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.... 

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.

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

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

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

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

THE EDIT | a couple of the best articles I've read this week

I have been searching through feeds and articles and I've found some that are extremely interesting.  There's various topics so I hope you enjoy.  I'm including a snippet and the link over to read the articles in full.

Inspiration DE

first of all, doing work ....... on ourselves

over at POOSH, this article on creating a Woke Relationship ...i found this so very insightful

A Guide to Being WOKE IN A RELATIONSHIP

BY RYAN HADDON

Most people don’t realize this unspoken agreement when entering into a partnership. And then they don’t understand when their magical “soul mate” connection devolves into a relational sh&% show of unmet expectations and 

HOME | improve the appraisal value of your home

If your getting ready to sell or you're in the market to purchase a new home
there are several elements that can affect appraisal values.

Some of those are:

 -the location of your home and the surrounding property values

-the quality and condition of the construction

-the homes amenities

 -special features that affect value

Make sure your home stands out against competing properties by checking these basics first.... 

studio52.blog

DESIGN | three important design elements for the kitchen

There are so many things to consider when designing a kitchen.

Over the years I've dealt with a lot of bad design decisions in older homes I've lived in.

These experiences helped me pick out three elements that I think will make huge functional differences in your kitchen.

First, I had to decide what are my most important needs for the kitchen....

This will be different for everyone, but basically these elements will help us all be more efficient and it's even better if it's beautiful too.

Space for storage.  

Because I'm a collector... ok some might say 'hoarder',  I need lots of cabinets and pantry space for dishes, cookware, and appliances.  

So lets think a little deeper on this subject... kitchen cabinets:  

DESIGN POINT:  Take those cabinets to the ceiling ........ you'll be surprised at how much more functional, CLEAN space you get from just taking that extra design step.

tracymorrisdesign.com

                                        keep reading for more important design points!

DESIGN | a beautiful built-in bedroom nook

This gorgeous built-in bed would be right at home in an Italian villa, a french chateau, and your home.  Call in the carpenter and a mural artist and your on your way to recreating this gorgeous look in your bedroom.  Top this high design off with lots of luxe linens; I picture velvet duvet covers with embroidered lace, soft linen sheets and fluffy feather pillows for the full effect.  

more inspiration for this look here....

And, on a more practical note, you can create this look using a modified furniture piece.

Use a large armoire cabinet, modifying to hold a kids size mattress, add on a shelf or two for books and toys.... a sconce or string of lights for night time reading... and some shutter doors {complete with an adorable heart cut out} and paint your favorite Scandinavian color... ♥♥♥

This is an adorable idea for the children's rooms.  Create a cozy, safe nook for the kids to retreat to...

See more ideas for the kids rooms here

JULY | moodboard

so it seems that my mood called for two boards this time ..... ♥

What i mean by 'i miss my things'....  I'm still living with my Mother after graduating from university and all my own house things are in storage...where they've been for the last 10 years basically.  Someday, when I get my own home again, it will be like Christmas!
Somewhere in those boxes is my vintage tea pot collection, all sorts of lovely tea cups and vintage linens.  I love collecting silver candlesticks and trays too.  I miss my gorgeous, practically new, $3k sofa that is stacked against the back wall.... i go visit the things i collected throughout my life occasionally... rolling up the door and just staring at a wall of boxes and what-nots stacked high. Someday, it will be a walk down memory lane.

visit me here for more



happy summer days
                       xoxo, ande

HOME | what it takes to buy a home today

So many of us are thinking of purchasing our own homes and here is some pretty basic 

information to help us determine if we're ready for that challenge.

Of course, what I want and expect from a home is different from what others want and we all have different ideas of what we need from a home.  There's the differences between a 'first' home and a 'dream' home; but whether your purchasing a first home for newly weds or a second or third home midway through your journey, home is where the heart is.  In this article, they choose a range of cities with median home prices starting around $150k all the way up to $1M and tell us what it will take to get into a home in these price ranges, from your expected yearly salary to the amount you'll need to save before even attempting to get your mortgage.

The article, from 'make it', CNBC, a recognized world-leader in business news, "The salary you need to earn to be able to afford a home in 15 major US cities", gives insight into just how long it will take someone to save for the down-payment for a median priced home.  In cities from Ohio to California the standard for most of us is 20% down.  There are special circumstances that allow some to avoid down-payments. Some first time buyers and Veterans may qualify for this, but for the most part most of us will be facing this.  

