Let's make things quite informal here...

I've been thinking a lot about the formality of this blog and I've concluded that I want it to be pretty informal... Actually, VERY informal, in that the majority of my posts will contain a lot of images, images which I don't plan on labeling or citing beyond a simple disclaimer at the bottom of the post and listing a handful of the sources.

Why, you ask? Well, personally I don't believe that labels or names necessarily matter when it comes to designing ones personal spaces. I know it's a rebellious declaration, but that's how I honestly feel about design... and fashion... and perhaps a few other things in life. Of course, I'm not referring to building your own home or doing a renovation, or high-end Interior Design, such as in Hospitality, Corporate, Commercial design [and so on] where good design goes hand in hand with excellent product/resource research and selection (and enough $$!).

No no, I'm talking about designing your own space and not limiting that design by only buying trendy, pricey or brand new furniture, lighting or decor. New things don't always have the quality one expects from a new item, nor do they have the character that thrift/used/antique pieces often do. Also, new things can be like new cars... seems great at first, but then suddenly everyone has it and before you know it it's just not as special and unique as you had originally thought! Sound familiar? Well, I've experienced that with a few pieces of furniture and more than enough decor, in the end I always end up cherishing my antiques, garage sale, thrift shop and Goodwill treasures that much more! The way all of those things come together over time, mixed in with my personal art, trinkets from world travels and family antiques. is so unique.. it's my Bohemian heaven!!!

So, I simply do not see the merit in letting designer labels dictate the boundaries of my artistic visions! I appreciate things that are old, rustic, used, discarded, found, passed down and I appreciate shopping at stores like TJMaxx, Marshalls, Homegoods, Ross and all of the thrift shops, Goodwills, Salvation Armies and antique stores I can find around town! I'm looking for the beautiful bargain, not the 'arm and a leg' designer chair. No no, design is much more intricate than that, it doesn't happen in a few hours, it happens over time! After all, if you went out tomorrow with a bunch of money and tried to buy everything to design a room all at once, you'd be sadly mistaken to think you'd be designing the best room possible, no matter the budget.

I think good design takes time, you must build on it little by little, as frustrating as it may be! That brings me to the second and final reason why I believe names and labels don't matter when it comes to personal design: I need to keep with the spirit of my blog! When reading/viewing my blog I plan to keep you all outside the boundaries of convention by saying guess what, it doesn't matter whose living room/patio/office/bedroom/etc that is, it doesn't matter who designed it or where all of the little accessories and furniture are from so you can click and buy it.... it's just inspiration! Observe it, study it... and take away from it what you will. Whatever it may be, even if I inspire you to stare in awe and dream of moving to a far away land... or finally get around to hanging up some artwork in your home! When there's a specific something that warrants detailed citing and explanation, rest assured all the information will be in order. As a former English major it is difficult to grapple with not citing each and every image, but hey what can I say...

Ok ok, so in essence, this post is just to let you know that I want you to be creative, be original... look through my blog posts and get to thinking what YOU can do at home to make your space a better reflection of who you are and the things you enjoy (if it's not already). And hey, if it already is, it doesn't hurt to constantly keep evolving and articulating ones style, as well as to keep moving around furniture, lighting, art and accessories! Keep it fresh, change your things up and remix them a little for a renewed sense of order, inspiration and enjoyment of your space. Trust me, I've been impulsively doing this ever since I was strong enough to push a dresser across a carpeted room on my own!

~Catherine ;)

Bohemian Rhapsody Vol. 1

A bohemian (apart from technically being a native of Bohemia itself) is often used to refer to "a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices." For me, Bohemian style is something defined by each individual... it's like a paint palette on which an artist blends his colors, over time it becomes layered with the colors from all of his masterpieces, the evidence of his passion and labor. For me, my style is just the same, evidence and expression of my travels, my passions, my creativity and the essence of my personality. Both in fashion and design, I am a whirlwind of bohemianism - a collage of all the things I love, uninhibited by convention.

Bohemian style is articulated over time, it's a passionate collection of global beauty unregulated by trends or pretentious order, it is a reflection of ones personality and above all it makes for a warm and cozy sanctuary from the daily grind! There's no style I love more than an eclectic and artistic amalgamation of furniture, art and accessories! Even if a bohemian isn't your cup of tea, you can still apply it to your own style by remembering to follow your own inspirations and ideas of beauty and not let trends and opinions effect the expression of who you are and what makes you happy!

Amen! And now, enjoy the first volume of what I consider to be some amazing bohemian themed inspiration photos........ oh, and have a wonderful weekend!

(Images via various sources, I do not claim ownership of these photos. Sources include: Apartment Therapy, House of Turquoise, Bohemian Vintage, Flea Market Style and various other blogs as well as many searches on Google Images)

Beautiful Chairs Vol. 1

There are many beautiful chairs on planet earth, and that is the simple premise of this post. Thanks to all of the creative individuals out there, over the centuries a spectacular inventory of chairs have gone into circulation and I love looking at them for ideas and inspiration. As well, their design will forever remain in my memory for retrieval during future bargain hunting!

This is Beautiful Chairs Vol. 1... I will put together images of different chairs on a regular basis and post for your viewing pleasure. As you can see, many of the chairs in this post are upholstered in Suzanis and Ikat prints. If you like them, you may be interested in this post from a few weeks ago: Pakobel, Inc.: Handmade Rugs and Tapestries from the East.

Enjoy!

(All images via Apartment Therapy, Flickr and Google image search)