Creating Traditions: Family Garden

While the majority of the country is worried about whether or not they should listen to Punxsutawney Phil, Californians are already enjoying the Spring sunshine. With that in mind, now is the time to begin planning life outdoors in the warmer months. This might include booking summer camp, reserving a beachside or lakeside rental or planning a garden.  Gardening is something the entire family can get involved with and it makes a nice way to spend time together. The kids and I planted an herb garden recently and we can’t wait for them to grow so we can start cooking with fresh basil, oregano and put a sprig of mint in our tea.

From planning to planting, weeding to picking, gardening can be done by all ages. Starting plants from seeds is a great way to get the little ones involved and is a teachable moment. Seeing a plant grow from a seed to bearing fruit or vegetables can also inspire your kids to eat more fruits and vegetables. Flowers are a lovely addition to any garden or yard. The kids can have their own flower garden or vegetable garden with their favorites. However, you might end up with a garden full of watermelon, so you’ll want to keep them in check.

You can plot out your garden online, on a pad of paper or even on the floor. Some people need to see the size and space to be able to visualize how the garden will be laid out. I love the Garden Planner software on growveg.com. Besides a ton of other terrific features, you can lay out your garden plan, see how best to plant it and how to space plants for maximum success.

Not hip on doing it on the web?  No problem. Find an area rug the same size as your raised bed or garden and use different items from around the house to plot out the garden patch. This can be a fun activity with the kids too.  

Gather up the kids this weekend and head off to the nursery for a fun day of foraging for gardening supplies, seeds and starter plants. Then plant your family garden and watch it grow. 

Even the Kardashians like to have a little garden fun. 

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Book Review- Jennifer Post PURE SPACE

Most of the designers that I admire are household names, but Jennifer Post is one that is not and its a puzzle to me why that is the case. Her work is some of the most elegant and restrained modern work I have ever seen. I have followed her now for several years and needless to say was thrilled to hear that she was publishing a book.

The first thing that captures you is the sheer consistency of her message, she finds a way to make her brand of modernism work, regardless of whether its a modern high rise building in Miami or an historical home is Los Angeles, it all seems to work.

This is one of the shots that made me fall in love with  the work of Jennifer Post. All the interior walls are glass, and notice that detail of the stones at the base of the wall. A small detail that has huge impact.

The idea of using such clean lines and modern sensibility in  a historical home seems so appropriate. The scale of the floor stones are perfect.

I want to be a fly on the wall at the client meeting when you say "so then we are going to take some stones and paint them orange!" 

This room makes you want to exhale.

So needless to say I think this is one of those books that will be a must have in any design collection. Published by Rizzoli and written by Anna Kasabian

Get Lost in Architectural Drawings

So lately, I’ve had art on the brain (which you can probably tell from some of my recent posts). I’ve spent hours drooling over modern and classic works in a few of my local museums.  I’ve also pulled most of my art books off the shelves and have them scattered around the house from frequent perusing. 

Yesterday, I ran across some of Piranesi’s (1720-1778) awe inspiring architectural etchings.  His work is so detailed you can get lost in it for hours. I got so inspired I’m now on the hunt for an affordable print of his work for my office.

I thought I might share some ways to use Piranesi's and other artists and architect’s architectural drawings in your own home so you can enjoy them often.

Architectural prints can depict a wide array of subjects from churches to villas, public and private buildings as well as architectural details such as columns and friezes.  Architectural drawings date back hundreds of years and span continents as well as stylistic eras. Collecting antique architectural prints can be expensive but there are later prints and copies that make it possible to decorate with these prints on any budget.

Piranesi Etching

Giovanni Battista Piranesi, an Italian artist, created beautiful drawings of Roman ruins throughout Italy. His works are the pinnacle of architectural prints and are highly sought after. Because they are so desirable, many later copies and modern reproductions can be found both framed and unframed.

 

Gordon Strong Automobile Objective and Planetarium by Frank Lloyd Wright

Collecting and decorating with architectural prints should reflect your own unique taste. If you have an older home or a mid-century modern home, collect prints depicting similar houses and designs to your own. Craftsman homes could display the work of Frank Lloyd Wright while modern homes might have a wall of Bauhaus prints, the beginning of the modern movement in design and architecture.

University Campus Piranesi 

Floor plans of famous buildings are another collectible area of architectural prints. There are so many areas and options. Frame your prints in simple mats and gallery frames that coordinate with other wood features in your room like wood flooring. Or frame them in elaborate gold leaf frames if you have more traditional style. Both the frame and mat style should reflect your taste and fit in with the style of décor in the room in which the prints will hang.

Another way to enjoy architectural prints is through art books (my personal favorite). Take a look at some of the books I found available on Amazon.

Piranesi the Complete Etchings

Piranesi is arguably one of the greatest artists of architecture - of spaces both real and imagined. From the Veduti di Roma to the Carceri this is a collection of the work of the most famous copper engraver of the 18th century.

Frank Lloyd Wright in his Renderings, 1887-1959

Architect’s Drawings: A selection of sketches by worldfamous architects through history by Kendra Schank Smith

"The sketch is a window into the architects mind. As creative designers, architects are interested in how other architects, particularly successful ones, think through the use of drawings to approach their work. Historically designers have sought inspiration for their own work through an insight into the minds and workings of people they often regard as geniuses."

