the painting that inspired a nursery...

You know how one single item can inspire an entire space?

I found this painting by Sydney Edmunds when I was putting together some design boards for a client who was staging some condos in NYC. It's a repro done on canvas, which is the right price point for a rental. Although the tones worked perfectly with the cherry flooring, the resulting board was not generic enough for staging (despite my attempts to tone down it's brilliance!). We went with another version, which I'll show you in another post, lol...

but I couldn't forget the painting... 

and since D's cousin is about to have her second little pumpkin I have babes on the brain...

Who says kids can't have real art?

That's a bigger thought - that may deserve it's own post, yes?

wallpaper | rug | crib | chair | dresser | garland 1 2 | storage | elephant | pillow | lamp

inspired design: forest lush

A few weeks back I created a design board - lightening love - based on a quilt that inspired me,

and since y'all liked it (and since I'm always freaking out over some piece of art of furniture!)

I thought maybe I'd start to share more of where those inspirations take me...

voila, the inspired design series - posted semi-regularly, of course!

I don't know if you all know who Kathe Fraga is,

but you will want to once yo see her work.

She is a hugely talented artist, 

who paints romantic pieces inspired by France, and nature.

I have the pleasure of being her "friend" on Facebook,

and so see all the beautiful photos she posts

from her glorious world (she lives on Bainbridge Island).

Recently, this one literally took my breath away.

It was taken in Gazzam Lake Preserve,

a place that, sadly, is at risk of being developed.

Aren't the colours incredible?

Aubergine to lilac, tawny caramels, deep mossy green,

and those snowy mushroom caps to punctuate it all so perfectly.

I was inspired..

and so naturally the result was to try and create a space with that same feel...

Grrrreen velvet, an overdyed southwestern carpet (never say never) 

and anthro's Little Owl wallpaper set the scene..

furniture 1 2 3 

art 1 2 3

lighting 1 2 3

accessories 1 2 

But my favourite thing is that insane Paul Mayen coffee table.

so reminiscent of those gorgeous mushroom tops.

What do you think?

Does it have the same vibe as that stunning photo?

lightening love

Have you been to Anthro in the past few days?

They've lost the paper header, and sharpened up their graphics.

A little less shabby vintage and little more graphic.

I feel like the return to eighties edge is upon us.

Case in point, these one-of-a-kind quilts by Fred Shand,

(on sale now for just $750.00!!)

that have that perfect anthro balance of kitsch, artistry and 80's vintage.

Ever since I first saw them I've been dreaming of the bedroom I would put one in,

particularly this one...

it would work quite nicely with the anthro campaign bed that they style it up on,

but what else?

Perhaps a shagreen wallpaper, 

a lush overdyed carpet,

hits of black,

and a wee bit of sparkle and shine?

carpet walls

art art art art art

fabric fabric

Armchairs

Sputnik

Lightening Love.