Friday 18 April 2008

Sharing the beauty on the web

Today I'm gonna write about an issue I find quite annoying. People's avarice. What is it with the net and pictures?

You visit a site that you like. They publish some nice info and you get hooked. You visit again, you subscribe to their feed, and then one day you go and you cannot save their pictures. I am not talking only about blogs here. I am also talking about magazine websites and trade websites, too. One day you right- click and nothing happens either because they don't allow right click anymore, or because they have put their pics in Flash player.

It is obviously people's right to do so in their homepage, and they are more than welcome to protect their work. Look at Heather, for example, from Hello, my name is Heather. Heather and her husband take and publish some of the most beautiful photos I've seen on the web. She puts her name under them and she shares them with you and me. She shares in the beauty.

Look at this picture from Posie Gets Cozy. Isn't it just fantastic? The moment, the click, the light? There it is, up for grabs.
Or take my fellow Greek-American Anna-Maria Horner of the eponymous blog and fabric line.
I always make sure I save the pictures from each place using the site's name so that I may track them back...and know where to go for more!

So what is the point of preventing people from saving your pics? I already subscribe to say House Beautiful, but if they can't let me save their pics, I may not have the time to scan the mag, or I may just get fed up with the so called on-line community and stop visiting altogether.

Do people really think they are immortals who are going to save their pitiful little pictures for eternity? Go on, sign your pictures. I'll keep posting about them because I like them, and you should be proud of that. I am never gonna say they are mine, first because I don't want to, and second because it shows they are not! But if you aren't having a private blog and you are going to go public, you must learn to share the beauty. And your talents.

Wednesday 16 April 2008

Athens Architect's house

Back in December, when I hosted my very first giveaway here, one of the requests I received was to publish more pictures of Greek house interiors. I have also collected pictures of restaurant interiors that I was also asked to do, so I shall be publishing more of those, too.




Today I am posting photos of the flat that architect George Kokkinos-Goodman shares with his young family. He is the son of sculptor Irene Kokkinos. You may spot her work on the living room table.

The house is situated in a leafy Athenian suburb.

It is not a big house, a rather comfortable one, but it is quite typical of upper middle class deco.


(From Tachydromos (The Postman) magazine, March 2008)

FR: Maison d' architecte a Athenes.

Tuesday 15 April 2008

The House of Saridis

The klismos chair, adapted in many ways, materials and forms, is inspired by the Ancient Greek classic. Last summer, House Beautiful published an interesting article on the famous original and its many reproductions. Pride of place goes to the 1960s faithful copy made by Greek manufacturers Saridis.



The April 2008 issue of the Greek edition of House and Garden hosts the country retreat of the late Lefteri Saridis and his wife, Mika. Originally built in the 1930s as a hunting lodge, it remains classic and elegant, comfortable and at times daring. With spectacular views of the island of Euboea, it houses a variety of furniture from different decades and periods. It has always been an open house, hospitable to the famous, like the late Maria Kallas and Aristotle Onassis, and it continues to be very much alive thanks to Mrs. Saridis, her son and his family.









To read more about the klismos and its iconic manufacturer, you may visit the Saridis homepage.
FR: La chaise "klismos" reproduite selon des frescos Grecques Anciennes par la maison Saridis. Aussi des photos de la maison de campagne de la famille Saridis, pres d' Athenes.

Tricia Guild

Beautiful dreams come true!..





Tricia Guild's home in Tuscany. (House and Garden, Greece, April 2008).

Monday 14 April 2008

Designers Guild S/S 2008

The new collection of fabrics is at the shop right now, beautiful and reasonably priced, I must say. Designers Guild have managed to keep their prices between 40 and 70 Euros/m.
Here are some pics of their recent additions.

A pillow to dream on...

Something bold yet feminine for the study...

Who will seat here?

In the grand room.

Silently waiting...

for a touch of life

and love.

Friday 11 April 2008

House and Garden (En Francais)

Pour mes amies francophones, voici une explication sur le contenu de cet article.
Alors, dans l' edition Grecque de House and Garden pour le moi d' Avril, il y a un article sur l' un des proprietaires de la companie pour laquelle nous travaillons.
L' article parle du charactere ecologique de la companie et de son develpement en Europe et bientot aux Etats-Unis, a New York.
Il y a des photos de famille, apart les deux dames, la fille du proprietaire et de sa femme qui est hollandaise, tres gentille et avec un tres bon gout.
Il ya des photos du magazin central a Athenes, ainsi que de leur maison. On parle aussi des cadeaux que nous offrons a nos clients, notamment de l'huile d' olive bio et du sel naturel.
La companie produit des matelas et des lits, ainsi que des meubles de materiaux naturels.
Nous sommes contents d' etre associes avec une companie de philosophie et de produits ethiques.

Thursday 10 April 2008

We're on House and Garden!

The April issue of the Greek edition of House and Garden hosts an article on the owner of the company we represent (one of two brothers). The title reads "A wonderful man".

The article underlines the company's as well as the owners' personal commitment to ecology and the principles of sustainable development. There are shots of Paul and his sons. They are all a very sporty family.

