Monday, October 31, 2011

DESIGNER: Tyler Dawson Design

Tyler Dawson Design**
Featured in House Beautiful 11/11
San Francisco Marina District home

Gorgeous, amazingly feminine yet not to girly! 
Punch of colour without being over the top just the right amount of playfulness
I love how she uses gold accents throughout, 
giving the spaces a bit of Dorothy Draper glamour!
xx
callie
Fulton Road, home
California Street home

Thursday, October 27, 2011

QUOTE: beautiful

"I deeply believe that a beautiful decor
              can have a beneficial
       influence on our lives."
~Albert Hadley

quote


I love this entire New York apartment of Claiborne Swanson Frank, designed by her mother in law! and photographed by Simon Watson.
Go here to see the rest of her gorgeous space.

I have been working like crazy over the past few weeks and adding a new work out regime; running and yoga.  I feel great!  How are all of you doing?  I miss you all, I haven't been reading my favs so this weekend: a large and I mean very LARGE cup of coffee and my computer set on google reader so I can catch up!

xx
callie



Wednesday, October 26, 2011

INSPIRATION: Office space and mood boards

Iron Mountian, ben moore paint on the walls.
perfect as the back drop to the lovely images and textiles pinned on the boards!!

Have you ever googled "Mood Boards"?  Well, if you haven't, you should! 
literally hundreds upon hundreds of them come up. With all the sites out there to create them, you have access to all of them!! I can troll for hours.... loosing track of time and responsibilities!  
seriously!
Here are a few that I saved into the inspiration folder, each for something different.

xx
callie


image here
image here
image here
image here


tons of fashion mood boards here

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

PRODUCT INSPIRATION: Iron Mountain!


 image House Beautiful, photographer Ditte Isager

 I am loving this dark saturated grey by Benjamin Moore paints!! Iron Mountain!!!
 I am seeing it everywhere and I think I need to paint somewhere in my house this marvelous colour! I also really love this room with its clean line  side tables with the soft curves of the lamps symmetrically placed. Piles of books on one side, flowers and water on the other! Hotel linens with monograms paired with flowers and parrots then topped with faux fur throw! what more could one ask for! *sigh* total comfort!

What colour are you loving now?
xx
callie





Monday, October 24, 2011

DESIGN: office space for inspiration

SORTING WITH STYLE:
image via sortingwithstyle

I am all about my office/creative space at the moment!  I feel my space is not inspirational!! I found this wonderful site for office supplies, Sorting with Style!

How can a space not be wonderfully inspirational with these fabulous pieces:
1. Classic black edge binder  2. Lime edge binder 3.  Polka dot manila folders 4.  calculator 5. iphone sticky notes  6. lime green stapler  7. pencil holders 8. Business Card holder

This tote is sweet!  great and stylish way to carry around your files!


Is your office space inspiring you?
xx
callie

Sunday, October 23, 2011

I am here

image grabbed from here

The past few weeks have been a bit crazy, with work winding up to full force.  One of my big projects is coming to a close and will be needing to move 2 floors of people with minimal down time for them all the while working on all my other projects too.  So, my stress levels have been high and I am expected to work the next 3 weekends.  So, with that said I am focusing on staying focused!  I have been going to yoga about 3 times a week now and really enjoying the benefits.  I hope to be on track with posting over the next few weeks. Please be patient with me and I will be back reading and catching up on my favorite blogs!
xx
callie 


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

PRODUCT: a grain of salt


Sorry to be posting so late.  I have been crazy busy at work and been trying to fit a new work out regime into my schedule just to have some down time! Which is good, keeping me grounded. 
Well, onto today post....

I am loving salt right now!
Looking through the last issue of Rachael Ray, I read an article about Mark Bitterman owner of The Meadow. His website is full of information, I highly suggest going on over and taking a look!  He sells Himalayan Slat blocks for cooking, curing. The slabs are a beautiful presentation while fish cure! and he sells chocolate fondue starter kits. The bowl is made of Himalayan Salt! Perfect for that salty chocolate craving.  I think this would be a perfect wedding gift! Sweet and different.

