Texture Snapshot

This image stopped me in my tracks today, so beautiful! 

Loving the colors, the shapes, the texture, the glaze of the bowl …

Natasha

Image via Tine K Home SS14

Faux or Real?

OK, so if you follow along you will know that I am a lover of Flowers! Almost all kinds of flowers, though I admit to having my favorites, such as the classic Hydrangea. Orchids are pretty much always found all over my house, and that's mostly due to their longevity, but also because I don't have a cutting garden… 

I am torn when it comes to the faux variety … I have been known to use a few of these faux blooms in different clients homes, but really, my heart is with the real kind! However, when you have a busy household these come in handy, so I was happy to see this sale on One Kings Lane this evening.

I really like this Cymbidium Orchid in the Blue & White pot! Imagine it on a tall side table in the living room, or a table in the foyer, perhaps arranged with a few books & a candle …

So, are you into Real or Faux Flowers? Can you really tell the difference? 

Natasha

PS. Follow Northern Light Design on Instagram and you will be witness to my love of flowers...

All images via OKL

New on the Virtual Newsstand... (kind-a!)

Truthfully... you can't really go wrong with the tired and true Blue & White color scheme!
These beautiful images are from the new Matchbook Magazine, and they had me at "Jewel Box"... You'll see, turn to page 40.

I guess this is what happens when you go to the flower market, and is unable to make up your mind! - you just get one of each ;)

In the - fairly - new rue magazine, you can find a beautifully photographed country house and a delicious dinner party, perfect for the upcoming holiday season! I especially loved the cell phone tray, great idea!! ... a small platter set out for everyone to park their cell phones on, only to be picked back up upon leaving the dinner party, perfect conversation starter & perfect for dinner conversation :)

Happy reading!

Natasha

Image #1 & #2 via Matchbook, Image #3 & #4 via rue

(Early!!) Morning Java

Nothing like a fresh brewed cup of latte in the morning... well, any time of day actually :) & now that Baby Lilly has arrived, an Early Morning Cup of Coffee is a must to kickstart the day!!

Trademark Anchor marks this cup from The Boathouse Balmoral Beach...

Two of my favorites... Coffee & Flowers!!

Have a happy start to your day :)

Natasha

All images via The Boathouse Balmoral Beach, via Instagram

Color me Pretty!

Today I am inspired by Anna Spiro and a design job she completed a little while back....

Fun, cheerful, bright and lots of color!!

I think this eat in kitchen is getting a lot of action!! It's bright and fun, who wouldn't want to hang out here??

Sunday Funday!

Natasha

All images via Black & Spiro on Pinterest

Picture Book for Grownups

Do you love Pinterest as much as I do?? It's like an ever evolving mood board, a Picture Book for Grownups :) 

I use Pinterest almost every day; for remembering an idea, to pin an amazing photograph, for color inspiration... anything that inspirers me at any give moment. I have the app on my phone as well, so it makes the pinning even easier! I have boards set up for Projects I am currently working on, or that I have completed.

Just yesterday I did a few image additions to the Northern Light sidebar, check out the Right Side of the Blog, below my Daily Inspiration Tab (Blog roll). You can now click on any of the boards and you will be taken directly to Northern Light Design on Pinterest for even more goodies! Sign up, follow along, pick your favorite board, or follow them all... many more than I have displayed on the side!!

Are you a pin-head? Should I follow you? Leave me your link :)

Natasha

Image screen shot by NHH for the Northern Light Blog

The Meaning of Home

I just pre-ordered the new book, by Million Dollar Decorator, Jeffrey Alan Marks and I can hardly wait to have it in my hands!! The Meaning of Home is due out in a few days...

While we all await the arrival, I will share a few images the home JAM shares with his partner Ross Cassidy, via Domaine Home (LOVE that site, by the way!).

In the interview Domaine Home did with the two designers, one comment that struck me as funny, but spot on (perhaps because it would be something I would do...?) was Ross mentioning that...

 “Jeffrey likes to stack books for color, not content,” Ross Cassidy tells us of his fiancé. Cassidy teases: “Okay, you just happen to be reading four perfectly sea foam green and celadon books.”

Yes....? That could happen :) It happens in my house all the time!!! (revisit the first image)

What attracts me to their home are all the soothing colors; the sage greens, the lavender , the blues, the greys and all the natural textures! CAN NOT WAIT to study the book !!

