Thursday, February 25, 2010

Oh Oliver...

Oliver Gustav has a breathtaking antique shop on the ground floor of an old distillery in Copenhagen.
Gustav calls the floor above his shop home, which will steal even more of your heart; it's simple, effortless, and innately complete. {Recently featured in the UK edition of Elle Decor.}


Beetles...

Not all habitats are suitable for this Beetle wallpaper {Porter's Collection by Porter's Paints}, but in the right setting - a boldly stunning way to cloak your walls.  If only all beetles were this elegant.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

The allure of an unmade bed...

Rachel Ashwell was recently featured in the UK edition of Elle Decor.  Ashwell has created a realm of Shabby Chic products, books, and stores; her most recent book, Shabby Chic Interiors, is brimming with feminine inspiration.
Elle Decor featured this bedroom as the epitome of guest bedrooms - polished, comfortable, charismatic, and welcoming.  Ashwell advocates for the 'unmade' bed, proposing the worth of a bed is revealed when rumpled and still refined.  This particular philosophy is intriguing, mainly because I never make my bed. 

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Reservation please...

Desire to Inspire recently featured Dutch Interior Designer Wilma Custers.  I am utterly pining to stay {okay, live} at the bed and breakfast she designed.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Blooms...

My attraction to blooms in lovely arrangements is growing passionately.  Enjoy these blooms from Studio Choo.
Blooms blogs may just become a reoccurring pleasure...

Coy koi...

Koi fish make me swoon.  Here are two pieces of white ceramic that bring me to my knees.  From Brown Button Trading, the aptly named Small Koi Fish and Large Koi Fish.  
I want them, but {arguably} I may actually need them.  Will I ever again find the perfect companions to my Koi Fish Lamp from West Elm?!? 
The horizontal surface of my flawlessly distressed dresser is oh so lonely...

Friday, February 19, 2010

Light up my life...

As I was leisurely flipping through the glossy muse of Elle Decor, the Shaw Pendant by the Urban Electric Company caught my eye.  I yearn for design that combines industrial components with luxurious elements; this pendant provides the industrial component with grace.
The graphic designer trapped somewhere inside me fell in love with the Urban Electric Company logo, graphic perfection.
If industrial lines with a hint of glamour suites your space, Restoration Hardware has two great pendants combining function and shine, the Benson Pendant {left} and the Harmon Pendant {right}.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Beauty with an edge...

In the very happiest of accidents, I stumbled across a tile that literally made me exclaim.  The lines are perfect, the design is flawless; I am smitten.  Edgewater Studio has set an impressively high standard for glass tile design - how ever will they crown this? 
The Moroccan Detail Tile from the Connectables Collection is blissful, purely blissful.
Moroccan Classic Tile, a simplified and elegant version of the same pattern is also available.  Both versions are utterly exquisite and available in a gloss or matte finish.  Each piece is back-painted, so the possibilities are literally endless; perfection in any color you desire.
These lovely little creations would be stunning in traditional applications {a kitchen backsplash or a bathroom feature wall}, but I have something more dramatic in mind, the definitive custom headboard.  An intricate tile inset balanced and framed with rustic reclaimed timber.  Gloss and glamour meet natural and organic.  Sigh.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Shine indeed...

House Beautiful just introduced me to Shine by Susan Hornbeak Ortiz.  Shine is a collection of bold, bright, and graphic furnishings, accessories, and artwork.  
This Marbella Buffet layers lacquer and resin for a piece that is simultaneously simple and lavish.  While the turquoise is lovely, my heart longs for Gray or Chartreuse. 
 
Shine has an inspiring collection of artwork, including two avian pieces to give flight to your space.  Peepsie {top} and Cockatoo {bottom}.
Rope, indicative of coastal, nautical brilliance would complete an ocean inspired interior; artwork that is both subtle and bold - the ideal pop from a sea of blue walls.
"I have always been drawn to capture the essence of beauty in all its forms."  {Susan Hornbeak Ortiz}

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Lavish and lovely...

Lavish {featured in House Beautiful} has an eclectic mix of products dedicated to finding, "the best and most luxurious products for your bath, body, and home."  Whether you need the perfect ottoman or the perfect exfoliating brown sugar scrub, Lavish is sure to please.
This French Style Coffee Table in solid oak is slightly imperfect, just as I love my antique inspired furnishings to be.  Wouldn't it be charming adorned with Anthropologie hardware?
The Maison Tufted Rectangular Ottoman is an oversized wonder.  Topped with an exuberant graphic print fabric, it would always be welcome in my home.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Anthropologie, sweet anthropologie...

