metropolitan home : dixie chick

Metropolitan Home Magazine can be a hit or a miss for me. The Dixie Chick's are a miss. Surprisingly, I found myself going back to the mag's Feb issue repeatedly to pore over the loft of Dixie Chick Emily Robison.


Sometimes I see a photo shoot of a house tour that I absolutely love. I may file away the images, but never return to them. This spread was the exact opposite and I’m still trying to figure why. I thumbed through the mag and then put it down. Then I came back to it. Then, I read the story. Then I went over it with a fine comb of what was speaking to me.

Let me try to break it down as well as I possibly can.


Good bones : Yes, as usual, the structure itself was loudest. An old candy factory turned loft and the designers actually honored this fact. The windows. The floor. And the awkward columns that actually became an asset by helping divide up the space.


Good natural light : Yes, I’m from and live in the Northwest.


Sexy windows : 1920s. Steel casing. Thin mullions. Need I say more?


It’s modern yet unpretentious : She actually specified no Saarinen tables. Awesomeness.


It’s modern, but not too obvious : Turkish Oushak Rug softening the space and lending an organic sensibility. Hey, that zigzag on the dining room chairs. Is it modern (and a bit trendy at the moment) or is it a nod to African mud cloth or Amazonian body painting?


The palette : Neutralized earth tones spells l-o-v-e. Browns, blacks, whites to grays. Nothing is overwhelming nor is the palette washed-out or boring. Contrasting prints and textures (can you say ultra-suede drapes) bring interest and cohesion.

Overall : Modern, organic, cohesive pallete with contrast in materials and stylings.  Creative floor plan.

Critique : the kitchen. I didn't even bother with a photo.

so close to my heart

Jamie Oliver's TED wish is simple: "For everyone to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, to inspire families to cook again, and to empower people everywhere to fight obesity."

ashly's inspiration : the entry way

One of my best friends has bravely moved her family out of their comfortable suburban home and into a one-bedroom mother-in-law apartment above a detatched garage on her parents rural property.  The goal is to remodel the entire structure into a single family home.  Currently, its quite cozy with her husband and herself, their 5 year old son and a menagerie of pets coexisting during the whole process.

I would consider her style a bit traditional but laid back and casual.  She loves whimsical elements and a little modern touch here and there.  Because the acreage she's living on is intended to be an equestrian training facility I'm going to focus on modern interpretations of traditional or country design.

Let's see if any of this inspires her!
below: from four walls and a roof.  This is a pretty traditional entry (doors, table, lamp), but that modern striped area rug really makes the space fresh and of-the-moment.

below: sunset via desire to inspire.  I like this picture because I know Ashly would like to have a mudroom/personal space to the left of the entry and I thought the little step up in this pic is a great way to define the transition of the spaces.  Also, that traditional door is super fun with the punch of red.

below: christopher maya.  Again, a traditional door taken up a notch with color.  Also, a great visual tool to help Ashly think of defining her entry as a space instead of just an transitional hallway.

two toned walls

Browsing the net the other day I came across a Parisian flat that I immediately fell in love with (on Bodie and Fou). Coming in at a mere 270 square feet the space hasn’t been overly fussed about or modernized. It is minimal and timeless with classic and modern touches.



The walls in this flat really got my attention and reminded me of my time at university when I lived in a cottage (read shack) on acreage. After a couple months sleeping in a tent the front bedroom opened up for me to take residence. This was the bedroom that just so happened to have cotton-candy pink floral wallpaper. Seeing that it was a rental (and a shack), I quickly primed over the paper and painted the walls two tones with a stark white on top and an orange ochre on the bottom. I loved it and felt that I was living in a hacienda; given it was a bit of a neglected hacienda.

below: bodie and fou

below: benjamin moore paints. 

colors: blue bonnet and florida keys blue

below: from the danish magazine bolig magasinet.  I like how the dark cabinetry has the same affect as a two-tone paint application.

below: always awesome chaulk board paint from photographer daron chatz

below: two tones divided up high to lower the ceiling.  an oldie from domino magazine.

below: I love this image, but have no idea where it came from.

below: villanovo from the style files.  similar to the color I used for my two tone application.

element : color

below: smith and noble via remodelista

below: colette may's chicago flat via elements of style

below: elle decor france via the city sage

below: roman and williams via remodelista

principle : emphasis, balance & proportion

Maryan from MyMarrakech recently gave us a glimpse into her powder room.  Here, one can see how personality can seep into the air of a space.  Actually knowing the person is optional; you'll walk away feeling as if you do. 

I love how one wall seems to be filled with small scale items while others have larger scale statement items resulting in balance and proportion.  This post was originally going to be titled "emphasis : collage", but it really has every aspect of design principle: scale, proportion, blance, rhythm, emphasis and harmony.

All images from MyMarrakech.  Be sure to jump over there and check out Maryan's amazing voice and eye. 

the garden : part III

backyard : fencing

(from apartmenttherapy.com)  This is pretty spot on - down to the preexisting cinderblock base.

(Buttrick Wong)

unknown source

(from remodelista)

cheese please

Need I say anything more?  (From Sunday Suppers)

the garden : part II

house tour : shelter island

Posted today over at Remodelista, this Shelter Island remodel by NY-based architects Rhea White and Steve Schappacher of Schappacher White is stunning.  I am absolutely in love with it.  Its stylish with good 'design' but not overproduced.  I would definitely feel at home in this space. 

Features of note: Floor to ceiling cupboards in the kitchen.  Awesome storage!  Built-ins under the stairwell with a concealed television.  Brilliant!  Built-in day bed.  Dreamy!

(Photos via Remodelista)