Sheer Happiness

Summer is here. Its time to let the breeze blow through the windows
Lift up the heavy drapes and let the light in.
Goldie is showing me the way. Rubbing her back on the glorious green grass.
Let the Summer Decorating begin, with Sheer Happiness.

I love lace curtains - terylene they used to call it back home. Everyone had some flimsy drapes, hanging on stretched plastic coated stretch wire, hooked into the window frames with little cup hooks.
For Privacy. I think they meant so they could look out & spy without you knowing..........

Here are some ideas to get you start on decorating your living room, your bedroom.

Or in the doorways in between. How about learning How ? to make a door curtain with records.
You can do it yourself - check out, if you are looking for that retro look. Instructions by Veryirie

Or this pretty lace sheer from Country Curtains for that romantic look




and I just love the happy checks on this vintage fabric sheer made by Fab5



Be creative and reuse or repurpose fabric, or items like stones or shells.
Look for amazing finds like this cheesecloth curtain found in grandma's attic, (not my grandma) but I guess its one of those HGTV makeover moments. Here is a true life makeover picture, according to Giapet39 on flicker. Love this dreamy Kitchen window - I am in Sweden.




Try some of the amazing window films on the market like this incredible design from 2Jane,
save money and save space - its in the window on the window - and you dont need hardware.





Stone and string from can be used in doorways and windows. I would be hesitant about using them in the doorways - could get tangled up and knocked out from the stones.
In the windows they could be delightful.


Now go forth and create summer moods in your living room, dining room, bedroom or even the office. Can you lighten the mood inside?

Romantic endeavors

"Sleep, perchance to dream" as Shakespeare declared - every creature needs a place to lay their head.
Like Goldie, who is curled up head resting on paw pads, to create a soft pillow.


Indulge the Romantic you
The Bedroom is a great place to get away from it all.
Basics include a good bed, excellent lighting and perhaps a chair to curl up in.
here are some ideas mixed up with some Home and Garden photographs from the Conde Nast collection:

Scenic designer William Riva transformed his child's bedroom into an enchanted forest for the holidays. Otto Maya photographed the exquisite area for the December 1955 House & Garden.

Be bold in the bedroom- color is an easy way to create a mood
Use the apricot heart of a rose you love, or a deep inky blue sky that brings peace floating to the surface.
A painted ceiling can be magical.

Items for a man's bedroom

A series of men's bedroom accessories, including wool blankets, a hanger, a pencil cup holder and an ashtray, were photographed by Geoffrey Baker for the January 1948 House & Garden.

Fabric is sensual
Not just color here, but texture, pattern and type of fabric can be used to changing the space dramatically & create mood:
Use behind the bed, to create statement. Cover a headboard or drape from floor to ceiling.

Rochas bedroom

The September 1950 House & Garden, - the bedroom that couturier Marcel Rochas designed for his wife and himself. André Kertész photographed the room, which features wall murals in the style of the eighteenth century, a high ceiling painted light blue, and a bed draped in icy blue-white satin.

Texture & color add DRAMA!

Bedding that coordinates, ties the space together.
Avoid too many pillows or lots of small items.


Size Counts.
When choosing your bed frame the scale of the piece should be taken into account.
Dont crowd the space. Leave room for walking.

Understand your needs:
eliminate clutter and pare the space down.
Less clutter means more tranquility.

Unify
Paint all the pieces of furniture one color to unify. Reduce the clutter to clean lines and simple elements. Make sure the furniture is comfortable.
Organize your essentials with containers like baskets or trays.

Speak to your romantic soul.
Art is an important element in a bedroom. Hang pieces that are joyful and nourishing.

The cover of the May 1935 House & Garden was a vision in violet. Anton Bruehl photographed the still life of pansies.

Beauty without CLUTTER

ceramic box by Corinna Mori

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful."

William Morris
Father of the arts & crafts movement
24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896

here is a William Morris chair -the true test is the test of time - it is exquisite still.

Gina, my partner and I just did a talk about eliminating clutter from your lives. It was totally fun, with a receptive and engaged audience.
In putting together the talk and slides we used the quote above.

The arts and crafts movement is one of my favorite and I enjoy William Morris' aesthetic.

In fact, when I read the quote, people in the audience gasped -
as if in response to something so profound; suddenly letting go makes sense.

Permission to be tough on what you have in your home.
Real estate is precious, life is hard.
Let go of some of the stuff, and make way for quality.
Quality of life, and quality of objects.

Every object, every moment.

above Pimpernel Wallpaper design of William Morris, still available today, I believe - the beauty of which almost makes me cry.

Funny thing about how when life becomes too complicated, we want to return to a pared down, clutter less existence, as if we are in rebellion from the curlicues of life.
And the simple is so much harder to achieve.

My friend Corinna Mori is a true artist. Every item in her home is simple, and exquisite.
She is a potter.
and her work is sheer poetry.


This container below sings to me:

I want to share some of her pieces because each piece reflects the rule:
Object Beauty

here is another fabulous little pot - they are also so delicate looking, yet rough and bold,
like a skin on the outside, with the soft inner sheen of the interior.
Each piece employing both the natural handmade look as well as a function.

here is a bowl Corinna has in her garden, put to use - as the Arts and Craft philosophy intended - beauty and function at play:

Next Saturday February 21 will be the reception Mainly Clay, at The Main Gallery in Redwood City, California 6-8 pm Show will run February 18- March 22, 2009
if you are around, do yourself a favor and stop by.
Its a group show, so lots of interesting pieces to be seen.


To wrap up
another William Morris paper- simple yet stunning and totally sophisticated
definitely a great foil for Corinna's work.

We use items in our daily lives, to create and do, why not pick the items that please us?
Ordinary is really what is extraordinary about life, after all.

on that note, a spoon -
to leave you with
by carol boyes




Hands, hearts and heads make sense together.

Lacy and free

Summer Snowflake
lace falls open and closed like magic in honor of MLK day
I am thinking how cobwebs and lace can be open and hold you enchanted and free
the lightness of being
to have the space and light to make choices, find your freedom, to live with dignity.
and LACE.
Here is a cobweb covered in snow from Yahoo pictures:



and a fabulous lace covered tree
by Janet Morton - Ward Island Toronto





how about some lace valances from London Lace




or some woven bowls for the dresser - these are so sweet from Berlin's Whimsy
crocheted bowls





or one of the incredible sculptures of Ruth Asawa at the San Francisco De Young Museum



find a lovely piece of lace to embellish a simple pillow or drape




Exquisite maltese lace from the Lace Fairy

or how lovely would some chantilly lace look in black as sheers for your boudoir or to skirt your dolly varden
I had a dolly varden (kidney shaped dresser surrounded by fabric) when I was a child.
Sheers with velvety red spots - I remember that pouffy skirted table with delight
and on top a three piece wrought iron curlicue mirror
check out this choice from Anjoorians Silks



Dream on



a jewel to treasure from Vintage stones