Featured Photography: Tara McMullen

Happy Friday, and today's featured photographer is Tara McMullen! A Toronto-based photographer that captures the most dramatic shots though the subject, or composition may be a simple stance. So much mood is conveyed in her shots, and it's all due to her awareness of light. Whether it's a dark interior room spotlit, or natural daylight, she knows how to adjust to the environment and create jaw dropping photos like these. Enjoy and have a good weekend!

{Images via TaraMcMullen.com}

Hot Patterns for Spring + Summer

These cold days make you dream about going on vacations in hot climates. And hot temperatures require hot dresses. I am lovin' these bold prints, and I wish I could get them all! Just maybe... the Indigo Abstract Dress from Anthropologie. :) I wish these were steals, but most of these dresses are $250 and up. But when you shop for your next destination trip, try a bold, fun print like these on. A great addition to any stylish, summer wardrobe this season.

via Anthropologie - Indigo Abstract Dress

via Net-a-Porter - Milly Chain Print Dress

via Net-a-Porter - Thakoon Silk Print Dress

via Nordstrom - Nanette Lepore Keyhole Embellished Dress

via Nordstrom -Diane Von Furstenburg Ignacia Chiffon Wrap Dress + Rilia Silk Dress

via Nordstrom - Kate Spade New York Beatrice Silk Dress

Interior Spaces: Shades of Purple

Yesterday's wedding inspiration board showcased purple, and today we have it again, but for interior spaces! There are oh-so many different ways to incorporate all shades of purple into your home. Here, they are being used in textiles, on walls + ceilings and accessories. Don't these interiors make you want to have this lovely hue into your home... I know I do. Don't know where to start? Just get in touch with me.

via Design Cocktail

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via Canadian House and Home

via Elle Decor

via House Beautiful

via Home Edit

via Design Ties

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Inspiration Board #12: A Royal, Purple Wedding

Who doesn't want to feel like royalty on their wedding day! And the best hue to accentuate royalty is a purple.

Here's a little history on the color purple, and why it's simply known as the symbol for "nobility." Back in the medieval times, blue dyes (red + blue pigments when mixed, produced purple) were so expensive that only the wealthy, or the aristocracy could afford it. Naturally over time, the deep-bluish purple became the wardrobe color of Kings, and is often known as "royal purple". Not only is the purple hue associated with royalty, but damask and brocade silk prints were common, too, in the aristocratic wardrobe due to its high production costs.

So for today's wedding inspiration board, I had to pair the royal purple shade with the ornate, but sophisticated print. Inspired by the damask pillow design with its varying shades of purple, I knew the event colors had to be black, royal purple, and the secondary accent colors to be lavender and a light silver grey. I could definitely see the damask pillow in a modern, white seated lounge area for the cocktail hour and post-dinner celebration. For the tablescape, it will be a combination of pewter-like drinking vessels, crystals, white silver-rimmed plates, silver chargers & candelabras, black/white damask votives, bunches of purple hydrangeas & irises, and all set on white runners and black linens.

And other great embellishments to make yourselves feel like true royalty: how about a customized monogrammed aisle runner, empty oval baroque frames to get your cameo portraits shot by the photographer, and invest in good lighting to set off the whole environment.

2011 Color Trend: Pantone 18-2120 Honeysuckle

Pantone's color for the 2011 year is out! Actually, it was released a month Dec. 9, 2010. I was behind checking in to see the debut date. And too much of my surprise, it's a pretty intense, very bold color —Pantone 18-2120 Honeysuckle. Click here to see Pantone's official press release. Last year's color was Pantone 15-5519 Turquoise, and it was my absolute favorite color since I have embraced it in my own home. I do like the Honeysuckle color, but it's just a bit too pink for me.

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute explains, “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues... Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

Lovin' this hue? Well, there are lots of ways to rock the Honeysuckle color this year. Take your pick...

1. Get a Pantone Visa Platinum Rewards Card.
See www.pantone.com/visacard for more info.

2. Bridesmaids dresses in this exact same hue.
There are over 200 PANTONE Colors available from Dessy, a leading manufacturer bridesmaid, social occasion and flower-girl dresses. See Dessy.com for more info.

{Above, from left: Peter Som, Jil Sander, Valentino, Badgley Mischka}

3. How about the Honeysuckle color on your walls, or refinish furniture in this bold color.
Go to your local paint store and get them to match the Pantone swatch exactly! Here are few interiors paying tribute to this year's color...

I'll slowly admit, this color is starting to grow on me. I am really liking the interiors with the Honeysuckle in it. I don't think I will be wearing this shade of pink anytime soon in my wardrobe unless it was incorporated into a pattern to tone it down for me. So are you all liking this new trend color of the year?

Interior Spaces: Red + Orange

Let's have a look at interiors with today's inspired hues, red + oranges, in main living spaces and hallways. Some are as bold as can be and others are subtle touches that pop out from the neutral environment. What's your favorite room? 

