Calm elegance...

The photography by Nicolas Buisson and interior of these images are beautiful...there is a calm elegance throughout.
The simple way it all looks like it has been sand washed with a touch of old world...textures abound in the textiles, wood and light.
Pure, calm elegance...

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Ciao,
F

Perfect...

Ellen and Portia's place in Santa Monica is perfect!
What a dream, more then 8 buildings to decorate,
oh my...my dream come true and obviously Ellen's too!

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Ciao,
F

lovely surprises...

Opposites really do attract...

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ciao,
f

the loo...

there are so many rooms in a house
and we talk about them all the time
except for the bathroom; this one we
tend not to want to address.
so often people do "up" their
bathrooms in white.  don't get me
wrong i like a white loo, there is something
so fresh about a white loo but it's usually
one of the smallest rooms in the house
which means you can try anything and
if you don't like it it won't take much
to change it.
i have a pink tub in my bathroom with white
tile so what wall there was got a coat of
pink paint. it's fun and whimsical and
my mr. "O" doesn't mind. he likes the
fun of the pink.

here are a few to inspire your loo:

so try something fun or different
then you normally would and
see what happens.

ciao,
F

Whimsy...

i think as we get older the farther we
get from being a kid and i don't mean
chronologically i mean there seems to
be a cultural expectations that we need
to be all "adult".
there isn't anything wrong being adult
it's a good thing but sometimes i think
we just need to get in touch with our
kid side.
have you ever noticed how much fun they
get to have.
i've been thinking maybe we need to
take a kid approach to decorating,
not to the whole space but adding  a little
whimsy to your space can bring
an unexpected surprise to a room,
add a conversational starter and make
you smile. 

next time you look around and feel
you need to change things up in your
home look for a way to add some
whimsy.

 

 a playground spring ride toy...

a animal lamp...

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the perfect nap spot...

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 hang your favorite dress...

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what ever it is, have fun
and add what ever it is that will
make you smile everyday.


ciao,
f

wall color...

my Mr. O has decided he wants to paint his music room.
i think it's a great idea since it's been the same color for 8 years...
a lovely English mushy pea green.
that sounds worse than it is, it's actually has a masculine elegance to it.

he's asked me my opinion (isn't that sweet, it's his room after all)
and i am going back in forth between
dark and mood or
light and airy.

we have a 1917 Arts & Crafts bungalow so the rooms
are on the smaller side but lots of windows and detail.

now imagine a room with a big leather chair (this belongs to the dogs),
mahogany bookcases and a sheet music cabinet and the piano.
in all of this is stacks and stacks of music books and sheet music.
of course a bust of beethoven sits on top of the piano overseeing it all.

now that you have a picture in your head here are a couple of examples
of wall colors i am thinking:

Aubergine:

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grey:

 

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darker grey:

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warm cream:

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flax:

 

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so what do you think?
keep in mind there is little wall and a lot of doors and windows.

love your thoughts as i am torn.

ciao,
F

Maps...

My dad collected old antique maps of the Netherlands,
which is where he was from.
They now happily sit on my fireplace mantel and
travel through out the house depending on my mood.
They tell a story all on their own...
and if you have a hankering to roam the world but
just don't have the time or money to do so you can
get lost in a map and make up a story of dream traveling.

 lighting...

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 wall covering...

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 black & white...

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school maps & globes...

 

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more wall paper...

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framed...

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happy traveling...

ciao,
F

Kids rooms...

my nephew has been visiting us
and who new one could get so tired playing.
not complaining...
we have so much fun and i truly do love
him to the ends of the world and back.

my house looks like a kid has been around...
this got me thinking how much fun it would
be to do a kids room with great vintage finds.

here is what i am thinking...

vintage laundry baskets for laundry, toys, blankets and pillows

locker baskets for what else...storage!

vintage desk and chair and the plates would even be fun,

pick a theme for the plates and display.

 these colorful library card catalog drawers would be great

for fun and whimsical storage.

 now seriously, what kid big or small wouldn't want to read

under the glow of the world.

letters...

the ultimate in fun and whimsy.

find their initials or spell their name.

maps are fascinating and educational...

perfect for some wall art.

old pant hangers to display their own art.

repurposed school lockers for books, clothes and toy storage.

how much fun could you have?
get them involved and hit the flea markets
and estate sales to find their own vintage treasures
for their rooms.


now enough work...
back to playing!

ciao,
f

real books for reading....

"a home without books,
is a home without a soul."
-anonymous

i do believe that....
have you ever walked into a house
and it just doens't feel quite right and
you can't put your finger on it until...
suddenly you realize, there are no books!

there isn't a room in my house that doesn't
have a book in it. truly, there are stacks and
cases of books in my house.
they are my soul....

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happy reading...

ciao,
F