Last weekend was full of firsts; my husband and I had our first walk among the streets of downtown Portland, my first trip to the Mecca that is Powell's Books, my first dance with the 'Pay to Park' machines {the machine wins round one}, my first adoration with the Pearl District and the Brewery Blocks, and my first brush with Anthropologie hardware
As I strolled through Anthropologie admiring hangers of ruffled cashmere and hand printed linen, I spotted three large stands of vivid glamour heaped in bins.  The bins are large, round, tiered, and revolving, not unlike the nail bins at a hardware store, where I used to glee at the 'tinks' of dropping nails into the galvanized aluminum buckets as my dad shopped for a myriad of household projects.  But unlike the sharp, severe nails wearing a coat that will soon fade and rust, the hardware is brilliant, glossy, feminine. 
Here is just a sample; a small, whittled, severely edited sample from those pretty hardware bins {it could be much, much larger}.
The Battenberg Iris Bracket is a graphic interpretation of lace and irises.  A rustic reclaimed shelf would look perfect lounging above a duet of distressed brackets.
A doorknob conceived in heaven, the Flora Forever Doorknob will have your hands gracefully caressing lustrous ceramic.
If you prefer subtle, delicate indication to decorative accent, the Hello Goodbye Doorknob will greet you with whimsical charm and leave you with a smile.
Anthropologie houses a collection of melon knobs that would make the produce aisle envious of their vibrant color and succulent curves.  From top to bottom, Ceramic Melon Knob {Orange, Antique Brass}, Mercury Glass Melon Knob {Silver}, and Ceramic Melon Knob {Pink, Zinc}.
A few more knobs worth revealing, from top to bottom.  Peeping Posies Knob in yellow, emitting perfect cherry blossoms with scalloped trim.  The Chronograph Knob is a timeless update by way of its stopwatch persuasion.  The delicate brass Arthurian Knob {Oval} is a filigree ellipse molded into a three dimensional wonder.
This Card Catalog Pull makes me long to be a librarian just so I can get my hands on a card catalog to adorn with pristine brass plates.
And finally, the Dunluce Hook is, "A quatrefoil filled with filigree laurels...."
And, just in case you need a lovely sparkle or two to hang on the beautiful Dunluce Hook, the Hanging Bellflower Bib Necklace {top} and the Silver Foxglove Necklace {bottom} are both just enough to compliment you and more than enough to compete with perfection of the hardware. 

Friday, February 12, 2010

Birch bark beauties...

One of my great loves, Design*Sponge, introduced me to this Small Stump + Studio Choo product.  These lovely Birch Bark Tubes make stunning vases, each set of four ready to make an organically delicious vignette.  You can use these delicate natural materials with a clean conscious - the bark is harvested from trees that have fallen from natural causes in Canada.
The wildly talented ladies of Studio Choo also design floral delights featured on their blog, Small Stump + Studio Choo.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Love, love me do...

Love is in the air, and in the cards.  As the day of Cupid draws closer, pulpous declarations of love abound; here are a few I would love to give {or get} this Valentine's Day.
Lark Press of Portland, Oregon is a letterhead company that still produces graphic and textual beauty by hand - just what your valentine deserves.  {And in case your valentine comes with a proposal, they make flawless wedding invitations}.
Nouveau Designs prints a romantic swirl on scientific sketches.
Earmark has a sweet sentiment worth sharing.
Enjoy Design extends the opportunity to personalize a charming creation with clever words and endless wit...
{peanut butter to my jelly}
{laughter to my life}
{sprinkles to my cupcake}
{lyrics to my song}
{rc cola to my moonpie}
Wheeler Studio has some sugary graphics to sweeten their endearing words. 
Looking to give your heart to someone, but can't find the words? Let this Anatomical Heart printed on a vintage French-English dictionary page by CrowBiz do the talking for you.  Romantic in a traditional sense? No, but charismatic and unique, just like the one you love.
Jessica Gonacha creates lovely prints with a distinctive presentation.  Hang your valentine{s} on the wall this year, because a clothesline strung with adoration is timeless.
No matter who has earned your love this year, show them with a little luxurious paper creation.
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