summer stripes

these images really evoke relaxation and encourage my eyelids to gently close (maybe i am just exhausted from the daily grind and spin cycle).  i hope this finds you all well into your long weekend plans and some time to reflect and enjoy yourself.

images found here

everyone has an opinion...

....and everyone has shared theirs on this particular wall.  i know someone very well that loved the old way (with the filled in window, not matching to original stain) and felt it added quite a charm, indeed it did, but i had other plans.  lets just say it was probably a fair balance between who said to leave it and who said..stain it to match.  i just had to make an executive decision :) and proceed with the staining.

i included some photos for a historical reference.  the condition of this wall when we moved in was a wallpapered (a textured grass wallpaper) sheet rock wall.  well, one of the first things i did after we ripped out the dropped ceiling was see what was behind all of the sheet rock.  well, we were thrilled when we found the original redwood plank wall that was from the late 1800's and the more we tore down the  sheet rock the more we were mesmerized by this incredible wall... and then we found the hole in the wall that was originally a window. 

well, i finally got tired of the unfinished wall, as well as the ceiling (which we also loved so much..had a great rustic feel).  the ceiling had equally beautiful aspects as the wall, but it has 3 different types of wood, with 3 different stains and three different widths.. and there just wasn't a workable way to address this without more demo and expense...plus i wanted to paint it as we desperately needed some light paint to reflect the natural light (gets dark in the winter).

so here are the results, that only took 2 weekends to complete.   its the little things that bring joy and this one small task feels like we made a huge impact on the project....that feeling will surely last a month, and then reality sets in. 

nothing new

the city dining room with a great instamatic filter.  i tell ya, this instamatic feature has really tricked me into thinking i can take a decent photo.

anywho, nothing in this photo was purchased new...every thing is old and been around the block a few times.

hope this sunday evening finds you in a restful and peaceful moment.  just got back from the very rustic cabin....windows open with the faint hum of the city background noise, feels like home.

smalls

i don't know about all of  you, but i have a closet full of art that needs to be framed.  we all know how much good framing cost, so i usually put everything away and forget about it...until i try to find something in that closet and everything comes flying out...and the rest of the story is probably pretty clear.

well, i found this great little vintage frame for $4.00 at goodwill and i had this perfect little piece of art i bought at a craft show from justin kerr (the best value of any art i have purchased) and it fit perfectly in this frame.  the bzzzz bug is beyond charming so, i did some operating and nipped and tucked and voila...magic.

isn't that original photo priceless too...almost backed out and kept it as is.

weather dictates

we have been so lucky with 70's and 80's the last month and that has forced me to the outdoor projects (twist my arm..i would rather be outside with the birds any day).  anyway, i have had a major bee in my bonnet to get the front of the house fully painted, so we can live with it a bit to determine if we are ready to tackle the whole place in this color.

it has been so therapeutic as the progress at hillside seems to have taken the back burner in life.  the kitchen and bathroom are still waiting for their day, there are so many unpainted walls, the floors still need to be stained...and on and on.  this exterior paint job has allowed for a little hope.... and to me, the change is dramatic and just enough to feel a bit accomplished and not totally lazy.

all done by a brush...no sprayers on this property (although it might not be the most efficient way), no rollers...just elbow grease and a very sore neck.

i also included a photo of our country retaining wall.  part of the hill has been sliding...ever so slowly and our local friend and landscaper Jermillo has been working on this for us.  all rocks and logs from our property and his approach is old school and just my style.

i promise to get back on the wagon of blogging soon.  i am hoping the moment of crazytown is passing.

this ones for you donna

a friend is working on his kitchen and wants to paint the cabinets and we have been discussing colors. we finally landed on something very earthy and mushroom like...with some grey hues...but muted.

story boards are so easy, so fun and approachable for all of us. gets those creative juices flowing. just grab some favorite images within your color scheme, slap them on the board and then layer some color chips. it brings it all alive and makes it feel official for some reason.

of course, when i was putting this little story board together for him i thought of my friend Donna at a perfect gray.

hoping to get her stamp of approval. i just realized i am missing a few of your recommended colors donna...i'm on it.

color story

a phrase i hear almost every day....what color story or pallet will this accessory marry back too... is neon still trending for the 2013 spring collection..and so on.

