Photographer Virginia MacDonald

Have an awesome week and don't sterss so much for Easter preparations. There's no point in stressing over something and loose the fun! Holidays are just around the corner! Now...Some beautiful, beautiful images for starters this week from astonishing photographer Virginia MacDonald! The images speak for themselves. Enjoy! And if you crave for more, her amazing site awaits for you!

IMAGES FROM VIRGINIA MACDONALD

Feelin' happy!

Today, I started a banner for the upcoming party (Easter Sunday). You can see it in the first picture. I had this remnant fabric that I ordered from Volksfaden a while ago. Actually the piece was quite small because I got it in clearance. It was an out-of-the-blue purchase. I just liked the colors and pattern, so I had the faintest idea what to do with it. I'm so happy that I found a nice way to use it and enjoy it! Oh my! What a sweet bunny... A little proud doll from Lou Lou & Oscar. She found me while I was poking around at the online world! Just adorable, but Lou Lou Oscar has more goodies like her wall hanging hand embroideries. Lovely!

IMAGES FINELYINC, LOU LOU & OSCAR

 

Hello Easter!

Easter is ten days away (at least in this part of the world) and we are running crazy with preparations! We've decided this year to celebrate Easter Sunday with family. That said, it means several chores need to have been done before this day comes. Since the closest family bears twenty more or less people, housing plus dinner arrangements are utterly important. We are lucky to have enough space to accommodate such number of folks but tableware was difficult to accumulate. So, we 've decided to go disposable! 
To tell you the truth it was quite hard to find supplies that meet all our requirements and look nice! I had to check all the local stores (in Greece) since internet wasn't an option and make sure I'll stay within budget limits. Above you see my (almost) final choices. I might use a napkin variaton and some extra easter decoration but the rest stays. Plates were such a pain... Either ugly plastc whites or some pretty ones made of paper, but paper is not suitable because it easily bends and accidents might occur when food is loaded on them (people always tend to overload their plates when food is served over a buffet). Well, I looked around twice before I settled on those clear ones. They are fair and they are square, and a tad expensive but I love them! They come in packs of six for 5,19 euros per pack. 
Same thing happened with the glasses. I decided to get crystal clear ones that don't squeeze when you hold! Again the prize was above regular for 6,70 euros a pack, but it has fifty and with two packs I'm covered for any liquid; beer, soda, water, you name it! Smaller ones I got for wine and that's about it.
Now, my color palette was picked up from one thing! I knew from the beginning that I'll have the wild daisies which grow in abundance around the house as my flower selection. They are cheerful, sunny and come free of charge! Plain jars dressed in yellow wrap paper with a ribbon will serve as vases and I 'll make easter eggs in matching colors to have on the tables and pump up the whole decor. 
What I really fancy is the white lace placemats. They are quite cheap paper repros though they give a dash of luxury in any table setting. Navy paper (again) tablecloths were a natural choice. Last but not least, my miniature pegs. I 've got them probably last year ( I tend to buy stuff that is cute but I don't need) and now they come pretty handy to serve as napkin rings.
That's about it with my festive preparations. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

A house in Hollywood Hills

My mind is set on this house. The color palette, warm and undertoned as it is, brings a certain quality on the surroundings of this abode. I especially like the hue in the living room walls. It looks like a shade of taupe which differs quite a lot from all the grey we see around and it manages to compliment finely the brown and blue elements (all favorite of mine) of furniture and accessories! Definetely, the fuschia accent in flowers and round pillow is scoring high points in this arrangement, promising jaunty moods for its inhabitants! The whole project is realised From the Desk of Lola, an upbeat interior firm which has teams both in New York and Los Angeles.

ALL IMAGES FROM THE DESK OF LOLA

Mmm, I like!

My eyes rattle and hum when I look at sites like the one of photographer Justin Bernhaut. Some images might look familiar because he has worked quite a few times for Domino. Actually, he has worked for all the big ones like Real Simple, Country Living, etc! What is showcased here it's only a small portion of the fine imaginery this one man has generated. Beautiful visual compositions and some interesting places to visit! Take a look!  

ALL IMAGES FROM JUSTIN BERNHAUT

Pretty eclectic!

It's friday and I believe we all need to make way in our weekend with lifted moods! So, I have some feast for the eyes! Ok, shall we go over to England to meet a successuful gal who dominates the eclectic spirit; Lisa Stickley, after undertaking several collaborations with major brit names like Paul Smith and Burberry,  she ventured her own brand and now offers a vast collection of mellow pieces for our homes. From mugs, to bespoke furniture pieces her signature english style is apparent and uplifting! Take a tour in her online world and if you happen to be in London, maybe you could visit her brick and mortar shop.

ALL IMAGES LISA STICKLEY

My compliments go to...

Priya at Once Upon A Tea Time...Design Stories on her lovely feature! It was an honor for me to include my home on her series of homes from around the globe!
Priya has an absolutely sweet way of putting her stories together and inspire us!

Take me home (ware)!

Dainty and charming ceramics and accessories from take me homeware, each one created and decorated by hand from May Luk in her studio in Brooklyn. May Lyk, a dedicated artist with a flair in design and a background in illustration,  produces one-of-a-kind homeware embellished with nonchalant images. I love her style and I admire her work; it's unique and cheerful and it has an affection that shows! If you want to get your hands on May Luk's ceramics or other items, hop on her etsy store, it's full of eye candy.

ALL IMAGES FROM TAKE ME HOMEWARE

Archetypal luxury

The collaboration of Ana Meier (daughter of the renowned architect Richard Meier) and Charlie Ferrer led to an amazing furniture collection under the name of Meier/Ferrer. Creating, at first, custom pieces for private clients, they took their idea a step further into establishing a company that delivers contemporary aesthetics in the form of sleek and modern pieces for the home. Their design is beyond words, just magnificent! They use only the finest of raw materials like linen, steel, hardwoods and leather, full of character and sustainability. Their interprentation of archetypal lines into modern luxury is unparalleled. Their work definetely depicts timeless style!

ALL IMAGES FROM MEIER/FERRER

Sophie Blackall's Illustration

This is only a small sample of Sophie's whimsical illustration. Still, it's enough to show her sensibility and her artistic gerne. Sophie has illustrated more than fifteen books for children and her work has been exhibited in many places around our small world. I just love her fine strokes and subtle coloring! Those images above are a selection from her etsy shop and all belong to "Missed Connections",  an ongoing series of paintings based on real, anonymous messages posted online by lovelorn strangers. Find out more about Sophie at her site www.sophieblackall.com .

ALL IMAGES FROM SOPHIE BLACKALL

Today we visit the online portfolio of photographer Maria Reme to pick up some great inspiration. I believe photographers' sites are great resources when we feel that we are in need of some boost to get our creativity going! Fortunately, Maria  has a lot of eye candy for us  in her site. I chose to show beautiful visuals from her interiors section! Maria has worked for major titles like Elle interiør and Bo Bedre. Also many stylists like Louise Andersson and Marte Hasselø or Susanna Hellström have worked with her. Take a big breath and dive in a sea of delicious images!

ALL IMAGES FROM MARIA REME

A style of its own!

Today we carry on with our house calls by visiting a bright home in Sweden that belongs to gallery owner Axel Mörner. The house celebrates a style of its own, combining traditional and modern furniture to an aesthetically pleasant form! The heavy and dark wood pieces give an air of formality and preppiness but then fuschias and oranges take over and relax our moods. The walls stay light accustomed to the scandinavian trend, a proper backdrop for contemporary art along with family heirlooms. I hope you enjoy this apartment as much I did!

IMAGES COURTESY OF SKONA HEM