WEEKLY INSPIRATIONS.....SCANDINAVIAN STYLE

This design style has been around for a while. Emerging in the 50's and 60's, Scandinavian designs exhibit simplicity, minimalism, functionality and affordability. Think Marimekko. Although I don't know about it being affordable - some of the mod furniture pieces I came across on my surfing adventures were up there $$$! But, you can always get a slice of affordable Scandinavian fare at big box giant IKEA!

To me this style is modern, simple and white with natural elements like light wood chairs and pops of colorful graphic art. What do you think of it? Could you do herringbone pattern on your wood floors?

Here's a few examples.
Hope you like...

1.Cole Chair from The Century House

2. Order Valet stand Design House Stockholm

3. Wallpaper from Ferm Living

4. Gotland Sheepskin-Huset

5. Print from artist Ingela P Arrhenius

6. Planter from IKEA-$2.99

7. Ring Binders from Ferm Living

8. Potholder from Happy STHLM

9. Lamendahl's Herring storage jar-Huset

10. Isak cups with oak lid $39 - The Sweden Shop

11. Work lamp $100 - Design House Stockholm

12. Venetsia platter from Arabia Finland

13. Copenhagen Tea Towel-from Ferm Living

14. Ceramic Vases from Ferm Living

15. Pillow from Happy STHLM

16. Elbow chair from The Century House

17. Carrie Baskets-Design House Stockholm

18 Step Ladder-Design House Stockholm

19. Ferm Remix Blanket $145-Huset

HAPPY SURFING!

FRIDAY'S PRETTY ROOMS...NAUTICAL STYLE

Ending the week of nautical style with a few pretty rooms. I think the key here is to not go overboard-just a add a few fun things to your space for a fresh summer style. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! We were going to go camping but decided to spend this Memorial Day doing some much needed yard work, hanging out and BBQ-ing with family and friends. See you soon...




kids room via Alkemie blog



beachy patterned bedroom via Coastal living



prettiness via Desire to Inspire




desire to inspire




Coastal Living



Heirloom Philosophy Blog

My design Chic Blog

Fancy House Road Blog

Coastal Living

Coastal Living

all the elements of nautical style...

Fancy House Road blog

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!

HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND!

THURSDAY ART ADDITIONS...NAUTICAL STYLE

OK-I was kinda busy this week and didn't do much artwork. My husband is flying in tonite from work-yay!-so I have to leave soon, bring the kids to the airport and pick up dad! Needless to say artwork always takes a backseat to housework-especially when dad is on the road! I just read on "A Cup Of Jo blog" about the most annoying words and one was hubby-alot of people hate that-lol-it's a great list today and the comments are even more funny-so that's why I went with "husband"-my readership isn't high enough to want to drive you away with annoying grammar! hahahaha...

So-here's a few things I had and a funny "keep calm" parody I did this morning-well, I thought it was funny! (BTW-"well" made that list too-can you believe that? I love "well" :)...

Hope you like...

"keep calm lobster" print-keep calm posters are everywhere-generate you own here  at Keep-calm-o-matic!

the E sailing flag

the D sailing flag

"little boat-blue" original acylic on canvas with digital edit and text

"little boat-green" original acrylic painting on canvas with digital edit and text

NAUTICAL NUMBERS-11X14 $15 MY ETSY SHOP

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR SOME PRETTY ROOMS...NAUTICAL STYLE!

WEDNESDAY ETSY FINDS...NAUTICAL BEACHY THINGS!

In keeping with this weeks East Coast style nautical theme, I've once again skimmed over Etsy to find a few samples you might like....

East Witching- Animals Matter.This is what this shop is about - raising awareness and appreciation of animals, painting them and selling art that helps protect them. She is passionate about her subjects and donates a portion of her proceeds each month to these programs:

http://www.wspa.com/
http://www.onekind.org/
http://www.rspb.org/
PSST-Her watercolor animal prints are just so pretty!
Check it out...

Black Baroque:I love the technique she uses-of recycling old books and printing on them. There are lots of prints in this shop that are great-not just sea creatures! ;)
See for yourself...

3 shops to choose from here with cute little things for your cute little things...each shop had a few nauty styles but check out the other stuff too...

A. Eight Baby Legs
B. Sweet Pickle 2
C. The Nook

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR THURSDAY ART ADDITIONS....

TUESDAY INSPIRATION PIECE AND BEACHY DIY CRAFT!

