Did I ever tell you...

...that after I met with my first paid client, he wrote me a check for the design consult and included a single dollar bill with it for me to frame (as Vintage Simple's first step into the world)?

Such a kind gesture, I thought. And although for some reason I can't bring myself to frame it, I keep it safely tucked away in a drawer along with his thoughtful note.


I am currently working on a couple of projects, including one in Maine, which I'll get to in a minute, and another one in Brooklyn.

First, I thought I'd share a few little peeks from when I was up NYC in November. Most of the painting in the house is now done, bringing out the gorgeous details of the old brownstone...

Some of the light fixtures have already been put up,

while others still patiently await to be installed...

This one, by Cisco Brothers, will go in the parlor. I think it was love at first sight for my client, and it makes me smile to think that it was so. (Such things do happen after all.)

The parlor has a new fun blue couch and wire chair, and a big mirror over the mantel to bring a little more light into the space... It is a north-facing room, so it can be pretty dark in there. I think the chandelier will be a great addition to the space.

We're thinking perhaps a light such as the one you can spy in the next picture will go in the dining room, creating a beautiful foil to the more rustic one in the parlor.

But then again, we may look into having something custom made that relates more directly to the parlor's chandelier, without exactly replicating it. Perhaps something along these lines...

As far as Maine, I thought I'd post some of the sketches I've drawn for my client there, just to give you a little sense of what's been going on with that project.

Here's one of the foyer, with a proposed antique Swedish bench, mirror, window treatments, and lighting suggestions (still trying to figure out my new scanner - heh)...

A sketch of the sink wall in the kitchen, filled with sources and recommendations...

And here is one with ideas for the lounge/TV area in the living room...

Both projects are still, clearly, far from being completed, but I thought I'd share with you a little bit of what I've been working on for the last couple of months. These things do take time - what with the business of living, and budgets, and dreams... but the work itself is great and I am happy to report that I am thoroughly enjoying it.

On a more personal note (related to this idea of dreams), I've been trying to watch myself more closely, paying attention to all these hopes and plans and dreams of mine. And as I watch myself trying to stubbornly hold on to them all, I am also painfully aware of my wish to rush them into certainty right away. But that is not really the way life works... is it?


And so it is that I hold my many dreams with my many imaginary arms... And I am starting to think that perhaps the trick lies in the holding - with purposeful intent, but patiently and...lightly. Ever-so-lightly. And always (always) with an open heart.

So, I am working on finding more balance in the way I hold myself and that which is dear to me, including my dreams. And I hope that with each passing year, I will be able to hold myself and my goals more lightly - in a more forgiving, quiet way.

It is not a complete thought, I realize - but it will have to do for now. I am wishing you all peace, my friends - now and always. See you at the other end of 2010.


(images: 4. cisco brothers; 6. rebekah sigfrids via design sponge; 7. photo by richard powers, collaboration for lights - fearon hay and katie brown; 11. & 12. katie daisy's etsy shop; all others by me)

Brooklyn-bound

Little bits and pieces of some of the things that have been inspiring me lately...

I hope fall is treating you all well.

(images: 1. workstead; 2. twig hutchinson's home, photograph by polly wreford; 3. ikea via splendid willow; 4. lindseyadelman.com; 5. recycled painter's scaffolding flooring - no idea where I got it; 6. bddw.com; 7. hmmm... not sure where I got this one either... sorry about that!)

Progress

Well, the wall with interior windows is finally done...and I couldn't be happier. It really does look lovely, and the photos hardly do it justice.

Our friend David* was kind enough to come help us finish up. I was really tired of the inevitable clutter and disarray that come with weekend projects of this scale, so it was wonderful to have an extra set of hands - and one so talented at that.

It was a lot of work, but really worth it in the end... I can't imagine a better solution for this space. What was once an open attic expansion lacking definition is now a beautiful space that allows for separation without sacrificing light.

I also love the way enclosing the staircase gave it an incredible sense of volume - it looks so grand now..! It feels completely decadent to go up the stairs, lured by the inviting light streaming through those windows...


In other news, I have been very busy with clients and have even traveled to Maine (!!) to help one of them, and I am going to Brooklyn next month to visit yet another client (!!!). So, all very exciting things for someone who just a little bit over a year ago started this blog with a dream of sorts that is now slowly, quietly, but surely coming true. There are no words to describe how lucky I feel... And grateful, too. Incredibly grateful. I am getting to do what I love, which is...well, priceless, really.

So, I would like to officially announce that I am available for design assistance, and I will gladly help you with projects big and small. I will even travel - as long as all expenses are covered and my schedule allows it, of course. For more information, feel free to contact me.


