Sunny Friday and the mood of adventure

It's Friday, the sun is shining and what's not to love? We have been doing a lot around the house and I have pretty much neglected any other good design elsewhere...
But it hasn't gotten unnoticed by me either! Yesterday I had time to browse some of my favorite shelter magazines and I found so many things I love, that I had a hard time looking through one. Do you get this feeling sometimes? You see so many wonderful things that you go into an excited overdrive? I can not explain it any better! It is so stimulating, that I have to stop for a while, because I needed to think!


Want to follow me along?


First I checked Livingetc, a magazine I regularly read. The happy colors, bohemian mixture and of course this knotty lamp drew me in!

I love all the colors of India, the patterns and combinations, LOVE!

Another fun lamp.Oversized and humorous!And I love the pillow too! Lot's of ideas to steal!

Then I was amused as within five pages of the same magazine two stylings appeared, which are pretty much identical: Small stool piled high with books? OK! It would not fly in my house. Someone would clearly knock it over or ruin the carefully stocked pile....
But the kitchen is fantastic...

And these articles were not related...

I love this happy vibe! Great sofa, all white surrounds get me every time! It's so summery! The large window almost feels like an artwork!

The homeowners clearly loves green! Me too! And the red wall! It's perfect!

I'd  like a big sky behind my couch!

Isn't this bed just so inviting? Fluffy white sheets, Bamboo frame, wood paneling, amazing chandelier and those riding boot! Love the entire ambiance!

On to the next: House &Garden, there were again a lot of beautiful pages to digest!

More elegance to be sure, but French classic design is always a hit with me!

So pretty and such beautiful finishes, colors and artwork! 

I do love this careful selection!

I adore this breakfast room. After my own heart! The striped rug, the contrasting quilted table cloth, the layering, the blue and white chinoiserie, the paintings.... Oh, the Southern charm!

Look at the loveliness of this bedroom! A wonderful antique Kelim anchors the room, setting the color scheme and mood!

I think I have to leave it at that! And I haven't even began to tell you about the amazing spread on Iris Apfel in the new AD magazine, or the lovely pages I turned admiring India Hick's island home. It has been endlessly good and entertaining. So may this post serve you as an inspiration!

Do take some time out this weekend and get inspired like I did and contemplate some changes which reflect your mood of adventure!

Have a happy weekend!

xx

Victoria

PS: Sorry I still have some sizing issues with the images!

All images via Livingetc and House & Garden!

Patio update

Remember our auction score a few weeks ago? 

This lovely teak set now graces our deck and we could not be happier with it. 
I still needed cushions...Most of you commenters encouraged me not to invest to heavily in these outdoor cushions. I agree.
Of course they wear and tear through the elements and fading is unavoidable. I can report that I got a great deal on Sunbrella cushions, bought at Patio.com for $ 34.99 a piece. Not too bad!

We choose red over blue or white (there weren't too many choices), it's lively and I think it gives a nice pop of color!
And even if it will fade to this one day, we will be OK with it! : )

Summer, here we come!

What do you think?




XX
Victoria






All images by V.Zlotkowski

Weekend settings

On weekends I try to relax and lately I use the time in the morning to have a quiet breakfast, while my children are still sleeping in and my hubby is long gone to play soccer - very early in the morning!
I read the paper: This morning's New York Times Style magazine is a sheer indulgence in spring fresh interiors!

I answer a couple of e-mails, and indulge in a breakfast I usually do not eat:

Buttermilk scones with jam and a cappuccino!


While browsing blogs I have not seen before, a wonderful past time of mine, I found a few things I would want to share with you!
I fell instantly for this look!
For I was not yet permitted to use the image, I would encourage you to have a peak at the
Jak & Jil blog!
Also I enjoyed a reading at Live.Like.You. A fabulous design firm and a great blog!

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My friend Patricia from over at PVE recommended her site to me and I am enchanted! Thank you!


While browsing I found Reggie Darling's blog, so enjoying his smart and dedicated posts and fabulous observations! Just read it!

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I smiled at the wonderful images from My French Country Home ...She has treasures on her hands!

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...and was only too happy to stop by at The House Of Beauty And Culture! 

Image Margaret, Duchess of Argyll (1912-1993) via HOBAC.


I dreamed a little with Zaire from over at Little Emma English House! Her blog is just lovely!

Ahhh....


