Happy July

I know I've been gone for a long while and reappearing around here should warrant some sort of explanation, but in truth, I have none.  Life has been good and busy, and I simply wanted to share a few pictures of a sweet feature of our new (old) house in this month's WNC Magazine. 

My thanks to all involved: Rita Larkin, editor-in-chief at WNC Magazine, as well as Whitney and Dustin Deal, who photographed our home. That was great fun. I also wanted to take a moment to thank my beautiful friend Christie who made the gorgeous jewelry I'm wearing. You can see more of her work at Calaycay Design.

Still here and almost there

Put simply: I've been busy with work, house negotiations, getting ready to move, and life in general... Funny how life doesn't give you a breather as you add new things to it. Part of me almost expects it, but no: life keeps its pace and demands the same rigorous attention, regardless of our plans and additional undertakings.

I will say this, my friends: it's been stressful, but I am happy. And excited. And even though I am tired, I can see the end in sight and it promises to feel like the sweetest of exhales when all is said and done.

And it is all part of life, isn't it? The highs and lows, the tight squeezes and the enormity of freedom after them; the tears and joys, and the eventual feeling of unhindered motion that comes after working through the narrow, winding turns that life is made of.

I hope you've all been well. I am sending you all much love, and as always, much peace.

(image: 1. via ikea family live; 2. via super rural)

On my mind, lately.

This lovely crochet garland by beautiful Tina. Because when I look at it, I think not only of Tina, halfway across the world in Australia, but also of Allison, following her dreams, and just like all of us, in her words, crafting a life. And I'm inspired by them both.

This little corner in Cindy's living room. Because I am touched and honored that someone who's become a friend would also hire me to help her out in a most personal of spaces: her home. Twice now.

This hutch. Because it made it to Brooklyn from my friends' store in Asheville and it looks great now that it's stained black and has found a new home in my client's dining room.

This new little cross pillow by talented Liane. Because it is the perfect addition to the (ever-growing, Bill would point out with a little cough) pillow collection on our couch.

This moment. Because I remember not being able to let a loose tooth be. And because I love my gorgeous, growing boy...

...who, all on his own, decided he wanted to play soccer recently and is loving every minute of it.

This photograph. Because in some ways it represents the overarching way I've been feeling over the last couple of months. A bit overwhelmed and awed by the immensity of life in all its possibilities.

We are moving this spring, and I'm excited but somewhat apprehensive about all of the loose ends that still need tidying up. I am one of those people that needs things to be concretely defined, down to the last little detail - all the time. I don't deal with uncertainty very well, but as my wise friend Florence pointed out to me the other day, ‘We live in a world of shifting tides but pretend like we don't, like we can nail it down.’ And she is right. And the details will get sorted out, eventually. And now, more than ever, I need patience.

Lastly, I'll leave you with this video; it's about 18 minutes long, but well-worth the time when you have a moment. It talks about education (among other things), which has been very much on my mind over the last few months. Fall wasn't easy around here. School turned out to not to be a good fit for our beautiful boy, and in great part it's because of the issues brought up here. (I believe I have Annie to thank for first bringing this TED talk to my attention. Thank you.)

I hope you've all been busy living your lives weaved with your many dreams, my friends. As always, I am sending you all much peace and love. Be well.

(images: 1. me; 2. cindy; 3. jen; 4-6. me; 7. apartment therapy; 8. moving boxes)

Snow Days

Busy hands working outside, building a snow fort,

trekking up and down the yard delivering shredded ice

to be shaped into bricks with an old metal pan.

Busy hands working inside, hanging a new set of pretty curtains up high,

and trying to capture that beautiful, ever-elusive winter's light, bouncing off the wonderful snow outside.

And the dog, you may ask?

Busy taking it all in, ascertaining that indeed, this is a good life.

Did I ever tell you...

...that after I met with my first paid client, he wrote me a check for the design consult and included a single dollar bill with it for me to frame (as Vintage Simple's first step into the world)?