He sells hundreds of different salts, packaged in these sweet bottles. I think I may have to add these to my Christmas list, and purchase a few for Christmas gifts. {Mum! she was talking about grey salt and smoked salt while visiting, so guess who is getting salt for Christmas!!} In the description of each salt there is a pairing of foods the salt works best with, so I am going to be an adventurist and have to buy a few bottles, maybe have a salt tasting party!  How fun would that be! Good food, good wine and tasting salt!!
oh, and some chocolate too!

 Visit his site to learn more about finishing salts.

xx
callie

Monday, October 17, 2011

INSPIRED: Ish and chi blog!!

Image via ish and chi

This weekend I fell head over heals for this colour palette over at ish and chi!  Viv is always coming up with wonderful inspiration!! This is my new colour palette for the living room!  The bold use of pink with ruby and black with a hit of apricot for that unexpected touch!
Thanks Viv!  If you don't know about her blog, head over there now and be inspired!

What is inspiring you this week?
xx
callie

Friday, October 14, 2011

Lucky Me!!


I am so excited, I won the give away over at Katiedid!!  So thrilled to win this book of one of my favorite designers.  Go over and visit Katie, she just launched her new website for company Katie Denham Interior Design! it's gorgeous! I have been following Katie for a very long time and am inspired daily by her work, posts and thoughts!  If you don't know Katie, go on over and take a look and enjoy!



Thank you Katie!!
xx
callie


Katie's blog and her new website!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

QUOTE: Work Horse!

"Think of a kitchen as a machine"
~Fitzhugh Karol, Designer







Here a few kitchens that inspire me!  The last one is the image from Holly Becker's book, Decorate with the quote over the stove.....crazy that I found it in pinterest without the quote on it.
My favorite kitchen is the dark blue walls and grey cabinets with the amazing floor tiles that I found on Christina's blog Down and Out Chic!!
Don't you love the darkness with the pops of green!! 
Which kitchen is your favorite?
xx
callie



Wednesday, October 12, 2011

PAINTER: Claire Basler

If I could have a  Claire Basler painting, it would be a landscape.... like this one!
isn't it dreamy!
xx
callie

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

PRODUCT: colour crushing



I love this colour of le crueset cookware!  How beautiful would they be in my kitchen!
I have 2 orange pieces that my mum and dad received as wedding gifts in the late 1960's... they gave a few pieces to me and a few pieces to my sister. But I am soooo loving this turquoise colour!

xx
callie

Monday, October 10, 2011

THOUGHTS: Awesome end of summer

Today was awesome!
it was in the 80's, perfect and sunny.  Played golf with a few people from work since it is a Bank holiday. We had such a wonderful time, enjoying the sunshine... knowing that in a few days the weather will turn and the cold air will come down from Canada with snow soon to follow. We made the best of it! We played at Cog Hill golf courses.  It is a bit south west of me, and let me tell you!!! the drive there was amazing!  The woods along the way was incredible with the changing of leaves and the feeling of being far away from the city.  I felt as if I was in the country and on a long drive to a wonderful destination.  I will need to plan a road trip down there again before the weather changes.  Need to check out this area again and very soon!

How was your day?
xx
callie

DESIGN: Summer is over!

via house beautiful

Summer is over and I never did build out my back yard.  Sassy got sick and I was focused on getting the pup back to better health.  I still dream of having a wonderful area in the back yard.... next spring! I really want to build something like this!! How wonderful is the space!

What design projects are you dreaming of?
xx
callie

Friday, October 7, 2011

Music crushing!




I know this video is long, but soooooo worth the listen! Diego Garcia is completely swoon worthy.
{The first song just makes me happy, gets my thoughts to a happy place.... it's Friday and I am sending happy thoughts to you Zack. Enjoy you day! }

I bought Diego's album "Laura" from itunes the moment I got home from work last night and I highly recommend the purchase. Made me dance around the house! and feel so much like falling.... falling.... oh yes!

