Displaying posts from February, 2012

Beyond Beige

Posted on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 by KiM

Beyond Beige is an award-winning interior design firm located in North Vancouver, BC that was founded by Reisa Pollard in 2003. Rocking contemporary designs that are warm, bright and comfortable yet classy resulting in spaces that are timeless. And I must commend them on the use of a fantastic photographer to shoot their projects (it’s shocking how many don’t).

More than one string to Belgian photographer Bieke Claessen‘s bow. Just like there is more to Belgian design that spartan minimalist modern design. How about a softer more traditional take? Ok not soft as in fluffy and frou frou. We all know that the Belgians aren’t into soft and fluffy. It’s more like a restrained high style from the Low Countries. Still with that light touch that Bieke brings to her lens.

Bieke Claessens

Posted on Tue, 28 Feb 2012 by midcenturyjo

Less is more. No nonsense. Straight up. Restrained. Tightly curated. Minimalist and modern. Clever insight. No need to embellish. As it is. Unencumbered. True and simple. Beautiful but spartan. I’m not just talking about Belgian design. I’m talking about Belgian photographer Bieke Claessens‘ portfolio.

Monday’s pets on furniture – part 2

Posted on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 by KiM

If you’d like to send me photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow my basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it. And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim[@]hotmail[.]com and PLEASE don’t send closeups of your pet!)

In Spain I work as a interior designer, so your blog inspires me a lot! I’m also an animal lover so i want to send you some pictures of my beloved dog “Tapón”.
– Ana (Madrid, Spain)

Last time I sent you a picture of Max. This time of his sister, little Miss Tinkerbell. She is a tortoiseshell cat and has the personality that goes with it: strong-willed, fiercely independent and like her brother and mum (both ginger) very talkative. She makes her presence and needs known with a meow to a strong purr. She is a hand full but so cute…
Sandra (The Netherlands)

Our pups, Nigel and Levon really know how to relax.
Levon, the puppy, loves the chairs in the sunroom, especially after they’ve baked in the sun all afternoon.
Nigel, the teenager, has claimed the couch for his naps: he can watch the birds and kitties outside the window without budging a hair.
– Melissa (San Francisco, CA)

These are my pets, Spaz (cat) and Idgie (dog). Spaz is 13 and is Idgie is 10 months. We live in Fort Worth, TX. Spaz is featured on my vintage dining booth. The second photo is a lazy Sunday spent on the couch, a rare moment of peace :).
– Sarah

This is our yorkie puppy, Sam, that I actually got to sit still for one brief moment!
– Allison (Greensboro, NC)

This is a picture of my make cat Ikea Boy relaxing on his fave spot at home. He is the meekest sweetest cat alive!
– Ypille

Here is a photo of Zoe—I put this sleigh out for the holidays but Zoe saw a “new bed” and I can’t put it away until she chooses another favorite spot to sleep.
– Vicky

Monday’s pets on furniture – part 1

Posted on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 by KiM

If you’d like to send me photos to include in next week’s “pets on furniture” post, please ensure your photos follow my basic rules: First, the pet must be on a piece of furniture. And said piece of furniture must be clearly visible in the photo, so it takes center stage rather than your pet. Think of it more of a photo of a great piece of furniture that you want to show off…and your pet happens to be sitting on it. And second, the photo must be of decent quality. If it’s dark or fuzzy (from a camera phone) then it may not make the cut. Thanks! (Photos, your name, location and a brief description can be sent to desiretoinspirekim[@]hotmail[.]com and PLEASE don’t send closeups of your pet!)

I’m a fan of your blog and I’d wished to send a picture of my kitty, Melora, for your “pets on furniture” for a while. Problem is, we’re practically still camping in our new apartment — and the homes shown in your weekly feature are so pretty, I don’t know that I can “compete” with many of them. On the other hand, unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of time to wait to accessorize my home to be as glamorous as I wish it would be; Melora is a FELV+ kitten — we knew she likely was when we adopted her (or, rather, when she adopted us) and knew that she was probably not going to be with us for very long. She’s now been found with what is likely to be a lymphoma affecting both bowel and lungs.
So, you see, we definitely don’t have much time. Yet I’d like to let the world know that she exists and that we love her very much. She seems to be in ageement with me on that, because she’s not a very easy kitty to photograph, but she practically sat and posed for these ones.
1 – Here she is, sitting on one of her favourite “look-out” spots, on the custom-made shelf beside my computer desk, amidst Ikea boxes and a cat-shaped mini CD rack I got as a Christmas present a number of years ago.
2 – And here she’s sitting on my mother’s beloved coffee table, which she “customized” herself, adding the globes filled with dried roses and kiwi-tree branchlets. No other cat has ever been allowed to get up on that table, but of course Melora had to take possession.

Larthia (Italy)
This is my 4 year old miniature pinscher, Polly. She thinks every piece of furniture is there just for her.
– Erin (Royal Oak, MI)

My little gargoyle… I mean, Boston Terrier, Elsa fearlessly guarding the priceless Ikea couch.
– Felicia

As you can see, Millie loves her Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams chesterfield.
– Danielle (Brooklyn, NY)

Here you see Mucha, my 4 and a half big boy. The armchair was bought for 15 euros only a week ago in a second hand shop.
– Catarina (Leiria, Portugal)

1 – Our cat, Ed Murphy, takes a nap at the best center spot of our couch.
2 – Although we paid good money to have this massage chair in our room, it obviously doesn’t belong to us anymore.
– Vinicius (Brazil)