steel staircase…

Tags

black & white interiors, industrial

This one is so amazing…just had to share it.  Happy Friday…Enjoy!

image via bungalowclassic.com

cement tile…

Tags

CONCRETE, flooring, materials

I am having a very serious love affair with cement / concrete tile right now.  I am completely obsessed and in love with the graphic patterns, subtle and not so subtle color variations and the matte texture and hand.  I ordered some color samples from Granada Tile, and they are just gorgeous.  The depth of each color is just beautiful, and the feel of the tile is just amazing…I can picture bare feet on a warm day walking down a great tiled hallway in a fantastic modern Spanish home – the cool feel of the concrete tile, the stark yet graphic feel of the space…Ok, sorry – back down to earth…Anyway, here are some inspiration images and some tile pattern favorites I have found so far.  I absolutely LOVE the gray and white bold patterns, some of which are shown below, and have such admiration for the many projects that I have found and were done, seemingly without a bit of hesitation…I just love the graphic quality they give each space, and how many have such a timeless quality as well.  The tile can lean toward either a classic or modern style.  We have a very small guest bathroom that is in desperate need of being remodeled…might I be so bold to go for it??  I will keep you posted…Enjoy!

 

images via granada tile, cement tile shop, misc.

monsieur bleu…

Tags

banquettes, black & white interiors, europe, great seating

I really LOVE grey-greens.  Think olive trees, lambs ears, French lavender…love.  I also love chartreuse.  PMS 390…PMS 397…you know.  Well when I came across this post searching for tile – my newest obsession (more on that later)…I saw it and was in complete awe.  Then I saw it was another amazing project from one of my favorites Joseph Dirand.  Of course it is.  Monsieur Bleu at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.  A palette of black and white, with grey-greens, soft greys, chartreuse and a fantastic punctuation of gold!!…I mean come on…Look at this space!!  It takes a very special talent, and a very refined touch to pair those colors together with such elegance, subtlety, and vibrance at the same time.  The lighting fixtures are just fantastic…and look at that amazing stone on the banquette – he clearly pulled his palette from the coloring…just stunning.  Oh how I’d love to see the space at night, drinking a glass of champagne of course…enjoy.

images via of yatzer.com and yellowtrace.com

the most fabulous bathroom…

Tags

natural materials

I would imagine that many of you have by now seen these images out there in the design blog-isphere, but I was SO blown away by the design…truly one of my favorites to date, so I thought it warranted re-posting.  I absolutely LOVE the palette, mix of materials – both classic and modern, and the overall sense of the space…just gorgeous.  The cabinets are amazing.  The marble vanity / trough incredible.  Simple.  Uber elegant.  Gives me a whole new thought process as I begin concepts on our upcoming bathroom remodel.  Now if I only had about 100 more square feet and a Parisian balcony play with…

images via pinterest

let there be ( really great ) lighting…

Tags

LIGHTING

I have been a bad, BAD blogger.  No two ways about it.  I have been busy, distracted and focused on other things…namely, beginning design concepts for our upcoming remodel.  Awesome and terrifying at the same time ( why is it so much easier to design for a client than it is for yourself??? ).  One of the biggest hurdles has been the selection of lighting.  I need bedroom, bathroom and office lighting.  Ugh.  And given that I tend to like simple, clean spaces, the lighting will be absolutely critical.  It’s like the perfect accessory to go with that little black dress…the detail(s) that is needed to really finish the spaces off well.  It doesn’t help that I really, really love lighting – so narrowing down the fixtures will be a big challenge for me.  I believe that lighting is one of the most critical elements of interior design.  The design of the lighting fixture is, in itself – absolutely critical and can be very tough to narrow down given all the options out there, but the quality of light it produces is just as critical.  There is also the ( damn ) lighting code…and of course there is the cost.  Apparently every fixture I have honed in on is at the higher end of the price spectrum…go figure.  I thought I would share a few of the fixtures I have on my ‘wish list’ so far.  The styles may seem quite varied, but I love so many styles…which only adds to the thrill (?) of the hunt.  Enjoy!

