A Northern Girl in a Southern World

Coming soon...

2010-03-23T08:15:00.000-05:00

I took the plunge last night and bought 7 yards of yellow fabric to make curtains with. I did the first panel up last night and it looks fantastic! Pictures soon...

My Future Fridge

2010-01-26T16:15:00.003-06:00

It's amazing how unique and beautiful furniture undermines years of studying my native language and boils down to this:

I can have?

via The Steampunk Home

Etsy Wish List 1-25-10

2010-01-25T10:48:00.032-06:00

Etsy time! The first two items are from Paloma's Nest, and I think they would be lovely as thank you gifts, party favors, or home decorations. The plates from FoldedPigs cater (pun intended) to my quirky nerd side, and the recycled canvas (WWII era military duffel) with lace from Forestbound is rugged and delicate all at once.

You Dropped Food on the Floor. Do You Eat It?

2010-01-20T14:05:00.004-06:00

Are you a Megalosaurus?
Why yes. Yes, I am.

Flowchart

via swiss miss.

Guest Rooms

2010-01-20T11:57:00.000-06:00

One thing I look forward to when we move into a house is the ability to offer guests more than a couch, but a refuge, a comforting and calm place where they can retreat from their daily worries and wear and rest. I feel that the guest room goes a long way in creating that atmosphere.

Found on desire to inspire

The four rooms above are designed by Fernau & Hartman Architects and I am in love with all of them. If I had to pick only one for my future house, it would certainly be the rolling bed. I have so many happy memories of sleeping outside (sans comfy bed), and I know several friends who would probably visit me more often, if only to sleep in this room. I hope some day to have a home large enough (and have reason enough) to have a bunk room that will sleep several people.

Found on Discover: Interior Design

I also like these two small beds. I've seen them on several blogs, in all colors. I don't know how well an average sized adult would sleep in them, but they would be great for kids.

Found on Belgian Pearls

A guest room isn't all about the bed, though. It's about giving your guest a home away from home. Yes, while they are in your home they are there to visit you, but they are not going to want to spend all their time with you. I don't want to spend every possible minute with my guests! Everyone needs a chance to be alone, to have a space that is theirs, even if it is only temporary. If you have the money and the room, an in-room bathroom or sitting area can be beautiful. But if you're crunched on space, a small bookcase with a variety of books, a simple sound system, or a small table and chair can make the room homey, inviting them to use the room for more than sleeping.

Gray Inspiration

2010-01-19T10:16:00.000-06:00

My husband has awakened in me a love of gray.

Found on desire to inspire

I love this image, but I couldn't imagine living here. I'd be looking for vampires around every corner! Very sophisticated vampires, that is.

Found on the window shopper

This is proof that gray walls aren't by nature depressing.

Found on desire to inspire

I love the composition of this image, but I can't help but wonder why there is a giant room divider in front of the window. It is beautiful, and there is plenty of natural light, but I can't help but wonder what is on the other side...

Found on desire to inspire

If I ever had reason to decorate a men's bathroom, this would be the design scheme I would choose.

Found on La Maison Boheme

This is my favorite selection. I love that there are at least three shades of gray used, and they compliment each other so well. But the room doesn't feel cold or depressing with the natural light causing the couch to glow. I can't decide if it is tan that looks gold in the light, or an actual gold cover. It's gorgeous, and I never would have thought of the combination on my own. It wouldn't be complete without the green throw. I love green, but I try not to use too much of it because it makes my husband look yellow!

Outdoor Rooms

2010-01-18T10:53:00.006-06:00

When we move into a house, we need an outdoor room. I love spending time outside when the weather is nice. My family had a built in bench on our back deck with a giant wood spool (previously used by an electric company) as a table, as well as a picnic bench. We don't use air conditioners much up north, so we grilled outside on hot summer days to keep the house as cool as possible. There are many things I dislike about living in a small apartment in the city, and the ability to practically live on my deck is one of them.

Francesco Bittechesu

I love, but perhaps too bohemian for my husband.

Cleverly Conceived

We love fireplaces.

Found on Things That Inspire

This looks like it could easily be closed off during the winter, but probably won't fit into our budget any time soon.

Found on 79 ideas

This looks like it would be easy to recreate, even if we are renting a house.

Esty Wish List

2010-01-16T14:38:00.001-06:00

My Etsy desires turned toward water organisms today.

Shou-sugi-ban

2009-12-17T18:00:00.005-06:00

I came across this post on Pursuing Wabi (via Home Design Find) about a wood finishing technique I had never heard of before, shou-sugi-ban, or burnt sugi. From PW: "The finish is based on the discovery by the ancient Japanese that it is harder for something already charcoaled to catch fire again." And apparently, it's water and rot resistant as well.

I immediately started geeking out (and my inner pyromaniac emerged). I would love to see this in real life. All the descriptions I found describing burnt sugi say that it's shade changes depending on the angle you're looking at it. You just can't capture that in a picture. I had to share this discovery with someone, and knew that my husband would just look at me like I'm from another planet (which he did) so I shared the article with my friend Rob, who was appropriately enthused. (Thanks, Rob!) Rob is also my go-to guy for whenever I actually get a chance to test this out. The technique is very simple (burn wood, brush dust, oil), but just to make sure, I found an issue of Popular Mechanics on Google Books that has a slightly more detailed instruction article.

Now, I know I don't have a house, or even a shed, to practice this on, but I can just image this used to build a beautiful picture frame. I'm not sure how well it would work for shelving, with the charcoal and the oiling, but it's something to think about.

DIY Inspired by Land Rich

2009-12-17T01:25:00.003-06:00

I love the current edition of ornaments from Land Rich:

It's a little late in the season to start drying herbs, but when I saw clear ornament bulbs at Michael's $2.49 for 6, I had to pick up a dozen. I also picked up two bunches of fake flowers (for $2.99 each) in leiu of real herbs, at least until next year!

(Pardon the pathetic pictures. We can't find the real camera, so I'm stuck using my iPhone.) I used three basic pieces and combined them in different combinations in the bulbs.

End result:

Total cost of project: $11.59 (with tax) for a dozen ornaments. (The Land Rich ones cost $10 for a small bulb!) I'll try to put up better pictures later.