Hello Spring!
there’s something about three inches of snow when you’re prepping for the full color blossom of spring that really makes you long for flowers, warm weather, and sandals! spring is finally here in baltimore and i’ve got the photos to prove it. forsythias, hyacinths and magnolias – oh my!
hope wherever you are you’re enjoying the beauty around you…
charlotte
You Oughta Know | Timeline Wood
I’m always looking for reliable sources of quality reclaimed wood. There’s nothing like the beauty of imperfection in all things, but in wood I find it particularly endearing. I love to see a custom island or vanity in reclaimed wood – there’s something very elegant about the juxtaposition of clean lines and time-worn texture.
There happens to be an amazing local spot here in Baltimore called Second Chance where you’re very likely to find reclaimed wood in house. A veritable mecca of reclaimed building materials, it’s absolute heaven. For some projects, however, you have a certain aesthetic in mind, and perhaps the offering just isn’t hitting the right note. Enter Timeline Wood. I stopped dead in my tracks when I came across this new company. While they use fresh wood products, their color formulas immaculately duplicate the nuances and hues of reclaimed wood. They offer an amazing selection of indoor and outdoor wood products, suitable for flooring, construction or furniture.
Reasons why Timeline is amazing:
1. Beautiful finish selections
2. Low VOC’s
3. Contribute to LEED Points
4. Great sampling system
5. Made in the USA (Los Angeles)
Here’s a selection of their beautiful line. To find out more visit Timeline Woods.
And now you know.
Watercolor: A Stroke of Genius
In college I had a design professor who often told us of elaborate watercolor painting he’d create by a river of a French countryside. Each stroke soft yet thoughtful, painting impressions of the landscape with beautiful abandon. At the end of each session, once the painting was complete, he’d gently slide it into the river and watched as the flowing waters reclaimed the liquid strokes as one of their own, the hours, even days of work dissipating into nothingness as it floated away. For him it was an exercise in letting go and not being afraid to start all over again.
I think of that story now as I contemplate my own love of watercolor. At once a romantic wisp of color and a graphic show of mixing and bleeding colors, watercolors are my favorite of mediums. By their very nature they are untamed and organic, yielding “happy accidents” all about the canvas. I love their range of semi-opaque to opaque hues with colors over lapping in layers that create new colors. Their applications are endless; a fabric, a painting, a kite, a postcard, a rug, a brooch, a pillow, a wallpaper, a tea towel and so the list goes on…
They are a beautiful marriage of manmade and natural.
To say I have an artistic crush on this liquid chroma is something of an understatement. Please enjoy some watercolor lovelies I’ve assembled…
A Study in Rustic Elegance
Perhaps it’s the turn of summer, the BBQ’s and the campgrounds. The lakes, the fires, the lounging outdoors under a ceiling of bright, sparkly stars that has me in the mood to appreciate the beauty of nature. Here in Baltimore the summer has made itself well known with temps in the high 90′s as of late. I dream of retreating to a lake house or being dappled by the shade of an overhanging oak. Until then, here’s a serving of imagery that touches on the casual ease of designs that are inspired by the lovelies of nature.
Cast your cares to the wind and enjoy…
The Elephant in the Room | Designing Around Awkward Spaces
I’m in the process of designing a House Call for The Washington Post and have run into a challenge I most openly welcome. You see, the home in question is a 1930′s Sears Kit Home located in Silver Spring Maryland. It is an itty bitty cottage that’s as cute as a button. The floor plan of the living room, true to it’s 1930′s roots, is a layout you’d typically see for the period. The front door opens into the center of the living room, effectively dividing the space in two. And while I’m all for charm (perhaps why I love being an Interior Designer in Baltimore / Charm City) the layout presents some challenges with regard to furniture placement and circulation. Stay tuned for the final design…
Just for kicks, here are some other non-square or other wise architecturally unique interiors that pose their own design dilemmas. With skill and thoughtful planning, what could have been an eyesore is now a wonderful complement to the overall design.
