Hello Everyone!

I have yet to work on the pictures I took while I was away on a trip the other weekend. I hope I can post them soon. A favorite quote from Kelly with regards to delays, “Life happens to us all”. I am not trying to be cheeky but she is right and I found that simple statement to be quite profound.

My sister came home for our mom (went to pick her up at the airport this morning) and I am quite happy about that. Yey!

By the way, Georgia is a natural when she gets her picture taken. I am such a proud mommy. Haha. *puffs chest out with pride*

Note: I can’t seem to string a couple of sentences at the moment and the thoughts above are quite random stuff, right off the top of my head. I will get some sleep for now and perhaps update this post tomorrow? (i.e. Add a couple more paragraphs). We’ll see.

Goodnight!

Quick Add (I am feeling a bit serious at the moment): With regards to the shoot above, I felt like doing it because it reminds me of Regina Brett’s  beautiful statement. I am at the most trying time of my life at present, with my mom being sick, but I try to constantly remind myself of Regina’s profound statements. The most appropriate one for this post being, “No Matter How You Feel, Get Up, Dress Up, and Show Up for Life”.

P.S. Please excuse my retard look with Georgia above. We were doing a quick smooch for the camera. Haha.

P.P.S. Happy Halloween! I’ll do Halloween posts (perhaps I’ll do one or two) in the next few days.

Super cool right?

Yes, it’s made of paper. These exquisite and highly detailed designs and paper sculptures (i.e. works of art) are by Calvin Nicholls. It is quite evident that he has a great deal of passion for his art and he says that he finds great satisfaction from exploring various techniques in paper sculpture.

More of his pieces, below. I for one enjoyed going over them immensely. Enjoy!

P.S. I (for the life of me) didn’t know these (referring to the paper sculptures) were even possible. I am simply in awe by his talent and if ever he welcomes apprentices, I will definitely fall in line. Haha.

P.P.S. My personal favorites are the zebras and the owl ones simply because I am partial to them. (Haha.) But in totality, I love all of them, amazing detailing! ♥

Yup, this is another Georgia update.

It’s funny how I said just yesterday that Georgia needs a haircut. That’s one thing off our list already, we went to the groomers today. It didn’t take too long for this particular visit because she just needed minor trimming plus the works. Her hair was starting to cover her eyes and when I call her, she has to sort of raise her head to look at me. She came out looking pretty  (she’s fabulous to begin with), smelling like flowers and her nails were neatly trimmed as well.

We have been going to the groomers for a long time now and I just found out today that they can also brush your pet’s teeth for you during the grooming. Too bad I wasn’t able to bring Georgia’s toothbrush (She has a blue one) and toothpaste (Poultry flavored. Awesssoome!) along.

I also had to get her some more food (She loves her biscuits lately. Hurrah!), vitamins, dental bones (As presents for when we get home. She loves treats.) and some veggie dent. When we were almost out the door, they asked us if I wanted to enter Georgia in the upcoming Halloween Fashion Show for Pets and their Owners. It sounds like a lot of fun but I’m not sure if Georgia’s up for it in a sense, perhaps another time. Georgia is asleep right now, she’s worn out.

That’s it for now. See you guys later.

A Funky Tuesday to Everyone!

To continue on with the “funkiness” of this post, here are a couple of pieces which I am in love with at the moment (I want one of each please. Haha.)

Dubbed as the “Trip Collection” by Italian lifestyle brand Seletti (who came up with the designs as well), this furniture collection actually does a reinterpretation of classic pieces – adding an edgy/funky modern touch. Definitely eye-catching pieces made from MDF with silkscreen prints. The prints include trendy  pied-de-poules and polka dots.

This brings two words in mind – Baroque and Versailles.

“(R)evolution is the only solution”

P.S. These pieces made me think of Marie Antoinette (for some weird reason) as well. I am definitely doing a post on her too!

P.P.S. My new favorite drink at the moment is Aloe Vera juice. It’s light and refreshing. I love it ♥! By the way, Georgia is due for a haircut and I hope to be able to bring her to the groomers this week.

It’s up! I’m glad I was able to meet Aimee (in a sense) and she was really nice – plus, she gave me the freedom to go crazy and do a post for her blog. Haha.

The pictures (lé visuals) I prepared for my post at her blog – I am posting them below as well for those who wish to do a quick inspection. For the full post (I assure you, I made it short and sweet), do check it out (and Aimee’s blog as well) here.