What music is rocking your world?
xx
callie

Thursday, October 6, 2011

WORDS: graphic words and blog feature

I love words! and topography.....especially as art as in this photo:
found via: 79 ideas a new blog I stumbled upon a few weeks back!
also in her post the poster quote:

"bad
news
can be
good news
in disguise"

how perfect is that!

Go check out Radostina's blog!  You will fall in love with the beautiful photos she finds and the fabulous homes she features.  She just had her two year blogoversary. Go over and enjoy the beauty.

What new bloggers are you following?
xx
callie


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Grey Matters!

I am so excited, it was nice and sunny today enabling me to wear my new shabbyapple dress!  They have the most amazing lines of women's dresses and sweet dresses for little girls!  I own several dresses and I find them perfect for work! They are well made and very comfortable.  What I also love is that shabby apple not only makes wonderful dresses but they help women live! they are committed to helping women worldwide.... read here for more information.

Here I am taking a photo of myself in the bathroom at work!  I adore this grey dress, not only is the fit perfect for my body type, I love the colour! GREY!!  The ruffles are simple and not to over the top while the lenght is perfect to show off my new leopard tights!!    The dresses are really affordable and what is really nice is they always have some fun special going on.. . .right now free shipping and make sure you join the mailing list, you can get a discount there, plus they will email great deals and notify you when a new release of dresses are released!
Now, go do some shopping!  Shabby Apple will have a dress or skirt for you!  (I own a Adelaide bow skirt and I always get compliments! it's very flattering)



CONFESSION: a serious addiction!

image and recipe here

Seriously!
I love marshmallows!  This weekend, I bought a bag of jet-puffed chocolate marshmallows.... they are not home made by any means but they were ok.  I do love homemade marshmallows and have yet to make them myself!  When the air turns crisp and cool with the changing leaves, I crave marshmallows!!
What do you crave when the weather turns?
xx
callie


Monday, October 3, 2011

DECOR: Halloween, black birds and skulls

All images country living
I am so excited that the air is cooling and winter will be on its way! First, we will have Autumn!!  Yippie!! The leaves will be changing and the geese will be heading South for the winter.
One of my favorite colours is orange and these images make orange the feature colour.  
I love the skull plates! and the black ravens on the book shelves.
Just the little extra something for the month of October.  I don't decorate my house for Halloween but I am thinking a few skull plates would be good and maybe a black bird tucked in here and there..... Do you decorate for Halloween?
My neighbor goes all out! Remember this post from last year?
He has added more ghosts flying across the street and added to the cemetery he has installed on his extra lot.







Saturday, October 1, 2011

WEEKEND FUN!


Good Morning!!
I am dreaming of eggs benedict, this looks so good!!
Winter is slowly creeping upon us....and I am getting the house winterized.  Today, I will be harvesting all my herbs and drying them out. I will package some of them up and send to loved ones as a last bit of summer surprise.
I also have a small list of things to do around the house:

  • remove screens; clean and store them
  • remove AC from window and store
  • garden clean up, store hose and rain barrels
  • pull out winter blankets
  • pull out winter clothes and tights!!
As few personal fun items as well:
  • catch up on my blog reading, so behind I haven't been reading in over a week!! going through withdrawal!!  hehe seriously!
  • crochet items for holiday faire: fingerless gloves and coffee cosies 
  • drinks with friends
  • bake at cake for friend at work for her birthday!!
What do you have planned for this weekend!!
xx
callie


ps 
Has anyone else noticed on their blog a huge amount of traffic from off the wall sites?  like blogspots site like: eiphone5, edroidbionic and a financial site europelibertyreserve.com then a few social sites like facebook and gothise???
I am not complaining because my adsense is going crazy and increasing but I have no idea where they are coming from???  keep it coming :)