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The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook.

-William James

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Frame Riser

I am one of the many fans of Pottery Barn's new frame risers. The picture wall I have been saying I will do for the last year and a half will be placed on a wall that happens to have a thermostat, and the floating frame effect the riser offers will be perfect for covering it up. Now I just need to follow-through on the project...

The Dining Room Light?

This could be what I am looking for.

Room designed by Jayne Wunder.

via desire to inspire

I'm not a red person

I do appreciate the color red as an accent in my wardrobe: red shoes, clutch, coat. But in my home? No thank-you. So surprise, surprise when I found myself loving this kitchen. It is so cheerful. Maybe I like it because it is not a warm red and there is a rather flashy high gloss? Either way it is fabulous and such a nice addition of color.

poorly scanned via Spring 09 Renovation Style

Life is funny.

It changes. Things that mattered so much can lose their meaning, and things that were never paid attention, or even avoided, slowly become what is important.

I guess this is less about life being funny and more about me being funny, or more appropriately put, me evolving into what I like to think is a better, more experienced, and more aware version of myself.

I can't wait to see what changes are on the horizon.

Desert Beauty

Living where I live has sold me on never again living anywhere that isn't alive and green. So I had to laugh when this garden in the Arizona desert completely drew me in and left me inspired.

I've realized that I am losing interest in a traditional lawn and yard. I will always want one large area of grass to be able to play on, but other than that, grass is becoming a bit boring, too thirsty, and high maintenance. A big open yard is plain, paths and separated areas are appealing. Mulch in beds looks nice, but river rocks adds more interest.

I am curious to see what I would wind up doing to a yard if I had a house that something untraditional would work well with, especially if it was in the green setting I hope to stay in.

scanned via Garden Design March 09

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You can have anything you want if you give up the belief that you can't have it.

-Dr. Robert Anthony

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Bertoia Barstools

I need a kitchen that these barstools would look good in.

This room:
The windows, the high ceiling, the light fixtures, the light ....
....mmmm.

scanned via early spring renovation style mag

Marney Bean's Garden

I wouldn't mind walking outside my house to see this.
See more images here

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If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.

-Thomas Edison

I'd like to be astounded.

Happy Valentine's Day

T's valentine.

I'd love this on my wall

Canvas by William Ivey

One more veggie garden

I want to plop a chair in the middle of this garden and spend the day surrounded by all of it's deliciousness. I really have spring fever.

1

"The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn."

~unknown

"The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently."

~Freidrich Neitzsche

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I always wanted a four poster bed...

Designed by Julio Quinones.

r

Act as if what you do makes a difference.
It does.

-William James

r

A little window tip for later

Take windows to the ceiling to be able to soak up every ounce of available light.

Kale in Pots

More ways to sneak in extra greens.

via old bhg

Edible Gardening

A friend's recent announcement of a move to sunny CA has me ready to stow away in her moving van so that I can enjoy the lovely weather and the joys of year-round fresh produce grown at home or from the many local farmer's markets.

Since I would miss my kiddos too much and they probably won't have room for me in their soon to be teenier California home I'll just have to start thinking about what I am going to plant this year in my ever-growing gardening experiment. Incorporating edibles into a more traditional landscape is a beautiful and practical way of increasing access to fresh produce, especially leafy greens that I can never get enough. Little A could live off of strawberries so I'll have to make a point of supplementing our tiny patch throughout the yard if the creatures don't eat them first.

Looking at these images has me wondering if anything could be more delicious and appealing than eating produce within minutes of picking it. I am enjoying fond memories of A insisting that there were more ripe strawberries somewhere and of the four of us sitting under our pear tree, contentedly eating just-picked pears. (My kids swore they hated pears until they had them like this, and now they are addicted.)

images via Garden Design July '08

Thick counter/table tops make me happy.

via old met home

Preserving Children's Art

I can't wait till we have enough artistic "favorites" from each child to create one of these art collages for each of them. It is the most genius solution to the never-ending struggle over what to do with all of the kid's masterpieces.

via tutus & turtles

via Le Love

Now the internet works, but nothing else does. Sigh.

I carefully measured and placed cork tiles on my wall precisely 1/4 in. apart only to have the adhesive provided not be adequate and every single tile fell off in the night. Now I am going to have to carefully replace them while hammering.

I just felt like having a 30-second pity party over stupid things before I got back to the reality of the life that I truly love and enjoy.

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1 1/2 weeks without internet is surprisingly liberating. I even cleaned out and organized my kitchen cupboards...

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Hotel FOX

You never know what you'll find when clearing out old bookmarks...

61 rooms, 21 artist, 1,000 ideas. It would be hard to be decisive when making a reservation. See more rooms here.

Finding Light

Photography is simply finding light, it is no more complicated than that.

Carl E Nunn

a

Isn't it a wonderful day to be an American?

a

Yes, please

I have concluded that for me the most important feature of a home is good light. Good design is probably a close second. This kitchen appears to have both. Maybe one more set of windows on the left exterior wall to achieve absolute perfection?

This could be my favorite kitchen ever.

via Jan. '09 Met Home via here

Orbit Chandelier - Patrick Townsend

This makes me think creative thoughts.

Eames Elephant

If Baby Girl inherits the guest room furniture I might need to splurge on an Eames Elephant to add a little fun and whimsy to her room. She is an animal lover after all!

Fabric Scrap Memory Game

I don't have fabric scraps, but this has inspired me to put together our own version of a memory game in the near future. We spend so much time playing it, we might as well add a new dimension of fun to the game...

via t&t

More Evie

I have grown rather fond of this little angel.

I've never been a big fan of pictures like this, but seeing a baby fit on my shelves was kind of funny.

Deck

I like that the deck has its own little nooks and walkways that provide some separation.

scanned via Nov/Dec 08 Garden Design Mag

Sleeper Ottoman

It looks like the infrequently used guest room might become T's quiet in-home office (which means I get to take back the main floor office!) so I am back to casually looking at hidden and visually appealing sleeping situations for guests that can be used by us the 345 days of the year no one is visiting.

It looks like 'A' will be inheriting the guest room furniture when she finally moves out of her crib since it would just wind up in a corner in the basement. I love the set, and it will be fun and interesting trying to make it a bit younger and girlier for her.

Evie

Light

No, I wouldn't want this wall of windows if it faced my neighbor's house, but with this lovely view I would take it in a heartbeat.

via Roche Bobois

Luck is when hard work meets opportunity.

-Chinese Fortune Cookie

ZeZe Flowers

Zeze Flowers

This is the most stunning floral arrangement I have ever seen.

scanned via recent garden design issue