2008 weblog awards

I have been quite sad with recent events, even depressed by these news. So I surfed for awhile and found that the 2008 weblog awards are on. You can vote till January 31st, so hurry. I did cast my vote, and I must say I was delighted to see some nice websites (plus some less than nice, but they don't count because I do not bother).

You may want to know that some familiar blogs are among the finalists.
In the Best Art or Craft weblog category there is Apartment Therapy, Angry Chicken of Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew which I have ordered and I am eagerly expecting, Not Martha (clever title, rather plain both in content and appearance, but a nice try) and Posie Gets Cozy.
I actually voted for Posie, and Iwould vote twice if I could. Alicia is generous, offering tips here and there. She writes beautifully, I love reading her posts. She never just throws things in. She has a rich soul and is not afraid to put it on paper. And the photography is beautiful, artful yet cozy. I love stopping by every day. Oh, and did I mention that my Christmas cards this year came from her shop? She is just great to do business with.

There is also Design Sponge in Best Designed weblog.
I was surprised to find that in best photography you can mostly find food blogs! My favorites are 101 cookbooks and Smitten Kitchen. Oh that key lime cheesecake recipe!
Food blogs by the way have an award of their own. My favorite is Gluten-free Girl, an old favorite and author of Gluten-Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back...And How You Can Too . But the discovery of The Pioneer Woman Cooks was a very pleasant surprise, so I had to vote for her. Step by step, photo by photo, you just have to visit this blog.
You can pick and choose by clicking here.

Fresh and happy home

This is home to the family of interior homeware company Rice, as published in the February issue of Living etc. I am eyeing this kind of lit du jour for my office. Ikea has one for 99 Euros and I can put one of our super comfy mattresses. People are usually shy with color and pattern when it comes to small places. I am all for color and pattern in small places, as long as they are tastefully combined. This guest room proves it.

Here is the family in their Danish home.

The kitchen units are from Ikea as is the tap. I have been looking for "shower" taps. They invariably cost about 500 Euros and upwards. This one from Ikea costs c.270Euros, which is half the price. It does look quite high going, though! I think I may opt for an olde English tap instead.

Not my cup of tea. Those people are not shy when it comes to using heirlooms. If you love it, I suppose...

This is the playroom and office. Difficult mix. It is a home office, of course, in which case it is better to have the kids playing around and checking on them.

Love the lampshades. They look like Rice plant workers to me!

And here is a photo of one of Rice's treasures. White with splashes of color. Beautiful bedspread!

(Photo from The Style Files)

Chic recycling

I am not into too much modern, let alone plastic, but this Cascade curtain by Michelle Brand, made from plastic water bottles is really impressive. Standing steadily on traditional floral and crochet motifs, ventures into reusing and recycling in an absolutely successful way.

Happy Yellows

Yellow. Self-centered? Egotistic? Or just warm and happy?

Naif pictures in simple identical frames.
(Image from Hidden in France)

1968 advertisement for Blow Chairs by De Pas, D'Urbino & Lomazzi for Zanotta. The peak of pop culture against a sulphur backgroound of a flowery fence.

Verner Panton for Vitra chair, Kartell table lamp and a beautiful vintage wallpaper. I call this reative stimulation.
(Images from BHMA deco magazine)

Custom Bath Mat

I have seen this on Marta and it looks like a good idea. Fairly straight forward, too.

For instructions click here.

Maison & Objet

Oh my! I have received my invitation for Maison & Objet Editeurs. Ah to be in Paris to see the new fabrics and trends...
I shall have to content myself with the next best thing: The showroom sends its dealer to showcase in my shop on the 31st.
Designers Guild, Jane Churchill, Ralph Lauren, who knows what beautiful new treasures he has for me! I'll make sure I take pictures and show you what I order for Spring-Summer 2008.

Color inspiration

As work on our home continues, I have been gathering some extra images of spaces that look like ours, sending positive messages to the skies as to the outcome of our indeavor.

Although colors in this room are on the green side, and our living room is going to be green and red, I like the painting over the sofa (we have a sofa in similar green).
The dining area is going to be blue and white. Our table is natural oak, but I am going to make slipcovers and pillows for the chairs that will have asimilar effect: blue+white+light wood.
(The blue and white Stark rug "creates continuity between kitchen and sitting room, and breaks up a large expanse of floor." )

My entrance will be in earthy red tones. However, I like the idea of a slim comode, mirror and flowers. I also like the runner in the stairs. I want something yellow in the stairs and this looks perfect.

(Urns under table, Hinson & Co. Lee Jofa lamps. Stark stair runner).

Cream, yellow and dark wood for the den.

With a touch of red, since sitting area and den are in open plan space.

(Bolsters on daybed from Charles H. Beckley. Pair of stools from West Elm. Striped chairs are Mitchell Gold through Mrs. Howard. The carpet is Saxony from David Hicks Hexagon House).

I have a dark brown console that will go behind the dining table.
(In a corner of the dining room, a white-painted Chinese-style console table by Whittaker sports a garden of hydrangeas in small silver vases. Turquoise on tinted linen wall fabric from Quadrille. White lantern on wall from Charles Edwards).
Hydrangeas are so elegant and classy!

Red, white and blue for the girls' room. It seems odd to everyoen who hears this, the architect, the paint people, but I think it looks fresh and classic at the same time, and different from the pink and purple, or orange and green color schemes that are all the rage here.

(White table and red chairs from Pottery Barn Kids. Bed linens from Leontine Linens. American flag print by Maureen Andrews for Posh Papier).

All images: House Beautiful. Read relevant article here.

Winter Sale 2008

By the Fire

Yesterday morning I stayed at home. The kids left for school, C left for the shop, hot toast in hand, croissant and apple in their bags. I made myself a cup of green tea and sat by the fire.

Susan Branch interview

I love the work of Susan Branch. I have read her books, dreamt with them, rather, hung her calendars like the All for One and One For All 2008 Family Plannerand admired her style. Original, much imitated, but inimitable.
You can find a link to her on my sidebar, if you haven't already bookmarked her web site.
She gave an interview to Cathy Scalise of Treasured Heirlooms. Whether you are an admirer or not (yet), click here to read what this charismatic lady has to say.

Stealing moments

I could not resist these beautiful photos.



How could I resist the lucidity of these colors? I could not.



A great display. A painter's eye.
(From cfmayer9).

It all started at Soule Mama. Great capture of light, great assemblage of everyday stuff.



Ode to the appreciation of the moment.

Bathroom inspiration

We are currently looking at fixtures for our new home's bathroom and powder room.
For the powder room we have used sunny yellow tiles and big slabs of grey/brown unpolished granite. I do not want it to look too ethnic, but the inspiration is oriental/moroccan.

Oh, I can almost feel the heat of the outside and the freshness of the shady shower...
A touch of opulence.

Simplicity at its best. (But why does it have to be expensive?)

This is my favorite piece. I want one of these, please!

From Damask. A big and ugly from the outside, but quite rare on the inside, shop in Thessaloniki,Greece.