simply lovely

I was out wandering through blog land yesterday in search of something completely unrelated to this but when I came across this image I stopped in my tracks and gawked.  Simply lovely.

{oh joy}

Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West

I was in Arizona last weekend and when my great aunt asked if there was anything I especially wanted to do I didn't even have to think about it.  We went and took a tour of Taliesin West in Scottsdale.  

Built by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930's.

Known for his organic architecture, he used a lot of triangles in his design because he saw them occurring in the desert landscape and also liked the shadows they cast. 

 "Whether people are fully conscious of this or not, they actually derive countenance and sustenance from the 'atmosphere' of the things they live in or with.  They are rooted in them just as a plant is in the soil in which it is planted." - FLW

I was surprised by his use of Asian ceramics in almost every building and outside as well cemented right in with the desert rocks in the walls as points of interest.  I loved learning that he bought a lot of the ceramics in bulk from a store at a large discount because they was damaged.  A bargain hunter!

It wasn't a stretch of imagination to envision life at Taliesin when Wright was there with his third wife and his apprentices creating an oasis among the cactus and enjoying the beautiful landscape.   The 1920's - 30's seemed to have been such a glamorous time to live.

Read more about Taliesin and "the greatest American architect of all time" here.

inspirded by: Adrienne's place

Imagine after a long day of moving furniture {staging parade home in fragments in the showroom right now}and walking into a cool oasis for a night of fun with good friends.  My friend Adrienne has created just that.  And the greatest thing about it, it is so her.  She'll be the first to point out the tiny flaws no one else can see, but that is just so Adri too.  A Perfectionist.  I love her for it.  From the peacock inspired colors, fresh flowers and yummy food - every detail is lovingly considered when it comes to her place. 

While the chicken was on the bbq we were talking about colors for the lower staircase.  What would you expect from a roomful of designers?  Right now it is a light aqua and will soon be a golden tone with a bit of green in it for a bold contrast to the deep turquoise, if you can call it that.  It's a chameleon of a color, constantly changing with the light.

I get teased endlessly for always snapping pictures so when the camera is turned around me I squirm big time.

Happy Birthday Adri, dear.

"how candice olsen of you"

The other day I was hanging with my friend, Jen, at her parents house.  She lives in Texas and is here visiting for a bit and we've been taking full advantage of our close proximity to catch up. She asked me for my take on how to include a fireplace in her parents master bedroom. 

I played around with a couple of ideas and thought to put it in the corner so that it would be one of the first things you see as you walk into the room.  A fire place would already become the most dominant thing in the space just be being there, so why not have it in a welcoming position so that it will set the whole tone for the room.  Not to mention placing it in the corner will be a pretty way to save space so that they could then create a comfortable seating area around it.

When we showed her mom our plans she said, "How Candice Olsen of you."  Well, that is a high compliment in my book.  The designing ended there, and we went back to playing 5 Crown. {Only the most fun card game I know how to play.}

I've thought about the color scheme I'd run with if I were going along with that Candice vibe.  Pretty, shimmery tile around the fire to catch light and add some sparkle to the room.  A rug with a low key, but interesting color pallet that would be versatile with other neutrals and some smaller patterns introduced in the furniture.

I also like the idea of a gallery style wall for family portraits and included a couple mirrored options for the frames. 

{tile: daltile all other furniture used can be found on my sidebar links}

blustery blossoms

I spotted rows upon rows of pink blossoms swaying in the wind this morning on my way to work and as impulse had me swerving to the curb, I consulted the dashboard clock to see if I even had time for a diversion to go quench my compulsion to capture them in my little silver camera.  No luck, but later, most definitely.

Instead I walked into work on time and was welcomed by some chairs who showed up from Lee yesterday during my mid week weekend.  They are absolutely divine.  And while I love a neutral chair, the first thing that comes to mind when I see a pretty one is usually, 'What color will I use with it to make things interesting?'

So I chose the cherry blossom pattern today even before I made it back to the selections to see if I agreed with myself.  I do. And it'd be fun to create a whole space around this fun fabric, going either way with the spa color way or the blossom red. 

It is another blustery spring day out with giant gray clouds and I'm the last standing lunatic I'm sure that can't get enough of the crazy spring weather. 