Plug Lighting

Alison Berger

Alison Berger

Jonathan Browning

Lightology

Plug Lighting

Christoper Boots

Christopher Boots

Ochre

Arteriors

Moooi

our kitchen is up…

Tags

black & white interiors, flooring, kitchens, natural materials

Our kitchen was posted on Remodelista this morning…take a look!

dream palette…

Tags

black & white interiors, natural materials

Timing is everything.  To be honest, I have been in a bit of a creative rut lately – maybe because summer is coming to and end…and though I love the fall, I dont think I am quite ready to say goodby to summer just yet.  So just when this uninspired feeling was really starting to get to me ( you might note the lack of posts from me in quite awhile ) I get an Est email in my mailbox this morning and this space got me going again!  This is my absolutely favorite palette – predominantly white, with touches of black, gray and neutral – and all done using raw and/or natural materials…it makes me happy just looking at it!!  It doesn’t hurt that the architecture is modern, clean and simple, and that the location is to die for!  I love the mixture of textures and styles; modern mixed with ethnic, natural, traditional, classic and even tribal…all pulled together magically…the overall feeling is just wonderful.  Just look at those amazing black suede pillows on the sofa…and what looks to be the trunk of a eucalyptus tree…the colors and texture of that trunk are just beautiful – a piece of art in itself!  Enjoy!!

images via Est & Les Interieurs

stone and white…

Tags

natural materials, WHITE upholstery

Most of the time, I believe less is more.  I love simple, bold statements, whether it be with a large signature furniture piece in a room, or one shot of a strong color in an otherwise neutral palette, or something like this project…the VERY confident use of only 2 – 3 materials and /or colors (or lack of!).  You may have already seen this rental vacation home in Treia Italy – Casa Olive, by Swiss Architects Wespi De Meuron, but I felt it was SO well done – just phenomenal in my opinion, that it was worth sharing again.  I just LOVE the smooth white walls, floors and ceilings with the natural, textural stone…it’s so serene.  The juxtaposition of the stark modern pool with the historical architecture…Perfection.  I think that a 3+ week stay there would be just about perfect!!  Enjoy!

images by Hannes Henz

island love…

Tags

CONCRETE, industrial, windows

Here is another incredible project that my husband found for me.  I love the openness of the space…and look at that – another sunken living room!!  I love the use of commercial glazing with wings to keep the glazing free of any hardware so there is little obstruction to the amazing views…just beautiful.  And such an interesting way to do the roofing…using tension cables to attach the roofs to the ground.  There is a peek of a raised pool in the background and solar panels…Very nicely done.  Someday….

images via Fearon Hay Architecture

These are a few of my favorite things…

Tags

CONCRETE, GREAT DOORS!, industrial, natural materials

…Steel, concrete, wood, limestone and WHITE!  The door is fantastic! And the limestone floors are just incredible…I can only imagine how they would feel walking barefoot on a hot summer day!  The mossy-stone-water-feature-niche-area is amazing.  Such a great contrast between the natural stone and the smooth concrete…and the stone vessels in the bathrooms are such an incredible touch.  It’s such a clean, open modern space, but the natural elements, textures and materials give it such soul!  And I especially love the limited, yet strategic use of blues throughout the various spaces…It doesn’t hurt that it is in Spain either…Enjoy!

images via Remodelista

Ahhh Mykonos…

Tags

black & white interiors, flooring, LIGHTING, natural materials

I have a love affair with Greece. It could be the people, it could be the food, it could be the clear blue waters, warm dry breezes and happy relaxed lifestyle…but my best guess is because its (mostly) a country washed in white.  Check out this retail boutique on Mykonos…I am in love with those lighting fixtures – so carefully done and subtly placed – the one at the entry is just gorgeous!  I love the iron detailing on the display pieces, the material choices & of course, the palette. The white washed exposed stone is amazing…This project was done with such restraint. The cultural architectural touches mixed with the modern edge is just beautiful.  Απολαύστε!

images via Contemporist

someday a barn: part 2…

Tags

black & white interiors, natural materials, windows

Remember how I mentioned that my adorable husband often finds me inspirational swipe that he knows I will just love – especially a great modern or industrial farmhouse or barn?  Well he has done it again ( apparently I have trained him well! ) …Look at this amazing ‘modern barn’ from Architect Judith Benzer.  It does not require much description, instead it suggests total praise for such beautiful and subtle restraint.  The perfectly clean and simple structural lines, the limited use of material(s), ever-so-slight and absolutely brilliant detailing, and of course – spectacular environment…Just incredible.

Stunning.

