“If only…

August 21, 2014

…you could design just one good chair in your life… But you simply cannot”. Apparently, when Hans Wegner spoke those words in 1952 he was right, designing over 500 chairs in the course of his lifetime. We are all familiar with some, as they have become icons of  mid twentieth century Danish design. Others never got past the prototype stage, until now. In celebration of his 100th birthday, PP Mobler has re-issued a collection of Mr. Wegner’s best known designs, as well as a few that were never produced. You could base an entire project around these two.

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Top: The Chair 1949  Bottom: Tub Chair 1954   Photos via Dezeen

 

 

Mid-Summer at…

July 31, 2014

Gray Gardens. If you would have followed my lead you would be relaxing in a modern garden space that is surprisingly cooling in the heat of Mid-Summer. Anchored by the soft crunch of weed discouraging pea gravel or bluestone paving, the simplequietmodern plant selections play their shades and textures against the tight architectural placement to optimum effect. Not missing those geraniums now, are ya?

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top to bottom: photo 1 & 2, Foras Studio via Gardenista…photo 3, GP…last photo, Deborah Nevins via Gardenista

 

Shhhhhhhhhh…

July 27, 2014

I’m praying. Praying that I might absorb every bit of creative inspiration that I can from this amazing space. Stone, wood, air, light, quiet…what else is needed? The Atelier Brancusi in Paris as photographed by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic. And, if the opportunity to visit wasn’t enough…admission is free. Can I hear an Amen?

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All photos courtesy of Heather Clawson. You can continue her tour here http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/2014/07/chic-in-paris-atelier-brancusi.html

 

Sidetracked

July 24, 2014

I thought I was zeroing in on the beginning of something  big when I was sidetracked taking a shortcut through the garden center at Home Depot. Could a simple ball of sisal twine slam on the creative breaks and start me turning in another direction. Apparently it can…I’m a sucker for any type of natural cord. You name it…jute, sisal, hemp…I like them all. It wasn’t long before a test swatch was produced and then another…first on its own, then knit together with my homespun newsprint yarn. Stay tuned.

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never boils. The same can be applied to getting your orchid plants to bloom . There is plenty of information out there…if you can Google, you can drown in it. Or, you can do what I do and extract the few simple points that are pertinent and don’t over complicate things. Some good indirect light, a light watering using the ice-cube technique once a week, some cooler nighttime temperatures, a bit of air movement and patience…that’s it. And when you least expect it…the best surprise ever. I’m serious. It doesn’t get any more simplequietmodern than that.

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Look Up

July 13, 2014

So, you’re lazing around at the shore and someone brings up a project that you have been meaning to tackle for some time now. It could be your Master Bedroom…it could be your uninviting Entry…it doesn’t matter. You need to start somewhere and you need to start taking action now because the winter holidays will be here before you know it. Look up… the sky might provide some needed inspiration. Dark clouds rolling in over the water with bits of clear blue peaking through or, maybe a glance down to the piece of driftwood underfoot will trigger something. Enter oomph…specifically their Easton Chest. A traditional three drawer chest pared down to its simplequietmodern essence in one of the new wood finishes like Storm or Slate. You’re almost done. The tassel pulls shown in sky blue add a fresh note, but I might reel it back to the gray, keeping it tonal. So there you have it…project started.

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Easton chest photo (shown in Storm) via: http://www.oomphonline.com/easton-chest-large.html

Quality, clean simplicity, function…and, made in the USA. Does it get better than that? 

 

 

Dog Days

July 10, 2014

The dog days are upon us and there is nothing like this kind of  simplequietmodern reward after a productive  day working in the yard…or, maybe just rinsing off a full day of Summer fun. Can it be that a bit of sun, a gentle breeze, some water and a bar of soap can be transformative? I think it can.

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shower photo via:http://remash.tumblr.com/

Add in a bar of Neutrogena Original Formula Transparent  and Trader Joe’s Ginger Almond Oatmeal Exfoliant and you’re covered head-to-toe.

 

Blurring the Lines

July 6, 2014

With Summer here our natural inclination is to spend as much time as we can outdoors, bringing the indoors out with us for the duration of the season. In a slight reversal I like to blur the lines a little and bring some of what’s going on outside… in. Plucked straight from the pond, I float a few clusters of Water Hyacinths in large glass cylinder vases filled to the brim. Their other-worldly shapes and delicate roots show themselves off more as organic sculpture than water garden staple when presented in this simplequietmodern manner. If you’re lucky, with the right amount of light, they might even grace you with a bloom or two.

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Some sun,

June 28, 2014

a little water, a great view. What else could you want from a holiday weekend get-a-way? Key…check. Duffle…check. Provisions…check. Jaxon…check. All set to roll. Where are you spending the 4th?

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cabin photos via:http://remash.tumblr.com/

 

 

 

Just a little something

June 22, 2014

You can’t put your finger on it, but your environs this summer need just a little something. Does your weekend cottage need a little lift?  It could be a place to perch, a place to put your feet up… a place to set your drink. Or, maybe you’re thinking you’d just like a little something new without making a major commitment. Here are just a few sun bleached possibilities.

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Top to bottom:

Ample accommodations with the 24″ square crocheted Lexie pouf from Crate & Barrel. Great neutral color and texture…you couldn’t crochet one yourself for the price. http://www.crateandbarrel.com/lexie-pouf/s214515?

A modern take on faux bois from Terrain. A simple concrete-like fibreclay garden stool with great wood grain texture. http://www.shopterrain.com/outdoor-chairs/woodgrain-garden-stool/

Nothing says summer like a little weathered teak and this trestle bench, also from Terrain, is sure to earn its keep this season…and the next. http://www.shopterrain.com/outdoor-chairs/preserved-teak-trestle-bench/