quilting

I love this sunny spot with a lovely quilt made from a vintage tablecloth. Visit this link to learn how to make one of your own.

{A School Quilting Project}

Check out The Long Thread blog to follow the progress of a school project involving the handiwork of nearly 400 children!

pleasing harmony

Rosmosegaard in Denmark is a c. 1850s red brick farmhouse (renovated in 2007) where Chinese antiques and contemporary Italian pieces mix with steel fixtures, African slate tiles, and gallery-style, cool white walls. Homeowner Ida Thurmer calls it a "pleasing harmony" (Period Living; photos/styling: Lise and Kristian Krogh). 

Here are a few finds to help you mimic this pleasing harmony:

Spode "Blue Italian" platter, Gift Collector

Vintage Chinese "tripod" stool, Pearl River

Indian flatbread plate, Wisteria

Bayleaf and rosemary wreath, Are Naturals

{additional resources}

Old Chinese carved stone mortars (used as small planters): Great Stuff By Paul

"Carter Filigree" candle lanterns (shown by the fireplace): Pottery Barn

bathroom of the week

I love the planked walls in this charming bath space by Amy D. Morris Interiors.

hints of yellow-gold...

Images credit: InsideHomePage

mirror, mirror

This fabulous mirror serves the dual purpose of bringing art and light into the room (photo: Richard Powers via 16 House).

Speaking of mirrors, have you got an old one you'd like to jazz up? Click here for a step-by-step gold leafing tutorial from designer Samantha Pynn. No expertise required for this gilding project, and you can get the affordable gold leaf sheets at your local craft store or order online (shown below: book of 25 sheets @ $6.99, RexArt.com):

You could end up with something like this:

two beds, two styles

A little fancy? I love this antique-style bed from The Workshops of David T. Smith. A script monogram and a bit of a ruffle, seen on a bolster pillow made from a 1930s grain sack, would complement this bed's hand-carved lines.

Another lovely, made-to-order bed from The Workshops of David T. Smith: The design below has simple lines and a more primitive feel, which would pair well with crisp, white sheets and a touch of linen, as in a gray, embroidered lumbar pillow from Gore Dean (bottom):

inspiration: midcentury craft

I'm fascinated by the spiral staircase in the Pennsylvania home of architect Wharton Esherick (photo: Leslie Williamson). Wouldn't you like to see where this leads?

inviting

An inviting front door. Hello, wisteria!

An inviting dinner party...pick your own oranges!

An inviting daybed (Victoria Thompson design).

inspired by: eva zeisel

Industrial designer and artist Eva Zeisel was born in Hungary in 1906. Her body of work comprises everything from paintings to modernist dinnerware to avant-garde furniture (a venture she began in her 80s). Zeisel's work can be found in museums all over the world, Design Within Reach, and even in a reproduced collection at Crate and Barrel. I'm inspired by her self-described "playful search for beauty."

Photos (top to bottom): Zeisel in the 1930s (courtesy Eva Zeisel archives); Zeisel's living room (photo: Mark Heitoff); Zeisel in her home studio, surrounded by her work (Heitoff); Zeisel at her solo exhibit, 1951, Akron Art Institute (Eva Zeisel archives via DWR); Zeisel's bathroom today, adorned with her own 1920s oil paintings (Heitoff); Zeisel's signature "curvilinear" style.

{Read more about her fascinating life and work—including a period of false imprisonment and solitary confinement—here and here}

{Preview the documentary about Zeisel, Throwing Curves, here}

bathroom of the week

A serene space....I love the placement of the mirror between the windows (photo: Lisa Romerein). 

Happy weekend!

circa home

Circa Home is a great source for American country-style accessories that, on their own, can give any space an element of vintage. The garland (top) is made of dried okra and nutmeg. The wall hanging (second from top) is part of a clay collection made from impressions of c. 1800s tombstones throughout New England. I also love the tin accessories—equally at home in industrial-modern spaces and country houses.

two guest rooms for tuesday

Facing twins beds in desinger Darryl Carter's Virginia farmhouse (photo: Simon Upton).

Two old, French steel beds in a room designed by Tom Stringer (photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo).

rustic + delicious

Wooden cake stand, Sunday Hatch

Wood-look paper cupcake holders, Nellie Cakes (featured here)

Apple tarts served in cast-iron skillets from Lodge (photo: Heather Baird)

{Apple tarts recipe at Sprinkle Bakes!}

delightful swedish space

All white walls...ideal for colorful artwork and rugs (via Lovenordic).

anna weatherley

Works of art for the table or wall...the handpainted pieces of Anna Weatherley's dinnerware collections.