White Kitchens – there’s one for everyone!

So many kitchens this time… all I’m going to ask is:

Can you spot the coffee fanatic’s kitchen? I think I love that person.

Happy Friday!

I’m especially happy today (hope you are too) I’m on my way to NYC to get my shop on…

look out New York Gift Show!!

ETSY Binge!

You guessed it, I’ve been bingeing on the eye candy over at ETSY.com – it’s been going on for a few days now.  There is no shortage of creativity and good design over there, and the prices are crazy good!  This bracelet offered by ourfamilyjewelsLA on ETSY, is a gold vermeil over sterling silver.   They call it the twiggy bangle, I think it’s so simple and beautiful.  There really is something for everyone… Small paintings, jewelry, pottery and knitted and felted hats, wallets, pins, and purses, and yes… Dog collars.

David Prince – Borrowed Blog

Someone over at Desire to Inspire has a crush on David Prince, and I may be crushing on his work too.  Just look at the richness of his work.  beautifully lit, and cropped perfectly his work seens to have a special quality… vintage for sure , but there’s something more. Here is what the Dersire to Inspire folks had to say:

True love ….. again. We’ve featured photographer David Prince‘s work before. We’ve simpered and praised, declared his work the best, sworn our undying love … then forgotten him and moved on to other photographer crushes. What was I thinking! New work since our last foray into Prince’s portfolio. Love the boho, easy elegance that is creeping into the shots. The earthiness, the softer light, the exploration of the imperfect. The man’s a genius. Mea culpa. I should not have strayed.

Osborne & Little – Nina Campbell

A little more from Nina Campbell…

Blown away by this beautiful paper!  Glowing horizontal stripes of the grandest scale with a delicate strié make this wall covering by Nina Campbell for Osborne & Little a must have for the chic and glamorous set.  This paper is named Cremona after a town in the Po Valley in Lombardy, Northern Italy.  I’d love it in an alcove behind a bed, or a small bar or powder room  would be the perfect place for this special paper.  The only problem: Choosing my favorite color-way.

 NCW4012-01NCW4012-02NCW4012-03NCW4012-04NCW4012-05NCW4012-06

WITHOUT RESERVATION

This client knows how to have a good time, and when to take risks!  Just had a meeting with one of my best clients and this is what we came up with for the main room in her new water front summer-house.  The beautiful large-scale paisley embroidery from Osborne and Little was the must have fabric and what inspired the other choices.  We both love the glam factor of the metallic threads running through the stitching mixed with the easy-living natural linen ground.   The wide stripe from Noblis will probably find its way to the sofa and there are dining room chairs, arm chairs, game table chairs and ottomans to cover so we’ll need all of these fabrics and maybe even a strong solid turquoise (not shown).  We are waiting on a sample of the raspberry and turquoise paisley called Nizam (see below), it pulls the pinks and blues together so well, I’m sure we’ll use it some where.  I’m thinking pillows on the striped sofa, but I’d bet on it becoming more dominant in the room than that, we shall see.  Stay tuned and I’ll post some interior shots when this project starts seeing some upholstery delivries.  p.s.  I just found this wallpaper from Nina Campbell that I think would be great in the backs of bookcases or as a backsplash on a bar with all these fabrics… pretty right?  All the right colors, an unexpected pattern that mixes well with the others planned for the room, and isn’t it a happy wallpaper?  light and fresh, just as a summer house should be.

The Secret of Sand

Beauty in every grain, remarkable photographs reveal the hidden charms of ordinary sand.  Viewed at a magnification of over 250 times real life, tiny grains of sand are shown to be delicate, colourful structures as unique as snowflakes.  When seen well beyond the limits of human eyesight, the miniature particles are exposed as fragments of crystals, spiral fragments of shells and crumbs of volcanic rock.

Professor Gary Greenberg who has a PhD in biomedical research from University College London said: ‘It is incredible to think when you are walking on the beach you are standing on these tiny treasures.

Magnified:The grains are shown to be delicate, colourful structures each as unique as a snowflake.

