What Inspires You Wednesday

Pops of Color

I'm sure I've told you this, but I'm here to tell you again. I love neutrals. You know, those beautiful white on white interiors of Scandinavian design. The problem is, I also love color. What with all the flowers and plants in my garden and elsewhere beckoning summer to begin this very minute, a kaleidoscope of colors is swirling around my head. 

The use of color in interior design is inspiring me today. It's inspiring me to incorporate new colors into our home, as well as inspiring me to use it it a new illustration of logo design. 

Pops of color, to me at least, are joyous, happy, and sublime.

Here's a peak at what is getting my attention.

sources: 1. via snowandgraham  2. style by emily henderson 

3. desire to inspire  4. heart home magazine  5. house of fifty

I am drooling over those three paintings and the wallpaper. I need the paintings and I need a wall to wallpaper. At least I know G would be on board. The man isn't afraid of color.  Good thing, because neither am I.

What's inspiring you today?  I'd love to know. And feel free to include a link in the comments, or pop over to our facebook page and join in the inspiration there.

It's sunny here today which is simply wonderful after all the rain we've had.  I think that's part of why color is inspiring me today.  Bright sun and blue sky reflecting off green grass, happy flowers blooming, a soft breeze...............ahhhhh.

I do hope your day is as nice.

Ciao for now,

Inspired Design: Gallery Walls

Bathroom Progress

We're making progress on the bathroom overhaul we had to do because of the infamous shower leak.

I know I told you I was leaning towards a shade of Robin's egg blue for the new bathroom color, but I changed my mind. Completely.  I chose a lovely neutral called chocolate foam, which is really a shade of white. I did bright white on the window trim and the vanity to set it off.

I'm at the point where I'm deciding what I'll be putting on the newly painted bathroom walls and I know just what I'm going to do.

Here's some of my inspiration.

top row via: imgur; the design files 

middle row: nest decorating ; wng magazine; breakfast at toast

bottom row: the every girl; apartment therapy

 

 

Now, our bathroom is eency weency, but I'm still leaning toward doing a floor to ceiling gallery wall. Of course, I may change my mind on that too. I don't think it will make it look any smaller than it is and it may fool the eye creating more height.

 

I'm actually really excited to plan it out and choose the art and elements that will make up the gallery wall.

 

So, that's the plan. What do you think? I personally love gallery walls. Do you have one in your house or would you like one?

 

Did you see the nice cubby G built me in the bit of space we had left next to the shower. Extra storage is always needed in a small house. It will fit a bunch of towels, tp and such. Love it.

 

Hey, guess what? It's not raining and the sun is out. Holla!

 

Freeform Friday

 

So, as I told you, my parents gave us tickets to see Billy Idol and Steve Stevens as an early anniversary present. Boy, did we have a great time Sunday night. The best rock and roll show around. I can't even count how many times I've seen Billy at this point, but I can tell you this......the man has still got it. I didn't have much voice left after the concert.  Thanks Mom and Dad!  This video is a little rough because it was taken by someone in the audience at one of his concerts, but it's a really lovely song. Click here if you're reading via email.

 

 

 

  

Plans for the weekend include a campfire out back tonight. I haven't told G that yet, but I'm sure he'll be on board. Tomorrow night we're off to a graduation party.  Other than that, we'll be winging it.

 

How about you? Any plans for the weekend?

 

Whatever they are, have a good one.

 

Ciao for now,

 

 

 



Inspired Design: Simplicity

Finding Project Inspiration

I've been working on some packaging design for one of my clients, Skin Remedy, whose logo redesign I recently completed and which I blogged about here and here. To be specific, I'm working on a label design that will work for Justine's bespoke skin care line that she formulates and custom blends for each client (seriously, whish I lived in San Francisco just so I could go have a facial with Justine....oh, and because it's surely a lot warmer there today than it is here).  My inspiration for the design is simplicity. Probably with an apothecary twist, but the base is about simplicity.

I love that simple things can speak volumes without saying saying a lot, without cluttering the spectrum with too much.....well, too much anything.

 

sel du jardinier photographed by Lauren Michelle via love, loans and linen; twisted trees via Michael Faudet; magnifying glass via goodsie; pink cider via actiz


There is a lot to love there including the poem......swoon.



