Old Mission and Lisa Jackson

 I took these photos of a mission in Santa Babara last weekend...

I was drawn to the beauty and simplicity of it....

Even though it was built in the seventeen hundreds, the design style felt relevant for today.. 

Designer, Lisa Jackson's style reminded me of the simplicity of the old missions...

The white plaster walls and natural raw doors were beautiful.... 

Simple forms can be interesting and make a statement! 

Simple things can become art... 

The feel of this room looks like it could be a modern version of one of Santa Barbara's missions.....
Simple, natural, lines...
It just needs the old tile pavers ... 

Sally Wheat, Annie Downing and Pam Pierce....

Designer Sally Wheat isn't afraid of trying something new.....
I love that about her style..... 

Even though she has used contemporary elements in her home.... 
she has left clues of her old style, like those great antique wood doors...
which were in her home before she redecorated.. 

The photographer Kate Lesueur who shot these images for Sally and Annie Downing has a great eye.....





 

So... do you know where I'm going here....

I'm on a roll.....
 if you read my last post....

you know exactly where I'm going with this post....


the use of old with new....

A Lucite table mixed with those old wood shutters....

the shabby chic generation would call them chippy......
and now patina...

but...
 whatever there called..... 

I love the look  

Annie Downing designed this space....
yep... 

she has talent! 

This shot is gorgeous.... 
Annie used art deco lamps sitting on an old 
 vintage painted piece....

and those doors! 

The mix of  contemporary art...
 a vintage table...
and the traditional chandelier... 

clearly make this an interesting space...

And you can't forget about Pam Pierce....

who has redecorated her home by adding contemporary pieces to her french style and she has done it brilliantly!

Did I say Brilliantly...


there were a lot of comments when she reveled this new look......

you might not like her new style but she made this work perfectly!



 And I do like her old and new style.... 

I love how she has mixed the Eames table with her french feel....

This is a perfect example....
A mid- century floor lamp mixed with antiques....

 so....
 here comes the so again....

do you think we are going to see this eclectic look more often....

I do believe so....

you have to admit...

we have been seeing the same french chandeliers and linen covered furniture for awhile now... 

it's fun to see it with a different spin....

don't get me wrong....

I love linen and those wonderful chandeliers....
and you know which ones I mean...

 but....

 it's fun to see artist explore design with a fresh new look...

It keeps it interesting!

Julie

Mixing Patterns in Decor

Carmen Lopez

Have you ever thrown fabrics together trying to be creative and wondered why it didn't work? 

I was taught as an artist to look at patterns, color and balance. 
 For some reason it has always come natural to me...

Carmen Lopez
What do you notice about the pattern in this design?

 The shutters, the chairs and the wallpaper have a similar line or shape....

The chair fabric softens the hard edges and the solid orange is a resting place for the eye...

every room needs a resting place...
an area with no pattern...

Carmen Lopez

Jeffrey Bilhuber

Carmen Lopez



Look how every color and print plays on each other....
the blue, orange and printed fabrics are repeated through out the room to create balance...

My eye naturally started at the left gold sofa corner, then to the chairs, then the orange sofa and then around to the the coffee table....

it's like the designer created a visual path through color to see the room and create interest....

Debra French


Look at the pillows...
the shape of the flower is the same but a different scale...
they balance each other... they don't fight each other...
It wouldn't work together if they were the same size.

Debra French

Matchbox Magazine

John Robshaws living room and home is a fun example ...
he started as an artist and became an interior designer and fabric designer...

look how he plays with shapes...
the circles and the diamond shapes are repeated in his fabrics and the side table ....

the stripe rug adds an element that calms the patterns down..

The circle pattern is repeated on the wall.....
it looks like he designed his home as if he is going to paint the room on a canvas...

Debra French

Start noticing how everything in nature has a pattern...a green leaf, a butterfly etc ....

it helps to look at magazines or decor on-line and notice the pattern and the shapes in them and how they use color...

also....John Robshaw has a new collection with Cisco Brothers ...

And....my computer broke...It's being fixed and if I don't post on schedule you'll know why...Shoot....so frustrating!

Eloquence Inc....

  Eloquence just received a new vintage container....full of gorgeous pieces.

They have old weathered sets of shutters and doors

to add character and texture to interiors....

Originally from gorgeous villas in the Mediterranean, these shutters

are layered in distressed shades of soft creams, beige and greens....

They have lots of gorgeous new seating

along with armoires, vanities, and petite side tables.

The light green shades of blue gray patina on this chest is so pretty....I would take this in a heart beat!

Wouldn't these be beautiful in someones home....OK...maybe mine! 

Their vintage pieces are one of a kind.. 

After seeing their new items.... I'm tempted to paint a buffet table in my living room in a light patina blue.....

To see their web-site go here..... 

have a great weekend, Julie

Spring Decor.....

 (Lillian August)



Its funny how a post will take a life of its own....

Every image I was attracted to had a beautiful and feminine feel to it...
I had no clue where I was going with this.... 
it developed as I was creating it...

  Every image was prettier than the next...

A celebration of spring

 

(Mary McDonald)

 A lot of people change their decor with every season....
new pillows, flowers, decor,  they even change their slipcovers....

(Michael Smith) 



Do you change your decor every season?

(Lillian August)

(Mary McDonald)


We have very mild seasons in Southern California and I think that's why I don't notice the seasons changing like the rest of the U.S....
I keep the same old decor all year long......
I do put out fresh flowers...

 but I'm not a big holiday decorator either.....
I like things very simple....

 I celebrate spring with fresh hydrangeas around the house...and I love orchids.

(David Kaihoi)

I adore this wallpaper....it is gorgeous! 

(So You Think You Can...Tumbler)

(Alina Cho)

I do change things around my home a lot...
the hubby never sees the same thing twice.....
I'm always experimenting with new ideas....
the neighbors use to tease us...
they would say..... 
the Taylor's walls are thicker than the rest of the homes in the neighborhood because Julie has painted them so many times....
like it added to the thickness!
 Ya right!....
what can I say...

Who wants to live with the same old decor all their life!  
Creativity is an occupation hazard!  

(Ruthie Summers)

(This is Thyme Tumbler)

(Belgium Pearls)

Isn't this a beautiful image.... the hot pink is just sexy looking!

(John Saladino)

(This is Thyme...Tumbler)

(Fernand Toussaint)


I'm taking a few weeks off from blogging....

I have to finish up with a few projects and life.... 
I'm also going with the hubby up to Santa Barbara for a couple of days....
we are going to a wedding with good friends... 
I can't wait! 
I will be back....see ya soon!
Don't have to much fun without me....