April 01, 2009

Starry Eyed Over Laurie Owen

I discovered South African designer Laurie Owen over the weekend after reading a bit about her on Apartment Therapy.  She has dubbed her style "Romantic Organic" (and it has certainly allured me).  Most of the pictures on her website are of resorts that she's designed, but apparently she also does residential work.  Check it out:

Harnas Lodge in Namibia:

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Agricultural Holdings Residence in South Africa:
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Clifftop Limopopo in South Africa:
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Little Kulala in Namibia:

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Vumbura Lodge in Botswana:

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So, I've attempted to deconstruct her work so we can all bring a little (or lot) of this "Romantic Organic" style to our homes.  Here is what I'm seeing:

  • Raw tree trunks, branches, twigs, stumps, roots, rocks, and stones for furnishings and decor
  • Faux natural furnishings and accents (ex. stone shaped ottomans made of wool or metal & metallic tree trunk tables)
  • Drippy strands of crystal, beads, coral, bone, silver
  • Earthy browns {taupes, camels, ecrus},  atmospheric blues, pure whites, and touches of black
  • Fluffy plush rugs and pillows
  • Metallic accessories
  • Boho ombre & tie dyed linens 
  • Textural concrete & mud-/plaster-like walls
  • Floaty hanging chairs
  • Reedy rattan and rope accents
  • Organic shaped glass reminicent of water
  • Natural fibers:  cotton, silk, linen, wool
  • Relaxed, loose, slipcovered furnishings
  • Low profile beds and seating

For more on Laurie, check out her website.

March 15, 2009

Nesting

My friend Melanie just had this precious little girl named Lily...

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Melanie hinted that I do a post on nurseries and children's rooms.  So, I've scoured the web to come up with these lovely pictures to inspire...

neutral can be nice...

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but brights are really fun....

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being part Polish, love the larger than life matryoshka nesting dolls...

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i'm suprised they were able to pull this color off...

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soft pastels are comforting....

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stripes are good...

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like these cozy modern sleeping compartments (and the mod bedding)...

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paper lanterns will be nice for baby to look at...

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glam is good too...

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room for friends is most important...

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Pictures culled from Desire To Inspire, Domino, Ohdeedoh, Dwell, Ouef, and probably a few others that I'm forgetting.

February 01, 2009

Weekend Finds

I found some beautiful wood pieces this weekend that have been lovingly restored.

This table was made in Japan from American woods, but mysteriously also has a Hawaiian label on it. The lines are simple, but it has intricate inlay and a beautiful birds eye maple center square.  

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This delicate pattern is engraved along the outer edge of the table top...

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January 14, 2009

Oh la la....Priceless Interiors

Last night we watched the French movie Priceless starring Audrey Tatou, which was a fun, light-hearted flick with AMAZING styling (interiors + wardrobe).  It was filmed in luxury hotels in Nice, Cote d'Azur, Biarritz, and Monte Carlo.  The interiors were glitzy, yet sophisticated, with refreshing pops of vivid colors (red, aqua, and cobalt) on neutral backdrops, lots of patterns, and a mix of furniture styles.  I took pictures of the movie on my TV, so the quality is not so good.  I highly recommend you rent the movie if you like what you see here!

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October 22, 2008

Trip to High Point Market

Yesterday I attended the High Point Furniture Market and I had a blast!  It was so much fun seeing the latest and greatest designs on the market.  Here were some of my favorite finds....

The name is accurate...
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lots of antiques with an industrial feel...
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A creepy display of old lab and medical equipment in the basement of Bobo...
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Upstairs chic vignettes..
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Over at Four Hands, beautiful lighting from around the world...
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This little turquoise cabinet was speaking to me...
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My favorite booth was the Natural Curiosities booth which had gorgeous prints of vintage illustrations.  They're printed on thick creamy paper, given torn edges and hand worked/stained to have a vintage feel.  Pictures do not do this booth justice...
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The center of the Natural Curiosities booth was a long table of sparkling gems....
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Forgot the name of this booth, but they had gorgeous vintage mirror pieces, like these lights...
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And, this was part of Bungalow 5's fun display....
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I'm contemplating a quick trip back to the market on Sunday.  There is so much yet to be seen!

September 07, 2008

Frank Roop

There have been some changes in my life over the past few months (new job) which have put a damper on my blogging.  However, tonight, I have been too inspired by the work of Frank Roop to not blog about him.  You could say that Frank Roop has broken my blogging drought.  Let it rain Roop (I really love his last name too...so much fun to say!)...