Images via ilikearchitecture.

little hut…

Tags

black & white interiors, industrial, natural materials

I get dozens of great design magazines each month – I’m kind of a junkie that way.  I have piles of them that I am just waiting to go through…In particular, waiting for the perfect warm afternoon to sit on the patio, under the grapevines with a glass of wine with time to slowly read though every one – or at least 2 or 3!  When my Sunset Magazine showed up the other day – low and behold…there was an amazing destination hotel profiled that really caught my eye.  Not Architectural Digest, not Cote Est, or Elle Decor or Interior Design Magazine…but Sunset Magazine.  Check this out…what wonderfully clean, simple architecture – with a little nod to Neutra, that subtly ( the best part! ) tucks into the landscape…the interiors are wonderfully clean ( white! ) and simple as well.  What more do you need when you are floating above the incredible valley and landscape below?  What a view!  So, so cool!  And with further exploration, I find that they are part of Groupo Habita ( of course they are! ) – who also own a few other favorite hotels of mine…one favorite is Distrito Capito in San Diego.  I have been a huge fan of their hotel design for so long…I love the minimal, industrial, sort of raw feeling of the spaces.  How fun it would be to design for a group that does not hold back, or seem to have rules…Just love.

Images via designboom

someday, a barn…

Tags

natural materials

I have long had a dream to live in a barn.  And by that, I mean finding an amazing old barn and fixing it up – into a ‘modern’ barn.  I have had the entire thing designed in my head forever, down to the smallest of details.  It will of course be situated next to a beautiful creek or stream of some sort that will flow under the elevated breeze-way that connects the adjacent design studio and guest house.  It will have amazing views across empty fields and rolling hills, and room for an incredible vegetable garden and dozens of fruit trees.  There will be a large mud room, complete with dog shower and tub…it will have heated concrete floors, a sunken living room with huge wall to wall cushions for lounging…walls that completely open up so there is NO line between inside and out…a gourmet kitchen with a 14′ table for long dinners with good friends, an indoor-outdoor pizza oven that is accessed from the kitchen, as well as from the deck adjacent to the black-bottom beach-entry pool.  Ah yes, I do have the entire thing designed in my head, but for now, I will just continue to search for and file away other great ideas so that when the day comes to start gutting (: ) ),  I will be ready!!  Enjoy!

grow…

I have been missing in action lately – I know.  But it’s ‘that’ time of year again…one of my favorites!  It’s planting time so we have been busy!!  We have a pretty small yard, but made the conscious decision that if we were going to spend time and energy and water (!) on our yard, then it better ‘give back’…so nearly everything in our yard is edible.  It doesn’t hurt that we live in an amazingly perfect place to grow – Northern California with its’ wet winters, hot summers and clean, fresh air!  My adorable and very talented photographer husband took a few snaps from our garden the other morning, during a light spring rain…the tone of the light – subtle gray w/ the green hills reflecting around…just beautiful.  Here are a few of the shots he took…it’s still early, so everything is still young and mostly green – but I will share more later on this summer when things really get going…Hope you are out digging in the dirt…Enjoy!

My beautiful grapes!  It seemed like they were a little slow to start up again this year, but once they did…there is no stopping them now!!celery…it made it through winter here …its amazing!potatoes…lemon balm…Spinach!…yes, spinach already!!  I bought little ‘tents’ this year so that I could start my spinach during winter…I don’t know why it took me so long to figure that one out, but now we will have spinach year round!!Arugula! – It came up with my tulips and made it through winter!

My agaves…my babies…though not edible of course…just love them!Strawberries…This is the little orange tree ‘that could’!…it’s only about 4′ right now…but has about 1000 blooms on it!  If each bloom becomes an orange…oh boy!!

My very last batch of tulips…

Baby blackberries…

Cherry blossoms…(pie cherries!)

Our ‘no birds allowed to eat the seeds’ pin-wheels!

Another shot of my beautiful agave!

Huge spinach!

Baby blueberries!!

zelen…

If you are in San Francisco you must stop by Zelen…a wonderful new shop on Sutter (as seen in C Magazine).  Trinkets and treasures, garden ornaments & pottery by Inner Gardens of LA, and lots of wonderful finds by the talented owner Dan Zelen.  Dan is a friend of a friend who was in town, so we stopped in to see what he has done so far to the terrific new space…while he has only been open for a few weeks, he has already gathered some wonderful things…and take a look at the store front – not your usual SF architecture to be sure!  If you are in the neighborhood, make sure you stop into Zelen to see what Dan has been up too!

image via Steph Dewey for C Magazine

the gabion wall…

Tags

industrial, natural materials

I LOVE gabion walls.

