Everyone needs a daily dose of color and pattern inspiration. BigBrightBold inspires and delights through showcasing colorful places, spaces and things.
The home linen section in the Marimekko shop was a rainbow display of duvets and towels. A bed outfitted with toy cars and poppies took center stage. The colorful car design was the perfect complement to a classic white bunk bed. The combination of cars and flowers makes a fun pairing for a bright kid's room.
August 28, 2013 
The Beverly Hills Marimekko store was organized into different "rooms:" home, fashion, baby, fabric. The center of the store (just as we entered) was the "Living Room:" an upholstered couch, bean bags, cushions and fabric walls. A nice place to relax and take in the scenery (perhaps for the well intentioned husbands who accompanied their Marimekko crazed significant others) the colorful setting showcased how the colorful patterns can be applied to diverse styles of furniture. The display bean bags were so popular that the store has recently started taking orders for bean bags upholstered in custom fabrics.
Also on display were hundreds of colorful cranes. When I researched the story, I learned that the cranes are part of an art installation called 1000 Acts of Kindess. According to the website, "Marimekko visual teams installed 1000 cranes as a centrepiece in its flagship stores. 1000 Acts of Kindness uses cranes to inspire us to create a ripple effect, making the world a better place one compassionate act at a time. We hope the cranes inspire 1000 acts of kindness that resonate into the world. Everyone who visits the installation can be part of the living art, by writing an act of kindness on a crane, and going out and performing that act within the next 48 hours."
August 28, 2013 
Since I'm such a fan of Marimekko's bold patterns, it's always great to see them applied to a wide variety of products. These cute cups are a great way of adding color and pattern to your home. A huge plus is that the patterns mix and match so well, so I can see mixing polka dots with poppies in fun contrast. See the entire Marimekko Kitchen and Home collection here.
August 27, 2013 
Marimekko is famous for its fabrics, but it's the decked out table that caught my eye. Covered in yards of fall patterns, stacked with matching glasses and plates, the table feels both modern and traditional.
According to the website, "Marimekko’s decor collection has been inspired by observing seasonal weather patterns, as well as by the exuberant glow of colours in autumnal gardens. The abundant colours and bold patterns help welcome the new season."
August 27, 2013 
Marimekko's textiles have been a longtime favorite, and a visit to one of their stores is always a treat. According to the Marimekko Timeline, long live patterns and long live colors. The brand was built on the bold florals of the 1960's, and evolved over the years with diverse designers.
According to the company, "The name Marimekko is a play on words, yet completely descriptive. 'Mari' is an anagram of the first name of the company's founder, Armi Ratia, while 'mekko' means 'dress' in Finnish. And it was indeed Mari's dresses that started it all in 1951.
The most iconic Marimekko pattern is Unikko, or Poppy. The splashy print came about after Armi Ratia announced that Marimekko did not manufacture floral prints. Maija Isola, always the trailblazer and rabble-rouser, designed Unikko as a protest against Ratia’s statement. The result was the bold, powerful and unapologetic flowers of Unikko. Unikko is easily the most recognizable symbol of Marimekko and its popularity has not dwindled over the years. New color waves are created every year, continuing the legacy of Isola’s brilliant design."
I came across this fun, brief history of Marimekko on Apartment Therapy.
August 26, 2013