Exquisite Surfaces

Many months ago, I came across a beautiful spread in Veranda magazine and wrote about it in post "Great Design is Good for the Soul". Well, great design doesn't leave the mind quickly either. Five months later, I can rehearse the flooring in that home faster than my last meal (and that's coming from a girl who loves food).

What stayed with me about Exquisite Surfaces' hardwood, tile, stone and fireplaces were the aged European finishes (I think classic is always best on hard surfaces, leave trendy for all the other spots!). I won't even attempt to describe their remarkable products further, as the installation photos say it best. The only thing I'll say is, I wish I was her.

Great Design is Good for the Soul

It sounds crazy, but it must be true? There is certainly something beyond our love of shopping and trends that drives us to create the home of our dreams. It's an expression of individuality, how we live and what's important to us.

When I came across this modern Southern Californian home, I instantly felt relaxed and inspired - qualities that rank high on my list of "great design". This European-inspired space has used layers of neutral colours and natural materials to create a soothing home. After drooling over these photographs, I think this is the key to a Restoration Hardware-inspired look. Use texture as the primary element and pay close attention to the details; everything in a minimalist space will be important. In this space, the lack of millwork helps to showcase the gorgeous windows (LOVE them) and incredible flooring. More to come on the flooring, by the way...it's the most beautiful hardwood I've seen in a while.

Anyways, the Veranda article can be found HERE. As for living a healthy and happy life, I think a well-designed home ranks high on the list. That 'apple a day' thing is a little passe now anyways.

All photographs from Veranda Magazine.

And it was all yellow.

Love the song (like, REALLY love the song), often like the colour - but only in small doses. Recently I was flipping through a magazine and realized how versatile yellow is. I'm often scared of it because it can feel juvenile, overpowering or make me crave french fries, a quarter-pounder and a coke (please).


These photos, however, show yellow in a new light! (I'm loving the common pairing of gray and yellow lately.) I almost feel like you can't help but be happy when you're around yellow (too much?). From bright tropical yellow to pale butter cream, it really is just a little ray of sunshine!

Yes, I searched high and low for these photos, meaning Martha Stewart, Oprah, Veranda, Architectural Digest, and even ETSY.

Everything Barbara

A few weeks ago, our rendering instructor gave us our final project: design a hotel suite from the ground up (well, we did get a floor plan). I quickly decided that New York City glamour would be perfect for this space, and I've had so much fun choosing furniture, accessories and designing millwork that will make this space suitable for even the pickiest socialite. When it came to sofas and coffee tables, I kept coming back to the master of furniture design: Barbara Barry.

I've had to stop myself from creating somewhat of a Barbara Barry showroom, although I don't believe that would be a bad thing. She uses classic, simple lines to create extraordinarily elegant pieces, and her design philosophy is equally as inspiring: "Design is a dialogue; a constant interaction between living spaces, the people that inhabit them and the nature that surrounds them both". She continually references the importance of making interiors suitable to their external environment, and her latest project may be her best example yet.

When a Wyoming couple approached Barbara to design their dream home in Jackson Hole from scratch, she decided to draw on the natural colours in the landscape, like ivory, sage and blue. Veranda has published this beautiful article and slideshow, but here are a few of my favourites!

These gorgeous home photos were taken by David Meredith.