Rustic Retreat

I never remember stumbling on a house quite like this! Figure nest in the South African Home magazine and photographed by Adriaan Oosthuizen, this magnificent Paarl Valley homes have a compromise in style between the two owners. He hoped that the elements of a rustic farmhouse filled with leather and wood, she wanted to femininity. I am particularly fond of lighting in each photo. And the fridge! I would like a week here to relax!

Calypso Blue

Hillary Designer Thomas contributed to this eclectic bathroom in the number of recently published Lonny. I can not get enough of the Blue Benjamin Moore Calypso on the walls here ... is an ideal partner for the coating of white. Not sure I could live without a mirror over the sink, but the artwork is very cool. The hand-painted fabric Lulu DK on the awning and the starlight Moravia keys are too large, such as starfish cute!

Green Room

Nothing is more green than recycling. 

For those of us who collect antiques 

and shop for gently used wares,

we live the green life. 

Sometimes ordinary things can take on a new purpose.

We've all had a time when we used something 

for a purpose outside it's calling  . . .

A coffee cup pencil holder,

a jar holding buttons . . . 

What about bigger things?

Today I bring to you a set of things that

are not only being reused,

but in some cases rethought.

Including a few items from my own home.

But first, a history lesson.

In the 30s this building was an office space.

By the 50s, a small fashion studio

An now you call it home.

You have purchased this building, busted out some walls,

and renovated it. 

You sifted through the remains,

pulled from it some good pieces, and build some new dreams.

The local salvage yard and consignment shop

had a number of things you could put to good use, too.

Modern green living - the old fashioned way.

Doors turned room divider,

a trolley cart coffee table,

 windows frames as decor or a new mirror,
an antique dress form just like the one in my dining room,

a door as a table.

Also included:

4 pendant lights
a bottle, a jar and two styles of edison bulbs

Nesting bowls just like my own (2nd style is CAS-table)

A metal sign that used to hang at a store I worked at in South Station, Boston
(2 styles, worn and worn out)

a 'scissor' lamp with glass bulb,

and an accordion table I finally had to break down and buy I loved it so much.

Well there you have it. 

14 items.

This set is so big I am having to break it up by format.

** door screen footprint problem has been corrected for these downloads**

I hope you enjoy this set as much as I have creating it.

Perhaps it will inspire you to see thing a new way.

People that need to be thanked for their invaluable help:

Raven Shadow @ MTS <------- my hero

OrangeMittens @ MTS/Indigo

HugeLunatic @ MTS

HystericalParoxysm @MTS

Murano @ TSR

Helping to fix the problems with the 

dining table and trolley cart coffee table

as well as TSRW in general.

I also want to thank all the people who have helped me to test this set,

and, of course, Heidi @ Exotic Elements for inspiring the set with her unreleased finial! Release it! hehe

Pandora's Box

You'll remember I am a picture framer

Sometimes a piece of art comes in that 

a simple mat and frame 

simply won't cut it. 

It needs more. 

Today I have two new sets for you.

A shadow box frame and an acrylic box frame.

A shadow box is a deep frame that

the inside of the frame is lined with the same material

as the backing the piece is floated on.

An acrylic box frame is set up something of the same

but sometimes you don't want to look at a frame.

Paper needs to be protected however, 

so a acrylic box or plexi box can be used to minimize the framing.

Probably more than you ever cared to know. 

Just saying.

These were constructed to add depth and realism

to my own game. 

This didn't come without problems.

Glass has a glare and these were no different.

Solution? How about it's own light source. 

To have the glass on the surface, it was hard to see the art

which is a little 'too' real. I noticed that with proper lighting,

the light reduced the glare and showcased the art again.

If you are concerned about 'glare' then this set might not be for you.

This was an attempt at realism as art normally has glass. 

Colors and light affect them so experiment with what works best.

The look best in a room with limited direct natural light.

The shadow box has art that is more Generative, Op, and Minimal:

McNally, Ado, Ernst, Stella

Pearson, Shlian, Hepler, Spalatin,

Timofeev, Agam, Unknown, Unknown

The acrylic box has art that is more abstract and varied.

Corita, Lichtenstein, Klee, Modigliani

Rosenquist, Pearson, Gottlieb, Mountford

Nevelson, Qadri, Motherwell, Hock

All of the art is on paper.

Some of these artists are contemporary

and some are considered masters.

All are good at what they do

and each can stand along side the other.

Enjoy it while eating

Enjoy it while relaxing

Just enjoy it.

So now you have two more styles of frame to consider.

You can click on the art and adjust 

the color or brightness of the light or simply turn it off.

These are large files

and as such

you'll need to download the type of file you prefer seperately.

Sunny Yellow Cottage

Now and the summer sun, courtesy of Home Life magazine! This small hut near Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, could not be nicer. The owner chose a palette of yellow and green to reflect the light of summer and fill the room with heat and used turquoise as the perfect accent. I loved your tips for decorating on a budget: Be patient. She has been collecting these beautiful dishes with turquoise stripes Carrigaline, Cork, Ireland for over 10 years ... and never pay more than $ 1 each. That's how I like it!

Dream Workspace

One of the things that excited me when I moved last year was to finally have my own office. I had big dreams for the space ... beautiful and efficient space, colorful and inspiring life. It was about 6 months. From the outset, I received a fabulous new apartment (thanks Dad!), BM beautiful waterfall wall (thanks Chris !)...... Ikea furniture and the remains of my apartment. No art, no curtains, no doorstep. That's my resolution for the new year, fancy my workspace. MyHomeIdeas that would be perfect. They call this the "control center of the family." That's what I call a blogger's dream of turquoise!

Arden Stephenson

It 'was very snowy, cold winter here in Minnesota, and Nantucket to see this beautiful home designed for Arden ARDEN Stephenson Interior Architecture & Design wants you to leave me for the summer! All of these ocean blues and neutral sand raises the long, sunny days on the beach. Anyone else get that feeling Something's Gotta Give space as well? See more on this and other modern facilities designed for Arden in this way!

And with that, now I'm down to Iowa for me last Christmas! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! :)