Hi, my name is Amy and I'm a designaholic.

"So you see, imagination needs moodling - long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering." Brenda Ueland

12.19.2006

My little bad ass


I realize this it totally out of the realm of design, but I couldn't resist!

Comfort in the Scottish Countryside


I've been wanting to write about Rosie Brown's house from the very first time I saw it in the November issue of Domino and seeing it featured again in the December of issue of Living Etc was the kick in the pants I needed to get writing on the matter.

Imagine a time when the world was smaller, the pace was slower, and you could stop and smell the flowers - that just happened to grow wildly in your 150 acre backyard. A time when you built your house with your bare hands and the material mother nature gave you. Well, most likely what your imagining is Rosie Browns amazing retreat on the coast of Scotland. The home is a 150 year old red-sandstone cottage and she's managed to create a warm and inviting, personal space that just begs you to slow down and smell the flowers, or mint, or eucalyptus. She's done a fantastic job of mixing the old, the new and the eclectic to form a space all her own. This is truly an inspirational house that reminds you to buy what you love and everything else will fall into place.


(photos courtesy of IPC Media, Ltd.)

I'd also like to mention her wonderful website, www.papastour.com, where she features Scottish artists and artisans work. I'm particularly drawn to the photography of the products - so refreshing for an ecommerce site.


(photo courtesy of www.papastour.com)

Incidentally, you can have a piece of Rosie Brown's design sense all to yourself, if but for one week at a time! "Papa Stour have recently refurbished a charming croft called Callakille, up in the North West Highlands of Scotland which is now available to rent. It is located 8 miles north of Applecross in one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, with fabulous uninterrupted views over to Skye, Raasay and Rona." Rates are available at http://www.wildernesscottages.co.uk


(photo courtesy of www.papastour.com)

12.08.2006

For the rest of us

Do you ever read those home magazines, wondering where could the homeowners have possibly found all of those wonderful pieces of furniture, lamps, wall art, consoles, etc, etc? How do these people do it? Where do they find the time? The resources? The MONEY?? Especially, when inevitably, those beautifully decorated homages to mid-century pieces of Eames and the like are all owned by "fledgling" fashion designers or photographers? Right, because as a "fledgling" graphic designer my largest homage is to the great world of Ikea. Well, I have found a resource, which I hesitate to put out there, but believe it could possibly help the rest of us with the hope of one day having our own collection of wonderful home pieces. It's called 1stdibs.com and I've become an addict. I'm searching for that perfect piece, particularly a couch, and this little website gives you access to tons of antique collectors, and their collections, around the country. Ahh, just in time for the Holidays!

Enjoy!

http://www.1stdibs.com/