I love color a great deal but I also love using neutrals for spaces. Some people find beige to be boring or the use of a neutral palette to be bland but this only happens when you aren’t maximizing the potential of browns, creams, and neutrals in general. We had to render an interior in watercolor using only white once and believe me, there is a very thin line between the interior turning into blah and it becoming quite tasteful and interesting. You can create depth with neutrals and by striking a good balance, you can end up with an entirely elegant and timeless space. This I can assure you.

A couple of really quick tips I put together to help you out -

1. Play around with darker and lighter neutral colors

When utilizing neutrals, you can go ahead and utilize your beiges and your tans but remember not to use said colors for everything. By doing so, it makes the space boring quickly. This translates to you avoiding going crazy with  white and utilizing it for your walls, your ceiling, your floor, your furniture. Play with darker and lighter neutral colors for contrast. The lighter ones add a calming effect while the darker colors add depth to the space.

2. Incorporate patterns and some texture

Mixing textures will definitely add interest in a heartbeat (but remember to not overdo this). Utilize a variety of surface materials such as slate against a smooth tile or flat veneer with organic wood branches. Patterns work too. Think stripes or utilize a damask fabric.

3. Lighting is key

Lighting plays an important part as well in terms of adding a certain effect to the space and it is very important. No harsh white light here. Keep soft and warm lighting in mind (i.e. table lamps for some task lighting, accent lighting to highlight a wall installation perhaps and some soft overhead ambient lighting).

I went over beautiful interior photography by Moris Moreno and picked out a couple  of his interior shots which I really liked. They are good examples (color-wise) of achieving a good balance when using neutrals. Do check them out (as visuals) and I hope you can pick out a few key pieces when you can incorporate in your own interiors.

P.S. Many people think that neutral options are quite limited and only comprise the standard whites and browns. But there are choices available actually, we even have warm neutrals and cool neutrals. If you are lost and can’t decide on which choices to go for, here are a couple of popular selections that can get you going. Quick tip for the selection below – Remember to not think of the color in solitary  terms but rather a mesh of two or more colors to give the space definition and some character. For example, Wheat is a trendy color at present. To make this beautiful hue work for you, complement it with a dark tan shade. Think wheat for walls and placing an armchair upholstered in rich tan leather next to it.

P.P.S. On a lighter and less academic note, Hi Everyone! Haha. I was attending to a couple of things over the last few days and I am slowly working on stuff to get them done. I do hope you like this post and find it informative. A big thank you to Mr. Wonderful for his help with redirecting sites. Also, pictures about my trip from last weekend – I’ll be posting them over this weekend. Yup, my sentence construction and thought formation is weird (but I do make sense!) Haha. Stay tuned!

Hohum.

How’s everyone? I just got back last Sunday, I was away on a trip over the weekend (i.e. interior design- related). I was supposed to do a scheduled post that I had planned to publish (here in my design journal) while I was away but amidst my crazy packing session, the scary weather post the storm and the sudden unpredictable internet connection, I wasn’t able to do so.

When I did came back, I was settling in (I still have a pending to-do list and a couple of emails to work on. Eep.) and feeling a bit weird (from the warm weather there/the trip itself/our itinerary/all of the above – I’m not sure), I just hope I don’t get sick at all. Don’t worry, I will get back to doing regular posts hopefully in the next few days. Stay tuned for posts with a gazillion pictures about my trip (Yup, I was lugging my camera with me). Yey, I’m excited! Haha

Have a great week everyone!

P.S. It’s back to an overwhelming reality for me but it’s alright. Onwards with the battle! (Please do pray for my mom! Thanks.)

P.P.S. Yup, I’m just lurking…for now.

This particular work of art will leave you in awe. (At least I hope it will. It left me in awe and scared me just a bit. Haha.)

Jacques Louis-David was a very influential French painter (i.e. considered to be the most distinguished painter of the era) and his paintings were of the Neoclassical style. His name is forever embedded in my brain not only because he was a revolutionary artist but also because of my Art History class – we had to identify all his paintings! But I am certainly not complaining (re: identifying all his paintings) because they are such magnificent paintings and I believe any knowledge gained is priceless (Yey for school!).

