Kitchens

Keeping a kitchen practical during a rehab isn't always easy. With high end stainless appliances and granite counter tops being all the rage budgets can quickly go out the window. There are ways to bring the cost under control and end up with a design that is beautiful, highly functional and doesn't break the bank. My dear friend Suzette lives in Atlanta and is redoing her country kitchen. We used to be roommates in San Jose and had great experiences in our kitchen. Now she wants to bring her country kitchen a bit forward and I thought I'd post these shots to give her a few ideas since I can't be there. I'm doing as much as I can over the phone to walk her through it. Often small touches of detail add so much to a space with little cost...the right cabinet knobs, a few glass doors, under mount lighting, and a 4x4 tile backsplash!!....Enjoy Susie!!

image: Red River Interiors

image: Red River Interiors

Miss Pettigrew Style

If I'm going to spend 90 minutes of my precious time to go out and watch a movie... then the set design better be pretty awesome. I don't think the set of the movie "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day" will disappoint. The movie takes place during Pre World War II London...and the decor wraps you around English art deco with a Hollywood glamor sensibility. Sounds "tres chic" to me! Expect lush fabrics of silk, satin and velvet....muted tones and lots of detail. I may not be able to follow the story line fully if the set is as awe inspiring as I'm expecting....movie opens next week.

images: LA Times

Do It Again

Remember in January when I said one of my New Year goals is to recycle, and reuse?... Well, I bet you never had office furniture that looked like this.... me either. Here's a great way to give a second life to sturdy durable steel office furniture. Rescued from government office buildings, repaired and refurbished, these pieces by Twenty Gauge bring a vintage feel to any space. The color and fabric combinations are endless. Once rehabed, why limit these pieces just to an office? They've been liberated and now take on a fashionable and personal quality....to be used in any room anywhere.

Soft taupe suede redone on this chair adds the sophistication of style... a dining room that's timeless.

I can imagine myself playfully rolling across hardwood floors on this graphic print chair.
Spice it up with an aqua desk partnered with a black leather roller chair.

images: Twenty Gauge

IKEA fialena

: : This is a new serie of patterns at IKEA, called .fialena. I adore the name, it's what my parents would always call my sister. she was .fialena., I was .pyret. and my brother .skrotten. Maybe not the most flattering name for my brother, but it was very cute when he was young.

Anywho, these patterns are very much in line with the current scandinavian folklore pattern trend that's happening. making me think my own patterns are very current and aligned with this trend?? IKEA why won't you call?


I found this while I was browsing the .style files. blog.

Tagged

image: Red River Interiors

I have been tagged by Arch at Rang....love her site... Well, the rules are I have to write 7 random things about myself and then tag 7 other fellow bloggers to do the same. Here goes:

1. Red is my favorite color... it energizes me
2. I drove cross country from Calif to Virginia...loved it
3. Would love to decorate for Dr. Robin Smith
4. Traveled to five countries in Africa when I was single
5. I can always find the silver lining in any situation
6. Taught my son that"Mommy is so very smart", when he was 2
7. He still believes it...he's 13!

Shag It !!

From my design files: I don't remember where I collected these photos but they've been tucked away on my hard drive for the right time to reveal themselves....now' s that time. Carpet has been the work horse of traditionally designed spaces but these designers decided to take it off the floor. A few years ago shag carpet made a comeback...nobody wanted to be reminded of shag from the 70's so they called it frieze.... sounds tre elegant....frieze, frieze. When used on a chair or bed in eye popping colors it adds a touch of whimsy!

Impact with Lighting

Never underestimate the impact light has on a room or its ability to set the atmosphere. The pendent fixture (above) is a show stopper. One might say this glass and chrome fixture is a throw back, retro, classic or even old school. When grouped three in a row in a classic black and white kitchen...the kind of kitchen you see in old movies with the checked floors...I just say cool!!

image: Red River Interiors

So you're looking for a fixture to...set it off. Well, this is it!! It's Euro, jeweled, and girlie... It can dress up the most subdued decor and it's 40wat bulbs create just enough light for a relaxing night at home with a glass of chardonnay.

image: Anna Spiro, Absolutely Beautiful Things

When you want task lighting why not add this floral patterned shade lamp? Use it on your desk for journal writing and enjoy its feminine fuschia base which looks great with coordinating accessories.
With a fixture as beautiful and exotic as this why not bring it indoors.... though it's iron and rustic it would function well as ambient lighting....I'd use a scented candle...ahh

image: The Drawing Room

"Let there be light"! What better lighting can you have than natural glowing light from mother nature...it's the best...let it in!

