Old and New

Further thoughts on cooking under Gainsborough, there was a mix there of styles and periods in the Adam house and the very elegant Induction Table by La Cornue. It is one of my favorite ways to work with the elements of a space, the mix of old and new. New and elegant furniture in elegant old buildings, it is a mix that is very attractive and many people and most of my clients love. It is easy to achieve as shown here from Pia Ulin photos for Elle Interior Magazine or from the home of Fritz Hansen.

We see often old or reproduction furniture in a older building, or modern in a new building, all are great styles, but the mix and contrast of old and new brings together styles and blends our old buildings with the new ways we live. While the new fits very well in old spaces, the trick is to bring the old in a new space with out it looking out of place....another post.  xx

Refreshing and Renewal

My gosh where does time go, however, at last Spring is on its way. It was so piercingly cold last month. Today I felt that difference in the air, the kind when you know the worst of the winter is past.

It has been a couple of weeks since I have been to the blog, a dreadful winter cold knocked me down. But Vava was here to fill us in about the gorgeous new skirts... I love to wear skirts, particularly in warm weather riding my bike.

Starting a new project, a much needed extension that will bring a new kitchen, bathroom, laundry room and entrance and will transform the lives of this family. It will be a big change and renewal. Lots of light and space, space to move and light to illuminate.

Work Spaces

A place to work, a room of one's own, where ideas develop into reality in words, on canvas, in sound and now more often on screen and sent off on the internet. There have been several books written with lots of photos of where great writers wrote, what the studios where like of great painters, where musicians composed and always I am amazed at the simple rooms, not fussy, often exposed materials, often a window to look out.

The space doesn't need to be large, enough for a table, a chair, shelves, for painters and designers a good wall space to view work and always a window for light.

Since I am working on my own space, my work room, I am thinking a lot about work spaces and was looking at a few:

And this space with full floor to ceiling plate glass views over an ocean,  a composer would make music, a painter would paint the color of light... but it is probably for a banker looking at spreadsheets.

Further Progress

Over the weekend I removed all the old insulation boards, behind are some very old bricks. The insulation boards trapped the moisture in the room and cause mold to grow... blah. But what I am finding is some very nice old bricks. The next two days is to give them a scrub and prepare for paint. But I think I will keep one wall of bricks. So looking forward to getting this space finished.

Flooring

This weekend we are laying the floor, limed oak floorboards for the white kitchen, it is the surface that is most light reflective, increases the sense of space and makes it feel bigger.  I like the texture of wood, the grains and patterns, gives a room warmth...

White Kitchens

Automatism

For all who have been through renovating their own kitchen and to my clients who I have helped to renovate their homes, my heart goes out to you and urrrrrh! We endure...  but what keeps us going is the vision and the well ordered space to come, it is satisfying to see it come together.

I am still waiting on the plumber to install the first fix and the wood to adjust to the temperature inside, but clean newly plastered walls, wow. I am planning on all white, just white to make the space feel bigger and lighter and it is soothing.

Here are few white kitchens that look wonderful from some of my favorite blogs

79 ideas

79 ideas

Emma's Design Blog

A Fluorescent Tube

Source: blog.sfmoma.org via Kelly on Pinterest

Dan Flavin placed a T-8 fluorescent tube at a 45° angle and made us all look at it from a different angle.

A fluorescent tube when placed in the right place can provide good lighting. It is good task light and when washed down a wall is good background lighting. And I think in the right place, like Dan Flavin, it can fill a space with illumination.                              

White Curtains

Source: huamao.tumblr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

It is sunny today and breezy and with the windows open and the curtains billowing in the breeze, I am thinking about white curtains and what a quality of light it gives to the space. I like diffused light,  it is soft and has a subtle glow. It is calming. Some find it too cold.

I learned about curtain making in London, the dramatic and dressy effect well made curtains add to a room. Heavy curtains with interlining and trimmings and strong poles to support them, tie backs with tassels and jewels give a room elegance.

But in New York I came to appreciate the softness of a veil of fine white wool suspended in front of the large windows overlooking the sky, I found it equally elegant and ethereal. Here are some white curtains that have that feel:

Source: huamao.tumblr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Source: citified.blogspot.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Source: picasaweb.google.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Source: maloblogg.elleinterior.se via Kelly on Pinterest

I like the way this curtain is a patchwork of white scraps sewn together suspended in front of a window and gives that lovely soft light, no idea what is on the other side.

A Summer Space

A roof over 16 cast iron columns makes a really pleasing space

Blast Off

Source: nasa.gov via Kelly on Pinterest

NASA managers look on from Firing Room Four of the Launch Control Center as space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from Launch Pad 39A on Friday, July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch of Atlantis is the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program.

Having grown up in Florida, we watched the rockets blast off as they made their way to the moon. It was an ambition of many to grow up to be an astronaut. Recently when I visited Kennedy Space Center with my son, a scientist, we saw the Apollo 11 space craft, the Saturn V rocket and were amazed at the engineering and physics that went into it. My son couldn't believe they went to the moon without a calculator and computer.

NASA and space exploration has fed our imaginations, our culture, research into science, design and technology. I look forward to the watching and reading about the next adventures.