What You've Been Waiting For

I realize that in the 4+ months of having this design/decorating blog I have not yet designed nor decorated a single room.  Well, that is about to be rectified!  Over the course of the next month or so, I will be redesigning my medium-sized standard bedroom.

This first makeover should be a special one - in keeping with the theme of the blog, I am taking direct inspiration from the decor of soviet times.  As you can see in the mood board above, simple working-class furniture will be set against the more luxurious accents of baroque-influenced upper-class design.  I'm going to tie it all together with vintage-inspired prints and patterns, and some special artwork that will debut later this week.

Via Marc Veraart and nnm.ru

This makeover will have it all - a small budget, big-box furniture, vintage finds, and a bunch of DIY projects.  Follow me on my first documented adventure, as I transform a boring bedroom into a chic retro retreat!

Pack It In: Creating Shadow Box Displays

I am a sentimentalist, a.k.a. I have a lot of stuff.  I collect anything that holds a memory of a special person, place, or moment.  Most of us have objects that are dear to us for various reasons, but they often live out of sight, or on an over crowded shelf.

Shadow boxes are here to help!  They don't just protect your precious items from the dust, but also give them the spotlight they deserve.

What is it about a glass box that would make even a dirty sock seem important?

A shadow box allows you to create a personal display - a 3-dimentional work of art - and can be changed as often as desired.

The key to any great display though, is editing - the less cluttered it is, the more importance each item will hold.  Not sure where to start?  Choose items by theme and colour palette.  

The display I've created is in memory of my grandmother and her sister; there are two photographs of them as children, and every other item belonged to one of them.

Create a dynamic display with items of different scale and texture.  Don't the amber pieces look more interesting next to the woven lapti than on their own?

If you have a lot of items you want to display, don't go buying 10 shadow boxes.  Commit to creating a new display a few times a year, that way you can reminisce while creating each new collection, and really enjoy each display while it's out!

Paper Craft at Its Finest

I was perusing Pinterest during the week when I came across the photo below, and my heart skipped a beat.  The movement and life of the colourful swirls left me so excited and inspired!  This old craft called quilling is the specialty of London graphic designer Yulia Brodskaya.

Thanks to her unique craft, abilities and (clearly) patience, Yulia busted into the advertising world immidiately after receiving her degree in graphic design, and has been keeping very busy since.  With an extensive and impressive list of clients, each custom creation is hand made, and is always beautifully detailed, delicate, and whimsical.

Most designs have an abundance of saturated colour and exude a happiness that comes off the page and immediately brightens your mood.

Yulia has designed artwork for almost everything - books, galleries, magazines, car and phone companies, and Starbucks...to name a few.

And though every image makes me lose my breath a little, this Dairy Milk ad seems to impress me most at the moment - perhaps because it's so artistic and realistic at the same time.

I'm sure we will be seeing more of Yulia's awe-inspiring work in the future, but for now be sure to check out her website to see her extensive portfolio of beautiful paper graphics!

2 for 1: Cross-stitched Rugs!

In the short life of this blog, I've already written about both rugs and cross-stitching multiple times.  Now get ready for both in one!

I've had images of Charlotte Lancelot's Canevas collection in my folder for a long time, and I am finally going to share them with those of you haven't yet seen her creations.

Charlotte created this collection for GAN, and each item is made by hand.  The embroidery is all made of felt, and adorns rugs (my favourite), cushions and oversized pouffes.

Lancelot focuses on the durability and longevity of her products, expecting them to change many hands over their life - as well they should.  I love the look of this collection!  The same technique can produce a very traditional result, like the faded-looking flower rug, or a very contemporary look - the pouffes have a pixilated digital look to them.  

These pieces will add texture to any room, and would be perfect to perk up a high traffic family or play room.  See below!

All photos via Contemporist.com