Swimming with Sharks...

Do you watch Shark Tank?? I have from time to time, but am not a follower, as I find it difficult to commit to a show, with a new baby… That being said, I am so happy for Susan Petersen of Freshly Picked Moccasins for landing a deal on ST! I originally found this small company Freshly Picked on Instagram a while back, followed along with the cute images & learned her story. I have not yet purchased a pair for my baby girl, but they are on my wish list!!!!

…and then the question becomes, just which color to pick??

The metallic moccs in Navy, Platinum and Rose are also Limited Editions, but Baby Lilly can only wear one pair at a time, so… Time will tell :)

Natasha

Image #1 via Goggle Image Search, Image #2 & #3 via Freshly Picked

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

Snuggle Alert!

Yep, there is actually such a thing as a Snuggle Alert :) … at least according to the weather man down here in Florida. The term is used when the temperature dips below 60F! For us it's cool, not always cold, but cool & we break out the sweaters.

From my days in retail (read cold air conditioning), I have a lot of sweaters, and any chance I have to bring them out is a welcome one!!

I went shopping with a friend the other day, and she summed up my style pretty well… 

Split Personality!! - I am not kidding! 

Truth is, she is partially right :) I kinda have two styles going on in my closet; One is what is left over from my retail days… lots of black, sweaters (to battle the cold a/c) and beautiful knits, just because I love knits and cool, crisp fall clothing. Once we get in to having to wear a jacket, well, then it's just too cold for me. Two is where all the white, and preppy pinks come in. The latter part of what is in my closet is actually way more practical as I live in this warm / hot tropical climate. Sooooo, what's a girl to do?? I have been going through and cleaning out / organizing my closet many times, I guess an other round is in store as my body has changed a bit from being pregnant, so I see this as my chance to start a fresh clean style! What do you think? Any of you have a fabulous Pinterest Fashion Board I should check out for inspiration?? LMK

Natasha

Images via Pinterest

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

Happy Sunday!

Having brunch with a girlfriend and her daughter today, just us girls :) Yeah!!

Natasha

Image via Instagram / The Boat House PB

A Celebration...

A celebration is in order!!  The Northern Light Blog turns 4 years today, and what a wonderful time it's been, reading all your blog posts out there, writing my own, and following along with others from a far!

You might think I have lost my marbles, posting three images of the same venue, but I can explain… well, actually… I just couldn't choose, and I kinda like the natural progression :)

This beautiful table was done up by non other than India Hicks, for - what I am absolutely sure was - an amazing New Years Eve Celebration on Harbour Island in the Bahamas. 
I take it my invite must have gotten lost in the mail ;)

Have a wonderful, festive, fun New Year!
Natasha

Image #1 & #3 via India Hicks on Instagram, Image #2 via Nathan Turner on Instagram

Chill the Champagne!!

Hope your 2014 is filled with Fun & Laughter, Friends & Family, Interesting Opportunities and Lot's of Amazing Moments!

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!!

Natasha

Image via Pinterest

(End of the year) Morning Java

The year is coming to an end, and what better way to say good bye than with a good cup of java, a healthy bite and gorgeous white roses??

… I received the most beautiful flowers from a client (now also a dear friend) the other day, for a peek, check out Northern Light Design on Instagram (or see the very bottom of this page).

Natasha

Image via Pinterest

Sunday Flowers!

… so while most of the eastern part of the US is covered in a blanket of snow, I will cozy up with a blanket of my own, some beautiful white flowers and a crisp apple!

Happy Sunday,

Natasha

Image via Pinterest

Snowflakes

Snowflakes of a different kind!! Gingerbread cookies are just so yummy! When cut like these & dressed in sugar and frosting (pun intended), who can resist?? 

Perfect for the last Sunday in Advent! Enjoy…

Natasha

Image vie Pinterest

A little greenery...

… goes a long way!!

This is about the simplest decoration I have seen this season, so easy to do & so pretty !!

Natasha

Images via Pinterest

Jewel Toned Christmas Sparkle

A while back I came across this decked out Christmas Tree, with all the ornaments hung according to color, and I just LOVE the way it looked… I have tried to track down the original image, but to no avail, so when I saw this (above) image on Pinterest, I just had to share! What does your tree look like? Color, tradition, white, silver…?

This year we do not have a tree, just too much to handle with a brand new baby, but if we did, I would love to have mixed all my silver ornaments with these rich purples and pinks!

Happy Tree Decorating :)

Natasha

Images via Pinterest

Baby Update.

Just wanted you to see a few images of Baby Lilly. 

She is growing, both in size and personality, so much fun to watch!!

Hope this puts a smile on your face today :)

Natasha

All images NHH for the Northern Light Blog

Hide & Seek

Inspiration hits at any time… Sometimes you look and you look, but nothing catches your eye, and then other times… it's right there in front of you, when you least expect it! My point is this… I was at the furniture upholster shop last week, for a client, and I walked in to a table stacked high with green-ish / teal-y colored buffalo hides. What in the world would you do with that color hide I asked, don't exactly remember the answer… sorry… but ever since I have been looking at skins and fur, not with anything particular in mind, but one never knows what might arise!

