dwellings and décor

The architecture of this building is a beautiful example of the old with the new. The La Purificadora Boutique Hotel is located in Pueblo, Mexico; a city founded by Spaniards in 1531. The project was part of an urban development plan known as Paseo San Francisco that includes shopping malls, a convention center and a sculpture park to name a few.  Apparently the new hotel design was frowned upon by archeologists because The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) had designated the building as part of the city’s historic patrimony. You can read more about the design of this building in the link below.

I personally am a huge fan of reusing old buildings and modernizing it with architectural extensions and furniture. I love when architects and designers can embrace the history behind the building and use it as a source of inspiration instead of tearing the building down. I lived in Portland, OR during the huge development of the Pearl District which was originally full of warehouses and now most of them are converted into expensive condominiums. One of my favorite buildings is where Henry’s Restaurant is now on Burnside and SW 12th. Its another great example of the old with the new.

Images from Arch Record

“Elements of Color” is a new type of post that I will be doing. I am collecting images of furniture and decor that have striking colors and putting them into a collage like the ones below. The first color that I am using for Elements of Color is orange. Orange may enhance cheerfulness and excitement. Orange is such a powerful and vivid color and it seems like most people love it or hate it. If you aren’t too fond of orange you may like shades that are similar. I am more fond of the red orange, terracotta, and deep peach. When lightened and muted, the peach tone may appear cool or refreshing. What is your favorite tone of orange?

1. De Padova 2. Ecc 3. Urban Outfitters 4. Pure by Ami McKay 5. Modern Dose 6. Bride and Wolfe 7. Conran USA 8. Tonic Home 9. Downtown 20 10. Burke Decor

Choosing brown for the walls, furniture or decor in your home office can make it look more professional and sophisticated. Brown on the walls can be a hard color for most because of how dark it is but I think if you have plenty of light coming in and add certain elements like large light colored artwork (See image 2) that it wont seem as dark. If your completely opposed to painting your office dark brown then adding espresso stained furniture can also give it that sophisticated feel.  If your one who needs at least some color in your space then blues, greens and yellows can look fabulous with chocolate brown tones.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Blind Image Photography 2. Preston Lee Design 3. NY Times 4. Metricon 5. S Russell Groves 6. Robyn Karp Interiors

So I have been asking myself what makes a vintage inspired light? I have come to the conclusion that it is the materials used in the design and the way the light shines through the material. Some elements might be lace, etched glass, shells, or glass droplets and the light being shined through it is soft and subtle, almost as if there is a candle inside it. I have been thinking a lot about the style vintage because I am designing my wedding around a vintage but natural feel. I found my dress yesterday and I am so excited! It is sooo beautiful! I purchased it from a boutique in Paia here on Maui and the store is called Tamara Catz. You can see the dress I purchased here. I am actually removing the straps because we all agreed that it looked better without them. I just love how comfortable it was and it felt like I could be myself in it. I tried other ones that were gorgeous with a train and beads and all but they just weren’t me. My mom and I went to the shops of Wailea to see if there was any wedding dresses in the shops. We didn’t come across much but I did see the light that is on the bottom left hand corner over at this store called Tori Richards. You can’t tell from the picture but this light fixture is made with shells and was made with much detail and precision. Its funny that even when I am shopping for a dress I am trying to find new interior products. Please visit the links below to see more about these beautiful light fixtures and if you have the time I would love comments on what you think makes an item vintage.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Modern Dose 2. Kathleen Hills 3. Horchow 4. Nice on Etsy 5. Swank Lighting

I am officially hooked on the show Mad Men. I pretty much only turn my TV on Sunday nights for this show. I felt it was necessary to post about this set because not only is it a great drama but the fashion and interior design is just divine. My favorite pieces on the Mad Men set are the table lamps and artwork in the office and at the house I love their wallpaper, drapery and especially the blue headboard. I also added some other images that aren’t from the office or the house. The first image on the bottom row shows one of the sets with the bar shelf for bottles. I think you can find this look in a lot of modern furniture stores. It looks a lot like the geometric storage unit from West Elm. I think the hotel image in the middle is my favorite so far. Its from the Valentines Day episode. I also really love the ornate gold mirror in the hallway in the last image on the right.

