Inspired by Art: Sophisticated Rural

The massive online auction site invaluable.com is a great source for design inspiration.  A room inspired by a piece of their artwork is an excited idea.  I love to design but I especially love a creative challenge: I chose a piece I loved from their site and created a space around it.  Oh happy day!  

Sophisticated Rural by rebecca-iverson 

I chose a beautiful oil painting entitled Karouev/Dan Farm (auctioned October 21st here).  I had a difficult time choosing a favorite work of art because, let me tell you, there are so many.  I didn't choose this particular piece because it was expensive.  The starting bid is only $70 but what do I care, it's gorgeous and makes me happy to look at it.  Also, I knew it would be the starting point for one gorgeous room.  

The first element I chose to go along with my painting is the rug.  I love that the geometric design mimics the roof-lines in the painting.  I also like the high contrast and almost quilt-like design.  The painting pre-determined that the space would involve contemporary country design elements and this rug looks a bit like a quilt.  I believe a simple blue sofa is perfect on this rug and in this space.

I next envisioned grass-cloth wallpaper that would cover the bottom portion of the wall divided by a chair rail.  Above the chair rail would be painted a soft gray-blue that would be a continuation of sky from the painting.  I love the combination of the earthy and warm grass-cloth and the soft airy blue above.  Just like the painting.  

The curtain fabric is a soft tonal silk check.  I like the traditional country pattern for this space but the silk fabric is a sophisticated juxtaposition to the textural grass cloth.  Also, the soft colors help the pattern keep out of competition with the rug.  

I brought in a touch of green with the beautiful lamps.  I wanted a hit of green but not too much.  

The Chippendale chairs would face the couch and they reinforce the natural and casual theme but keep it up to date with their strong line.  Because the grass-cloth has multiple shades of brown I was able to use a few different wood tones:  The chairs and the side tables are different wood tones but they are both in the grass-cloth and the painting.  

To finish off the space, a white branchy chandelier would hang over an ottoman or coffee table.  I like that it is light in effect and wouldn't compete with the other elements, but it is still a strong statement.

I hope you love this painting and the room it inspired as much as I do! There are so many paintings over on Invaluable.com's site available here. There are literally hundreds of fantastic pieces ranging greatly in price. Let me know what you think and be sure to go bid on this painting if you are interested.

Artist Spotlight: Blanca Gomez

Today I am bringing you some fun art prints from etsy seller Blancucha.  Artist Blanca Gomez creates super fun works with a retro vibe.  Depending on your space, I think one would add fun and whimsy to a room.

Musica Print

Let's Travel

The Violinist &The Ballerina

I can hardly believe it, but after today, my summer vacation is officially over!  I will start tomorrow with 33 new little kiddos.  Wish me luck!

New Love: Maiedae Prints

Don't you just love social media?  I do.  Sometimes. I'll admit, I'm not very good at all of it.  I just can't seem to keep up with tweeting and pinning and instagramming and facebooking and all the rest.  But mostly just the tweeting.  Though I do like to jump on there when I'm in line somewhere, or waiting at the orthodontist's office forever.
And thank goodness for Twitter, because you can find fun new things on there, like these beautiful prints from Maiedae.

$14.00

$14.00

$14.00

Aren't they fantastic?  You can find them all on the Maiedae website.
I can't believe it is already Friday! Any plans for the weekend?

Fornasetti Plates

I'm very late to the Fornasetti scene.  Lori did a post on Fornasetti wallpaper awhile back and I'm always struck by stylistic genius of the pieces.  I have really been impressed with the plates and the cheeky quality they bring to any space.

lonny.com

decorpad.com

cottoncandy-peaches.blogspot.com

via

christies.com

'Piscibus' Trompe L'Oeil plate

These blue and white Trompe L'Oeil fish plates are my favorite right now.  They are very cost prohibitive for me but I like to imagine owning a few.

I want to wish you all a fantastic Friday!  We are entertaining good friends this evening so I have some cooking to do.  I will enjoy every minute.

Sorry I Missed It: Little Golden Tales

From January through February of this year, Gallery Nucleus had an exhbibition called "Little Golden Tales," which was an art tribute to the classic Little Golden Books.  Artists were invited to either pay tribute to real Little Golden Books, or to imagine their own.

by artist Jerrod Maruyama

Can I just say I wish this book existed?!  This would seriously rival The Poky Little Puppy, which has always been my favorite Little Golden Book.

