RESET

Dear readers and subscribers,

 It's been over a year since I have posted a single thing on my page and for that I apologise. I, like most people went ahead and got a job in an architecture firm and forgot that I had a life outside work... oops... I forgot all about why I loved writing and all the things that make me smile about art and design. Very often as artists or creative minds, we are stuck in the ruts of life. All the while knowing that we are not meant to fit neatly in a box, or be a perfect cog among other cogs. And at this particular moment in time, I feel like a cog in a machine and I want to reset. Or rather I need to reset. I refuse to cry over spilt milk and instead push myself to remember just why I do what I do and why I love it. I choose to be positive, patient and persistent in the pursuit of great design. So, this serves as a reminder to those creative minds out there, who love what they do but sometimes get lost in the machine that is life. It's time to press RESET. Start over, not for the spirit of 'New Year' where most resolutions are made; but sincerely for yourself. 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

Maya Angelou quote

Finally, a quote from my heroine Dr. Maya Angelou that I shall never forget, and that you should remember: "You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated."  


Sincerely,

Christina.

Adorable Mothers Day Ideas

source

Happy Mothers day! Today we celebrate those fantastic women who gave life to us, taught us the meaning of family and continue to be the motivational cheerleaders of our lives. Here's a little post dedicated to all those wonderful women on this special day. The great thing about these little but creative ideas are that they can keep going well after mother's day into the rest of the month or year, making everyday an exciting occasion. A real treat for moms out there! 

1. Nothing says I love you mom like an adorable berries and juice platter. 

Replace the juice with some wine the next day and have a romantic dessert. 

source

2. Why not brighten up the morning with neon stencil gift boxes? 

Change up the lettering on the boxes to suit any occasion. 

source

3. How about some indulgence in a little care package for moms who like a bit of dining? 

source

4. When have delicious cupcakes never been a good idea? Bake a few cupcakes making sure to do the icing when they are cool. Display them on a cake stand and decorate them with little flags / labels with personalised messages for dear mom.

source

5. Miniature gardening gift anyone? Carve out the center of a wine cork using a small knife. Fill the hole with cactus soil and plant a succulent cutting. A magnet strip glued to the cork back would easily allow it to be attached to the fridge or any metallic surface! Neat little project!

source

6. Flowers! Flowers! Flowers! Get a fresh bunch of them. Get a glass jar and cut the stems of the flowers to the right length. For more of a color pop, wrap some differently coloured ribbons around the glass jar and secure neatly with glue. Custom jar done!

source

7. No one can say no to a relaxing bath especially with these bath accessories and salts. 

Get three little jars create a stencil with the letters M and O. Place the stencil over the jars and paint over with white acrylic paint. Take of the stencil and let it dry. Pour a different scent into its own jar and you're done. 

source

8. A little herb gardening in the kitchen will go a long way. Mom will definitely appreciate it and so will you at dinnertime. Follow the source below to learn how to go about it.

source

9. For those of you who like full-on DIY projects, this one's for you. Create an applique pillow such as this one by Anna Joyce. Follow the source for the instructions on how to make this lovely home accessory for your mom.

source

10. I certainly know just how messy ones jewellery can get when not properly organised. Here's a more practical yet decorative solution for that problem. Your mom will thank you for years. First select a picture frame suited to mom's taste and attach lengths of chain from one end of the back of the frame to the other. Secure them as tightly or as loosely as you would like. Hang your jewellery in whatever way seems pleasing and voila!

source

Happy mothers day!

Indulge, appreciate life and those around you. This one's for you Mom!

Christina.

World Class - Africa!

Kicking off the 'World Class' series is Africa; my favourite continent and a source of inspirational interiors or myself and many others. From the calming shores of Lamu in East Africa to the rich souks (markets) of Morocco in North Africa comes all sorts of colour, vibrance, texture and variety. We embark on our exciting journey around this rich continent beginning with Morocco, then onto Lamu and last but certainly not least to the Cape in South Africa. Looking for a sense of adventure in your home? Go on and bring the inspiration of the African interior into your space. Happy travels!

MOROCCO

Morrocan Living room

Two toned wall with Ornamental mirror and cabinets

Decorative lantern

Quick tips for a moroccan style: 

1. Light but warm coloured walls... like soft pinks with brown... corals etc.

2. Accent colour with shades of (green and red) or (pink and gold) or hues of blue.

3. Metallic ornaments such as trays and tea sets, mirror frames, lanterns.

4. Intricate textures and patterns.

For more on the Moroccan style see my previous post 'Take me to Morocco' here.

EAST AFRICA: LAMU

Wall niche and stair details of a Swahili home

Stone detail and ornaments

Bedroom in a Lamu house.

Quick tips for a coastal Lamu style:

1. Off-white plastered and textured walls to keep the house cool.

2. Warm browns and rusty red accents.

3. Flowing and/or sheer white fabrics draped casually over bedposts or as room dividers. 

4. Intricately carved wood and stone features, and patterned ornaments.

SOUTH AFRICA

Sectioned-off reading area

Living room with a fireplace

Indoor-outdoor fireplace

Quick tips for a South African safari style:

1. Neutral or ochre coloured walls with a bit of texture.

2. Rich and warm colour accents.

3. Dark wooden furniture and decorative elements.

4. Soft lighting through table lamps and fireplaces

Must haves: A must have for an African inspired interior is pattern. From intricate and delicate to bold and graphic, patterns are the consistent element in African decor. Select an inspiring pattern, see which of the above styles it compliments and transform your space instantly. Explore your sense of adventure!   

Christina

NEW MOOD.BOARD RETRO

RETRO 

I did the post on RETRO decor a while back and realized that I hadn't done a mood.board for it. So, here it is finally. Enjoy.

xx christina xx

TREND: ACID...dare to be Bright

source unknown

Alas the sunny days of summer are gone and a nippy autumn creeps in to take its place. Skies once clear and bright are now dull and grey, and our sunnies have been stored away. But fret not boys and girls because we're bringing in the brights! And not just brights but really bright brights!!! So get your sunnies back on because its about to get ACID bright!

As you may have noticed by now the key word today is bright. Bright colors are now bang on trend for home decor. For those that love color in abundance, this is definitely for you. For those that don't I say...come on, live a little. There are so many ways of infusing color into a room. Through paint, furniture, wallpaper, lighting, accessories...the list is endless.

Bright yellow and purple wallpaper by Kimberly Lewis

Use bright little accessories to brighten up your space. Try different combinations of color to really achieve a bold effect.

sofa

acid bright wall and furniture, source unknown

Gold and green damask patterned wallpaper with Lime green chaise

I absolutely love everything in the setting above. The wallpaper is as exquisite as the color of the chaise. And those tasty little cakes on their stand are a lovely feast for the eye.

Green glass chandelier

source unknown

Bright purple wall paper by Kimberly Lewis

Contrast. Contrast. Contrast. That is the one way of ensuring that color pops. As you can see, the purple brightens the yellow of the lemons. 

Z purple table lamp

This delightful lamp in purple would suit a yellow or orange background and brighten up your space. Speaking of bright colored lamps, this season there are some great lamps available in a variety colors at BHS. So don't hesitate to check them out.

In season bright lamps from BHS

When playing with bold color, try everything. you might be surprised by the results. Mix and match color and textures to achieve the best and brightest effects. For more modern looks try white walls and have only furniture and accessories in color. For more classic/quirky looks try bright vintage wallpaper and vintage accessories (as below). 

Acid bright mood board by yours truly

Try different color combinations to make things pop. Try yellows with purples, greens with reds, blues with oranges... Embrace this season of color and dare to be bright. Happy coloring!

xx christina xx