a hang up

In my various wanderings across design sites I've noticed this trend, and despite the fact that seeing a dress placed in an image catches me off guard a bit, it does have some sort of quality that is visually interesting. Some of these images remind me of clothing catalogues, and so to see them in interior design magazines seems a bit odd. Retailers like Anthropologie sell clothing, furniture, and home goods and their catalogues and feature very similar ideals. Interior styling has gone into some exciting directions though, and I can appreciate how the period the dress is from, the color, the fabric, all of the little details help to enhance the environment that has been set before you, and in some cases they add a certain richness that might otherwise be missing. Styling is really not unlike traditional art, where the space that you work in is your canvas, and you rely on color and texture to set the tone, which is similar to any other art form if you think about it.

circa 1980-ish

When I was little, my mother and I lived for a brief time on a small farm in New Jersey. My memories of this period are just flashes. We had geese, which were used to make down filled comforters and pillows. There were owls living in the barn. I had 3 cats, a big grey one, an orange tabby and a grey tabby. Our house didn't have heat, and we had to burn wood in a stove when it was cold. I remember that my mom had a lot of antique furniture and she used to sew on an old Singer sewing table. There were plants everywhere, and I remember specifically that there were ferns and spider plants hanging in the windows. We had this really old claw foot bathtub that she painted black and I used to love taking bubble baths in it.

I have no idea how long we lived there, but I like to remember that time in my life.

bad bad bad

Here is a fabulous example of amazing furniture laid out for an interview. I would *hate* to sit here and try to feel comfortable in a social setting, not to mention how weird it would be to enjoy the sofa on its own with 2 empty seats staring at you.

I want to sit on you

I don't like anything about this decor, but that sofa is pretty hot.

real simple

Both of these images are from different spaces, however, I like the way they relate to each other. They bring me to think about traditional clay building techniques, where construction is entirely from the earth so that the shelves are part of the home, the seating is part of the home, everything is built as one. Here, obviously in a contemporary fashion, these ideas are put into place. I love the giant concrete slab floors that seamlessly become the walls and the table. There's some sort of romantic quality to them... for some reason they make me want to visit the Greek Isles.

yes, please

Being a huge fan of sunlight, this shower looks more than inviting. I bet it's gorgeous at night too!

good dreams

Can you learn a lot about a person by how they decorate their home? I've created my ideal space here...

the only domino that I've ever cared for

...is, or was, an interior design magazine by that name. Domino was awesome because it offered so many DIY projects, decorating ideas, fabric and wallpaper calculators, green design resources, and most valuable, vendor links for anything you could think of.

Sadly, due to the shitty economy, Domino was shut down just last week. It's a sad time for a lot of people, possibly because what Domino offered was design that is available to the masses. DIY that anyone can do, and products from affordable shops... which is a far cry from the big names like Elle Decor and Home & Garden.

If it's your cup of tea, you can still visit the website and grab as much information as you'd like over the next few weeks, before it's completely shut down.

oh wall of books...

Someday soon, something like this will hopefully exist in the front room of this house... except for the port hole door, that's not on "le menu".

Go away please!?

I don't know, but I am just sick of this seating layout. Those two chairs... they suck. Trust me, no one wants to sit there.

vraiment...

Ok, for real.. I'm SOOO tired, and I am desperately fighting the desire to sleep. Today's "I like" is obviously going to be a bed. ha ha.. but, in all seriousness, I think this particular bed looks cozy and inviting. The wallpaper rocks, and I dig all the books and scattered artwork.

zzzzz.....

precisely four things that I like

uno:
Angles and curves




dos:
Dutch design superstar Hella Jongerius' Shippo cloisonné plates



tres:
plates on walls



cuatro:
Beauuuutiful tiles...

what happens when...

you hire a good stylist...

(I love love love this)


and

you hire a bad stylist...
(eeew)

me likey

I love this bathroom. I think it's the architectural detail.. the original chipped tiling, the classic pedestal sink, old tub, and glass paned door paired with some plants and vivid color.. oh, and let me not forget to mention the window. Natural light for me, is like water - a necessity to live. I mean, this is not a glamorous space.. it's grungy, but that's exactly why I like it :)

via NYT

color can change your life

I truly believe that. I found these images for the Jan 2009 British edition of House & Garden via The City Sage. These images are from a UK interior. I was sort of shocked initially by the "in your face" bright colors, but then I thought more about the environment in which they were placed. The UK is generally grey and rainy. One way to combat the effect of that depressing weather pattern, surely would be to make your home as bright and vivid as possible. I could imagine that these palettes would liven up any mood and liven up your senses day to day... not a bad idea.

things I like

Today - I'd like to post about architectural detail. I love seeing how people can modernize an old space while respecting the period details. The following images speak to me of a time when attention was paid to craftsmanship.

Fireplaces like this make me swoon... then there's the vintage table and pottery... sigh*

I love the parquet flooring along with the non-traditional floorplan, french doors, and sunlight.. a total package of design happiness for me (with the fireplace above, I'd fall over unconscious).

I think here, it's the eclectic thoughtfulness that makes the space warm and special.

Things I like

Today, I am deep in contemplation. I have this project that I want to get moving on, which involves me shopping on ebay.. blegh. I have a website that I need to begin... I'm trying to put together some sort of "package" for myself and unfortunately, my name isn't the most dynamic as a designer, so I'm looking for something else to use there as well. Blah blah blah, right?

So.. to make my life easier today, I've decided to quickly throw together some images. I'd say that each image encompasses something that I like, something that makes me feel excited, something that I'd like to do myself.. basically a good mix of everything.

We have an EXTREMELY small garden space, but I'd like to work on it when it gets warmer. I'm thinking "mini jungle"... complete with little monkeys.

It's not very often that people can spare this sort of storage space just for shoes.. but I have... let's just say "a lot" of them, and I would love to do this.

I'm a sucker for sinks - specifically the old farm house variety.

Three words:

old. junky. furniture.

endless possibilities!


Images from: desire to inspire. apartment therapy