Flower Power

I'm pretty sure I would have embraced this look if I grew up in the 60's. Peace, love, and happiness...who doesn't want that? 

Growing up in the 90's (a few decades late) I embraced a modern version of a flower child, either that or I was just a wannabe. I wore bell bottoms, big floral printed polyester shirts, platform shoes, and listened to the Beatles, The Doors, and Janis Joplin. I was obsessed with those "flower power" stickers and even painted them on the trim around my bedroom door (without asking of course)!

A picture was requested, so here it is...age 15.

Maybe this image better represents my current style (or how I feel)...why is it that flowers make people feel so good?

Volkswagen gets it! Even they know the affect flowers can have, so they've incorporated a bud vase into the design of the new Beetle. Yes, anyone can just stick a flower in their car, but I love how this was part of Volkswagen's design process.

And who doesn't want a bud vase next to their kitchen faucet? Okay...don't answer that, but I know I do. Yes, I could always place a single vase next to the faucet myself, but then the flowers would die, the vase would be rinsed, stored away and forgotten about. A beautiful built-in vase would look strange left empty, so I would make sure there was always a delicate little flower looking over my dirty dishes.

Belo faucet by Brizo

Floriano faucet by Brizo

 Or maybe it's just my love for Orchids...they make everything look a little nicer.

You may even find them in some of my designs...

BLUEBERRIES {superfood, super fresh}

I am on a health kick right now (well...more than usual) trying to eat only "super foods" or at least as much as I can. Blueberries, being one of them, are not only my breakfast this morning, but my design inspiration today. I may even be wearing a bit of blue as well...

 Blueberries are in season, so stop by your local farm stands and load up on vitamin C ...

The vibrant blue of these berries would look great in a relaxing bathroom retreat...

These Caribbean blue glass tiles create a refreshing environment for a refreshing shower...

For a more dramatic look in the bathroom use glass tiles such as Ann Sacks Aura collection. The colors and patterns are rich and based upon nature. 

Shown in Deep Blue Sea. 

Unexpected striped animal prints on the door pop against the bright blue wall, while the white rafters and skylights cast shadows on the wall as though the walls are striped too (designed by Ettore Sottsass, an Italian architect and designer of the late 20th century).

Black & white furniture with BLUE TRIM!!! Words cannot describe how much I love this living room! Well...maybe words will work. Although the striped sofa and chair reminds me of the movie Beetlejuice, the soft shag carpet over the rustic wood floor creates more of a playful elegance then a fun-house look. Black polka-dotted stencils creep along the base board and up the wall, and the blue window and ceiling trim adds an enjoyable touch of color.

 

This dining room is fabulous! What a great way to add some personality to a country home with bold colors and graphic art. Imagine the dinner parties in this dining room!

Add touches of blue to your furniture and not just the walls like the  

Nicolas Spot Table from Councill.

Last but not least, decorating with blue damask wallpaper is always a favorite. 

Recycled Pendants

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle; I've known no other way in my lifetime to discard of plastics, paper, metal, and glass. My parents taught my brothers and I the importance of recycling very early on. I was spoiled for seven years in Portland, Oregon where recycling comes natural to everyone, and the city makes it very easy to embrace this lifestyle. Restaurant's compost, electric cars are plugged into charging stations, and the public transportation options continue to grow. I lived in this clean, progressive city, oblivious to what was happening (or not happening) in the rest of the country. I knew it wasn't like this everywhere, but I at least thought recycling was just the way we (as a country) lived now. A two month stay in a suburb of Chicago opened my eyes to how much further we have to go. I found stacks of recycling bins in ally ways completely empty, and trash bins over flowing. No one recycled for blocks....miles...how much further?...I don't know. 

The Eastbank esplanade, Portland, OR

Sorry to get off track...what I wanted to talk about were these recycled pendant lights. Not only are they made from recycled materials, but the material is still recognizable...like these recycled traffic lights. 

Recycled traffic light covers are made into fabulous pendant light by Green Light Concepts in San Francisco, available in red, yellow, and green (obviously). Cities are upgrading their traffic lights to more energy efficient lighting technology, but in the meantime the old covers are headed to landfills. What a great way to RESCUE and reuse!

 How about a pendant made from aluminum pull tabs? 
The "Pop Pendant Light" by Mauricio Alfonso

Or the "Starlight" pendant by Eleek Inc.

I know this is 100% recycled aluminum, but is it a gas range burner? 

Mediterranean Digital Baroque

I absolutely love the "Mediterranean Digital Baroque" collection designed by Jaime Hayón for Hydrology in Chicago.

I'm very much into the white on white look these days. I love this high gloss white vanity, silhouette mirror, and gold plated sink. The sink basins are created in Bosa ceramic and then plated in 24k gold or platinum, or finished in yellow, black or white.

I'm not sure how those little legs are supporting this tub, but who cares! I would love to be soaking in that tub with fresh fruit and flowers at my fingertips.

