dwellings and décor

I just came across this really wonderful company called Spruce (love that name!) from the Modish blog and I just had to post about them here too! Spruce takes beautiful vintage furniture and makes them fashionable and stylish by reupholstering them with gorgeous fabric and cleaning up the wood and staining or painting them. These are definitely not your grandmothers chairs!

I love this photo for so many reasons. :)

I love that the fabric has a vintage yet modern feel to it.

I could not have picked out a better fabric for those dining chairs myself. Perfect selection!

Their pillows are even fabulous!

Loving this bold pattern and I think it would be great in the right space.

I feel like I want to go out and re purpose furniture now. So inspiring!

Or at least these are new to me. If you follow my blog you probably know by now that I love Ankasa. Who doesn’t really? I think everyone and their mom would have one if they were more affordable. Browsing their site I really enjoyed looking at their products that fit with a more tropical climate and ones that fit with a cooler climate. The collections have a beautiful unifying feel to them because of the intricate craftsmanship and design. Really just stunning pieces of work. These pillows are like art to me.

They now have eco-friendly furniture. I love the ornate cord embroidery on these last two pieces. Aren’t they just exquisite?

All images from Ankasa

My dear friend Desia just sent me photos of her finished design of this cool and fun bathroom. Desia and I started college together and graduated together and I am so happy to see her working as a professional Interior Designer!

Here is a little background of the client and process:

The Johnson’s live in a 1912 Tudor in Portland’s Overlook neighborhood. They wanted a new bathroom with modern amenities, but they wanted it to reflect their personal style and the character of the house.

They have 2 pre-teen girls to share it with, so they needed lots of counter and storage space.

The fixtures and vanity mirrors are from Restoration Hardware, and the tiles are a mix of ceramic and recycled glass. The counter top is made from Ice Stone, a recycled glass and concrete material. The flooring, not pictured is linoleum, another sustainable material in aqua.

I think the dog likes it too!

Designed by Desia while at Arciform

Desia now owns her own design company, Atomic * Design
You can contact Desia at atomicdesignportland@gmail.com

Not to long ago I came across this natural and sustainable design store found via Mrs. French over on Bliss. Olive and Myrtle carries home decor and so much more to make your life eco-friendly and healthy. Some of the items shown below include non toxic salt and pepper shakers, bamboo trays, hemp pillows and 100% soy candles. Check out their website for more info.

Products from Olive and Myrtle

I am so excited about the new press I received. It’s an article on how to green your baby room and it has some pretty good information if your interested. Click here to see the article on LaJobi’s website.

There is something so natural and beautiful about real block wood furniture. I love the wood grain that shows through and the smell is amazing. I have mixed feelings about the environmental factors of wood furniture. On one hand I don’t want to see more trees cut down and on another I don’t think we should have furniture made with formaldehyde which is a type of glue found in particleboard and MDF. I have read that some environmental companies are starting to not use formaldehyde in the furniture making process so this is a nice compromise. You will notice that with most furniture companies there is a huge price difference between the furniture you see below and furniture made with particleboard or MDF and veneer. A few things to consider when purchasing wood furniture is how long you intend to keep it and how often you would be using it. Particleboard and MDF will on average not last as long as hardwood furniture therefore you may end up spending more money in the long run if you have to keep buying the same piece every few years. For instance you might want to go with a less expensive piece of furniture in your guest room because drawers and such will not be used as often and therefore it will last longer. Hopefully this information will give you another perspective on furniture buying and I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have on the subject.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Neiman Marcus 2. Style Park 3. Room Online 4. Artful Home

A desk can be one of your most functional furniture pieces you own. (I practically live with mine.) Before purchasing a desk ask yourself what you will be using it for. Will it be a desk you use all day or is just something to write a letter on? Will you need storage and how big do you need it to be? All of these desks below are unique in beauty and functionality. The first desk is a great desk for people who work from home. It has a warm wood stain which will work well in any residential dwelling and it has great storage and a cutout for all your computer cords. The second mid century modern desk is glamorous and I like that the A frame legs let other people sit comfortably on all four sides. The third desk is great for small spaces and its super functional for the at home worker. It is designed by Marcel Wanders and he created a lid to cover and to hide your office clutter. Number 4 desk has great geometric lines and plentiful leg room. I love the unique design and the way the designer creates a beautiful balance between the front legs and the back. The fifth desk is great for the office or at home and it has beautiful clean lines and sleek storage compartments with cork lined trays. Number 6 is labeled as a dressing table but I think it would also look great as a desk for writing letters to your loved ones. The seventh desk has a bamboo strip top and teak legs. This desk is great for tropical and natural styled interiors. Number 8 can be used as a desk or a dining table and I love that the design is ornate and simple at the same time. Number 9 is super functional. This desk is designed to work with your daily work patterns. There are three cantilevered extensions that were added to the table which increases its surface space and usability. It can also be used for working closely with other people. This desk can look great in an office or residential setting. Like 8 number 10 desk can be used as a dining table as well. This piece seems very architectural to me and I like the designers use of material and form.

From Top: 1. Espasso (Green Product) 2. Bond & Bowery 3. Moooi 4. Room Online 5. Jules Seltzer 6. The French Bedroom Co. 7. Maisons Du Monde 8. Brocade Home 9. Martin Sprouse 10. Pirwi

These fun but elegant circle side tables are perfect for your modern home. The first one on the top left is called the Machinist Cocktail table and they are made with Mozambique wood with a natural satin finish with a clear acrylic top. The one next to it on the right can be used as either a side table or a stool or even a play area for your cat. I love the ornate carvings in this sustainable bamboo side table. The image below it is shown in a limed ebony. It is from Bobby Berk Home and they suggest ordering 2-4 to create a great coffee table. The last image on the bottom left hand corner is called the Geisha End Table and it is designed by Jacques Garci. He was inspired by a piece designed by him for his Paris apartment. You will notice that all of these side tables play with very familiar forms; the circle, the line and the cube.

Clockwise from Top Left: 1. Cliff Young Ltd. 2. Kalon Studios (Green Product) 3. Bobby Berk home 4. Kohler Interiors

I have collected ten lounge chairs that I believe to be quite unique and more interesting than your standard looking chair. Traditional to modern these chairs can give you that wow factor you may be looking for. Which one is your favorite?

1. Williams Sonoma Home 2. Conran USA 3. Anthropologie 4. Architonic 5. Godoy Lab (Eco-Friendly Product) 6. Tonic Home 7. Jennifer Delonge 8. Fredrik Mattsson 9. Room and Board 10. Design Within Reach