And of course I did a little tour of my most frequently visited blogs on my hotlist...


Good morning, you all!
The sun shines so bright and promising through our windows, foretelling a lovely day! 
I wish all of you a de-lightful weekend!


XX
Victoria




Breakfast image by V.Zlotkowski, all others as indicated.

Un-decorated

Just out is this book, illuminating the latest tendency to undecorated spaces. It is lovingly assembled by Christiane Lemieux, founder and creative director of Dwell Studio. You can buy it here. It's certainly not a new concept, thinking of the gloriously undecorated rooms of the Bloomsbury Group. 

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Or the artistic salons at the turn of the last century: Gustav Klimt comes to my mind. 

Image (View of Gustav Klimt’s studio on Josefstädter Strasse 21, Vienna, ca. 1912. Photograph by Moritz Nähr. Furnishings were designed by Josef Hoffmann and executed by the Wiener Werkstätte. The painting is Klimt’s Hope II(1907-08), now in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, New York.)
True, these stand out through their incredible creative energy, but any honestly grown place will always exude it too. Picasso held court, showcasing not only his art, but found objects, ceramics, his children's toys, beach gear next to design proto-types or his latest love...

Image (Picasso's Villa La Californie)

Image (Picasso's last day in Villa Californie 1959, before moving to Provence)


Of course we often just see these outstanding homes of artists or, occasionally, writers. 
 But this development reverberates with my own design philosophy and once in a while there comes a moment where it surfaces in a trend. There will always be the un-decorating fellowship.
It's a state of mind and for time being maybe even people with order and perfection on their minds will subscribe to it for a while.

Perhaps what's so intriguing is the simple fact that it looks rather naturally lived in, not too groomed and perfect. 
In these times, when nothing around us is perfect - and when is it ever - we might answer this by living just like that.
So go on, relax, have that bundle of books you read on the floor next to your bed, coffee table or on the kitchen counter! Make momentous exhibitions on the window ledge of these small treasures you just picked at the flea market or the consignment store, don't paint that old table to a perfect turquoise, less is more! Live happily with what you have and don't take decorating too serious! And let these pillows artfully lounge around your couch.

Image ( from the book Romantic Homes of Ireland (above) and my own work/family
            room (below).

Enjoy some un-decorated time!
Until it all changes again and we move on to the next best thing.... ; )
XX
Victoria

How divine

This is some divine seating if you ask me. By Designers Guild! In good company with Finn - Juhl's beautiful settee...Poeten!

Introducing the Julep sofa!


And browsing todays Wall Street Journal, there I found an extensive and fabulous article about 'The Rise Of The Personal'! Just how I always felt about decorating...
What has been analyzed for months in the blog world has reached now mainstream: UN- DECORATING is the new black! 
It looks pretty to me.


xx
Victoria





Image via designers guild.com

Flux chair

Look at this amazing, versatile, hip folding chair!!! Easy and fun could not get any better! You can buy it here!

Costs out of the box: $199!

Genius!

Find out below who designed it!

Douwe Jacobs + Tom Schouten

Flux was created by two young designers, Douwe Jacobs and Tom Schouten of Holland. The concept for foldable, flat and design-friendly furniture evolved during their 2008 graduation project for the Industrial Design Engineering Masters at the Technical University of Delft.

Upon graduation, Jacobs and Schouten decided to start their own company for smart, flexible furniture that appeals to designers and consumers alike. They named their company Flux in a nod to the idea of transformation, change, and flow. With a small start-up loan from the university, Jacobs and Schouten created the prototype of their first design, the Flux chair.

After winning every design fair and contest they entered, and receiving the highly acclaimed New Venture Award and the Philips Innovation Award, Jacobs and Schouten used their prize money to further develop the Flux Chair. Over one hundred full scale prototypes later, the young designers paired with a team of entrepreneurs in 2010 to take the Flux concept international, increase production, marketing, and distribution.

Material(s): Polypropylene

Dimensions: 24.4"W X 25.2"D X 33.5"H, Seat Height: 16.25" Folded: 33.5"W X 0.6"D X 30.33"H

Models: FLU-FCH-0001 FLU-FCH-0002 FLU-FCH-0003 FLU-FCH-0004 FLU-FCH-0005 FLU-FCH-0006 FLU-FCH-0007 FLU-FCH-0008

All images via yliving.com