Sunset Meadows

We're so lucky when we get a stretch of pretty sunsets. Though last night's wasn't as showy as the night before, it was lovely in its own right.

I have a lot more than the packaging design on my plate today, but in deference to simplicity, I'm taking it one thing at a time.

How about you? What are you focused on today?

However you're spending your time, enjoy.

Ciao for now,

Inspired Design: Sunset Hues

 

Quite A Show Last Night

 

Sunset Meadows was ablaze in gold yesterday as the sun went down. It was a beautiful sight for over an hour. I took inspiration from it for today's post.

 

Have you noticed that gold is coming back into favor as a design element? While it's always classic, I've been seeing things like gold faucets that are surprising me, considering the popularity of chrome.

 

It adds a wonderful richness to just about anything.

 

 

sources:  top/golden eames rocker via okay art and vintage gold mirror via The Paris Apartment;  bottom/gold table decor via 100 layer cake
and golden wings via the handmade home

 

Oh, that chair. Too cool for school. 

 

If you love the wings like I do, my blogging pal Amy at Maison Decor has been carrying wood wings in her shop, and considering how handy she is with Annie Sloan paint and gilding wax, I'm sure she'd love to paint some gold.

 

And now, today's inspiration.

 

Sunset Meadows

Let's put it this way, as I said, last night's sunset went on and on and on. Which meant, I had to keep going back outside with the camera. 

 

As you know by now if you've been around here for any amount of time, sunsets are one of my favorite things. Nothing I like more than sitting in my Adirondack watching the show outside my door. 

 

Amazing.

 

So, have you noticed gold trending again? Was it something unexpected? Do tell.

 

Make it a great day in your corner of the world and I'll do the here. Should be good to go as long as I can keep the balls in the air...........

 

Ciao for now,

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inspired Design: The Mantle

Change Up

It was past time to update our mantle look. It had been sitting really kind of bare and neglected since I took down our Christmas stuff.  Yes. I said since I took down my Christmas stuff. I know, right?

Now, don't get me wrong, there were a few things on it, but nothing that I had really taken time to pick out or arrange. Just things that didn't happen to be so Christmassy that I had to remove them. They were there by default.

It's not exactly how I'd like it. Then again, what is?

I love the picture above the mantle, but it doesn't really have the right scale. So, I tried a really nice mirror that I found at Goodwill last year. Looked great except for the fact, it reflected my still unfinished kitchen beam areas which are, quite frankly, hideous. We don't have to go there, do we?

So down with the mirror and back up with the picture for lack of anything better at the moment.  Then I went around the house pulling things from other places.

The barometer my father made for Garrett in 1989 according to the brass plate. 

My rusty ship bookend I nabbed for free at my neighbor's yard sale. It's really a pair but I just used one, next to some driftwood from our beach and a picture I've had for a long time of a young girl that always reminded me of one of my nieces in Ireland.

Love that rusty old ship. Perfect just the way it is.

My copper-looking mercury glass 'cups' which I thought were candle holders, but I've lost two to votives making them too hot to the point of explosion. I only put battery operated votives in the two I have left.

At the left flank, standing guard, my Staffordshire dog that was my grandparents. He's not real Staffordshire. At least he doesn't appear to be.  Call me crazy, but I used to pretend he was a real pet when I stayed at their apartment.

On the other end, a pretty antique print I got years ago of a girl mending her skirt that she's wearing. It was a present from my parents....well, I bought it with money they gave me for my birthday one year. Same thing, right?  On either side of her, a funky plaque I got at Salvation Army last year.....for a song, and my grandmother's crystal and silver candle stick.

I just couldn't quite settle on things yesterday. I think it had to do with the size of the main picture. It could still use something on either side of the picture. If you have any suggestions, I'm listening. All in all though, I can live with it until the next mantle change up.

Excuse the ash on the stove front and wood mess on the hearth. These are the things that happen when you actually use your wood stove to heat your house. The boots are another thing altogether.

As you can see, our mantle is actually quite small in width and depth and about as plain as it could be. Just a 2 x 4 really, which of course limits my options.  Someday it might get a complete overhaul.

Do you have a mantle that you change up? I only really started doing that last year and it is a fun way of making things a little fresher to look at. Read: it gets a little boring looking at the same old stuff all the time.

