vintage simple

Today

2011-09-17T09:49:00.008-04:00

Today is cold and drizzly here in Asheville, and I am fighting a lingering cold that just refuses to move out of my chest. So I will spend a lot of time curled up in front of our wood burning fireplace...

I know this is no way to say hello after such a long absence from the blog, but I felt like sharing a small peek of our new little house up here in the mountains, since today the fire and the light feel so wonderfully cozy.

Noah and I got to spend a lot of time together this summer, which felt like an incredible gift as he grows older. Bill and I also spent a lot of time working on our new place. After all those hours of painting, layering, and moving things around (including kitchen cabinetry - more on that soon), it is starting to really feel like home. Our home.

For all of you who wrote to check in - thank you. Truly, this has been an amazing journey and a real test of (particularly my) patience. But now that it's all said and done, our lives are just as we'd envisioned they would be - and we couldn't be happier.

As always, I hope this finds you all well. Sending much peace your way, my friends.

Still here and almost there

2011-04-03T17:52:00.008-04:00

Put simply: I've been busy with work, house negotiations, getting ready to move, and life in general... Funny how life doesn't give you a breather as you add new things to it. Part of me almost expects it, but no: life keeps its pace and demands the same rigorous attention, regardless of our plans and additional undertakings.

I will say this, my friends: it's been stressful, but I am happy. And excited. And even though I am tired, I can see the end in sight and it promises to feel like the sweetest of exhales when all is said and done.

And it is all part of life, isn't it? The highs and lows, the tight squeezes and the enormity of freedom after them; the tears and joys, and the eventual feeling of unhindered motion that comes after working through the narrow, winding turns that life is made of.

I hope you've all been well. I am sending you all much love, and as always, much peace.

(image: 1. via ikea family live; 2. via super rural)

On my mind, lately.

2011-02-18T06:12:00.049-05:00

This lovely crochet garland by beautiful Tina. Because when I look at it, I think not only of Tina, halfway across the world in Australia, but also of Allison, following her dreams, and just like all of us, in her words, crafting a life. And I'm inspired by them both.

This little corner in Cindy's living room. Because I am touched and honored that someone who's become a friend would also hire me to help her out in a most personal of spaces: her home. Twice now. (Thank you, dear.)

This hutch. Because it made it to Brooklyn from my friends' store in Asheville and it looks great now that it's stained black and has found a new home in my client's dining room.

This new little cross pillow by talented Liane. Because it is the perfect addition to the (ever-growing, Bill would point out with a little cough) pillow collection on our couch.

This moment. Because I remember not being able to let a loose tooth be. And because I love my gorgeous, growing boy...

...who, all on his own, decided he wanted to play soccer recently and is loving every minute of it.

This photograph. Because in some ways it represents the overarching way I've been feeling over the last couple of months. A bit overwhelmed and awed by the immensity of life in all its possibilities.

We are moving this spring, and I'm excited but somewhat apprehensive about all of the loose ends that still need tidying up. I am one of those people that needs things to be concretely defined, down to the last little detail - all the time. I don't deal with uncertainty very well, but as my wise friend Florence pointed out to me the other day, We live in a world of shifting tides but pretend like we don't, like we can nail it down. And she is right. And the details will get sorted out, eventually. And now, more than ever, I need patience.

Lastly, I'll leave you with this video; it's about 18 minutes long, but well-worth the time when you have a moment. It talks about education (among other things), which has been very much on my mind over the last few months. Fall wasn't easy around here. Public school turned out not to be a good fit for our beautiful boy, and in great part it's because of the issues brought up here. (I believe I have Annie to thank for first bringing this TED talk to my attention. Thank you.)

I hope you've all been busy living your lives weaved with your many dreams, my friends. As always, I am sending you all much peace and love. Be well.

(images: 1. me; 2. cindy; 3. jen; 4-6. me; 7. apartment therapy; 8. moving boxes)

Snow Days

2011-01-16T11:53:00.037-05:00

Busy hands working outside, building a snow fort,

trekking up and down the yard delivering shredded ice

to be shaped into bricks with an old metal pan.

Busy hands working inside, hanging a new set of pretty curtains up high,

and trying to capture that beautiful, ever-elusive winter's light, bouncing off the wonderful snow outside.

And the dog, you may ask?

Busy taking it all in, ascertaining that indeed, this is a good life.

Did I ever tell you...

2010-12-16T14:00:00.021-05:00

...that after I met with my first paid client, he wrote me a check for the design consult and included a single dollar bill with it for me to frame (as Vintage Simple's first step into the world)?

Such a kind gesture, I thought. And although for some reason I can't bring myself to frame it, I keep it safely tucked away in a drawer along with his thoughtful note.

I am currently working on a couple of projects, including one in Maine, which I'll get to in a minute, and another one in Brooklyn.

First, I thought I'd share a few little peeks from when I was up NYC in November. Most of the painting in the house is now done, bringing out the gorgeous details of the old brownstone...

Some of the light fixtures have already been put up,

while others still patiently await to be installed...

This one, by Cisco Brothers, will go in the parlor. I think it was love at first sight for my client, and it makes me smile to think that it was so. (Such things do happen after all.)

The parlor has a new fun blue couch and wire chair, and a big mirror over the mantel to bring a little more light into the space... It is a north-facing room, so it can be pretty dark in there. I think the chandelier will be a great addition to the space.

We're thinking perhaps a light such as the one you can spy in the next picture will go in the dining room, creating a beautiful foil to the more rustic one in the parlor.

But then again, we may look into having something custom made that relates more directly to the parlor's chandelier, without exactly replicating it. Perhaps something along these lines...

As far as Maine, I thought I'd post some of the sketches I've drawn for my client there, just to give you a little sense of what's been going on with that project.

Here's one of the foyer, with a proposed antique Swedish bench, mirror, window treatments, and lighting suggestions (still trying to figure out my new scanner - heh)...

A sketch of the sink wall in the kitchen, filled with sources and recommendations...

And here is one with ideas for the lounge/TV area in the living room...

Both projects are still, clearly, far from being completed, but I thought I'd share with you a little bit of what I've been working on for the last couple of months. These things do take time - what with the business of living, and budgets, and dreams... but the work itself is great and I am happy to report that I am thoroughly enjoying it.

On a more personal note (related to this idea of dreams), I've been trying to watch myself more closely, paying attention to all these hopes and plans and dreams of mine. And as I watch myself trying to stubbornly hold on to them all, I am also painfully aware of my wish to rush them into certainty right away. But that is not really the way life works... is it?

And so it is that I hold my many dreams with my many imaginary arms... And I am starting to think that perhaps the trick lies in the holding - with purposeful intent, but patiently and...lightly. Ever-so-lightly. And always (always) with an open heart.

So, I am working on finding more balance in the way I hold myself and that which is dear to me, including my dreams. And I hope that with each passing year, I will be able to hold myself and my goals more lightly - in a more forgiving, quiet way.

It is not a complete thought, I realize - but it will have to do for now. I am wishing you all peace, my friends - now and always. See you at the other end of 2010.

(images: 4. cisco brothers; 6. rebekah sigfrids via design sponge; 7. photo by richard powers, collaboration for lights - fearon hay and katie brown; 11. & 12. katie daisy's etsy shop; all others by me)

Brooklyn-bound

2010-11-17T16:39:00.031-05:00

Little bits and pieces of some of the things that have been inspiring me lately...

I hope fall is treating you all well.

(images: 1. workstead; 2. twig hutchinson's home, photograph by polly wreford; 3. ikea via splendid willow; 4. lindseyadelman.com; 5. recycled painter's scaffolding flooring - no idea where I got it; 6. bddw.com; 7. hmmm... not sure where I got this one either... sorry about that!)

Progress

2010-10-28T17:46:00.019-04:00

Well, the wall with interior windows is finally done...and I couldn't be happier. It really does look lovely, and the photos hardly do it justice.

Our friend David* was kind enough to come help us finish up. I was really tired of the inevitable clutter and disarray that come with weekend projects of this scale, so it was wonderful to have an extra set of hands - and one so talented at that.

It was a lot of work, but really worth it in the end... I can't imagine a better solution for this space. What was once an open attic expansion lacking definition is now a beautiful space that allows for separation without sacrificing light.

I also love the way enclosing the staircase gave it an incredible sense of volume - it looks so grand now..! It feels completely decadent to go up the stairs, lured by the inviting light streaming through those windows...

In other news, I have been very busy with clients and have even traveled to Maine (!!) to help one of them, and I am going to Brooklyn next month to visit yet another client (!!!). So, all very exciting things for someone who just a little bit over a year ago started this blog with a dream of sorts that is now slowly, quietly, but surely coming true. There are no words to describe how lucky I feel... And grateful, too. Incredibly grateful. I am getting to do what I love, which is...well, priceless, really.

So, I would like to officially announce that I am available for design assistance, and I will gladly help you with projects big and small. I will even travel - as long as all expenses are covered and my schedule allows it, of course. For more information, feel free to contact me.

*if you live in the Upstate of SC or WNC region and you need a terrific craftsman, let me know and I will put you in touch with David - he is fantastic and fantastic to work with.

(images: me)

Projects, lately.

2010-09-09T20:00:00.015-04:00

Remember how our master is upstairs and it's a little bit funky the way most attic expansions can be? Funky in a charming way..? (But, you know, funky nonetheless...?)

As you come up the stairs to the second floor, we have a half wall and therefore our bedroom area feels somewhat exposed. So I've been thinking about how to give our space a bit more privacy without closing it off completely...

I think I'll be aiming for something along the lines of these photographs for this project. You'll have to take a little leap of faith by disregarding the particular details, and simply embracing the overall feeling - given that we don't have the beautiful beadborad, nor do we have the exposed lath, gorgeous beams, or incredibly tall ceilings that grace the bedroom in these pictures...

In essence, though, we'll be going for something that is still a little funky, but soothing and pretty, and definitely somewhat unique given the space constraints (or advantages, depending on your take).

Something that allows us to capitalize on light and still gives us a little bit more of a sense of privacy - but somewhat playfully and resourcefully...

Although we're nowhere near finished, I thought I'd share with you some photos of the progress so far. Here are the boys, busy at work (Noah has sensitive ears, thus the gear)...

The first wall going up and the pretty windows all lined up (which I scored from a neighbor who was discarding them), patiently awaiting their second round in life...

The studs and frame all in place for the second wall...

And, here, the view from the other end, into our bedroom and a sliver of our bathroom...

