Insta Obsessions

palombaserafini // Run by Milan-based architecture and design studio Palomba Serafini Associati, this insta features tons of eye candy for designers of all disciplines. 

londonbrekkies // I love breakfast. I love London. This insta combines these two loves and makes me long for the mornings I spent studying abroad. Just don't look at it when you're hungry.

teresacfreitas // Ordinary things displayed in imaginative and fantastic ways. Everything seems like you're looking at it from down the rabbit hole. 

debbiealbrethsen // Debbie Albrethsen is a Utah-based residential interior designer. I regularly check her instagram for palette ideas and inspiration for my own place.

A Weekend According to my iPhone

1. Drinks at a local speakeasy with a friend from work.

2. Partaking in all things autumn.

3. Carving pumpkins with Moriah.

4. Actually having time to make myself a decent breakfast.

5. Lazing about with Piper baby.

6. The owls are not what they seem...the finished product.

7. Hanging out with toddlers at the pumpkin patch.

Insta Obsessions

curatedinterior // A visual delight for this interior designer. Each post features beautiful residential interiors to swoon over.

food52 // Food magazine-worthy images of everything from brussels sprouts to banoffee pie. Get ready to start drooling.

katieonthehill // If you love all things organized, you'll definitely want to check out this insta. Her balanced compositions of day-to-day life in the UK make me want to take the first plane across the pond.

coffeeshopcorners // A perfect mix of my two loves, interiors and coffee. I'll definitely be looking here for inspiration for my own cafe someday!

A Weekend According to my iPhone

1. Maple apple pie from scratch

2. Spending the weekend with this cool kid

3. Lazy Sundays and eggocados

4. Exploring Durand Eastman Park

5. The finished product (see photo 1) 

6. Piper as a furniture model

7. Sunny skies in the ROC

Guys, I'm Famous!!

...Just kidding. But I was featured in an article in my school's student run paper, The Daily Orange.

Check it out here!

Best,

Life is too Short for Bad Coffee...or Design

I've always been a coffee person.

Ever since my grandparents started me on decaf, probably way before I should have been drinking coffee at all, I've loved the taste, warmth, and smell of a good cup o' joe. Long gone are the days of adding a gallon of flavored creamer and a pound of sugar, though. Ever since starting my job at Cafe Kubal in June of 2012, I've learned to love my coffee black and my espresso sweet. (No, not with sugar you ninny...just with superbly roasted espresso beans of course! Pssh) 

Of all the jobs I've had, this one is by far the most enjoyable, exciting, and rewarding. What's better than crafting a perfect cappuccino or smelling fresh-brewed coffee all day?

On top of over a year and a half of being able to rock it behind the bar, I recently started down another exciting avenue within the company. Knowing my background in interior design - it is, after all, what I'm studying at Syracuse - my boss came to me when it was time to redesign the SU cafe. Of course I was thrilled, and the various projects have since been completed. Check out the before and after!

New grab-n-go display refrigerator with merchandise display shelves and new, 

wall-mounted menu boards and lighting.

Baked goods display case was lowered to be flush with the existing counter. 

Hanging menu boards were removed to allow for more visual access between baristas and customers.

New lighting was installed and brick was painted to help reflect light into the space. 

New commercial grade chairs were specified to stand up to wear and tear of a busy cafe environment.

This week, I just finished working on fitting a cafe design into an existing space within a local medical center. It's been quite the challenge, with everything currently an awful shade of mauve, a focus on economy, and only 150 square feet to work with. But with some quick tricks, an eye for detail, and a knack for space planning, I managed to pull together a little design in just a few, short weeks. See it below:

What's more exciting is the cafe just opened its doors this morning. If you're ever in the Camillus area, check it out! And of course, I'll have photos of the space itself soon!

Take care!