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March 07, 2008

Le Corbusier Cloud Nine

Wow - I've never before seen a Le Corbusier chair that wasn't covered in leather.  I am loving this fresh fabric look from I.D. Chicago.  It's light, fluffy, and soft; reminiscent of a cloud.  It also has a more relaxed and casual vibe than the popular boxy leather ones.  This room is lovely in every way.  That tribal rug, the earthy tones, those huge windows...swoon.

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Vote for Bodhi!

The Humane Society is having a photo contest in conjunction with Spay Day USA 2008 and I've entered my precious Bodhi (who happens to be buzzing on my lap as I write this post).  Please cast your vote for him here (and hurry, as voting ends today).

I snapped this dramatic picture two days ago, while chatting on the phone at the same time.  There was light streaming in a window behind me which must have been just the right conditions to create this high-contrast shot.  Bodhi was peering out the window behind me with thoughts of birds and squirrels on his mind.

So, you may be wondering what kind of cat Bodhi is.  He's a Devon Rex and has a short and wavy lamb-like coat and a quirky personality.  Planet Devon is a great website dedicated to this breed.

Thanks for your vote!

Bodhi

March 04, 2008

Proximity Hotel

The April issue of Metropolitan Home arrived in my mailbox yesterday and it's their "Guide To Modern Green Design".  I was surprised to read a blurb about what could be America's greenest hotel, the Proximity Hotel, which happens to be a stone's throw away from me in Greensboro, NC (talk about proximity).  Metropolitan Home says "Proximity is striving for LEED Platinum status, which would make it America's greenest (indoor) spot to spend the night.  More than 70 sustainable ideas are at work, including rooftop solar panels, an elevator that generates energy for ascent on the descent and the use of geothermal energy for restaurant refrigeration.  From $199 per night." 
I had no idea this environmentally conscious and stylish boutique hotel existed just an hour away from me.  I will have to check it out in person sometime very soon.  Until then, here are some lovely pictures to enjoy from their website...
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March 02, 2008

Mesmerized by Morocco

This morning I was lost over what to blog about next.  Then, it hit me, it had to be about Morocco; a place that has recently captured my imagination. 

I guess it all started with the blog My Marrakesh, which I've been following for a few months.  It's written by Maryam, an American woman living in Morocco.  Maryam is charming, her writing is gritty and good, and her blog is beautiful.  You can watch a podcast of of her being interviewed by  some fellow bloggers here.  Maryam's blog is very personal and in it she talks about the guest house (inn) that she's building (along with her architect husband) amidst an olive grove, local shopping(she's a personal shopper among other things), and all kinds of art and design from Morocco.  Here are some examples of the beautiful imagery you will find on her blog...

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Then, last week, I was messing around on VRBO and stumbled upon this amazing little suite (pics below) in Fez, Morocco which is just $125-$150/night!  It's a two story antique royal suite from 1880.  The suite is encrusted with museum-quality carved plaster, original mosaic, and decorative painting.  There's a rooftop terrace and one room even has an intimate domed hammam bath.  They describe the space as quirky, authentic, and romantic.

I love this quote from the VRBO write-up "We will not repair the lovely webbed plaster where it has broken. We will not remove the tiny abandoned mud wasp’s nest from the sharp carved starburst of the Menzeh’s antique plaster. All of this is part of the baraka, or fortuitous blessing, of the Menzeh, which we have preserved as it was found, a jeweled secret place at the crown of the Fez Medina."  How poetic.  And, this is a perspective I've embraced with many of the vintage furnishings I've bought....the imperfections are part of the beauty.

There are many beautiful places to stay in Morocco on VRBO and you can find good travel information on Lonely Planet.
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But, look no farther than your mailbox for Moroccan influenced modern design.  It's evident everywhere...
From West Elm, Lanterns(on sale for $29.99) and headboard ($299-$399):
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Morocco Rug from CB2 ($299.00 - $499.00):
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Moroccan Wedding Cape from Viva Terra ($395):
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Marrakech bedding from Crate and Barrel ($495-$149.00)
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From RianRae , Moroccan Metal Side Tables ($890) and gorgeous Mother of Pearl Inlaid Mirror ($1,980)
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And, good finds are always on eBay for those that like to dig.  I like what this eBay store, Click2Egypt has...frames, lanterns, metalwork, and more.