Back to the main agenda of this post, one of his iconic paintings, “The Death of Marat” was chosen as the inspiration for the staging of André Cheniér for Bregenz Festival 2011. A spectacular production which consisted of a famous floating stage on the shore of Lake Constance, the image of Jean Paul Marat (as he was stabbed in his bath tub) became the  stage set. It stood over twenty-four meters above Lake Constance.

The amazing people responsible for this monumental production are Keith Warner (Director) and David Fielding (Stage Designer). The amazing music for the opera was provided by Umberto Giordano. Their opera “André Cheniér” was set against the background of the French Revolution.

P.S. If you wish to see a clip on the construction of the stage set, you may do so here – Bregenz Festival 2011 – Andre Chenier . It’s awesome!

P.P.S. ♥ -  I love the Opera (I’d love to be part of one too!) and my favorite one is The Phantom of the Opera (I listen to the songs while I’m on the treadmill. Yup, I am an unusual girl. Haha.)

Hola!

It’s been a rainy week and we are experiencing a storm as well. I watched the news earlier today and travel ports (sea and air) have canceled trips for everyone’s safety which I think is the best thing to do at the moment.

I wanted to feature some color in this post to counteract the gloominess of the weather at present. The spread below reminded me a great deal of Frieda Kahlo, a well-known Mexican painter who featured  a good number of self-portraits for her paintings. I will definitely do a post on her and some of her paintings one of these days.

I love the vividness of Mexico, the passion in their colors. I also love the concept for the spread (for  Plaid Magazine, Spring/Summer 2011) below and the set decor (Trivia – Interior Designers can also design sets too! I’m one of those who get excited with regards to this. Haha.) More inspiration for everyone below and Viva la Mexico!

P.S. Rainy days are quite stressful for Georgia, they scare her. With regards to the storm – Be safe everyone!

P.P.S. On a more upbeat note, Happy Birthday Miggy! I definitely ate a lot of ice cream tonight (i.e. we have five gallons for the party), I hope I don’t get a tummy ache. Buenas noches!

It has been a good few days since Steve Jobs’ death and I wanted to pay  my respects to him and his family. He was a brilliant person who utilized that brilliance to make an impact in the world. A man definitely ahead of his time. Cheers to you, Mr. Jobs!

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be dramatic, but it is quite true.”

- Steve Jobs

(Credits – All Beautiful Pictures from the Internet)

Since I was a little kid, I had always loved chocolate. Before my affinity for ice cream, cupcakes and dumplings – chocolate was always at the forefront. When you break off a piece of the chocolate block, and as you take a bite, all that lusciousness and that richness, that sweet chocolatey goodness creates a lovely symphony in your mouth and your taste buds would mutter a thank you. Plus it makes you happy too (haha).

Over the course of my existence (how profound! haha.), I have tasted quite a number of varieties (I’m not saying I’m an expert) and I am in love with all of them. I usually prefer the milk chocolate ones, the ones with almonds at times, with honeycomb, with rice crispies, with toffee, with mint in them or with caramel or the biscuit ones – Ok, I love almost all of them (haha).

They say that chocolate has chemical properties that may be responsible for those hard-to-place feelings of contentment and happiness. When feeling a bit blue, do have a bite or two but do so in moderation. Lately, I’ve been indulging myself with some dark chocolate and I suggest you do too. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and is good for your heart as well.

Two things to remember about chocolate – 1. If craving for some , do try eating dark chocolate instead, 2. Keep them away from your pets since chocolate is harmful to them and considered poisonous.

What are your chocolate favorites? ♥

P.S. I had a mellow weekend with the family and I am thankful. I also ate a lot. Haha. On a side note, if you have some time on your hands and would like to know some fun things about chocolate, do click here.

P.P.S. Visiting Guylian, this was a very amazing day. I had fun taking pictures as well.

Amazing photography and concepts by Jeff Orgina Photography. A partnership in collaboration between David Tortora and Jaime Travezan, a Peruvian and an Italian. I have been fascinated with fashion and though it precedes interior design and design for me, it still inspires me a great deal.

Jaime and David describe their outputs as “anti-minimal” and “realistic but categorically non-real”. I love their pictures because it pushes the envelope in the creative process and they know how to utilize image manipulation in a tasteful manner.

P.S. It doesn’t hurt either that there are cute doggies in some of them. (I’m such a girl. Haha.)

P.P.S. It was still a rainy day today but things are alright.  I miss drinking coffee, I miss drinking tea too!

