cygnesdelanuit: My collection of flowers

cygnesdelanuit:

My collection of flowers

angeladalinger: Potted Flowers III

angeladalinger:

Potted Flowers III

The loggia, terraced gardens at Villa del Balbianello, Lake...

The loggia, terraced gardens at Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como, Italy. 

Succulents in hanging baskets.

Succulents in hanging baskets.

New plant release: Gardenia ‘Crown Jewel’ - combines...

New plant release: Gardenia ‘Crown Jewel’ - combines the best elements of other Gardenias for a superior shrub. The new hybrid is a controlled cross between ‘Kleim’s Hardy’ and ‘Chuck Hayes’ and was developed by Philip Dark at Oakmont Nursery in North Carolina. Good cold hardiness, double fragrant blooms, and a dwarf spreading habit combine to make this a beautiful and functional new evergreen ground cover shrub. Cold hardiness Zones 6-10, testing in Zone 5. 

Monet in his garden at Giverny, 1922. New York Times, photo...

Monet in his garden at Giverny, 1922. New York Times, photo archive.

Using mirrors in a room

Mirrors aren’t necessarily for looking at yourself in- although they’re very useful for this too.!!!!

From a designer’s point of view a strategically placed mirror can do many things.

It can expand a space, making an area seem longer, wider or bigger  than it actually is , helping to create an optical illusion- in the right hands this is a very powerful tool and can transform something mediocre and cramped into something spectacular.

It can reflect light - which was one of it’s very earliest uses before electricity- in the days of candle power.Even today a dull light starved room can have it’s natural light quota doubled by a mirror in the right place.

Mirrors can be used to multiply views or objects - think of a small  but lovely outside view in an urban flat- this could be reflected inside by a well placed mirror- transforming the feel of the flat .

Although very useful you must be cautious in where you place your mirror - don’t just put it somewhere because you think it’ll look good there.

Consider what it’ll be reflecting- you don’t want it reflecting something unsightly or ugly. You don’t want it reflecting too bright sunlight blinding you .

Consider the size and proportion when purchasing a mirror and consider what this will do to your room.

Below are a number of images that may inspire you .

Tolix chair

They’re everywhere , we even have them in our office.All of a sudden the Tolix chair is THE on trend item . It’s cheap, sturdy,suitable for in door and outdoor use and comes in a huge variety of colours from galvanised metal to bright colours .It’s styling lends itself to every possible style of interior from classic country through to shabby chic to urban cool - no matter where you put it it fits right in .

A design classic that’s been around since 1934 when it was designed by Xavier Pauchard who pioneered the process of galvanisation in France where it was used in cafes and public parks (look at it’s shape it’s very Paris between the wars !)

So if you need new garden furniture or some indoor chairs take a look at the Tolix- inspiration images below .

Bright colours in the home

I know that lots of you are a little trepidatious  when it comes to adding a pop of colour to your home . Some of you feel that you may be  investing  in something that may be a mistake, some of you claim not to like colour - although I must say that often once clients have tried a bit of colour they see how it positively enhances their design scheme .Some of you feel that you may tire of bright colours It’s all by degree you don’t need to live in a kaleidoscope to appreciate a touch of colour in your home  .

It’s a fact that when the economy is gloomy fashion colours are bright- take a look at at what’s in the shops this spring, psychologically we need to inject some brightness in our lives so we do it through clothes .The same goes for homes -a little brightness goes a long long way.

Try it - it could be a lick of paint around an old mirror , a few brightly coloured vases picked up at a car boot or a bright rug . All of these items are instant uplifts for your home and need not be permanent if you don’t like them or you want a change .

So have a go - lift your spirits and add some energy to your home.

Still Life (1927), rotogravure, Henri Fantin-Latour

Still Life (1927), rotogravure, Henri Fantin-Latour

My blue heaven: Bell Flower, Platycodon (blooms in May, re-bloom...

My blue heaven: Bell Flower, Platycodon (blooms in May, re-bloom in September) for the partly-shaded perennial garden.

“Lemonade & Grape Garden” ~ a container mix....

“Lemonade & Grape Garden” ~ a container mix. Summertime swoon!

Datura inoxia ‘Evening Fragrance’ (Thorn Apple) ~...

Datura inoxia ‘Evening Fragrance’ (Thorn Apple) ~ huge, fragrant trumpet-shaped flowers with ruffled edges and large slate-blue leaves. All parts of the plant are highly toxic, and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals. The alkaloids of Datura inoxia are similar to those of mandrake, deadly nightshade, and henbane, which are also poisonous plants. 

I could not find a credit for this “photo” but I...

I could not find a credit for this “photo” but I think it’s worth sharing. The “author” of the quote appears to be anonymous. 

Not being a student of physics, but finding physics fascinating, I tried to research this a little on my own to determine the Absolute Truth (inquiring minds need to know).  I think I’ve confirmed (1) we see less than 1% of the electromagnetic spectrum; (2) we hear less than 1% of the acoustic spectrum; (3) we seem to be traveling at 217 km per second (rather than 220); (4) yes, we have 46 chromosomes and a potato has 48 (2 more than humans); and (5) according to the National Institutes of Health, 90% of the cells in the human body are bacterial, fungal, or otherwise non-human.
Well. All this puts a different perspective on things….