I will post pictures once we're done. Hopefully it will be sometime before the end of the year. As the weather gets cooler (soon, soon!), we'll be wanting to spend more and more time outdoors, and inside projects will have to be put on hold as a result. So, we'll see - but I will definitely keep you posted once we're done.

On a slightly different note, I've also been working on a couple of little rooms* inspired by this,

and this,

as well as this,

and this,

and this sweet, little print:

So, creative and productive times here in our little corner of the world. All of which is good for my spirit. I hope this post finds you all having the kinds of times that are good for your spirits, too. I am sending you all much peace, my friends. Be well tonight, and always.

*for a client, so don't be getting any ideas..!

(images: 1. & 2. via vintage; 3. via canadian house and home; 4-7. me; 8. via isak; 9. via cookie magazine; 10. via domino magazine; 11. via country living; 12. via katie daisy)

Pretty

2010-08-27T07:54:00.010-04:00

No deep thoughts here today. Just lovely photos by Anna Kern of a gorgeous little home in southern Sweden.

I love the vintage posters paired with the subtle colors on the walls and the punchy prints of the sweet fabrics and that aqua frame;

the easy camaraderie of perfectly mismatched furniture all coexisting in graceful harmony;

...and those stunning yellow doors? Yes, yes, and many times over, yes. And please. And thank you.

As a little side note, I'd like to thank you all again for your kind notes lately - I really appreciate every single one of them.

That's it for now. I hope everyone has a good weekend.

(images: via the ever-inspiring my scandinavian retreat)

Tenth photo

2010-08-23T07:30:00.018-04:00

I was tagged (a long while back, I admit) by two wonderful women, Lotta and Charlotta, whom I admire deeply and who are a constant source of inspiration to me.

I was supposed to open my first folder, scroll down to the tenth picture and write about it. The truth: the tenth photo was rather uneventful compared to this one. So forgive me for cheating a little, but I chose this one instead.

The first digital folder we have dates back to 2004, the year Noah was born. I would love to document that here, even if it means bending the rules just a little bit.

In this picture, Noah was only a few days old - maybe just two or three days old. I want to remember this moment: my calm, but distinct awareness of not quite feeling like his mother yet; Noah's fierce determination to be himself and be heard, which made for a challenging first year, but are traits that will serve him well in life.

For those first few moments with him, and all the moments between then and now, and the moments I don't yet know that I will get to share with my beautiful, resolute boy - for all of that, I am thankful.

For Bill, a man who knows and loves me better than I sometimes know and love myself - for him, too, I am thankful.

For the unconditional love we all three share for one another - for that, I am thankful.

For the kind, encouraging words traveling near and far distances alike, and for the genuine friendships I've made with virtual strangers in this incredible community of bloggers - for that, I am also thankful.

I think my blues have been in part related to things I want to settle in my life - right now. And it meant that for a moment there, I forgot about the very things that have been important in my life - always. So this tenth photo assignment was a good exercise; it was a good way to remind myself that I have much to be grateful for...and that things will fall into place, each in its own time, because I am working toward certain goals - steadily and with an open heart.

Of course it is my wish that we will all reach the goals and dreams we set for ourselves - make no mistake about that.

But for now, I need to practice patience. Resolute patience.

(image: bill)

Summer blues

2010-08-14T18:58:00.019-04:00

This summer has hit me pretty hard. I've been a little blue, and I haven't been able to shake the feeling off too easily. The heat and humidity have been downright unbearable.

Which brings me to these bears - perhaps you've seen them? I just discovered them today and fell in love. And I laughed and laughed and laughed. And then Bill and Noah came over to see what all the laughing was about, and we shared some chuckles together, delighting in Emily's creations and Tom's words.

And it felt good.

Here is the description that accompanies the bear pictured above (printed here with Tom's permission):

"Are you game?" asked the rabbit
"Sorry. Am I what?" asked the bear
"The game!"
"Game?"
"Are YOU game?"
"But rabbit, how can I? I don't have enough checkers on me." bear could not understand. And he had not a single checker on him.
"No, no, bear, i was asking if you are game not if you are the board of the game"
"Could i be the board of the game, maybe?" bear wondered
"You can be anything you want"
"Well in that case... I would like to be an elephant" said the bear
"Ele what?"
"Phant"
"You want to be a phantelle? What is that?"
"No, rabbit, i would like to be an elephant. But only in the game"
"Then you are game?"
"I think i am"
And bear sure was, and rabbit could not remember what that all was about and so they went for a cup of tea. And cookies. Half a cup of cookies.

They come in different colors - each bear with its own bits of wisdom to share. Emily and Tom have even set up a diminutive studio for their adorable photo shoots..!

Put simply, it was just what I needed on this balmy, rainy afternoon.

(images: em's shop of bears'n'such; found the shop via the lovely Annie's Elsa May)

A dream grows in Brooklyn

2010-07-29T09:14:00.023-04:00

Friends of ours are having their second baby this fall. And they're also in the process of buying a brownstone - a new home for their growing family and their dreams of finally putting down roots in a special place.

Like most houses, this one will need a little tender love and care. We're thinking something inspired by Jenna Lyons' beautiful home...

A nod to tradition, without taking it too seriously,

a few playful details thrown in for good measure,

a simple farm table paired with Bertoia chairs, maybe,

all the while remaining classic and clean-lined for sure...

I think it'll look great once we're done. We probably won't start work until the spring, but it's fun to start thinking about it...no?

(images: domino magazine, livingetc)

Hi. Hello, there.

2010-06-24T15:30:00.021-04:00

I've been absent. So very, very absent from this little space. I know. But life has been incredibly busy - in the best of ways. So... where do I start?

The hydrangeas are in full bloom. We have corn and tomatoes from our garden, and the sunflowers are taller than we are, and we have to squint our eyes when we look up at their smiling faces. It's been hot. Really hot. And it has rained and rained in the evenings, and stormed and thundered much. Summer is unapologetically here.

Noah's nose has sprouted the faintest, most endearing collection of freckles as he spends most of his days outdoors. They dance around his face when he smiles, and I have moments when I look at him and he simply just takes my breath away. He's so grown-up; such a beautiful, beautiful boy. He is both excited and a little nervous about starting first grade come August.

I have met with a couple of new design clients and that has been great fun. My job at the nonprofit has been busy with five-year goal plans and lots of meetings about them.

The house is still on the market - we had a low offer in the beginning, which for obvious reasons did not work out. I am, oddly enough, not stressed about it, though. I truly believe things happen for a reason, so if the house doesn't sell this year, then we'll try again next year. The goal will remain to downsize, but it doesn't have to happen this month, or two months from now, or by the fall, or even before the holidays... We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

In the meantime, the woman who grew up in our house, her daughter and granddaughter will all be here in July to celebrate their birthdays at the house. I am really excited about that and hope that we will make a little video and take many photos of what I am certain will be a very special evening.

As always, I keep dragging outcasts home. Maybe I'll use this at the little house if it all works out this year. Or maybe I'll use it in a client's home. But this kitchen cabinet from the 20's was far too special to be left to rot in a dumpster. It needs some work (and don't we all?), but it will be a beauty again with a little bit of love.

And... that's about it in a nutshell, my friends. Things are busy, busy, busy, and it is all good. Like I was telling dear Bonnie when she emailed to check in - between new clients, my little job at the nonprofit, being mama to Noah, head grocery-shopper and main cook at the house, something had to give - and it has been the blog. For now.

I do hope this post finds you well and happy, enjoying life wherever you may be. The next couple of months promise to be just as busy as this one, so I am not sure how present I will be in this space. But know that I think of you often and wonder how you are and sincerely hope that life is treating every single one of you kindly. Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones. I am sending you all much love.

(images: me)

Pretty bathrooms

2010-05-30T11:00:00.004-04:00

I love this bathroom. And to think it was made from scratch - out of old things and found objects..! I love it even more.

If we manage to pull off this buying and selling feat, there are plans to turn a walk-in closet into a master bath at the little house. We already have the clawfoot tub and the vintage sink (not quite as lovely as this one, but an old beauty nonetheless).

This photo also captures a little bit of what I'd be going for. Less gritty, definitely, but with the same vintage vibe. I love all that white beadboard. I wish I could find the photo of the shower stall in this bathroom - it's just what we may have to end up doing if there is not enough room for a clawfoot tub (I have the magazine, but I can't seem to find a digital picture of it online).

Perhaps we'd have to go with something like Dehlia did in her tiny space:

Ah, my head is brimming with plans and ideas..!

But: I shouldn't get ahead of myself. We'll see how it all goes. We have to sell our house first. Again, fingers crossed. If you feel so inclined, send good, positive thoughts this way my friends.

(image: 1. zoe van de weile's bath taken by mackenzie stroh via design*sponge; 2. via better homes and gardens; via small cool on apartment therapy)

A little Etsy love, house news, and a goat

2010-05-22T19:40:00.005-04:00

I recently acquired a couple of small beauties via Etsy and I wanted to share them with you because they are just so perfectly lovely and they make me smile every time I walk by them:

a sweet banner made of fabric remnants sewn together by wonderful Jill,

and a pretty lavender sachet made by beautiful Lotta.

As for the house news (and although I hesitate to announce this prematurely), we've finally decided to put it up for sale. I've talked about our desire to downsize and simplify before, and we may just have found a little house that will allow us to live a bit more simply and comfortably. Even though it was not an easy decision to make, I am looking forward to this new chapter in our lives - if the stars align and all that good stuff. (Fingers and toes duly crossed.) We shall see.

Lastly, I wanted to thank Tina - who doesn't have an Etsy store, but is one of those incredibly generous and lovely people that I've met in this blog world and become friends with, despite the distance and the odds.

On learning that Noah dreams of owning vast amounts of land and animals to go with it some day (I think that if he manages to accumulate acres at the rate he's accumulating Lego pieces, he has a good chance of living his dream), she emailed me some pictures of her mother-in-law's farm, including this one:

(Which, by the way, begs the question... could it be that Heather's missing goat is in Australia, not France, after all??)

So, a mixed bag of a post here, but I do hope this finds you and yours well and enjoying life, wherever you may be. All goats aside, there is quite a bit going on around here, so posting may be a little more sporadic than usual for a while.

(images: 1. & 2. me; 3. marie claire maison via mary ruffle; 4. tina)

It's here!!

2010-05-04T14:56:00.014-04:00

Well, my friends, the magazine featuring our kitchen and bathroom has hit the stands - and our kitchen is on the cover!!! I'm pretty flattered. And happy. And frankly, I'm blushing a little. And-and... I'm rather speechless, actually.

