So I have inherited a beautiful spoke-backed chair from my great great grandmother, and I simply cannot decide where to put it. It seems a little silly not to actually use the chair as a chair, at say, a table, but there is so much family history behind it (pun not intended) that I just want to admire it for awhile and imagine the stories it knows. Besides, I think they can be such beautiful objects that they can hold their own and stand alone up against a wall.... but which wall is the question. Until I decide, it will... Continue reading

Sometimes you need a bright, bold or colorful textile to brighten up a room. Lately, I've been admiring the designs of Raoul Textiles, whose fabrics are all designed by Sally McQuillan and printed by hand in her Santa Barbara based studio. She has just opened an amazing new store in Santa Barbara where you really get a sense of the Raoul lifestyle, and where the fabrics are available *not only to the trade! You can also find her designs in her line with George Smith. Raoul-la-la! Image with thanks to George Smith. Continue reading

Recently I've had A LOT of friends ask me about paint colors. Now, I don't mind giving a friend advice (in fact sometimes I think I give it a little too freely) but it's really hard to suggest paint colors over the phone, and as interesting as, umm, Urban Sunrise sounds, paint names definitly evoke different images to different people. Fortunately, there are a few great online tools that let you upload pictures of your room and pick out colors that you might want to test. Both Valspar and Benjamin Moore have great tools that can help lead you on... Continue reading

I recently had the pleasure of going to the Japanese tea garden in Portland, OR... and I really do mean pleasure. The moment I passed through the gates I felt immediately calm and as if time had slowed just for me. Coincidently Japan is someplace where I have always wanted to visit, so this really only helped to increase that desire. Until that opportunity arises however, I can live vicariously through Tokyo based Hiki and her delightful blog (make sure to also check out her online stationary store Uguisu too!) Continue reading

My grandmother has a beautiful collection of antique Japanese indigo-dyed textiles, who have, up until recently, been sitting on a shelf in her armoir. Realizing that no one can appreciate something that they can't see, she has taken them out of hiding and has had them made into pillows, which she has scattered around her house. To say that they are much more admired and appreciated now is an understatement. The depth of color acheived with indigo dying is so intense and can be so beautiful, it's no wonder that the process itself is not easy. Here are a few... Continue reading

I'm currently nestled under Mount Si in Washington State, about thirty miles outside of Seattle, a city notorious for rainfall.... and raining it is. Luckily I'm inside enjoying the amazing views of the mountain, but I know the time is coming when I will have to put on a second layer and prepare to battle the elements. How great would it be if I could do so with one of these beautiful umbrellas by my side: Perhaps with a pair of these rain boots, I will be prepared to go splashing in puddles too: Umbrellas from here and Rain Boots... Continue reading

I just found the most amazing collection of vintage wallpapers from a store in Cologne, Germany....unless you have a computer in which case it's right at your fingertips. Here are some examples of what they have: Continue reading

With the promise of fall and all the changes that come with it, I am itching to find the closest pile of leaves and just jump in it. I know it's a little too early for such things, so I will have to settle for jumping in a large pile of beautiful throw pillows instead. Pillows really are the easiest and perhaps cheapest way to change the look of a room. Now, I've never been one to change the pillow covers with the change in season, but with so many options out there, I might just start. Brights, pastels, linens,... Continue reading

Perhaps more out of necessity then look, I used to have an apartment in New York where the cabinets were painted the same color as the walls. I say out of necessity because there were quite a few layers of paint on each, which leads me to believe that the landlord coated the entire place in another layer of paint rather than cleaning it every time someone moved out. At the very least it created a blank canvas for the rest of the room, and made anything I put on the shelves really pop (it was the same apartment with... Continue reading

Shaker furniture has always been striking in it's simplicity and dedication to function. Sometimes when in need, a beautiful shaker bench fits the bill completely, and can balance the look of a room. Images and products available from Shaker Workshops. Continue reading

There's something to be said about large, luxurious, glorious and clean bathrooms. It makes getting ready in the morning much more enjoyable... but it can also lead to a time management problem. It's probably a blessing in disguise that at this time in my life, when time is of the essence, that the bathroom in my apartment is perhaps not the largest most glorious bathrooms of them all -it's clean and pleasant- but perhaps not luxurious. Here's a few bathrooms that I wouldn't mind spending some time in: Images with thanks to Beautiful Things to Share, Country Living Sept 2010,... Continue reading