Such a kind gesture, I thought. And although for some reason I can't bring myself to frame it, I keep it safely tucked away in a drawer along with his thoughtful note.


I am currently working on a couple of projects, including one in Maine, which I'll get to in a minute, and another one in Brooklyn.

First, I thought I'd share a few little peeks from when I was up NYC in November. Most of the painting in the house is now done, bringing out the gorgeous details of the old brownstone...

Some of the light fixtures have already been put up,

while others still patiently await to be installed...

This one, by Cisco Brothers, will go in the parlor. I think it was love at first sight for my client, and it makes me smile to think that it was so. (Such things do happen after all.)

The parlor has a new fun blue couch and wire chair, and a big mirror over the mantel to bring a little more light into the space... It is a north-facing room, so it can be pretty dark in there. I think the chandelier will be a great addition to the space.

We're thinking perhaps a light such as the one you can spy in the next picture will go in the dining room, creating a beautiful foil to the more rustic one in the parlor.

But then again, we may look into having something custom made that relates more directly to the parlor's chandelier, without exactly replicating it. Perhaps something along these lines...

As far as Maine, I thought I'd post some of the sketches I've drawn for my client there, just to give you a little sense of what's been going on with that project.

Here's one of the foyer, with a proposed antique Swedish bench, mirror, window treatments, and lighting suggestions (still trying to figure out my new scanner - heh)...

A sketch of the sink wall in the kitchen, filled with sources and recommendations...

And here is one with ideas for the lounge/TV area in the living room...

Both projects are still, clearly, far from being completed, but I thought I'd share with you a little bit of what I've been working on for the last couple of months. These things do take time - what with the business of living, and budgets, and dreams... but the work itself is great and I am happy to report that I am thoroughly enjoying it.

On a more personal note (related to this idea of dreams), I've been trying to watch myself more closely, paying attention to all these hopes and plans and dreams of mine. And as I watch myself trying to stubbornly hold on to them all, I am also painfully aware of my wish to rush them into certainty right away. But that is not really the way life works... is it?


And so it is that I hold my many dreams with my many imaginary arms... And I am starting to think that perhaps the trick lies in the holding - with purposeful intent, but patiently and...lightly. Ever-so-lightly. And always (always) with an open heart.

So, I am working on finding more balance in the way I hold myself and that which is dear to me, including my dreams. And I hope that with each passing year, I will be able to hold myself and my goals more lightly - in a more forgiving, quiet way.

It is not a complete thought, I realize - but it will have to do for now. I am wishing you all peace, my friends - now and always. See you at the other end of 2010.


(images: 4. cisco brothers; 6. rebekah sigfrids via design sponge; 7. photo by richard powers, collaboration for lights - fearon hay and katie brown; 11. & 12. katie daisy's etsy shop; all others by me)

Progress

Well, the wall with interior windows is finally done...and I couldn't be happier. It really does look lovely, and the photos hardly do it justice.

Our friend David* was kind enough to come help us finish up. I was really tired of the inevitable clutter and disarray that come with weekend projects of this scale, so it was wonderful to have an extra set of hands - and one so talented at that.

It was a lot of work, but really worth it in the end... I can't imagine a better solution for this space. What was once an open attic expansion lacking definition is now a beautiful space that allows for separation without sacrificing light.

I also love the way enclosing the staircase gave it an incredible sense of volume - it looks so grand now..! It feels completely decadent to go up the stairs, lured by the inviting light streaming through those windows...


In other news, I have been very busy with clients and have even traveled to Maine (!!) to help one of them, and I am going to Brooklyn next month to visit yet another client (!!!). So, all very exciting things for someone who just a little bit over a year ago started this blog with a dream of sorts that is now slowly, quietly, but surely coming true. There are no words to describe how lucky I feel... And grateful, too. Incredibly grateful. I am getting to do what I love, which is...well, priceless, really.

So, I would like to officially announce that I am available for design assistance, and I will gladly help you with projects big and small. I will even travel - as long as all expenses are covered and my schedule allows it, of course. For more information, feel free to contact me.