Many thanks to associate editor Rachel Haugo for spotting our kitchen on Design Sponge and starting this amazing process; to writer Suzanne Morrisey for being such a pleasure to work with; and to Marie McCartan for writing such a kind introduction in the editor's letter. I'm incredibly grateful to you all. Thank you.

The magazine is called Kitchen+Bath Makeovers and it's a publication of Better Homes and Gardens... you know, in case you feel the urge to go out and buy it. (Just imagine: you'll get to see Brie's lovely photography in real life, which is, in and of itself, absolutely worth the money.)

My apologies to local folks, though - between Bill and I, we may have bought all the copies available in Greenville, SC.

Oh, I kid, I kid..! (Sort of.)

Here is a picture of the cover - I sure hope you get to at least take a little peek while you wait in line at the grocery store or sip coffee at the bookstore..!

(images: pictures of photographs by brie williams)

Lately

2010-04-24T13:00:00.001-04:00

I've been dreaming of going away. Just for a little while. I've been fantasizing about having a little cabin tucked away somewhere beautiful, where life would just naturally take a slower pace. A place like Pippi's summer cabin overlooking the water in Norway would fit such a dream, don't you think..?

For more inspiring images and words about this labor of love, click here.

(images: my scandinavian retreat)

Much.

2010-04-13T08:07:00.028-04:00

Much has happened in the last few weeks. I've reconnected with my brother after a long stretch of silence and that has been wonderful - in fact he came to visit, which was even more wonderful. There have been many visits with cousins and family and friends; long walks around the neighborhood; pets lost and found and lost and found again (thankfully). The boys planted tomatoes, carrots, sunflowers and corn in the backyard while I recovered from a cold. It got really, really hot and then got chilly again, and now it goes back and forth, between brisk mornings and sultry afternoons. The flowers are in bloom and the trees exploded in a huge collective sneeze of pollen that covered everything in yellow dust and gave us all scratchy throats and watery eyes for a while.

Life, my friends, has been eventful and intense and beautiful, and we've been busy living it. But here I am, my dears. To let you know I haven't forgotten about my little space here. Or you. I've just been...well, quiet, is all.

We're still thinking about downsizing, and although we wouldn't be looking to swap our house for anything this small, I immediately fell in love with this Swedish apartment - for its generous use of white, the pops of wallpaper in just the right amounts and on just the right spots, the fantastic use of space, and the apparent ease with which choices were made to make it look so effortlessly lived-in and well-designed at the same time... I think if I had to live in 500 square feet, I'd try to make it look something like this.

At any rate, my friends... I hope this post finds you all well. More soon, eventually.

(images: via apartment therapy)

Quiet.

2010-03-31T20:30:00.002-04:00

I've been spending some time thinking, dreaming, living - simply being. I've been a little bit absent from the blog world, but I'm still here...

I've been embracing quiet time to myself instead, playing Legos with my little guy who just turned six (six!), and I've been taking long walks in the sunshine before the heat and humidity of the south chase me back indoors.

I thought I'd share with you a poem that a beautiful friend sent my way... I've been thinking a lot about this poem's words, and how we have much to learn from the gentler, nobler pace of nature. I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I did.

Tonight and always, I am wishing you all peace, dear friends. Be well.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's life may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

~Wendell Berry

(image: via my scandinavian retreat)

Interior Windows

2010-03-17T15:42:00.031-04:00

Remember this post I wrote a while ago..? I keep coming back to it for many reasons, but one of the most inspiring things about Johanna's space to me is the use of interior windows throughout her home. I can spot three of them in the above photo alone...

I love natural light, and using old windows that might otherwise end up in a landfill seems like a wonderful idea to let in more light...

I like them as a way to suggest privacy - somewhat playfully...

I like them in entryways,

and as mudrooms...

Sometimes, I even like the idea of interior windows in place of knocking down entire walls... And not only because it might be a way of saving storage or counter space, but also because - isn't it alluring to just get a peek into the next room over, without sacrificing the sense of intimacy that smaller spaces create..?

A suggestion of what lies beyond and the promise of loving light ahead... Yes, I think I like this idea. I like it a lot.

(images: 1. & 2. vintage; 3. via kitchen and bath ideas; 4. banks design associates ; 5. via the goodie life; 6. via renovation style magazine; 7. via canadian house and home)

What's on Your Nightstand?

2010-03-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

Lovely Kate of the wonderful and oftentimes hilarious (seriously - check this post out) The Goodie Life asked me to participate in this series - and I said, why of course. Just like that.

When you have a moment, do stop by... I have a few more pictures and words about my nightstand over there.

(Peek of gorgeous handmade lovelies: framed photo by Cara, ruffled bowl by Denise, sequined bracelet by Emma, little notebook by Katrina, lavender eye pillow by Allison.)

Periwinklebloom

2010-03-04T20:34:00.009-05:00

If Noah could still fit in the sizes available, I'd dress him in nothing but. These are all homegrown and handcrafted in the United States, made of organic 100% cotton, and accent fabrics are vintage. Oh, and did I mention that the styling and photography work are worth framing?

This beautiful dress/tunic with a handmade crocheted flower would look just as lovely with a long-sleeve shirt underneath it...

And this - the perfect gift for that little one that will be just the right size come summertime...

A warm and soft turtleneck for the last cold winter days...

And a pretty, cozy sherpa blanket with the loveliest ruffled edge...

A beautiful halter top with the carefully hand-printed ferns of talented Lotta of inleaf to welcome spring...

A sherpa hoodie to ward off the lingering chill in the air of late afternoon...

...or another cozy option with vintage fabric used for lining.

More pretty vintage fabric for pretty ears on this adorable mouton...

This lovely waste-not garland,

...and a sweet waste-not satchel with the subtly embroidered words 'gather' - all made of remnants so as to reduce waste.

I've loved Periwinklebloom for a while now, and I love them even more now that I know the wonderful woman behind this labor of love. Please take a moment to browse through her site - I have a feeling you will fall in love with her work just as much as I have.

**ps: use code cozywinter at checkout for 40% off**

(images: periwinklebloom)

Just enough

2010-02-28T20:03:00.005-05:00

Sure, this house has a lot of the usual attributes that generally make me happy in a home: the white walls, the rough-hewn wood, the use of natural materials left exposed, and the beautiful tension between rustic, glamorous and simple.

But perhaps what draws me the most to this particular home is its scale.

For a little while now I have been craving the coziness of smaller spaces; I've been dreaming of finding a smaller house - one where no room goes unused, and no corner is left unattended, especially now that we've finally made the decision to have no more kids...

...and this house seems to fit that fantasy. For me. At this particular moment in my life.

We'll see, my friends. Only time will tell.

(images: jordi canosa)

Thanks and more thanks

2010-02-19T19:52:00.018-05:00

To all, for your kind and encouraging words - I've been overwhelmed in the best of ways this last week and I appreciate each and every one of your thoughtful comments. So a big thank you to all of you, kind readers of this little blog of mine.

I'd also like to take a moment to thank Rue, Donna, Jillian, Cheryl, Eva, and Marcela for the mentions on their blogs about our home and projects we've worked on. When you have time, you can find their blogs by clicking on their names.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my dears!

Oh, and the image above is by crazy-talented Cara of Peonies and Polaroids. Go visit. She's the perfect mix of pixie loveliness and a swearing sailor. You'll love her. I can't wait for her shop to re-open.

Oh. My.

2010-02-15T11:29:00.008-05:00

I blush. And I'm so happy. And so nervous. Will you take a peek here..? And let me know what you think..? Thanks so much, Grace and Amy A.!

This and that

2010-02-12T10:12:00.009-05:00

Remember this post..? Well, I ordered this handmade pillow from Liane at enhabiten... I think it's the perfect companion for our quilt in the spare bedroom, don't you?

They're calling for snow here today... I know most of you are about done with winter by now, but it doesn't snow much around here, so I'm actually kind of excited. Maybe we'll get to do this again tomorrow:

Now, that would be fun, no?

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Noah's bedroom

2010-02-07T08:05:00.027-05:00

My little boy's room.

My little boy who will be going to first grade this fall.

My little guy who is learning how to spell words and write proud, deliberate numbers...

He who collects leaves and rocks and seashells; and dried flowers and the spiked fruit from gumball trees...

He, to whom I read Goodnight Moon not so long ago in my arms, rocking back and forth, back and forth...

My Little Prince who is growing up. The little man who is becoming so wise. I worry about his heart - how it will be broken, and how that is part of growing up. But I tell myself: he'll be fine. It will soon be time for him to go from the safety of his little school to the big school. His world is getting bigger and bigger every day. And he'll take it all in stride and be just fine...

I, on the other hand, might have a little bit of a harder time. But I, too, will be fine. For my little boy is growing up - and that is a good thing. I hope the world treats him with the love and kindness that he deserves, and that he, in turn, will treat the world in the same way.

*For those of you who asked, the color on the top is Silver Sea SR209 (the same I used for the bi-fold doors, since I had leftover) and on the bottom, the color is Dust Storm EE2046C. You can get them both at Lowe's.*

Psssst...!

2010-02-04T08:05:00.011-05:00

Lovely Leah at Apartment Therapy surprised me by posting our little bi-fold door project here. Go take a look, if you feel so inclined, and check out the other two great DIY ideas for door updates. You won't be disappointed - I promise.

Thank you, Leah! It truly was a sweet, unexpected surprise and an incredible honor. You made my day, dear. And as Bill is fond of saying, Happy Little Friday, everyone!

(image: me)

Seven Things

2010-02-01T07:58:00.027-05:00

I have been tagged, at different times, by different wonderful women. Generally speaking, I shy away from these because... Oh, I don't know. They make me slightly uncomfortable, truth be told. But, I do want to thank every one of these bloggers for their kindness, so to Melissa, Heather, Monika, and Cindy: thank you. Truly. You were very sweet to think of me, and this little list goes out, primarily, to you.

So, I am supposed to write seven things you may not know about me. Here we go..!

1. I taught 5th and 6th grades for four years. It is one of the hardest jobs I've ever had. You are constantly 'on' and you can't just sit there and stare at the wall if you need a moment to yourself; in fact, oftentimes you can't even go to the bathroom when you need to. So, next time you see your kid's teacher, please say, 'thank you.' Most teachers are totally dedicated, over-worked and under-paid people. And they genuinely love their job and the kids under their care.

