Sunday Flowers... sort of.

I have been drawn to beautiful food photography this weekend. This simple white cake with its woodsy feel, beautiful roses and orchids bridges the gap of my regular Sunday Flowers post and my "new found love" of sweets...

... and what's better on a Sunday morning than a stack of fresh pancakes, decorated with fresh berries and a slight sprinkling of powdered sugar?

Almost too pretty to eat, almost!

Look at this layered cake decorated with Lilacs and single petal Roses. Just beautiful! I can recommend this board, as well as this board for more visual yummy-ness.

This past week I had brunch at a very dear friends new home (Hi CHB!), and in her bookcase I spotted  a  cookbook I had not seen before. The book was from Anthropology, (no longer available, trust me, I immediately looked for it) and the photography made me want to dive right in... I guess that's where this weeks inspiration came from! Do you ever pick up a cook book, just to look through the images? Or the amount of ingredients... ??

Do you have a favorite cook book? Do share!

Natasha

All images via Pinterest

Sunday Reading...(on a Monday)

SO... there is a new & fantastic e-book out there, just waiting for you to discover...

I have been drooling over the images for a few weeks, read the book, been back to revisit the images and inspiration a few more times, and I'm almost ready to share with all of you!

ALSO, I will be holding a little contest here on the Northern Light Blog, 

you could WIN THIS BOOK!!  ... actually THREE of you can win this book, so help me spread the word! Leave me a comment that you are on it, and come back to check out the full review in a day or so... 

Let the excitement begin!

Natasha

Image courtesy Iben & Niels Ahlberg

Sunday Reading

A while back, I think it was in the Fall, I saw some images of this book on the web, thinking to myself how beautifully photographed these gardens looked, and to possibly get my hands on the book. No attempt on my part to actually acquire the book was made.... and subsequently I forgot about the book!

While shopping for a client the other day, I stopped by Spruce Home & Garden and there it was... Open to the above page, I immediately recognized the image... the style of the photograph had stayed with me! I picked up the copy that was to be mine, hurried to have it put aside, and continued on the mission at hand; Shopping for a client, not for myself :) One for you, one for me...

Now... I almost want to crawl into this birdbath, just to admire the view from my "tub", but really... How unbelievably beautiful are these blue Hydrangeas??

Foxglove remind me of summer, but to be fair, I am actually not sure this is a summer blooming plant... 

I could not wait to get home to sit in a quiet corner, savoring this book. Stacy Bass has an impeccable eye for composition, drama and for capturing the light, the dew, the fog. This books takes you through some rarely seen private gardens in the North East. The stories of the evolution of the gardens, the people who planted and cared for the gardens... just beautiful!! For all the gardeners out there - or those who long for a garden - this book is amazing!!! I read it in one long sitting, cover to cover.

If you are looking for eye candy for your coffee table, this is definitely worth your while :) 
How wonderful would it bee to come home to a white picket fence, complete with  Musk roses spilling over in abundance? Sign me up!! 

Happy Sunday Reading,

Natasha

All images Stacy Bass

Sunday Reading...

So, granted... I have been sitting on this post for a little while... well, actually truth be told; It's been a super busy holiday season, and I just have not had the time to actually read anything, but I did browse through this FAB e-book at the end of December. Only this weekend did I sit down and actually study the beautiful images and read about all the cool Danish homes...

If you were the lucky recipient of a new iPad this Christmas, this is the perfect e-book! Chock full of inspiring Scandinavian decor, photographed to perfection, you want to reach out and touch every detail... LOL!

While there is much to look at, three homes stood out to me. The many layers of texture in this all white interior home, I can only dream about!

Design classics are mixed with tribal feathers, fresh flowers and hide accessories. Travel trinkets from far away lands mixed in for interest, and personal art... does not get much better than this, love how personal this home is!!

... and a fresh pop of yellow and turquoise in the bathroom, mixing an old "weathered" Asian chest with sleek glass and stainless steel shower fixture, so cool! Exotic Harmony for sure.

