Weekend images for you

Weekend images for you

This weekend I want to share with you some wonderful images I scanned from 3 books I love.

They don’t need that much explanation, they speak for themselves!

The first 7 images are from the book “Au Clair de la Mer” de Jean-Loup Daraux (Verbavolant) Photos de Mario Ciampi.

Image 1 I love the view through that mirror!

Image 2 Gorgeous use of natural colours here! Do you see in the back the mirror of the image above?

Image 3 A detail somewhere in that same room! Notice the weathered wood of the horses.

Image 4 Again a beautiful still life in that room.

Image 5 Give your used cans a second life! Give them a place in your interior! Isn’t that a gorgeous idea? Love the patine of them!

Image 6 Neutral colours with a touch of vivid colours : look at the carpet and the colour of the flowers.

Image 7 Isn’t that a beautiful bedroom? So serene! Seems to be the most wonderful place to calm down!

The following 5 images I scanned from the book “Architectural Stories” by Bernard De Clerck (Beta-Plus/Lannoo)

Image 8 In my post about a charming Belgian B&B, I told you about the use of natural colours with only a touch of a more vivid colour. So here you will notice again : the yellow coloured fabric of the slipcovered seat against all neutral colours.

Image 9 Do you see it?

Image 10 This room is one of my favorite rooms in this book.

Image 11 Serenity!! Notice the ceiling bow.

Image 12 I would call this a mysterious starecase.

The last 5 pictures I scanned from the book “Dubbel of Single” Mooie Hotels in België en Nederland, by Jan Dirkx

(Uitgeverij Het Bronzen Huis/Eén)

Image 13 Isn’t that romantic?

Image 14 Love the atmosphere in this room. The dark coloured bed and table in contrast with the white painted walls.

Image 15 Pinewood and linen. Both natural materials.

Image 16 Just love this!

Image 17 And to end a beautiful saying! FROM ME TO YOU ALL, MY DEAREST READERS !

Hope your angel is listening this weekend!

XX

Greet

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Get Your Game On

Get Your Game On

We're expecting rain and high winds here in New York all weekend so that has me thinking about what I can do that doesn't involve leaving my apartment. Other than reading and watching television, board games are a another good rainy day activity. I grew up playing backgammon but haven't played in years so I think I may have to buy myself a board. Some of them would actually look just as nice sitting out as they would being played and it looks like a few other designers appreciated that fact as well!

Geoffrey Parker makes some of the best backgammon boards including this pretty blue leather attache option.

Looks like Ivanka Trump is also a fan of backgammon.

This backgammon board by Geoffrey Parker features William Morris paper and is my absolute favorite!

This old House Beautiful cover from 1935 illustrates the long popularity of backgammon!

Bamford and Sons also offers an elegant backgammon board.

In case you're bored or it rains while you're staying at the Parker Palm Springs Hotel designed by Jonathan Adler.

Artist Ara Peterson also makes beautiful and colorful backgammon boards.

Interior designer David Hicks featured an needlepoint backgammon board in one of his projects many years ago.

I wonder if Jonathan Adler was inspired by David Hicks when he created his own needlepoint backgammon set.

Seems Jonathan Adler is a big fan of backgammon because this green acrylic board is featured in another one of his design projects.

The elegant Swinford Backgammon set from Ralph Lauren Home is part of their spring line but is not yet available online. That gives you a little extra time to save up for it!

Emmanuel David wasn't content to just create a backgammon board instead he made it into a table.

The best part about backgammon is that if you buy a travel board like this one from Aspinal of London, you can play anywhere.

I would love to be playing backgammon in an Acapulco pool like these two in this Slim Aarons photo from 1978. That would definitely beat playing at home on a rainy day!

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Listo.......

Listo.......

.......para empezar a acolcharlo.

