Delicate Sophistication

I appreciate many design styles and try to keep an open mind to all artistic aesthetics, but there is one common denominator to sites that just make me gasp aloud. Tiny, delicate details.  Some sites that I keep coming back to:

Mutt Ink. The site design is just lovely - but look at those illustrations.  Notice the tiny type. The delicate borders, the almost-not-there water color marks.  Can’t. Stop. Staring.

100 Layer Cake. A huge inspiration for my wedding, this site is also a huge inspiration to my design. Notice the pattern that lines both sides of the site. Could it be any more dainty?  And the dots around the header - they didn’t have to add that touch, but they did.  I love it.

Squared Eye Design. Possibly my favorite site ever, the grid composition on this site is just superb.  The waves, the adorable whale illustration, and the sweet side navigation detail all make this site irresistible! Interesting tidbit: SED made the RUF website.

Ali Felski. This girl has dainty details down pat. Did you notice the flickering stars or the just-barely-visible pattern in the sky? I want to be like Ali when I grow up.