STEPHANIE ORMA :: travel, arts, & design writer

Travel + Leisure Article: America’s Most Romantic Hotels

steph — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 00:46:11 +0000

Imagine you and your better half cuddling fireside as the sun dips behind the distant mountains. The only sounds are from the wild; the only sights are canyons and the stark desert. No, you’re not in the Sahara. You’re at Utah’s ultra-romantic Amangiri resort.

With Valentine’s Day looming and no end to winter in sight, who doesn’t dream of stealing away on vacation? But you don’t need to travel to the ends of the earth (or beloved spots like Paris or the Caribbean) to find that spark-kindling setting. From seaside New England to Washington State’s wine country, we’ve uncovered dreamy properties certain to get you in the mood—whatever your idea of romance and your price range.

Read my full TRAVEL + LEISURE ARTICLE.

Image Courtesy Amanresorts

PRINT Magazine Article – Book Review of Vogue: The Covers

steph — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:19:15 +0000

Strike a pose – specifically, a comfy reading position.

As we ring in the New Year, iconic magazine Vogue invites us to look back on 120-years of style with their luxe coffee table archive, “Vogue: The Covers.” And just as crazy-excited “Sex and the City” Carrie Bradshaw was to tour the legendary Vogue accessories closet – for a design-lover, ogling over more then 300 relic Vogue covers (from as far back as 1892!) is equally squeal-worthy.

Read my full article on Print Magazine’s awesome design blog, IMPRINT.

Cover from April 1910 - image courtesy Vogue

7×7 SF Article: The Streets of San Francisco Centerpiece Collection

steph — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 03:29:44 +0000

Giving wedding out-of-towners a taste of our stellar city just got a little easier. Swank out your rehearsal dinner party SF-style with event planner Well Rehearsed’s new “Streets of San Francisco Centerpiece Collection.” The handcrafted table toppers dish up small-scale versions of famed icons from the Golden Gate to the Painted Ladies, Giants memorabilia to Chinatown.

Read my full article on 7×7.com.

Image courtesy Kathy Goodman / Well Rehearsed

Conde Nast Traveler Article: Norwegian Cruising

steph — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 03:10:18 +0000

Rest stops with the starchitect treatment? Only in design-minded Scandinavia. Norway is halfway through an 18-year plan to spruce up its motorways with roadside overlooks, art installations and architectural walkways that put American rest stops to shame.

Read on in my CONDE NAST TRAVELER article below (click image to enlarge) or read it online:

7×7 SF Article: The Definitive Bay Area Nutcracker Guide 2011

steph — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:23:31 +0000

Dancing fairies, pirouetting snow queens, and prancing men in tights – no, we’re not talking about the nutty relatives. The first company to bring the Nutcracker to America–the San Francisco Ballet–is back with their can’t-peel-your-eyes-from-the-sparkly-stage production.

And from wild dance-alongs to traditional tales, there’s a suite of Nutcracker performances to keep you on your toes this holiday. In a nutshell, here’s your Bay Area guide to the land of Sugar Plums.

Read my full article on 7×7.com.

Photo courtesy of Erik Tomasson/SF Ballet

PRINT Magazine Article – Floating Worlds: The Letters of Edward Gorey and Peter F. Neumeyer

steph — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:16:06 +0000

We all have that one person we’d love to work with — that dream creative collaborator.

Well, imagine you’ve just been assigned to work with the Edward Gorey. Holy cannoli — that would be insane! And not only is it the most creatively fulfilling collaboration, you become the best of pen pals. You share crazy-long handwritten letters (yes, handwritten) discussing everything from favorite books to pancake recipes, with Gorey personally illustrating all the envelopes just for you. That’s exactly what happened to renowned writer Peter F. Neumeyer in Pomegranate’s new publication, Floating Worlds: The Letters of Edward Gorey and Peter F. Neumeyer.

Read my full article on Print Magazine’s awesome design blog, IMPRINT.

©The Edward Gorey Charitable Trust, courtesy Pomegranate (pomegranate.com).

7×7 SF Article: The Bay Area’s Hottest Wedding Dresses of the Season

steph — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:08:55 +0000

We reached out to the city’s choice bridal boutiques for a glimpse at their just-in wedding frocks – and what SF’s trendiest brides-to-be are clamoring for this season. The results: jaw-dropping textures and luxurious lace gowns. Swoon!

Read my full article on 7×7.com.

Image Courtesy Marina Morrison

HOW Magazine Article: Designer’s Self-Promo Lands him TV Cameo

steph — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:02:20 +0000

It’s not every day that a graphic designer makes a cameo on a hit series on a major television network. But for one surreal day this past summer, Ty Mattson of Mattson Creative swapped his designer tools for a gun, flashlight, notebook, and badge to appear as a detective on Showtime’s hit series Dexter.

Read my full article on HOW MAGAZINE.

image courtesy Ty Mattson

Design Bureau article: 5 Designers / 5 Questions

steph — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:02:59 +0000

In the November 2011 issue of Design Bureau Magazine, I continue my 5 Designers/ 5 Questions column. Dishing with some of the industry’s coolest restaurant designers, I interview Christian Helms, Karen Herold, AvroKO, and Cass Calder Smith to see what’s cookin’ in their wildly creative minds. Expect hard-hitting journalistic questions like, “Avocado, artichoke, carrot – which would you rather have as your design sidekick?”

Check out the full article below (click pic to enlarge):

7×7 SF Article – Save These Dates: November’s Best Bridal Trunk Shows

steph — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:38:05 +0000

You’ve scored the man, picked the date, but have nada to wear. Sounds like a wedding emergency. Address the dress problem ASAP: Fresh-off-the-runway bridal fashions land in SF this month with a slew of must-see designer trunk shows.

Check out my full article on 7×7 article.