Staying close to home

This summer we did not go too far from home, we had a nice staycation one weekend and it was very refreshing to drive less than an hour to arrive at a destination (which, I might add, countless folks flock to regularly), a beautiful resort, by the water, full of fun amenities for kids and adults alike...

 the water slides were enjoyed by all...even while relaxing sipping something cold...

 the view from our room was splendid...

 walkabouts made for some great photo discoveries...

and I am pretty sure I want a round mirror at the entry of my house....

The feeling of being somewhere new, luxurious, watching fireworks from our patio, sleeping in cool, white, crisp sheets, staying up late watching a movie while snuggling in bed, waking up to discover some new surroundings and begin a day of pool fun...hmmmm I'll stay close to home anytime for all that! 

reclaimed love...

I know, I know, you thought this would be a post about some romantic adventure or amazing story of love rekindled...well, it is, sort of...read on fine folks...

My delightful husband, who works so very hard, and knows me all too well, happened to ask a tile guy at a job he was working on just what they were gonna do with all the extra tiles after the job was finished...

now, prep yourself for his answer, ready? 

"Dump em' dude"..

Oh me, Oh my....the nerve of those tile guys to send these beauties off to a landfill to get smashed and destroyed amongst some less than questionable dump mates! 

So, being the thoughtful husband, he brought them home to me to see what I could create with them, although we could use a bathroom retile/remodel, I decided not to go there...

so, instead I took to mixing up some color and adding some vintage papers and little words/thoughts added some other mixed items and voila... 

Now they are happily sold at a fine museum gift shop to be cherished and gifted and serve as little reminders that reclaimed is remarkable.

On that same note, I also made a batch of these up cycled lovelies which are also sold in above mentioned gift shop and are all made with reclaimed t-shirts, 100% yummy cotton perfect for warmer weather, because really, when have you ever thought that an outfit would not look better with a scarf?...Never! 

Happy day to you all!

Treasury love...

Love me a Etsy Treasury...especially when I am so graciously lucky to be in two in one week!


http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTE3NzE3Njl8MjcyMzI0MjAwOA/succulent-summer?ref=af_shop_tre

and

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/Njc0NjI0OHwyNzIzMjQ3NDY0/autumns-blush-accessories-for-her

Space refreshment...

 I would like to say that this summer has been full of relaxation and down time...but this would be most untrue, up to this point, and although I am not complaining...it's been a busy one all around in this neck of the woods.

However, it is never too busy to share summer space refreshment with you.

Summer can be a time when we are busy running around with kids, meeting friends, shuttling to camps, swim lessons, beach..you get it.  However, it can also be a time when we spend more time at home, having friends over, bbqing, playing games, having family time and our spaces can seem more overwhelming as they fill with toys, laundry, and varying clutter.  Our time is not always freed up to make changes and organize or have a vision for transformations.

I am happily here to remind you that any space is 'refreshable' *i am not sure if that is a word, but it will work here*...

Before

Ta Da Refreshed

This is a front room I just completed which was really serving as a holding spot for items and was not very welcoming & is the first room to be seen when entering the home..my client wanted it to be a kid &  office area &  since it is that first impression room, I wanted it to have a streamline feel that would be warm & welcoming, kid friendly with a kick back feel.

Before

Voila Refreshed

Before

Oolala Refreshed

Before

Ahha Refreshed

lonely window before...

Sweet sitting spot refreshed with custom cushion, 

pillows and of course a little reminder to 'Laugh'...

So, here is to refreshed spaces this summer, may you enjoy your little corner of the world! 

finding abstract...

Oh I realize this lonely little space here has been a bit neglected, but stay tuned for some super cool before and afters of my own surrounds...

sometimes life just gets pretty busy and even though I am over here quite regularly...well, keeping up with two blogs is sometimes just not in the cards...but here is what I am doing these days...

                                  

some months back I started painting more in my journal and creating more art with my words and on paper...slowly it began to grow, canvas, wood, reclaimed tiles and now I cannot paint enough, I am a bit like a plant around here my leaves are growing and reaching and well, quite frankly invading all areas...I find I am drawn to abstract and the exploration of blending colors with created shapes from nature...so here are a few samplings.  

Thanks for stopping by!  

This is your life...

This is one of my favorite posters...hope you like too.

he is me...

and do we really need to say much more?...

Entryways to the home and heart...

(love this chair covered in silk adds color and interest to this entry)

Well, it is a fact that the entry room of our home sets the tone for what is to come, serves as a true first impression and shouts out your style from the get go.

(for the lovers of chocolate and brown; Benjamin Moore Bittersweet Chocolate)

When someone enters your home what do they see? Are you happy when you walk in your front door? It is usually such a small space, but has such a big impact and why not maximize that impact, not just for others but for you?

(nice contrast in this entry: Benjamin Moore Onyx on banister, stairs & trim, Merlot Red on back wall)

Maybe your front entry or an entry on a second landing needs a bit of a lift or change around...it might not take very much, perhaps a fresh coat of paint in a different color, maybe a new rug, a large glass vase with some greenery, a mirror to replace that old print? a new coat rack, storage for your shoes (who wants to see all those shoes anyways?), maybe a new lighting fixture, nothing too pricey just something fun and different...

(love the crisp, calm feel here: Pocket Watch White by Ralph Lauren and marine deck paint on floors)

(all pictures from house beautiful)

So, think about it, get creative and remember it doesn't have to be something big, just something fresh and different to make you smile and relax when you walk in your front door.