2. I have a hard time with the long, hot and humid summers we are subjected to here in the south. I think part of me is just completely ill-equipped (perhaps even genetically so - see #3) to deal with humidity. Not to mention, my hair looks something like this during the summer months:

(And, mind you, I don't have the gorgeous bone structure she does to even remotely pull this look off.)

3. My grandfather was Norwegian. He hailed from Stavanger, to be precise. Perhaps that's why I feel such an affinity with Scandinavian design (and have such little tolerance for humidity).

4. I was born and grew up mostly in Argentina (which some of you may know), but I also lived in Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Mexico as a kid and teenager. We moved around a lot growing up, which was not always easy for me.

5. I don't have 20/20 vision and I don't always wear my glasses. I kind of like my world to be a little fuzzy around the edges... There is something very forgiving and safe about the softness of the lines when my eyes are ever-so-slightly out of focus. In my heart of hearts, I think my comfort zone lies somewhere in the hazy, lulling quiet of the background.

6. I love Mise's sense of humor. Have you had the pleasure of reading her lovely blog? I wish I had the gift for satire that she does.

7. I can be insecure. I'm working on it, but the truth is I don't have a very thick skin, and I can be easily hurt. So just in case you didn't know this, please:

And that, my friends, brings this list to an end. Please feel free to write one of your own, for you are all tagged in turn.

(images: 1. via the guardian; 2. via makeup.com; 3. via the geography site 4. via apartment therapy; 5. blissful images; 7.via here)

Friends. Etsy. Love.

2010-01-27T08:42:00.033-05:00

Since I started blogging last year, I've come to know some pretty spectacular and ridiculously talented women. And as we've slowly become friends, I've tried to purchase a little something from each of them so that I can have them close to me and think of them at unexpected moments - like while I do my dishes; or right before I turn the light off to go to sleep; or as I look for mascara in hopes of making my sleepy eyes look less tired in the morning; or as I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror and see the little sparkle of an earring or necklace...

Sometimes it'll happen when I'm looking for a bowl that is just the right size for a snack; or as I leave home in the frazzle of morning and look up from the black hole that is my purse to see a lovingly-made pillow...

Or it may happen as I stop to think for a minute, while sitting at my little desk upstairs in my bedroom, and see a row of beautiful pictures, all lined up, anchoring me in time....or when I see a pretty card, leaning against said desk, reminding to smile...

It is at times like these that I think of some of the new dear friends I've made on this journey.... And it makes me so very happy to think of them as being part of my everyday life here at home, even if it's in a small way.

So today, I'd like to share some of the beautiful things that have made their way from Etsy to my home...won't you take a look with me?

Traci's beautiful photograph of pretty eggs from her shop, Blissful Images.

Denise's bowl, its glaze the most perfectly subtle shade of cream I've ever seen, found at Chez Danisse.

Rebekah's gorgeous patchwork pillow (which, incidentally, inspired this post) from her wonderful shop, Little Byrd Vintage and Handmade.

Cindy's carefully crafted card and bag, found at Pretty Neat Designs.

Melissa's perfectly delicate necklace, from her wonderful shop, Acts of Kindness.

Jill's cheerful zip bag, the best companion for these gray and cold winter months, found at her lovely shop, Jill Bent.

Beautiful photograph by beautiful and talented Cara, of Peonies and Polaroids.

Michelle's lovely earrings, perfectly bohemian, found at Blue Moss.

And last but not least, Azzari's wonderful 2010 desktop calendar, which you can find (along with other beautiful work) at her shop, Gabrielle Kai Photography.

When you have a moment, do stop by these women's wonderful blogs and shops.... You never know - you may even end up making a new friend, just like I did..!

(images: me)

The guest bedroom

2010-01-20T20:00:00.003-05:00

Yes. We have a spare bedroom. I must confess that at times, it about kills me. Although it's nice to have one when we have the occasional guest in town, it is one of the only things about the house that is not a perfect match for us: its size. I think the spare bedroom and the office, as well as the living room and den, could all be combined into two rooms, really: one living area and one office/guest bedroom. All these extra spaces (a couple of them seldom used) seem to make this house a little too big for a family of three. Sometimes, it feels a bit wasteful to me.

For a while there we thought there might be another kid, so it made sense... But we now know that won't be the case, thus the house at times strikes me as being rather large - and decadently so.

At any rate. The guest bedroom. Let me share it with you...won't you come along?

The quilt was made by Bill's mother when we first started dating. It was originally intended as a gift for her bachelor son, but I love it, so it gladly got adopted into the collective of togetherness that has been our life now for... close to 12 years.

The nightstands (both yard sale finds)...

The dresser (found at The Screen Door, in Asheville)...

(Actually, let me pause here for a moment to admire this beauty...will you indulge me, just a bit? I love distressed furniture - a love that only those who love it, too, can understand, and those who don't...well - they simply don't do this to their furniture. Or if they do, they regard it as the ugly stage in the way to refinishing. I love to leave it just like this - really, it's crazy how madly happy just looking at it makes me..!)

The wood floors in this room were painted a glossy black. In a way, I was delighted; Bill simply stared in horror. Of course there were the really purple walls, too. And the zebra skin painted on the door. And there was some hot pink, too. And a little desk lamp with boa feathers. I think. Maybe the horrified look I'm attributing to the floors is misdirected. But I digress.

I was ecstatic because it meant I could paint over the floors - something Bill would have balked at had the floors been the wormy pine and oak of the rest of the house... But I adore painted floors. Especially in creams, grays and whites... They become such a neutral and soft background for everything else... don't you think?

The closet was added on at some point and is definitely not original to the house. You can even see the remnants of a fireplace hearth on the bottom right corner.... Anyway, the closet was cut out with an opening so crooked and low that no door would really work. Which gave me an excuse to do something else I really love - hanging heavy curtains high up, almost to the ceiling, to emphasize the beautiful height of the ones in our home.

And that, my friends, concludes the tour of our guest bedroom. Like I said before - it feels like too much of a luxury for us at this point... So we'll keep pondering this issue for a little while...

Today: A little bit of Everything

2010-01-18T09:59:00.020-05:00

For a wonderful video of Dr. King, click here.

Also, if you haven't already, please visit here, here, here and here, where you'll find links to organizations that are helping with relief efforts in Haiti.

I donated here.

There are also countless Etsy shops that are donating a certain amount of every sale to this cause. Liane at enhabiten and Melissa at Acts of Kindness are two lovely examples. If you are doing anything like this, feel free to post it on the comments below. Thank you!

(image: by ivan amezcua via the bedlam of beefy)

Holiday glimpses

2010-01-11T18:41:00.019-05:00

I know, I know... They're over. The holidays, that is. But maybe there is a holiday going on somewhere in the world (there must be), and we can bask in the good feelings a little bit longer....

We're still listening to Christmas music around here (driving Bill somewhat batty in the process, I'll admit), and just feeling the lazy comfort that came from having unstructured time off... In that spirit, I'll leave you with a few pictures that capture, in a small way, what life was like around here in December...

Folksy Santas,

Noah's cheer,

pretty lights...

Handmade stockings*, one, two, three...

...and a fourth one for The Bean.

Moose** pancakes (because some of you asked),

for dinner, no less..!

(Because Noah asked.)

The good news is - we can revisit all of this any time we want... We don't need a holiday to have twinkling lights, deliciously idle family time, or ridiculously shaped pancakes (for dinner or otherwise)... don't you think? Happy January, dear friends!

*made by wonderful Rebekah of Little Byrd

(**editor's note: Uh. Yeah. Apparently these aren't moose pancakes, but reindeer ones. Heh. My apologies to the moose. And the reindeer. Of course it makes sense - I mean, moose don't pull Santa's sleigh in Buenos Aires either. I just wish Bill had pointed all this out before folks started leaving comments. Siiiiiiigh...!)

(images: me)

New beginnings

2010-01-06T15:52:00.018-05:00

I know it's not news, but I am still in awe of the new year: 2010. It sounds like the stuff science fiction stories, fairy tales and magic are made of...doesn't it? It feels a little bit like I've woken up in a comic book. Shazam! It's 2010!

Then again, maybe it's just me.

I have to confess I've started a new post a few times since I've been gone, and it just never seems to be quite right. So I'm just going to post this clumsy post and move on... I'm feeling a little bit rusty and I think I just need to get over the initial awkwardness of writing a public journal entry for the first time - even if it is not the first.

We had a good holiday break, filled with lazy days, lots of good food, and the first cold nights in the area, which left behind a thin layer of translucent frost. We hung twinkling lights from a cypress tree and ate silly pancakes shaped like moose; we baked cakes, and wrapped presents, and later opened them with delight; and we got to spend some time with family and dear old friends we had not seen in a little while.

I hope your holidays were just as special. I can't wait to visit each of you and find out what you've been up to lately. Happy 2010, my friends. Here's hoping that this year treats each of us with the kindness, peace and magic that we all deserve.

(image: shan b's photostream)

Taking a break

2009-12-01T16:48:00.012-05:00

I've been feeling the need to simplify for a while now... It feels a little bit like my center has been slowly floating away from me, and I need to stop and gather my thoughts to see if I can find myself again.

I realize I don't post that often, but I thought I should let you know that I will be taking a little break from blogging. It may be just a few days - or perhaps a few weeks. Whatever the case, I have a suspicion that I will be back sooner than I think, because - well, you know.

I am sending my love to you all and I am hoping you will have a wonderful holiday season if I don't make it back here before the end of the year.

(image: via apartment therapy)

Where we blog from

2009-11-30T08:24:00.003-05:00

Good morning, dears. I was ridiculously flattered when Jane asked me to be a part of this wonderful series... Won't you come visit me over at Jane's lovely blog, Ill Said, Ill Said, today? I'm still pinching myself at the honor. It truly is a privilege to share a little bit of your beautiful corner of the world with you, Jane. Thank you. Most of all, know that I consider myself extremely lucky to count you as a friend. So thank you for your friendship, too.

(image: me)

Casa Medec

2009-11-23T16:12:00.000-05:00

There is something about the use of different textures and honest materials (stone, wood, natural fibers) that tends to inevitably attract me to certain homes... This one plays with all of these elements, achieving, I think, a perfectly subtle balance between rustic and simple...

I hope everyone (in the States) has a wonderful Thanksgiving break if I don't stop by around here before then...

(images: jordi canosa)

Quietude

2009-11-18T06:30:00.004-05:00

I've been walking around feeling a little bit dazed with all that's been going on lately. It has all been terrific and a little bit terrifying at the same time, and as a result, emotionally, somewhat exhausting.

