i am just loving the simple, clean look of my new blog design (thanks babe!).  it looks much more grown up, don’t you think? : )  well, i have essays to write and floorplans to draft…so i’ll be off.  but i’ll post again as soon as i can! xoxo!!

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

-Leonardo DaVinci

i’ve been on the lookout for old timey book fair (or really any book related) posters.  i wanted one to frame and hang near the bookshelves in the living room (which i know, i still need to post pics).  but i had yet to find anything until today!  i was reading emily’s blog when i saw this print!  but she was sold out.: ( luckily, mere minutes after i begged her to post another print to her shop, she e-mailed me to tell me that two more were for sale!  hooray!  i just ordered it & can’t wait to receive it!!

so, i have been waiting for the weather to clear up so that i could take some pics of our “finished” balcony.  here’s what it looked like before.  dusty picked out these vibrant mini petunias from mary’s greenhouse (thanks for the tip elaine!)  since they were already planted, i left them as is and just turned the planters upside down.  we purchased them about two weeks ago…and they are still alive!  aren’t you so proud of me!!  so, as you can tell, i had second thoughts about the yellow chairs.  i just wasn’t feeling them when i saw them out on the balcony.  so i returned them and got black chairs instead.  i was really loving the black and white motif i had already started and thought it would be good foundation for other color choices in the future.  and the white planter in the corner will be turned into a little table and i want to get a little water feature to place on the make-shift table.

so what do you think?

my mom recently recommended some movies/mini series that she thought i’d like.  i am a total period movie nerd.  i love those intense, tormented romances… ; ) and since i have yet to meet a bbc movie that i didn’t like, i watched several of them.  my favorites were under the greenwood tree (based on the thomas hardy novel), lark rise to candleford (based on a novel by flora thompson), and three elizabeth gaskell stories cranford, wives and daughters and, north & south.  north & south (nothing to do with the civil war) was my absolute favorite, and is one that i will have to purchase for my collection. and that richard armitage…dreamy!   actually, all of the main characters/love interests in these movies are super cute, which makes watching them all the more fun! but north & south is right up there with the bbc’s version of pride & prejudice (think colin firth…swoon).

any other lovey-dovey movies that you would recommend?

(more…)

here are some of the color board i completed for my color theory class last semester.  as you can tell from this, the layout of my color boards  has vastly improved…(haha!)

1st board - triad color scheme

2nd color board - achromatic color scheme

3rd color board - master bedroom project

4th color board - shibui color scheme (east african crowned crane)

5th color board - executive office (female client)

summer semester starts in 7 days!  woo hoo!  so, as a result, i may not be posting as often as i did over my break.  however i will do my best to keep you all posted. here’s a list of the classes i took last semester as well as the ones i have scheduled for this coming semester.

winter 2009 semester: (completed, 4.0)

intro to interior design

it 120

english

religion (b of m)

color theory

principles of design

and

drafting

18 credits

summer 2009 semester:

interpersonal communications

professional business writing

perspective drawing

space planning (a combination of color theory & drafting)

studio I (we will build models in this class.)

introduction to autoCAD

nutrition and health

and

critical thinking & reasoning

22 credits

so we will have to wait and see how my brain takes to all that work…i really hope i can do it!  if not, i may be dropping some of those classes from my schedule. but, with the summer semester only being two months long, i think i can make it happen! : )

michelle had a dilemma, she wondered which color she should re-paint her entryway wall.  after some discussion, we decided on yellow.  i pulled some paint swatches for her to decide from.  so i can’t really take much credit, as michelle chose the final color.  i think she did a fabulous job!  (and aren’t you all excited?  you’ll have instant gratification on this post…you get to see the before and after all at once!)

before...

and after! this color really compliments her beautiful wood floors, doesn't it?

a few weeks ago ruth ann and i went shopping, specifically for rugs and fabric.  ruth ann found a really beautiful blue and off-white shimmery fabric and we found a loose-weave yellow fabric for pillows in her living room. i can’t wait to meet with her next week and see how the pillow and the new rug look in her house! until then, here’s a preview of what the blue/white pillows look like on my couch. she also ordered a chair for the reading nook and purchased a stainless steel island for the kitchen. i can’t wait to see what they look like!

the "wrong" side of the fabric looked just as great as the "right" side. so we decided to use that to our advantage and get two looks out of one fabric!

