14 March 2020

ART | Loré Pemberton

a lovely summer drawing by @lorepemberton

@lorepemberton

I follow this wonderful artist on instagram and just fell in love with this drawing.
It reminds me of my Grandmother's home and all of my cousins playing outside...and helping her with the chores.  One of my favorite things to help with was hanging the clothes on the clothesline.  She had a beautiful backyard that seamlessly flowed into the fields behind their home.  Every summer GrandDad had endless rows of corn or peanuts growing on three sides of their home and it was always so magical.  We had three, sometimes four gardens growing at various locations around the farm and in the summer she would wake me up to go with her to pick yellow squash, butter beans and field peas.  We would spend the rest of the day shelling and preparing the vegetables to put up in the freezer.  It was a beautiful life.... I miss you GrandMom and GrandDad!

happy springtime days,
            xoxo ande

15 January 2020

ENVIRONMENT | 6000 leagues under the sea

an interesting article for mid-week ...
history's largest mining operation is about to begin 

illustration of the ocean


Most people dont take much time out of their day to think about what life looks like in the deepest parts of our oceans.  As far as exploration of the planet goes, our oceans still have vast spaces unexplored and it wasn't until the 1970's that we even knew that deep water hydrothermal vents existed; and certainly didn't know that life could exist there, at 8000 feet deep. 

That theory capsized in 1977, when a pair of oceanographers began poking around the Pacific in a submersible vehicle. While exploring a range of underwater mountains near the Galápagos Islands, they spotted a hydrothermal vent about 8,000 feet deep. No one had ever seen an underwater hot spring before, though geologists suspected they might exist. As the oceanographers drew close to the vent, they made an even more startling discovery: A large congregation of animals was camped around the vent opening. These were not the feeble scavengers that one expected so far down. They were giant clams, purple octopuses, white crabs, and 10-foot tube worms, whose food chain began not with plants but with organic chemicals floating in the warm vent water.

Now consider that most of the world's largest mining companies are vying for rights to begin deep water mining operations... what do you think that might mean for ecological systems that we barely understand? 

On another note ... what would the definition of 'rare' mineral be?  What makes a diamond rare... would mining 1.4 million carats mean that they are still rare and continue to command such high prices?  It's a fair question ...

read more at The Atlantic, here


                                                                                                            ande

14 December 2019

HOME | industrial loft design with an edgy renaissance touch


Industrial isn't a new trend, it's been around for a while.  Kinda takes me back to the 90s when everyone was looking for something different and expressionism was at a high point. 
Maybe expressionism is swinging back around, where people are comfortable communicating their unique qualities rather than being boxed into a robot performance.

This chandelier is magical isn't it!?  I want to see this closer to see if it is draped in quartz crystal beads or are those tiny shells strung on silk.... gorgeous!
So what are some elements to inject into an industrial space to give impact.... 

Just like a beautifully designed car, a well-decorated industrial living room is at once breathtaking and impressive.  #industriallivingroom  #livingroom

when dealing with huge spaces like this... high ceilings, massive square footage call for large case pieces and upholstery ... these have to take up space.... otherwise your furniture will be lost.

InsoliteDesign on Twitter: "Old renovated church… "

Also think LARGE pieces of ART and over-sized LIGHTING...
This is a perfect place for both abstract and classical art pieces; think old masterpieces, portraits, expressionism and impressionist pieces, abstract art, landscapes on gallery wrapped canvases or in massive gilt frames.  
Although I am loving the effect of the small prints in vintage frames grouped as above.

Always think quality over quantity when buying furniture for your home... think longevity.  Rather than spending 500 on a cheap sofa that will break down after a year of use spend the money to purchase a quality piece that will last decades and if the fabric wears out or gets stained have it reupholstered.  The frame should be well constructed using quality supplies.  For case goods it is getting harder to find dove-tailed drawers and sturdy construction, but it is out there.  I would say if you find well-cared for authentic antiques, that is a much better investment.