*if you live in the Upstate of SC or WNC region and you need a terrific craftsman, let me know and I will put you in touch with David - he is fantastic and fantastic to work with.

(images: me)

Projects, lately.

Remember how our bedroom is upstairs and it's a little bit quirky the way most attic expansions can be? Quirky in a charming way, but you know, quirky nonetheless...?)

As you come up the stairs to the second floor, we have a half wall and therefore our bedroom area feels somewhat exposed. So I've been thinking about how to give our space a bit more privacy without closing it off completely...

I think I'll be aiming for something along the lines of these photographs for this project. You'll have to take a little leap of faith by disregarding the particular details, and simply embracing the overall feeling - given that we don't have the beautiful beadborad, nor do we have the exposed lath, gorgeous beams, or incredibly tall ceilings that grace the bedroom in these pictures...

In essence, though, we'll be going for something that is still a little funky, but soothing and pretty, and definitely somewhat unique given the space constraints (or advantages, depending on your take).

Something that allows us to capitalize on light and still gives us a little bit more of a sense of privacy - but somewhat playfully and resourcefully...

Although we're nowhere near finished, I thought I'd share with you some photos of the progress so far. Here are the boys, busy at work (Noah has sensitive ears, thus the gear)...

The first wall going up and the pretty windows all lined up (which I scored from a neighbor who was discarding them), patiently awaiting their second round in life...

The studs and frame all in place for the second wall...

And, here, the view from the other end, into our bedroom and a sliver of our bathroom...

I will post pictures once we're done. Hopefully it will be sometime before the end of the year. As the weather gets cooler (soon, soon!), we'll be wanting to spend more and more time outdoors, and inside projects will have to be put on hold as a result. So, we'll see - but I will definitely keep you posted once we're done.

On a slightly different note, I've also been working on a couple of little rooms

*inspired by this,

and this,

as well as this,

and this,

and this sweet, little print:

So, creative and productive times here in our little corner of the world. All of which is good for my spirit. I hope this post finds you all having the kinds of times that are good for your spirits, too. I am sending you all much peace, my friends. Be well tonight, and always.

*for a client, so don't be getting any ideas..!

(images: 1. & 2. via vintage; 3. via canadian house and home; 4-7. me; 8. via isak; 9. via cookie magazine; 10. via domino magazine; 11. via country living; 12. via katie daisy)

Pretty

No deep thoughts here today. Just lovely photos by Anna Kern of a gorgeous little home in southern Sweden.

I love the vintage posters paired with the subtle colors on the walls and the punchy prints of the sweet fabrics and that aqua frame;

the easy camaraderie of perfectly mismatched furniture all coexisting in graceful harmony;

...and those stunning yellow doors? Yes, yes, and many times over, yes. And please. And thank you.

As a little side note, I'd like to thank you all again for your kind notes lately - I really appreciate every single one of them.

That's it for now. I hope everyone has a good weekend.

(images: via the ever-inspiring my scandinavian retreat)

Tenth photo

I was tagged (a long while back, I admit) by two wonderful women, Lotta and Charlotta, whom I admire deeply and who are a constant source of inspiration to me.

I was supposed to open my first folder, scroll down to the tenth picture and write about it. The truth: the tenth photo was rather uneventful compared to this one. So forgive me for cheating a little, but I chose this one instead.

The first digital folder we have dates back to 2004, the year Noah was born. I would love to document that here, even if it means bending the rules just a little bit.

In this picture, Noah was only a few days old - maybe just two or three days old. I want to remember this moment: my calm, but distinct awareness of not quite feeling like his mother yet; Noah's fierce determination to be himself and be heard, which made for a challenging first year, but are traits that will serve him well in life.

For those first few moments with him, and all the moments between then and now, and the moments I don't yet know that I will get to share with my beautiful, resolute boy - for all of that, I am thankful.

For Bill, a man who knows and loves me better than I sometimes know and love myself - for him, too, I am thankful.

For the unconditional love we all three share for one another - for that, I am thankful.

