Gotta Love No. 59 - The Art of the Bust

My new obsession are portrait busts. This obsession started like most of mine do - catching my eye and then turning into a Pinterest board that explodes in a matter of days. I know when its become an obsession when I get the notification "Psst you've already saved this pin to The Art of the Bust.

The portrait bust was a Hellenistic Greek invention ultimately copied by the Romans. The Greek created the bust to represent idealized human forms of heros and gods. Romans represented real people to show respect for their ancestors, to immortalize them.

Obsessions are personal, our little secret, temporarily. I say temporarily because at some point we can't keep them to ourselves. We blubber about them. Then the thing we are obsessing about in the moment starts showing up everywhere we turn. 

With this recent obsession of mine I told not a soul. Then a most handsome bust of Guiliano de' Medici shows up in a post of a purveyor I follow. He was in a group of four but stood out calling my name. The resistance was nill and he now sits on my desk. The desk I am sitting at writing this blog post. I cannot lie - I am pausing now and again to pet it. I'm in love.

Now I know there are people reading this all over the world who are clapping with glee because they can rest in the assurance that my reaction to an obsession is the same as theirs. They realize they are not alone. Some may be in denial, no worries you'll soon recognize these symptoms at some point. 

You might find yourself carrying your bust around your home until you find the perfect spot. I've moved mine from one side of my desk to the other. Perhaps I'm satisfied with where he is, perhaps not. I'm still looking at the credenza in my dining area as a possible resting place. Time will tell. I am confident I'll know when the exact spot is found. It will just feel right.

I'm not even sure I'm done with this obsession. Guiliano may have some companions in the near future because there's something about a cluster of white busts that put a flutter in my heart. Or I might just stay infatuated with him alone.

Where you place your bust obsession in your domus will be an adventure for certain. Enjoy the journey! My handsome guy is a two foot tall beauty with a calming and restful face and he's a welcome addition to my home.

Gotta love healthy obsessions. And my Pinterest Board - sixty-six pins and counting. 

Sources: Tumblr, Hawker Antiques, Pufin Homes, The Ancient Home, Domino, Veranda, Pinterest, Hunters & Gatherers, Coco & Kelley

Rethinking the Look of Things No. 63 - Styling the Linen Cabinet

We've all done it, fallen in love with a furniture piece. A chair, a table, a cabinet. If only we could find a space in our home for it, we would take it home with us. If we rethink the traditional use of any one of these pieces we swoon over, they can become our very own. I find this to be true of a cabinet that becomes a beautifully styled home for linens either in the bath or guest room.

Sometimes it isn't the cabinet we find first - it's the empty space we seek the piece for. And perhaps we already have the piece that we give new purpose. Any always remember it isn't always what our trip was about when we find a special addition to our home. 

Be the rebel you know I find great joy being in the company of and dodge the typical vanity or built in closet. Each and every place in our homes needs to hold something more than utility. Sure it's important that this piece have some concealed space because, afterall life can get hectic and we need those spaces that hide our hurried time.

Ditch the cardboard and plastic that our toiletries are packaged in for beautiful baskets and glassware. Be selective - making sure your selections add ease to your daily routine or the coveted quiet retreat of a bubble bath.

Styling a cabinet as linen storage isn't a new idea. It reminds me of an apothecary. The 14th century English word that is derived from the Latin apothica that means "storehouse". What better place to use modern apothecary jars than here. What we "store" here is our "medicine" to renew and rejuvenate. Presented in a spa-like way - a treat for ourselves.

Rethink that hutch or highboy you used in a different way - style it as a linen cabinet in the master ensuite or the guest room. Don't make it look like an afterthought though. Choose wisely because this piece becomes a focal point. It needs to allow for the function of a linen closet. You'll know what's best. Is it a painted piece? Does the design call for a wallpapered back? Will the addition of lighting inside elevate its use? 

That empty wall in a niche or hallway may be beckoning the cabinet that is your styled linen cabinet. Rethink the look of things - be inspired!


Sources: Instagram, Architectural Digest, My Domaine, Pinterest, 

Well Dressed Home No. 65 - Tete a Tete

Bonjour! Regardless of the language we speak human nature thrives on communication. The craving for face to face conversation is sometimes not recognized in our world of technical means of communication, but it is there. A cozy chat with a friend just isn't the same via a screen. Welcome back to the art of conversation! Let's carve this art into our homes. 