Colourful: The miniature particles are exposed as fragments of crystals, spiral fragments of shells and crumbs of volcanic rock.  Sand is tiny fragments of rock that have been worn away over thousands of years.  Contrary to popular belief, sand is made as rocks crash and break in rivers and streams on their way to the sea, rather than the ebb and flow of the tides.  Deposits left by breaking rocks in the sea turns to silt and is much lighter so is dispersed over a much wider area out to sea, rather than on the shore line.  Some of the rock is soluble, but other bits remain and as they are slowly rubbed down over time they get smaller and smaller until they become what we know as sand.

‘Every time I look through my microscope I am fascinated by the complexity and individuality created by a combination of nature and the repeated tumbling of the surf on a beach.’

Prof Greenberg, who searches through thousands of tiny rocks with acupuncture needles to find and arrange the most perfect specimens, then uses a painstaking technique to create his images.  He has spent five years searching the globe for remarkable sand grains like these to photograph.  Gary’s pictures are available from his website sandgrains.com and his book ‘a grain of sand’ which is available on Amazon.

Source: DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Vintage 200 Series

I won’t drone on about what I want, love, love, love, blah blah blah and all that.  Let me just say these cars are the epitome of class, they are as beautiful today as they were the day they rolled off the production line and no one does it quite like Mercedes.  Can I get an Amen?!?

I have a confession to make…

I talk a good game Modern this Rustic that, white, white white… the truth is most of my work and my own home fall into a  category (see above and below) I think I’ll call eclectic chic.  It’s traditional at its core, but there is a layered up vibe that is both bohemian and “decoratorish”.  It’s not necessarily my favorite look but it’s my comfort zone and allows me to not have to edit as much as I should.  THIS IS BIG people!  I’m introducing you to the man behind the curtain… the great OZ.  If I had multiple homes one would be a spare modern box and one would be rustic funky and one would be traditional/transitional, but I don’t.  I have one home and it’s a layered up funky mix like the images in this post.  AND, I’m comfortable in it.  I love my stuff and I’d rather be surrounded by the things I love – yes I LOVE THINGS, I know that’s bad… but I do – that to be so critical about what I allow into my home.  Truth is I’m editing all day for clients, why would I want to edit when I get home.  More is more people, and it can become overwhelming, you stop seeing things because there is too much to look at, but if you love it… find a place for it, cherish it and the memories that might be attached to it and do what feels right to you in your home.  That is what really makes a house a home.  XO

p.s. the bottom 3 images are my house.

Vintage Vixens

Models in the Window, picture by Ormond Gigli , New York 1960

Would you believe these were all a facebook grab?!  A friend of a friend… Who knew?  I love the lines and the silhouettes of women’s fashion from the 40′s and 50′s.  Clean and straightforward but dramatic and so full of opulence and luxe.  the glamour of it all just cuts through me for some reason.  I wanted to write more about why this is so fascinating to me but I’m still not sure why… Maybe these women remind me of my mother from when I was young?  Perhaps it’s simply the well designed clothes and well designed shots, stylized and chic… not sure just love it… hope you enjoy.

Fiona Campbell-Walter wearing a duchesse satin ball gown by Cristobal Balenciaga.Photo by Frances McLaughlin-Gill at Château de Versailles for Vogue 1952

Model wearing a Christian Dior evening dress/ Photo by Erwin Blumenfeld, New York, VOGUE US, 1949

Stella Oakes wearing Balenciaga – photo Henry Clarke 1951

Sunny Harnett wearing this classic gray flannell by Harvey Berin, picture by Irving Penn for Vogue 1952

Wall of Art

This is a great look!  Wall shelves peaked in popularity sometime ago but this collection is so well suited for this layered up look.  What a great way to show off a strong grouping of black and whites.  It’s like having a bookcase on a wall where you don’t really have the room.  LOVE!

Hang it low!  Go behind the lamp and right down to the nightstand, or side table,or…  Break all the “rules” when your hanging a grouping, vary the spacing and make it static not stagnant.  If the sizes of your pieces are all over the place, don’t try and create too much “order” when hanging, keep it organic for better results.

