dh designs: Inspiration

Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts

September 13, 2013

Friday Find – September 13

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home, Oak Park Illinois

On a recent visit to Chicago I had the opportunity to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio in Oak Park, Illinois. I am in awe of his vision – the implementation of scale, proportion, contrast and colour! If you ever have an opportunity to do this, I would highly recommend it!

I will be sharing more of this visit on The TBB’s Wine Dine & Design blog shortly!

Happy Weekend … Donna

Please contact dh designs if you are ready

to create a home that reflects your style and your life.

March 4, 2013

Inspired at IDS 2013

Well it’s been a little over a month since the Interior Design Show in Toronto. I have started this post several times and struggled with the words to describe what I saw, what inspired me and what was pure gorgeousness. So instead of agonizing over what to say, I’ll show you the pictures instead – what a concept!

From Studio North, a section of the IDS floor devoted to unique artisans, crystal wine glasses repurposed as lighting from Tat Chao out of Montreal.

Urban Barn’s take on mustard:

And this lighting display from Living Lighting on King

Wide plank engineered hardwood from PurParket:

Gorgeous ikat inspired area carpets from Weavers Art in one of my favourite colour combinations:

Industrial cage lighting from the Earth Inc. booth

A wonderful blend of rustic and modern from Tomlin Group

There were many more inspiring exhibits some of which have been covered on the TBB Wine Dine and Design blog:

Texture at the Interior Design Show 2013– from Lisa Goulet
IDS2013 – Searching for Emerald – from Nicole Duguay
The Return of Warm Metals – at IDS 2013 – from yours truly
What Walls are Wearing … IDS13 – from Maureen Coates

I am looking forward to drawing on this inspiration in upcoming projects!

Happy decorating!

January 21, 2013

An Inspiring Interlude–#IDS2013

This week I’m heading to Toronto for the 2013 Interior Design Show, fondly known as #IDSToronto or #IDS2013 for those of us on Twitter.

It will be a whirlwind of activity including opening galas, after parties and glitzy hob nobbing!

Honestly though, the real reason I’m there is to be inspired. Friday is “Trade Day”, where members of the trade are granted exclusive access to the show and it’s exhibitors, speakers and product.

The last few shows I’ve been to have provided inspiration on several fronts.

The abundance of wood in design

Lighting that dazzles

Bathroom fixtures that amaze

Works of art underfoot

I am looking forward to more inspiration this year – that and well, perhaps a little bit of the partying too *wink*!

Happy Decorating

June 27, 2012

Colour of the month for June–{lavender}

I am soooo late with this post, since June only has 4 days left … but I struggled a bit on what colour I should write about for June, but browsing through FB the other day I noticed that June was lavender season. How perfect is that?! I just so happen to sit in a lavender office everyday (OK well 5 days a week) and love the calming effect it has on me – especially when I’m at my busiest!

So, lets talk about lavender. The colour name obviously comes from the plant lavender, which is actually from the mint family. I’m not a mint lover, but am definitely a lavender lover. I have two plants in my perennial garden and make it a point to check them out every day. Just brushing by them fills the air with lavenders sweet scent … ahhhh…

The plant has many uses. Apart from it’s ornamental value in your garden, it is used to create an essential oil, which has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory uses. It’s scent is also used in cosmetics and fragrances. And it is a popular additive to cleaning products these days. Apparently it has disinfectant qualities as it was used during the First World War to disinfect floors and walls.

The nectar from the lavender flower is used to make honey and is used to flavour baked goods or tea. As an infusion lavender can help ease itchy insect bites and headaches. It is said a lavender cachet in your pillow will help you sleep. So from a plant perspective this is one versatile perennial!

Now, from a colour perspective, lavender was identified in the book “A Dictionary of Color”, first published in the 1930’s with only four shades, and by 1955 the ISCC-NBS Dictionary of Color Names listed many more. The “true” lavender shade is still based on the colour of the plant and is called Floral Lavender.

Enough with the history lesson though … let’s see lavender put to good use inside and out.

Lavender pairs quite nicely with several other colours – gray:

Eclectic Entry design by Boston Interior Designer MANDARINA STUDIO interior design

And cream:

Traditional Porch design by Other Metros Design-build J.S. Brown & Co.

