mixture of very different things.  A pattern idea can come from anywhere – a vintage scarf from my great aunt, the shadows on a sidewalk, an idea in my sketchbook, or even painting directly on to the fabric with dye (that’s where the spots print came from).  Giving yourself time off to do the things you enjoy – going to a museum, seeing friends, cooking, all give you time for the ideas to come.  I think the big thing with inspiration is to keep making, keep looking, and give yourself time to edit. We live in a world where the internet allows for such an instantaneous sharing of ideas and images, which is amazing, but I also think getting away from that is crucial.

Where do you see Rebecca Atwood in five years? 

It’s so hard to know where things will go, but I can’t seem to help having big plans!  With every collection I would like to expand the product range, until eventually I have all home products covered.  I am so excited to create a real bedding collection, but also want to develop tabletop, upholstery, bath etc.  I am lucky that I’ve had a chance to develop hard goods as well as soft goods in my previous jobs and I am really passionate about making home products for all areas of your life.  I just need to keep reminding myself one thing at a time!  I hope that in 5 years I’ve been able to realize a bit of this dream.  I also love the idea of having a storefront combined with studio space, so that people can see a bit of the process and I could have the occasional workshop.

A HUGE thank you to Rebecca for taking the time to be part of this series and to Nicole for the stunning photos! Be sure to hop over to shop her site.

Photos by Nicole Franzen for Rebecca Atwood and Sacramento Street

When Joanna Williams and I first met it felt as though we had known each other for years. I’ve been following her for a long time getting inspired through her beautiful instagrams and travels adventures. We first met for coffee right after the new year. As we sat there chatting, we kept finding more and more things that we had in common. We both love to travel, go flea market hunting and we both have family living in Mexico City. She also knew two friends of mine that I grew up with that have their own jewelry line – what a small, small world.

I knew photographing Joanna’s workspace would be inspiring, but it was even better than that, it was breathtaking. Every corner had something new that make my jaw would drop to the ground. Joanna has one of those amazing jobs that you want. Kneeland Co. is a division of her business where she sources vintage textiles from around the world to be sold to clients in order for them to use for product development. How awesome is that! She also started Kneeland Mercado where she sells beautiful items sourced from around the world (mainly Mexico). She carries beautiful treasures. Enjoy this beautifully inspiring workspace and interview!

Where do you get your sense of style?

My sense of style was instilled in me at a very young age when I started to idolize my older cousin and older brother.  Both of them had a fearless approach to style, both in fashion and music, and that really had a huge impact on me and taught me to go with my instinct and to have fun getting dressed.  My cousin, Cassie, would often travel with her family to Europe and bring back beautiful things by Krizia, Louis Vuitton, and other designers who were having a moment and then put them together in a way that was very cool and approachable.  We would play Violent Femmes records in her room and play with her clothes and it was the most satisfying experience for a young girl like myself.  My brother was a skateboarder and was very into new-wave music, and I really latched on to that as well. I would borrow his skate t-shirts and baggy jeans and wear them to school and be in my own little world.  Those two people had the biggest impact on my life when it comes to style, and also going to my first concert to see Morrissey in 6th grade.  It was outdoors in Houston, Texas, and I remember the lights on the stage coming on and everyone standing up with excitement, wearing the most amazing outfits.  I thought to myself, “This is IT, and this is the life I want to live.”  My style is still influenced by music as well as other things including art, travel, and those rebellious renegade women both past and present who love(d) to get dressed.  I enjoy picking things up on trips, whether it’s from specialty boutiques or markets and incorporating them into my wardrobe.  I also love people watching in whatever city or country I’m in and absorbing different elements of style; I think that probably influences my style subconsciously.

Explain the two divisions of your business – Kneeland Co. + Mercado.

With Kneeland Co., I source vintage textiles from around the world to be sold to clients in fashion, home, and beauty.  Essentially I am selling inspiration, as the designers I work with use the textiles for product development ideas.  I also design a line of embellishments that are hand made in India and sold to designers as well.  I travel around the world and work with different vendors both here and abroad, so it made sense to develop a second business that was available to everyone instead of just the trade.  I was already traveling and doing the work, so I started to source objects and accessories that I thought were special and interesting and opened an online store, Kneeland Mercado.  In addition to sourcing for the store, I also work with artisans to create products including rugs, baskets, and various goods.

Where do you find inspiration for Kneeland?

I find inspiration everywhere, from books to conversations to art to nature to vintage clothing – it’s endless!  Travel is definitely inspiring to me and I like discovering something new or seeing something totally unexpected that can spawn an idea for something else.  I truly believe that traveling provides the best education and can really help to train both your mind and your eye creatively.

When did you decide to start your online shop Mercado?

I decided to start Kneeland Mercado when I was on a sourcing trip in Mexico City last May.  I had such an incredible response to all the photos I was taking, and people were starting to inquire about products.  I happened to be doing a side project where I was sourcing for an online shop and thought it would be a good idea to start one myself.

Whats your latest obsession?

I have a few, one of which includes the new Dries Van Noten perfume for Frederic Malle.  I also have a soft spot for the perfect pink lipstick from the Dries Spring ’13 show – Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in L’Exuberante.  I’m obsessed with the Spring ’13 Dolce & Gabbana collection and I want to wear all of it this summer, preferably in an exotic beach location.  A girl can fantasize!   I’m also obsessed with the painter Laura Owens whose show I just saw here in LA at Ooga Booga #2.  I look at her paintings and see endless possibilities.  And then there’s India, a heavy obsession.  I have yet to go but am planning a trip for early fall and am beside myself with excitement.