*if you live in the Upstate of SC or WNC region and you need a terrific craftsman, let me know and I will put you in touch with David - he is fantastic and fantastic to work with.

(images: me)

Projects, lately.

Remember how our master is upstairs and it's a little bit funky the way most attic expansions can be? Funky in a charming way..? (But, you know, funky nonetheless...?)

As you come up the stairs to the second floor, we have a half wall and therefore our bedroom area feels somewhat exposed. So I've been thinking about how to give our space a bit more privacy without closing it off completely...


I think I'll be aiming for something along the lines of these photographs for this project. You'll have to take a little leap of faith by disregarding the particular details, and simply embracing the overall feeling - given that we don't have the beautiful beadborad, nor do we have the exposed lath, gorgeous beams, or incredibly tall ceilings that grace the bedroom in these pictures...


In essence, though, we'll be going for something that is still a little funky, but soothing and pretty, and definitely somewhat unique given the space constraints (or advantages, depending on your take).

Something that allows us to capitalize on light and still gives us a little bit more of a sense of privacy - but somewhat playfully and resourcefully...


Although we're nowhere near finished, I thought I'd share with you some photos of the progress so far. Here are the boys, busy at work (Noah has sensitive ears, thus the gear)...


The first wall going up and the pretty windows all lined up (which I scored from a neighbor who was discarding them), patiently awaiting their second round in life...

The studs and frame all in place for the second wall...

And, here, the view from the other end, into our bedroom and a sliver of our bathroom...


I will post pictures once we're done. Hopefully it will be sometime before the end of the year. As the weather gets cooler (soon, soon!), we'll be wanting to spend more and more time outdoors, and inside projects will have to be put on hold as a result. So, we'll see - but I will definitely keep you posted once we're done.


On a slightly different note, I've also been working on a couple of little rooms* inspired by this,

and this,

as well as this,

and this,

and this sweet, little print:

So, creative and productive times here in our little corner of the world. All of which is good for my spirit. I hope this post finds you all having the kinds of times that are good for your spirits, too. I am sending you all much peace, my friends. Be well tonight, and always.

*for a client, so don't be getting any ideas..!

(images: 1. & 2. via vintage; 3. via canadian house and home; 4-7. me; 8. via isak; 9. via cookie magazine; 10. via domino magazine; 11. via country living; 12. via katie daisy)

Pretty

No deep thoughts here today. Just lovely photos by Anna Kern of a gorgeous little home in southern Sweden.

I love the vintage posters paired with the subtle colors on the walls and the punchy prints of the sweet fabrics and that aqua frame;

the easy camaraderie of perfectly mismatched furniture all coexisting in graceful harmony;

...and those stunning yellow doors? Yes, yes, and many times over, yes. And please. And thank you.

As a little side note, I'd like to thank you all again for your kind notes lately - I really appreciate every single one of them.

That's it for now. I hope everyone has a good weekend.

(images: via the ever-inspiring my scandinavian retreat)

Tenth photo

I was tagged (a long while back, I admit) by two wonderful women, Lotta and Charlotta, whom I admire deeply and who are a constant source of inspiration to me.

I was supposed to open my first folder, scroll down to the tenth picture and write about it. The truth: the tenth photo was rather uneventful compared to this one. So forgive me for cheating a little, but I chose this one instead.

The first digital folder we have dates back to 2004, the year Noah was born. I would love to document that here, even if it means bending the rules just a little bit.


In this picture, Noah was only a few days old - maybe just two or three days old. I want to remember this moment: my calm, but distinct awareness of not quite feeling like his mother yet; Noah's fierce determination to be himself and be heard, which made for a challenging first year, but are traits that will serve him well in life.

For those first few moments with him, and all the moments between then and now, and the moments I don't yet know that I will get to share with my beautiful, resolute boy - for all of that, I am thankful.

For Bill, a man who knows and loves me better than I sometimes know and love myself - for him, too, I am thankful.

For the unconditional love we all three share for one another - for that, I am thankful.

For the kind, encouraging words traveling near and far distances alike, and for the genuine friendships I've made with virtual strangers in this incredible community of bloggers - for that, I am also thankful.

I think my blues have been in part related to things I want to settle in my life - right now. And it meant that for a moment there, I forgot about the very things that have been important in my life - always. So this tenth photo assignment was a good exercise; it was a good way to remind myself that I have much to be grateful for...and that things will fall into place, each in its own time, because I am working toward certain goals - steadily and with an open heart.