Short on art?  Go long on style by hanging a grouping of mirrors.  The reflected light will add sparkle to any room, especially a dining room filled with flickering candles.  Inexpensive frames purchased from craft stores can be easily retrofitted with inexpensive mirror (weekend warrior’s could tackle this on their own with a glass cutting tool).

Create harmony! and balance by complimenting busy groupings with singular statement pieces on other walls. Message: Go crazy but don’t go crazy on every wall.  The grouping really works best when you employ it once, one room, one wall… capeche?!

MORE Wall of Art

Had a few more to include…

I LOVE PILLOWS – part II

Yes, its cliché… I know, but I love pillows. A decorator that loves pillows, it’s not really a stretch. I mean really… you can create a mood, or change a look with just a few pillows.  Take a risk on a strong color, mix patterns together you might not expect together or transform ho-hum into TA-DUM! with a pillow or two – or 20.  For the record, I’m not talking about ruffled edge, braid, tape and trim laden pillows… I’m more the knife-edge, self welt type of guy.  I don’t go for all those bells and whistles,  a bunch of pillows is enough already do they (you) really need frosting on top of frosting?

I’m writing a part II to my pillow blog because I received a pair of pillows last night as a gift from friends who obviously know me.  Not only did they give me pillows, they gave me pillows that seem to look good in every room of my house!  Who would have thought pillows would be so flexible?  And would you believe they are Johnthan Adler?  The man who can’t get enough color, does neutrals!  And I love them!  and YAY new pillows.

…why didn’t I think of that?

Cake batter in a waffle maker!  …turned into ice cream sandwiches?!?!

Masculine & Moody

I’ve been giving some advice to friends who just bought a new place out in San Francisco.  They have great taste, but it’s always good to bounce ideas off of someone else, you can get a perspective on things you might not have come up with on your own.  So we have been enjoying shopping virtually and I have to admit to being influenced by them as of late.  The look will end up a bit more minimal and a bit more luxe than these shots, but the vibe is there… stylish and well designed but casual enough to not be afraid to simply walk in and put your feet up.  For me it’s the dark wood, and black (leather?) combo.  They might not get to black leather in San Francisco but the masculine and moody vibe will definitely come through, even with white walls and pale linen sofas.  Part of the mix too is the clean, mid-century, walnut toned wood thing that all of these images has.  It’s a strong look.  A masculine look.  Maybe a bit a “Single Man” (the movie) aesthetic.

Now that’s to say this project will look like the pictures above (or below) but instead, the look will borrow elements and with the architecture of the building, some previously owned pieces and with some artistic interpretation a stylish new home will be born.  the message: Borrow ideas, harvest themes and interpret them into your own look and style.  Buy only things you really love and you’ll seldom regret them.  Things have a way of working out – even when the coffee table is a little small, room for an ottoman? – trust and enjoy the process, it will show in the end, I promise.

CAMP

At times I wonder if BillBlog should go through a name change / update, you know a new look for the new year and all that… But then what would that look like?  Do I admit that White Kitchens and Rustic Modern are my go to design favorites and build and focus on that?  Where’s the fun of not being able to post a bathing suit post just because it doesn’t fit the theme?  I could do a separate blog all together of just White Kitchens or Modern Rustic, would that just divide my readership or increase it?  I have always felt the old saying “paralysis by analysis” is true and it seems that by worrying about what to morph my blog into or how or why to refocus or add a new, things will just stay the same here, some modern, some traditional, bathing suits, lights, shoes, cars, paint, furniture, wallpaper, dogs and anything else that catches my eye.

Like CAMP style.  Now, to me… that doesn’t have to mean Adirondack.  Split birch logs and twig details on every door and wall.  To me it simply means camping, but in something more livable than a tent (or perhaps a really really nice tent, see above) and certainly something worthy of decoration, because it’s all about decoration.   I love a heavy wool blanket, some antlers (naturally shed of course) painted and peeling furniture and plenty of mix-matched pillows for a soft spot for napping.  For that rustic look in an instant, you can go to the now very popular – that’s code for trendy, which isn’t always a good thing – horizontal rustic boards.  I still love the look, but I’m glad I don’t have any my house… that look is so 1211.  lol.  All kidding aside rustic wood paneling of anytime is a great look for a CAMP style room cabin or home.