How was your weekend? Ours was filled with old friends on Friday night and a three-way skype-a-thon, movie night on Saturday, a Bruins win and then a tough loss to our rivals the Canadiens....at home....but it was scrappy which made me happy regardless, and a visit to the neighbor's campfire yesterday, complete with s'mores. Actually, I just went for a piece of chocolate.

By the way, we watched Argo Saturday night and I thought it was very, very good. The story acutally really made my stomach turn, thinking back to the hostage crisis and imagining what these people when through and how absolutely frightful it must have been. So sad that there is so much hate in the world.

On that note, I bid you adieu. Until tomorrow.

Ciao for now,

Inspired Design: Mercantile Muse Blog Redesign

Beauty of Nature

You may have noticed (or maybe not if you're reading via email, etc.), but I'm in the midst of a redesign of Mercantile Muse. It's sssllllloooooowwwwwww going. I could get lost in it for hours, if I had them to get lost in. So I squeeze it in here and there and it's a long way from being done, but I thought I'd show you where I've been getting my design inspiration.

In case you haven't guess yet, by the picture above, it's the fig.

I think the range of colors contained in one little precious fig are rather remarkable. Amazing in fact. Nature....it sure does know what it's doing.

image sources: top left/via the kitchn and nancy mitchell, top right/via food blogga

bottom left/via bento bird, bottom right/via flavors of rome

See what I mean? Aren't figs something else?

Here are some of some of the components I'm incorporating.

So, if you wondering what the heck was going on..............just a little nature inspired redesign.

What do you think? Yay or nay? It's ok, you won't hurt my feelings.

Please pardon the appearance while I'm moving the furniture around.

Today is one fantastic Friday. We got great news that we've been praying for and I couldn't be happier.  Well, maybe just a little because we got double great news today. I hope your day is going just as well.

Freeform Friday

I had to share this. It's got to be one of the coolest dance routines ever.  Click here if you're reading by email.

Ciao for now,

Inspired Design: Do-Able

[via decor8]

Yes, You Can

I love seeing how someone puts their own twist on interior design. It sparks my creativity and makes me think, how can I do something different?

I've run across a few things this week that made me think just that. You never know where an idea, like any of these, will lead you.  

1. beautiful chalkboard wall art using overhead projector and by pattern

[via burlap and denim]

2. keeping summer alive with beach inspired decor [via real simple] 

3. architectural arches as console table [via cote de texas]

4. iron gate used as console table [via columbus arthitectural salvage]

5. doors as dramatic accents and lighting [via cote de texas]

6. branches chandelier [via decor8]

My affinity towards this kind of 'do-able' design comes from it's accessibility. It illustrates in the best way, that great design is possible no matter what your budget. That in design, imagination is more important than money.

Do you have any idea how long I've been talking about doing a driftwood chandlelier for above our dining table? I feel like I've thrown down the gauntlet on that one with this post. Put it on the to do list.

One thing is for sure, I will most definitely be using Burlap & Denim's chalkboard wall art tutorial when I revamp what's drawn all over our chalkboard wall currently.

Hey, did you notice it's Wednesday? Yeehaw cowpokes. We're already halfway to the weekend.  Of course, that doesn't mean you want to skip right by tomorrow's Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link party just to get to Friday. That would be downright silly.

See you on the flip side, in my party attire of course,

Inspired Design: Me

Blame It On Paige

Today, over on Little Nostalgia, Paige shared a style quiz by HomeGoods. I'm usually not much for these quizes, but I took the bait. All you had to do was pick 5 pictures that tickled your fancy from the selection they gave you and viola, your design style is thus proclaimed.

Apparently, I'm Urban Funk with a touch of Bohemian, boho for short. Personally, I'd say it's more like the other way around, with a little classic, industrial, beachy, cottageyness thrown in for good measure. What? You've never heard of cottageyness? Mark it on your calendar, you heard it here first.

I'm a study in opposites. A plethora of differing tastes.  This is apparent all through my life, not just in my design styles....it's the friends I have, the things I cook, the books I read, the clothes I wear, the music I listen to. I could go on, but you get the idea. Of course, it's no surprise to me. My tastes are all over the place and I'm ok with that. Just try to pigeonhole me and you'll have hell to pay.