My top picks are...

1. White living room with accent ottoman chair in poppy red

2. Master bedroom with the tufted, white headboard against the coral accent wall

3. Zebra ottoman/frame with orange drapes

Inspiration Board #11: A Sunburst, Garden Party

A cold, icy week. Well, let's warm up this week with an intense burst of oranges + reds in this inspiration board. I was inspired by Reem Acra's silk floral gown from the 2010 spring season. This particular wedding I see it set in a spring garden setting. An effortless, beautiful bride with her hair gathered into an easy pony tail with a red-orange poppy flower accent. Fun, matching colored flats for the bride and her bridesmaids in stylish cocktail-length dresses. The groom and groomsmen in beige cotton suits with coordinating bow or skinny ties.

A simple, but delish menu of spring greens, caprese salad, pasta and warm baked bread. And it is accompanied with refreshing drinks like fresh squeezed lemonade, Italian sodas and theme-colored cocktails. :) As for decor, glowing paper lanterns that blow in the night breeze, twinkle lights wrapped around the local trees, and sunburst orange flowers contrasted against clean white, crisp linens.

Featured Videography: Jorge Jamarillo

Maria + Gustavo, wedding clients of mine, sent me over a "teaser" trailer video to her wedding day, and it looks awesome! I am jealous. :) Beautiful cuts between scenes, excellent movement, romantic detail shots, music is on point, and true artistry has been invested into this trailer. I can't wait to see the full montage from her wedding day. Jorge Jamarillo — a great cinematographer! This is the type of videography everyone should invest into if your budget allows for it. It's worth it, and it takes you back to your special day in full detail.

Teaser frames below from the trailer, but click here if you want to see the good stuff.

News + Recognition

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01.10.11  It's official! Design With Chon has a new marketing team, and they are working on expanding awareness and bringing new opportunities to my doorstep. I want to welcome Linda, Marketing Director of DWC, and Ryan F., Marketing Consultant Intern, to the DWC team. 

Just some background info on the team. Linda graduated from Georgetown University with a Masters in public relations and corporate communications. She has over 4 years of industry experience, and is now starting her own marketing company, Yellow Duck PR. She currently lives and works in the city of Chicago, but was raised in NYC. Yes, she is a New Yorker, but does love Chicago. I don't think she will ever say that Chicago pizza is better, however. Oh, and DWC will be working on the Yellow Duck PR new logo design and the visual branding of her new company! Linda is going to be the go-to marketing guru for my company, and for any of my future clients who ever need advice and resources in marketing and PR strategies.

As for Ryan, he is finishing up his bachelors degree at Northern Illinois University. He's a hard worker and is very well-rounded. While obtaining his degree, he is working full-time to fund for his education and still has time to have fun by playing a bunch of intramural sports on the north side of Chicago. Although Ryan is going to NIU, he's an Illini fan all the way. Coincidentally, Ryan's whole family is from the New York area, too. I guess you can say I have a bunch of New Yorkers on my hands. I am looking forward to working with Ryan and to see what insights that he can offer in tackling my demographic market.
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01.11.11  The words of Design With Chon are published! OMG. DWC first-ever ad in Chicago Style Wedding magazine.

I attended the Chicago Style Wedding magazine launch party this past Tuesday for the big reveal of their new 2011 season cover. I went with Linda, Marketing Director of DWC, and another design colleague. Their cover (for the first time ever I believe) is a sophisticated, elegant black and white image of a modern bride. Simple and beautifully understated I think.

Brides and future brides go pick up a your copy of Chicago Style Wedding magazine today, and find the DWC ad. There is a special 5% off promotion code towards my wedding services. Also, if you read the 2011 Wedding Trends article written by Kristen Castillo, you can find good wedding tips for your wedding. And to much of my surprise, I was quoted 4 times! :) I wasn't expecting this and forgot I talked to Kristen, the writer, back in 2010 about my wedding insights. It's a little proud moment for me as I expand my business ventures into the wedding market. It's exciting and nerve wrecking at the same time. Stay tuned into the 2011 year as I share my news and thoughts with you all!

DWC Custom Book: Prexa & Ronak Wedding

Prexa & Ronak's wedding book is printed! This is a follow up posting to a previous post. The printed version looks sooo much better than my Adobe InDesign digital layouts. The wedding book was divided between two 12x12-inch books, because there was so much to visually tell. In total, there was 200+ pages, 5 chapters documenting the Indian wedding process that took place over 3 days, and a custom cover design that nods to Indian culture, but still being contemporary for our young couple.

With a little manipulation in Photoshop, sensitivity for typography, an eye for layout structure, and a few words of dedication written by me, I must say these books are another great addition to the Design With Chon portfolio of custom books. :)

{Book design ©2011 Design With Chon}