Displaying posts from August, 2016

Living in style in Paris

Posted on Tue, 30 Aug 2016 by midcenturyjo

My love affair with all things French design continues. Beauty, elegance, sophistication and sensuality with a touch of global travels. It’s a heady mix in this chic apartment by Emma Donnersberg Interiors. The epitome of stylish living in Paris.

Rough Linen – everyday luxury

Posted on Mon, 29 Aug 2016 by midcenturyjo

Have you noticed it? There is a quiet revolution going on. A stand against fads and the throw away. In a world that is getting faster and smaller and increasingly more wasteful it’s about quality, craftsmanship and longevity. It’s about luxury but not the store it away and hoard it type of luxury. Everyday luxury. Taking the time to source the best, the most beautiful and using it all the time.

I have loved Tricia Rose’s Rough Linen for so many years now. The story goes that Tricia found a homespun, hand-sewn linen pillowslip while clearing her grandmother’s cottage in Scotland. Made by her great-grandmother in about 1840, it had been in regular use for generations. When she found a natural linen several years later with the same wonderful homespun texture and feel, she started making bedding, each piece handmade, cut to the thread, pre-washed for shrinkage and to release the texture. Good materials, careful and mindful production. Her range of bedding (sheets, duvet covers, shams and more), curtains, table linens, pinafores and robes is strong, elemental. You don’t need to fuss with it, just use it, enjoy it’s beauty and practicality.

And then there’s the look, the smell, the feel of linen. Once you’ve slept in linen sheets you’ll never want to sleep in anything else. I love the feel of linen against my skin. The best part is that it gets better with use, softening, becoming almost lustrous. But there’s nothing “precious” about linen. Machine wash with a mild detergent and I love to hang my linens out to air dry. No need to iron. The natural creases are part of the Rough Linen look. Could everyday luxury be any easier?

These images of key pieces from Rough Linen‘s line were taken in a house in California’s Wine Country, which belongs to a friend, designer Patricia Adrian-Hanson. Dan Hale the architect is a friend of Tricia’s too, and she says “I LUST after his houses!” With photography by Laurie Frankel and styling by Christina Watkinson they epitomise the beauty, the elegant sufficiency of Rough Linen pieces. An object may be simple, practical, efficient yet it can be equally luxurious. The ritual of family meals is finished with a swipe of the lips with a soft linen napkin and everyday chores become just a little more delightful. Imagine drying dishes with such a lovely linen teatowel. I think that just about sums it up. Rough Linen is a luxury you will use every day.

This post is in collaboration with Rough Linen.

Monday’s pets on furniture

Posted on Mon, 29 Aug 2016 by KiM

If you would like to participate in the Monday’s pets on furniture series please send photos, your name, location and a brief description to kim[@]desiretoinspire[.]net, or hashtag your photos #DTIpetsonfurniture. Thanks!

Today’s post is in memory of Minnie, my sister’s cat who was diagnosed with cancer several months ago and was given about 3 months to live. Well, she long surpassed the 3 months but it isn’t looking good so today she will be leaving us.
We’ll miss you Minnie XOXO

That’s Minnie on the left and her buddy Carl on the right. 
Also, please say a little prayer for my sweet Felix. He’s going in for exploratory surgery because after 4 different tests, we still don’t know why he has lost so much weight over the past year. 🙁

Sending you a pic of my two lovely pets, Ozzy and Pepe. They are seen relaxing on the couch….the house is theirs….they can do whatever they want but I must say they are really well behaved, very intelligent and loving.
– Eunice (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

Do you remember Twizzel? She passed away a year ago. She was posted on your website too.

🙁 RIP Twizzel

This is my new fur baby Kiwi. 
– Sunny 

Hmmm I guess I will sit elsewhere 😂#sharingiscaring #sundaymood

A photo posted by Meg (@cortinidesign) on Aug 21, 2016 at 4:28pm PDT

Love stripes #maharamtextiles #paulsmith

A photo posted by Lisa Klein-Pollack (@roominate) on Apr 12, 2016 at 8:57pm PDT

Sundays are my favorite

A photo posted by Cindy Hsu Zell (@cindy.zell) on Aug 28, 2016 at 11:59am PDT

 

Boho Modern

Posted on Mon, 29 Aug 2016 by midcenturyjo

I’ve seen Boho Scandi and Boho Shabby Chic. I’ve even seen Boho Gothic and a touch of Boho stirred through Hollywood Regency but it’s rare to see Boho Modern. Glass and chrome, sleek kitchen, wishbone chairs and modern art married with a riotous Roche Bobois Mah Jong sofa, oriental wallpaper and lacquer cabinets. A modern loft style apartment with a strong personality. And then there are the views. A Private Residence in Covent Garden, London by Caroline Cobbold Design.

Rebecca Atwood – Living With Pattern

Posted on Sun, 28 Aug 2016 by KiM

Brooklyn based designer and artist Rebecca Atwood is launching her first book in a few days and I was really excited to get my hands on a copy the other day. I love pattern and admittedly I am at times unsure how to mix patterns in a fun but cohesive way so this book was an eye opener for me and is packed with tons of great advice. In Living With Pattern, Rebecca demystifies how to use this design concept that often confounds and confuses, demonstrating how to seamlessly mix and layer prints throughout a house. 

Before I get more into Rebecca’s book, check out all the little goodies that came with it! (Except the doilies – those are mine that I can’t seem to be able to dye black. Maybe I should get some tips from her since her hand-dyed textiles are incredibly beautiful and she clearly knows what she’s doing.) A side note: the cover is her beautiful Speckled Fabric in Navy.

These next few photos are a glimpse inside the book. Eye candy, and trust me when I say you are going to want ALL THE PILLOWS and ALL THE PATTERNS. 

Here are a few places where you can order yourself a copy: Amazon, iBooks, Barnes & Noble, kobo.

On a card within the book were her top tips for pattern mixing which I thought I would share. 
1. New to pattern? Keep your color palette tight to unite different styles.
2. Mix up the scale with an assortment of small, medium and large scale prints.
3. Use bigger prints on areas you want to draw the eye, and smaller prints on areas you want to recede in space.
 4. Consider proportion– about 40-60% of the room should be patterned. 
5. Remember to have fun! Pattern is the best tool for telling your story. If you love it, you can make it work. 

(P.S. Use her hashtags #RApatternmixing and #LivingWithPattern to share with her your awesome pattern mixing techniques)

Below are some samples from her online shop where she carries fabric, artwork, pillows, wallpaper, blankets, table linens and baskets. I want everything. SO GOOD!