The article points out that if you want to buy a home with a purchase price of $150k you will need to be earning a salary of at least $30,000/year and that it will take you (while earning $30k a year and having living expenses too) approximately 12 years to save the 20% down payment of $30,000 for a home in that price range (save $2500/year or about $210/month).  The median home value will vary according to regional and state locations so read on to see if your city made the list.

Just a note from me, and this is just my personal opinion, not to say that someone will not have the drive and determination to achieve this goal on that salary because I'm certain there are people making the sacrifices right now to achieve this, but.... $30,000/year is not much for a family to live on these days and if someone is having to pay for a home to live in(rental or otherwise), cars, and say health insurance for a family on that salary...it will be pretty difficult to set aside $2500/year for 12 years.  Now as the median home value goes up in other cities hopefully median salaries are increased as well.  Also, lets say you choose a home in a city with a median value of $200k to $300k, it will take you about 17 years to save for the down payment.  Do i need to say that I'm staring off into the sunset on that bit of information, in shock?  Ugh!

continue reading this article here

happy home hunting,  i feel like that might be sarcastic... sorry

                       xoxo, ande

FOOD | Strawberry Avocado Kale Summer Salad

With summer and the heat, a cool, refreshing salad sounds perfect.

this recipe comes from Garden & Table.  Enjoy!

Strawberry Avocado Kale Salad

Yield: 2 servings

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

6 cups baby kale {I like to add in some simple iceberg lettuce too, shredded}  PLEASE wash your lettuces and kale greens very well.  I use a strainer for the pre-chopped, bagged greens.

2 cups strawberries, washed well {use a baking soda, water mixture to get berries thoroughly clean}.

1 ripe avocado, sliced

Dressing

4 slices bacon

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds

salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Please kale, lettuce, strawberries and avocado in a large bowl and set aside.

For the dressing, cook the bacon until crisp.  Remove from pan and drain on paper towels. Crumble into small pieces, set aside.  Whisk together remaining ingredients and add bacon in, stir.

Drizzle over salad just before serving.  

Happy June 1st,

       xoxo, ande

JUNE | moodboard

it's already almost June.  was going to make a moodboard for May and it

zoomed by so quickly.... now the new month is here.

check out my moodboard in constant progress..... ♥

happy summer vibes,

          xoxo, ande

APRIL | moodboard

dreaming of ....

a woodland getaway 

elements for brand development from Lara's Wonderland ♥

a cup of tea 

adventure and discovery

Happy April Dreaming ......

                    xoxo, ande

ALWAYS ON | how we became the burnout generation

I'm sharing this article, found on TIG, {I, by the way, love their weekly articles of interest.  They find the most fascinating articles from all around.  Talk about having your fingers on the pulse.}  

This one struck me because these are issues I see affecting people close to me and even myself lately, and it is so debilitating that it can literally ruin your life.  I will say, this is a new complex for me.  The first part of my adult life was spent 'fighting the battle' with much zeal and reaping the rewards of that hard work.  Success came, and I had the ability to buy homes, land and cars, all before my mid 30's.  Now those things, which by the way provide protection from a chaotic world, seem far from attainable, even though I and my husband have completed bachelors degrees in tech fields.  I dont know if its the combination of extreme competition in the job market, the requirements of total subservience of time and self to the 'job', or our existence in social media that leads to a total disconnect from real life.  I think this article examines the differences between our image portrayed on social media, our image portrayed in the workforce and then, finally, at home and how all of the image juggling affects us.  These days I definitely see, without a doubt, that this 'ennui' is prevalent.

Maybe the insight will help us all to face it and deal.

"Technologies that mediate the self heighten consciousness, but that doesn’t mean they are empowering ... "

In December, it’s common for writers to highlight some of their best work from the year in Twitter threads. Almost without exception, these threads seem laced with self-deprecating humor, irony, or, more often, some combination of both. A more matter-of-fact or even earnest tone was somehow not an option; instead what seemed required was a kind of ironic disavowal of disavowal with regard to our online presentation: The tone foregrounds the idea that we all must put on an act that fools no one. I was sympathetic myself. Truth be known, I didn’t post such a thread precisely because I didn’t think I could pull that tone off.