For the kind, encouraging words traveling near and far distances alike, and for the genuine friendships I've made with virtual strangers in this incredible community of bloggers - for that, I am also thankful.

I think my blues have been in part related to things I want to settle in my life - right now. And it meant that for a moment there, I forgot about the very things that have been important in my life - always. So this tenth photo assignment was a good exercise; it was a good way to remind myself that I have much to be grateful for...and that things will fall into place, each in its own time, because I am working toward certain goals - steadily and with an open heart.

Of course it is my wish that we will all reach the goals and dreams we set for ourselves - make no mistake about that. And for now, I need to practice patience.

(image: bill)

Summer blues

This summer has hit me pretty hard. I've been a little blue, and I haven't been able to shake the feeling off too easily. The heat and humidity have been downright unbearable.

Which brings me to these bears - perhaps you've seen them? I just discovered them today and fell in love. And I laughed and laughed and laughed. And then Bill and Noah came over to see what all the laughing was about, and we shared some chuckles together, delighting in Emily's creations and Tom's words.

And it felt good.

Here is the description that accompanies the bear pictured above (printed here with Tom's permission):

"Are you game?" asked the rabbit
"Sorry. Am I what?" asked the bear
"The game!"
"Game?"
"Are YOU game?"
"But rabbit, how can I? I don't have enough checkers on me." bear could not understand. And he had not a single checker on him.
"No, no, bear, i was asking if you are game not if you are the board of the game"
"Could i be the board of the game, maybe?" bear wondered
"You can be anything you want"
"Well in that case... I would like to be an elephant" said the bear
"Ele what?"
"Phant"
"You want to be a phantelle? What is that?"
"No, rabbit, i would like to be an elephant. But only in the game"
"Then you are game?"
"I think i am"
And bear sure was, and rabbit could not remember what that all was about and so they went for a cup of tea. And cookies. Half a cup of cookies.

They come in different colors - each bear with its own bits of wisdom to share. Emily and Tom have even set up a diminutive studio for their adorable photo shoots..!

Put simply, it was just what I needed on this balmy, rainy afternoon.

(images: em's shop of bears'n'such; found the shop via the lovely Annie's Elsa May)

Hi. Hello, there.

I've been absent. So very, very absent from this little space. I know. But life has been incredibly busy - in the best of ways. So... where do I start?


The hydrangeas are in full bloom. We have corn and tomatoes from our garden, and the sunflowers are taller than we are, and we have to squint our eyes when we look up at their smiling faces. It's been hot. Really hot. And it has rained and rained in the evenings, and stormed and thundered much. Summer is unapologetically here.


Noah's nose has sprouted the faintest, most endearing collection of freckles as he spends most of his days outdoors. They dance around his face when he smiles, and I have moments when I look at him and he simply just takes my breath away. He's so grown-up; such a beautiful, beautiful boy. He is both excited and a little nervous about starting first grade come August.


I have met with a couple of new design clients and that has been great fun. My job at the nonprofit has been busy with five-year goal plans and lots of meetings about them.

The house is still on the market - we had a low offer in the beginning, which for obvious reasons did not work out. I am, oddly enough, not stressed about it, though. I truly believe things happen for a reason, so if the house doesn't sell this year, then we'll try again next year. The goal will remain to downsize, but it doesn't have to happen this month, or two months from now, or by the fall, or even before the holidays... We'll just have to wait and see what happens.


In the meantime, the woman who grew up in our house, her daughter and granddaughter will all be here in July to celebrate their birthdays at the house. I am really excited about that and hope that we will make a little video and take many photos of what I am certain will be a very special evening.

As always, I keep dragging outcasts home. Maybe I'll use this at the little house if it all works out this year. Or maybe I'll use it in a client's home. But this kitchen cabinet from the 20's was far too special to be left to rot in a dumpster. It needs some work (and don't we all?), but it will be a beauty again with a little bit of love.


And... that's about it in a nutshell, my friends. Things are busy, busy, busy, and it is all good. Like I was telling dear Bonnie when she emailed to check in - between new clients, my little job at the nonprofit, being mama to Noah, head grocery-shopper and main cook at the house, something had to give - and it has been the blog. For now.

