The blending of unlikely colors and materials…..this appeals to me, in life and in my work :)

Peace

images via:  jana

I believe the right question to ask, respecting all ornament, is simply this; was it done with enjoyment, was the carver happy while he was about it?
John Ruskin

image by: jana

warmth of wool felt and rich pigments/prints and patterns, coupled with sweet whimsy

lovely composition and photography, care of Janis Nicolay.  an interiors and lifestyle photographer based out of Vancouver, BC. a pleasant gift to discover her work….so inspiring. exchanged emails with Janis…she couldn’t have been more lovely.

sleek and minimalistic with the unexpected pop of color infused through the glass insert of the door element…..sunny to the nines

juxtaposed crisp white against bold color reduced perfectly with butter toned design elements.

appealing to my earnest desire for some quiet time, some comfy, warm and tactile stillness…an opportunity to rejuvenate the soul and contemplate what matters most….my family, friends, truth, love….acceptance of all that is.

appreciate the talent that I find myself discovering…Janis is no exception.

her client list is quite impressive featuring clients from national and international shelter magazines.

Pssst, Janis also has a blog

Peace

texture, blended color and the beauty of materials shapely in form, finish and use.

Dirty roots and hues made amazing.

Nature in a hand stitched appearance with a custom selected subtle sea glass blue, Oh, thank you God.

The velvety goodness of petals in their graceful natural state.

A sprinkle of the likeness of spring…(it will come back around just after the sneeze).

Sensual rich color and sheen; a pouring of graceful goodness.

Of rugs, wool and silk…of woods, raw and finished….let’s leave the door open for creative energy to flow freely.

Lisa Cohen’s photography shows a seasoned take on all things visual, a passion, a maturity.  Her background as a stylist is reflected in her portfolio.  Please see more of Lisa’s talent here.  I am honored to reflect her eye, her take on the simple beauty of color, texture and light.

Peace.

Arlise is in her first month of real school—of the Pre-K variety.  She’s one of 11 in her class.  This week, she’s cubby monitor (monitors the supplies/extra clothes for each student in their plastic cubbies).  We talk nightly after story time, right before I tuck her in….she’s growing so fast and it is beautiful…I won’t lie, it tugs on my heart some days.

G is doing quite well being the lone soldier in his daycare; I think he’s the oldest right now and that is a nice change for him; he’s been following in AJ’s (or big sis Tay’s) footsteps since day one.  He turns 3 in two weeks.  His birthday party requests include blue cake, race cars, watermelon, suckers, dipping (onion or other variety), chips, balloons, horns, hot dogs and a basketball game.

They both had their annual appointments chock full of compliments from Dr. Kong and 3 shots each…shots, they probably stress me out more in anticipation than they hurt either child in actuality.  Boyfriend showed up in support for the vaccine portion, for which I am always grateful.  Both AJ  & G did well, recovered in minutes.

Life, it’s busy….busy, in a good way busy. (I have also experienced the not so good busy this year, the fearful, how will we do all this, how can we manage both being self employed in this market, busy).

Wishing I had more hours to do all that matters in my life…to do it in the volume and fashion that I have in my minds eye.  At days end, it just seems that something didn’t get addressed.  I’m so sorry that for too many days, it was blog posts and sharing.  I do have more to share, I promise.

Peace.

image via we heart it

I discovered this photo months ago; it’s Audrey Hepburn; it’s 50’s…but for me, it’s relaxing, yet stylishly chic.  Hoping you have a fabulous weekend….we’re celebrating the biscuit’s birthday party this weekend. It seems of late she is maturing so fast.  I am sure it’s just a mommy’s eyes…she got a new big girl bed, and it is so darling seeing her inside of it…we no longer have room for her rocking chair so sigh….it went to her brother’s room and we moved the one we had in there out…it was quite perfect timing because he thought he had gotten a brand new chair as he didn’t recognize it from her room, oh how I love that boy’s worldview.

I can’t connect this visual to these words, but maybe you see a connection?  I love the style of this photo and I am so incredibly blessed to be here and to have my life, my family and the love of my precious friends.

Peace.

image via bob willoughby on flickr.  He’s a famous photographer and posted some of his unpublished works there; amazingly humble and rich with talent.