Say hello to the tete a tete. A delightful furniture piece dating back to the 19th century. Designed specifically for heart to heart conversation. A gift to those who hold the love language of "quality time". 

The word tete a tete also holds the meaning of "a variety of early flowering fragrant daffodil". I love this piece even more! As communication and the act of giving bridge the gap between two people, so can the tete a tete in a room setting. It's a great way to keep two seating groups all inclusive to everyone in the room. Where a sofa can create a barrier between two seating groups the tete a tete offers openness and welcome to all sharing the space.

A great solution between an open floor plan between our great room and kitchen, the tete a tete with a artful drink table keeps the conversation flowing. The visit becomes more intimate and the memories created abundant. 

The tete a tete will be that piece you sneak time alone on too and that's okay - t's a way to rekindle the sweet memories created from the conversations held there. 

Keep in mind this piece should be kept simplistic by choosing understated fabrics. It is to blend into your living space, so solid textures with a smooth hand for comfort will be best. The lines of the tete a tete are graceful - whether a modern or traditional design - they need to be respected. The attention is on the conversation while the tete a tete provides the quiet setting.

There are no restrictions on which room the tete a tete is best. Once you've fallen in love with this glorious piece you will feel the need to find a place in your home for its spot.

No rules to the room your tete a tete sits in and the time of day a cozy chat occurs! Whether it be at the start of the new day with a cup of coffee in the breakfast nook or at end of day enjoying a glass of wine with a grateful heart.

 The well dressed home deserves a tete a tete and all it brings to our lives.



Sources: Dwell, Decor Pad, Houzz, Anthropology, One Kings Lane, Pinterest

Garden Design No. 27 - The Language of Flowers

My sister is an extremely talented florist and owns a charming shop. Her love of flowers and plants is an innate talent she has had for as long as can remember. In her hands these flowers are loved. Over these last few days she has been posting, on social media the most inspiring messages of the meaning of flowers and how they relate to precious life itself. She stopped by my home last week to bring by a beautiful floral arrangement to help celebrate my birthday.

Her social media posts inspired me to look deeper into the floral arrangement - take in every detail and the meaning, rather than just the gesture.

This is what I have come to know - the message of my birthday arrangement. Freedom, joy, success and overcoming obstacles, courage, strength, understanding, appreciation, and love. Oh, and the leopard hat box the flowers are in? It's meaning? She knows me well!

The bird of paradise symbolizes paradise and freedom, as well as joy. It is also said to be a symbol of success and overcoming obstacles both in workplace and in life in general. The bird of paradise originates from South Africa and the cultivation of this flower was first carried out in 1773 at the Royal Botanical Garden in Kew, South Africa. I love the exotic structure of this flower - there's a humble pride about it.

Paired brilliantly in my floral arrangement is the pin cushion protea. Among the oldest families of flowers on earth dating back 300 million years, the protea is named after Greek god Proteus, a deity that was able to change forms. The protea symbolizes change and transformation. Diversity, courage and strength are also attributed to its meaning. This flower is fascinating in its form closed and especially when it's open. It's a free spirit - a rebel.

Tulip, a wildflower said to originate from Persia. In the 1500s, tulips were extensively cultivated in Turkey, and because of their resemblance to the “tulbend” — a turban worn by Turkish men — were called tulipan. Tulips come in a variety of colors and for the most part, they’re a symbol of a declaration of love. The orange tulip means a sense of understanding and appreciation. 

I may be late in the game of this discovery and appreciation of the meaning of flowers, however the timeliness of this new enlightenment is both precious and perfect. Just like a flower. My selection of the planting of flowers in the past was more from a designer's eye, choosing because of color and shape. What a delight to evolve into creating this additional meaningfulness to plantings that will be forever present in my life. 

My next phone call to my florist will not be to just ask that an arrangement be sent on my behalf in a dollar range - but will be more specific to what is in that arrangement because the flowers in the vase will be part of my message of love, hope, encouragement, and well wishes to those receiving them.

Be inspired by the language of flowers!

