Artful Interiors: The Power of Green

As you may or may not have noticed, I've been contributing to the brilliant design blog, Design for Mankind, curating 'Artful Interiors' for a while now and I wanted to share some of them with you here...and since I've pulled inspiration from the whole spectrum I thought I'd start with some pairings in one of my favorite feel good hues, mighty green...

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The color of female empowerment, green makes a room instantly fresh, modern and invigorating. I think I'll be painting my next thrift shop find in this happy hue...Enjoy!

Love it / Live [in] it: Noel Skrzypczak

Daydreaming today about these gorgeously fluid watercolors and how to create the same thing happen on my walls...

art by Noel Skrzypczak / interior via Cuffhome

I'm not sure if this is a beautifully placed wallpaper or if someone just found a way to paint the walls directly to get this effect but either way it is absolutely brilliant...Enjoy!

My Daylight: Life is in the Details

People often ask me what design style my own home is and well, there really is no good short answer. You might say it is one part vintage, one part Navajo, one part Uzbekistan, one part Abstract Expressionism, three parts thrifted and oh yes, lots of gold...

Just thought I'd share some of my favorite details in my home right now. My man and I are thrifting fanatics and some of our absolute favorite pieces were found in the most unlikely of places. Such as the screen printed burlap piece in the first photo, found for $5 in a tiny thrift store in Napa. And this last piece is the newest addition to our collection, recently found at our neighborhood Goodwill. But it is the eclectic combination of it all, old and new, patterned and textured, that excites me the most. Have you guys had any good thrift finds lately? Enjoy!

Love it / Live [in] it : Catherine Ulitsky

I love this layering of neon geometry on sky photography by artist Catherine Ulitsky. There is something so interesting in the contrast between the fluid clouds and the bold straight lines...

And what a wonderful way to decorate a staircase? Sure, it wouldn't provide much of a guard if you were to slip, but it brings such a light and delicate element to the cold concrete staircase; the perfect example of a gorgeously curated minimalistic detail...Enjoy!

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Art + Interiors: Lise Temple

Today I'm inspired by the abstract landscapes of Australian artist Lise Temple. Needless to say I love her choice of palette, but I also love the juxtaposition between broad and brash brush strokes and the tiny and intricate spacial detailing. It makes for a depth in the work that goes beyond the landscape or the page....

pendants / table / rug / glass / vintage vase / pillow / end table / pillow

I would never have thought to mix in terracotta with this palette but I think it brings in a beautifully warm contrast to the grey, green and blue that dominates each composition. And there is no better way to bring a color whole heartily into a room than to paint it on the walls. I've been wanting to use this green (#440B-6 Barnyard Grass by BEHR) somewhere in my home for months now, and I think it's time to finally pull the trigger. Hope your week is off to a wonderful start...Enjoy!

My Daylight: A Hole in the Room

Hello readers! I'm in a constant design process with my own home, always reworking spaces, re-finishing furniture and pushing the limitations that a rental and a budget sets forth. Currently my focus is on our bedroom. It has a little nook in the back corner lined with windows and built-in shelves, just big enough for a bed and a nightstand. And while it is the space that the fewest people see, it is one of the most important because it is where we get our much needed shut-eye.  So here is the look we have going so far...

elephant / pillow / chest / rug / lamp / pillow / bed

Things finally began to come together when we found this amazing Indian platform bed at our local Good Will and I painted this chest and now I'm just one major step away from creating a cozy and calming nook that also has enough interest to inspire me to rise and shine at the crack of dawn each day. No, an empty frame is not my design solution to a blank wall, rather a placeholder for my next project, just as soon as I decide what that is going to be....

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Maybe some vintage mapping? Both these spaces have the same relaxed, white-washed vibe of our bedroom and I love the way earth tones of vintage maps play into that. And the pieced together framing is a brilliant touch. 

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Or maybe something geometric and sculptural? This wood design could even double as shelving and I love the modern sensibility it brings.

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Or maybe a little writing on the wall. I love the idea of waking up to one of my favorite quotes or starting the day off with a positive mantra and there is something about handwritten text on a wall that makes a space feel like it's really yours. Something that can be hard to achieve in a rental home. Now I just have to decide which one to do...what is your favorite? Enjoy!

Art + Interiors: Tonal Blocking [Liz Maxwell]

Two looks that have been high on my radar this year are color blocking and dip-dying. So you can imagine my excitement when I found an artist, Liz Maxwell, whose work combines both looks in tonal shades of blue and green. As subtle as each composition is, there is a strong sense of horizon in each piece, making them incredibly calming and peaceful...

from top pillow via Xavier & Me, mug via Terrain, rug via Abc Carpet, Vases via Anthropologie, pillow via Belrossa Home, lamp via Abc Home

The same way that gazing at the horizon can settle and ground us, pulling in soft horizontal lines into the home can have the same effect on your space. And bolder hued color blocked pieces add in a modern touch. I'm thankful everyday when I get to sea the sun go down over the horizon, it tends to have a way of bringing me back to earth when I'm getting lost in my own head...Enjoy!

The Beauty of the Brush Stroke: Franz Kline + James Nares + Kelly Wearstler

The brush stroke is generally used as a tool, one of many components that makes up a composition. But many artists have embraced the brush stroke itself as a work of art. One of the pioneers of this way of thinking was abstract expressionist, Franz Kline, who's black and white compositions use bold and brash brush strokes to express structure and space...

Today, contemporary artist James Nares is exploring the spontaneous elements of single strokes of paint, positioning himself and his over sized paint brush above the canvas horizontally, letting gravity and force dictate much of the outcome...