I don’t think you need to say much about a gabion wall because the simplicity, structure, power and just the essence of it speaks for itself.  The nature of the material IS the color and texture and pattern…it is what it is…and in my opinion – just perfect.  I have been wanting to go visit the Dominus Winery forever!  The winery is an incredible gabion building (!) by Herzog & De Meuron.  It was built to integrate into the landscape, almost disappearing, allowing the winery to be what it should be – most important.  Using basalt rocks as the buildings’ skin allows natural light to filter in the entire building (beautifully!), while keeping it naturally insulated, and especially cool in the extreme summer heat of the Napa Valley.

We had friends visiting us this weekend, one who also happens to be a landscape designer and fan of gabions, so it seemed the perfect opportunity to go visit the winery up in Yountville.  It was a beautiful Spring day so we headed up to the Napa Valley for lunch and some architectural inspiration… We pulled into the winery and low and behold – a (very) small sign posted just to the side of the large white entrance gate said…’No Tastings.  No Tours”…What??  A winery that does not do tastings or tours??  A building SO incredible that does not allow tours??  Needless to say we were devastated.  I have been doing some research since then, determined to get in to see the building, and have found that they do allow occasional private architectural tours, so I will be on a personal mission to get in to see it some day!!  I will of course keep you posted on that, but in the mean time, here are some wonderful found images of the winery.  Enjoy…

Images via Architectural Week, Dezeen, Arch|MYC Studio, Dominus Estate

less is more…

Tags

windows

Perfect.

my love of white…

My husband is great about sending me wonderful things he finds on-line:  beautiful interior swipe, interesting architecture, great product or package design, interesting or thought-provoking videos… (and of course, great animal images!)

This is one near and dear to my heart…I just loved it so I had to re-post it.  I hope you enjoy the beautiful simplicity of it.

brandspirit

the PERFECT M&M!

searching for the perfect outdoor lounge chair…

Tags

great seating

We are somewhere in the middle of re-doing our courtyard, and one of the fun parts of all the hard labor is to start daydreaming about what sort of furniture we will get for it.  It really is more of an outdoor room than a yard, because it’s the first ‘room’ you walk into at our house, and our front gate is really more of a front door.  It’s not a large space, but a perfect place for 2 great lounge chairs and small coffee table – it’s the perfect spot for a late afternoon drink, so comfort is of the utmost necessity…uh, and of course, so is the design!  I have been totally addicted to ‘open’ or woven outdoor furniture lately, but wondering how comfortable it will be.  I love the sculptural aspect of some of the pieces, as well as the lightweight feeling they give, especially when done in iron or metal.  But I am also drawn to a classic solid piece of teak – clean and simple and architectural.  Here are a few of my favorites and some new pieces I have found during my search…What do you think?

antonino sciortino

Love.

kenneth cobonpue

Expormim

Expormim

Expormim

Modernica

Lievore Altherr Molina

Paola Lenti

Restoration Hardware (go figure!)

Missoni

And I still absolutely love a great simple, boxy, solid teak chair…picture these weathered to a beautiful pale gray…you can’t go wrong with something like these timeless pieces.  I have been in love with this Sutherland chair forever…

Sutherland

Danao

eva menz…

Tags

LIGHTING

For some reason Eva Menz popped into my head yesterday…probably seeing something that reminded me of her work.  I absolutely love her lighting ‘sculptures’ and her installations.  I would love the chance to see one in person – to get a sense of the scale and detail.  I thought since I was enjoying a refresher of her work, and some of you may not know her, I would post some of her pieces…Please visit her site to see even more of her amazing work and be sure to look for the behind-the-scene shots of how she and her team create these amazing pieces…Enjoy!

black exteriors…

Tags

black paint

Here we go again.