Esta vez he seguido las instrucciones para añadir el borde, según el modelo ofrecido en el libro Jelly Rolls(1). Hasta ahora medía el lado más largo y cortaba una sola tira de una vez. Luego el lado opuesto y finalmente los lados horizontales después de haber cosido los verticales....... Sin embargo, y digo para seguir al pie de la letra las indicaciones originales, aquí he cortado seis tiras de la misma medida y luego cosidas todas de un tirón. Después toca añadir e ir cortando bordes. No sé si me explico. El caso es que una de las uniones cae justo en el medio del lado horizontal ..... asi que el método funciona. Esto hace que no tengas que comprar más tela para el borde, puesto que se cortan las seis tiras por el ancho de la tela y no por el largo , como había hecho hasta ahora. No está mal la idea . Si la tela tiene diminuto estampado , no se notará la unión.

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Yellow Zebra Wallpaper

Yellow Zebra Wallpaper

Ask and ye shall receive! One of my lovely readers, Liz Banfield, just had her bathroom papered in the yellow colorway of the Zebra wallpaper from Scalamandre was kind enough to allow me to share it with you. I've never seen the yellow used before and I think it looks really fresh. I love that this paper is fun but still looks sophisticated. I have to also give credit to the interior designer on the project Janet Gridley of Gridley Vaughan. Great work!

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Welcome! A Swedish Home Tour

Welcome! A Swedish Home Tour

Did you ever wonder who actually lives in those homes that are shown in the magazines? Or, what happens when the actual owners decide to move? You might recognize this home from an older issue of Better Homes and Gardens. It is located in North Carolina and is currently for sale. I was over at Harmony and Home a few weeks ago and she had taken her readers through a tour. I thought the house was unique enough that you might want a second a look if you missed it the first time around.

Built like a traditional Swedish Country home the owners made several trips to Sweden for inspiration.

Inspired by the famous painter Carl Larsson of Sweden, who is known for his charming artwork and his book "At Home", in which he drew scenes of domestic life; the owners tried to capture many of the same qualities of the Larsson House in Sundborn.

Here is the actual Larsson house, which is now a museum in Sweden. Can you see the similarities??

Carl Larsson and his wife, Karin, lived in this country cottage at Sundborn, which the couple took over in 1888 from Karin’s father. He and his wife Karin are credited with the bright colors associated with the Swedish country style. The house was something of a revelation in rural Sweden at the end of the 19th century. The colors of red and green in the dining room, and yellow, blue and white in the living room, provide iconic images of simplicity that typifies the Swedish country style. Much like America's Norman Rockwell, Larsson became quite famous by depicting the images of everyday life in his artwork.

Both images above give you a flavor of what lies ahead in the home that is for sale. For more information on Carl Larsson and Karin click here.
Upon entering the North Carolina home you can feel the influence of Larsson. Although the traditional bold colors are not really my style or taste, when the colors are more subdued I find the style very charming. And, I do really like this entryway. The painted woodwork in a soft blue and the wonderful detailed painted flower swags are very pretty. I also like the pale yellow Swedish bench and very pale floors.
The living room is awash in blue and white. In any style and in any decor blue and white is always a classic. The fireplace is hand painted to elicit the feeling of an old fashioned Swedish stove. Again notice the wonderful hand painted walls. I think this room is lovely. Here is the dining room and it very much captures the true Swedish country feeling. Some things to note are the high beadboard walls capped with a shelf, and the use of teals, reds and yellows. If you look at the Larsson artwork above you can really see the similarities in architecture. Here is a close up - notice the Swedish words painted on the walls, the cupboard and red check.

The kitchen truly makes you step back in time. I must say I much prefer my white an gray kitchen, but I applaud the owners for almost perfectly capturing the feel of a true Swedish country kitchen.

Here is a close up of the detailed hand painting.

Here we see the more hand painting

Most striking to me is this entry way open to the second floor. Notice the spectacular railing detail.

This bedroom takes you back to the part of Swedish decor that resonates so strongly with me. the soft blues, whites and gauzy sheer curtains.

Finally the master bedroom. This room would look lovely in any house. It is the classic blue and white again, mixed with wonderful French inspired reproduction furniture. Of note is the fabulous Swedish bench at the foot of the bed.

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Though not a home for everyone - I thought it was a good lesson in identifying what parts of the Swedish decor that you like and can use in your own home. To check out the real estate listing which has even more photos click here.

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