Natasha

All images via Domaine Home

A Breath of Fresh Air!

There is a blog from Down Under called Oliveaux, that I have been following for years now. Posts are sporadic at most, but still right in line with what I like, so I hang around! 

Oliveaux is an Interior Design firm in Brisbane, complete with a shop, if you neeeeedd instant gratification :)

The other day I was alerted to the fact that new images of a completed design project was up on the website, and I just had to see more, as the teaser images were bright and fresh...

Well accessorized and styled vignettes gets me every time, but in this image what caught my eye is the white painted, heavily carved coffee table, looks balinese... and really, can you ever go wrong with Blue & White?

I am forever looking for stylish closet doors, and these hit the mark!! Great use of space, love the mirrored doors, makes the space bigger, more glam, and no one should EVER leave the house without looking in a full length mirror... I'm just saying...

I have, in my own home, some really, really bad bifold closet doors that I can't wait to change out, these might be a contender.

I suggest you head on over to the gallery at Oliveaux and check out more great design work.

Hope you have a fun weekend!!

Natasha

All images via the Oliveaux website.

Prep Alert!

Just received my weekly email from OKL, and found the best Preppy & Playful pillows and throws on sale over there RIGHT NOW!!

The whale pillows would look so great mixed with other patterns on a white sofa, pops of color, prepster all the way...

... and this orange coral beauty remind me of a just finished project of mine in Ft. Lauderdale! Could have used a couple of these, but found others that spoke equally as well to the space and even included the homeowners love for chevron. A sneak peek of that project can be found here. Not able to show any more images as of now, as a magazine has shown interest in the project, so you will just have to stay tuned :)

Hope the weekend was great!

Natasha

All images via One Kings Lane

New, New, New!!!

The word on Instagram a few days back, was the imminent launch of the new Black & Spiro website, by Australian Interior Designer Anna Spiro, and this morning it launched....

I was unable to access the link all day, as I am sure many of you were getting a first peek and "blocking" the rest of us :)... Well, I finally got through, and what a treat!! Loving the clear and sharp images, the unmistakable cool interiors of Anna Spiro. Pops of vibrant color, lots of Blue & White, table scapes to make you drool, fun mixture of new and old furniture...

I would recommend a tour of the new site, complete with FB page, Pinterest Boards and lots of inspiring interiors!!

Happy Weekend,
Natasha

PS. 
I found this article on the web today on Anna, an interesting read about the person behind the design :)

All images via Black & Spiro

Best Dressed...?

For me it was Marion Cotillard in Dior!
The cut of the gown, the color, the beautiful diamond necklace and flawless make-up...

Who was your fashion-favorite??

Natasha

Images via StyleFrizz

Kitchen on my mind...

Just showing you this kitchen 'cause since I came across it, it's been on my mind :)

Love the all white, that's a given, but the blue accents speak to me as well! However, I am not entirely sure I would be able to live with the funky Missoin-inspired backsplash, how about you? Another thing that caught my eye is the super cool table base, you like??

Kitchens are on my mind lately :)

Natasha

Image via Pinterest

Sunday Reading

My favorite Million Dollar Decorator Nathan Turner has just released a wonderful book; 

Nathan Turner's American Style. 

The book has three sections filled with beautiful images of laid-back California interiors. Beach Chic, City Living and he even goes a little Country!

I particularly enjoyed the images from NT's personal home in Malibu. I am all about the all white space, filled with cool, casual & livable furniture. The artwork makes the space personal, and also ties the colors together. Notice how your eye is "following" the pops of orange! The large Goldfish photograph is by Oberto Gili, a photographer Nathan Turner often use in his interiors.

This room might just be my favorite in the whole book! Happy, cheerful and relaxed, and very different from my own home...

Just adore this dog friendly spot! It seems that Nathan's two dogs, Nacho & Daicy, are very much part of his relaxed lifestyle, and they even have their own super stylish cushion-with-a-view :)

This vignette is part of a "country" home in the middle of L.A.... I was drawn to this image by the large photo by Amber Arbucci, a cool graphic take on zebra stripes! The owners of this home apparently are super well traveled, so Nathan Turner layered up the interiors with travel worthy items and collections.