well, when it comes to our own color stories..it can get complicated. i wanted to show you our first stab at exterior color for hillside...actually our second (the first was a deep grey..charcoal...dark and beautiful, but not right for this little cabin).

i wanted dark and rich on the outside (to mimic a deep, seaside shingle) and found this Encino Willow from Benjamin Moore. For me it was love at first swatch card. there is this wall of color cards and i immediately went to this color and have been sitting on it for 5 months....waiting for just the right moment.

well, it was in the 70's this weekend in Sonoma, the birds were chirping, the wind chimes gently singing and it was time to paint a bigger section.

what do you think? the trim will change to a creamier white or a charcoal grey..jury is still out on that too. it is only monday and i'm itching to get started again.

keep it simple

heading out to hillside for a 3 day weekend with lots of "to do's" in store. i get way ahead of myself and have a project list that is beginning to way me down. i just have to remember to take it one at a time and find joy in each little accomplishment, besides....its about the journey..right?

this great home that is also in NorCal really brought me back to reality. keep it simple, nothing fancy, nothing complicated...just enjoy the space and the simplicity. it really feels like a home to me...

have a wonderful weekend..i hope to have some progress reports to share with you next week.

images found here

Sprung

spring has been here for the last 2 months...and we missed winter all together...until last week that is. winter sprung up in the beginning of spring.

well, the rains came and do did the blissful music of the creek that runs through the backyard. when we got there Friday night it was raining and it sounded like a freight train was driving through our back yard...i was so excited i immediately went out back and the stream had become a raging river...brown water and all.

well, by 8am and blue skies it had calmed a bit, but all the windows remained cracked so we could hear the falls...all i wanted to do was lay down and take a nap...a dream state.

a little instagram filter

over crowding

i am as slow as molasses when it comes to furnishing rooms. i have learned to be patient and wait for that "just right" item..and of course it has to be at the "just right" price....... and these days it is not as easy as the days of past, or maybe my expectations have changed :).

finally found a dresser small enough for the "cozy" guest room and boy oh boy is it just right..in every way.

this little room is finally finished...well, maybe not totally finished, but at least there is a new place to store "stuff". the funny thing is, i am so used to no clutter that it is starting to feel crowded.

happy sunday.

pinned

i have been abducted via the "world wide web"...hee, hee (thanks for that one dad). i am officially in a program, self prescribed, to curb my new addiction to pinterest. can anyone identify with me?

well, i have givin myself 15 minutes per day to browse and gather images and i am having way too much fun. it is funny though, work has been a real beast of late, and at times i just collapse when i get home and the only thing i can rally to do is go to pinterest :). we are a no tv family (bmo must focus on his responsibilities) so browsing can be just as addictive as plunking down in front of the old boob tube.

well, here are a few of my collected images from pinning. piles that is, just like the ones i will focus on this weekend while we take a retreat to the city....hee.

images found here

space trade

so, i am contemplating a big interior shift in the city apt. we currently live in a 900 square foot edwardian/victorian combo apartment in the mission district of sf. it is technically a one bedroom, but by sf standards it is considered a 2 bedroom as they call the front living room a bedroom. maybe because it has a non working fireplace and they can get a bit more money out of the space. (good thing our landlord was calling it a 1 bed in 2006 as we got in at the one bedroom going rate...which by any other standard could afford you and estate in sun valley, idaho).

anyway, i am thinking about turning our living room into a den/office. we would still keep a sofa in the room for those frequent guests, but would also trade out some of the current furniture for a big farm table that could be used as the desk/working space. god only knows i own my share of farm tables and could open a nice diner with enough seating for 40.

this would get all the computers out of the bedroom for good. i have a habit of lounging on the bed with my laptop rested right on my lap (bmo at my side) and we can literally sit for a few hours just browsing stuff. good once in a blue moon, but several times a week can create guilt.

i am one of those people who believes the bedroom is really a place of respite and discovery. all distractions out of sight and a place to lay my head down and day dream away...with no phone or computer in sight. BUT, i have lost my way and succumb to technology attack. ha, ha...

so, after finding these photo's i am officially considering the change.

all photo's found here