Even mustard:

Contemporary Kitchen design by San Francisco Architect John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

Lavender can be used in bedrooms:

Traditional Bedroom design by San Diego Interior Designer My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

In bathrooms:

Eclectic Bathroom design by Boston Interior Designer MANDARINA STUDIO interior design

In living rooms:

Asian Living Room design by Interior Designer Karen Maximo-Fernando

Even in entryways:

Source: hgtv.com via Donna on Pinterest

And outdoors:

Mediterranean Exterior design by New York Architect Felhandler/ Steeneken Architects

Mediterranean Exterior design by San Francisco Landscape Designer Kathleen Shaeffer Design, Exterior Spaces

Eclectic Entry design by Portland Maine Design-build Knickerbocker Group

What about you? Have you used lavender in your home, either as a colour, a fragrance or even as an infusion?

Share!

April 19, 2012

Colour of the month for April - {yellow}

Happy Spring everyone!!

This is the second post in my new series entitled “Colour of the Month”. March’s colour of the month was {green} and for April I’ve gone with the obvious choice {yellow}.

And to paraphrase Vincent – Yellow is wonderful!

April is Cancer Awareness Month, although there are many other times throughout the year for raising awareness, April is considered “Daffodil Month” where people wear daffodils to show their support to individuals living with cancer. You can read more and show your support here.

Yellow can also be found in many plants and flowers. Here are some of my favourites… a beautiful Forsythia in full bloom:

Black-eyed Susans are also a favourite and I just happen to have some in my garden:

Here’s some interesting info on the colour yellow according to the Sensational Color website: it encourages communication, it activates the memory and stimulates the nervous system. Yellow is psychologically the happiest colour in the world. I know this particular yellow beauty from Hermes makes me very happy!

Yellow Hermes Lindy Bag

The word yellow comes from Old English “geolu” and it’s first know use dates back to 700 AD in “The Epinal Glossary” which is a dictionary of the Old English language.

Yellow has been used in several cultures to denote many things – cowardice and caution in English; Italians call crime stories “giallo” (yellow); and in China a “yellow movie” is synonymous to the English “blue movie” ie; pornograpy.

As for interiors, although yellow is known as a “happy” colour, it should be used cautiously as it can also stimulate anger and frustration.

Yellow can be paired with many other colours, with blue being a favourite. The current popular choice is gray as shown below in House Beautiful’s February edition:

One of my favourite bloggers is Maria Killam of “Colour Me Happy”. Maria is an internationally know colour expert and knows her colour. One of Maria’s personal favourites is yellow. Check out her posts on yellow here. I love how she’s used yellow in her living room!

I prefer to see pops of yellow in a room as opposed to entirely yellow rooms, but that of course totally depends on the shade … here are some examples of yellow rooms that I could live with:

traditional home office design by dc metro design-build Carter Inc Builders

traditional bedroom design by boston interior designer Su Casa Designs

contemporary bedroom design by los angeles interior designer Annette English

I love this last one – the glass bubble feature reminds me of my friend Kelly’s family room here. You’ll notice that these three rooms above have one thing in common – the yellow is not too bright or overwhelming. Keeping your yellow muted and warm will help your yellow room stay calm and comfortable.

Now if you are looking for bright pops of yellow – here are some great examples:

Source: houzz.com via Donna on Pinterest

modern bathroom design by photographer Elad Gonen & Zeev Beech

Michelles Master Bedroom. eclectic bedroom

eclectic bedroom design by other metros media and blogs Michelle Hinckley

And how about using natural elements for pops of yellow? Lemons are perfect!

contemporary kitchen design by other metros interior designer Atmosphere Interior Design Inc.

And what about these tulips – my favourite cut flower – so delicately resilient.

Living Room Chic contemporary living room

contemporary living room design by dallas interior designer Abbe Fenimore Studio Ten 25

Now what about outside? Here are some examples of using yellow on the exterior of your home:

contemporary exterior design by san francisco architect House + House Architect

Warner Larson Landscape Architects - Laats Residence traditional landscape

traditional landscape design by boston landscape architect Warner Larson

traditional exterior design by new york general contractor Michael Sisti

Source: theyellowdoorpaperie.tumblr.com via Donna on Pinterest

Lots of inspiration to use yellow in your next decor decision. Or if you’ve already used yellow – let me know where…

April 9, 2012

Dish Envy …

Twice now, I’ve been walking through our local “Bay” (aka The Hudson Bay Company) store and come across this table setting.

And twice now, I’ve taken pictures with my iPhone (sorry for the quality …)

I’m thinking this means something. This last visit, I took this picture also…

… which means two things … one - I am seriously crushing on this pattern and tw0 – it’s way out of my price point.

But one of the reasons for writing a design blog is to be able to dream – right?! So, I’m dreaming of a virtual table setting including this lovely china…

Lenox French Perle in Ice Blue