Well I bricked on my little DIY last week so I have one for you today! I was inspired by this weeks beachy nautical theme, to trek down to the beach with the kiddos and play in the sand. They loved it and so did I-but I also had a plan...

DIY SAND LETTERS...

This craft was quite messy but super easy and for me-it was free! I have bins and closets (plural) full of craft stuff. I bought the cardboard pre-cut letters at Hobby Lobby last year for $1.77-used my trusty Mod Podge for the adhesive, scooped up some free sand at the beach, sprinkled a little gold glitter for an extra sparkle to add depth, and kept all the sand in place by spraying with an acrylic clear coat. Here's my sequence of events. I won't go into full tutorial  mode about it because it's pretty self explanatory. Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty! Your kids will love it!

PRETTY PALETTE AND INSPIRATION PIECE....

Many designers agree that finding your "inspiration piece" is central to decorating your space. It can be anything really-artwork, a vase, rug or furniture piece. Today's nautical inspiration piece was painted by Winston Churchill in 1933. I think it has a kind of contemporary feel-great for a updated nauty cottage look. What do you think?

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR SOME NAUTICAL ETSY FINDS...

MONDAY INSPIRATIONS.....COTTAGE BY THE SEA!

Well if you read my blog on a regular basis, you probably know that I appreciate just about every design style out there and represent that variety here on AF. This week is all about the fun summer stylings of the beach cottage!

When summer hits this design style always appeals to me. I don't have a beach cottage home by any means but I think it's fun to incorporate some of these elements during the beachy summer season. There are many different types of beach cottage styles and they all are very popular right now.

 This week I'm focusing on the East Coast Nautical cottage style. We live in a beach community-on Lake Huron-but we don't have lobsters, so it's all about fishing for trout around here! I think I might do a four part beach cottage series to represent the many styles out there. Personally, I love the California Huntington Beach Surfer style cottage stuff! I'm thinking the beach cottage style is an inexhaustible topic! I tend toward the simple and modern so you can expect at least that from me!

So let's keep it simple and stylish with some East Coast Nautical elements for your "summer house"

Hope you like....

1. Barrel Swing-$695 - The Conran Shop

2. Graphic pattern beach hat-bonniesknitting.etsy.com

3. Ceramic drink dispenser-Pottery Barn

4. Silver Lantern light string-Pottery Barn

5. "Keep Calm" beach style art-Cottage Coastal Store

6. fillable clear lamps from Lamps Plus-$99

7. Brussels Coffee Table-Cottage and Bungalow

8. "Pen Duick" replica ship-Nautical Key

9. Shell bowls from Pottery Barn

10. Outdoor Wicker caddy-Pottery Barn

11. Electric Pendant Globe Lamp $276-Nautical Key

12. Decorative Oars-$80-100 Nautical Key

13. White Metal Folding Chair-$99-The Conran Shop

14. Fun pillows from Cottage Coastal and Cottage and Bungalow

15. Vintage Beach Sign-Cottage and Bungalow

16. Lighthouse Stripe rug in Khaki-Dash and Albert

17. Double Happiness Wine Table $1290 (Made in the USA) Cottage and Bungalow

SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR TUESDAY'S ANYTHING GOES-BEACH STYLE!

FRIDAY TEA PARTY PRETTIES...

I really enjoyed doing the Tea Party stuff this week. I felt like I was getting back in touch with my feminine side after a long hiatus! Today I have some pretty pictures to look through and an article I found about putting together a tea party with friends. There's info on ideas, themes, and recipes so check it out!

Hope you like...

Click on my tea party inspired art print to check out some ideas and books about how to have a fabulous tea party that isn't just for little girls....

Afternoon Tea

Alice in Wonderland from Amber-Flickr

pretty evening table...

tea party birthday celebration...

big girls like tea too...

image via British Larder.uk

via Domestic Reflections Blog

via Life through lavender colored glasses

Flickr

Tumblr

Pinterest

Circus Wedding

via Design Sponge

Rini's Wonderland Tumblr

via shark bait star tumblr

Simple Bloom Photography

via Small Rooms Tumblr

Talking Tables.uk

the Mad Hatter...



Via We heart it..



image via Tumblr

 image via Victoria's vintage

from Papaya via We Heart It

also-
 my DIY project was a bust so I scrapped it-Sorry it just wasn't post worthy lol! 

SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY!

HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND!