A Swedish Vacation House

Okay my peeps, 

I know we mostly like 'traditional' .

But it is important 

to be able to take away just 

one good idea 

from a design we may not be crazy about.

You can never have enough glass.

Right ?

COLD.

BUT, I like any kitchen that opens to an outdoor area.

Mine does....and I love it.

You don't ever feel claustrophobic.

I think the butcher block stairs and counter tops are an interesting idea.

I would like it in walnut or in limed oak.

 The stainless drawers are a great look.

The stairs have so much work in them.

I can appreciate the workmanship.

(but I would still like it better in walnut)

But I know they had their reasons.

This is supposed to be a Swedish Family home

where they take saunas together and then jump in a cold body of water.

Which happens to be right outside.

I love to do that too!!!

The glass fireplace is fabulous.

The glass walls are fabulous.

This space is fabulous.

But.....

I would do it differently.

Would you?

Oh look!

So that's where you place those floor lamps!!!

Click here to know more.

What did you 

come away with that you liked?

"The large old farm  house converted into vacation house for a family located at the nearby city of Malmo. The house especially designed to create a manifestation of the Swedish ritual of sauna and bathing. Apart from the sauna and attendant space for undressing, washing and relaxing , the mill house is also small dwelling. Surrounded by the beautiful natural garden while also appreciating the Japanese Zen master’s approach to finding the simple live. The traditional rite of sauna involves baking together and dashing out for an invigorating dip in a cold stream. See all photos, site plan and floor plan after the jump. Developer: Winggardhs"   

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I Wish I Had A River ...

I could skate away on.

river - joni mitchell

It’s coming on christmas

They’re cutting down trees

They’re putting up reindeer

And singing songs of joy and peace

Oh I wish I had a river

I could skate away on

But it don’t snow here

It stays pretty green

I’m going to make a lot of money

Then I’m going to quit this crazy scene

I wish I had a river

I could skate away on

I wish I had a river so long

I would teach my feet to fly

( you tube  MademoiselleNobs1973)
*My Christmas Song.

During my young adolescents

I was ALWAYS listening to Joni Mitchell.

Her words and music saved my life

on more days and nights than I can count.

I was a sad kid who spent all her time

trying to mentally escape through writing,
*and other typical ways in the 1970's.

Yes. I thought I might be a writer of sorts.
But, that was all way before I found out where my true talent would lead me.
But, I would like to know.....
Is there some singer - songwriter who touched you deeply ?

If so, would you share with me who it is?

http://www.jonimitchell.com/

Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
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A French Artist's Studio

How is it ?

Why is it ?

They just can pull it off......with such ease.

Style.

As only the French can do!

I mean this is an artist's studio,

and their living space.

It is divine.

Especially the 1st picture and the last (bedroom).

This is a regular/normal ( as normal as an artist can be) person.

Don't you agree that Jean Paul 

from 21 Rue Jacob, Paris Fr.

can pull off something that William Butler 

from Little Rock Arkansas can not?

Are you confident 

that if you were an artist 

with no interior design experience...

that your place would look this cool?

credits: www.marieclairemaison.com

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There's A Party Going On Across From Bloomies

Designer Richard Keith Langham hosts a holiday dinner.

Location: NYC across from Bloomies.

" It is adorned in foil icicles, lights and balls — from the inside out and the top down — a job that requires scaffolding and a cherry picker. Allowing the twenty-foot tree to dominate the space, 

Langham simplifies his festive formula for the rest of the interior: loads of fresh balsam, fir and pine, and everything else drenched in red.

I am definitely up for a Christmas Party.

Especially If I could just drop in after shopping at Bloomies.

"The thrust of the whole room is its verticality," he says. About a decade ago, Langham fell in love at first sight with the space, a freestanding former savings-and-loan institution across the street from Bloomingdale's."

The soaring space is uniquely suited to elegant Christmas partying, and 

drop-by guests are always welcome. 

With native Southern charm and a nod to his stint at the University of Alabama, 

Langham sums up his delight in the season: "Let the yuletide roll."

His design tip:

"Anytime you have lots of people in, 

it is important 

to have decorations up above everybody's heads. 

As the room fills up, anything at eye level is lost."

He says that his ornaments are all dime store ornaments.

But he has thousands, and the tree takes 5 days to decorate.

Would you have a tree this big if your space would allow it ?

I say " hell no."

But I would if I had a staff to do the work....

I mean what could be prettier than a huge Christmas Tree?

Click Here to read article from Veranda

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My House ( in Beverly Hills ) At Christmas

Come see what a beautiful home my master has made for me

(and you) during Christmas Time in Beverly Hills.