This predominately black & white home is equally amazing, a home with much more "structure" but also full with personal style, travel moments and gigantic hunting trophies...

I am really liking the blond wood floors, reminds me of the apartment I lived in, in Copenhagen, and the restrained color pallet is so Scandinavian! Lots of art and beautifully designed electronics by B&O mix and mingle with Marcel Wanders dining chairs and table.

And the last spotlight is on Tine K, of Tine K Home. Tine & I "go way back" as I remember visiting her very first retail shop, north of Copenhagen, many, many years ago... What was then a small shop that enjoyed great publicity in the Danish design magazines, has now evolved to a huge - to the trade - accessory company, with showrooms around Europe, Facebook pages for different showrooms (Holland, Germany, Finland etc) along with Pinterest boards and a well oiled marketing department. One quick look around all the Scandinavian blogs, and may feature Tine K Home products...

Fun fact: The Tine K Home team follow the Northern Light Blog on Pinterest, shouldn't you?

I am sure some of you have seen this living room before, but I am still in love with the light, the white, the textures and the all around cozy, lived-in, feeling of Tine's home. To me, proof that a white home does not necessarily equal stark and cold...

Lots and lots of texture in this little image... patina, peeling paint, wood, ceramic, woven straw, glass, books and a few branches from the garden. LOVE it :)

A wonderful light filled bathroom, complete with exotic shells and star fish. If you have the room, why not make this room in your home more inviting?

This kitchen is huge and totally open to the living room and dining room, again... great textures ranging from the leather handles on the cabinets (Tine K Design), to the light fixture (Shade by Tine K Home, comes in different sizes and fabrics) etc, etc, etc... This girl "lives what she preaches"; clean lines, lots of white and many non-Danish accessories and accents. Tine Kjeldsen certainly has a wonderful eye for bringing the interesting everyday objects from the far east and mixing them in with the typical Scandinavian strict design and muted colors, warming up the feel and creating wonderful contrast and interest...

While there are homes and images you might recognize in this GEN.TWO New Style Generation book, there are plenty (!) of new images to drool over & great stories from the homeowners.

I say go for it! Download your copy here, but hurry.... GEN.THREE is already in the works :)

Happy reading!! Also, Style Generation has it's own FB page and website.

Natasha

All images curtesy of Iben & Niels Ahlberg, Thank you!

PS. 
Look what I found in the last pages of the book.... a little quote from moi!

How cool is that!! ... so if you missed my comments on GEN.ONE you can read them here.

Sunday Reading

Don't you just love to see how the other half lives... or entertains??

I have been drooling over this colorful book, Soiree, this Sunday, and I am so inspired to whip up a dinner party! Right now, right here... the ideas and the inspirations are endless!!

Danielle Rollins is the author and creator of the most amazing dinner parties, luncheons and uber chic pick nicks featured in this book. The books cover and the above image are from the A Spring Lunch feature, and not only photographed to show off all the fabulous colors, but also complete with recipes, tips and images of an amazing garden.

This book has it all...

Invitations, Recipes, Styling Tips, Floral Design, Music Selections and fantastic photography! There is even a fantastic Resource section that I can't wait to dive into :)

Really, "all I want for Christmas" right this moment is an endless supply cabinet, filled to the brim with plates in different colors and patterns, silver wear, table cloths and napkins in a rainbow of colors.

Pretty please :)

The Author Danielle Rollins, as featured in An Afternoon Tea. This story is right up my alley, complete with hot pink Hydrangeas, Peonies and everything pink and preppy :)

I can see myself whipping up this Chocolate Mousse at the next Soiree at my house!

Ok, so calling the dinners held here at my house Soirees is a little much, I know.. 
Perhaps this will be for New Years, looks festive right?

Happy Party Season!!
Natasha

All images from Soiree, by Danielle Rollins.

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.