The funny thing about the quiz, is after they tell you your design style, they suggest blogs to you that are blogging about your style. Lo and behold, for my bohemian side, they suggested San Fransico Girl By Bay. Check. Already reading that. My urban funk side? Making it Lovely. Check. Have it bookmarked. Hhhhmmm, perhaps HomeGood's quiz is based on more than just a group of random pictures after all.

Here's some inspired design to paint you a better picture of my 'personal style'. That is not to say this is what my house looks like, but rather, dreamy vingettes I'd love to somehow take bits and pieces of and incorpate into our little corner of the world.

1. Miss Maple Chandelier - folded wood paper via elisa strozyk. 

 What I love: possibly the coolest chandelier I've seen yet.

Folded wood? Seriously. originally found via sfgirlbybay

2. & 6. rooms made for living via San Francisco Girl By Bay
copyright agent bauer, styled by camilla krishnaswarny

What I love: the comfortableness, the mix of classic- like the bentwood chairs, with the modern- like the paper lantern pendant lamps

3. classic chandelier via ranchatsanpatricio
What I love: the classically romantic style

4. Kerman Rug via large rugs and carpets

What I love: the colors in Kerman rugs. There seems to often be a beautiful, rich robbin's egg blue and it sings to me. That said, there isn't a rug from my sponsor that I wouldn't want in my home, if it were a bit bigger.

5. bedroom with a touch of urban funk & boho via making it lovely

What I love: That crazy chandelier. It's unexpected in the bedroom and that makes me smile.

6. see # 2

7. sweet sitting area via house and home

What I love: This little sitting area exudes romance.

Quite unapolgetically I might add and it works. 

The unfinished nature of the chair and the wall,

give the romance the perfect edge. 

6. simply gorgeous velvet couch via pinterest, google image photographer unknown

What I love: The tufted, gray velvet. Simply classic.

9. office space via we heart it
via tea for joy, photographer unknown
What I love: It's a little messy, just like me. It's a little all over the place, just like me. It's got inspiration right there in front of you.

Although I try to keep things organized to some extent,

I still tend to favor and organized mess.

10. bedroom, pillows and shelf via sania pell

What I love: Cari-Jane from Hybrid Handmade introduced me to Sania. I love just about everything she does.  There's an ease about all of her styling.

11. classic and modern living room, via house and home
What I love: a mix of styles. I dig the neutral colors, but I find it hard to incorporate that fully into my own life, though I do enjoy seeing it in other's homes.

12. killer armoire via olssonjensen

What I love: that they've taken something we all know- lockers- up a notch with the mirrors. I want this piece for my very own.

13. loft living via decoist
What I love: the red leather chaise. The library ladder even more.

The concrete. It's a loft that still looks like a comfortable place the hang, and I think the red chaise warms the space up.

I guess that's me, or my design style anyway, in a nutshell. What about you? Did you take the quiz? What styles do you gravitate towards?

Oh no, I think it may have been time for another shop and blog link up party. Guess you can blame that on Paige too. Perhaps tomorrow.....

I hope your Thursday is going swimmingly in your corner of the world. It's a glorious day here, complete with sunshine and blue skies. Hopefully it stays that way so I can get a field walk in for the 3rd day in a row. It would make me and the hound happy.

Ciao for now,

Inspired Design: Geometry and A MegaGiveaway

via the montgomery

The One Math I Didn't Hate

Yup. You guessed it. Though the signs weren't obvious, you figured out that I am not a big fan of math. However, thanks to my high school math teacher Mr. Bennet, who allowed me to take Geometry though I had not scored high enough in his algebra class, I found out I was good at some math. Pretty darn good in fact.  I'm sure I've mentioned some of this before, but here it goes again....you see, to enter Geometry in my high school you were supposed to average at least a C in algebra as a prerequisite. Unfortunately, though I stayed for extra help just about every day, and though my engineer father tried to tutor me, my head couldn't wrap itself around algebra. Luckily though, thanks to my begging and my teacher's ability to ignore the signs and give me a chance, me and Mr. Bennet found out that I rocked geometry. High Bs and As rocked. Not bad for a girl who passed algebra by the skin of her teeth. I think it was something about being able to 'prove' things instead of just accept that x+y=z.

Though I haven't had to do any geometric equations or proofs since high school, I do still have an appreciation for geometry, especially in design.