My morning ritual generally involves me waking up and making a cup (or two) of coffee. It helps me wake up and gives me a minute to focus before I start my day. It only makes sense then that something I do every day should be completely enjoyable... which includes the cup I drink it out of. Or, the bowl. French café au lait bowls come in a multitude of colors and patterns and make my coffee, and my morning, a little more cheerful. From flea markets to stores, you can find them everywhere. They even line the walls of... Continue reading

Traveling around Europe, I was struck by the abundance of color found on the buildings, from the faded pastels in Prague to the vibrant hues of the Mediterranean. One color that kept catching my attention was orange. Rather, the whole spectrum of orange; reddish-orange, rust-orange, peachy-orange, neon-orange... I took pictures of them all. It really is a great color to help brighten up a lack-luster room. Here are a few images from the trip, and a few found around the internet... all having to do with orange. Images with thanks to Carlu Seaver, Unknown, Unknown Continue reading

No matter how old I get, no matter how many years come in between, this time of year always reminds me of going back to school. I always loved shopping for all the school supplies... and the bag I would put them all in. I've been noticing that everyone is talking about how backpacks are back in style (it was really only a matter of time), but it took that scent of back-to-school in the air for me to start really thinking about wearing one. Here are a few cute ones that might be holding my supplies this year: black... Continue reading

There is just something about the design coming out of Scandinavian countries right now (and I don't mean that Swedish Mega home store that I know you've been to) that is just so clean and beautiful. Perhaps it's the different light or new color palettes, but whatever it is, it's great. Here is a small sampling of blogs that are coming from that part of the world: Emmas Designblogg from Sweden My Scandinavian Retreat from Norway Forever is Today from Sweden Nestled In from Norway (which they sadly stopped, but you can still peruse the archives) and then of course... Continue reading

One of my favorite movies has to be Out of Africa. Meryl Streep is just breathtaking, and how can you help but fall in love with Robert Redford when he is washing her hair on safari. Even more than that though, I love the book... which is why I was fascinated to learn about her home which has been turned into a museum giving you a glimpse of the life of Karen Blixen (aka Isak Dinesen) after her time in Africa. This is on my list of places to see when I am in Copenhagen. Images from Karen Blixen Museet Continue reading

For whatever reason you have them around, a metal bucket is a good thing to have. Especially if they are beautiful french galvanized metal buckets, in which case you might just have them sitting around to look pretty. I saw these below when I was in Marrakech, and I couldn't get over the colors. This site seems to have a pretty good selection. Continue reading

So I will be taking off on a pretty extensive trip pretty soon, traveling around Europe to places I have dreamed of seeing and exploring. Unfortunately, access to my computer will be a little limited, so I have prepared some posts having to do with the places I will be. One of the first stops on the list is Amsterdam, and what better thing to talk about than Pia Jane Bijkirk's new book Amsterdam Made by Hand. Chances are, you are probably already familiar with her Paris edition, and I've gone to many places while I've been here in Paris....... Continue reading

I have always dreamed of having an outdoor shower. This obviously involves having a house that is pretty much isolated, so you don't have to worry about neighbors. I think, if I had to, I could settle for the amazing shower below too. Wouldn't you just be excited to get out of bed every morning simply because you got to take a shower here? (says the person who has a small city, can't bend down because there isn't enough space, kind of shower). Image from The Selby Continue reading

For awhile now, everywhere I look there are black and white striped rugs. So much so in fact that one of these days I might just find that I have one too. Images with thanks to Simon Upton, Hus and Hem, Decor Pad, Apartment Therapy Continue reading

Sometimes (all the time) I have piles of things that are meant to go somewhere someday. For whatever reason, they haven't made it there yet... but while they wait, at least they can look great in a catch-all of antique wire baskets on a bookshelf or desk. Images with thanks from Fog Linen and Billet Continue reading

I've always loved white dishes. There is just something about the way that it makes food look so fresh and tasty. Well, I'm starting to love the look of pastel tableware too. Perfect for the upcoming warmer months, and with colors like these, how could I resist? images with thanks from digna kosse, mud australia and ochre Continue reading