Between the photo shoot, and following a couple of leads for doing design work (maybe - we'll see), and keeping up with my part-time job at a nonprofit, and being a mom and wife, and continuing on with other general domestic duties, I must admit I've been feeling somewhat overwhelmed. So. What do I do at times like these..?

I come back to white interiors. And Jane Cumberbatch. I will never tire of her home. I know I've posted photos of it before, but it looks like these may be a little older (or newer?) as the house is styled with an even greater abundance of soothing whites in these pictures - which is exactly what I need to look at when I'm feeling slightly frazzled by life. I hope you'll enjoy these as much as I do...

(images: via the ever-inspiring bliss)

A bright and happy place

2009-11-16T06:40:00.010-05:00

My dear friend Florence, a wonderful writer of stories for young people, asked me a little while back if I would write a post about a place I thought would suit her...

I haven't had a chance to come up with a whole house or apartment for her, but when I stumbled upon this kitchen, I thought of her. It's a little bit bohemian and girly, and even though she might protest the girly label, it's just her style, I think.

The pink on the window frame, the old Hollywood glam chandelier in such a utilitarian room, the warmth and texture of the many wooden drawers and vintage pulls on that piece (not to mention the playful scale of it in the room); the somewhat flirty, sheer curtain under the sink, the easy comfort with which mismatched chairs and plates and pottery accumulated over the years all coexist in perfectly inspiring harmony.... Yes - it all speaks of beautiful Florence to me.

Wouldn't you agree that this kitchen belongs to a wonderfully warm, interesting, and creative person...? I think so. And such a person is my gorgeous friend - my dear Florence.

Do make time to visit her little corner of the world, Cate's Folly, when you have a moment... You'll find a little taste of a mid-grade comedy she's been working on called Gas for Pluto, a wicked recipe for tomato-nut soup, musings on being a writer and how to get published, and an inspiring post on the need to create picture books tailored to the specific needs of kids with autism, among her many wonderful entries.

(image: marie claire maison)

Photo shoot!

2009-11-11T01:05:00.013-05:00

Okay, my dears, I'm sorry it's taken me this long to get back into the swing of things, but here you have it: what kept me busy and happy last week was that Better Homes & Gardens was here to photograph our kitchen and bath!!!

I had such a great time..! And I can't say enough kind things about the team that came over to the house. Sandi, the field editor/stylist, was wonderful. She was funny, considerate, and has been doing this for some time, so she had an amazing ability to anticipate how the vignettes would look like on film (which, surprisingly to me, is quite different from how they might look in real life, both color- and composition-wise).

She was also incredibly patient with my constant questions and requests to move things or try this or that instead, and she even let me style a little (!!), which was not only incredibly generous of her, but also made me realize how much fun styling is...!

Brie, the photographer, was incredible - it was truly a gift to see my house come to life through her eyes. She is ridiculously talented and I encourage you to visit her site here. You will not be disappointed.

And then there was Mike, who helped Brie with everything from technical issues to (I kid you not) holding our ficus tree outside the window so that our neighbor's somewhat messy back porch would be hidden from view. He was, needless to say, indispensable.

I wish I had captured a shot of him holding up the tree..! Unfortunately, I didn't, but here are a few pictures I took that I hope you'll enjoy and will help give you a sense of what a chaotic scene it can be right outside the camera frame when you are doing a photo shoot...

The pretties - cake and raspberries on a beautiful stand, and gorgeous tulips in an ironstone pitcher (pay no attention to the surrounding madness).

The not so pretty chaos.

Lovely Brie at work, secretly wishing walls and kitchen islands would be more helpful and move out of the way so that she could do her job more easily.

Gear. Tons and tons of cool gear.

The camera resting on its tripod while things were being set up.

More contortions from poor Brie to get just the right shot.

Sandi inspecting the shot and making mental notes about which things would need to be moved one or two inches this way or that, and such.

Mike and Brie working on the camera's focus in a rather tight space (again, if the house's walls would be a bit more cooperative and flexible..!)

Highly technical gear - not to be confused with the Ikea Komplement basket.

Sandi, with Mike standing by, studying the shot, and getting ready to call it a day. And what a wonderful couple of days they were..!

If you guys (Sandi, Brie and Mike) happen to be reading this: I had the best time. The house felt a little bit empty after you left... Thank you for your generosity and the privilege of allowing me to watch you work. I feel like I learned a ton and I have renewed love and sense of commitment for design.

The magazine is called Kitchen & Bath Makeovers, a quarterly publication of Better Homes & Gardens. Sandi thought the kitchen would be featured in the Spring issue, perhaps on the cover (eeeeeeep!!) and the bath might be published in a later issue. I can't wait to see them in print!

(images: me)

Inspiration and thanks

2009-11-06T07:58:00.007-05:00

I've been really busy this week and have missed checking in to see what you are up to in your lives... But it's been the good kind of busy - so I'm happy, and I hope this post finds you happy, too.

I'd like to thank T from Bliss for writing such a kind post about our home, and also A from Gabrielle Loves for doing the same. It's really nice to see your home (a place we've put so much work and love into) through somebody else's eyes; I can't thank you ladies enough for your kindness and thoughtfulness. The photos of the house looked beautiful in your inspiring blogs and it was both a surprise and an incredible honor to be featured. Thank you.

Please visit T's beautiful corner of the world here; you can find A here and here. They are both incredible photographers and I think you'll love being transported to the magical and ethereal world they capture through their work.

I look forward to telling you all about what kept me busy and happy next week. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a picture of pretty flowers in our bathroom... Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

(image: me)

Sullivan County, NY

2009-11-02T05:08:00.002-05:00

The incredibly beautiful farmhouse of Peter and India Baird....

This is one of those homes where I wouldn't change a thing. Not one. To read more about the renovation process and the lovely owners, click here.

(images: michael luppino via country living)

Inspired by: The Avett Brothers

2009-10-29T15:05:00.020-04:00

If you have three minutes and thirteen seconds, take a listen to what's been inspiring me lately... It's a wonderful melody and I find the words to be very touching...

If you have another minute, read this for a tiny little background on The Avett Brothers.

There is something about these guys that reminds me a little bit of my beautiful husband and his brother - and the many years I've spent listening to them play guitar together... What a gift they share - and what a gift it is for me and his family (including their sister) to listen in once in a while...

If you have yet another minute, check out what my guy and his brother have been up to lately here.

A place of one's own

2009-10-29T07:20:00.003-04:00

Today you can find me here....

If you found your way here via Lisa's blog, welcome..! I hope you enjoy your visit...

(image: atlanta bartlett)

Emma Cassi

2009-10-26T08:38:00.004-04:00

I always love to see the way creative people live, how they choose to decorate their spaces, and how these in turn seem to reflect a little bit of who they are as people, and as artists and artisans.

I've admired Emma Cassi's sense of style for a while now, and so it is no surprise that I love her London apartment. It's stylish and classic, and it has an almost ethereal quality, much like her jewelry. Yet it also seems very livable, with hints of her work and of her family life, Antonin (her son) being very present in almost every nook. Take a look and see for yourselves; it's really a warm and lovely place...

(images: some from design sponge; most from emma's lovely blog here)

Patchwork friendships

2009-10-22T13:15:00.015-04:00

I often have moments when I think, blogging is too much work. It takes up too much of my time. And so I make these rules for myself: "I will only post two times a week," I say, emphatically. Or, "The laptop must remain upstairs after I pick Noah up from school," I tell the dog as she looks at me dubiously and gives me a couple of uncertain wags. Or, I add with authority: "I will only read blogs when the wind is blowing from the North." Or better yet, I decide: "I will only post when it's raining - and the sun is out. And there must be a rainbow."

And then I make a new friend. I meet someone who just seems to be living my life in a way, but a different one altogether - sometimes in an entirely different part of the world even. And I think, I wish I could just have a cup of tea with her. I wish, I say to myself, we could be sitting at the kitchen table talking and having a real-life friendship. Our kids playing in the background while we chat. Or just Noah, building Legos and jumping off a mountain of couch pillows, while we catch up. We have so much in common, I think, and I haven't even met her in person...! It's wild.

And so it is that I keep coming back. Because I'm amazed at the talent out there. And the kindness and thoughtfulness. And the many kindred spirits that I never imagined could have ever possibly been out there, without my knowledge, but are.

And I am surprised and grateful when, every once in a while, I meet someone like that. It's a nice reminder, in the middle of all the chaos, that the world is a good place after all. Because it is.

So, to those of you who have touched my life in some way through this crazy world of blogs: thank you. From the bottom of my heart. I am grateful to have met you - even if it's in a virtual sort of way. I'll take what I can and consider myself a lucky person. Because I am.

(image: little byrd vintage and handmade)

Vintage Organic

2009-10-22T06:40:00.003-04:00

Ever since I saw Emily and Jacob's place on Design Sponge and then again on Apartment Therapy, I've been loving the look of bare wood and soft colors borrowed from nature... And I am madly in love with Emily's lyrical photography. Take a look...

I find that as the colder weather sets in, this look suits my mood perfectly... Such a warm, cozy, comforting place... isn't it?

(images: emily anderson)

Reclaimed

2009-10-20T07:06:00.003-04:00

Won't you visit me here today...? I have a special little post I've been working on for a friend... If you've found your way here via knack, make yourself comfortable - stay a while. I hope you'll enjoy your visit...

(image: via desire to inspire)

My Buenos Aires

2009-10-15T06:09:00.031-04:00

After writing about Hotel Home last week I got a little homesick and decided to look for some photos of homes in Buenos Aires to post here.

I looked around some and I even started a post with pictures of apartment rentals in Buenos Aires... But invariably, I kept coming back to this home, which has been in my inspiration files for a little while now, and is by far one of my favorites. The other places just didn't move me the way this one does. And so it was that I started over.

There are many things about this place that remind me of my grandmother's house, where I spent a good part of my early years while my parents figured some things out. And so in many ways, when I think of Buenos Aires and home, this is the type of place that comes to my mind...

Sensible concrete floors (not stained at my grandmother's, but left natural), lots of white on the walls, soaring ceilings,

and incredibly tall double doors into each room... these all take me back to her home, to my Buenos Aires.

But of all these details, perhaps this next one is the one that most readily transports me to my childhood: the central patio.

My abuela's house also had an interior courtyard like this one, although instead of glass, it had a really old grape vine for a ceiling... It filtered the sunlight and rustled quietly on breezy days, and best of all, it gave plump, delicious fruit in late summer, which we plucked and ate, still warm from the sun, directly from that vine.

