Quiet Time

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17

A special post for my Brother and Sister-In-Law who welcomed a baby boy yesterday, congratulations!

Morning Snack- Feeling Funky

Lately I have been doing a lot Traditional work, which I love. You can never go wrong with a Traditional aesthetic. But then, I come across something like this and my funky side comes marching right out to the beat of its own drum.

Chair CB2

Love The One You're With- Zuniga Interiors

It is hard to remember a blogging time when I wasn't reading Michelle's blog...

I continually go to it for inspiration- for serious visual inspiration, she always has something a little different. As you can tell from this post she has some seriously great taste!

Marianne's blog is one of the first blogs I fell in love with- she is so genuine, talented and such a beautiful person! Marianne- thank you for asking me to be a part of your series "Love the One You're With" This is one of my favorite rooms- my studio, {the other side houses shelves and cabinets for fabric baskets, catalogs, files, etc.} maybe some of you have seen it photographed before, but it's a studio with all of the things that I love- Colour, Moroccan and Indian details and that vintage chandelier, just a special space to relax in whether I am working or having fun! The key to making a space your own is all about your favorite pieces that become your special space!

Thanks again Marianne!

xo-

Michelle

Now that is a studio, looks great Michelle!!!!

The Nursery...Progress!...?

I know I am making y'all nervous with the slowwwww nursery progression, several people have told me so. But don't worry, we are making progress...and I have come to peace with the realization that it will not be completely done by the time he decides to make his grand entrance into the world...
As of right now the paint is almost finished, the rocker is at the upholstery shop, the curtains are being made and the crib has arrived...all with stories/hiccups to be shared later. Things are hectic and at the moment decisions like what car seat do we need are overtaking others like sconces for the little guy. We are just going to keep plugging along, one foot in front of the other. In good nursery news I can assure you that the three nurseries I did for clients due soon are all finished!

Easy To Miss

I came across this image the other day and saved it because I was initially drawn to the canopy and book wallpaper. Then I noticed the light which I loved but seemed off to me. So, I read the caption (something I don't do enough) and realized this is actually a guest bedroom with 2 beds.

You can see the other bed in the left corner. If I had not noticed the light I would have never known what I was missing in the rest of the room. I would love to see this room from another view. I believe it was from Architectural Digest but I am not 100% sure.

Being A Lauren

The blog world has been buzzing lately about Dylan Lauren's wedding dress designed by her dad Ralph with help from Vera (the one and only)...
I had high hopes of sitting down this weekend and reading the latest Vogue which featured the wedding but that didn't happen. I am sure it was fabulous though. I must admit Dylan's life seems pretty amazing....and not just because she owns a line of candy shops.

When your dad is Ralph I am thinking you have access to some pretty great spaces. All of these images from Architectural Digest are either Mr. Lauren's homes or his stores...






I LOVE how classic and welcoming his aesthetic is. Between his clothing and fabrics I think he is phenomenal. Although when I think of the R.L. brand this ad featured here still comes to mind...

Quiet Time

The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace. Numbers 6: 24-26

Mini Market

Several of you have asked about Market last week- how it was and how it was this pregnant. I wanted to do a Market post but I have not had time to really go through all the pictures yet. I can tell you one thing though, I would not have made it without this lady...

My Mom came with me to carry bags, etc. and that is how I was able to go in this state. (Not the most flattering picture, this is why your Mom tells you to sit up straight, yikes) In general we have very different tastes so it is fun to see her reaction when I say things like, "What about a gray zebra cow hide for the nursery".

At this moment I can't really remember what we saw, a lot of it was repeats from High Point. From a quick scan of the pictures I can tell you I will always love large prints like these...
And I am still loving canvas prints like these.
One more thing I will always love...this exact style of chandelier...
I will have one like you one day; preferably a ridiculous antique that magically shows up on my door step from a long lost wealthy uncle I didn't know I had who happens to be cleaning out his country estate.

Thank you Mom for being such a trooper!

Love The One You're With- Blue Hydrangea

*Update- Not sure what is going on with the images but hopefully I have it corrected now!

Yeah! Two guest posts in one week, I love it! Today I am so happy to have Sissy fromI have been reading Blue Hydrangea for so long, every time I visit the blog I forget I don't actually know Sissy, she feels just like an old friend....