One of his sons has played football with Ajax and Real Madrid, and he will be playing for Barcelona, where the family will relocate next season.
His Dutch wife is amazing. Brainstorming with her is such a pleasure! She and their daughter was not photographed for the article. But you have to take my word for it, she is a very nice person (great taste, too). My eldest daughter who has befriended their daughter says she is amazing. As for their baby, Mirjam and I were pregnant roughly at the same time, so little Tom and J are the same age.
This is a shot of their family house. Looks very much like one of our shops, really.
In our shops we offer our clients freshly squeezed orange juice, sesame snacks (pasteli) and dried figs. Whereas our customers receive with their purchase a bottle of organic olive oil and a jar of unrefined sea salt.
We really enjoy working for an ethical company and its visionary owners.

Tuesday 8 April 2008

New Look

I have just updated the blog's look. I like the way the colors co-ordinate. Now if I manage to complete and post my posts, too!...

Many thanks to Cute Blogs for the background. Definitively the most beautiful free backgrounds I've seen!

Thursday 3 April 2008

Spring Cleaning Tips II


Following on my previous post, Good Housekeeping offers some more tips on Spring Cleaning. These include a shop list, tips on cleaning the fridge fast, getting rid of clutter, even cleaning the computer. Click here to read the full article. If you are interested at clutter control, check also this very useful article. Most tips take 10 minutes to implement, like tidying up the family room during ad brakes. For a complete makeover you'll need 30 days. Not bad for a 10 min, OK, even make it 30 min effort!

I'm going to post this on the notice board and check one item out every time I pass through!

Wednesday 2 April 2008

Contact

Do you want to know more about a featured item? Are you looking for a hotel or planning your stay in NW Greece? Do you have questions about Greek products? Have you seen a Designers Guild fabric that you'd like me to source for you? Feel free to contact me, I'll be glad to assist you.

Advertising on relevant products and services is welcome. Please contact me to discuss your individual plans.

Irene@The Happy Turtle
happyturtledeco@gmail.com

About

Hello and welcome to The Happy Turtle, my on-line folder of inspiration on decoration and art.

Here you will find beautiful international interiors with an emphasis on Greek interiors and the work of Greek architects and designers.

After spending some enriching years in academic pursuits, in Italy and the UK, I came to terms with a long tradition of women in my family who dedicated their skills to sewing, embroidery and soft furnishings. Together with my husband we settled in NW Greece where we work for a European company making and trading in sustainable, eco and environmentally friendly furniture and bedlinen.
We undertake work on residential properties and boutique hotels, furnishing properties in mainland Greece and the Ionian islands for the past decade.

In The Happy Turtle I also share my fascination with fabrics, especially the Desingers Guild range that I carry and use in my shop, soon to be launced on line. I am a fan of easy living.
I favor a blend of traditional and minimal, Cath Kidston and anglophilia.

I often post about art, from museum exhibitions to the work of contemporary artists, books and magazines, as well as creativity tools that I find useful myself in releasing my own artistic and creative side.

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your stay.

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Tuesday 1 April 2008

Spring Cleaning Tips

It's that time of year again when we're ready to jumpstart into Spring,
and that includes Spring cleaning. Time to stop groaning and think about
where to start. There are a lot of small things you can do that can go a
long way to brightening up your home after a long Winter, and hopefully
these tips will help to motivate you!

Start small and go for the big wins first. You don't have to conquer the
world in one day, or clean your home for that matter. Make a list of what
you'd like to see done, then plan for an hour a day to work on one of the
items on your list...

Wash the floor mats to get rid of the grime from Winter boots and the spills
they've been collecting. It doesn't take long but it makes a big difference.
Check the wash water to see just how much dirt those mats have been harbouring!

Grab a pail and wash the kitchen floor and then do some spot
cleaning of the walls to get rid of handprints or smudges.

Pick an evening and clean the mirrors in your home. It won't take long,
but your mirrors will be shining when you're done.
Don't forget to also clean the tv and computer screens.

Wash the windows in the kitchen so you can see the buds coming
out on the trees when you're cooking. Then continue to the living room
windows if you have the time.

Pick a closet to sort through and tidy. If you finish before you expect,
you now have some bonus time!!!

Clean out the fridge and get rid of anything not quite edible, wiping
down the shelves as you go. Then take pleasure in filling it with
some of your favourite foods!

Want to spend some time outside enjoying the sunshine? Grab a
hose and an extendable squeegee and wash the windows outside.
You get clean windows and some fresh air.

Refresh your wood furniture and cupboards with some furniture
polish or other wood product. You'll get rid of some dust and keep
your furniture looking good.

Wash the blankets and throws on your bed and in the rest of your home.
Not only will the colours be brighter, but they will smell fresher, especially
if you're planning to hang them up outside to dry. Just make sure to
follow the cleaning instructions on each item!

Vacuum everywhere, including under the furniture and in the corners... getting
rid of the dust collecting in the carpet will not only make your home look
cleaner, it will also improve your health by getting rid of dust mites.

I think you get the idea...

Everytime you finish something on your list, take pride in crossing it out.
Spring cleaning doesn't have to be the dreaded chore it sounds like when
it's broken out into manageable pieces. Set achievable goals and you'll be
done in no time.
Now for the most important part, remember to reward yourself after each
milestone... grab some hot chocolate and go for a walk with your sweetie,
take a long hot bath in your freshly cleaned tub, or put up your feet and
watch a movie. Everything in moderation, including cleaning.

(Taken from decoratefor)



Aldo check Sarah Doyle's blog for patterns of "dust busters".




Martha Stuart has some helpful Time-Saving Tips for Spring-Cleaning, too, including a stain chart, and a special Room-by-Room organizing segment.


Happy Spring-Cleaning!

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