Market Monday: Kate Morton & William Morris

"Wars make history seem deceptively simple.  They provide clear turning points, easy distinctions: before and after, winner and loser, right and wrong.  True history, the past, is not like that.  It isn't flat or linear.  It has no outline.  It is slippery, like liquid; infinite and unknowable, like space.  And it is changeable: just when you think you see a pattern, perspective shifts, an alternative versions proffered, a long forgotten memory resurfaces."

 Kate Morton is the brilliant author of this quote.  I just finished reading her book, The House at Riverton, and I loved this paragraph for a couple of reasons.  First, it summed up succinctly the way I've felt about  history in just a few lines.  Second, the same can be said about design.  It seems linear until you think about what determines a trend.  Following the outline of one style to the next you can see how what is happening in the world has everything to do with how we choose to adorn ourselves, our homes.  Studying history in conjunction with my love for art and design gives me little thrills as I see the one affected by the other.  The Victorian opulence being followed by the Arts and Crafts is the example I'm thinking of today and Kate Morton's books have a way of weaving beautiful stories including details of the architecture and details from the lifestyle that make history really come to life for me. This particular novel was a perfect choice because it is set in time as everything was shifting from the very conventional to the more free spirited movement.

So while the Victorian has never been one of my very favorites in terms of style, I can appreciate all that hand crafted detail and the pretty feminine lines. I've spent some time the last couple of weeks studying it so that I can better understand the Arts and Crafts movement since I'm working on a home being built in that style.
  
Which leads me to my second feature: William Morris.  He was a big player in the movement from Victorian to Arts and Crafts.  {I'll be talking more about this later.}

I especially love the paper products with his patterns on them.

{source source source}

inspired by: Hillary Thomas

 I read about Hillary Thomas in the latest Lonny issue and I though the project that was featured in the magazine was beautiful and I studied each image taking in how she made blending styles and objects look effortless; more than anything, I loved what Hillary said about design.  She is a believer in 'wabi sabi' a Japanese term for finding beauty in the imperfect.  

I feel the same way about design.  Maybe because I've been a roaming renter for years and have learned to make do with what I have without being able to make major changes?  Or maybe because I feel like design should enhance life and be a reflection of us {and we aren't perfect so how could design be?}...whatever it is, when I read that, I couldn't agree more.  

And as if she wasn't already impressing me, she had me when she said, "Have pets.  A house full of critters is joyous."  Heck yes Hillary Thomas.  Thank you for inspiring me!!
{images from her site, visit here}

ski cabin

I know this is nuts but I have been loving this frigid cold weather.  I never thought I'd say that. {Ever. I'm a desert rat to the bone} and really, I wouldn't be sad if I woke up to spring tomorrow, but as seasons go I'm not struggling through the blah winter blues just yet.  Maybe the skiing and hiking and all kinds of winter things have kept it fun enough for me not to care too much? 

And cabins come with winter fun right?  Well, they should.  I've stayed in some sweet cabins over the years.  My favorites being the kind that are actually cabins, not giant mansions with a cabin theme.  The most outrageous 'cabin' I've stayed in was in Park City on the Canyons Ski Resort.  It could have eaten 10 normal cabins for breakfast.  Maybe the proper term for it would be chalet?  Equipped with a 'ski in' prep room it took the cake for pampered treatment.  A heated room with a snow floor allowing skiers to come in and out without having to put their gear on while standing outside in the cold.  It was rad, even if it was a bit much.

So I know I should remember where I first heard of the Seattle based firm Olson Kundig Architects but I can't.  I frequent their site often to check in on the latest. They came to mind today as I was thinking about cabins and snow fun because of a couple of their projects I've noticed in the past.  Check em out, it's always fun to dream.

As for my winter fun? I'm off to Alta's free ski this afternoon.  The life of a cheap ski bunny.

UDLA Designer Show House Fall Tour

I can't remember the first time I heard the name Robert McArthur,but it has always been synonymous with really great architecture.

It might have been when my friend Jenny lived across the street from his studio and I did some research on the architect who would dream up what he did to the old home he converted into something pretty spectacular. Or maybe it was when he renovated an old home on the route to my grandma's house and we watched as the home got some serious curb appeal and was featured later in a home show. 

So last year when the Designer Show House Fall Tour featured his personal home I was excited for the opportunity to see what he would do to his own space.
{above is the entry and below is a great home studio.}

Just his chair collection alone had me drooling. Bertoia, Eames...oh my.  Then the details around every corner had my mom and me going back through the rooms again just to make sure we got it all in.