While the book is full of fantastic images of interiors, there are also great entertaining tips, table top ideas and even recipes :)  This particular setting is for a Moroccan Tea Party, but you can find colorful lunch ideas, beach-themed party decor, a colorful Mexican Taco Fest and even an outdoor rustic Apple Harvest Dinner Party, complete with scenic views and apple pie!

So.... as you can see, there is a little for everyone in this book, overall a great collection of Nathan Turner's American (relaxed, bohemian) Style. A great book for ideas, for sure, but also a wonderful showcase for his amazing talent and eye for the eclectic interior. A book I am sure I will refer to for inspiration and effortless entertaining ideas!!

Have a fun Sunday,

Natasha

Image #1 via Google Images, Image #2 & #3 via ElleDECOR, Image #4 via SoHaute, Image #5 via Nathan Turner.

Sunday Flowers

I was contemplating if I should show you the bright and beautiful flowers from last weeks wedding, or go with this beautiful book; Bringing Nature Home. I found the book more appropriate for the first days of fall, and after you see these amazing images, you will probably agree with me...

The beautiful arrangements are all done by Nicolette Owen & the equally talented photographer Ngoc Minh Ngo is behind the images. Since the books release in March (how did I totally miss that??), many bloggers have reviewed the book, so I will just show a few images this Sunday.

I love how loosely these arrangements are done up, a far cry from the many tight bound floral arrangements we have seen the last many years...

For as long as I can remember my mother has done arrangements just like these, flowers mixed with vines, branches & grasses. All very "English Garden"... What do you think? Is this the new way to go? Or has it really always been the way??

Have a fun Sunday!

Natasha

All images by Ngoc Minh Ngo, via Design*Sponge

Catching up...

... so while I have been laying low for a few days with a nasty little summer cold, things have been adding up on my to-do list...

Like I have a to-do list... but you know what, this morning I actually wrote one! I find that lists stress me out, before the day has even started I am already stressed... so I don't do lists, do you?  Do they work for you?

Blogging was not on the list today... LOL!
Natasha

Image via Pinterest

Completely random...

Just absolutely fell in love with the colors in this image, and since there is a bunch of vacationing kids in my house at the moment, I figured it would be appropriate... :)

Have a happy weekend, y'all!

Natasha

Image via designfiles

Happy 4th of July!!

To everyone who celebrates...
Have a happy day :)

Natasha

Image via Lexington

New Month, New Week, New Day & a New Beginning...

... and this is where I am starting!
Nothing better than new, clean, fresh & pretty sheets, don't you agree??

So MUCH has happened in the last two months, it has been hard to deal with, eye opening and.... I am not 100% ready to share, but change is a coming, my friends!

Have a wonderful start to the second half of the year, the new month, the new week &
a new day :)

Natasha

Image IKEA

Amazing Hands!

Ok, so how often do we come across handcrafted "anything" these days?? 

Not that often, right? 

Well, I came across these hand crafted, sleek, modern & meticulously made ceramics by Lawrence McRae, and I am soooooo wanting a piece!! Look at that lacework, and the yummy colors...

Not only is the Large Peony Vase something that I would actually use, but the Nairobi Blue looks amazing! I am envisioning this piece in a casual summerhouse setting, filled to the brim with fresh white blooms & lots of greenery. Perhaps on a wide plank, rustic dining table....

WOW, right? Yes, I know, I went a little overboard with the size of this bowl, but I just absolutely adore the color and the texture in the glaze, and figured you would appreciate it as well, was I right?? Every piece in the collection is hand done, every circle hand carved by the amazing hands of Lawrence McRae...

As an Interior Designer I am always (it seems) on the hunt for a beautiful lamp, something that it not mass-produced, and has a bit of character. In the McRae collection there are nine lamps to choose from, and many super pretty colors, I just happen to have chosen what would look amazing in my house ;) !!

Many of you may very well know the talented Jill Rosenwald? Well, as it turns out, she is Lawrence's wife (there is a LOT of press on her and her designs out there). Personally I am drawn to these pieces, finding the simplicity and delicate, yet graphic designs interesting & sculptural. I can truly appreciate the hand crafted look and the time it takes to make these pieces. 

If you want a closer look - and I am telling you that you DO :) - check out the Lawrence McRae website here. 

Go ahead, drool a little, or start a wish list!

Natasha

All images via Lawrence McRae Website