I still remember, very vividly, this image of me (maybe 3 years old?), my hair freshly braided, being carried by my grandmother across the patio in her strong arms, the light and shadows dancing around us as we walked under that vine. It is one of my happiest memories - perhaps because I felt so safe and loved.

The kitchen was at the end of the patio, completely separate from the rest of the house. Since the patio was not covered, my grandmother's kitchen had windows and a door instead of being wide open, but it was simple and utilitarian just like this one.

Other than that, I don't really remember the details of my grandmother's kitchen; I remember that it was small and cozy, and that there was an old table (with legs painted the most beautiful red) under the window, overlooking the patio.

My brother and I used to sit at that table eating shredded apples sprinkled with sugar while my grandmother busied herself with the mysterious things that take up grown-ups' lives; and we watched and wondered, and looked at the curious play of light and shadows that lay ahead.

(images: by caitlin m. kelly via design sponge)

New glass knobs and one sweet discovery

2009-10-12T08:01:00.003-04:00

So, remember those bifold doors we turned into little french doors..? I told you about them a couple of weeks ago...? (See here, if you don't remember.) Well, we finally got the knobs, and I think they're lovely. Take a look:

They add the perfect finishing touch to the doors, don't you think..?

What I neglected to tell you in my earlier post is that, while doing the work, we had a little, uh... accident. I forget how it started. In a really silly way, most likely. It was probably one of those "We can't do it - it'll look dumb/ Of course we can do it - fine I'll do it all by myself!!" moments...

And so it was that I found myself wrestling with the bifold, trying to take it down all on my own... And I succeeded - only it landed squarely on the thermostat. Sigh.

Bill quickly put aside our little spat (and suppressed some serious laughter, I'm sure), coming to the rescue since I was caught in one of those I-almost-saved-it-but-didn't-quite-pull-it-off positions, awkwardly holding the door which had caught my ankle at one end and smashed the thermostat at the other. He gently assured me that it wasn't a big deal and helped me untangle myself free from the door, while I just berated myself for being so stubborn. (I think I was probably a little embarrassed, too, not just angry. Heh.)

The one cool thing about this little episode was that when we took the old (really old) thermostat down, we found one of those sweet surprises old houses can give you:

Isn't that tiny bit of vintage wallpaper the sweetest..? I love it when little unexpected things like these happen. Anyway, I debated whether I should take it down and frame it or not, but I decided to leave it with the house, so that it can tell this story again through someone else some day.

So, we covered the little treasure, with Bill doing most of the work, and me getting in his way, trying to document it...

And there you have it. The same exact thermostat, sadly made out of plastic instead of metal...but, oh well. At least it's white, rather than brass. I guess that's an improvement, visually speaking. For me, anyway.

Gustavian goodness

2009-10-08T06:35:00.010-04:00

It's that quiet, unassuming glamour,

that honest country feel paired with pretty fabrics and crystal chandeliers.

It's that stately elegance,

mingling with the hard-wearing surfaces of farm life.

Ultimately, it's that Swedish light;

perhaps a little melancholy at times, but also quite magical... wouldn't you agree?

(images: at casa via desire to inspire)

A happy place for T

2009-10-06T16:30:00.005-04:00

Hello, there...! Today you can find me here. If you have found your way to vintage simple via Bliss, welcome..! I hope you'll stay a little while and look around... and leave a thought or two behind to tell me what you think... Thanks for stopping by.

(image: jordi canosa)

Buenos Aires cool

2009-10-05T06:09:00.005-04:00

Last time I visited home, my best friend's mom insisted that we stay at her place . (She stayed with her niece while we were there - have you ever heard of such ridiculous kindness?!? Insane. That's how incredibly generous people can be. Still blows my mind away.)

Anyway, I just spoke with her the other night and again she pronounced that if we came to visit, we'd stay at her place like last time. How can one resist such a tender, generous gesture..? It would be rude. Foolish, even, since it saves us from having to pay for an apartment or hotel room...

Which brings me to the point of this post: Hotel Home? In Buenos Aires? I may have to check this place out just for fun...! Chalk it up as a tourist destination... (My poor kid and husband are saints. Truly.) Here, take a look - so simple and stylish and filled with vintage details:

...Isn't it incredible? I thought so. The modern lines paired with the vintage pattern of that wallpaper? I love it. Love.it.

(Sure enough, this post has made me a little homesick, so I think I'll look around and see what other cool interiors I can find online that hail from Buenos Aires.... Stay tuned for more to come..!)

(images: hotel home via remodelista)

The Living Room

2009-10-01T06:25:00.008-04:00

I thought I'd introduce you, dear reader, to our living room. I've only painted it three different times, and although I can't promise (*cough*) I won't repaint it again at some point in the future, for now, the walls will remain chocolate brown.

I like to have a place to drop keys and sunglasses when I come in, so this tall (yet narrow) dresser provides us with just the prefect spot for that... I sanded it down until you could see the different layers it's seen in its lifetime and rather liked it, so I left it that way.

On this wall, we put up beadboard pretty high up, to emphasize the height of the ceilings, and because as much as I think the cozy color works in this room, I need white. And lots of it, at that.

The vintage coat rack was missing a hook, so I put a glass knob in its place. I took the knob from an old cabinet door a neighbor had discarded after a remodel (The horror! The horror! And on so many levels, too... But I'll abstain from saying anything else about that.) Anyway, I actually really like this detail, and I am glad that at least the knob, if not the door, found a second life in our home. The bird print is by talented Geninne, whom I've mentioned before here.

The windows behind the couch to the right were covered with mirror (mirror?? yes, mirror...more horror) that had been glued to the glass, which made for a very weird and uncomfortable space, not to mention dark...so dark.

Needless to say, we got rid of the mirrors, carefully breaking each little pane on the top as well as the big panes on the bottom of both windows. We then put in new glass panes, applied putty around them to hold them in place, and repainted the frames once the putty had hardened... The light in this room is now pretty incredible, as we knew it would be...

...and hopefully it will somehow make up for the many years of bad luck we'll otherwise get because we had to break so many mirrors to free those windows and their lovely, life-loving ability to let in light.

Ceilings - the extended version.

2009-09-28T07:00:00.008-04:00

The good news is: there are options. There are beamed ceilings - in modern and eclectic living spaces,

in rustic kitchens,

and farmhouse bedrooms;

there are whitewashed beams,

and beams that are best painted white,

and just plain old, beautiful, chunky beams...

There are painted ceilings, sometimes to match crown molding colors,

sometimes to mimic the sky,

or even sometimes to create rich, dramatic interiors...

There are vaulted ceilings painted white and paired with white walls to create a beautiful sense of volume and tranquility,

or juxtaposed with wallpapered walls to emphasize the shape of the room and create a feeling of playfulness....

There are ceilings covered in beadboard,

sometimes painted in creamy shades and laid out in interesting patterns...

There are ceilings covered in old tin tile, which can be left old and flaky,

or can be painted thoroughly before and after installing it if one should be worried about lead paint (heh),

There are tall ceilings with pretty moldings,

and incredible plasterwork;

and there are not-so-tall ceilings, with insanely beautiful hand-painted details...

There are coffered ceilings,

and ceilings covered in beautiful reclaimed wood, whether it be beadboard...

...or otherwise....

And perhaps best of all, there are ceilings that are made out of glass,

letting in all the light one could ever want...

(images: 1. & 2. via canadian house and home, 3. via country home, 4. platt dana architects via remodelista, 5. & 6. by jordi canosa, 7. & 21. via cottage living, 8. & 17. via living etc, 9. j. morgan puett via pia jane bijkerk, 10. via domino magazine, 11. & 18. via skona hem, 12. via house beautiful, 13. via architectural digest, 14. country living via interior divine, 15. our bathroom, 16. cecilia granath's copenhagen's apartment via by-gesslein, 19. via sunset magazine, 20. via elle decor, 22. via desire to inspire, 23. via haven and home)

Kevin Reiner

2009-09-24T06:50:00.002-04:00

An old farmhouse,

a talented designer,

a masterful carpenter,

a little bit of glam,

and a whole lot of vintage charm.

Perfect.

(images: don freeman via country living)

Peaceful. Home.

2009-09-23T06:37:00.002-04:00

Just a quiet post*, with lots of soothing whites...

...and the occasional vintage (motorcycle?) helmet, just because...

*adapting this wonderful idea from lovely Julia of the Red Otter Shop.

(images: 1. & 4. via dave coote; 2. & 3. via livingetc)

Weekend house love

2009-09-21T07:13:00.008-04:00

Remember I told you about adding brackets and a shelf, along with hooks, to the wall in the hallway? Here's the picture to jog your memory:

Anyway. What I didn't show you was that next to the shelf and benches, right out of sight in the photo, are two closet doors where we hide all manner of household odds and ends: paint cans and rollers, drills, random screws and nails, hammers, cleaning supplies, stacks of toilet paper (Bill thinks I have a problem hoarding paper goods), boxes of movies in VHS that belong to Bill (I think Bill has a problem hoarding everything, but nevermindthat), the odd box of old clothes that don't fit Noah anymore (but we'll take to the Goodwill - eventually)... in other words, this space holds a lot of our stuff. But it's stuff that needs to be in a closet, behind closed doors, at least until we get around to using it or appropriately disposing of it.

So back to the point of this post. Those closet doors in question? Horrid bifold little numbers. I think I abhor bifold doors almost as much as I dislike wall-to-wall carpet. They just grate on my aesthetic sensibilities or something. Plus they're awkward and dated. So down they came.

We decided to glue and nail beadboard to the space where the horizontal slats were,

then added trim around to hide the gaps on the edges,

and most importantly, we re-hung them as little french doors instead of bifolds. We put a piece of trim along the length of one of the doors to hold the other one in place and we installed a little magnet latch at the top.

We then spot-primed the knots with a shellac base primer and then applied a solid coat of regular primer to the bare wood...

Finally, we gave them a coat of bluish paint that was leftover from Noah's room (Silver Sea, you can get it at Lowe's), and there you have it! We also ordered a couple of glass knobs for each door from Anthropologie, but they're on backorder, so it'll be a little while before they get here. They're the prism knob, in clear:

One little house project finished: check. And on to the next..!

(**To see the finished project, with glass knobs and all, click here and here.**)

Don't forget the ceiling

2009-09-17T11:40:00.010-04:00

I love browsing through magazine galleries online. Sometimes you stumble upon the most intriguing images. This one comes via Canadian House and Home. Stunning. But unexpected, for me, that I found it...well, stunning. I don't usually go for this much color, or this color for that matter.... but it was so intriguing to me, the ornate wallpaper on the ceiling and unapologetic color on the kitchen cabinets, combined with how bare and simple it all is otherwise. I guess I was drawn to the contrast of those two concepts.

