Wednesday, July 28, 2010
White Chic
White Words: These words are synonymous with white or represent various shades of the color white.
pearl
antique white
ivory
chalk
milk white
lily
smoke
seashell
old lace
cream
linen
ghost white
beige
cornsilk
alabaster
paper
whitewash
Purple Area
Lamp by Tobias Wong
- with a coat of white paint even the most traditional forms can be transformed into something altogether new.
Coat rack by Seattle artist Erich Ginder
Patricia Gray Regina Chair
Wing Back chair by Victoria Hagan
Ghost Chair by Philip Starck
John Saladino Porticus Bench
Simplicity interior
Simple things I love: my Ipod, my Blackberry, blogging, designs by Christian Liagre
Complex things I love: travel (getting through security), playing the piano, finding the perfect bottle of wine, designs by Kelly Wearstler
TEN LAWS
2. ORGANIZE Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.
3. TIME Savings in time feel like simplicity.
5. DIFFERENCES Simplicity and compleity need each other.
8. TRUST In simplicity we trust.
10. THE ONE Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Outdoor Furniture
This pergola's elegant, sleek and sophisticated design is quite a stunning addition to any setting. On the patio, in the back yard or poolside, the módulo provides stylish seclusion and soothing shade.
A wonderful fresh black & white curtained balcony
I hope you enjoy every minute of your time outdoors this summer......
Day Dreams on Umbrellas
http://www.janusetcie.com/
http://www.coroitalia.com/
http://www.extremis.be/eng/outdoorfurniture/outdoor_furniture.htm
Inspirational Quotes
"For a house to be successful, the objects in it must communicate with one another, respond to and balance one another"
Andre Putman
"…a house is much more than a mere shelter, it should lift us emotionally and spiritually.”
John Saladino
“When you’re building a room, you’re building character, and character is the strength and wisdom of a home”
Rose Tarlow
“We shape our homes……, and then our homes shape us.”
Winston Churchill
“It's all in the Details.”
Patricia Gray
Monday, July 26, 2010
Diary of an Interesting Year
A Rendering of my Living Room done by Michelle Morelan and given to me as a Christmas gift.
2009 is a great year to reflect back on, now that it is almost over. Whew, what a turbulent year - full of challenges. I am not one to buy into the doom and gloom of the economic climate (I have weathered others through the years: early 80's, early 90's, late 90's), but this year was a year of an down economic climate that has seemed to have escaped no one in the 'world.' There is a saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. It is hard to see when you are in the midst of chaos, until you have come through it.....hopefully we are through it!!! One of the benefits for me was that I kept busy and was continually looking for ways to recharge and re-inspire. I was fortunate to have four wonderful trips this year to do just that. It is very important when you are working in a creative field to be continually evolving and expanding your horizons, and travel helps me to do that. I also full filled a life long dream this year and went back to school and took two Art classes in Mixed Media Painting. I subsequently turned my garage into an Art Studio and have spent many glorious days there immersed in painting.
Palm Springs in the early Spring - where I became fascinated with and wrote a Blog posting on the Mid-Century Post Modern resurgence of 'screen block.'
Palm Springs Modern Architecture and the Use of Screen Block
A trip to the Okanagan with my Dad and a visit to the The Nk'Mip Winery and Resort in Osoyoss - where I was inspired by the use of Rammed Earth in Modern Architecture.
Rammed Earth Wall NK'MIP Winery Osoyoos
A trip to New York in September and another in December. What can I say about New York, other than that it is one of the most exciting and visually stimulating cities in the world. Being able to see the artwork of great masters at the MOMA, Georgia O'Keeffe at The Whitney, and Kandinsky at the Guggenheim - it just doesn't get better than that. I shopped for clients at the D & D Building, A & D Building, and the New York Design Center, explored Soho, Tribeca, the Meat Packing District, Canal Street, walked Central Park, 5th Avenue, tried the Subway, enjoyed live theatre, ate at wonderful restaurants, enjoyed the lights and shop windows all decorated for Christmas, met new friends, and connected with old friends.
Kandinsky at the Guggenheim / The Meatpacking district and Highline / South Pacific at The Lincoln Center
Mixed Media Painting Classes at Emily Carr University of Art
Frottage 1 24" x 36" Mixed Media: Pastel, Acrylic, Gesso on Glassine
Experimenting with Mono Prints
Acrylic on Canvas
The Salton Sea, CA 23" x 36" Mixed Media on Paper
West Coast Landscape 24" x 48" Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas
Triptych: Be Still My Bleeding Heart 72" x 36"' Chinese Ink on Bronze & Silver Metallic (left) / Diptych: Koi Pond 16" x 16" Gold & Pearl Opalescence (right)
My painting companion - Nicole
I am very honored to be on the 'Board of Experts' for LoftLife Magazine in 2009, and to have an article published in BC Home Magazine
I wish you all a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2010 and may all your dreams come true!!
Patricia Gray is an award winning Interior Designer in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT in the world of Interior Design: