Kitchen love

I never tire of looking at kitchens: Floor to ceiling cabinets (or "cupboards", as I was corrected in saying); open shelving; windows; huge rough-hewn chopping blocks; gleaming tile or bright colorful wallpaper; wooden countertops or marble surfaces- I love it all. To me, kitchens inspire creativity in the way we cook and eat, as well as provide a backdrop for the place where your family and friends spend a lot of time, since that's where crowds tend to gather.

I happen to have lucked out in our new London flat- the kitchen is roomy (by my standards) and has loads of cabinets and a fantastic stove range. But the best feature is the windowed french doors looking out onto surrounding neighbor's gardens! My next task is to find the right chairs for my little wooden dining table so we can have a real dinner party. (images from Domino, House Beautiful, Bolig Liv and Country Home)

duck-egg blue walls

I'm dreaming up ideas for my new sweet little baby girl's room (explains the absence from posting!) and have decided on pale pale aqua walls. I think it makes a nice calming background for a room, plus provides a pretty contrast to all the pink accessories my little girl is acquiring! I've been inspired by these photos for the paint color.

Katie Brown's laid back style

I loved peeking inside Katie Brown's home (featured in April 08 Country Living). I especially am crazy about her kitchen! So open- and the massive center counter would be so handy. I think the challenge with open, spacious kitchens or even just open cabinets is to keep them looking neat and tidy enough to always be on display. Lovely!

Subdued Victorian style

Hello- I didn't disappear- I just moved overseas. After a month-long break and finally arriving in my new home, London, I'm glad to start posting again!
Apartment hunting here has me looking at unusual spaces and trying to come up with ways to use a fresh new room as a canvas for our furniture and things. I've been seeing a few Victorian-period flats- as they're called here- lately, none quite this grand, though. I love the large room proportions. This is a house in the British countryside, and the details are in some ways reminiscent of Italy- like the entryway's ornate stained glass and the bright pink sitting room with the raspberry damask setee and chandelier with drops of glass to match.

Colorful bed throws & pillows

I've had all-white bedding for a while, which I've loved. But seeing these bursts of color, I think I may be ready for a change. Candy-colored throws and pillows could really cheer up the room.
(above photos from: House to Home and House Beautiful Feb. 2008)

Found some great throws and pillows online now- there's a lot of suzani-inspired bedding around at the moment. But there are plenty of other patterns to choose from too.

These throws and cushions above are form company c. And below, a couple of cushions in the Santee pattern and a bed in the Hyde pattern from the same store.

Or for quieter patterns, check out the Mirage or Blossom sets from from Sweet Home London.

and this Esperanza pattern from Designer's Guild.

Seems like this bold Cannes pattern from Nancy Koltes would really wake you up! Of course, Designer's Guild also has tons of offerings when it comes to patterns and brights for the bed. I really like this Zenia pattern (below) against the fuschia headboard.

You could even mix several really eye-catching pillows like these (DG "Rocaille" ) with a solid color bed throw. There are so many options- mixing solids with patterns so it's not too busy, or just jumbling several patterns all together. It can really work if there is something consistent like the color or style!

Italian stylist Candida Zanelli

Some fun photos of room settings from Italian stylist Candida Zanelli. Her work is often featured in magazines like Elle Decoration Japan and Case Abitare.

Swedish designers' home: Elle Interior

Swedish designers Cilla Ramnke and Carl Fredrik Holtermann have an interesting aesthetic on display in their home. It feels quite individual with their collection of unique furniture (like the plaid sofa) and objects. I love the glossy yellow doors that open into the living room- don't know that I'd be that brave but it looks fabulous. These designers have a shop full of mixed media art and handmade things called Studio Laila, in Stockholm. (photos by Pia Ulin, courtesy of February 2008 Elle Interiör)

More colorful bedrooms

Whether it's vibrant walls in an unexpected shade or soothing surroundings with a shot of color in the pillows or throws, I love the way bright color is used in bedrooms. These remind me not to be afraid of trying a non-pale color in the room where I sleep. (photos from domino, House and Home, Marie Claire Maison, cookie)

UK Stylist Melanie Molesworth

I discovered Melanie Molesworth's styling through Living Etc. I really like her aesthetic- clean and pretty and slightly comfortable (not too perfect-looking). Here are a few photos from the "Dream Spaces" article in the March 2008 Living Etc. (photography by Penny Wincer), then a few shots from her website below.


