Seattle - ...Browsing by tag

Lately my interior design inspirations seek some Wabi Sabi.  And what’s Wabi Sabi exactly?  I like Architect Tadao Ando’s definition, “Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It celebrates cracks and crevices and all the other marks that time, weather, and loving use leave behind. Through wabi-sabi, we learn to embrace liver spots, rust, and frayed edges, and the march of time they represent.  It reminds me of this rustic cabin I designed which honored the old.

Wabi-Sabi barbeque

Wabi-sabi is underplayed and modest, the kind of quiet, undeclared beauty that waits patiently to be discovered. It’s a fragmentary glimpse: the branch representing the entire tree, shoji screens filtering the sun, the moon 90 percent obscured behind a ribbon of cloud. It’s a richly mellow beauty that’s striking but not obvious, that you can imagine having around you for a long, long time-Katherine Hepburn versus Marilyn Monroe.

Image courtesy of “The Wabi-Sabi House”/Joe Coca

It’s the peace found in a moss garden, the musty smell of geraniums, the astringent taste of powdered green tea. My favorite Japanese phrase for describing wabi-sabi is “natsukashii furusato,” or an old memory of my hometown. (This is a prevalent mind-set in Japan these days, as people born in major urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka wax nostalgic over grandparents’ country houses that perhaps never were. They can even “rent” grandparents who live in prototypical country houses and spend the weekend there.)”

Thanks to Tadao Ando for sharing this description.  Would like to live with Wabi-Sabi?

Tags: interior design inspiration, rustic cabin, Seattle, wabi sabi
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | No Comments »

Here in Seattle, we are having a fantastic summer.  I see my interior design clients entertaining and considering modifications to enhance the outdoor entertaining experience for their families and guests.  In this  post I share some ideas from BHG  by Kelly D. Norris that you can still tackle to extend the enjoyment of your patio this summer and into the fall.

• Make it Soothing with Water

• Add Cover with a Pergola

• Carpet for Your Patio

• Use Charming Accents

• Build a Fire Pit

• Just add Wind Chimes

• Feed the Birds

Visit BHG for instructions and you can add even more enjoyment to your summer today!

Tags: interior design, Seattle, sizzling summer
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | 1 Comment »

Seattle interior design embraces great design that creates a true, living reflection of the people who live in the space – and that’s about as ‘universal’ as it gets according to Janice Anne Costa.

Not long ago  kitchens revolved around a single work triangle, where Mom cooked meals for her husband and family. But  kitchens grew larger, and the work triangle evolved to kitchen “work zones.” Flexible  refrigeration replaced large, boxy refrigerators, and multiple, flexibly designed appliances became the norm.  See example:

Universal Design by Lora Creswick

In a similar vein, yesterday’s baths were all about  super-size.  Enter jetted tubs large enough to go swimming in and super showers with extravagant features using large amounts of water.

Consider the greening of the kitchen and bath. Efficiencies of space and energy are the rage and water conservation inspires smaller fixtures, re-designed to provide the full-sensory water experience,  using less water.

Looking over the changes in the kitchen and bath industry, one thing is clear: Design is fluid. Indeed, the creative nature of the field almost demands that today’s trends will be ever-changing and evolving, as consumers and design professionals continue to pursue “the next big thing.” Janice Anne Costa

So what is the “next big thing?” Bet on Universal Design as the “green” of the future.

Curbless Shower

This trend gained visibility in the products on display at this year’s K/BIS, where beautiful, safe and accessible tub and shower options were seen in abundance. Personalized design is finally coming into its own. As Mick De Giulio explains, “People are an amalgam of so many different elements: culture and nationality, family history and cooking habits”.

Tags: Faith Sheridan, kitchen and bath, personalized design, Seattle, universal design, water conservation
Posted in Green Design | No Comments »

When you practice interior design for a time, you see lots of collections gathered by your clients. Last week, I saw a Seattle client’s doll collection representing dolls gifted to her by great aunts.  I took note how she displayed them neatly behind glass in a cabinet on the second floor. We collect photos, plates, books and often some funky stuff specific to our personality, memories and passions like nothing else for display in the home. Our collections make us different and special.;-) And, when our family and friends discover our passion for something, watch out! Suddenly the collection moves into high speed.

“People accumulate without really knowing what they’re going to do with it or where to put it,” says Kevin Sharkey, executive editorial director of decorating for Martha Stewart Living. Without knowing what to do, our collections end up in storage or boxes in closets and that window into our personality is hidden from our homes.

Displaying a collection requires self discipline and a great deal of editing. When you finish you have a wonderful depiction of your personality on display. Here are some tips and examples to get started:

• Group like things
• Edit and purge
• Use color to unite
• Use open shelves and lighting to accent

Tags: decorate, display collections, Seattle
Posted in Accessories | No Comments »

In summer I look for a simple project and as a interior designer I have to share this one with my readers who live in Seattle or elsewhere. My friend and design resource for lampshades, Dawn Bassett, produces this kit.

On her website, she describes it:

the perfect gift for someone who needs some bright, some light, or just a really great lamp shade!

Follow the instructions on her site and get started! When you finish your shade, send me a picture to share.

Tags: lamp shade, perfect gift, Seattle, simple project
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | 2 Comments »