Sequel Weblog

Starry Eyed Over Laurie Owen

I discovered South African designer Laurie Owen over the weekend after reading a bit about her on Apartment Therapy.  She has dubbed her style "Romantic Organic".  Most of the pictures on her website are of resorts that she's designed, but she also does residential work.  Check it out:

Harnas Lodge in Namibia:

I

Agricultural Holdings Residence in South Africa:

Clifftop Limopopo in South Africa:

Little Kulala in Namibia:

Vumbura Lodge in Botswana:

So, I've attempted to deconstruct her work so we can all bring a little (or lot) of this "Romantic Organic" style to our homes.  Here is what I'm seeing:

-Raw tree trunks, branches, twigs, stumps, roots, rocks, and stones for furnishings and decor

-Faux natural furnishings and accents (ex. stone shaped ottomans made of wool or metal & metallic tree trunk tables)

-Drippy strands of crystal, beads, coral, bone, silver

-Earthy browns {taupes, camels, ecrus},  atmospheric blues, pure whites, and touches of black

-Fluffy plush rugs and pillows

-Metallic accessories

-Boho ombre & tie dyed linens 

-Textural concrete & mud-/plaster-like walls

-Floaty hanging chairs

-Reedy rattan and rope accents

-Organic shaped glass reminicent of water

-Natural fibers:  cotton, silk, linen, wool

-Relaxed, loose, slipcovered furnishings

-Low profile beds and seating

For more on Laurie, check out her website.

Nesting

My friend Melanie just had this precious little girl named Lily...

Melanie hinted that I do a post on nurseries and children's rooms.  So, I've scoured the web to come up with these lovely pictures to inspire...

neutral can be nice... 

but brights are really fun.... 

being part Polish, love the larger than life matryoshka nesting dolls... 

i'm suprised they were able to pull this color off...

soft pastels are comforting....

stripes are good...

like these cozy modern sleeping compartments (and the mod bedding)... 

paper lanterns will be nice for baby to look at...

glam is good too... 

room for friends is most important... 

Pictures culled from Desire To Inspire, Domino, Ohdeedoh, Dwell, Ouef, and probably a few others that I'm forgetting.

Weekend Finds

I found some beautiful wood pieces this weekend that have been lovingly restored. This table was made in Japan from American woods, but mysteriously also has a Hawaiian label on it. The lines are simple, but it has intricate inlay and a beautiful birds eye maple center square.

This delicate pattern is engraved along the outer edge of the table top...

And, I picked up this vintage modern Lane coffee table.  The contrasting wood colors and shiny metal leg caps make it gleam....

Oh la la….Priceless Interiors

Last night we watched the French movie Priceless starring Audrey Tatou, which was a fun, light-hearted flick with AMAZING styling (interiors + wardrobe).  It was filmed in luxury hotels in Nice, Cote d'Azur, Biarritz, and Monte Carlo.  The interiors were glitzy, yet sophisticated, with refreshing pops of vivid colors (red, aqua, and cobalt) on neutral backdrops, lots of patterns, and a mix of furniture styles.  I took pictures of the movie on my TV, so the quality is not so good.  I highly recommend you rent the movie if you like what you see here!

love this number.....

Trip to High Point Market

Yesterday I attended the High Point Furniture Market and I had a blast!  It was so much fun seeing the latest and greatest designs on the market.  Here were some of my favorite finds....

 

lots of antiques with an industrial feel...

 

A creepy display of old lab and medical equipment in the basement of Bobo...

  

Upstairs chic vignettes..

Over at Four Hands, beautiful lighting from around the world...

This little turquoise cabinet was speaking to me...

My favorite booth was the Natural Curiosities booth which had gorgeous prints of vintage illustrations.  They're printed on thick creamy paper, given torn edges and hand worked/stained to have a vintage feel.  Pictures do not do this booth justice...

The center of the Natural Curiosities booth was a long table of sparkling gems....

Forgot the name of this booth, but they had gorgeous vintage mirror pieces, like these lights...

And, this was part of Bungalow 5's fun display....

I'm contemplating a quick trip back to the market on Sunday.  There is so much yet to be seen!

Frank Roop

There have been some changes in my life over the past few months (new job) which have put a damper on my blogging.  However, tonight, I have been too inspired by the work of Frank Roop to not blog about him.  You could say that Frank Roop has broken my blogging drought.  Let it rain Roop (I really love his last name too...so much fun to say!)...

Le Corbusier Cloud Nine

Wow - I've never before seen a Le Corbusier chair that wasn't covered in leather.  I am loving this fresh fabric look from I.D. Chicago.  It's light, fluffy, and soft; reminiscent of a cloud.  It also has a more relaxed and casual vibe than the popular boxy leather ones.  This room is lovely in every way.  That tribal rug, the earthy tones, those huge windows...swoon.

Proximity Hotel

The April issue of Metropolitan Home arrived in my mailbox yesterday and it's their "Guide To Modern Green Design".  I was surprised to read a blurb about what could be America's greenest hotel, the Proximity Hotel, which happens to be a stone's throw away from me in Greensboro, NC (talk about proximity).  Metropolitan Home says "Proximity is striving for LEED Platinum status, which would make it America's greenest (indoor) spot to spend the night.  More than 70 sustainable ideas are at work, including rooftop solar panels, an elevator that generates energy for ascent on the descent and the use of geothermal energy for restaurant refrigeration.  From $199 per night." 
I had no idea this environmentally conscious and stylish boutique hotel existed just an hour away from me.  I will have to check it out in person sometime very soon.  Until then, here are some lovely pictures to enjoy from their website...

Glamor Garden

Spring is fast approaching in NC and I couldn't be any happier about it.  It was a balmy 70 degrees yesterday and daffodils have started to emerge from the earth (my favorite flower).  I'm starting to get that yearning to garden and fix-up my patio.

I came across this glamorous garden in the February issue of Domino magazine several weeks ago and it has lingered in my mind.  It was designed by Art Luna (a hair stylist turned garden designer) for fashion designer Yael Aflalo.  Art Luna said "I imagined an old estate inherited by a young, stylish woman".  The garden has formality with shaped hedges and 4 statues of muses representing the seasons, yet it is also playful with additions like a swing and mod boxwood circles and balls.  What stunned me the most however, is the bold use of large chunks of crystal clusters atop stone pedestals;  it's truly unique and the effect is breathtaking.

Blushing Over Magenta

Apartment Therapy is doing a Romantic Bedroom Giveaway this week, so of course I entered (one day I will win something).  You have to give a sexy bedroom tip and include a picture of your vision (real or aspirational).  Two entries are posted each day on Apartment Therapy and mine is one of them today!  I'm blushing that it is there for all to see.  It's kind of silly.  However, in the spirit of Valentine's day, you can see the entry too right here. 

The picture I submitted, which is also below, is of a collage I created over a year ago as inspiration for decorating my bedroom.  I love this dark magenta color (using it as an accent is my tip).  I like it mixed with a lot of neutrals so it's not too overpowering.  And, lighter shades, like that light pink paper lantern on the left, help soften the palette. 

I'll let you know if I happen to win the prize.  And, it's not too late for you to enter too, as the contest is open until noon tomorrow.