In Memory of A Dear Friend

Sometimes people come in and out of your life,

and you move on, hardly noticing.

Occasionally you meet a kindred spirit,

a person who affects you, who helps you grow and evolve.

Back in my teenage days one of my favourite partners in crime had a fascinating Mother.

A hugely talented photographer, she had never lost her idealism from the sixties.

Her photos always revealed the potential of a person.

One of the most endearing things about Barb was that she never passed judgement.

She was a kind and experienced ear for a whole group of us,

and guided us through more than one sticky situation.

She became a dear friend and mentor.

Her daughter and I are still close,

and spend precious weekends watching our daughters giggle and tell secrets.

Barb had been sick for a long time, and this morning she passed on..

I'm quite sure where ever she is, she has a Nikon in hand and a smile on her face. 

Day 2 with Photographer Anitta Behrendt

Yesterday I explored the adorable children's spaces in Anitta Berhendt's portfolio,

so how about a few adult ones?

Recipe for fun ahead..

A medley of traditional tapestries fabric looks modern 

applied in a patchwork style and mixed with rainbow atomic hooks.

One oversize raspberry pendant defines an entire space.

Wild walls are a punctuation point to plain jane black leather and a simplistic boomerang table.

Monkeys for art? Why not?  :)

Stacking a large industrial cabinet over a smaller crate creates a banquette with style.

Think this would have to be anchored to the wall, tho!

Not many people would use wall pockets and magnetic boards over a sofa,

but it works with this playful style.

The palest of grey-blue walls offers a subdued backdrop with more interest than white.
Love the little vignettes created here -
a dining nook, a quiet corner for reading, and at the other end of the room -
the perfect conversation set-up!
The high table is the right size and height to serve food and drinks, but the seating is all about comfort.
I love this idea, a spot like this may even lure guests out of the kitchen!

Finally, fully saturated clean color paired with plenty of white and black.
The garden "theme" here is a bit cutesy for my taste but I do
appreciate the fearlessness of this design -
not suffering beige-itis, is it?!

Whether you like these spaces or not, 

I think we can all appreciate the way that these homeowners 

personalized their homes,

They weren't bound by rules, what should be done,

they just went ahead and made them their own.

That's what it's all about, isn't it?

Let's Just Stay In Bed..

Dawn seemed to follow midnight with indecent haste.

                                                                      -Deathly hallows, J.K. Rowling

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til next time..

The Selby's New "Model's Own" Campaign

We see them at the shows, and on the street...

always looking effortlessly chic.

The cool kids, they work by day, and party by night.

Models live hard.

But where do they go when the cameras are off?

Don't you wonder what their homes look like -

Are they as fashionable as the models?

Are they bare bones, a drop-in point?

Are they cosy nests, a retreat from the frantic pace they keep?

Todd Selby has done a holiday campaign for ASOS

with each model featured in their own home.

What do you think?

Any elements here you would like to have in your space?

I'm loving the panelled walls art display in the first,

and the relaxed industrial vibe of the last.

til next time..

Photographer: David Duncan Livingston

David Duncan Livingston is an Architectural Photographer based out of California.

Thought you may like to see some of the gorgeous interiors he has captured so beautifully..

aren't those furry stools the greatest?!

I love how the piping on the sofa picks up the trim on the credenza..

and that slab coffee table, oh..

completely love the way this art way hung. 

It's unusual to see irregular mats, but it makes it more interesting, don't you think?

the red felt speaks for itself, but the mod brocade walls infuse more fun still..

those floral armchairs off much needed levity to the room..

without the chair this room would be a bore,

love the angle of this shot, how all the lines are leading you to the spectacular architecture.

I'm off to meet an old friend for lunch, and doing some shopping for a client,

what are you up to today?

Hoping to get my curtains hung in the living room shortly,

 I've re-painted those navy walls and finished some diy art, 

and will try to post it soon :)

til next time.. 

Emily Gilbert Photography

Spending this morning working on some new features for the 10 Rooms site,

 but I've taken a bit of a break and this is where it led me..

The portfolio Photographer Emily Gilbert is overflowing with luscious interiors,

some for saying goodbye to summer..

the trim on that skirted sofa, the dining room - so full of interesting personal finds..

the perfect porch - doesn't this seem more like a living room?

 some spaces for greeting autumn..

love these rich dark aubergene walls..

just pause for a moment to really look at that tub...

and royal blue velvet, well, that speaks for itself, doesn't it?

and some that harken to fresh, sparkling winter days...

now that is a focal wall!

Time to embrace those rich jewel tones again..

tomorrow I will explore purple!

Want to come?

til next time..

Dawn LeBlanc: Unmasking Beauty through Photography

I'm not really even sure how to describe these images.

A bit speechless - which is very unusual for me :)

My Aunt used to press flowers and make her own stationary.

Every occasion a handmade card would come in the mail, 

the beauty of the most common flowers and foilage was exposed there... 

 forever preserved within.

I cherished them, tucking those bits of paper away...

Thats what these images remind me of.

Photographer Dawn LeBlanc is documenting nature's exquisite radiance for all of us - 

a reminder that we don't always have to create new visual treats,

 we just have to be mindful of the ones we are overlooking.

Lizanthus in Space

Broken

The Sprite

Dahlietta in White

Leaves I - this was the image that led me to Dawn's work..

and finally.. Red Sunflower, can't you feel it's pride in a job well done?

Stunning. Open-mouthed gaping.. so wonderful.

Tomorrow the extended family arrives for a beach day and overnight visit - 

catch you on the flipside :)

til next time...

Caitlin Moran Interiors: Well-Placed Color

Caitlin Moran has an aesthetic that I love.

Gutsy, a little unexpected, clean lines, and lovely bits of color.

Photographer Kathryn MacDonald captures the essence of these rooms perfectly.

Here's navy again, working it's magic...

Navy will bring out the orange tones in everything around it, 

so medium of dark toned woods look rich and warm.

The living room incorperates the same palette, so the rooms flow very well.

The pops of pink and yellow inject a little energy.

The pattern on the curtains and carpet are bold choices.

How cute is that bar?

In another project, the walls are painted out a soft white,

preventing the ornate moldings from overwhelming everything else in the room.

Although this is a more restrained palette, 

she has still used color to lead your eye through the space -

the red garden stool and red antique cabinet on opposite sides of the room, for example.

Love the uber-comfortable dining seating.. 

picturing long meals with friends and wine...

A lighter, approach - this space is lacking in architectural interest,

but the color creates interest.

Orange and blue are complements, 

and while they can be a bit intense if heavily saturated colors are used,

the airy, watery blues here are much easier to live with.

fantastic art, no?!!

Love to see color used so well!

It's amazing what a few accent pieces can do..

til next time..

Photographer Richard Powers

How to describe the work of Richard Powers?

a mastery of the luminous..

He seems able to manipulate light at will in these photos, sublimely highlighting each focal point, guiding the eye around each image in the appropriate movement..

 Don't you feel compelled to enter and explore these spaces further?

Wonderful. I'm so glad people like this share their talents with the rest of us..

til next time..