Have a great weekend and stay Tuned for next week posts!

{Click on image to enlarge}

Images from AMC

I had a lot of fun picking these top ten table lamp designs and I think its a pretty good collection. I want them all! I think my favorite though is number 3. I just love that green shade with the blue base and the design is timeless. I tried to pick different styles so you will see number 5, 6 and 8 are pretty modern and number 1 has an Asian flair to it where as number 7 is totally tropical. I even picked a funky one like number 9 and of course some traditional elegant ones like number 2, 3 & 4. So which one is your favorite?

1. Artful Home 2. Horchow 3. Jett Modern 4. Shop Modify 5. Seascape Lamps 6. Souk Shop 7. Jamie Young 8. Bellacor 9. Bodie and Fou 10. Target

A couple of weeks ago I was proposed to by my boyfriend now fiance of three years. I have been thinking alot about how I want the wedding to look and feel and I decided that our theme is R & R for Rachel and Ryan or Rest & Relaxation. My ring is my great grandmothers engagemnet ring which I absolutly love! It has one sqaure diamond in the middle and two little diamonds on each side with a platinum band. It has a vintage feel to it so I want to incorporate a vintage style to the wedding as well. I love the color green and I think it has a very relaxing feel to it so green is my main color. Over at the Coco + Kelley blog there is a wedding inspiration contest if you havent heard already and I entered this board. You had to pick one of her interior spaces and design a wedding around it. The interior image I chose is at the bottom right hand corner of my board. I am pretty excited about this and there are some great entries. You can check more wedding inspiration boards over at Coco + Kelley’s Flickr page.

{Click on image to enlarge}

1. Big Bouquet on table 2. Cake 3. Write a note image 4. Hanging cards 5. Flowers in wood tray 6. Ottomans overlooking ocean 7. Invitations-Meadow 8. Flower girl dress 9. Bouquet 10. Wedding dress 1 11. Big Bouquet 12. Table Setting 13. Dress 2 14. Outdoor reception photo 15. Bubbles 16. Hair Design 17. Bridesmaid dress 18. Invitations

A big thanks to Snippet & Ink for keeping me inspired!

There is something so beautiful about these soothing blue kitchens. All of these interiors have just the right amount of blue and I absolutely love them with the white color and wood tones. I think if you are going with blue in your kitchen that white or stainless appliances look best to give it that clean feel. I think it is also necessary to warm it up with wood either in the floors, cabinetry or counter tops like in the second image down. Who would have thought that blue cabinetry would look so good?

Clockwise from top left: 1. Boffi 2. Martha Stewart 3. 3rd Uncle 4. Living Etc.

Clockwise from top left: 1. HGTV 2. Beach Studios 3. Greg Natale 4. VK

I thought the coral craze was fading away but it seems that its still holding on strong. Coral pillows, coral light fixtures, coral fabric and coral tiles are just to name a few. I am now seeing coral products in blue and not just red anymore. Coral decor can work in traditional to modern dwellings and works best in transitional style interiors. Coral motifs are commonly found in beachy and coastal locations like California and Florida. I hope you enjoy my coral craze roundup and please comment below if you know of any places that have more coral decor.

From Top Left to right: 1. Hickory Chair 2. Seaside Inspired 3. Popham Design 4. Gumps 5. Pier 1 6. Domestic Modern 7. GV Interiors 8. Beach Dwelling

As summer is going to an end I wanted to post a fresh and sunny interior before we say farewell. One of my previous clients with Room in a Book had me buy Western Interiors earlier this year for inspiration on her bedroom design. You can see the finished design if you click here. She really liked the modern and minimal but homey and comfortable look of this home and she wanted to integrate that feeling in her home and especially the bedroom. The interior designer of this modern mandate home worked around the existing architecture and he says “I listened to the building, I really looked at its shape and its function. There were wonderful rooms and dynamic views to work with”. The designer paid careful attention to how the furniture was arranged and even added swivel chairs to maximize the views. He accentuated the curvilinear architecture by incorporating round furniture to make it flow beautifully throughout the space.

