Documenting my (somewhat) Relaxing Vacation...

So I have the week "off" between Christmas and New Years. And after running back and forth to the mall and other stores shopping and returning ill-chosen gifts, I spent the day on the sofa today in my PJs. And it was bliss :-) Realizing that it is extremely rare to have the time to relax and recharge I should completely take advantage. Still, staying in your PJs until almost 5pm feels a bit guilty.

And what of all the painting I planned to do? I baked cookies yesterday instead. Only a slightly creative endeavor in my book because it doesn't involve colorful mess - just some flour. I did experiment a bit by adding more brown sugar and vanilla to the standard toll house cookie recipe and it came out MUCH better than the last time. (2tsp of vanilla instead of 1 and about 1 full cup of brown sugar instead of 3/4 cup).

I took some time to recall all the things I used to do when I was younger - which brought a smile to my face. I also took out my sketchbook and tracing paper for about an hour. But put it aside when Ethan brought me my camera and asked for a photo op. (The one you see above...)

If you are lucky enough to have some time off this week - please enjoy. Oh... and don't feel too guilty if you don't get to everything you planned to do on your list.

Peace, Love, & Joy,

Lise

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Style Points: Year Round Decor

While I love the Summer, I do look forward to the cooler months. When thoughts of summer entertaining, cool drinks, and pleasant conversation give way to baking, crafting, and for me, decorating. I can curl up with my design catalogs and imagine a new way of styling all of my rooms.

If I had to guess, I'd say about 1/3 of everyone I know has at least two "looks" for their home. By look, I mean a style that changes at certain times of the year - usually one for the warmer months, and one for the cooler months. These changes may be subtle enough; like hanging a Fall wreath at the front door. Or it may mean a complete overhaul by changing all the draperies in your public and private spaces, and adding pillows, slipcovers and tablecloths in darker shades.

But what if you don't want to change the look of your home? Well here are some suggestions.

• Choose timeless patterns. Ask yourself if you'd want to see this in your home for the next several years, and if you think it will be out of style. If you're unsure, get a second opinion;
  
• Buy the best fabrics - Not all fabrics are constructed with the same level of quality. Some fabrics will drape, launder and feel better than others. If you're making an investment to live with this year round (and year after year), choose better quality - you won't regret it;
  
• Use a sophisticated palette of colors - combine darker shades and lighter ones together. Stay away from colors associated with the holidays. They may seem out of place in the summer; and unless you live in a tropical or beach setting, avoid using all light colors without any texture to add balance and visual interest.
  
• Layer. An obvious example I can give you is for layering the windows - if for example you choose a grass shade or blind, a sheer, and a heavier curtain you've just given yourself a lot more options for changing the look in the future. If there ever comes a time when you tire of the look you've chosen you'll be happy you purchased products to layer over another.
  
• Expect to spend a little on the trend. To keep your look fresh, think about using inexpensive fabrics for pillows or using trendy trims. When you tire of them you can recover or use them in a recreation room.

I've chosen two looks I love. Both of these are from Smith & Noble. An excellent resource for windows & fabrics.

First is the Classique selection. A neutral palette like this is great for year round. These fabrics have a great balance of both darker and lighter tones, it will appeal to both men and women. Plus, the patterns are timeless.

The second look is Canali. This is decidedly less serious because it's got brown detailing instead of black, and slightly more whimsical patterns; but wonderful nonetheless. Although the Filiale fabric in this line leans more towards the trendy side, it is not as trendy as the Deco Daisy in the Loft Living line.

Grab your design books now and enjoy the rest of your summer days!

Lise

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Style Points: Living Artistically Outdoors

I didn't realize how much I was longing for this beautiful Spring weather. I have spent nearly every weekend outside thinking about ways to encourage artful living in the garden.

