Ive been eyeing these totem cups for awhile and Ive seen them in many stores, both here and on the mainland,… most recently in Rebel Rebel on Johnson. If you know me, you know that my historical research interests are in Canadian First Nation history and culture, so these are a natural fit for me. They’re made by Imm Living and available in White, Black and Gold….check them out.
My espresso machine called…it said it wants them.
Read More →
I got a new book!! (Thank you Kelly!!) Undecorate is a new book celebrating the style and design sense of “regular”people. It challenges the idea of designers coming into spaces and creating rooms for clients to move into, and instead highlights some well chosen interiors created by people with guts and a sense of personal style. I love the concept and although some of the interiors are waycrazy I love the heart that the homeowners have put into them. Love this book. If you come over for a margarita you can flip though it on my coffee table:)
Weird coincidence – my crib crush for March is the first house featured in the book.
Read More →
I don’t normally post on fashion, since I’m one of those reclusive nerdy types who goes out once a month. But….a few weeks ago I introduced you to one of my favourite textile designers, John Robshaw, and today I’m showing you the Spring 2011 line from Lucky Brand Jeans that he collaborated on. Nice! Makes even ME want to get out of the house:)
I would call it urban bohemian. Love it, I want the tunic/dress, the cardigan, the military shirt jacket and the peasant top. I like the boy stuff too, but hubby wouldn’t be caught dead in a scarf like that!
The closest store I am aware of is at Metrotown. Road trip anyone?
Hope you have a great weekend!
Read More →
Uh oh, I know I know not another fabric post! but I can’t help it. My heart beats faster I fall in love with these textiles and I feel like it’s my duty to share them with you and to convince my husband that more pillows and duvet covers are needed because….
While I work on getting my story straight look at these block printed linens by John Robshaw and tell me the designs don’t say Spring/Summer?!? In the winter the patterns incorporate more earthy tones like rust and brown and these cool colours are a sure sign that Spring is coming; far more reliable that those groundhogs wouldn’t you say?!!
In my opinion the California Casual look is always in style, but if you need confirmation that it is in full swing for 2011 come back next week when I showcase some amazing California Casual options and where to get them in Victoria!
Beautiful Bed
Read More →
Relaxed and Refined. Peter Dunham is another favourite designer of mine, and you might recognize some of the patterns used in the rooms below as he is not only an interior designer but he creates the most beautiful (and popular) textiles as well! This family home was featured in Traditional Home Magazine.
I love the warmth of the wood floors and the casual welcoming feel of this open plan kitchen and eating area.
His choices are refined, but he pulls the furnishings together in such a way that the room is inviting and comfortable. The rugs are a key element in each of these neutral rooms, I love rugs rugs and more rugs!!!
Mixing the styles of the chairs and the modern shade with the traditional lamp base adds interest, but the use of the same linen colour palette on all the surfaces keep this area visually quiet.
The bed is stunning with its barley twist posts and takes its rightful place as the focal point of the room. Aged looking linens combine with a mixture of antique and modern pieces to create an interesting and worldly feel in this relaxed bedroom.
Simple white subway tiles…works every time. The basketweave tile on the floor is classic too!
A beautiful example of a refined yet relaxed home designed for a modern family but honouring traditional style. Love it.
Read More →
My admiration for textile and interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland borders on
creepy but I thought I would come out of hiding and share some of my very favourite pictures of her interiors so that you too can gain an appreciation for her oh, so comfortable California style. Known for her generous use of layers of colourful fabrics and a love for Spanish style architecture she has become wildly famous and sought after by the Hollywood elite; even so, she remains a favourite of mine.
Her textiles and pillows are so cheerful and inspiring.
On her approach to design: KI “It’s simple, because it’s what I want my own house to be — unpretentious and welcoming. It’s that thing of letting a room evolve. I don’t think too much. I don’t put too much importance on any one thing. I’m just attracted to certain objects and somehow I know it’s all going to work.”
On Mixing all those patterns: KI ”Confidence. If you do things with confidence, they come off. A house, like a dog, takes on the persona of its owner. If you have confidence, your house will have confidence.”
On why her casual style is so appealing: KI“I think it’s just the way I mix things up. I want it to feel fresh and approachable. We’re all drawn to warmth and amusement, fun, food, laughter. At the end of the day, I want conversation and friends and a glass of wine, with my dogs lying in every-one’s laps. That’s what it’s all about.”
Creating casual, comfortable and effortless looking style is not, in fact, effortless. Let me help you achieve your design goals by giving you the confidence to use pattern & colour and to mix old and new pieces to create a casual “lived in” interior that you will love! email me anytime nicole@scottdesigns.ca
Photos from House Beautiful Ojai Article; Interview Responses from House Beautiful Ursula Brooks Cottage article
Read More →
I hope that you are getting a sense of my personal style preferences, and that you like what you see! This post covers dining rooms and while I am known to occassionally catch a bite in the car as I run around town, I am also terribly fond of my own dining table and the whole idea of sitting down to eat with loved ones. I am currently in the process of re-decorating the dining area of my home and here are some of my inspiration(s)…
elle decor
House Beautiful
Turqouise
Sarah Richardson
Brown Design
Comfort, warmth stylish and personal. These are my goals when pulling together a living space. I am inspired by the following rooms and modelling my own home decor around some of the common threads.
- Walls and large furnishings are neutral
- Wood Floors and area rugs (red tones)
- Dark woodtone furniture
- Hits of Red, lots of Accesories, books and pictures
- One piece of leather something
- Natural elements like stone and plants
Pottery Barn
House Beautiful - Christine Gillespie
Brown Design
House Beautiful - Moises Esquenazi
Pottery Barn
Traditional Home
I recently got some great advice to stay focused on the things I love about design and decor…By staying on track my personal style will show through my choices of subjects and pictures AND my blog will become more cohesive for you, my readers.
So, in this month of LOVE and Romance what better time could there be to share a little of what I love about design each day?
Just to be clear on the subject of Love: I love myself, my husband, dog, family, friends, community, country and earth… and then I love the following:
elle decor
Traditional Home
HGTV
own by design
unknown
Spanish Colonial and Traditional styles with a modern twist feature prominently in my photo galleries and scrapbooks. Too bad there’s not more spanish colonial revival architechture in Canada eh!
Common Threads:
- Soft colours and textures – neutral palette
- Restrained hits of red, burnt orange and blue
- Dark woodtones and dark floors with area rug(s)
- Drapes emphasize and soften the windows
- Prominent overhead lighting
Read More →
Ever see a piece of art that just grabbed you? Artist Jeff Lewis has that effect on me. His artistic influences inlcude Pollock, Miro and Warhol. His work is so alive and vibrant; perfect pick-me-up for a West Coast winter day.
Jeff Lewis : “My painting process is rooted in abstract expressionism and the New York School. When I am working, I am in the moment. It is purely an intuitive process.
The practice continues to grow and change as I do. The ovals came into the work in the mid-nineties; they are just a point of departure. My newer work is large, at times monolithic, abstract, and physically demanding to make. The end result: a painting.”
[Quote from http://www.20x200.com/artists/jeff-lewis.html]
Read More →
Recent Comments