It was very difficult to choose only ten rugs for this post. I wanted to provide a variety of companies so you can click on their links and see more of their wonderful designs. My favorite is number 6 and I am thinking about purchasing it for my home. It feels very tropical and Hawaii to me so I think it will work well for my Maui loft. Rugs can make or break a space so choose carefully. Consider the colors and patterns of your existing space and if you are designing a room from scratch a rug can be a great piece to start with. Bring out the colors and shapes for inspiration for furniture and decor.

From top: 1. Marc Phillips Rugs 2.Avalisa 3. Urban Outfitters 4. Natural Carpet Co. 5. Mansour Modern 6. Domestic Modern 7. Mansour Modern 8. Marc Phillips Rugs 9. Domestic Modern 10. Domestic Modern

Q. Hi Rachel, I was wondering if you had any ideas for a creative headboard. I am looking for something fairly inexpensive and not your typical headboard. Thanks!

A. Below are some images of bedroom interiors with creative headboard ideas. Here is a list:

1. Shoji Screen
2. Decorative Doors
3. Fabric
4. Wallpaper
5. Mirrors
6. Shelf
7. Artwork
8. Scattered Frames

Here are some tips to spruce up your existing headboard:

1. Drape Fabric over the headboard
2. Add artwork above
3. Add a shelf above
4. Wallpaper headboard wall

From Top (when there are two left to right): 1.Inspiration 4 U 2.Pietere Stersohn 3.Weego Home 4.Red Cover 5.Point Click Home 6.Martha Stewart 7.Michael Smith Inc. 8.Domino Mag 9.House and Home 10.Location Works

These pure and beautiful dining room images are a great example of how to design an all white interior. When designing an all white interior it can feel bland and boring but when you add interesting furniture and decor into the space it can feel warmer and more inviting. Its hard to pinpoint a style for these images because they are minimal in color but their furniture and decor have a different style.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Sarah Kaye 2. Roche Bobois 3. Zara Home

Clockwise from top left: 1. Beach Studios 2. Location Works 3. The Rug Company 4. Steven Randazzo

These simple yet ornate dark furniture pieces can work in either a modern or traditional style setting. Since these pieces are so dark it looks best if you create contrast by adding lighter colors near or on top of them. For instance I would choose light color bedding for the beds and light vases and other table decor on the dresser. A medium or light color for the walls will also help to keep these bedroom pieces stand out on its own.

From Top: 1. Reeves Design 2. Ikea 3. Conran USA 4. Reeves Design

When I first came across images for this island retreat from Coastal Living Magazine I instantly fell in love. After reading about the owners inspiration for the home I fell more in love. The owners Michael Ward and Rebecca Sawyer actually hand-built the structure on 3 acres. Rebecca who is an artist, took inspiration from the outdoor environment when choosing her colors. The main wall color is the color of the inside of a ripe papaya, and the trim work is inspired by a bougainvillea and alamanda, which is Rebecca’s favorite tropical flowers. The floor represents the shiny blue sea and she says “The transition between indoors and out is almost transparent, allowing the cottage to feel open and airy while maintaining its coziness”. This rental is located on the Caribbean island of Carriacou. See links below for rental information.

Images from Coastal Living Magazine and Belair Garden Cottage

A desk can be one of your most functional furniture pieces you own. (I practically live with mine.) Before purchasing a desk ask yourself what you will be using it for. Will it be a desk you use all day or is just something to write a letter on? Will you need storage and how big do you need it to be? All of these desks below are unique in beauty and functionality. The first desk is a great desk for people who work from home. It has a warm wood stain which will work well in any residential dwelling and it has great storage and a cutout for all your computer cords. The second mid century modern desk is glamorous and I like that the A frame legs let other people sit comfortably on all four sides. The third desk is great for small spaces and its super functional for the at home worker. It is designed by Marcel Wanders and he created a lid to cover and to hide your office clutter. Number 4 desk has great geometric lines and plentiful leg room. I love the unique design and the way the designer creates a beautiful balance between the front legs and the back. The fifth desk is great for the office or at home and it has beautiful clean lines and sleek storage compartments with cork lined trays. Number 6 is labeled as a dressing table but I think it would also look great as a desk for writing letters to your loved ones. The seventh desk has a bamboo strip top and teak legs. This desk is great for tropical and natural styled interiors. Number 8 can be used as a desk or a dining table and I love that the design is ornate and simple at the same time. Number 9 is super functional. This desk is designed to work with your daily work patterns. There are three cantilevered extensions that were added to the table which increases its surface space and usability. It can also be used for working closely with other people. This desk can look great in an office or residential setting. Like 8 number 10 desk can be used as a dining table as well. This piece seems very architectural to me and I like the designers use of material and form.