I also like this idea, especially for a kid's room:

A world map on the ceiling?? Pretty sweet idea, methinks. I couldn't find a photo of it online, so my apologies for the less-than-ideal picture I had to take of a Better Homes and Gardens magazine! I hope you guys can get the idea, though. Love it.

And I'll leave you with another wallpaper option for a ceiling, this one designed by Julia Rothman, and used for the fun nursery of Laurie Rhoney's baby.

(For more pictures of this nursery and a fun interview with Laurie, visit urban grace interiors here.)

Farmhouse goodness

2009-09-16T06:33:00.003-04:00

If you've been following this blog for a while, you know of my love of white floors,

my deep appreciation for all things vintage,

my attachment to chalkboard paint (the smudgier the better),

and my sincere affection for design that borrows from Swedish aesthetic...

In short, you know I have a soft spot for old houses and the people who love them,

so it should come as no surprise that I adore the farmhouse that Sacha Dunn and Edmund Levine share with their son Max and pit bull-whippet mutt, Winnie, in Upstate New York.

To see more of Dana Gallagher's photos and read about the story and details of the remodel, visit Country Living here.

(many thanks to lovely nelya at head over heels for reminding me of this little gem!)

Black, white and wood

2009-09-14T07:53:00.005-04:00

Don't you just love the combination?

By themselves, black and white can be a little bit too stark a combination for me... but add the warmth of (especially well-worn) wood to the mix, and it is pure perfection.

(images: 1.cinq via ici, 2.8.9. canadian house and home, 3. diana yen via design sponge, 4. marie claire maison via this is glamorous, 5. james tse via head over heels, 6. abingdon 12 new york via remodelista, 7. domino magazine)

Over the rainbow

2009-09-10T13:58:00.003-04:00

I wonder if there's a pot of gold at the top of these stairs...?

I guess I'll have to visit the town of Wuppertal, Germany, to find out....

Come to think of it, the gift of traveling to a new place would be treasure enough... wouldn't it?

(images:1. & 2. elle decoration via style-files ; 3. missninja via trekearth)

Nursery crushes

2009-09-09T08:38:00.001-04:00

Okay, let me just say this first: no babies here. Just in case you were wondering, you know? (And if you weren't, well then...er, sorry for sharing more than you needed.)

BUT. I just have to post these here because I absolutely love them and if I were pregnant (which I'm not), I'd be busily turning the office into something inspired by these beautiful spaces.

First one up is Ashley Campbell's nursery for her daughter. I first saw it on Design Sponge. I adore, of course, all that white, but I'm also really drawn to the cheery pinks and oranges, in addition to all the vintage touches. And that repurposed bed made out of pallets and an old door? Love love love.

Second up is this wonderful nursery, a collaboration between Barb Blair of knack studios and Teresa Roche of Art & Light. I love the unexpected use of chocolate brown in the ceiling and the magical woodlands feel to it. I am particularly attracted to the fact that nothing is baby-themed here, which is just how I'd like a nursery:

Finally, this nursery, belonging to Dan Gneiding's baby daughter... Where do I start on what draws me to this one..? It's that combination of a collection-of-vintage-items-accumulated-over-time feel, with a modern twist (like the yellow on that antique crib). There is something very lived-in and a little bit bohemian about it that I just love so.

(images: 1.-3. via apartment therapy; 4. via knack; 5. via designsponge; 6.-9. via head over heels)

Paumes

2009-09-08T07:09:00.005-04:00

So, this has been going around blogland for a while now from what I can gather, but I have to say, I love what I've seen so far. I first heard of these books through Emma Cassi's blog, and then read a bit about them on Apartment Therapy. I just ordered the Stockholm Apartments one and will let you know what I think of it when I get my copy... I really wanted to get the Stockholm Kitchens, too, but I restrained from it. It took a lot of self-control, so feel free to pat me on the back.

The books are the brainchild of a small Japanese printer that publishes design books about creative folks living primarily in London, Paris, and Stockholm (although I spied a book from Copenhagen and another one from San Francisco). The printer is interested in exploring "the environments of those who stimulate the creative industries." So cool.

They have a little bit for everyone, and even though the text is all in Japanese, from what I can see in the tiny photos the styling looks pretty amazing. Depending on the book you purchase, you can peruse vintage shops in London, drool over the best culinary spots in Paris,

take a peek into the hippest ateliers in London,

or feast on children's spaces in Copenhagen...among many others.

To see more and perhaps feel inspired to order a book or two, you can visit Paumes here.

All I can say is, I'm excited. I figure being fluent in Japanese would be like a giant unexpected bonus - awesome and certainly welcome, but not necessary.

(image: 1. via apartment therapy; the rest, via paumes)

A good house

2009-09-03T06:45:00.002-04:00

Remember this? Go on and take a moment to read it if you haven't already... There's no rush, so take your time; I'll be right here, waiting for you to come back.

Not only was I lucky to have such unexpected, wonderful guests that afternoon, but I have also kept in touch with the daughter.... And she was kind enough to look through her pictures and found this little treasure, which she generously sent our way (on loan) so that Bill could scan it at work and I could post here.

This is our house in the 30's. It certainly helps explain why I've never liked the massive brick columns holding the porch up - they are not original to the house (see pictures of the exterior of the house when we first got it, plus current ones here). I am glad that the brackets we put back on the house are fairly close to the originals, and breaking up the color on the columns at least gives the appearance of the original design.

When I showed him the picture, Noah wanted to know why our house looked "old-fashioned" and why all those trees from the old picture were now gone.... and then he repeated the story I was told about the Dogwood being the size of the Oak tree up front. I have to confess that while the boys turned the picture this way and that, now distracted with the old Model T parked in the carport, I got a bit misty-eyed. I love that the stories about this old house are being passed on. What a gift we've been given... It is my hope that we will be able to pass it on ourselves one day, when we are too old to climb stairs, and the house has simply become too big for just two.

Tea, anyone?

2009-09-01T08:01:00.004-04:00

The intricately beautiful work of Samantha Robinson. I first saw her work on Bliss and then again this week on Decor8. I am madly in love.

(images: samantha robinson)

One man's trash...

2009-08-31T08:20:00.010-04:00

So, take a look at this beauty - I found it on my walk around the neighborhood the other morning:

I just can't pass by something this classic and gorgeous and not drag it home. I'm thinking that, after a good scrubbing and replacing that handle that's missing on the hot faucet, we may want to use it in our upstairs bathroom when we really renovate it (we've just given it a face-lift for now):

I am not a big fan of vanities (I'd rather have a pedestal sink and a small piece of furniture), and even though we reinvented ours to be a little more unique and our style, I still would like to have something a bit less bulky. Now that I found that sink on the side of the road, I'm thinking about something along these lines:

I like that it's airy, and we actually have a leftover marble slab from the downstairs bathroom, so this could totally work.

And I already have a pair of old crates for extra storage:

Add to that the already painted black clawfoot tub we have stashed in Bill's Dad's garage, paired with pretty marble hexagonal tile on the floor, like so, and I think we're onto something:

And I kind of like this idea, since we don't have enough room for a separate shower in our bathroom either:

But it looks like it may be way too expensive for us, though.

Plus, I don't know if I'd be able to resist playing with extra long fabric for a shower curtain, or maybe even something frilly and girly like this little Anthropologie number:

(images: 1. & 2. yours truly, 3. via cottage living, 4. via real simple, 5. via design*sponge, 6. via down and out chic, 7. via antropologie)

Vintage love

2009-08-28T07:43:00.013-04:00

Ghosting in mirrors, vintage clocks, peeling paint, old sign letters, industrial lighting and furniture... What's not to love?

And have you ever seen a steel dresser? With the pretty lines of a wooden one, but the toughness of a much more utalitarian material? Gorgeous.

Really. I'll take it all, please. Just beautiful...

(images: canadian house and home via cafe cartolina)

Sweet ideas

2009-08-27T07:25:00.001-04:00

So, I am not a brooch-wearer, but I thought this idea I found on this month's issue of Country Living was really sweet... Why not turn those vintage brooches and pins into refrigerator magnets? I love it. For easy, step-by-step instructions, click here. I have a feeling my blog friend Celia would like this brooch idea... (Have you guys met, btw? You should hop on over to her blog just to see how very cool and funny that woman is!)

And this beer sweater? Can you say cute?? (And can you tell I'm ready for cooler weather?? I'm lusting after bottles with sweaters, people.) Anyway, I just couldn't resist it.... It's the work of NC artist Zach Crain, made of reclaimed sweaters, so each one is different. You can find it here.

The Dining Room

2009-08-25T08:03:00.010-04:00

So, this is the view from the living room, when you first enter the house. I still haven't painted the ceiling, but I'm feeling a little lazy, so I'm not sure it'll happen any time soon.

Here is a shot of all four necessary curtain panels, as promised:

The view from the kitchen:

This next shot here is of what I'll call my problem wall, mainly because that IKEA bookshelf is temporary, until we can afford what I really want.

And what would that be, you may ask yourself? An oversize vintage chalkboard? Why, yes. That would be quite lovely.

Perhaps an old church pew to go underneath it, with some fun pillows and throws for extra seating and lounging? Why, that would be great!

Or a vintage map, you say? With a cool old bench underneath it? Yes, yes, oh yes.

Truth be told, I could also totally go with a modern painting, provided it had the right colors, such as this one (oh, and I'd take those chairs, too):

For now, however, the dining room is done. Until I get a bug to paint it again, that is, or if I happen to win the lottery and I'm able to buy all of the above-mentioned wish list items. Sigh.

(images: first 4, moi; 5. via cottage living; 6. via apartment therapy; 7. country decorating ideas via poppytalk; via down and out chic )

Pretty things

2009-08-24T08:06:00.010-04:00

Window film. It is just lovely. Makes me wish we had not ordered that window with the pebbly glass for the downstairs bathroom... Note to self: must use when we uncover that other window upstairs....

Emma Jeffs has delicate, vintage-inspired designs, reminiscent of lace. It is so pretty, it almost takes my breath away.

She also has more mod designs, like this one here, just as lovely:

And Trove has just crazy beautiful stuff:

(images: 1. rachael smith via bliss, 2. & 3. emma jeffs via 2jane, 4. trove)

The office - a work in progress

2009-08-21T08:01:00.006-04:00

What I love the most? The bird's eye view we get of our tree-lined street through our beautiful, old windows, wavy glass still intact.

