From this…

March 28, 2012

to this. Who knew a pile of discarded tires could be repurposed as the top on this simple and striking coffee table? That’s some modern thinking… with a simple and quiet result. Perfect. And, at 60″ w  14″ d 17″ h this stunner can do double duty as an ample bench. Singly or in pairs “Retread” is ready to enhance your design statement while reducing your carbon footprint. How ’bout that?

http://shop.manorfinewares.com/FNcffetbleretrd.html

table  photo: Jake M Richardson http://www.jakemrichardson.com/

can easily become the catalyst for your next interior design project, as this lake side residence illustrates. Pulling the outdoor colors in visually expands this space, blurring the confines of walls and windows. Crucial editing of furniture and accessories keeps the room’s design lean and modern…even when occupied by family and friends, the dog and that growing  pile of mail.

Once I got used to the idea of knitting an eyelash with dental floss my GRAPHITE scarf was like “knitting yoga”…an almost Zen experience. Using HABU silk wrapped stainless steel knit together with their root sizing silk ( http://habutextiles.com/N-6B) and a triangular scarf pattern for inspiration (  http://www.pickles.no/simple-luxury-scarf/ ) I was deep into it…and more than once. The result  was as interesting as I had imagined…light, airy and sophisticated. Over a turtleneck, with a white shirt or to fill in the neckline of a blazer or jacket…Graphite is an accessory scarf to transition to the warmer months ahead. And, as always…the best in simple, quiet and modern.

Naturally green

March 15, 2012

If you look a little closer you may find tucked behind the buckets of hideously dyed green carnations, that seem to be everywhere for St. Patrick’s Day, a small yet natural surprise…miniature carnations in natural green. A simpler, softer green…a fresh green.  For a couple of dollars you can take home a bunch to salute your Irish kin and still have them around to usher you into April while enjoying their spicy fragrance. Simply cut them short and mass them in a glass of fresh water.

http://www.cb2.com/barware/dining/marta-barware/f1249

White’s the new Black

March 11, 2012

With the change of time to Daylight Savings, it’s a great opportunity to shed some new light on things at home. While most people agree that a shot of black in an interior is simply great punctuation, I can’t help myself from shaking it up. Do a 180 and you land at white, the color that your eyes recognize first. White accessories bring a new freshness home while presenting everyday items in an elegant new way. White will highlight both the simplicity of the design as well as the most complex detail. My favorite whites can be matte, satin or high gloss on everything from picture frames to pottery. As you set the clocks ahead use the opportunity to see where something white could breathe new life into your space.  http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/  for these simple cups and the Neutra house numbers.

Just the ticket

March 3, 2012

Nothing says Simple…Quiet…or Modern quite like this. The best (and my personal favorite) fabric…Linen…for it’s color, texture and durablity combined with the simplest of design. Who couldn’t use a stack of these in their linen drawer?  Even the identifying mark stamped on each item keeps it simple, insuring against someone wiping the corner of their mouth with the tablecloth. Hey, I’m just saying…http://shophorne.com/shop-designer-fog-linen-c-55_77.html?view_all=1&sort=2a

In like a lion…

March 1, 2012

March. We are nearly out of the woods of winter anticipating the new beginings that spring brings. Yet, oddly enough, among the gray skies and melting snow you can find the perfect inspiration for a new project. Mother Nature again providing a creative nudge through a small piece of birch bark blowing across the yard…which leads to the selection of a terrazzo vessel…which then leads to a new backsplash? Bath renovation?  OK, let’s not get nuts…maybe a few new towels is the simplest solution.  http://www.target.com/s/bathroom+home+spa+towels

Well…it ain’t beige

February 20, 2012

Pantone’s 2012 Color of the Year…Tangerine Tango. If a dose of this injected into your neutral interior doesn’t shake things up, well…it’s time to start checking pulses. Don’t know where to start?  Should the tangy Womb chair and ottoman ( Eero Saarinen 1948)at http://hivemodern.com/ make too much of a statement then maybe a Tangerine Tango Journal http://www.pantone.com/pages/products/product.aspx?pid=1270&ca=33 is just the ticket. Me, I’ll take one of each please.

Rock that roving

January 29, 2012

In no time you can have a stunning  result from a tangled mess of Paton’s Wool Roving  and some  DPN’s.  A little adjustment here and there to the WEE PODS pattern you’ll find on Ravely.com… the addition of some smooth river pebbles…and a quiet Sunday will result in this beautiful sculptural grouping of stacked stones. I had never felted a project before this..simple, simple, simple…and the result, quite modern.  What a quiet and creative way to spend a cold January day.

C 24

January 11, 2012

Nothing says simple…quiet…modern like the c 24 wishbone chair by Hans Wegner.  The appeal has stayed the same since it’s introduction in 1949. Of the seemingly endless number of painted and stained finishes available today, this soaped oak with the natural woven paper seat is my hands down choice.  Perfect used singly as the occasional pull up, I have my eyes set on a group for dining on this enclosed porch…simple table TBD.   wegnerwishbonechair.com has anything and everything you could need to know about the c 24.