Walking on A Dream
A mid-week assortment of ideas to get your mind racing
So, I’ve decided to do a double newsletter this week as I still had some items I felt like sharing. I find it harder and harder these days to find things online that I really feel are worth sharing. A lot of what I come across feels either grossly capitalist (“TJ Maxx got a custom typeface design” 🤮 looking at you It’s Nice That) or just, middling, I guess? I have no idea how I used to share so many things back in the day! Either I’m more discerning, the web was easier to explore, or the algorithm has made us all into copycats.
Hope your week is going well so far! 💙
Scottish designer Marc Sweeney has designed the Pepper Pepper Mill, “a pepper mill made from bio-resin filled with peppercorns.” Lovely objects, very totemic in form, and I’m even more sold by the fact they allegedly also smell like pepper.
Filmmakers Nicholas Dwyer & Tu Neill have turned their lens to the world of Japan’s specialised listening cafés, aka Kissas, in their new documentary A Century in Sound. The story focuses on three cafés that play jazz, Japanese rock and city-pop, and classical music respectively. What all three cafés have in common is that they offer a meditative break from the endless chaos of Tokyo – and the rest of the world. A stylish time capsule of memories and the past amidst the hustle and bustle.
I talk a lot about interior and spatial design, and lord knows how many spaces I’ve bookmarked at this point, yet this may be the single most beautiful restaurant I’ve ever seen. This is Bar Miller, an eight-top sushi bar designed by Polonsky & Friends. Coming in at only 205 square feet, the petite space does so much in a compact footprint. The green Avocatus Quartzite bar acts as a jewel in the center of the space, surrounded by gorgeous wood panelling, what looks like a reclaimed ornamental ceiling, and topped with a stunning pendant light made from molded glass tinted with scallop shells. Obsessed.
The last thing I need is another chore coat but this Cabinet Jacket by Postalco is so striking. I love the asymmetrical pockets, their patented metal closures, and the color choices are so spot on. I bet these would wear so nicely over time as jackets like these look even better once they’re worn in.
Adalberto Ortiz is a Puerto Rican painter raised in New York City who makes two kinds of pieces: architectural subjects, and paintings that are abstract with no obvious central subjects represented. It’s his architectural work that I’m really enjoying, abstracting their shapes to be more about light and volume, very much capturing the idea of a place.
There’s something enchanting about Kacey Musgraves, like you could easily meet her at a house party and end up chatting about nothing and everything till four in the morning. She sat down with The Cut to discuss her life, her new album Deeper Well (which is good!), and the journey of getting older.
Seriously impressed with the range of lettering by Stockholm designer Victoria Englund. Her imagination is off the charts, like I can’t fathom how someone can create such a variety of interesting characters. Plus, her design work is sparse but edgy, it’s a dynamic and intriguing combo. Such a big inspiration for me right now.
I love the creativity that was involved in developing ZAOC pâtisserie, a small corner space that puts the art of cake making at the forefront. Designed by E Studio, they have created a curved window area at the front of the shop, giving curious passersby's a look into the process. I had to choose this photo of the space as I love the light hanging in the alcove, the warm, peachy glow would absolutely draw me in like a moth to a flame.
And of course, here’s some new things to listen to, things I’ve been really enjoying lately that you shouldn’t miss —
The bit about Nicholas Dwyer & Tu Neill and kissas made me think of Craig Mods beautiful book project "Kissa by Kissa": https://craigmod.com/ridgeline/151/ pretty much on the same lane :)
So glad you liked Bar Miller! Say hi if you're ever in New York - Anna Polonsky