Monthly Archives

August 2015

Life and Things

Nifty Thrifty

August 30, 2015

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! I’ve been working on piecing together new décor for my bedroom makeover. Since buying out Restoration Hardware isn’t an option, I’ve been hunting down thrift stores, craigslist, and second-hand shops for thrifty finds.

Here are a few pre-loved treasures I scored over the last few weekends. I’m so excited for everything to come together its hard to wait!

Left: Texture Vase – $3.00  |  Right: Large Wicker Basket $8.00

Left: Fossilized Rock Segment $4.00 |  Right: Original Oil Painting signed by Artist $5.00

Wicker Lamp Wicker Lamp $9.00 (my favorite so far!)

 

1 Comments
Life and Things

Bedroom Makeover

August 24, 2015

The day has finally arrived. The bare, neglected bedroom is finally getting a makeover! Over the last ten years, I have moved 11 times which has been a huge deterrent for starting anything just to pack it all up again. But…I’m tired of looking at bland, empty walls and sleeping in an unfinished room.

I created a visual mood-board representing the color palate, textures, and overall mood and tone of the room. I’m going for a rustic, sleepy tone, with modern accents and calming colors. (see above)

Now for the awful part, here is my current bedroom (people can sleep in those conditions?!) Yes, yes they can.

before-bedroom

I’ll keep you updated. In the meantime, I’d love the hear any thoughts or ideas on the direction of the room or if you have any practical suggestions always appreciated!

0 Comments
Design

Stand Out, But Be Yourself…

August 20, 2015

Happy Friday Eve! Last time I shared with you my vision for a new personal logo to better represent my work. I’m going for a clean, simple, modern layout accented with strong visual elements of texture.

So what makes a strong identity brand? I asked myself the same question and came up with threes points based on my observations of successful branding.

 

  1. Original

Did you know that many template websites today also include a logo maker? You don’t want your logo to look so generic that it belongs on a template. Allow your logo to have a voice of its own, to represent you and your work in a visual way that people will remember.

  1. Harmony

This is the opposite of chaos and disorganization. Do your business cards look like they belong with your website? What about your resume to your stationary? Even though creating a harmonious system can be very challenging, it’s well worth the extra effort to pull off a strong presentation that speaks quality and refinement.

  1. Refined

The whole point of a personal logo is to brand oneself, but also to easily be identified by others. The best logos are usually the smartest and simplest. This is always easier said than done and demands trial and error refinement to flaunt creativity in a way that others will pause for.

 

Based on these observations; here are a few artists that I thought really nailed these personal identity systems.

Go check out Luke Latham. Photo credit @Luke Latham.

@taylor hand Candice-1Go check out Taylor Hand. Photo credit @Taylor Hand.

@Camille Piot @Camille Piot @Camille PiotGo check out Camille Piot. Photo credit @Camille Piot.

0 Comments
Inspiration

Fresh Finds

August 9, 2015

I absolutely adore nautical themed prints, posters, paintings, really just about anything from the ocean. I am left with no choice but to own my own quaint, ocean-sprayed beach house along the coastline. That, or open up a calm chowder house just so I can decorate it.

Recently, I stumbled across the most adorable Etsy shop; I truly believe this shop was been created just for me! If you haven’t already, go check out the fabulous work from Nautical Nell, you won’t regret it.

Here are a few of my favorite prints. These will most likely be shipping to my house in the very near future!

Photo credit: Nautical Nell

3 Comments
Inspiration Travel

Wanderlust – Part I

August 6, 2015

I have been absolutely nowhere. I have never even left the United States, but that doesn’t mean I can’t start putting together my travel itinerary! As I get older, the stronger the wanderlust seems to creep in. Does that happen to everyone? Here are some spots I’ve had my eye on lately.

The storybook cityscape of Santorini Island is a dream of Mediterranean colors and ocean serenity. You can’t go wrong with terraced architectures contrasted in deep blue and stark white. That alone is reason enough to visit!

You can’t skip over the history-rich city of Athens. Who can bypass famous landmarks like the Acropolis, Parthenon, or the ancient agora! Not to mention, Athens is also known for its trendy shops and bars. Extra bonus!


Just a few hops over lays the beautiful island of Croatia. Specifically, the Game of Thrones filming location of Dubrovnik. Besides nerding out on Game of Thrones selfies, the city itself is breath taking and offers a variety of amazing attractions. Mild climates, mountains cityscapes, hiking, sailing, swimming, shopping and exploring make this location a must-see.


I planned on sharing more fabulous travel spots, but Greece has captured my heart! Stay tuned for more upcoming Wanderlust posts . In the meantime, go out and follow your dreams and inspirations!

Photo credits: @santoriniisland, @athensvoice, @kenny_wanderlust, @florabaker, @kyrenian

0 Comments
Inspiration

Fresh Favorites

August 2, 2015

Hope you all had a great weekend! I wanted to share some fresh finds of absolutely stunning photography and mixed media artwork.

I love the ghostly, vibrant energy surrounding the impressionistic compositions of Riccardo Magherini. I have no idea how the artist gives each image such a painterly quality, but the chilling after tones of captured big city life is awe-inspiring!

 

Fine Art Photography by Riccardo Magherini

Fine Art Photography by Riccardo Magherini

Fine Art Photography by Riccardo MagheriniCheck out more of Riccardo’s gorgeous portfolio at www.riccardomagherini.com.
*Photo Credit: Riccardo Magherini.

0 Comments