Today's guest post is from Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting (a fantastic online resource for gorgeous light fixtures and lamps for the home).


There is an interesting mix of contemporary and rustic styles in design these days. Have you seen it? Do you love it? Hate it? Rustic walls give contemporary spaces, especially minimalist spaces, added texture and pattern. Using reclaimed wood, barn doors and wood paneling in new ways, these rustic walls in contemporary spaces feel very chic. Here are some of our favorites:

This rustic wood wall feels contemporary in this minimalist bedroom. The simple colors and linear lines of the wall are in keeping with the contemporary style of the rest of the room.

This reclaimed wood wall is a DIY project. Love the simple lights as wall sconces that add illumination but keep the space feeling contemporary. The headboard project could be continued over the entire wall for an even more rustic feeling.

Barn style doors in this contemporary farmhouse kitchen add rustic style while hiding storage. Barn doors are great in contemporary design for their simple lines and functionality.

An all white contemporary space gets some color and texture with this barn door to the bathroom. It almost has an industrial feeling to it.

An old barn door makes for a rustic accent wall in this contemporary nursery space. Reclaimed wood is a great way to add rustic style to a contemporary space.

This contemporary foyer has natural stone walls that are more typical in a farmhouse style space. Natural elements, wood, stone, plaster, that are more typical of rustic décor look fantastic when paired with contemporary furnishings and light fixtures.

This contemporary bathroom has gorgeous wood paneling that is more chic than rustic. Wood walls, typical of rustic style, give warmth to sleek contemporary spaces.

This chic contemporary bedroom has a cool rustic wood wall that almost looks like pallets. The horizontal slats have a fantastic graphic look to them.

These contemporary spaces with a touch of the outdoors are clean, classic and cozy. If you’re looking for more inspiration, visit Arcadian Lighting’s website for design ideas and a brilliant array of lighting fixtures to choose from.

Images (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

P.S. This is The Sea Green Journal’s first ever guest post. Thank you very much to Susi for putting together such useful information. I do love rustic walls, they add texture and a certain character to any space.How about you?

P.P.S. It’s a rainy friday for me. Georgia and I saw a couple of birds and their nests in our front yard today. How cool! ♥

Have a great weekend ahead, everyone!

A color scheme you can try out (I actually love it, love color ♥). It adds warmth to your space and will let you transcend from one style to another in a very manageable manner. In a way, it reminds me of the tropics and hot warm days while sipping lemonade.

Remember, do not be afraid to use orange and blue together. When done properly, they can produce dramatic results and don’t forget your neutrals. The interior above is still a very good example even if the use of said colors is done quite sparingly.

Before I go, I just realized that this is my 100th post! Wow, cool beans

P.S. Good news made me very thankful today and we go on. On a different note, Georgia needs a bath and I just made a really good soup concoction. Would you like a recipe?

P.P.S. A guest post tomorrow by Susi (a writer from Arcadian Lighting). Stay tuned!

I have always loved anything Mediterranean – the cuisine (I even love watching cooking shows with amazing ingredients influenced by cultures near the Mediterranean Sea), the details in the design style (Sparkling sunny days, vibrant produce, vivid turquoise waters), it is basically relaxed design and nature is quite apparent in the architectural elements.

I will expound more on Mediterranean design in a separate post for those of you who wish to know more about it or wish to incorporate in your interiors.

A good example of an interior concept that I am especially in love with right now is the Blanc Restaurant and Lounge of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona. It exhibits a settle Mediterranean feel in a more contemporary setting (I love it! ♥).

Patricia Urquiola, the brilliant designer for the space, made use of creative spatial layouts and a dramatic openess through the ceiling decorations. The palette is mainly neutral and oh so refreshing (to the point of making me gush even. Haha.).

P.S. Yup, having lunch here someday is definitely in my bucket list. (Lunch is between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Noted. Haha.)

(Steak Salad Photo Credit – Thomas J. Story)

Hey Mister. Happy Birthday.

“Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that people who have the most live the longest.”

-Larry Lorenzoni

P.S. Georgia is gorgeous.

A really great day actually with all sorts of good things – penguins!, cupcakes, chips, manatees, turtles, jellyfish, funky music, mermaids (I love The Little Mermaid!), touching shark eggs, among other things.

I clicked away and thus the bajillion pictures below. Art and design inspiration everywhere. All these beautiful colors. Awesome sauce ♥

Have a great weekend everyone!