It’s paint selection time again, but this time for our own house.  We are still in the process of redoing our front courtyard, which the rain (finally!!) has delayed a bit,  but we (I) have been wanting (dying) to update our exterior paint color(s) as well.  One of the two current colors on our house has been making me crazy for a long, long time.  And it always seems like once you start a new project, others that may have been lower on ‘the list’, suddenly become more important or integral to the other project you are doing!  That being said, I have started the search for the perfect exterior paint colors – or the black and the gray to be exact.  O.k.  I’ll admit it.  I want a black house.  Is that weird?  Every time I see a good black house, I just love the sophistication and boldness, but also how it kind of ‘sits back’.  Black makes me calm for some reason.  And happy.  Our house is mid-century modern, so its kind of a natural palette for the architecture anyway.  But which black and / or which gray??  Blacks and grays are so, SO specific…they can go very blue, very green, very red – or even purple – which I do not want.  I am looking for a very neutral, rich, ever-so-slightly warm-ish black and the perfect dark gray to go with it.  I will probably paint a few more swatches and then finally end up just mixing my own custom color and have it matched…Let the insanity begin…Keep you posted!

via HB Color app

via restorationhardware.com

Restoration Hardware also has a new color not shown on their site. It’s called Obsidian and it’s a gorgeous very black-brown…Flint (the dark swatch above) is great as well…a serious contender.

via Dwell

I have been saving this image for a few years now.  I love the black, white and concrete palette – simple and clean.

via Remodelista.com

via Remodelista.com

via Dwell

thoughtful ornament…

Tags

industrial

O.k…how awesome are these?

In honor of the continued work on our courtyard re-do, and the loads and loads, and loads of gravel we have dug so far and will dig even more today, I thought I would post these amazing pieces by Cal Lane!  I absolutely love ideas that are so simple.

Love.

I would honestly have one of these hanging on my wall!

image via http://www.callane.com

Joseph Dirand…

Tags

black & white interiors

During my obsessive and relentless search through design blogs, interior and architecture sites, and all the other vast options for design inspiration and information, I came across a name that I didn’t immediately recognize, yet have known and loved his work for years!  Joseph Dirand is a French Architect and designer.  I thought I would post a few of my favorites from his residential and hotel work for those of you who don’t know him or just haven’t seen for a while.  I think his attention to detail is incredible and his work is absolutely stunning…Enjoy!

Silver leaf built-in book shelves...VERY bold move!

Look at those floors and the wall...amazing!

Gorgeous chevron floors!

Hotel Habita Monterrey Mexico

Love.

Incredible! Absolutly LOVE the classic vs. ultra modern...

All photos via http://www.josephdirand.com

the outdoor room…

We are in the process of redesigning our courtyard.  We had to remove 3 plum trees that were very old, diseased, and had not been well cared for by the previous owners.  This necessity ( and hard, hard labor ) has created an opportunity to redesign the entire space, which is really an outdoor room.  We have long thought to replace the plums with olive trees.  And as much as I have loved having the blossoms in the spring and the benefit of fresh plums, they were very messy and problematic trees for this particular location.  We will of course continue to use gravel because it is water-wise and very dog friendly ( !! ), and I will probably take some of my beautiful agave out of their pots and put them in the ground, as they will finally have a proper place to live…and I would possibly like to add a water feature…its now or never!

I have been looking through my garden and yard inspiration files, so as usual, I thought I would share a few of the ones I have pulled as details and ideas for the new design, as well as ones that are just some all-time favorites.

if only...

via garden design magazine

love, love, love the agave

I absolutely love this first water feature!  Our courtyard is a very rectangular space, and I would love to incorporate a long water feature of some sort.

via dezeen

via gardendesignmagazine.com

via garden design magazine

I have loved this niche bench for a very long time…it is such smart and simple design!!  I have found it in multiple publications and varying shots, but this shows the entire space and it’s just so great…so serene…It’s in South Africa…and here is the view from the bench…

Nice.

via seth stein architect

another amazing palette…

Tags

natural materials, scandinavian design

…from the same issue of Est Magazine.

I have been following Tine K Home for some time now (see my ‘dreamy office‘ post from awhile back).   I absolutely love, love, LOVE this palette – her mix of neutrals, the collection of pieces and natural materials in the light-flooded all-white home.  It’s such an incredible space!!  It makes me want to paint my floors all white (Hmmm….weekend project??).  Her on-line collections have the same sensibilities that you see here in her home – check them out at the link above…love Scandinavian design…Just gorgeous!

a slightly different perspective of the 'dreamy office'

really...what more do you need?

all photos via Est

see THIS is why I love Piet Boon…

Tags

CONCRETE, kitchens, windows

This is a shot from the latest issue of one of my new favorites –  Est Magazine – out of Australia…on the latest work of one of my favorite designers, Piet Boon.  His use of materials and that palette…there is just something about how he creates spaces, along with his wife Karin, that makes them feel fresh and new, but comfortable and very familiar at the same time.  Hope you enjoy!!