I can't help but love the organic tonal variations and the way the paint seems to dance across the canvas in each piece. And I especially adore the element of spontaneity in his work. There is something so incredibly intriguing when an artist releases some of that control and embraces the results. I find this approach to be incredibly freeing and some of my favorite paintings have been the most unplanned and uninhibited, like this gold piece that now hangs in our bedroom...(please excuse the horrible photography)

Interior designer-gone-fashion designer (and my personal hero) Kelly Wearstler uses this look brilliantly in her new collection. And her chiffon and silk fabrics flow just as beautifully as paint on a canvas, making the entire look feel effortlessly chic. I have fallen head over heals for the turquoise mini of course...

via Kelly Wearstler

And I am always looking for ways to incorporate this look into my home. I love the relaxed urban feel it brings to a space. Like Franz Kline and James Nares' paintings, each piece has a unique story that is made by the viewer rather than the creator, allowing guests and homeowners alike an unassuming sense of comfort when entering the room.

lamp via Beeline Home, plates via Elephant Ceramics, Pillow via Belrossa Home, Rug via Fort Street Studio, Glassware via Habitat, plates via Elephant Ceramics

In fact, looking around right now I see a few glaringly blank palettes in my own home that could use this treatment. Afterall, Miss Wearstler treated a whole wall this way so why not? I strongly urge all of you to try it too, it can be incredibly freeing and you never know what kind of beauty that may come from it...Enjoy!!

via Kelly Wearstler

Orange Crushed: Amanda's Manhattan Apartment

Hello!! I haven't even unpacked my bags yet from my whirlwind trip to NYC but I just could not stay away any longer. I got the pleasure of spending some time with an old friend and fellow blogger while in Manhattan and like many of my friends, she wanted my two cents on how to make her living space special. Many of us 20-somethings are renting rooms and aren't able to tear down walls and refinish surfaces to make a space our own, sometimes the paint color isn't even in our control. Such is the case for Amanda, who is sub-letting a charming little orange room near the East Village...

Don't get me wrong, orange is a wonderful statement hue and has actually been proven to be the happiest color of them all, but it definitely presents a challenge when creating a space that will also be calming and peaceful. So I pulled together a look for Amanda that would mesh with the vibrant walls without being too overwhelming, mixing bold accents with textured whites and greys for a little Moroccan getaway fit for a vibrant and vivacious girl about town...

Lanterns via World Market, pillow via Madeline Weinrib, screen and vases via Z Gallerie, pillow via John Robshaw, duvet via Dwell Studio, End table via Wisteria

Turquoise sits right across from bright orange on the color wheel, making it a complimentary hue, so pulling it in through some key accents helps to balance out the color in the room and take the volume down a notch. And putting a large screen behind her bed will bring some texture and dimension to the room without taking up any precious real estate. Best of all, any of these pieces will fit seamlessly into whatever color or type of space she lands in next!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend, I'm so excited excited to share all the inspiration I gleaned from my trip to the other coast..Enjoy!

Love it / Live [in] it: Color Saturation [Rob Nadeau]

Happy Friday! Now that fall is in full swing, here in Seattle we get a lot of grey days and I crave color more than ever. It's right around this time every year that I start rethinking every neutral piece in my home and lusting over shockingly saturated elements. These paintings by artist Rob Nadeau are the perfect fix, as color seems to be boldly splashed over a long lost grey background...

interior via Design Attractor

interior via From the Right Bank

I came upon these gems while perusing one of my favorite resources for unique artistic finds, strataflora. My friend Amy has an incredible knack for finding new and gorgeous artwork. And in my search for inspiration with a serious injection of color, I was completely taken with all this bold colored modern seating. Bright green dining chairs? Yes, please..Enjoy!

p.s. head on over to Design For Mankind for another dose of Artful Interiors from yours truly.

Art + Interiors: Natural Flow [Jill Lorraine]

Today I'm inspired by the flowing paintings of Jill Lorraine. I love the way her organic palettes and natural rhythms make you wonder whether you're looking at paint or at a microscopic image of something found in nature. I chose a few of my favorite pieces that are reminiscent of where the ocean meets the sand...

While each canvas is completely saturated with color, there is an overwhelming sense of light coming through in all or her work that is absolutely breathtaking. And if you're looking to bring that same organic elegance into your home...

pillow via enhabiten on etsy, pendant via Terrain, Chair by Blu Dot via Velocity Art and Design, Box via Ruzzetti & Gow, Slab coffee table via Urban Hardwoods

A mix of organic textures and soft ocean accents, combined with flowing silhouettes makes for a calming minimal space, worthy of dreaming or working...Enjoy!



Office Space: TODAY IS THE DAY

Hello Monday and hello Fall! With the new season finally here I thought I'd give my blog a brand new look to go with a brand new chapter of life I've ventured into this year. I've joined the intimidating world of self employment and while working freelance has been incredibly rewarding so far, it is a constant challenge putting myself out there and overcoming the hurdles and setbacks that come with it...

via the big harumph

Despite the challenges of being an artist and designer for a living, I'm absolutely thrilled to be doing what I love and am so excited to be able to offer both graphic and interior design services here. I've been having so much fun working with a variety of clients and am loving the excitement of taking on new projects week after week.

via Chief & Crown

Lantern via 1st Dibs, rug via Anthropologie, Chair via Velocity Art and Design, Print via the big harumph, pencil cup via Jayson Home, Tray via Vivre, Desk via Velocity Art and Design

With that said, it is high time for me to create an office space where I can have some peace and calm, organize my thoughts,  and stay motivated and inspired everyday. So while I continue the search in pulling together my dream office, today I'm inspired by a mix of well traveled accents and modern silhouettes all on a warm and cozy ikat shag rug. And you never know, maybe today is the day that you land that dream job, get that promotion or make your dreams a reality, so let's get to it, shall we?...Enjoy!