Office Charm

So many of us work from home these days.  Or, even if we do have "real" offices, we spend a lot of time on our computers at home.  Look at these gorgeous home offices, they make me want to get to work and completely redo mine!

creative influences

This pink Panton chair is fabulous and completely makes the room!

elle decor

decorology

Rustic beams and stark white walls... my absolute fave.

elle decor

made by girl



Simple, yet colourful art makes me so happy!

julianne moore's townhome

 I love how this office space looks like an extension of the rest of the house.  Comfortable yet super stylish.


elle decor

 We love an unexpected shot of lavender!  I think purple is supposed to make you feel inspired right?  This would be a great office for a creative type like an interior designer, artist, graphic designer.

So go on, be inspired and when you're thinking about your own interior design, don't forget about your office space!

 

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Kickin it, Cobalt Blue

Some people are of the school of thought that "less is more." I beg to differ, as I'm a firm believer that more is definitely more...and so rings true for one of my favourite colours...cobalt blue. Shocking, electric and definitely not for the faint of heart.  This colour makes an impact!  Whether you are considering a dash of this hue or you prefer the full palette, cobalt blue is magnetic!

good life of design



domino mag



  

miles redd

  

the lennoxx



fashionable interiors



 

a touch of luxe



cool spotter



My newest obsession... Cocoa & Hearts!

Do you read Made by Girl?  Hands down, it is quickly becoming my favourite lifestyle and design blog!  It's written by Jen Ramos, who is one seriously talented graphic artist based in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Jen is also an incredibly talented writer, photographer, designer and blogger.  Ahh, to have that much talent!  Her blog is filled to the brim with inspiration every single day.  Lucky for us, she's now turning her talent to painting.  All her paintings are for sale on her website http://www.cocoaandhearts.com/

cocoa&hearts

I absolutely love this one!  I just might have to pull out my credit card for this beauty, it'll be perfect behind my white slip covered sofa.

cocoaandhearts

 What a pretty, serene work space...

cocoa&hearts

Love all the dripping paint and textures in this one....

cocoa&hearts

Gorgeous colours and so pretty...

cocoa&hearts

I love the bright hits of colour against a pure white backdrop.  Right up my alley....

cocoa&hearts

P.S.  You also have to check out her home on her blog.  It's all so beautiful!

The Tiny White Cottage

This tiny Victorian cottage caught my eye sometime ago and I've been dying to blog about it ever since.  Originally, it seemed that I'd merely stumbled upon a series of beautiful photographs of a miniature cabin, set deep in the Catskills Mountains.  However, I soon realized that Sandy Foster's personal story and the driving force behind just why she built this cottage, is one that will make you stop and appreciate all that you have, even just for a moment.

new york times

Not so many years ago, Sandy Foster was a homeless teenage girl yearning for a place for her and her family to call their own.  They were a suburban, middle class family whose father had lost his broadcasting job and eventually lost the family home as well.  Sandy remembers the devastating effect that being homeless had on her  "If you don’t have a home, you don’t have a sense of place, you don’t have a life, you don’t have a soul,” she said. “This was a nice average suburban community. We were four kids and two parents living in a single room. I got very internal. I buckled down and did my homework. I got used to living in small spaces." 

new york times

As an adult, she was searching for a place to call her own.  Married to a man who loved animals, Sandy was living in a farmhouse filled with chaos, dirty dishes, clutter and a debilitating four hour commute to and from her more than full time job in the city.  After realizing that this lifestyle was leaving very little room for any kind of joy, the couple decided to downsize, sold their farmhouse and purchased this property in the Catskills.  

new york times


From the very first moment Sandy saw the property, she could envision the charming Victorian cottage she would eventually build.  

new york times

 
While the couple would live together full time in a 70's era mobile home on the property, Sandy would build her cottage and her husband would have his "man cave" a tent covered shed filled with a big screen television, clutter and lots of stray animals. 

new york times

Knowing she had always craved a pretty space, softly lit by chandeliers and filled with Limoges china, Sandy began renovating the old hunting cabin currently standing on their new property, into the stunning cottage she's dreamed of since she was a kid. 

new york times


She calls this tiny little place her "refuge".  Although to be honest, it really is only a fair weather refuge.  The cottage has no bathroom or kitchen or heat or plumbing either for that matter.  The whole project was renovated singlehandedly by Sandy and cost her just $3000. 

new york times

 
Sandy and Todd Foster still live full time on the property in the mobile home, but in many ways, Sandy has made her childhood dreams come true.  She has built herself a place to retreat from the stress of modern day life and forget about the ups and downs of being a grown up, even just for a little while.  

You can read more of her story and see her blog here...  www.shabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com 


* source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/24/garden/24cottage.html