via Est

rainy-day day-dreaming…

Tags

natural materials, WHITE upholstery

Standing in line at the grocery store on a rainy Sunday, my husband hands me the Elle Decor Special Edition and says’ Do you have this one?… My answer?  ‘ oh my god – I love that!…look at that room!! ‘   – Apparently I do not have that one yet.  Just a little day dream…I am imagining my feet digging through the warm sand (yes, heated floors below the sand!) in that simple spare room, relaxing on those deep, crisp ever-so-white sofas (those look an awful lot like the Gervasoni Ghost sofas I am so in love with!) with my morning coffee or afternoon cocktail, on a quick trip to Portugal…sure, why not!  I thought I’d share this one in case you haven’t seen it yet, and need a little get-away too!…Mmmmm...Enjoy!

all photos via elledecor.com

architectural inspiration…

Perfect.

Click here to see it all…

Photos: John Gollings for Arch Daily

simple architecture…

Perfect.

via Remodelista

awesome kitchen…

Tags

CONCRETE, flooring, kitchens

Walls, floor, doors, palette…Perfect.

concrete…

Tags

CONCRETE, industrial, natural materials

I love concrete.  I love it polished, rough, broken, board formed, in blocks, formal, industrial, modern…I just love concrete.  And there is nothing like a concrete wall!  I have been researching concrete block for a clients’ fireplace refacing, which will most likely be concrete block in a very long narrow mid-century modern style.  Since I was going through my files, I figured I would put up a few of my favorites, as well as some of the newer images that I found while doing my research.  Enjoy!

via Sunset Magazine

via Virginia Macdonald

simple beauty…

On the eve of the New Year, a photo story by Russian artist Leonid Tishkov and photographer Boris Bendikov…simply beautiful.  Cheers everyone!

Private Moon

the chevron…or the herringbone…

Tags

flooring, natural materials

I love, love, LOVE chevron and herringbone floors.  They have such a wonderful graphic presence and when done with an amazing wood species in the right space, they can be the most incredible floors...and the best part is that they can easily can go either classic or modern!  They make such a phenomenal statement – I think if I had them I wouldn’t want to put anything else in the space!!  There is such a subtle difference between the two patterns, I wonder which I would choose if I ever had the right space (and $$$) to install them.  My guess is that I would probably go for chevron because it has slightly bolder cleaner lines overall, but the herringbone is so classic and beautiful…I’m sure it would be a huge struggle to decide.  Here are just a few great images of each pattern from my files…Enjoy!

via B&B Italia

Ok...Three words: TO DIE FOR!!! (via parquest de tradition)

via

via Marie Claire

via Ditte Isager

loooove in black!

less is more…

Perfect.

holiday wreaths…

Tags

natural materials

I have been really getting into the holiday spirit this season, and for some reason, I have been obsessing over great holiday wreaths!  And as you may or may not have guessed yet, I am not a huge fan of too much ( or any for that matter ) color, and I SO want to make my own, but trying to narrow down the design is, well, a little hard for someone like me.  I will probably spend so much time thinking about the perfect wreath, that the holidays will be over and it will become a Spring project!  In the mean time, here are three that I have filed away as inspiration.  I love the neutral color palette & materials, but mostly the sheer simplicity of each of them…Cheers!

Via http://www.rivieramaisonshop.nl

Via http://www.sweetpaul.typepad.com

jerome abel seguin…

Tags

CONCRETE, industrial, natural materials

Among all the things that flow in and out of my brain on a daily basis, certain images from my digital library will occasionally just pop into my head – and for no reason that I have come up with at all.  I have folders upon folders of various categories of design filed away; one of my favorites being the ‘DESIGNERS / ARCHITECTS’ folder…For whatever reason, this mornings’ ‘flash’ was of Jerome Abel Seguin, a French designer that I love.  Take a look at his home in Bali…the palette is phenomenal, the mix of materials are just incredible ( and simply perfect in my opinion ) and touches of what I assume are some of his art and furniture pieces along with some local cultural artifacts.  I just love the way the light plays on and with the structure and materials and bounces around the spaces…pure heaven.

