unpainted inspiration - thomas jayne

Had a bit of a moment over the work of Thomas Jayne with a blogging friend. I thought we should share the photo that sparked it with the rest of the internet.

And more,

image via

image via, AD

image via, TD Classicist

image via, AD

And lovely interviews with the man himself, here and here.

image via

Having a lot of fun catching up with design friends in America. I have a few things planned in the upcoming weeks including a couple house tours, one American and one Japanese. See you soon!

soothing sights - grokulsky interiors

One of the things I've become quite adept at is pinning one-handed on my iPad while I walk circles trying to soothe our colicky little girl. I spotted a pin by Karen Robertson the other day of a room done by two lovely friends, Kelly Grokulsky and Alex Gebicke.

 

They're two sweet Florida ladies and Kelly runs Grokulsky Interiors. All her spaces are so peaceful and relaxing - something I'm craving when my poor little lady is crying all day!

All images by and belonging to Grokulsky Interiors

gush I have a crush - nester smith

I loved this hilarious post on living with white walls by Nesting Place. My favorite quote, "MY WALLS ARE WHITE, PEOPLE!" My sentiments exactly.

How much do I love this lady? She even created an entire pinboard of white spaces.

gush I have a crush - juliette récamier

Rumor has it that the récamier is named like the Birkin bag. This furnishing was supposedly influenced by a woman named, Madame Juliette Recamier. It seemed she popularized the image of a languid beauty lounging on her favorite, namesake, style of sofa.

From this reading, she sounds like quite the character. She, "walked like a goddess on the clouds and her voice thrilled the senses’. She dressed in a cloud of diaphanous white mousseline, never wore diamonds only pearls, and appealed to romantic sensibility, wearing crowns of real pansies and cornflowers on her head and posies on her gown. Juliette was married at 15 to the wealthy banker Jacques Recamier...

"Juliette insisted on having flowers everywhere, even on the stairs, and would greet invited guests with a charming smile and invite them to see her famous bedroom. The bed itself was raised on a dais, and declared the most beautiful in Paris, against its background of mirrored walls, draped as it was in a froth of transparent gauze, a white vapor falling from the ceiling, surrounded by vases and candelabra, and an artificial rose tree."

Oh to be a muse. Rough gig.


Want to see the namesake in action? Now technically speaking, as I recall, a chaise is the genus and the récamier the species. Not to be confused with the duchesse brisée, or méridienne. And don't mistake it with a lit bateau, goodness; that's not for the living room... Confused yet? Quick recap, the duchesse brisée is a chaise broken into two with a footstool and a seat. The méridienne is asymmetrical with a higher side to rest your head and downward sloping place to put your feet. Ah, old school La-Z-Boy, yes! And lastly, the récamier looks just like the lit bateau with two sides that are generally even. But for eye-candy sake, let's just look at them all. ref


Image and excerpt from Culture Concept. Other images from Wikipedia, Chateau of Coppet: Mme Récamier's bedroom, Lessing Photo Archive, Candace Bushnell/Alex Papachristidis for Elle Decor,Encyclopédies sur 'Academic', Architect Design at Vizcaya (btw loved this room in person too!), This is Glamorous

Source: Uploaded by user via Ann on Pinterest

Source: horsecountrychic.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: elementsofstyleblog.com via Ann on Pinterest

gush, I have a crush - carolyne roehm

I know, you are probably thinking, "what design-minded person does not know of her?!" Well, I first learned of her work in the early 90's. From my mother. Who liked her clothes. That's right, I knew of her as a clothes designer, first.

While her fashion firm was short-lived, her tastes are timeless. I've been watching her work for a long time and I love her classic sensibilities. Here is a little tour of her own pad via my favorite section of the New York Social Diary.

Image from NYSD, Models of the World

gush, I have a crush - michael penney

I discovered his work through a blogger/photographer called Meagan Camp. Michael is the Canadian king of high - low, mixing in thrift finds and high end fabrics, creating vignettes with readily available things. He has that creative ability that helps even renters create a glossy-worthy interior. See for yourself by watching his videos on Canada's House and Home or visiting his blog which always has accessible great finds. I highly suggest touring the house he shares with his wife, Sara. So many nomad friendly ideas!

Photos are by Michael Penney and design sponge

gush, I have a crush - erika powell

Erika was another gateway blogger. I discovered her blog while looking for some examples of window coverings a couple years ago. It has been such a joy to see her business grow and flourish. Never bashful about boasting for others - she was recently featured in Better Homes and Gardens. And it helps, she has a cute little sidekick (her daughter) in many of her blog photos! You can see more here at pinterest, at her blog or at her company's website Urban Grace. I think her real talent is kitchens, every one is amazing. Her own kitchen is my favorite, you can read about it here at Kitchn.

Also, Kiki's List found a great tutorial for that gorgeous pink skirt. You know, if you are the crafty and skilled type unlike myself.