My Mommy ( the master of this magnificent palace)

knows that I  LOVE  PEACOCKS.

They are soooo PURRR-fect.

Don't you think ????

My Mommy is far from traditional in her decorating during the holidays.

Don't you think?

This is where I nap.

Would you nap here too?

*Mary McDonald's Home In Beverly Hills

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Love And Time

 The value of life does not depend 

on the length of time on this Earth,

but rather on the amount of love given 

and shared with the people we care about. 

My mom took me ice skating here in 1974. 

She sat right inside, 

behind the glass ( at a rink side table) 

and watched me skate.

It was wonderful day and a wonderful time.

I will have this experience inside of me always.

Do you have a sweet moment with your mom 

that makes you smile when you think of her ?

And can you still see her face at 'that moment' in your minds eye?

Merry Christmas ( especially to you MOM!!)

xxx

photo credits: flickr.com


Renee Finberg 'TELLS ALL' in her BLOG.....
Interior Design, Palm Beach, Boca Raton,Ft.Lauderdale,Design Service, Window Treatments, TurnKey Interior Design Service,Paint selection, Floor-Plans,Online Interior Design,
Design Center of The Americas, D.C.O.T.A.

No Hillbillies Here.....For Sure!

 Hillbilly - the definition - A person from the backwoods or a remote mountain area.

That's what you might think from this first picture. Right?

Do you want to go inside and see how beautiful this place is?

I think it is the perfect place for all of us blogging pals to spend a nice long weekend.

Let's go down the English garden path to the house.

You will love it.

I know I do.

Could you die?

I am. I am dying right her in bed while I am tapping these words out on my little laptop.

* my little laptop just got back from the hospital ( after the magic ass episode) and is doing well...thank you very much!!!

Could you have a sweet dream here?

I could.

Check out the little French cafe chairs.

I can see us sitting around that very table 'dishing' the dirt.....

*dishing what we dare not type out and put on our blogs.

Wouldn't it be fun?

Anyway, back to this gorgeous place.

I love this kitchen.....the cabinets and the finish is too yummy.

I don't need to say a word about the appliances. Do I?

Oh look...it's me. All  ready for my morning ride.

Would you enjoy a weekend in this home? 
Don't you think a blogging pal weekend would be fun?
Could you dish ?


*Is this place too rustic for you?

credits:

Tale of Toad Hall

A TASTE OF ENGLISH COUNTRY STYLE IN THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS

Architecture by Jack Davis, AIA/Interior Design by Suzanne Kasler, ASID/Landscape Architecture by Mary Palmer Dargan, ASLA

Text by John Loring/Photography by Jeff Herr

Architectural Digest

to see article go here

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overcoming one small fear

The important thing is to take that first step. 

Bravely overcoming one small fear gives you

the courage to take on the next. 

By Buddhist Philosopher Daisaku Ikeda

*I want to be like the person who

wears ‘LIFE’  life like a loose garment.

Lately my garment feels like a lined  with lead full-body motorcycle suit.

I am grateful that my job isn't long distance swimming. Right?

Although....in this economy it is beginning to feel that way.

I do suit up and show up everyday for life.

I often have to ‘fake it’ - until I make it.

I mean I fake feeling happy ….until I do feel happy.

Wednesday night I did a presentation/design job on a home 
for an older newly married couple.

Everything was beautiful, and so we ordered everything.

Don't you know, in the morning my client called and was scared, 
she said "it all happened too quickly."
So everything was put on hold. Of which I had to explain to my boss Laura.
I understand her feelings..........
and if I were still designing for myself at my own company, 
I would have gone more slowly with them.


It does feel like rejection, and there is that one small detail....
I do have 'numbers' to make every month.


I did FINALLY get her to go online and view my portfolio, she was comforted.
She then said:"do it like one of these rooms."
I said "no problem,I design like that in my sleep."
But here is my point, people assume that 
if the design service is free, it must be worthless.
Often ( and in this case), the fear is from having worked previously 
with designers that screwed things up (furniture store designers)
And if you are a designer, you know how the wreckage 
from BAD DESIGNERS on the public can affect your livelihood.
Right?
*the very real truth of this matter is that if I were working for myself.....

they couldn't afford me.

I could not sell them the same goods at the same discounted prices, much less do everything that I have done for them for no additional fees.

That includes measuring every inch of the interior of their home, and drawing it to scale.

In other words, making them a new blue print of their home for the purpose of the interior design. 
...and no...i never let it out of my hands until the job is done.


...sometimes i wonder, "how will i ever get through these days?"

credits-Traditional Home
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