All images via Interior Design Magazine 2010

And one of his newer art pieces as well as one of my long-time favorites…

Via http://www.jeromeabelseguin.com

white paint…

It’s paint selection time for my residential remodel project and I am a little crazy-obsessed with what some people casually refer to as ‘white paint’!  There are a million shades of white paint…and having gone through the dozens of swatches that I have pulled from various paint distributors spread out across my work table, I finally have narrowed down the selections for the client to about 10 – which will get narrowed down again for samples to paint on her walls so that she can live with them for a while in the space.  Whites are so subtle and subjective it is an incredible task to select the perfect white.  I tend to use cooler whites in my own home, because if I am ‘going white’ I like it to be crisp and clean, but the client for this particular project generally likes warmer tones.  The flooring we are going with is a mid range wood floor, which is warm but with gray overtones, and though she says she is ready to break out of her comfort zone, I don’t want to choose a white that she won’t enjoy long-term.  The room also has large windows on 3 sides, which casts a lot of green light into the space.  We decided on a general palette at the beginning of the design process, which includes whites, pale, pale ever-so-slightly-dusty-bluish grays, tan or wood tones and touches of black.  We are using a decent amount of black details throughout the kitchen ( though officially opted out of going with the black fridge ) which now opens up to the living room, or what I am calling the ‘Great Room’.  The style we are going for is modern farmhouse, and given the overall palette so far, a (ever so) slightly grayish white should work…now to find the perfect one…

photo via so|sf

light…

Tags

LIGHTING

Ok. Has anyone seen the December Elle Decor cover?  Is that Jean de Merry fixture not totally fantastic?!?!!  I have had my eye on that fixture for a few years now, and especially love it in the blackened finish.  ( continuing on my latest obsession for black iron and steel ) I first saw it in a design showroom at the SFDC and have been coveting it ever since.  I have now seen it featured a few times in design mags and the recent cover of Elle Decor just brought it back to front of mind.  So on a lighting note, I thought I would post of few of my favorites from my files.  I love all types of lighting styles…from the decadent chandelier to the spare, single light bulb…

Jean de Merry light fixture

– older reference. sorry for not having the image info.

Ocher Arctic Pear chandelier...I have so loved this for some time now!

this is a little beyond my style, but it totally rocks!

iron & steel frame windows…

Tags

industrial, windows

I have been obsessing over iron and/or steel frame windows lately…Our house has an enclosed patio, done by the previous owner.  It’s one of the reasons we bought the house, because I loved the idea of having my office be part of the main living space instead of in a little room off somewhere.  The room has glass on 2 sides, one to the inside – adjacent to the living room, and one to a small side patio area.  It’s wonderful, because I get light from both sides, but the window wall to the outside are those crappy cheap metal frames – what I affectionately refer to as ‘winnebago’ windows, that I want to tear out daily!!  They desperately need to be replaced, and I have been dreaming of replacing both sides with black steel frame windows (which would also help to satisfy my dream of living in a warehouse loft someday), but I know it will cost a fortune!  It would be an amazing addition to our modern home, but would it be worth the cost even if we could afford it?  My heart says hell yes, of course!  But my head says, uh, well, no…sadly.  What’s a girl to do??  Has anyone gone with iron or steel frame windows?? Was it worth it…are they amazing??

via Remodelista / Bliss North America

via remodelista

via Dedon

via Atlanta Homes

Giving thanks…

Happy Thanksgiving to all…

potatoes courtesy of our vegetable garden. photo by so|sf.

the black refrigerator…

Tags

black & white interiors, kitchens

I woke up thinking about black refrigerators.  Weird?  Perhaps, but I am working out some of the details of my clients remodel and we were discussing the possibility of ‘going black’ with the fridge…thus the early morning subject matter.  I love the idea.  But will it show every little fingerprint and puppy-dog-nose smudge?  We are doing a black range hood and industrial black island pendants.  Would the fridge be too much?  It’s so damn sexy…!!  This is a ‘modern farmhouse’ design…and it could be perfect or just slightly too much.  I am right on the fence, so will have to do a little visual palette to see it in action.  I will keep you posted on the outcome.  Maybe I will just get her a little b/w goat and that will solve everything!  I’m sure the kids will love it!

- Samsung French door fridge by Sears

…Since I was talking black and white this morning, I just couldn’t help myself and thought I would throw in a few newbies that I spotted…Enjoy!