That tone’s peculiar kind of self-consciousness seemed to me connected to the anecdotes of depleted willpower that Anne Helen Petersen described in “How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation.” Take, for example, Tim, who could not quite manage to register to vote ahead of the 2018 elections, or Petersen herself, who admits to what she calls “errand paralysis”: “I’d put something on my weekly to-do list, and it’d roll over, one week to the next, haunting me for months.”

Millennials, of course, are not the first to feel a persistent sense of depletion. Among the historical antecedents, as Petersen notes, is neurasthenia, a nervous condition frequently diagnosed in the 19th century. Another antecedent is acedia, a combination of indifference, apathy, carelessness, self-loathing, and sleepiness that early Christian monks called the “noonday devil.” The term referred to an inability to get things done,........

"In The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt argues that “totalitarianism strives not toward despotic rule over men, but toward a system in which men are superfluous.” Superfluity, as Arendt uses the term, suggests some combination of thoughtless automatism, interchangeability, and expend-ability. A person is superfluous when they operate within a system in a completely predictable way and can, as a consequence, be easily replaced. Individuality is worse than meaningless in this context; it threatens the system and must be eradicated."

                    continue reading at Real Life ....

BEAUTY | my favorite valentine beauty looks + products

WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE

Hello, I wanted to share a favorite valentine beauty collection.  I really love the new palette and the packaging is gorgeous, bright and happy.  I think it captures every kind of valentine beauty look.

This collection releases on February 1st.  Follow along with the release and purchase yours 

@kyliecosmetics and KYLIE COSMETICS

THE EDIT | Ande's January Wishlist

As 2019 begins, I'm looking for brighter horizons.  These last few years have been learning experiences in many ways.  There were classrooms, fantastic professors, so wise and uplifting; there was work and colleagues, struggles with change and expectations.

BUSINESS | where to find your next great job in 2019

If, like some of us, your looking to land a new and exciting tech job this year, where exactly are your best chances?  According to Forbes and top economists the best cities to search are as follows:

FOOD | eating clean

It's January and so it's time to clean up our eating act.  After eating lots of rich food over the holidays it will be a nice change to lots of veges, baked chicken and fish. 

I made a simple pot of cabbage and carrots, cooked with a tiny amount of salt and about 2 cups of chicken broth.  Also, baking boneless skinless chicken thighs with gold potatoes quartered and carrots was very satisfying.  The trick to making this dish turn out was placing the chicken thighs in the dish first, putting about a cup of water, some broth and about half a cup of lemon juice over, then spice with salt, pepper, garlic powder and thyme.  {the water, broth and juice keep the meat tender while it bakes which is super important so that it does not get tough and dry} I then placed the potatoes, cut into thick slices, and the carrots, simply peeled and cut into large chunks, on top of the chicken; basically covering the chicken with the veges completely.  Cover with foil and bake for about 45 minutes on 375.  Take the foil off for the last 15 minutes.

These dishes were simple and after eating too much rich food, the simplicity of basic homemade meals is nice.

I found a 5 day plan of clean eating on GOOP and will probably end up modifying it a bit but this is basically what I'm going to attempt this week.  We'll see how it works out... good luck everybody!

I will say this, there's NO way I'm giving up coffee soooo.... yea, I do plan to add the warm lemony water though.  Follow the link to GOOP for recipes.  I'm really looking forward to trying the Kale Ceaser with Chicken and Crispy Chickpeas.

The 5 Day Detox Plan

January Mood | Finding the path

I believe this new year holds endless opportunities to dream of and build the life we really desire.  Sometimes its harder to decide what the lifestyle of our dreams really is.  One moment, a life built around simplistic survival, provision of basics and the peace and harmony that comes with just being with the ones you love is all one could want.  And again, there is that rush that comes from tackling some great challenge and finding success beyond that.

For sure, we are considering all possibilities and trying to envision that perfect life.  You must dream it before you can build it has always been my creed. Here's a little inspiration from one of my favorite lifestyle blogs, This is Glamorous...

and perhaps

what made her beautiful

was not her appearance

or what she achieved,

but in her love

and in her courage,

and her audacity to believe:

no matter the darkness around her,

Light ran wild within her,

and that was the way she came alive,

and it showed up

in everything.

--Morgan Harper Nichols

best wishes for a happy new year

                 xoxo, ande