You and I have something in common, we both have family living in Mexico City. Has this influenced your style?

Having family in Mexico City has definitely influenced my style.  Locals in Mexico are very stylish, but they also have a very natural beauty about them that has more to do with their spirit than with fashion.  In Mexico, there isn’t that sense of frantic urgency that we have in the states, so people are more relaxed, happy and carefree and you can really sense that in their way of dressing.  Lunches are 3 hours long, not 30 minutes.  There’s something to be said for that kind of lifestyle, and I think about that often.  My mother’s side of the family lived and continue to live an artful, bohemian lifestyle and there are many decisions and choices that are made that I believe in, like being open to new ideas and experiences and just going with the flow and acting out of love.  It’s hard to do, yes, especially when you’re running a business but I believe those are good words to live by.  I named my business Kneeland Co., as that is my mother’s maiden name.  My grandfather, Russell Kneeland, was a true adventurer and built an 86-foot schooner named Princess Kaiulani and sailed her all over the world.  I think about his hard work, his free spirit and his passion and that definitely is a major influence on every aspect of my style.

Is there anywhere in the world – a city or market – that brings you the most inspiration?

That’s a hard question!  Each city and market is totally different from the next, so it’s hard to say which is a favorite.  I just know that the markets in India are going to blow my mind into a million little pieces, so I’m certain that will become a favorite!  I do love visiting and shopping in Istanbul as well as the little Turkish villages on the Mediterranean.  My brother-in-law and his wife live there, so when we visit them they’re always turning us onto new and off the beaten path spots where I have found some real treasures.  I also adore the Clignancourt Flea Market in Paris and could spend my entire income there.  Mostly, I love exploring and meeting people in different countries because that’s what usually leads you to the gold.  I’ll talk to anyone, language barrier or not!

Where do you see Kneeland or Mercado in five years?

I would love for my dream clients to be real clients, and I’d like to continue to collaborate with brands that I believe in and with people whom I admire.  I would also like to write a book about my travels, my family and my business.  And, a brick-and-mortar location (or two) would make me very happy.

A huge thank you to Joanna for letting us get a glimpse inside her lovely and inspiring workspace!

Photos by Caitlin Flemming

When I first came across Heather’s blog LA in Bloom I was in awe of her beautiful sense of style and aesthetic. Not to mention to her effortless way of hosting a party – something I strive to do. When I found out Heather started her own textile company I thought to myself – what doesn’t she do? By day Taylor owns and runs a beautiful gallery in Culver City with her husband. On the side she started her beautiful textile company for entertaining – think beautiful napkins, place mats and runners. I of course fell in love with the all white pattern, but her mix of colors is breathtaking. Learn more about Heather through her lovely interview below.

Where did your interest in art begin?
When I was growing up my parents used to drag me and my sister to museums, which probably set the stage for my interest in art. The passion really developed in high school when I signed up for photography class. I fell in love with it. Up until that point I was an average student who wasn’t really great at anything. Photography was my first passion and the first thing at which I excelled. I still love taking pictures.

When did you and your husband decide to open a gallery?
We opened the gallery in 2006 after meeting a group of artists in LA who we loved and didn’t have a place to show their work. We wanted to create a welcoming space for emerging artists to show their work and for young collectors to begin building collections. We also had a dream of turning it into a kind of creative lab, where different types of events could occur – readings, fashion presentations, music performances.

When did you decide you wanted to start a textile line?
I love textiles and have been collecting and making them for years. I am a long time knitter and weaver and people are always asking if they can buy what I make. The first weaving project I was really proud of was a vividly-hued striped table runner. It took me 8 months to make by hand and a few of my friends wanted to buy it. This was part of the inspiration for the line. I also love entertaining and setting a pretty table is one of my favorite parts of the whole experience of having people over. I couldn’t find linens that I was in love with (other than while traveling) so I decided I would design my own.

Where did the inspiration for your textiles come from?
From my travels. I have seen the most amazing linens in Greece and Mexico and the daily tradition of using beautiful linens in a casual way is very inspiring. Even if you’re just eating dinner by yourself on a Tuesday night. Why not make it beautiful?

You’re an artist in your own right, what medium do you find your creative outlet in?
The fiber arts, mainly weaving and knitting. Also cooking and flower arranging.

You mentioned you love entertaining, what is it about entertaining that you love so much?
Because it’s a way to show your guests that you love them. And it’s a creative outlet in its own right.

What are three thing you always have on a table? A table runner, flowers and sea salt.

If you were to host a dinner party, who would your dream guest be? Nora Ephron

A huge thank you to Heather for letting us get a glimpse inside her lovely workspace! And if you don’t already follow her on instagram you most definitely should – you’ll be completely inspired by the pictures she posts.

Photos by Caitlin Flemming

My mom and I discovered Book / Shop last spring at a pop-up shop at Fort Mason. It was like love at first sight – honestly we didn’t know what to do with ourselves. Going through the stacks and stacks of books was incredibly inspiring and the owner – Erik, knew the history behind every single book we opened. Both my mom and I left with our hands full of books, posters and their signature “Book / Shop” tote. Both of us were in awe of our discovery. Luckily, Erik and his family opened their lovely Oakland home for me to shoot for this workspace series. Friends, this home is covered in amazing one-of-a-kind books that are in impeccable condition. Enjoy this look inside this beautiful workspace and an interview by Erik.

Thank you Erik for opening up your beautiful home for us to see. We can’t wait for your shop to open! If you are a book lover like myself, be sure to pop over to Book / Shop where he uploads new finds all the time.

Photos by Caitlin Flemming