- via Pinterest

- via pinterest

- via B&B Italia

- via imgfave

in awe of Piet Boon…

Tags

flooring, natural materials

Piet Boon is one of my all time favorite designers.  I have collected examples of his work over time and was thinking about him today and thought I would share some of my favorite inspirational images from my file.  I love his clean lines, minimal neutral palette, and his modern design esthetic with an underlying touch of classical.  He always does incredible flooring too – check out some of the examples below.  His work, to me, has the perfect balance of contrasting natural materials and I am in awe of the amazingly simple and elegant symmetry throughout his work.  Enjoy…

All images property of Piet Boon.

the grayt white decision…

Tags

sofas

The decision has been made!  The new sofa will not be in white, but in a wonderful medium warm gray!  After months (and months) of anguish and swatches and upholstery quotes…and well, lots of stress – the final decision is a gray sofa.  BUT!!  Yes, BUT, since the new sofa will be a slip-covered sofa, I have the option to have a white sofa as well!! (see my earlier post about the great white sofa debate)  I can have 2 sofas in one!! Sheer genius!  I can now have the gray sofa for the cats and dogs and cocktails and movie-night snacks days…and I can have a white one for the no-one-will-really-be-using-the-sofa-so-it-can-be-beautiful-and-pure-white-right-now days too…Ahhh, total design relief!  I opted not to go custom, but to go with a stock sofa as a temporary fix and focus on the master bedroom and bathroom (hopefully soon) remodel.  I just couldn’t stand the thought of spending a fortune on a sofa that I wasn’t even sure I’d love once it showed up, as well as the cats, cocktails and such…so problem solved!  Now if I can just wait until the January delivery!!

fresh white…

Tags

kitchens

I have been working all day on a client’s kitchen remodel design (well not so much the actual design as much as the ‘production’ of the design). Today was lighting selection day, and since we are doing a modern farmhouse theme – flipped inside out – alot of the lighting fixtures we selected are barn style with a little industrial thrown in for good measure!  Now my eyes are just about done for the day, but I thought since I am way over due for a posting I would throw out a little daily dose of white in the kitchen category…To me this kitchen has just the right amount of eclectic and contrasting materials…stone, concrete, wood, metal, and of course…a touch of glam!  It’s modern, industrial, rustic and very chic all at the same time.  For those of you who do not know of one of my favorite new on-line magazines…Take a look at EST from Australia –  it’s a great source for inspiration!  Enjoy!!

less is more…

Perfect…

via Veranda

Día de los Muertos…

Just a few pieces of incredible art in honor of Day of the Dead…enjoy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead

– via http://www.mysticvoodoo.com

– via www.drymounted.com

– via http://www.dreamstime.com

– via theprittefulpalette

– via hatefulss on deviantART

– via piccsy.com/2011/04/day-of-the-dead

– via http://www.shopthaneeya.com

Mmmmm black…

Tags

black & white interiors, black paint

I am a huge fan of the use of black in interiors ( and exteriors ) and in honor of Halloween ( THE best holiday of them all, by the way ) and my newly painted finger nails, I thought I would post just a few of my favorite black inspiration images that I have collected over time…Our bedroom is painted entirely in Ben Moore ‘Black Top’ – it is a very neutral black – and we just love it…don’t be afraid to really embrace black, always best with a splash of white of course – its calming and elegant, yet bold and can be very, very sexy…it’s totally worth it!!

Boo!!

incredible...

via designismymuse

elegant and not cold at all...

come on...look at the chair and rug and that table...total love...

the neutral chevron floors are perfect with the black and white...

black without being too serious...such a great space...

I just love the mix of styles and materials and the palette...Yummm...

phenomenal kitchen...

again, incredible mix of styles and materials...the palette is gorgeous...just love this space...

I have to apologize again for not knowing where most of these came from.

dreaming of…

… coconut cake…today is my birthday and if I could have any cake in the world today…it would be coconut cake!  Enjoy!

via http://www.marthastewart.com

via http://www.myrecipes.com

via http://www.bakeorbreak.com

via http://www.dianasdesserts.com

the banquette…

Tags

banquettes, great seating, kitchens

I have been in love with banquette seating for a very long time now and have recently been plotting how I might fit one into my own dining room. Trouble is that I have a parson’s style dining table and they don’t work well with banquette or bench seating. I’m not ready to throw out my custom 9′ dining table just yet…(and my husband would kill me) so I will share a few of my collected banquette inspiration images with you and simply dream about having one of my own for a little while longer…enjoy!

just gorgeous…

what a wonderful place to share a meal...

total love...

image via shootfactory

I apologize that many of these are older inspiration images and I can’t remember where they came from.