And for those of you who live in a place where rustic board paneling and tents are out of the question, I give you…

THE LOG PILLOW!

Yep, it the cheapest and easiest way to get a little CAMP style into your abode.  And, would you believe that I found not one but two versions of the log pillow?  Thats right, if the realistic log pillow above isn’t quite your look, how about this felted artistic one…

Pretty sure these came from ETSY.com… elf not included.

White Kitchens… and a few others

Sorry it’s late, but Happy Sunday!  here are a few great kitchens… mostly white but a little color here and there.  Have to admit, my favorite from this bunch is the grey inset shaker door kitchen at the bottom.  They got it all right, white-painted floor, thin marble counters, great hardware and faucet and no uppers!  

Living in Living Towers – Borrowedish

This was a Facebook Grab on my Iphone as you might be able to tell.  I researched and found the architects website and a great article from the Financial Times and volia!  …here is the information on these structures currently being built in Milan.

The Bosco Verticale is a system that optimizes, recuperates, and produces energy. Covered in plant life, the building aids in balancing the microclimate and in filtering the dust particles contained in the urban environment (Milan is one of the most polluted cities in Europe). The diversity of the plants and their characteristics produce humidity, absorb CO2 and dust particles, producing oxygen and protect the building from radiation and acoustic pollution. This not only improves the quality of living spaces, but gives way to dramatic energy savings year round.

Each apartment in the building will have a balcony planted with trees that are able to respond to the city’s weather — shade will be provided within the summer, while also filtering city pollution; and in the winter the bare trees will allow sunlight to permeate through the spaces. Plant irrigation will be supported through the filtering and reuse of the greywater produced by the building. Additionally, Aeolian and photovoltaic energy systems will further promote the tower’s self-sufficiency.

The design of the Bosco Verticale is a response to both urban sprawl and the disappearance of nature from our lives and on the landscape. The architect notes that if the units were to be constructed unstacked as stand-alone units across a single surface, the project would require 50,000 square meters of land, and 10,000 square meters of woodland. Bosco Verticale is the first offer in his proposed BioMilano, which envisions a green belt created around the city to incorporate 60 abandoned farms on the outskirts of the city to be revitalized for community use.

Stefano Boeri Architetti

Via Financial Times Read more: Bosco Verticale in Milan 

In The Attic

I wouldn’t mind having a room like one of these in my attic,  I Love them all!  A little country?  Yeah… but a whole-lotta cozy! Simple and pure not too decorated, a place to completely relax and not worry about mussing the pillows or folding the I would love to spend a snowy weekend hold up in here with a few down comforters and my lap-top.  These spaces could easily be found in my dream house from yesterday, but don’t let the tray on one of the beds fool you, there is no room service!

Dream House

Maybe I’ve been on the East Coast to long, and maybe I’ve just been on the East Coast long enough – Enough to know they don’t get much sweeter than this little gem. Love the old stone curbing and the white-painted fence. A good start! With a formal hedge providing some privacy to the front of the house. The gate would keep the dogs in and let visitors know right where the entrance is to the old clapboard house’s yard. I love the multi-paned, double hung windows and the dormer windows too. The house is just big enough to entertain in I think and you could squeeze in the occasional guest,just long enough, but no more… and that’s a good thing.

This is the look for my room, bright light and tonal. Pretty drapes on simple iron rods, doors that open onto a lush private patio and pile on the down comforters! Sea grass on top of wide plank wood floorswould feel and look good and I’d keep the art black and white to maintain a quiet vibe in the space. The trim and walls being painted the same color reduces the amount of visual commotion.

And while I may need a few more places for friends to sit I liked to over-all aesthetic of this back yard hideout. A good place for an after dinner _________ (fill in your vice of choice), I like the overall palette remaining consistent with the furnishings found inside the house. Now if this were the pool cabana, that would be even sweeter.