I do hope this post finds you well and happy, enjoying life wherever you may be. The next couple of months promise to be just as busy as this one, so I am not sure how present I will be in this space. But know that I think of you often and wonder how you are and sincerely hope that life is treating every single one of you kindly. Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones. I am sending you all much love.

(images: me)

A little Etsy love, house news, and a goat

I recently acquired a couple of small beauties via Etsy and I wanted to share them with you because they are just so perfectly lovely and they make me smile every time I walk by them:

a sweet banner made of fabric remnants sewn together by wonderful Jill,

and a pretty lavender sachet made by beautiful Lotta.

As for the house news (and although I hesitate to announce this prematurely), we've finally decided to put it up for sale. I've talked about our desire to downsize and simplify before, and we may just have found a little house that will allow us to live a bit more simply and comfortably. Even though it was not an easy decision to make, I am looking forward to this new chapter in our lives - if the stars align and all that good stuff. (Fingers and toes duly crossed.) We shall see.

Lastly, I wanted to thank Tina - who doesn't have an Etsy store, but is one of those incredibly generous and lovely people that I've met in this blog world and become friends with, despite the distance and the odds.

On learning that Noah dreams of owning vast amounts of land and animals to go with it some day (I think that if he manages to accumulate acres at the rate he's accumulating Lego pieces, he has a good chance of living his dream), she emailed me some pictures of her mother-in-law's farm, including this one:

(Which, by the way, begs the question... could it be that Heather's missing goat is in Australia, not France, after all??)

So, a mixed bag of a post here, but I do hope this finds you and yours well and enjoying life, wherever you may be. All goats aside, there is quite a bit going on around here, so posting may be a little more sporadic than usual for a while.

(images: 1. & 2. me; 3. marie claire maison via mary ruffle; 4. tina)

It's here!!

Well, my friends, the magazine featuring our kitchen and bathroom has hit the stands - and our kitchen is on the cover!!! I'm pretty flattered. And happy. And frankly, I'm blushing a little. And-and... I'm rather speechless, actually.

Many thanks to associate editor Rachel Haugo for spotting our kitchen on Design Sponge and starting this amazing process; to writer Suzanne Morrisey for being such a pleasure to work with; and to Marie McCartan for writing such a kind introduction in the editor's letter. I'm incredibly grateful to you all. Thank you.

The magazine is called Kitchen+Bath Makeovers and it's a publication of Better Homes and Gardens... you know, in case you feel the urge to go out and buy it. (Just imagine: you'll get to see Brie's lovely photography in real life, which is, in and of itself, absolutely worth the money.)

My apologies to local folks, though - between Bill and I, we may have bought all the copies available in Greenville, SC.

Oh, I kid, I kid..! (Sort of.)

Here is a picture of the cover - I sure hope you get to at least take a little peek while you wait in line at the grocery store or sip coffee at the bookstore..!


(images: pictures of photographs by brie williams)

Lately

I've been dreaming of going away. Just for a little while. I've been fantasizing about having a little cabin tucked away somewhere beautiful, where life would just naturally take a slower pace. A place like Pippi's summer cabin overlooking the water in Norway would fit such a dream, don't you think..?

For more inspiring images and words about this labor of love, click here.

(images: my scandinavian retreat)

Much.

Much has happened in the last few weeks. I've reconnected with my brother after a long stretch of silence and that has been wonderful - in fact he came to visit, which was even more wonderful. There have been many visits with cousins and family and friends; long walks around the neighborhood; pets lost and found and lost and found again (thankfully). The boys planted tomatoes, carrots, sunflowers and corn in the backyard while I recovered from a cold. It got really, really hot and then got chilly again, and now it goes back and forth, between brisk mornings and sultry afternoons. The flowers are in bloom and the trees exploded in a huge collective sneeze of pollen that covered everything in yellow dust and gave us all scratchy throats and watery eyes for a while.

