Ice Lake Inspiration

Took a hike to ice lake near Silverton, Colorado last week. GORGEOUS! For anyone in design, how could these colors not inspire? I mean really? The view is so breathtaking at the end of the hike that you have to rub your eyes and physically close your mouth, lest flies rush in. I was gobsmacked!
Elegant Linens I am hopelessly enamored by these colors. They work in modern and even traditional settings. It just says FRESH to me.
Sumptuous, no? I want to put a vase of peacock feathers near by, or drape a teal silk robe on the bed post! Lime, turquoise, peacock blue, even the names don't adequately describe Ice Lake in the lush verdant summer.
fabric by ink and spindle! Modern, nature inspired and very cool...check out their blog!


Some of the many wild flowers. The Queen's Anne Lace was as tall as my friend Steph!
mmmm, me love moss.
Waterfalls, too many to count! It was heaven!

Modern Nostalgia....

I was searching for some modern prints that were fresh and modern but conveyed a certain nostalgia...that's what really compels me about design...the odd combinations of periods, themes and styles. I recently did a house where I needed to combine, Colorado rugged ranch with Victorian and Mediterranean. AHHHHH I thought. What do these have in common? How will it not look pieced together? Then I thought about the common thread in all theses styles...iron work, scroll work, florals and little critters -like tiny iorn squirrel resting on a painted scrolled shelf, aged pots, rich brown, yellow and creme...once I established this basis, the rest just flowed.

These 10-8 polaroids are fantastic. They remind me of botanicals from the early part of the century, marbles from the 30's and 1960's batik and yet they are fresh and modern...mmmm
pinholesand poloroids from the UK! On ETSY, baby!



We went to Brenckenridge recently on our 2nd annual family trip. I spotted these flowers in an old mining ore box....new hybrid? Love the combo! Love the colors!
On a hike recenly I came across this old latrine...it cracks me up.
I took this photo from my bathroom window...my grassland has been transformed. The field looks like a computer card from the late 70's!

summer

Bath Room Remodel mini-spa!

Hello John! This gives the best close-up shot of these oh-so not professionally photographed pics. I used 12x 12 on the diagonal on the floor, and brick set on the walls. Note the classic toilet...it may not be modern but it's clean!

This is the only detail shot I have of the travertine border and chair rail. The chair rail came in 12 inch lengths which is awesome usually. The challenge in this room was that most of the walls in the house have a radius so we had to cut them to make the curve...it seemed silly the have 12 inch in some areas and 4 inch in others so needless to say, the tile saw was hummin'!

During the remodel...the client wanted something, bright, light and classic for their basement level guest bath. I chose a light travetine. Only 4 inch tiles would make the radius of 2 shower walls and the main wall so I used a combo of 12x12s and these. The result was texture and the ability to change wall color and accessories down the road. FLEXIBILITY!

The shampoo niche, the shower floor, and the and area below the shower head are basket weave travertine mosaic....classic and delightful. Most shower pans have to be 3inches or smaller to make the proper drain slope. I have spec'ed 4 inches in larger pans...but only because I was trying to match an existing tile.

I chose blue to give it that watery spa like feel...and to coordinate fabric in the bedroom.
Unfortunately you can't see the cute little bun feet hiding under this cabinet I designed with the cabinet maker Jan Jensen. Counter is travertine slab with a classic ogee profile.
I call this the courtesy shelf- great for shaving legs! The mock window wall behind the toilet is all 12x 12s because of the way the glass shower door met the wall it seemed like the best aesthetic answer. the rest of the walls asked for wainscoting, and I said yes.

By the way, I call it a "mock window" because it lets in natural light through the adjoining bedroom.

Side note--I know I have been away for some time now, and I have 1,00 reasons and excuses...I 'll be posting weekly now rather than daily for a while...we'll see how it goes!