Of course it is my wish that we will all reach the goals and dreams we set for ourselves - make no mistake about that.

But for now, I need to practice patience. Resolute patience.

(image: bill)

Summer blues

This summer has hit me pretty hard. I've been a little blue, and I haven't been able to shake the feeling off too easily. The heat and humidity have been downright unbearable.

Which brings me to these bears - perhaps you've seen them? I just discovered them today and fell in love. And I laughed and laughed and laughed. And then Bill and Noah came over to see what all the laughing was about, and we shared some chuckles together, delighting in Emily's creations and Tom's words.

And it felt good.

Here is the description that accompanies the bear pictured above (printed here with Tom's permission):

"Are you game?" asked the rabbit
"Sorry. Am I what?" asked the bear
"The game!"
"Game?"
"Are YOU game?"
"But rabbit, how can I? I don't have enough checkers on me." bear could not understand. And he had not a single checker on him.
"No, no, bear, i was asking if you are game not if you are the board of the game"
"Could i be the board of the game, maybe?" bear wondered
"You can be anything you want"
"Well in that case... I would like to be an elephant" said the bear
"Ele what?"
"Phant"
"You want to be a phantelle? What is that?"
"No, rabbit, i would like to be an elephant. But only in the game"
"Then you are game?"
"I think i am"
And bear sure was, and rabbit could not remember what that all was about and so they went for a cup of tea. And cookies. Half a cup of cookies.

They come in different colors - each bear with its own bits of wisdom to share. Emily and Tom have even set up a diminutive studio for their adorable photo shoots..!

Put simply, it was just what I needed on this balmy, rainy afternoon.

(images: em's shop of bears'n'such; found the shop via the lovely Annie's Elsa May)

A dream grows in Brooklyn

Friends of ours are having their second baby this fall. And they're also in the process of buying a brownstone - a new home for their growing family and their dreams of finally putting down roots in a special place.

Like most houses, this one will need a little tender love and care. We're thinking something inspired by Jenna Lyons' beautiful home...

A nod to tradition, without taking it too seriously,

a few playful details thrown in for good measure,

a simple farm table paired with Bertoia chairs, maybe,

all the while remaining classic and clean-lined for sure...

I think it'll look great once we're done. We probably won't start work until the spring, but it's fun to start thinking about it...no?


(images: domino magazine, livingetc)

Hi. Hello, there.

I've been absent. So very, very absent from this little space. I know. But life has been incredibly busy - in the best of ways. So... where do I start?


The hydrangeas are in full bloom. We have corn and tomatoes from our garden, and the sunflowers are taller than we are, and we have to squint our eyes when we look up at their smiling faces. It's been hot. Really hot. And it has rained and rained in the evenings, and stormed and thundered much. Summer is unapologetically here.


Noah's nose has sprouted the faintest, most endearing collection of freckles as he spends most of his days outdoors. They dance around his face when he smiles, and I have moments when I look at him and he simply just takes my breath away. He's so grown-up; such a beautiful, beautiful boy. He is both excited and a little nervous about starting first grade come August.


I have met with a couple of new design clients and that has been great fun. My job at the nonprofit has been busy with five-year goal plans and lots of meetings about them.

The house is still on the market - we had a low offer in the beginning, which for obvious reasons did not work out. I am, oddly enough, not stressed about it, though. I truly believe things happen for a reason, so if the house doesn't sell this year, then we'll try again next year. The goal will remain to downsize, but it doesn't have to happen this month, or two months from now, or by the fall, or even before the holidays... We'll just have to wait and see what happens.


In the meantime, the woman who grew up in our house, her daughter and granddaughter will all be here in July to celebrate their birthdays at the house. I am really excited about that and hope that we will make a little video and take many photos of what I am certain will be a very special evening.

As always, I keep dragging outcasts home. Maybe I'll use this at the little house if it all works out this year. Or maybe I'll use it in a client's home. But this kitchen cabinet from the 20's was far too special to be left to rot in a dumpster. It needs some work (and don't we all?), but it will be a beauty again with a little bit of love.


And... that's about it in a nutshell, my friends. Things are busy, busy, busy, and it is all good. Like I was telling dear Bonnie when she emailed to check in - between new clients, my little job at the nonprofit, being mama to Noah, head grocery-shopper and main cook at the house, something had to give - and it has been the blog. For now.

I do hope this post finds you well and happy, enjoying life wherever you may be. The next couple of months promise to be just as busy as this one, so I am not sure how present I will be in this space. But know that I think of you often and wonder how you are and sincerely hope that life is treating every single one of you kindly. Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones. I am sending you all much love.

(images: me)