Displaying posts from September, 2010

John James

Posted on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 by midcenturyjo

Flights of fancy or is that fantasy? Hand drawn birds fly across a ceiling, carved feet peep from a bathroom vanity, rosy hearts spring from grass. Fun and joy as well as style and substance. Designer John James is a man of many hats though. Not only interiors both quirky and sophisticated by wedding and events design. We don’t usually post weddings on Desire to Inspire (so much interior design goodness and not enough time for anything more!) but I just had to include some shots from John’s portfolio that he kindly shared with us. So elegant yet relaxed. A perfect California vibe!

Heaven in Greece

Posted on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 by KiM

I was just working on a blog post for tomorrow when I came across the heavenly home of Greek interior designer Marilyn Katsaris on Yatzer. OMG I think I’m going to pass out. It’s understated and simplistic perfection. Here is a little peek.

Reader’s home #2

Posted on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 by KiM

This next home is that of Melody, and it has an interesting past: “We moved in a little over 2 months ago and we’re still settling in.  The bf, chi and I transitioned from a 600sq ft apt, to this massive 1330 sq bungalow. It’s on Henry Ford’s former estate on a very old island in Miami Beach called Hibiscus Island. Ford’s VP built it in 1930 and it’s passed through a few owners since. It’s very bohemian, quiet, eclectic and inviting. Aside from some weird history that I’ve read about ford and his cohorts, we love this location. (One of my bungalow neighbors has a tiled swastika inlay-ed in her floor. She keeps it very hush hush with an Ikea rug over it at all times. Apparently the Nazi’s were big into Ford’s assembly line thing- and the dude is even mentioned in Meinkamph).
Anyways, back to my home… The main space that we use as our living room has 15 ft ceilings and a wonderful view of the bay. We have a couple who lives on a boat docked outside, you can spot it in one of the shots.  I have a mix of taxidermy, thoughtfully selected sentimental bits, tons of books in our fireplace because the boy is an avid reader, an ever growing family wall of childhood pics and memories and some handmade treasures and prints picked up on Etsy. The kitchen, as I’ve been told was his butler’s quarters. The Chi Parker loves to sunbathe in the kitchen because the terrazzo floors heat up nicely. My bar is rarely stocked, but holds some of my fav pieces: a found book ‘poems/tiny apts’, an antique chemistry vessel and a scull decanter my uncle made 45 yrs ago.  All in all the space is air enough that we don’t feel cramped but I’m sure I’ll keep filling it up with more yummy things.

Melody has entered her home in The Selby/CB2 contest so go here for her entry and to vote for her. Thanks Melody – your home is fab and WHAT A VIEW!!!

Reader’s home #1

Posted on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 by KiM

I’ve got 2 reader’s homes for you today. This one comes from Ragnhild, a Norwegian who has spent the last 6 years in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is a freelance architect, graphic designer and photographer who lives in a large apartment with her friend Katrine, who bought it as a renovation project last summer. They have both worked very hard to turn the apartment into a stylin’ pad. Here is a little tour of their home (Check out Ragnhild’s blog “Mine Venners Hjem” which means “My Friends’ Homes” = she visits her friends’ homes and their friends’ homes and takes pictures and writes about their spaces, in both Norwegian and English).

A globe from a local secondhand store lightens up the living room, – together with ”Hans” the penguin. A stack of the Norwegian interior magazine, “Nytt Rom”  (New Room) works perfectly as a side table.

The chairs are also from the local secondhand store and the dining table is from Katrine’s childhood. The table got a tiny makeover with a bucket of chalkboard paint. My collection of architecture and design books is placed directly on the floor in lack of a bookcase. The photographs are my own. The nice wooden floor was discovered under several layers of carpets, boards and concrete.

The Bouroullec brothers’ well-known algues are decorating the wall behind the sofa from Bolia. The algues were a gift from a friend and former colleague. The yellow bird pillow was purchased at Habitat during a trip to Brighton. The graphic black and white pillow is home-made.

My favourite chair was bought for a very reasonable price at a “staff-auction” at R.O.O.M. and has been named “Haiald”. In the black leather chair lays the sheepskin rug “Ludde”. The pouf in front of the chair is from Granit and is filled with quilts and pillows for overnight guests. My mum bought the radio in the window with money she got at her confirmation.

In my bedroom stands Ewan McGregor’s directors chair for Habitat. A very helpful and patient moose from Hay is hanging over the chair.

Helmer, the drawerunit from Ikea got a new life with help from a dymo labelwriter. The little wooden monkey is a gift from a friend. Some of my own photos are hanging over the drawer unit.

An old beer case from the Carlsberg brewery works as a cd rack. The newspaper rack is yet another treasure from the local secondhand shop. The wall behind is stripped for many layers of wallpaper and has now become our own “Buenos Aires” wall.

The tiny dinosaurs in the bay window are a gift from a good friend.

Old frames found at various flea markets will some day contain family photos. So far Beck, a small sparrow and my favourite car “Fiat 500″  have the honour.

The kitchen door got a facelift with a few strokes of chalkboard paint and has also become  a bulletin board.

The kitchen window has a view of the backyard garden. The garden will soon be green and lush. Cups from Marimekko and a little basil is standing in the window sill.

The WC’s old, brown tiles are painted in a brighter colour and the door has become lemon yellow. The Garland lamp from Habitat got a splash of the same colour. The original floor tiles and the green bathroom fittings have survived the renovation.

Next to the front door we revealed a beautiful brick wall under layers of plaster. The door has also been introduced to the dymo … au revoir!

A confection of a house

Posted on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 by midcenturyjo

Stalking in Sydney again this week and how cute is the exterior of this house? Like a big iced cupcake. But it’s even more delicious inside. A stylish refurbished historical house opens through a modern extension to a subtropical courtyard. Sophisticated and fun with a killer position. The view!!! Any guesses as to the nationality of the owners? A big clue in one of the rooms. Link here while it lasts.