She also has a blog where you can check out more of her portfolio of inspiring home photos.

More Scandinavian style: colorful rooms

Danish photographer Bjarni B Jacobsen is the photographer of these photos of this bright home. White punctuated with cheerful brights is so light and happy. It seems to be a recurring theme that I like the "clean" look but my eyes crave color.

Rooms: Natural elements, Norwegian decor (Elle Interior No.)

Understated and simple rooms from the home of Charlotte Duesund in Amsterdam. From the January 2008 issue of Elle Decor Norway.


Natural decor trends, also from this month's Elle Interior Norway. I particularly like the wire pendant lamp, which came from a Norwegian shop, Balzac- it seems like a gorgeous place that has nature at the core of its decor.

Homes in white: simple and clean

I fell in love with this home featured in Living Etc. - a family with four children fill this London home with a whitewashed interior. It's light, simple, clean and gorgeous. Proves you can have lots of white in your decor scheme, even with little ones. It helps that there are huge windows and rooms of truly spacious proportions. (Living Etc. May 2006; the home of Linda Loenen, styled by Reini Smit).

Alicia Bell

Usually I don't write about fashion in this blog. But I found a new (to me) designer, which I absolutely love. I really like the romantic fabrics, the '40s-style shapes- all of it is deliciously pretty. Alicia Bell is known for her tailored button-up shirts out of soft cotton with pleated cuffs that fan out. (She used to work with Vivienne Westwood, and I can see the influence.) She also practices the lost art of custom-making blouses. But her website shows her design talent in other pieces like the less-tailored tops and fancy dresses. I haven't seen them in any shops, however. Anyone know where to find the dresses?

Photo/ food inspiration: Mikkel Vang/ Gourmet

Mikkel Vang's photos are not new to the blogging world, but I was inspired to find out about this photographer after this month's (January) issue of Gourmet magazine, which was all about Southern cooking (and one of my favorite Southern cooks and authors, the late Edna Lewis). This brunch, in particular, looked so good I was almost moved to try to re-create it.

lower photos from Mikkel Vang, courtsey of Judith Miller Inc.

Lyndie Dourthe: paper fantasy

Lyndie Dourthe is a French artist who is self-described as passionate about paper. She creates lovely jewelry to be worn as well as objets d'art. Her installations are intricate and naturalistic.

Lush Bella - beautiful creations

Lush Bella creates jewelry and adornments out of lace, trinkets and beads. I especially like her prints sold on etsy where she arranges an assortment of findings that create a colorful, nostalgic compilation. She has such an eye for color and combination- I can only imagine she has must have such an interesting collection of odd bits & pieces found over time.

UK artist Tracey Bush

The Postman; from foreign envelopes

Tracey Bush, a UK artist whom I discovered via the Clerkenwell Green Association, makes these beautiful hand-cut delicate paper butterflies. These paper pieces become works of art in her hands. I find them quite inspiring. p.s. I'll be on a short blog break, returning in a couple of weeks.

Japanese Emporer

Eastern Alchymist

Oliko Swedish vintage

Oliko, is like an online Swedish flea market full of interesting vintage treasures. If the 50's and 60's decor is your thing, you have to take a look. It's worth it for the pictures of retro rooms alone. I'm a child of the '70's so this makes me remember things about our kitchen during my childhood. The site has a lot of glass dishware, painted ceramics, kitchen plastic containers and other fun things like an old map.

A peek inside Paris apartments

Some fun interior vignettes from one of my Jeu de Paumes books, Appartements d'amoureux a Paris (couples apartments in Paris) with photos by Hisashi Tokuyoshi. Don't you enjoy getting a look inside real people's homes?

Céline Wright, French designer

Céline Wright creates handmade cocoon-like lamps of Japanese paper. They are delicate and strung along in interesting ways. All of her designs seem very nature-inspired.