I was so excited when Marianne asked me to be part of her "Love the One You’re With" series. It is such a great idea since I seem to complain more about the things I don't like about my house rather than appreciate the things I do like. And recently I updated my desk area....

And it's my new favorite spot in the house.

It has some of my favorite things including this fab bowl that was a gift from a friend.

And the world's greatest mirror courtesy of Julie from Milk and Honey Home.

(I should have unplugged all those dang wires!!)
You want to know one reason I love it so much? The chair was a hand-me-down, the desk was from Craigslist and the giant yellow lamp that I kiss every morning came from my favorite thrift store. The only down side? Now I want to paint the walls to make my mirror stand out more. I just need to remember "Love the One You’re With" and for now I am "with" those neutral walls.

Thanks for having me, Marianne!!
XO Sissy (Blue Hydrangea)

Thank you Sissy! I am DYING over that yellow lamp...must have. Oh and that mirror, I have wanted it forever. What a great desk area!

I Spy

I can't say I love this bedroom completely- the wall plants remind me of something they would have done on Trading Spaces circa 2001. However, I do LOVE the bed...

It reminded me of this beauty that is always floating around somewhere in the back of my head...

And jumping back to the house featured in the first picture....

There is nothing I would change about that closet, perfection.

First and third picture, Elle Decor.

Love The One You're With- Everything LEB

I am so happy to introduce my next guest blogger, Lindsay from....

Not only do I love reading her blog but I also get to call her a friend!

I'm so excited to participate in Marianne's "Love the One You're With" series! Although, I have to admit when putting together this post I realized that my apartment has changed so many times over the last 3 years it was hard to pick a space that I've loved for longer than, say....6 months. Call it design ADD.
Anyways, I thought I would post about my bedroom which is ever changing and hasn't been the same for longer than 6 months, but I still love it. I love my sleep, I could sleep for days, so my bedroom is a special place.
I'll start with the bad. This photo is from when we first moved into the apartment. It was a mix of furniture and bedding just thrown together.

That Pottery Barn duvet cover had to go- its not horrible but it was time for a change

I then went into a major green green kick and was dying for an upholstered headboard. It was not in the budget so I took one of those college days egg crate (remember those??) folded it over the top of the wood headboard and made a green slipcover. It worked perfectly.

The yellow shame came from Homegoods- one of those impulse purchses. And the monogram pillows I made with some fabric paint.

I lived with the green headboard for about 6 months and then Shumachers Chaing Mai Dragon fabric came into my life. The green would just not do, so the headboard went to navy. Lets face it, since I change my mind so often I realized that a whole headboard out of the pricey Schmaucher fabric wouldnt be wise. So, I went with a pillow to satisify my craving.

Last but not least (I'm actually in the works of changing the headboard again) I embraced color in my life and the lamp got an upgrade, as well as a few other colorful things on my nightstand.

So while my bedroom is ever changing, it is the one space in my apartment that I love over and over again.

Thanks Marianne for asking me to participate in such a fun series, it really got me thinking about the next direction for my bedroom :)

Thanks again Lindsay! I love all the changes, it keeps things interesting!!!!

North of the Border Blue Inspiration

Images Canadian House & Home, Michael Penney

INSPIRATION - RAFAEL SOLDI/PHOTOGRAPHER

////////////////////////////RAPHAEL SOLDI.photographer

Born in Peru. Lives and works in Seattle. WA.

I was intrigued by Raph's photos based on his impeccable sense of light and composition and most notably this series above entitled "Nona" for their honest perspective of interiors as a family mourns the loss of a beloved one and dismantles a home piece by piece.

artist statement.

My Nona was a fascinating woman: a world class historian, anthropologist and archaeologist, but most importantly a mother/grandmother. A woman of rare modesty and intense honesty, Ana Marie Soldi has influenced some of the most respected scholars in the world today and I am sure has touched the hearts of every single person she has ever met. Kind as one can be, my Nona and I could spend hours talking about art and photography. My Nona could look at me and smile in a way that no one else can. These are photographs of her house, the place where she spent the last 40 years of her life. This is the place where she died, surrounded by her family and everyone else who loved her deeply.

www.rafaelsoldi.com