Rough Lux kitchen

 

Completely loving the rough look of the storage and counters in this kitchen.  Fits in so well with the exposed brick and beaming, not to mention the fabulous crates that are used like drawers.

images via

 

Vintage blues

 

Soft warm blues.. so lovely.  I cannot believe it is already Friday (again).  What do you have planned for the weekend?  We are just catching up around here, breakfast plans with friends and the flea market on Sunday morning.

images via pinterest

 

RED, WHITE AND YOU

 

Photo courtesy of Buoy 6

If you are anything like me, then picking up a red, white and blue nautical accent or two just feels right this time of year. Adorn your wrists with neo- Nantucket Rope Bracelets from Buoy 6. Maine- made, the twisted marine rope and chunky bronze claw clasp look great alone or mixed with other mixed material bracelets. Wear them with your striped tee's on the 4th of July!

Photo courtesy of Buoy 6

Another version with a zigzag rope and thinner red accent rope wrapped around the center

Red leaves | Pink wall

HELLO CALIFORNIA

The chance to visit the land of palm trees and endless ocean always enchants me. So luckily, Thermador asked me to come out to visit their headquarters in the OC, to learn about their latest design innovations, and try out the goods. Yesterday, things heated up in the kitchen, as I rolled up my sleeves, put on my bedazzled Thermador apron and got to work cooking a major spread of Julia Childs classic recipes in honor of her 100th birthday and long history with the brand. I will share more soon, I am heading off to the mecca of stainless steel, steam cooking, and low simmer star burners, Thermador's cooking center.

 

Clean lines and linen...

I fell deeply in love with this home.  Absolutely amazing!  The mix of the linen, clean lines and heavy contrast make it so relaxing and beautiful.  

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Darryl Carter... love..

I don't know how I missed it... Darryl Carter is having a Tastemaker Sale on OKL today!!  I am dying over the chaise...  and I think I will pick up a copy of his book that is signed too!!   If you have a chance check it out there are some really wonderful pieces still available.

 

HOWZIT HOWZIT HOWZIT

Details.. and getting back in the groove..

 

I fell in love with the beautiful summery details in this photo! 

 I am considering that IKEA rug for my Husband's office.  I love the way it looks here!  I am just getting back into the groove of work and the like.. 

image via

 

TRUE NORTH

Photo courtesy of Tozai

With the 2012 America's Cup World Series races coming to Newport this weekend, the East Coast will be all aflutter with nautical fever.  The legendary sailing race is in it's 34th year, and with that history comes tales of scandal, intrigue and fierce competitiveness. The sleek whisper-light crazy fast catamarans vie for "a perpetual challenge cup for friendly competition between nations,"and since 1851 the trophy has resided with The New York Yacht Club. Often referred to as the oldest trophy in sport, Narragansett Bay welcomes the Dark n' Stormy-swilling crew and their fans. All this talk of the ocean got me thinking about fun ways to bring nautical style home. Then I remembered a jaunty side table I saw from the new Dransfield and Ross collection for Tozai. With a rope base and working compass, it is the perfect accessory - meets - table. A twofer! And, you will always find your true north.

Window Installation at the Fringe Arts

Thank you Chantal and Thessa for letting me put all this stuff in your window at The Fringe Arts on Kloof Street in Cape Town.

It's a long post with lots of photos and my thinking behind it is at the very end.

Detail shots of the base of the window.  I have used Spekboom in the book plant holders.  You can buy a tray of 6 for R20 at Lawtons currently and they are good for sucking up carbon.

and my new favourite thing - especially the horns made from tree branches

 Some nice members of the general public I met today

So what is this all about?

We throw away an inordinate amount of stuff.  It lands up on our rubbish dumps, in landfills, the oceans and maybe the recycling pile.  It bothers me a lot.  The lack of awareness and apathy of the general public bothers me even more.  Not just for waste but for day to day life as well and the stuff going on around us.  Maybe turning this ‘rubbish’ into something intriguing and beautiful will spark your interest.  And maybe the thoughts and quotes will make you giggle or strike a deeper chord with you.

And where do I get the ‘materials’ from?

The Books

I purchase them from the recycling pile at Oasis and CAFDA Charity shops.  These books were all destined to become paper pulp but now they have another little life.  The books I see being pulped break my heart but I can’t rescue them all.  My personal collection is already overflowing so unfortunately I have to let the majority go.

It seems we’ve been rolling books and magazines since the 60’s.  The oldest photo I found was of a pencil and pen holder in an old ‘Good Housekeeping’ magazine made from a magazine chopped in half with the pages rolled in. 

There is something incredibly satisfying about folding a book page in on itself and then moving onto the next one.  The repetitive action is the closest I get to meditation – similar I suppose to a walking meditation.  Maybe it's the movement that calms the mind.

The plastic bits of Flotsam

I am beach comber.  I love to wander our coastlines collecting all sorts of flotsam.  As a child I collected shells but the sad reality is that there are not many shells anymore.  So instead I have turned to flotsam.  I love the way the plastic has been worn and grinded down by the sea and bleached by the sun – I find these pieces heartbreakingly beautiful.  Each piece is completely unique and the worst part is that there seems to be a never ending supply of it.  

Well Styled..

 

This goes along with the fact that I want to be a stylist one day.. maybe when I grow up??

These images are so wonderfully full of life with just the texture of the space and great styling.

Love them!

images via

 

THE PRINCE OF BLOCK PRINTS: JOHN ROBSHAW FOR DURALEE

An early adopter of exotic exploration that traveled world learning the tricks of the global style trade years ago, John Robshaw has helped define the global/exotic design category. His sophisticated, brightly colored block-prints celebrate the handmade with a fresh twist. Working with centuries - old block printing and dying techniques, Robshaw applies his design eye to create something new and exciting by mixing artisanal technique, pattern, scale and bold color. From frolicking elephants to flowering vines, his designs take the best elements of exoticism and Indian design. With a fine arts degree from Pratt, the search for indigo dyes took him to Asia many years ago, igniting a lifelong passion for the artistic sensibility and sense of tradition that existed there. Influenced by the culture, people and process, his sarongs, bedding, fabrics and pillows make a distinct statement. A new partnership with Duralee fabrics makes his pattern play available to a wider audience. The collection includes energetic prints, some embroidery and rich wovens that mix and layer together. A wide range of colors, from umber to khaki, charcoal to moss green, madder to coral and indigo to turquoise make the collection ever-varied. You will feel as though your passport has been stamped numerous times once you see this collection, but you don't have to venture far to channel it's global sensibility.