Hi there! I’m back from a wonderful few days in Spain.
1) I can’t even begin to tell you how wonderful it was – the country, the history, the people on the trip with me, the food and of course learning more about our hosts Cosentino. I will save that for another post but here’s one of my favourite photos I took with my phone (amazing how good phone cameras are these days) and posted on Instagram (hopefully you are following me!)
The view of Granada from the Alhambra:
2) Kirsten featured my home on her blog. I usually don’t agree to do whole home tours when other bloggers ask (but I couldn’t say no to Kirsten!) as I’m not entirely happy with a few rooms in my home and have never really shown them, e.g. my family room. Go here if you want to take a look but note that some of these rooms have been changed slightly since these photos were taken and I need to get them re-shot.
3) Jen did a round up of her favourite floral wallpapers and fabric. (#7 is my all time favourite and I have #12 in my house in another colourway.) Note to self: I need to do my own round up.
4) Designers pick their favourite white.
5) Pin of the week: This bathroom designed by Betsy Burnham (love her work) was pinned over 400 times in 2 days. Love everything about it – the art, moulding on the tub, black and white stripes and the pale pink tufted ottoman.
6) Speaking of Betsy, she was one of a few extraordinarily talented designers mentioned in the article, 8 Top Interior Designers who were Self Taught. Here’s what they said about Betsy: “After graduating from Dartmouth College with a Visual Studies (Fine Arts) major, principal designer Betsy Burnham began her career in the New York fashion industry. Several years later, she relocated to Los Angeles where she launched her eponymous interior design firm. Many years later, she went to UCLA Extension to learn hand drafting and a few other technical skills, and one of her early design assistants taught her to use AutoCAD, a leading drawing and drafting software. “Honestly, even though I believe every designer should have a solid technical skill set, I think my liberal arts education has served me more than a design school degree ever could have,” she tells us.”
I so agree with this. Design school taught me the technical skills – drafting (I would spend 20 hours a week at my drafting table), rendering and AutoCad which are so important. But it can’t teach you taste and style, how to create rooms that are fresh, unique with a bit of a twist and how to mix colour and pattern effortlessly. This is something you innately have and can hone on the job.
That’s it for now. I was perfectly healthy during my Spain trip but came back with a horrible flu, cough, cold that has made me just want to watch Netflix and eat Milka chocolate (bought in Spain.)
I’ll be back soon! Have a great week.
What do you think?