Sources: FTD, Tree Symbolism, Teleflora, Pinterest

Rethinking the Look of Things No. 62 - Multipurpose Rooms

When we are creating a home, we have a determination to find spaces for all our lifestyle needs. An area to entertain and dine with family and friends is one that can be a challenge. Multipurpose thinking is the key when it seems a lifestyle need isn't possible in our home. Where we don't give up until we have exhausted all options. 

The memories created around a dining table with family and friends is priceless. Even if those times are only several times a year or the every Sunday family dinner. The heart leaps despite an occasional desire to change an attendee or two. So how can one create a space in our home for this precious space. Most of us have mastered the art of multitasking on a daily basis - let's try our hand at multi purposing. Think about the dining surface and how it can be used for an everyday need that allows for it to be uncovered into dining anytime you want.

Why make room for only a dining area or a office area? Why consider the area behind our sofa only console-worthy when by adding another 18" you have a dining surface? Need a craft area or a place to stack your library? Why make room for only a play/study area or a dining area when one can serve both purposes?

Your multipurpose space becomes office/dining, play-study/dining, craft-dining, reading library-dining. Voila! Get those invitations in the mail, create your menu, select that signature drink for the evening, and bake your favorite desserts; because you have a dining area whenever you need it or the mood strikes to entertain.

Call it your superhero piece - the one that doesn't need a closet to change into its "cape" and pick up its superpowers. Living Room by day - dining and after dinner charades by night! 

However, let's not ignore the obvious challenge that stills exists and that is where do the dining chairs go if you don't have the space to keep them around the multipurpose surface when it is not acting as a dining surface? And don't you dare say folding chairs, that's a cop out! Be inspired! 

We are still in the multipurpose mode here. Think multipurpose for the dining seating. Those cool stools you tucked under the table are now dining seating. That occasional chair you have in your bedroom is now dining seating. That bench that is in your hallway is now dining seating. Get the picture? Multipurpose! Who's wearing the superhero cape now?

Play on your multipurpose talent by setting a mix and match table setting to add to the fun of your new found discovery. I think you will walk past your multipurpose dining surface in its day to day form and smile. Smile at planning your next gathering. Formal or casual - the opportunity for memories is reclaimed. 

Rethinking the look of things is a way to never give up on the dreams for your home spaces. Consult a professional interior designer when you get stumped. Don't give up. "To him that wills, wais are not wanting". George Herbert

Sources: House Beautiful, Decor Pad, Atlanta Home & Lifestyle, Gerald Bland, Crate & Barrel, Pinterest

Gotta Love No. 58 - Stacked Wood Walls

 

One of the most attractive things about our home is how it tells our story, reflects our lifestyle, holds memories and brings home things that inspire us from places we have traveled. Stacked wood accent in our home is one of those elements as it can hold a story if we allow it to. This design touch can be reclaimed wood from a barn - but from where - what is the history of the barn? A collector of reclaimed wood should be able to tell you. The story could be where the inspiration came from - someplace you've traveled that had a stacked wood touch that created a link to your adventure.

I fell in love with the organic feature when working on a local symphony showhouse years ago. We were doing the living room of an historic property and the fireplace, though a focal point in the room, had gas added to it and the property owner didn't want that changed during the showhouse design and tour. So we filled it from bottom to top, side to side with stacked wood - the symmetry of the natural shapes and sizes of the logs was an intriguing sculpture-like addition to the formal space and I loved it!

Creating stacked wood accent areas in expected spaces like lodge or industrial settings is a marriage made in heaven. The unexpected spaces, like formal living and dining areas is just as fantastic. This installation works well as a functional room divider or a way to display the perfect piece of art or as a sculptural art in itself!

Planning is important for a stacked wood wall. I highly recommend that a drawing is done so that scale and the right wood is selected. This is a permanent architectural feature so it should be done well. Consider the shape, scale, finish or not, the day to day maintenance of the feature and how much is too much.

If your stacked wood is a feature that is a loose install, like the fireplace stack in the photo above, it is a puzzle that needs to still have the end result look in mind while being developed. Another important factor for any stacked wood install is to make sure the wood is dried, clean and treated prior to being brought indoors for install. 

Like any architectural accent in your home - restraint is important. Too much of a good thing is simply too much. 

What story will your stacked wood wall hold? Old whiskey barrels? Wood from a generational family farm?

Sources: Architecture Art Designs, Norwegian Skifer Hotel, Pinterest, Instagram, Hidden Pond