Again, those little legs must be strong. This linen cabinet looks like something out of a fairytale. I see it coming to life at night when everyone is sleeping, and it dancing around the bathroom with it's furniture friends.

It wouldn't be complete without little accents like these wall hangers.

I think that sculpture in the corner is a towel rack.

A better view of that soaking tub allows us to see that those legs do have some help after all. The furniture pieces are available in both black and white.

http://www.hydrologychicago.com/home.aspx

The Karbon

Ok...so it's been over a year and a half since I've been introduced to the Karbon faucet by Kohler, and yes, I'm still slightly obsessed with it. Can a faucet be considered cute? Well, I think so! I walk past it every day in the showroom at work and I can't resist contorting it into another shape. 

The Karbon kitchen faucet in polished chrome by Kohler

The black and polished chrome faucet could be my favorite...could be.

 But it's hard to pick a favorite with all of these fabulous finishes!

Wall mount and vanity faucets are now available.  

 Although I would probably jump at the sight of this little creature, I can't help but think of the funny looking praying mantis when I see the Karbon faucet.

What does it look like to you?

Mellow Yellow

"I'm just mad about Saffron
Saffron's mad about me
I'm just mad about Saffron
She's just mad about me

They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow
(Quite rightly)
They call me mellow yellow..."

Ever since glancing over at my beloved yellow sofa & frizzy hair picture this morning, this song has been stuck in my head. Sorry for the pin holes in the picture, but she has followed me around for a couple of years now. I just can't let go! The fabric, the flowers, the dress...so gorgeous!

And yes...this is an example of what New England does to my hair in the Summer!

"They call me Mellow Yellow..."

To go along with this romantic "mellow yellow" theme are vintage glass knobs with yellow flowers on a restored dresser by Crystal Blackshaw of Chic Antique in Chicago. 

I've been inspired

It doesn't happen often, and it usually takes a little encouragement from friends, but I've decided to start and FINISH a painting. I'm not sure where I'm going with it, but here's a sneak peak...

Perhaps I was inspired by the new Bravo show...

http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art 

The Strange and Unusual

I love to make a statement and that's exactly what these light fixtures do. Pale, neutral walls and simple, clean lines create the perfect canvas for these wild pendant light sculptures.

Pendant lights by Jorge Pardo

http://www.jorgepardosculpture.com/

More pendants by Jorge Pardo

I like to call these the "Jellyfish Lights"

http://www.jorgepardosculpture.com/ 

On a much softer note...I love the sparking tree branch chandelier 

hanging delicately above the soft colors and fabrics of this dining room table.

(Source unknown)

 

Statements don't have to consist of one focal point...take this kitchen for instance. Not only is the transparent "drum-like" chandelier a statement, but the tiled floor, backsplash, the black cabinets, kitchen table, and the brightly painted walls play an important role of making this room speak louder then the average kitchen. (Source unknown)

Disco Fever Indeed

The moment I laid eyes on this shinny creation, I knew I was in love. I'm not much of a cook, so a large vent hood is probably not what I need in my life. What I need want is an attractive, sparkling fixture that makes me want to cook my veggie burgers and throw a dance party in my kitchen. The "Star" vent hood from Elica does just that. Modern technology and Hollywood glam...it gets me every time!

19" wide x 13" tall and composed of tiny glass prisms

The remote-controlled unit has a wand that extends down 3", a 350 cfm blower with three fan speeds and a single halogen lamp.

 http://www.elica.co.uk/ 

Bedtime

All I've been able to think about since I got out of bed this morning is getting back into it. It was pouring rain when I woke up, and it's pouring rain now. I just want to put on my over-sized sweats, climb back into bed with a cup of coffee glass of wine in hand, and snuggle up with my man.

 How relaxing...

I would have to push the beds together, but I just love the feel of this room. I can feel the ocean breeze coming through the open windows right now.

This shade of green is so romantic I can't even stand it! I had a room this color once and tacked my grandmothers scarves over the window as a curtain. I always felt like I was in some romantic attic hideout. This color will make an appearance in my next place.

This bedroom is so naughty, and so fabulous. I love the retro feel they have created without going over the top (although I'm just fine with over the top). Day or night, you know you'll be having fun in there. I just want to know what's to the left of the bed...

Let's have a picnic!

Ahhh...the Winchester Mandala Plate by Jill Fenichell. So colorful and beautiful...oh...and plastic! These plates make me want pack up a wicker basket full of wine, cheese, & chocolate, and run off to a sunny park with my girl friends for an afternoon. I guess this means I'm going to have to purchase a picnic basket immediately!

http://www.bongenre.com/index.html

I can't help but think of Missoni clothing when I see these colors and patterns. 

I've always had a thing for the 70's style and the "flame stitch." Maybe it's because it incorporates all of those wonderful colors into one great masterpiece.

Just when i think I am going through a "simple" and "neutral" design phase, I see these images and realize that's impossible. These colors are just too fabulous to live without! 

Now...if only I can get my hands on a Missoni couch.