Sooooo, naturally I was instantly smitten by the Pop Up Shop by Yvonne Kone in Copenhagen and all her beautiful leather goods! I follow along from a far - via her blog & website - as I am in Florida, but she's on my short list for when I go back home to visit next!!!

THIS Shopping Bag is what I have my eye on!

Comes in a few different hides and colors, but I am drawn to this non-color, very neutral. 

Chic, right??

While I was hunting down the Shopping Bag on her website, I came across these Key Holders. Either color would work for me, but if I could ask for one, it would be the Glitter Sky (Silver) or the Snake Silver (last on the right).

I am finding, that now I am dealing with the added pressure of remembering my keys, the stroller, the diaper bag, my phone… and, omg where did I put the keys?? First outing with baby Lilly I actually walked out of the house with my handbag, but without her diaper bag…! Yep, that's right, rookie mistake!! :) Now I am wiser, BUT… the day will come when I leave the keys where they are not to be found again! 

Natasha

All images via Yvonne Kone

Northern Light Design Work, Sneak Peek!

Yesterday was fun!!

I worked with a dear friend of mine, who happens to also be a photographer, as we photographed a Design Job I finished this past summer in North Miami Beach.

In the galley kitchen, I selected tumbled platinum hard ware with a ribbed texture, Calacata Oro Marble counters with a slight olive streak (for a top view, check out this image on the NLD Pinterest board) and long brick Thassos backsplash, set in a very light grey grout. 

Super pretty!!

Prior to the shoot, I picked up fresh flowers and other accessories. So much fun to be at the grocery store, selecting flowers for color and springing for those beautiful peonies, you normally would leave… I went for pops of color, as well as my trusted white hydrangeas! The design project itself is very calming and "non-color", it's all about the view!

… This image I took with my phone, as we were preparing to shoot the dining room properly. I just LOVE this Oly chandelier, not only does it look great straight on, but the shadows it casts on the ceiling are almost equally amazing!!

This is the other side of the dining room, also a cell phone shot. The art is my favorite here…

Not only are the colors muted, but the lacquered texture is amazing! Looks like water has been splashed on the painting itself, very cool :)

Stay tuned for more images on this project, I will share them with you soon!

Natasha

Images #1, #3 & #4 NHH for Northern Light Design, Image #2 by CHB Photography

New on the Virtual Newsstand…

… while the above image has nothing to do with the two newly released issues of Lonny Magazine and Adore Home, I just felt that I had to stay in the Christmas Spirit! Click the links to check out the new mag's!

Happy Reading,

Natasha

Image via femina.dk (I think..?)

December 1st!!

Wishing everyone a very happy 1st Advent. 

The count down to Christmas has begun, but for me, it' always been about the entire month of December! Enjoying the atmosphere, the flickering of candle light, the smell of fresh pine and the aroma of good food cooking. 

Soooo looking forward to making our home a bit more festive; first ornaments are already on display, burning a holiday candle at all times of the day - the house smells great - and today I will be hanging the Christmas lights on our tiny picket fence. Can't wait to light them this evening, it is going to be so pretty!!

Natasha

Image via femina.dk

Textural Christmas

Natural textures, weathered ornaments and shells… It's all part of this little Christmas display. Here, it's all about layers, fresh greenery and atmosphere.

Fill a weathered pot with ornaments in muted colors, stack a few ornately carved frames and place candle holders, additional ornaments and votives in the empty spaces...

Faceted glass votives - by TineK Home -  makes the candlelight flicker ever so softly, and the 3D star ornament, well that's there for it's good looks ;) I think it's super pretty, and will do well on a tray as a display piece, but would probably get lost hanging on the tree - well, on my tree at least!

Happy decorating,
Natasha

Images via Tusenfrojd

(Coral) Christmas

It's a bit of an unusual color for Christmas, but look how great this Coral color looks!
Very warm and inviting…

Coral ribbon makes this little vignette on the dining table a bit more festive! Such a great mix of candles, flowers, cones in different sizes, gold star confetti and a super cool Tom Dixon gold votive holder.

If space is an issue, why not just get a miniature tree? There are so many tiny ornaments out there, it should be a snap to decorate :) 

Inexpensive glass cylinders filled with a few blooms, colorful ornaments and candles makes for an easy display. Tie coral ribbon around the glass vase, and voila, instant color coordination, splash of color and a little feminine touch :)

I know, I know... I just had to start out early this year!
Natasha

Images via Femina.dk

Plum Perfect… with a touch of Gold.

Wishing everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving a wonderful day!
Here's a little late inspiration via Camille Styles (for full image gallery check out the link).

Have a great (long ?) weekend,

Natasha

PS. Looking for more PLUM goodness…? Northern Light Design Pinterest Board