National Stationery Show Favourites 2014 !

Above: One of Margins’ beautiful moon phase calendars.

Over the past few days, I’ve been calling out some of my favorite emerging trends from this year’s Design Week and National Stationery Show. So far, we’ve taken a look at 2014′s slew of canine-covered stationery and the new tropical color palette we saw everywhere. Some of my favorites from the National Stationery Show, however, defy categorization. From Margins‘ stunning moon-phase and snowflake cards to Azuline Design’s herb-scented scratch-n-sniff stationery (you read that right, and it’sfabulous), these designs are awesome by their own merits. Check out all of my best-of-the-rest faves from NSS after the jump!

Above: This card from Ladyfingers Letterpress speaks the truth.

Above: Fawn Paper Co’s sympathy card is sincere and funny—a great combination!

Above: These scratch-n-sniff herb garden cards from newcomer Azuline Design are pretty and they smell like the real deal!

Above: This encouraging card from Ghost Academy wins ten points for sheer adorableness.

Above: Wish your favorite millennial happy birthday in style with this snazzy card fromHolstee.

Above: This bunny clearly knows how to have a good time. Card by Dear Hancock.

Above: Wish a favorite pal good luck and congratulations with this awesome card from9th Letter Press.

Above: Santa doesn’t mess around—duly noted. Card by Power & Light Press.

Above: Same-sex marriage was making its way into cards this year in a big way. Let’s hear it for gay! Cards by Red Cap Cards.

Above: These fabulous birthday cards from Smudge Ink are perfect for any age.

Above: These wonderfully multi-function cards from Rock Scissor Paper double as snazzy decorations.

Above: You can never have too much Dowager Countess. Downton Abbey Coasters bySmokey Road Press.

Above: Take your relationship smugness to a whole new level with this awesome “I’m taken” buttons from Regional Assembly of Text.

Above: All of the buttons at Regional Assembly of Text knew how to keep it real (and cute).

Above: I would be remiss if I didn’t speak for all the cat ladies (and lads) out there. This lovely newsprint wrapping paper from Knot & Bow is right up your alley.

Above: These floral woodcut cards from Katharine Watson are just lovely—beautiful and simple.

Above: This gorgeous card from Margins depicts actual snowflakes—designed by NATURE.

Above: Show of your NYC pride with style with this wonderfully understated pennant from Three Potato Four. 

THE DAR SEFFARINE GUESTHOUSE OF MOROCCO

The transformation of The Dar Seffarine from a private residence to a guesthouse was a true labor of love. Norwegian graphic designer Kate Kvalvik and her husband, Iraqi architect Alaa Said, purchased the property in 2003 and set about resurrecting it with their own two hands.

Originally built as a private residence in the ancient medina of Fez over 600 years ago,
The Dar Seffarine needed to be restored and preserved. Rather than over-modernizing the space, Kate and Alaa decided to bring the home back to life using the same building materials and techniques that were used when it was first built. Their dedication to preserving the original details means that The Dar Seffarine is now one of the best examples of traditional residences in Fez. The traditional home feel was a goal of Kate and Alaa’s, as well as instilling the home with a bit of their own design sensibilities. Clean white walls (a nod to Kate’s native Scandinavian style) mix with soaring columns, carved cedar doors and tiled floors to create a space that feels both traditional and updated at the same time.

With only seven rooms, The Dar Seffarine is designed to celebrate and focus on the beauty of communal guesthouses/hotels. Rooms are focused around a central courtyard with a rooftop terrace that guests can gather on to share mint tea and swap travel stories. The experience is truly a blend of old world traditions and modern culture, something we both admire and appreciate greatly in any travel destination. 

Click through for the full post after the jump!