Livable Design

“The drama of this interior doesn’t come from the obvious; it comes from the strength of the point of view. The rooms are sets—not for theater, but for living.”—Interior designer Vicente Wolf, August/September 01 Elle Decor

Let's meditate on this for a while today, shall we?

Neutral palette + mixed textures and pieces, unknown source.

Multiple colors and textures + color, unknown source.

Classic pieces + casual arrangement, Windsor Smith.

Restored vintage living furnishings + neutral/industrial colors, via Second Hand Hannah.

The point of view should come from the people in the home and their everyday activities of living- cooking, cleaning up, lounging on a couch to read, entertaining friends, morning preparation rituals, bedtime rituals. All these daily life kind of activities are in fact kind of sacred and special. If your home is a museum, then what good is it to live in? We need spaces for living, that are beautiful, inspiring, comfortable, and functional. I think I love Vincente Wolfe's quote so much because it rings so true to my very favorite design theory by Le Corbusier: "A house is a machine for living in."

Vintage classic furnishings + bright pops of color, Domino.

  One of the reasons I love residential interior design so much is because of the personal nature of it. The visual elements of arrangement, color, and style collide with the needs and desires of the person living in the space. As a designer, my job is to help a client recognize what their needs and desires actually, visually, artistically look like. At the end of the day, a well-designed and decorated space is not the stagnant, pristine, model home looking space- it is a comfortable, function, and inspiring happy and beautiful space that fits the person living in it.

Moody neutrals + graphic print, Dwell Studio.

Natural materials + bright jewel tones, unknown source.

Don't all these spaces look like they could be comfortably lived in? Well, depending on who's living in them. ;)

xoxo, 

 

Industrial Loft

Apartment Therapy, you never fail me. Just look at this beautiful home tour, of super cool L.A. loft, designed by Chris Cushingham.

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As if I didn't want to move to Cali already. :)

  xoxo

Summer's End

So sorry for my lapse in blogging, guys. I've had an eventful end of summer including:

• finishing up a long design project (which is turning out GREAT, by the way- moodboard soon)
• me and husband's 3 year wedding anniversary (tribute post soon)
• playing with lots of new friends and community in our new city home
• watching lots of documentaries
• running a lot in preparation for the half marathon (think about trying Vibram Five Fingers), also just bought this app to help my training program
• researching going raw (see this link for how I'm going to slowly acclimate) or at least 51% raw because of this movie

So that's what I've been doing. 

My next arty project is going to be something similar to this wedding invite from 100 Layer Cake. I want to slowly begin making a piece of "doodle" art that frames a silhouette of me and hubby... a late 3rd anniversary project. So cute, right? My sister-in-law made a list of all the inside jokes she and her husband shared and framed it and gave it to him for their 10th wedding anniversary. I think doodling my inside jokes and dreams with my man in this kind of way will be a great sentimental piece of personal art. I'm excited. First, I'll find a silhouette-y photo of us that I love and scan it and photoshop it into a silhouette. 

Then I'll begin the slow doodling process.

xoxo,

Modern meets Vintage, again

These photos are of the amazing SOL development I've blogged about before (here). This is a home tour of a home that is now lived in and the residents decorated it themselves. As Sol put it, "this is a pretty good example of making a Modern Austin home comfy with heirlooms, personal artwork, and some very sweet mod furniture. This home is also 5 Star Austin Energy Green rated and is powered by Solar Arrays."

Awesome.

 Photos from Austin Sol.

xoxo,

 

Please

Design*Sponge just featured this amazing poster by Plaid Creative. I would frame this sucker and put it in my kitchen as a coffee menu. Wouldn't this serve as great inspiration for your daily morning java? I'm ordering one.

You likee?



xoxo, 

 

This post has absolutely nothing to do with Interior Design...

We went to Ohio for a friends' wedding this weekend. It was amazing. Taylor was the photographer and got some incredible shots. I can't wait for him to deliver them to the bride and groom- they are going to love them!

Amidst the wedding festivies I had some great relaxing me time: I spent one afternoon, basking in the sun poolside and another afternoon cuddled up in bed, watching junk TV (sometimes that feels so good) and searching the interwebs.

During this time, I was exposed to these two infomercials. Apparently Mari Winsor has a new pilates system that looks like its kicks butt. And this weird tiny ball thing would make my abs amazing. But in all seriousness, I am looking for some sort of core training routine to supplement my half marathon running program. Running's great and everything, but my middle needs toning, regardless.

Oh crap, did I really just admit to training for a half marathon!??!?! Now, everyone knows and is probably going to hold me accountable. Eff.... really, don't hold me to this... I'm still not sure I can run 13.1 miles without stopping... ever. Even in November after consistent training. I guess we'll see. Now that the cat's out of the bag, I'm doing this program for the San Antonio Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I keep hearing it's a blast and I have a handful of friends coercing, no peer-pressuring encouraging me to do it. All I know is, running 3 miles is hard, so I'm freaking out optimistic about 13.1 miles.

My Street Team (ie, girls who are encouraging me to do this race) have so kindly photoshopped me into a real runner's outfit and paraphenalia to help me visualize myself in preparation for race day. Have a gander:

What awesome friends I have, ha ha. While we're on this health tangent, i might as well divulge my new pet project: Joining an organic food co-op. My friend Lindsey and Liz introduced me to this one and I think it's so so cool. I want to buy produce from it (Thanks a lot, Food Inc).

 Anyway, that's the scoop. Thanks for entertaining my tangent. Any advice on my endeavors? 

PS- check out my friend Brandi and Jacob's work out blog, Shape Up Bracob.



xoxo,
 

J.Crew, I love you.

 Why is J.Crew style so effortless and fantastic? I mean, don't you always wear pumps with your cut-offs and look this fabulous?

 In all seriousness, I did buy a straw fedora that I am LOVING this summer. It's perfect for frumpy hair days. Can I just say that I ADORE that greeny-gold color on that cardi?

Casual top and jeans, but glam necklace and camel/nude pumps?! Amazing. Why is this so simple?

This dress is good looking. I dont' have anything specific to say about it other than, declare it's loveliness.

I've always wanted a white pantsuit. Always. You can ask my mom. Ever since I saw the movie Sabrina (1995 version with Harrison Ford) when i was 11, I've wanted a white pantsuit like one of Julia Ormond's.

These shoes are hot. Period.

So there's my J.Crew Review. Love the summer looks. Love them.