When it's raining and I'm kept inside, I pour through magazines and online resources for products. During my shopping trips I've noticed that big-box retailers have started to offer more products designed for outdoor living. Whether it's kitchens, (complete with dishwashers and ice makers) or huge stainless steel grills - there are a lot of products to choose from. However, when I'm outside, I just want to relax and get away. Beyond a grill, I don't want to move my kitchen outdoors. I'm really just particularly fond of the natural settings, with a few special artistic touches to draw the eye further into the garden.

I have seen a couple of ideas for creating paintings using exterior latex paints that will withstand the elements, but I'm really talking about the kind of art that is displayed between the green leaves of my garden. This weekend, if the kids are planning mother's day gifts... What I'd really like are painted rocks for the garden! (Hopefully something with a scary face to keep the deer from eating my Hostas!!)

If I don't get what I'm hoping for Mother's day, I'll be shopping online next weekend. I discovered a nice selection of garden art. Here's a link for you to visit Garden Art & Accessories online. They have uniquely hand sculpted wall hangings, lanterns & garden lighting, stepping stones, masks/faces, bird feeders/baths & houses, whirlygigs, planters & hanging baskets, garden stakes, compasses, garden sculptures and many other accessories for home/ garden/ patio.

Enjoy being creative outdoors!

Lise

Garden Spaces

So in my last post about garden designs for kids. I talked about the plans for the children's garden.

Here's what we've done so far...

- We were pretty eager about getting started, so everyone joined in and planted seeds indoors for the outside garden
- We've got squash growing pretty rapidly, along with lots of tomato plants and a few peppers. My son is quite proud.
- We've also taken a few photos and we're pretty excited that it will be in the 80's nearly every day this week. Lots of sun, lots o' flowers hopefully.




Here's the gems I have on working with children:

- Give them a say so about what goes in the garden;
- Limit the time outside so it's not overwhelming;
- Get good sunscreen!
- Let go of all the rules for what's right and let them explore. Mistakes are ok, even if it means they've stepped on a few plants along the way;
- Every garden trip is a learning experience in some small way;
- Watering the garden is a good task for children, especially 5-year olds that have boundaries (mom has control of the water source!);
- While you're being patient and watching the garden grow, be creative in other areas of your home;
- Love being around your family.

Creatively yours,

Lise
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Garden Design for Kids

I often use my home as one big canvas for experimenting. (Thank goodness my family is used to me and my creative ideas.) As the weather warms up here in North Carolina, I'm ready to dig into my next big project which involves creating a garden room for my kids.

I've already started on sketches of the outdoor space, and the functional aspects - for what a one and five year old might like to use. This is usually the first step in my design process - just getting the ideas out on paper and figuring out what really works. This way I also have something to show my son, and see if it meets with his approval. So far, he's my toughest client, but he's coming around.

Last weekend, we agreed on creating a small garden and play area within view of my kitchen windows and back deck. Since it is really hot here in the summer months, it is important for me to create shady areas. Right now, there are no trees in the area to offer this shade, so with my husband's assistance, I'll create a tee-pee like structure out of bamboo or willow to support the growth of large vines. We have also decided on a sunflower room with giant sunflowers.
I think both of these areas will offer some shady spots.

The kids garden will also have these key elements in the overall design:

- Garden Art (of course)
- A shallow water feature
- Edible plants to learn about gardening
- Sand for play
- Some sort of hand-built fencing material around the garden
- Transitional spaces for next year

I've also decided that this is a multi-year project. The kids aren't old enough yet for the tree house I've designed. But maybe in a few more years...

To get them in on the idea, we started with a book A Child's Garden: Introducing Your Child to the Joys of the Garden


After a few evening stories, we decided on some plants. We are currently considering:

- Lamb's ear
- Tomato plants
- Giant Sunflowers
- Pumpkins
- Carrots
- Small potatoes

Right now my yard is completely blank so I'm hoping that this project will take root pretty quickly.

I'll keep you all posted :-)

Creatively yours,

Lise