Luxury in Bed

There's a sleeping arrangement for everyone with these beds. One can take a casual nap on these sheer covered white upholstered twin daybeds. The sheer window treatments add to the room's light and flowing feel...That's exactly how I would feel with the window raised, letting in a cool night breeze.

The faux fur at the foot of the bed adds a touch of sophistication and flair... Coupled with the rustic feel of the other items in the room rustic and refined coexist beautifully.

The use of Kente fabric was a sign of royalty in the former gold coast/Ghana...drape it across a wood or bamboo, bed for an organic touch.

Decorative Artistry

Decorative painting can be used to enliven reclaimed architectural elements or to add age and a patina to new ones. During my "Richmond Walking Tour", in October I came across a cute store front studio on Boulevard Street. I got the impression it was only used as a working and storage space for the artist and not a retail store. Well, the work was simply beautiful and I couldn't help but take a few shots while standing on the sidewalk. From my vantage point the work was detailed and brought each piece to life. The paint color selections and the decorative effects used showed an artist with a discerning eye for detail. Large store front windows were displayed beautifully with natural elements such as granite and marble. There were area rugs, faux finished lamp shades and a host of projects. When I return to Richmond I hope to catch someone on the premises and glean insight on where and how they're using these pieces.....I was inspired...

images: Red River Interiors

aygo happy graphics

: : I love graphics like this! [and I think it has inspired me to do a new motif.]
even better, it's been applied to .aygo., the car. my friend .louise. owns an .aygo., they're so cute, and so tiny. maybe she'll let me apply my graphics to her car?

via .print&pattern. graphics work by .studiokanna.

quarter report

more inspiration via print&pattern. textiles from Japanese company .quarter report. I was inspired by the color combinations in this second image. I might try to make a pattern in those same tones. long weekend coming up, lots of new ideas to draw up!!

lagom

: : happy v day : : more kurbits inspiration on my mind. a series of cards called .boda., designed by no one but, .hanna werning. for company lagom. .lagom. is the Swedish word for 'just right', not too much, not too little of anything. I believe it is the only language with a word describing that, and it says a lot about the Swedes themselves. via bowie at .print&pattern.

Valentine's Day Party

What my Valentine's Day Party
looks like....

...treats too cute to eat....hold one on a desert plate
walk around and feel yummy!!... no calories gained that way

Romance and intimacy are planned into this event
Sheer drapes create mystery.... Red, the color of love



"I Love You Back"..... B.O. ....yes, I'm an Obama girl !!

kurbits krumelurer

: : hello : : for those of you who have been following my posts, I have updated, created some new color combinations and added a tile pattern at the bottom. the top two with more modern color combinations, and the bottom one a bit softer. thank you all for your wonderful feedback! I think I am going to start experimenting with having some of these printed. I would love to work with a local company? anyone know of printing places in Boston?

and I would like to take the opportunity to ask .you. what you would like to see these patterns on? posters, cards, 3.dimensional products? some of you have mentioned fabrics, which got me excited. I love that idea. maybe the repeatable patterns in particular would work well for that.

I would also love to be able to apply them to furniture, which would reference the origin of the inspiration for these patterns. which came from traditional Swedish kurbits patterns, a folk art that originated in the region of Dalarna, Sweden, mostly in the form of hand paintings on furniture. [see previous posts]

Powder Room Chic

What's the chicest way to add drama and color to an otherwise plain powder room?
....Wallpaper..... especially in new construction. It makes an impact on visitors entering your home for the first time. I recommend bold patterns that are singular in color....keep it simple in a small space. You won't break the bank if you use companies like Seabrook, Thibaut and Eisenhardt....oh!, don't forget to paper the ceiling and hang a pretty light fixture.

image:Red RiverInteriors

image: The Drawing Room

images: Red River Interiors

flickr find

: : it's wonderful to read all your positive feedback on my design work. it is such an inspiration to me! thank you all!!
on that note. I found some inspiration today, a new flickr find. beautiful, colorful photos. from the .365 project.

what about these?

: : it's been a productive weekend. with everyone absorbed in the superbowl, I decided to take advantage of the time to do some design work and took a trip to IKEA during the actual superbowl. that has got to be the best time of the year to go to IKEA!! we were cruising through living rooms, kitchens and bedrooms with no one in our way!!

I'm eager to get some feedback on yet another set of patterns. the first one, still more traditional, but a little different than previous motifs. the second one, a first draft of a repeatable pattern. not the right color combination yet, I'm working on that. the top one, a personal favorite. more birches, and monochrome colors. what do you all think?

and where will this take me? I don't know yet. I don't know what the opportunities are, and don't know where I want to go. for now, I'll keep on creating.