Life, my friends, has been eventful and intense and beautiful, and we've been busy living it. But here I am, my dears. To let you know I haven't forgotten about my little space here. Or you. I've just been...well, quiet, is all.

We're still thinking about downsizing, and although we wouldn't be looking to swap our house for anything this small, I immediately fell in love with this Swedish apartment - for its generous use of white, the pops of wallpaper in just the right amounts and on just the right spots, the fantastic use of space, and the apparent ease with which choices were made to make it look so effortlessly lived-in and well-designed at the same time... I think if I had to live in 500 square feet, I'd try to make it look something like this.




At any rate, my friends... I hope this post finds you all well. More soon, eventually.

(images: via apartment therapy)

Quiet.

I've been spending some time thinking, dreaming, living - simply being. I've been a little bit absent from the blog world, but I'm still here...

I've been embracing quiet time to myself instead, playing Legos with my little guy who just turned six (six!), and I've been taking long walks in the sunshine before the heat and humidity of the south chase me back indoors.

I thought I'd share with you a poem that a beautiful friend sent my way... I've been thinking a lot about this poem's words, and how we have much to learn from the gentler, nobler pace of nature. I hope you'll enjoy this as much as I did.

Tonight and always, I am wishing you all peace, dear friends. Be well.


The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's life may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

~Wendell Berry


(image: via my scandinavian retreat)

Interior Windows

Remember this post I wrote a while ago..? I keep coming back to it for many reasons, but one of the most inspiring things about Johanna's space to me is the use of interior windows throughout her home. I can spot three of them in the above photo alone...

I love natural light, and using old windows that might otherwise end up in a landfill seems like a wonderful idea to let in more light...

I like them as a way to suggest privacy - somewhat playfully...

I like them in entryways,

and as mudrooms...

Sometimes, I even like the idea of interior windows in place of knocking down entire walls... And not only because it might be a way of saving storage or counter space, but also because - isn't it alluring to just get a peek into the next room over, without sacrificing the sense of intimacy that smaller spaces create..?

A suggestion of what lies beyond and the promise of loving light ahead... Yes, I think I like this idea. I like it a lot.

(images: 1. & 2. vintage; 3. via kitchen and bath ideas; 4. banks design associates; 5. via the goodie life; 6. via renovation style magazine; 7. via canadian house and home)

What's on Your Nightstand?

Lovely Kate of the wonderful and oftentimes hilarious (seriously - check this post out) The Goodie Life asked me to participate in this series - and I said, why of course. Just like that.

When you have a moment, do stop by... I have a few more pictures and words about my nightstand over there.

(Peek of gorgeous handmade lovelies: framed photo by Cara, ruffled bowl by Denise, sequined bracelet by Emma, little notebook by Katrina, lavender eye pillow by Allison.)

Just enough

Sure, this house has a lot of the usual attributes that generally make me happy in a home: the white walls, the rough-hewn wood, the use of natural materials left exposed, and the beautiful tension between rustic, glamorous and simple.

But perhaps what draws me the most to this particular home is its scale.

For a little while now I have been craving the coziness of smaller spaces; I've been dreaming of finding a smaller house - one where no room goes unused, and no corner is left unattended, especially now that we've finally made the decision to have no more kids...


...and this house seems to fit that fantasy. For me. At this particular moment in my life.

We'll see, my friends. Only time will tell.

(images: jordi canosa)

Thanks and more thanks

To all, for your kind and encouraging words - I've been overwhelmed in the best of ways this last week and I appreciate each and every one of your thoughtful comments. So a big thank you to all of you, kind readers of this little blog of mine.

I'd also like to take a moment to thank Rue, Donna, Jillian, Cheryl, Eva, and Marcela for the mentions on their blogs about our home and projects we've worked on. When you have time, you can find their blogs by clicking on their names.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend, my dears!

Oh, and the image above is by crazy-talented Cara of Peonies and Polaroids. Go visit. She's the perfect mix of pixie loveliness and a swearing sailor. You'll love her. I can't wait for her shop to re-open.