we used a circle foam form that had a slit in the center when the fabric is tucked into, creating an interesting, no-sew round pillow. next step, find/make something to pin to the center to cover the slit.

my little brother got his first apartment!  it is just too cute for words!!  the apartments are in a u-shaped arrangement with a little courtyard area.  i kinda wanted to move in myself! : )  don’t you just love the red doors? it was fun to see his place and go shopping with him to get some furniture ideas for his new place. i’m sure he will love livin’ it up on his own. i can’t wait to see pics once he moves in and get some more furniture.

cute baby kitchen with little tiny oven

little dining room off the kitchen and across from the spacious living room

lovely wood floors and quaint architectural details throughout

lush courtyard

little lindsey saw the wallet i made for rach and wanted one for herself.  but you gotta mix it up…so i made a little clutch/wallet with interior card pockets and an exterior coin pocket.  i hope you love it and have a fabulous birthday tomorrow.  love ya linz!!

well, spring time = annual pilgrimage to zion’s national park and the desert pearl inn! man, lots of pearls in my life lately. it’s always fun peaceful get away only about 4 hours from salt lake.  with a great pool, and plenty of room amenities this place feels like a home away from home. while here we celebrated ali’s 18th birthday and mother’s day. now, brace yourself for picturefest!

the view from our room...this is a desert?

afton and me

lunch time!

happy mother's day!

happy 18th birthday ali!

the whole gang

the pearl at night

my mom and i went down to eugene to visit my brother, jordan, who is graduating from u of o this june. he will be leaving for a year to teach in germany, so i wanted to make sure i got to see him before he leaves. we hung out at his apartment and met some of his roomies. then we went to lunch at hawaiian time and then on to some light shopping. there was one place that jordan wanted to make sure to show me on 5th ave in little downtown eugene.

modern - 207 e 5th ave # 105

i love houndstooth!! this was on sale, but it was still $200... :(

this was the lovely oregon-y scene on our drive home.

new and blue - 1321 nw hoyt st

unique and classic wedding paraphernalia.

i heart candeleirs!

lux lighting - 1333 nw glisan st

sweet light fixtures and fabulous prices!

ceiling fans are usually such a bore...but not at this store! (haha)

this one is so unexpected and artistic.

this fan so fluid and beautiful

lindsey is loving this place too!

french quarter linens - 1313 nw glisan st

more fabulous chandeliers!

i love how creative they are with chalkboard paint...it was even on the display tables!

j d madison home furnishings - 1301 nw glisan st

some of the most beautiful furniture you will ever see!

hunt and gather - 1302 nw hoyt st

cielo home - 528 nw 12th ave

love the pillow

oblation papers & press - 516 nw 12th ave

back again! i love you op&p!

knit knot studio - 1238 nw glisan st

wonderful, natural fiber yarns

little urbanites - 916 nw 10th ave

trumpette all the way!

physical element - 1124 nw lovejoy st
very artistic clothing.

hello all, i’m back (and all the laundry is done)!  first up, the pics from my oregon trip.  i spent two glorious days exploring the fabulous pearl district.  it is always on the top of my list when i am in oregon.  when we finally move back to oregon….it has to be the pearl district.  i am so in love!

so my mom and i parked car and then hit the soggy pavement to visit as many shops as we could in 2 hours.

ann sacks - 402 nw 9th ave

ann sacks = tile heaven!

i especially love the moroccan inspired one

check out that amazing mirrored one...

even embossed leather tiles!

this would make one hot kitchen backsplash!!

casa bella - 223 nw 9th ave

blurry, but beautiful

in addition to furniture, they have lovely tableware and accessories

can anyone spare eight grand?

design within reach - 1200 nw everett st

giant desk lamp...where have you been all my life?

urbane zen - 205 nw 10th ave

fun blubble bath and they make their own yummy soaps!

oblation papers & press - 516 nw 12th ave

amazing stationery, papers, ribbons and all manner of paper-y awesomeness!

hive - 820 nw glisan st
really cool modern furniture and accessories!

partners in time - 425 nw 9th ave
amazing rustic and ethnic wood furnishings (i guess i was too enthralled looking at everything that i forgot to take pics)!

in good taste - 231 nw 11th ave
a fun cooking accessories shop with so many cookbooks too!