Another bit of ongoing visual interior inspiration today.  

clean open… the clear glass cabinet door inserts, horizontally placed cabinetry drawer pulls, thick square edge detailed island counter top, artistic ceramic square tiled backsplace, and simple modern decor.

the pop of cinnamon hued sleek modern sofa against a oatmeal colored palette, well placed cantilevered shelving and spot on black and white layers of casually placed photography….no base, sleek wood flooring; finished smartly with a pair of clean lined silk throw pillows.

parsons style vanity, matte porcelain brick sized backsplash tiles in chocolate with aligned joints, simple chartreuse accents, crisp and quietly appealing.

sleek tiled flooring, polished inset niche fit with up and down lit sconce, horizontal large rectangular tiled walls, sleek ebony flat panel cabinetry.

simple, tone on tone backsplash and countertop, attractive low profile split upper cabinetry, flat panel, inset detail between panels, contemporary cooktop hood placed in front of smartly back-tiled to the top wall. Decor accents are functional and complimentary to the space.

appreciate the light and airy effect of sea-glass ceramic glazed brick sized tiles with staggered joints for fresh fireplace surround redo, attractive, built in mirror, and accents, simple, rich hues and organic textures/materials.  appreciate the gallery style photography display (artwork could have been a bit larger in scale).

balanced combination of materials and appreciate the wood flooring direction, suspended lighting, exposed steel beams, and generous natural light afforded from the large windows.

love the juxtaposition of the large scale fireplace draped in small slate/limestone (probably porcelain derivative) slithers for the fireplace surround and return, the low profile horizontal line fire insert and classic Knoll Barcelona chair.

All images are courtesy of Houzz.

I hope you are having a lovely week.  The weather has been so amazingly mild and enjoyable of late. Boyfriend and I spent the weekend organizing and cleaning our ever-challenging garage space.  We surprised AJ with a new big girl bed, and a special Diego potty seat for G.  We’re formally celebrating Arlise’ birthday this weekend, so my parents are coming to town and we are bound to have a wonderful celebration with our family and a few of her friends.  I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to. 

Peace :)

It’s time for some visual delight….so feminine and deliciously stylized

An example of well selected pieces, on all levels, style, color, scale, finish, texture and placement…these individual pieces may not appear to make sense together, but the entire finished look, it works…reflects selection wisdom and casual comfort, approachability, if you will.

Perfection of material juxtaposition…in it’s simplest form, this is a complementary palette—on the color wheel, of orange and blue….typical of an assignment I was given (back in the day) in color theory class; but looker closer, you see the mix of the rugged and distressed wood flooring, against the rich color and the textural sophistication of the sky blue mohair covering this clean lined rosewood chair—yummy, simple and smart.

Ode to Shabby Chic; the lovely Rachel Ashwell….such a warm hearted talent..can’t wait to see what she shares with us next…it is bound to be beautiful.

Thoughtful vignette…notice the traditional architecture, mixed so well with a contemporary take on the classic bistro table and chairs, nicely varied with the pop of chartreuse and slate blue…warm tea, freshly baked scones, laughter and sprinkles of honest sharing abound here.

I’ve been craving a road trip….of the zen travelling, two lane road, small town locals and campground fires variety….there is something about breakfast cooked on a camp stove that can’t be matched…wherever do we find the time to do all that we wish for?

Yes, as you have seen before, I’m a sucker for the blend of decay and feminine materials and lines—that back wall is to die for, and these peekaboo crocheted lacework pillows, the soft lines of the bench against it’s rustic, rugged finish…….add in the long stemmed roses, a perfect touch. 

Each of these images were shot by the photography talent that is Chris Everard.   His work is threaded with such taste..always appealing yet calming at the same time.

Have a lovely weekend…We’re planning on a bit of work, a bit of play, a bit of outdoor grilling, and maybe some garden time….our garden needs some tending to, some loving.  I find a renewed appreciation for my home when I regularly love on our garden.  I’d love to hear what helps you appreciate your home, your living space?

Peace.

sundrenched, warm and reflective

wispy, tickles and giggles

textured smoothness underfoot, comfort, open space, light filled folds

a quiet stretch, reminders of what matters most, young arms, the smell of summer, late nite walks

spacial awareness, visual cues, the ting tings, balanced priorities, utter freedom

how quiet reads of richness, taste with subtle smacks of creative knowing

jackie o’ so sexy o’ yes yes yes

a minimalistic take on the pretty… still very pretty

of secrets and sweet memories

a gentle reminder to play, play well and play often…for…ever and ever….amen

memories of aunt kris, amusement parks, a lot happened then…a lot that shaped me…..

of sunset, of then and now….of what’s yet to come….soaked in it, soaked in gratitude

photography via jason ierace found via desire to inspire.

I’m feeling particularly grateful this week.  We spent a long weekend with boyfriend’s extended family here from WA state…we had a so much fun celebrating 3 decade birthdays, (Megan is 30, Fran is 40 and Pop is 70).  We had an incredible time in Santa Cruz and it was AJ and G’s first experience on amusement rides—they loved it…AJ even did the haunted house :)  Life is rich and we are blessed…I am in the knowing of that this week…thanks for blessing me with being here, it really does mean a lot to me.  I’m rich in blessings and love beyond my wildest of wild dreams…God is gracious.

Happiness is to be found along the way, not at the end of the road, for then the journey is over and it is too late.  Today, this hour, this minute is the day, the hour, the minute for each of us to sense the fact that life is good, with all of its trials and troubles, and perhaps more interesting because of them.      

Robert R. Updegraff

image via flak photo.