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Neon, Palms and Ocean Views

July 19, 2016 by Kate 3 Comments

Neon palms

A work trip turned into a fun trip last week when I hit California to collaborate with my good friend Jon of Happy Mundane. It had been 8 years since I’d visited California, and I’d never been to SoCal. There was inspiration everywhere I looked, from the rows of palm trees to the abundance of shopping centers with neon lighting. And don’t get me started on the mall interiors! Throw in a cool breeze, coastal views and lush vegetation at every turn, and you can officially declare the state of CA paradise. Today I’m sharing some of my favorite snapshots…

Neon and Palms

Is there anything better than the combination of palm trees and neon lighting? From locations like The Market in Tustin and Irvine to the Irvine Spectrum Center, there are a slew of amazing photo ops. I was in fluoro tropical heaven:

Colorful rays

Neon angle

Neon ceiling

The Market Irvine Tustin

Neon lights at the theater

Palm trees at sunset

Neon ceiling lights

Neon squiggles

Globe lights and palms

Laguna Beach

I’d never been to a beach where scenic cliffs met sandy shores, pine trees, palm trees, succulents, and mountains in the distance. My plan is to get back to Laguna Beach as soon as possible. The food is great, the shopping is anything but tacky souvenir fare (which does have its merits–but hey, variety is nice), and there are public paths that make working out next to the ocean the ultimate breeze. As in “tropical breeze”…

Laguna Beach ocean-001

Laguna Beach path

Laguna Beach plants

Laguna Beach cliffs

Laguna Beach blue water

Laguna Beach California

Malls and Modern Architecture

Shopping opportunities abound in California! The gift shops are carefully curated, and it’s fun to see the work of talented artisans and designers. Jon also introduced me to some absolutely stunning malls, and my favorite was South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. There’s some great ’80s architecture to enjoy here, as well as new flourishes that channel retro style. From arched skylights to brass railing, enjoy the photos that follow. I’ve also tacked on a couple of images of buildings that caught my eye…

Mall architecture skylight

Brass railing

Brass elevators

South Coast Plaza in Irvine California

South Coast Plaza Irvine

Mall carousel and balloons

Mall skylights and balloons

Dome architecture

Office building meets sky

A big thank you to Jon for being the host with the most and knowing the exact locations that would inspire my photo frenzy! Hope you all enjoyed the photos… XOXO, Kate

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Comments

  1. Mel says

    August 3, 2016 at 2:42 pm

    This blog is freaking amazing! I love the 80s (and also 90s) aesthetic.

    Reply
    • Kate says

      August 8, 2016 at 10:46 am

      Hi Mel! Wow! Thanks for your kind words! I love finding others who appreciate ’80s and ’90s design. Thank you again.

      Reply
  2. waveboy says

    February 3, 2022 at 4:33 pm

    just found your blog and love it! instant bookmark.
    have you ever done a post on Jon Jerde? He is one of the designers who brought this aesthetic to mainstream, doing the LA Olympics, Universal Citywalk, Canal City in Japan and Horton Plaza in San Diego.
    please do an aesthetic check on my website.

    Reply

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Mirror80 is a blog that celebrates the intersection of modern design and retro style. I'm Kate, and I enjoy exploring the look and feel of the "recent retro", with a focus on the late '70s through the early '90s. Welcome to Mirror80. Read More…

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