1. via Bark Decor

2. via ribbon squirrel

3. one of my own geometry inspired designs, 'Boomerang' via Bates Mercantile Co.

4. via modern switch

5. via the montgomery

6. via cutting edge stencils

7.via junglai

8. via dproject

9. via bold folds

It makes me happy to see a resurgence in geometric patterns and shapes, since they are a constant on my inspiration board and in my idea file. I'm guess I'm glad I'm not alone.

MegaGiveaway on Diary of A Mod Housewife

Last week, I was contacted by one of my favorite etsy photographers (which is saying a lot because there are a lot of fantastic photographers on etsy), Elle Moss, who wondered if I'd like to take part in a Mother's Day giveaway on her blog Diary of a Mod Housewife (don't you love that blog title?).  She also had some very lovely things to say about my work. Caution: Aside..........Have you ever had that happen? You find out that someone whose work you admire, admires yours? Very cool. Well anyways, back to the giveaway....did I want to participate? H to the e to the double l yes.  So this totally awesome bombastic giveaway includes my Grow Love print!

When I tell you that you must check out Elle's giveaway, what I really mean is drop everything, get over to elle's because you will not believe the fabulous stuff she's collected for this Mother's Day Mega Giveaway.

Here's a preview.

     

          via elle moss                    via mandy bryant photography              via sparkles macaron

I want it all. 'Nuf said. Now, remember, that is just a sample. Wait 'til you see the rest.

Plus, it's wicked easy to enter. So, what the heck are you waiting for? Annie Lennox has said it before, but I'll say it again, 'Would I lie to you?' 

While you're there, tell Elle I sent you.

Enjoy your day,

Inspired: Design

via skonahem

Geometrics

Hi guys. Have I told you before that I've had geometric inspiration on my board for ages? I think I was ahead of the trend curve. Maybe it's because I have a soft spot for geometry. You see, I wasn't so good at Algebra. I mean, I am talking downright awful. I stayed after school for extra help, had my Dad who was a missile engineer help me with my homework which would bring me to tears, but it was all for naught. I just didn't get it. 'But WHY does x + y = z' and 'why the hell is pi a mathematical constant'? However, in his ultimate wisdom, my Algebra teacher Mr. Bennett allowed me to take Geometry even though my Algebra grades weren't good enough to send me on to Geometry. Well, he made and exception and go figure, I rocked geometry. Seriously. Hello As.  It was all so logical. I think geometry was the only math class I ever liked. 

Ode to my favorite math class.......let's get back to inspired: design. Geometry is all over the place and in our face everyday, so to see it as a major design trend (again) makes me smile.  

rectangular crate bed tray via monchihic;

square vintage vera scarf via fox and fawns; chevron shirt via zzouzi;

triangle and sqaure bracelets via laurenmanoogian; argyle purse via toriska;
triangle bowl via skonahem; circle necklace via  justlena;
multicolored-leather rug via scad; triangular bowls with squares and rectangles

I've am inspired by geometry and you'll see that I often incorporate it into my illustrations.  I'm currently working on another, but it's not quite done. Here's a sneak peak of a small portion of 'In Flux'.  

via batesmercantileco

Are you on the geometric bandwagon or do you like things a little more soft around the edges? Personally, I have wicked varied tastes ranging from shabby chic to ultra clean and modern. Hey, variety is the spice of life, right?

Shoutout

I am taking part in a giveaway over on simplesurber. Lacy is celebrating her year of blogging and put a notice out that she was looking for giveaway participants via etsy forums. I happened upon it and the rest is history. So, if you want a chance to win the Grow Love print from Bates Mercantile Co., pop on over simplesurber and find out what you've got to do!

Say hi to Lacy while you're there and let her know I sent you.

Are You a Facebook Friend?

I'm beginning to realize I'm connected to a lot of people on the internet, but sometimes in different ways. Some I'm connected to via etsy, some via Mercantile Muse, and some via Facebook.  I'd love to connect with you all via Facebook, as I post even more bits and pieces there that I think you'd like. So if you don't already 'like' Bates Mercantile Co. on facebook swing on by and hook up.

If you're on pinterest and not a follower of my boards yet, you'll find me here. I'd love to see what you're pinning too!

Have a fabulous Monday. Mine is chock-full, but I'm checking things off the list as I go, so that's a plus.

Thanks, as always, for being here.

Over and out,