From Top: 1. Espasso (Green Product) 2. Bond & Bowery 3. Moooi 4. Room Online 5. Jules Seltzer 6. The French Bedroom Co. 7. Maisons Du Monde 8. Brocade Home 9. Martin Sprouse 10. Pirwi

This beautiful photo from Don Freeman is a perfect inspirational image because it has great color and form. I wanted to capture the feeling of this photo into a bedroom design. I decided to go with soft yellow from the large vase for the walls and I think it makes a nice backdrop for the dark brown and white furniture pieces that I chose. I also wanted to implement similar lines and forms of the photo so I chose a coral lamp and an ornate headboard and mirror. I love that the flowers in the inspirational image softens and adds warmth to the photo so I included artwork with a floral design with yellow and green to tie the room together.

Inspiration Image: Don Freeman Photography

Paint: Aura Paint from Benjamin Moore (Safari & Soleil) Artwork & Mirror: Anthropologie Headboard: Maison Du Monde Side Table: Kemble Interiors Table Lamp: Garnet Hill

Purple is associated with royalty, drama, opulence, mystery, and dignity and it works lovely with blues and fuchsia pinks. If you are looking for a regal and dignified bedroom purple may be a good choice for you. Having a purple bedroom will definitely feel more feminine and if you share your bedroom with a man he may disapprove. If you are a woman and are wanting to have a purple bedroom than you may want to compromise with your hubby and only put in purple accents and offset them with blue or chocolate brown. Even if your not looking to design your room in purple these are really fun to look at. I think there just gorgeous!

Clockwise from Top Left: 1. NY Times 2. Domino 3. Amanda Nisbet Design 4. House and Home

Clockwise from Top Left: 1. Real World Houses 2. Janne Peters 3. Sarah Kaye 4. Trine Thorsen

These fun but elegant circle side tables are perfect for your modern home. The first one on the top left is called the Machinist Cocktail table and they are made with Mozambique wood with a natural satin finish with a clear acrylic top. The one next to it on the right can be used as either a side table or a stool or even a play area for your cat. I love the ornate carvings in this sustainable bamboo side table. The image below it is shown in a limed ebony. It is from Bobby Berk Home and they suggest ordering 2-4 to create a great coffee table. The last image on the bottom left hand corner is called the Geisha End Table and it is designed by Jacques Garci. He was inspired by a piece designed by him for his Paris apartment. You will notice that all of these side tables play with very familiar forms; the circle, the line and the cube.

Clockwise from Top Left: 1. Cliff Young Ltd. 2. Kalon Studios (Green Product) 3. Bobby Berk home 4. Kohler Interiors

Summer tabletops are all about fun, fresh and casual. For outdoor table décor be inspired by your garden. Bring in colors from the flowers or if you mostly have leafy plants have a simple more natural look to your table décor by adding white linens and wood and grass materials like wicker or bamboo.

Here are some tips from Canadian House & Home:

• Line hurricane vases or lanterns along the middle of the table for simple yet stunning centerpieces.
• Create easy summer centerpieces with fruit, stones or branches displayed in baskets.
• Transform a favorite lightweight scarf, sarong or leftover fabric into a summery table runner.
• Add bursts of color to an all-white table by using different colored chair cushions or tie fabric or inexpensive sarongs around chair backs for an extra splash of color.
• For a more minimalist looking table, opt for no tablecloth at all and place a grouping of chunky white pillar candles in the centre, atop a bamboo runner or placemat.
• Sea-themed tables: White pillar candles set in sand are perfect for clear hurricane vases. Place pretty seashells on the sand around the candle, and sprinkle a few more on the table around the hurricanes for an airy, seaside centerpiece.

Click here for link

From Top (when ther are two left to right) 1. Kemble Interiors 2. Zara Home 3. Western Interiors 4. Refresh Agency 5. Real Simple 6. Pietere Stersohn 7. Judith Miller Inc. 8 & 9. Dubois 10. Cheryl Rowley Design