This is the rocking chair that Bill's mom used to rock Bill to sleep when he was a baby. It was given to us when Noah was born, so he too was rocked on this chair.

We've ordered some hooks and we'll hang Bill's guitars from the wall - they'll be accessible and off the floor, which makes my sweet husband very happy. And the sheer orderliness of it of course appeals to me. (Yeah, I know.)

The desk is made of a hollow-core door ($24 at Lowes) resting on an old metal bookshelf on one side and file cabinet on the other, both of which we got at the Habitat store. I painted them white and hung a little curtain to hide the open shelves. We're not quite done, but I do think we got quite a bit accomplished for a Sunday afternoon. Especially after we'd tackled the den and the dining room that same weekend!

More on all house projects soon... It is almost the weekend after all!

Saipua

2009-08-19T17:17:00.023-04:00

Have you heard about this store? They're a small, family-owned business located in the Hudson Valley, NY. The owners offer hand-made soaps and fresh seasonal flowers, and they're getting ready to open their store at a new location in Brooklyn this Saturday, August 22nd.

I mean, I want to get on a plane and fly up to NYC this weekend just to be at the opening of their new shop. The rough, hand-hewn wood everywhere? And those pops of green and fuscia? I'm speechless. In the best of ways.

And their packaging?

And their flower arrangements?

Please tell me that if you are anywhere near Red Hook, Brooklyn, you'll stop by. And you'll let me know about it so that I can feel sorry for myself for living so far away. I'll just have to content myself with fawning over their blog. Okay? Alright then.

(images: all by saipua, the first one via what possessed me)

The den (revisited) and dining room peek

2009-08-18T06:45:00.031-04:00

So, we were busy with house projects this weekend (enter Bill's sigh and roll of the eyes here, because this usually involves him standing high on a ladder, holding something heavy, and me going, "A little more to the right. No, no - a smidgen to the left. Okay, can you go a little to the right now?" and so on and so forth).

Although I was excited to have curtains up in the den a couple of weeks ago, I was not really that happy with the overall result, I realized. Something was bugging me. The room was too busy and loud (visually speaking), especially for a space where we spend a lot of our time. I knew I liked all of the individual parts, I just wasn't sure I liked them all together.

For instance, I knew I loved the couch and chair with the denim slipcovers because I can wash them, and like a good pair of jeans, they hide dirt fairly well and they only get better with time. I liked the new curtains, too. I liked the rug and the new little pillow that looks like a flower (or fish scales, if you ask Bill).

And I love the color blue, but the one in the ceiling was killing me - it was too decisively blue, and nothing made it more apparent than adding more blue with those curtains. I like colors that are more indefinite, that live in gray areas (and I mean that metaphorically, yes, but also quite literally: gray is one of my favorite hues).

I actually never intended for the blue on that ceiling to be so intense to begin with - it was supposed to be the same bluish gray as on the kitchen ceiling, but I think the mix got botched somehow and I didn't notice the mistake until I had already painted the entire ceiling. By that point, I was just too tired to redo it, so I left it as it was. Very blue. With blue slipcovers and now curtains with blue accents. A little too much blueness for me.

So, even though I liked the new curtains, I just did not like them in this room. I decided to take them down and brought in white curtains I had in the guest bedroom. And I also decided I had lived with the loud blue of the ceiling long enough - so I painted it a soothing gray instead. (I believe the name is Winter White, by Benjamin Moore).

I think our dog, Lena (Lay-nah) Bean, approves. Or, as we affectionately refer to her, The Bean. Yes, I think The Bean approves.

And now, instead of pattern and jarring color, we have visual peace and quiet, which suits my personality and makes me very happy.

And so, you may be wondering, what did I do with the curtains that were in the den? Well, I put them in the dining room, which of course meant I had to change the wall color there too. Heh. It's yet another shade of gray, only on the taupe side this time. It's very soothing and calming, too.

I actually now need to go get two more panels because there are three windows in the dining room, so I'll have to show you pictures when all the curtains are up. And I also want to paint the ceiling in here. It's a disease, I know - but these kinds of projects bring me such joy..!

And we also started setting up the office upstairs this weekend (Bill's rolling of the eyes is not for naught). But I'll save that for a later post.

**Paint colors: den's walls, Woodrow Wilson Putty (6006-1A), at Lowes; den's ceiling, Winter White (OC-21) by Benjamin Moore; dining room walls, Taupe Stone (SR304), at Lowes.**

(images: me)

The new paint chip

2009-08-16T06:35:00.017-04:00

Geninne, of Geninne's Art Blog, has just stepped up the game for designers everywhere:

Wouldn't it be nice if paint chips looked like this? Maybe people would not feel as intimidated by color. I mean, would recalling a bunny cozy in its burrow, or a bright-feathered bird, or a soothing aloe plant as you looked at a freshly painted wall ever feel wrong?

I didn't think so.

And the little peeks of her home and studio are just as beautiful and inspiring:

And she also posts photos of her adorable new puppy, Turbo, who apparently has sprouted a blog all of its own.

Need I say any more for you to go visit? What are you still doing here?? Now go, already, go! Oh, and don't forget to stop by her Etsy shop, too!

Oh, my... And she is having a stamp giveaway.

Of life and dreams

2009-08-14T20:54:00.017-04:00

Noah painted this clay dinosaur last year. He was four. We were celebrating his friend's birthday at one of these pottery places where the kids choose a figurine and then decorate it with paint however they want to and get to keep it after it comes out of the kiln. Noah was unequivocally certain about his choice: he wanted the dinosaur. No looking back.

This year, my beautiful boy wants to be a search and rescue hero. He piles the couch pillows high atop his old stuffed animals and fearlessly dives in, saving them all. He wants to live by the ocean, so he figures perhaps he'll be in the Coast Guard when he grows up.

The following short short is one of my favorites - it deals with dreams, our children, and really, our aging parents, too. I think the author captures the complexity of all of this - of life - in a beautifully touching way... Here's to hoping the dream is alive and well in all of us. Enjoy.

...........................................

Dinosaur
A short story by Bruce Holland Rogers

When he was very young, he waved his arms, snapped his massive jaws, and tromped around the house so that dishes trembled in the china cabinet. "Oh, for goodness' sake," his mother said. "You are not a dinosaur! You are a human being!" Since he was not a dinosaur, he thought for a time that he might be a pirate. "Seriously," his father said to him after school one day, "what do you want to be?" A fireman, maybe. Or a policeman. Or a soldier. Some kind of hero.

But in high school they gave him tests and told him he was good with numbers. Perhaps he'd like to be a math teacher? Or a tax accountant? He could make a lot of money doing that. It seemed a good idea to make money, what with falling in love and thinking about raising a family. So he became a tax accountant, even though he sometimes regretted it, because it made him feel, well, small. And he fell even smaller when he was no longer a tax accountant, but a retired tax accountant. Still worse: a retired tax accountant who forgot things. He forgot to take the garbage to the curb, to take his pill, to turn his hearing aid on. Every day it seemed he forgot more things, important things, like where his children lived and which of them were married or divorced.

Then one day, when he was out for a walk by the lake, he forgot what his mother had told him. He forgot that he was not a dinosaur. He stood blinking his dinosaur eyes in the bright sunlight, feeling its familiar warmth on his dinosaur skin, watching dragonflies flitting among the horsetails at the water's edge.

Many, many thanks to Bruce Holland Rogers for kindly giving me permission to publish this story here. To read more of his fantastic work, click here.

(sunset image: vaeltaja via flicker)

Empire Vintage

2009-08-12T16:57:00.009-04:00

I know most of you have probably seen this already, but I just had to post it here because I love Lyn Gardener's home. And her shop. And her philosophy. And did I mention her home? I just think the pops of red, black and green against the soothing (mostly white) backgrounds are pure perfection. Plus, she loves all things vintage and used recycled materials when she renovated her home.... What could be more perfect?

(images: lyn gardener via design*sponge)

Mothology

2009-08-12T09:54:00.023-04:00

I found these pendant lights via Remodelista, and I was very excited because I saw that same kind of pendant in Joahhana's kitchen (which I love), and at $50 bucks each, I thought they were reasonably priced.

So, over I went to visit Mothology to see what other goodies they carried. Oh my. I had a hard time editing for this post. Here are a few of my favorites:

Gray striped woven cotton... (If this is their store, I may just have to move in.)

Reasonably-priced, vintage-inspired pillow cover at $28.

These go out to Barb of knack studios, because they are totally her style, I think. Iron and Goldleaf Sea Urchin bowls. A little too industrial-looking for me, but man - would they make a statement!

Totally out of my budget, but incredibly cool vintage mirrors (the texture of the wood? the scale??).

I mean, I even like their logo. So come on...what are you waiting for? Go check them out!

Click here.

Today...

2009-08-10T06:45:00.002-04:00

...you can find me here.

If you found your way here via Deb's blog, welcome! I hope you enjoy your visit...

(image: sweet imperfection)

Gustavian goodness

2009-08-08T06:17:00.002-04:00

It's that quiet glamour,

that honest country feel paired with pretty patterned fabrics and crystal chandeliers...

It's that stately elegance,

mingling with the hard-wearing, austere surfaces of farm life...

Ultimately, it's that Swedish light;

perhaps a little melancholy at times, but also rather magical.... wouldn't you agree?

(images: at casa via desire to inspire)

When plagiarism is plagiarism

2009-08-07T08:14:00.028-04:00

I don't think I can add much more to what Julia Rothman writes at a Book by Its Cover on the subject, but I felt compelled to pass this on.

Briefly, a graduate student from a university in the UK stole Lauren Nassef's drawings and used them in her own work - quite blatantly, actually. Although I don't find what happened completely unimaginable (given that all artists take somewhat of a gamble when they post their work online), it still does not take away from the sting and, yes, the shock. Even though the web is a great way to promote your work, it does not come without risks. I imagine this is something that all artists struggle with to some degree or another.

I do think, however, that Julia's words are right on when she writes: "In my opinion all you can do is treat the minor cases as flattery, sue when appropriate, and keep making original work!" Please hop on over to her blog to read about this particular case in its entirety.

(images and artwork: lauren nassef)

Chalkboard love

2009-08-07T06:51:00.003-04:00

I think the pictures say it all.
And peek? Go check it out right now. Talk about LOVE.

(images: 1., 2. & 3. via Apartment Therapy; 4. sfgirlbybay via houzz; 5. peek via simple lovely; 6. our kitchen)