Have fun and enjoy!

creak went the door...

That is the sound I heard when I opened this blog spot to post...ohh been so absent here in this delightful zone of design and loveliness for just downright too long...I miss this space...sometimes there is just too much on one's plate...or platter or whatever you call a oversized,very large dish and I happen to have a few in my possession and you know how you think that time is just zipping by, that you might be missing out on things that are happening right under your nose...heck, I tell you, I can completely relate....I lay awake at times wondering how to fit it all in...how and where?

So, not to bore with details of such life issues, let's get back to the nitty, gritty of cool design, decor, spaces and such...don't know about you, but I am in need of some serious shelving and organizing in my creative space (which is really just simply too small and not creative in the least bit...I am still not-so-patiently waiting for my own shack of bliss...otherwise known as a studio)...I have sent a request out to my jack-of-many-trades, multi-talented man FZ for these...how simple, who would have thunk? and for under $200...come on...why wait?

pictures from apartment therapy

I will take one please and thank you;)...as soon as you can start working on it today.
btw: for those of you thinking 'this is just a bit too complicated for moi'...head on over to the above link to see how truly easy it is to create these!

What lies ahead...

Well, we all have them, you know the projects that need doing around the house.

Are you the type to make numbered lists in specific order of importance or do you just do things randomly and try to complete them in whatever order they come? Do you start something and never finish? Are you the weekend warrior who bangs out the job at hand in two days?
I suppose whichever way it works best for you, provided you get the job(s) done is really the key, right?

I am one to write a list, which I think is in the order things should be done, however, there is a tall, handy and hardworking man in this house who sees fit to do things other ways, and sometimes that is a good thing, sometimes...well, you know.

herb/veg planter just ready for seedy friends

This brings up the issue of our yard, we have cleared the hillside, graded a portion for kids and have been left with a huge sliding slope of terrain which needs planting...here is where I come in...the plant picker, layout gal and hole digging mama. Here are some pics before, and hopefull these will make you feel really good about anything you might have on your to do list, as this is one big load of a job. Follow me as I pick, slide, dig and sweat my way into a new outdoor space!

New arrival

Today this arrives in our home...and I am tickled pink.

It's just so fine....to ReDesign...

Recently, a client asked me to help them as they moved into a larger home with some very different spaces, from what they previously had. They needed to make everything they already owned work and make rooms inviting and warm. Here is the very large entry/front room which was to become the 'formal living' area.

Before

Apres!

Before

Apres!

Before

Apres!

And so, with proper placement and arrangement of art, accessories and family treasures, a home becomes inviting and all yours!

little sweetness to adorn...

Here are a few glimpses of some small, sweet tabletop orbs I have been working on...the places you could set these are endless: mantle, desk, bathroom, on a stack of books, coffee table, any table!

Now, if you brought one of these to your office you better take care as your office mates will be quite jealous!

Whichever space you choose to place one is sure to shine!

Available in my wee shop tomorrow.

Fresh New Year...

I am not sure about you, but for this gal every New Year brings a feeling of a fresh, clean, slate...or at least the urge to organize and clean out, update and refresh spaces, the desire to complete tasks around the house are renewed and motivation, although sometimes hard to muster, is bumped up with the expectations of changing some important aspects of my surroundings.
I am starting with my personal space, because that is, afterall, where we are most inspired...don't you agree?

So, on that note, let the organizing and cleaning out begin!
Here are some helpful and fun ideas to get us all going in the right direction.

Here is a pretty little thought... line a drawer with velvet or felt and add some vintage tea cups & saucers to organize and display your bobbles and jewelry. Simply measure the height of the drawers side, (don't measure the front as that is higher) and collect some teacups that are just a little shorter, the lining on the drawer bottom with help slipping and sliding. Hang earrings on tea rim, place bigger pieces in saucers.

A vintage medicine cabinet turned into a beautiful display case, I can see getting creative with fabric inside and some simple little hooks & wire.
Same idea with a old shadow box, fun hooks or even drawer pulls and then pretty little bowls you already have to store rings.


all pictures courtesy of martha stewart
A peg board in the closet, painted a fun color and used to get all those straggling things on the floor up and out of the way.

Here is to a New Year and new spaces!

rooms for wee wonders...

source

source

in the midst of completely transforming our yard and hillside into a wonderful space for our wee ones to play, explore, embark on adventures and just be free...i am also looking to alter their living/sleeping space. i need to make one room work and be spacious enough for two children to share, one of whom is younger, goes to sleep earlier and one who loves to read at night and have her own unique area not to be touched by the other...hmmmm, so i am scouring for inspiration and ideas and here are a few of my favorites so far.

Backyard ponderings...

over here at my country pad not far from the sea, we are embarking on a rather large backyard project, of which I am quite excited to say the least...and so, I have been poking around looking and storing ideas for plants, pavers, steps, oh any and everything outdoorsy...here are some cool ones...will be posting pics of our before, during and afters you can be sure...

Purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’)


no surprise...succulents succulents succulents will be abundant in my garden...

Hen and chickens (Sempervivium tectorum). Rosettes of fleshy bronze leaves hug the ground beside smaller (Sedum spurium) ‘Dragon’s Blood’

Love these wood planters and the agave desmettiana, with its glorious leaves and easy care ways!

All pictures above courtesy of sunsetmagazine
Smoke tree (Cotinus coggyrgia) ‘Royal Purple’.
Never hurts to tie in color and such a rich, vibrant, fall color!