Today's Western Style

We've seen resurgence in a style that is based in the Rocky Mountains and the western states. Western style can include lodge style as well as Southwestern style. Born of the ranches and lodges of the romanticized Western states, this style has an easy comfort that fits the active outdoor lifestyle typical of the West.

Today's western style is less about cowboys and more sophisticated than the traditional western style. Western style today includes touches of elegance borrowed from traditional style and even some Victorian accents. Antlers, wide pine floors, trade blankets and patterns based on traditional Native American designs are all common in western style. Leaded glass, leather sofas and a few antique pieces give today's western style décor a certain elegance. Lots of brilliant color brightens rooms where wood is dominate. 

Lodge style can include references to the great outdoors with sports related art and accessories. Fishing, boating, and skiing equipment can be used to create unique accents in a lodge or western style interior. Nostalgic touches of vintage sporting equipment or prints are a nice touch in a lodge style room.

Western style can mix casual and elegant elements to create an eclectic look that straddles both comfort and formality.  Log cabins with crystal chandeliers and pine floors are a great example of the mix of fancy and functional in this style. 

Antler lighting and accents are widely popular, even outside typical western style décor. Antlers are naturally shed so they are abundant without causing cruelty to animals.

My second dream home is Western (lodge) style with a touch of rustic romance set in the mountains of Aspen. A girl can dream…

Image: 2thewalls.com

The Beauty of Simplicity

Orchids perfectly illustrate the concept of simple beauty.  These flowering plants are highly prized for their precious blooms. A single orchid flower can be a stunning addition to a table or desk in the home. The beauty of simplicity is a unique way to approach design and decorating for the home.

Beautiful design doesn't need to be overly ornate or complex. Understated elegance in the line of a chair, the color of a wood floor, or the pattern on an area rug can be alluring and still be simple. Letting the material and form be the stars of the design is a popular current approach to design and decorating.

Japanese design is a perfect example of the concept of the beauty of simplicity. Each object and each piece of furniture is carefully chosen for its form and color. Every piece in a design relates to each other, to create a whole that is beautifully balanced. Color, form, pattern and texture all integrate each object and the room as a whole.

Mindful selection of each piece in our room and in our home can create a simplistic beauty that brings a sense of calm and peace with it. Surrounding ourselves, not with the clutter of too many objects, but the beauty of a few is a nice way to live in peaceful simplicity.

I took this approach when decorating my house, and while it is more “cottage” than “minka,” it still feels refreshingly peaceful.

The Art Dilemma

Modigliani Portrait 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder when it comes to buying art. Many people say they don't have art on their walls because they don't know what they like. If this sounds like you, try visiting art museums in your area or go while on vacation to get access to a wide range of artist's works. Doing your research might expose you to a type of art you've never seen before or an artist you really love.

How much you want to spend is also up to you and your budget. If you have a large budget you may want to buy original paintings in oil or watercolors. A tiny budget might mean you buy a reproduction of a favorite painting or the work of a less known artist. For example, I LOVE Modigliani’s portraits and nudes, but with my budget I can’t afford the real deal, so it’s reproductions for me. It gives me a chance to enjoy his work on a daily basis, without being fearful of an art heist or house fire. I’ll leave the originals to the care of the museums!

Think of buying art as you would an area rug. You can buy an antique rug for thousands of dollars or a newer rug with a similar pattern for a few hundred dollars.  Auctions and online resources can be good ideas for buying art. There are online websites, like Etsy.com where you can buy original art for as low as $25.  If you are spending significant money on a piece of art or a rug, make sure you are buying it from a reputable source.

Decide if you are buying for decoration or investment. Set a budge like you would with any home decoration project. Buy only what you LOVE and will enjoy on your walls every day. These simple rules will have you decorating your walls with art in no time.

Get Fresh in the Kitchen

OK, so New Year’s has come and gone—have you stuck to your resolutions so far? If getting healthier is on your list, you’re not the only one, this is the #1 goal for many, me included.  Healthy goals (the usual suspects) might include eating healthier, more exercise or major life changes like weight loss and a lifestyle over-haul.  Applying these same goals to our living space is a good way to make our home's healthier this year too.  Keeping a “fresh” kitchen is a good place to start when maintaining a healthy home.

A fresh kitchen includes everything from the foods in the fridge and cupboards to the décor of the room.  Making our kitchens feel fresh can inspire us to be healthier. Clean counters, floors and appliances are a terrific thing to be greeted with when entering the kitchen; much better than a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. (I’m so guilty). Little changes like staying on top of the dishes, counter crumbs and floor spills can help us love our kitchen a little bit more.

Fresh kitchens use cheerful color to liven up them up. Simple additions like fresh fruit in a bowl on the counter can add color and provide a healthy snack.  I love to find the most beautifully hued produce at the market just to put out in bowls and baskets. Colorful cook books on a shelf or counter top is another way to add a fresh pop of color to your kitchen.  A kitchen that's clean, colorful and filled with healthy, fresh food can inspire us to accomplish our other healthful new year’s goals.

Image: Fit Sugar