The bearded man...

I live in the Northwest where beards reign. They don't do much for me but I know many a woman who swoon for these bearded men. My dad had a beard for most of my young childhood and I use to love to play with it and was heart broken when he shaved it off. Who knew he was so hip.
What do beards do for you?

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Personal style...

The other day on Facebook a friend posted a list of trends that people want to see go away based on a article she saw...it started a really good conversation through the comments from a lot of friends. After reading them it made me think, what is on trend?
I've been in the design business for 20 years and one thing I know is that we all have our own style and that it is reflected in our homes and in what we wear. There are no wrong answers in telling ones' own story. Sure there are trends and fads and a long list of who's who in the design world telling us how we should decorate and style our homes but when it comes right down to it, it's your story to tell whether you like an all white room or a dark and moody room you are the one who is going to have to live in it and should reflect you and your lifestyle.
So, go out...be bold...buck the trend and tell YOUR story!

White...

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Dark and moody...

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Color...

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Ciao,

F

industrial lighting...

I tend to fall in love with something and
then I obsess over it and want to collect them.
Not for myself, well yes for myself, but you
see I don't have much room and I would have to
get rid of something which I don't do well
and with out turning my house
inside out and starting from almost scratch, which
I would love to do but it's not really feasible, it's not for myself.

So, I hunt and collect and obsess in hopes that I can live
vicariously through my clients and customers.

This week it's industrial lighting.

I have always had an obsession but until yesterday
I haven't found a lot of it that isn't already super expensive.
Yes, I scored a small collection (about 8 lamps) of perfect
industrial lights. Now I will admit one or maybe two will end
up in my studio but the rest will be for sale.
They haven't arrived yet so no pictures but instead a little taste
of others I have pinned to my Pinterest boards.

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Once I get my lamps I'll post them to my FB page.
I just love the character, patina and charm of these.

ciao,
F

studio space...

my Mr O decided he was done with his man cave
in the basement and wanted to change things up
in how some of the rooms in our house were set up.

at first I was confused and then he threw out this
idea about turning the basement into my studio space.
well, I don't have to tell you what a good idea I thought
this was and you didn't have to ask me twice if I thought
it was a good idea.

my brain has been spinning with ideas on how I
want to set up and style the space. It will become
office space, design space, sewing space and storage space.
yes, it's that big. Of course it is going to be filled with
as much vintage I can find for it (I've already raided
my inventory for some pieces). Now the big question
became what look or style would I use...

well, I think I have landed on an industrial, rustic, primitive
style with lots of woods and metals. I haven't settled on the
pop color yet, leaning towards yellow but I did just buy the
coolest metal industrial blue stool for the table I want to make.

anyway, next week I am off so plan on doing some work
on the space and will chronicle the journey.

some of my inspiration:

 

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

what is my style....

yesterday my mom and i added some new items

to our space at Stars and as i was trying to 

summon the inspiration goddess i struggled

with conjuring her up.

i got everything placed stepped back

to look at the space and realized

it wasn't the fault of my inspiration goddess

but we were all over the style board with our offerings.

if any of you know me this drives me crazy!

i don't know if it's an a.d.h.d. thing or what

but if things don't fit together just right

i go a little bonkers and will actually loose sleep over it.

so, here is the dilemma....

i have all these beautiful items for sale...

i need to sell them...

yet, they don't all work together.

do i just live with it until things sell

and meanwhile get in touch with my true passions

and shop for just those styles?

i look around and so many amazing dealers 

have a look, they have tapped into something

that works.

what is mine? 

i know what i like and what gets my juices flowing

yet they don't always live together in a store space

that is 9x10 well....if you know what i am saying.

i think it might be time to start an  inspiration board

for our little shop in shop and remember to stick

to those styles. 

maybe this way i can get some sleep and feel

the guidance of my inspiration goddess more naturally.

here's what gets my juices flowing....

industrial....
bohemian chic....
feminine modern hollywood.....
primitive farmhouse....

wood....
metal....
rusty....
velvet.....
dark moody colors....
pink....


ok, see my problem?

how do i pair this down to make it work?

help?

beleaguered and dazed 

ciao,
f