This year is the fourth annual show and I've already scouted out what houses I want to see in my limited time tomorrow after work. Most definitely Summer Wood {5} and Maple Hills Place {8}

If you are in the area, stop by Noble House and get a couple tickets.  If you can't make it, I'm sure I'll post pictures later. You can also watch the video below from Studio 5 yesterday.

The really great thing about this show beside the talent poured into each home is the proceeds go to Circle the Wagon, a non profit organization supporting people in the aftermath of a violent crime.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

{images borrowed from RGM website, go there to see more.}

J'aime tout ce qui est français

There seems to be an underlying theme to my week. An old friend trying to get her French inspired business off the ground, getting depressed while watching Les Miserables and remedying it by watching the translated version of the beautifully illustrated The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono. {Watch it here. Seriously, the very best thing you could do with a spare half hour if you have one.}  The theme continues, but I think I've made my point.

Going along with it {why fight a good thing?} I decided to dig up a bunch of really great French inspired images to top off a very lovely week.
Above clockwise: French Industrial table, a quatrefoil chair by Hickory Chair, escaping escargot, a light airy French inspired interior with all the romantic curves you'd expect, and an apartment from Eastern France with a couple of my favorite modern chairs.

speaking of chairs, a whole slew of today's most recognizable chairs come from France. To get a great run down on the history of those styles, visit Design Sponge.  

{I want one of those red metal chairs for my place.}

Great Vintage Art found on Etsy.

restoration hardware

Etsy est la source de toutes choses français.  

{Etsy is the source for all things French.}

Clockwise:  Boucles d'oreilles {earrings}- oreiller utterfly {butterfly pillow} - parasol pin - Brush Your Teeth - Postcard Tags - French Bulldog Notebook


Bonsoir mon cher ami!

project: my new desk

I found a super cool drop leaf table in the gutter the other night while I was out running and immediately went back for it. {my carpenter tells me not to call it the gutter, it's the borrow ditch!} I've sanded it down, replaced the top with a solid piece of pine because the original was too warped to work with.  I made it a bit longer so I could really spread out though I might trim it down a bit more because the proportion is off but I'll wait til I see it painted.

Now the fun part: how should I finish it??

I brought it inside and put it in place so I could dream about the possibilities.  The original idea was to leave it natural with a clear polyurethane top coat but color is much more appealing now. 
Next stop: mis-tints at the paint store to see what 50 cent possibilities are out there. The goal: keep this project under $30.  {It is a stray after all.}

inspired: wishful paper art

last night I went to an art gallery my friends from Ensign 7th put on for our family night activity.  Totally cool and of course I shouldn't have been surprised by the amount of creativity found running wild in that group.  Everything from a live jazz band to illustrations that belong in a kids book somewhere.  We even have an animator in our midst from Disney who could have showed Toy Story 3 as his contribution.

last monday I sat very still {wanting to throw a tantrum a time or two} as we learned how to make origami cranes.  It must be my white girl-ness that makes me inept at understanding this art form.  Finally I was getting it and as I chatted with my cute neighbor we churned out crane after crane adding to the '1000 Cranes' group installation project.

Legend says if you make a thousand cranes you will get one wish granted.  I don't think we ended up with quite that many, but I still made a wish. I'll tell you if it ever comes true.

inspired by: Vegas Market

I'm back from the Vegas market and thought it'd be fun to share a few things I thought were inspiring from the show.

The beautiful showrooms!

Frank Gehry's architecture. {across the street from market} His work is pretty easy to spot and it was fun to go walk around in one of his buildings.  Reading up on the Cleveland Clinic, it was voted both the best and ugliest building in Vegas.

The styles that were standing out to me were unique and fun.  Nothing too serious, just comfortable, colorful bits and pieces that could blend in with any style but really make a statement wherever they were placed.

It might be because I am loving this style lately, but it seemed to be all over the place.  Who says you have to live by a beach to have this look?  I don't think so at all.  I'd like to mix it in with just about everything right now.

New and old vendors alike with great product that left me dreaming of clients with rooms just waiting for this stuff.  Really, the hardest part for me is taking it all in without an end result in mind.  There are just too many options.  In my perfect world I'd go to market with a handful of clients already lined up just waiting for me to find the perfect things specifically for them.  Catalogs will just have to do for now.

Creativity around every corner.  I snapped a shot of this paper tree even with the 'no cameras' sign within view because I loved the Korean newsprint used for it. 

And the most promising thing of the whole show?  The crowds!  That has to mean good things for our industry.