I'd like to rant on an art point though and yes, I'm a bit of an art snob...I admit it proudly!  Please, when your choosing art take the time to search out local artists or national artists and purchase authentic art {supporting entrepreneurs} rather than production line art {defined as art that is produced on a literal production line...the subject matter is usually printed on the canvas and then sent down a line where workers are smearing colors on as fast as possible in the designated areas} ... some tell tell signs of production line art that I've seen are, sorry to say, 'asian' signatures, large scale standard canvas sizes, and standard box store gold frames ... also if your in a furniture store or antique store/home decor store {I've seen these stacked down hallways in antique stores where vendors go to the huge furniture markets and purchase CHEAP production line art and put in there rented booth spaces leaving un-knowing customers to think they are buying real art} ... just beware and do a little research {aka tha google machine} on the artist signature to see if it is a VALID work of art before spending your money on it.  The cheap stuff is usually priced between $200 up to $800 and that is markup for the vendor/store of generally four times their purchase price at market.
It would be great if you could trust your interior decorator to distinguish between production line art and use real local artists work but alas sometimes they are in it for the cash too and use the 'market' pieces marked up as well.  The thing about that is... any value that the production line piece has created stops at the point of sale.  Real, authentic art is, after all, an asset and can and should be valued as an asset in your financial records... it should be appraised and insured as an asset.
An authentic work of a local artist will vary in price range and that artists survival depends on patrons of the arts ... just saying support local artists instead please!  my rant is over ...whew

Wow! House goals! Love the combination of classic vintage and industrial styles.

I could sink into these fabulous velvet couches and stay forever, cozy with a book and hot tea...
On the topic of upholstered pieces... Over-sized sofas and chairs can range in price... I found quality pieces built with hard wood and screws with sturdy springs that are individually tied can be really pricey.... I say its worth the search.  Find a local shop and watch for their sales.  I found an awesome sofa that was originally priced $6k but got it half off and I've never regretted that purchase because it will be a quality piece in 10 years too... even if I have to spend 1000 to get re-upholstered... 
Another note on re-upholstery... if you find an older piece that is well built but the cushions are worn/the fabric is torn or its stained... have it re-done ...you get to pick your fabrics! 
**Design point here... have the cushions done with quality foam/stuffing ...there are various kinds and some is made to stand up to use over time and some is not...ask your upholstery person to show you the difference in foams, wrapping the foam seat cushions with stuffing and having cushions stuffed with a mix of standard stuffing in the center surrounded with down will make a huge difference in how your sofa holds up and the comfort level.

happy home designing ♥
                 xoxo, ande

17 September 2019

THE EDIT | a good read

Here is an article with some really great advice on 
careers, working and building a life you love from Garance Dore.  


I've been slowly making progress on a new project I'm developing.  Not only am I trying to 
build a new career or as in the article, a way to make a living that supports the lifestyle I want to have, I'm trying to teach myself new skills necessary for the work.  It's been a struggle but I've found that there are some amazing entrepreneurs out there willing to help others learn the skills they are utilizing and I'm so thankful for that.  My new project revolves around development.  I find that my interests, or passion is in so many areas {web, business, creativity, etc.} and am finding lots of help with keeping focus, scheduling time to work on various projects within this scope by seeing how other entrepreneurs are doing it.  Calendars are a must have, white boards with endless lists of to do's and the will to trudge through on days that inspiration is lacking is crucial.  When I have my project ready to launch I'll be including some of the tips that I've learned about time scheduling and so on because I also want to help others be successful.

I'm hoping that everyone has a great day of success and that we all keep trudging!

                                                                                  xoxo, ande

02 August 2019

AUGUST | moodboard


a new month is here and with that, a few moments for reflection...
I'm trying to listen more. 
Keep focused, keep working towards my goals and hoping for the best.
a new project is in the works and excitement is in the air



Summer is waning; some relief from the heat would be nice.
I'm looking forward to falls cooler days and nights,
beautiful leaves and breezes.
Check out my moodboard in progress

happy weekend... positive vibes,
                     xoxo, ande