Alina Chau, Gallery Nucleus

The Tawny, Scrawny Lion was always a favorite to read to the Cat when she was little.  I love how artist Alina Chau re-imagined it.

by Loren, Gallery Nucleus

Okay, I don't really care that I am revealing my perhaps nerdier tendencies here; this book should also exist.  A Dalek spine?  Hello?!!

Maxime Mary, Gallery Nucleus

The world would be a better place if this existed.  This is just pure genius, Maxime Mary.  Kudos to you and your artistic brain.

Gallery Nucleus

Good for you, Jesse.  Good for you.

Eren Blanquet, Gallery Nucleus

Also this.  Hello, little Frodo, skipping off to Mordor. Look at that tiny little Eye of Sauron on the hill.  It's perfection.

Anyway, I am really sad that I missed this little exhibit, because I think the artists just ran with the theme and the results are brilliant.  The Breaking Bad piece sold for a cool $500, so that's a little too rich for this girl's blood, but I am just content knowing that these things exist, at least in the art world.

Artist Spotlight: Nuri Amanatullah

Yesterday Rebecca and I were finally able to meet for coffee.  After not having been able to get together for several moths, we were able to see each other a couple of times this weekend- first on Saturday, when we met to go to a book warehouse sale (sadly, a dud), followed by a trip to the antique store (sadly, Rebecca had to leave before we headed inside).  Sunday was a success, though, and we met at our favorite local coffee house- the Sagebrush Cafe.  We talked about what has been going on in both of our lives lately- job interviews and writing contracts, botched dye jobs and noisy neighbors, and maybe a few other things.  One of the things we love about the Sagebrush Cafe is that they showcase local artists (and they sell other super cute literary and art themed items.)  This past visit provided us with prints that were fun and colorful, from artist Nuri Amanatullah.

Oh, Columbia! — Bioshock Infinite

Now, I will be honest with you- I am not a player of this computer game, so any reference to it is lost on me, but that does not stop me from loving this print.

via

This is the image that was on the cards advertising the show.  I swiped one, I'm not going to lie.  Although I guess since they are free it doesn't really count as swiping.  I think this little character (named Elizabeth) is adorable.

buy it on etsy

Another video game, The Last of Us, that I know nothing about, other than it is possibly being made into a movie this year.  Still, I like the graphic.  I love this style.

buy it on etsy

This is also on display at the cafe, and it is such a different style that I assumed it was a different artist.

buy it on etsy

You know what they say about assuming.
Anyway, I think both of these prints would be fun to add to a themed gallery wall, maybe in a vacation home or guest bedroom, along with other similarly themed prints.

As always, I hope you are having a fantastic Monday!  I can't believe it is already May.  In one month, my kiddos will be moving on from the 5th grade, and the Cat and I will begin packing for Paris.  It's crazy how time flies.

What I'm Loving Now: Abstract Floral Paintings

Painting and artwork, like rugs, can be the inspiration for the color palette for a whole room scheme.  I have lately been considering an abstract floral for my living room.  I love that it is a fun take on a traditional floral still life.  These take the overly feminine aspect out of the floral motif.  

trendland.com

rachaelbeard.com

mybestcanvas.com

plantpropaganda.com

Today I am going back to a store to buy a pair of shoes I should have bought when I saw them a few days ago.  I hope they are still there because they are the perfect nude flat by Cole Haan!  Wish me luck...

Emily Winfield Martin: The Black Apple Shop

I came across the work of artist Emily Winfield Martin through a post by blogger extraordinaire Victoria Smith over at sf girl by bay.  I wondered over to the artist's etsy shop, the black apple, and as I scanned her collection of prints all of her inspiration from folklore, carnival life, and classic literature was apparent but whimsically and humorously portrayed.  Her work has originality and beauty.  It is slightly creepy (but in a good way).  If you haven't discovered Emily Winfield Martin yet, I invite you to take a look!

There is much more to see, so go over and visit the black apple.

Have a fantastic Day everyone!

Grey Day

Today I am loving these 3 grey pics for a bit of inspiration.

image via Cherry Blossom

Available at The Minimalist, $70

Not grey, but how gorgeous is this calendar?!

Dalanassy Prints

Plus I'm loving these prints by artist Cathy Dalanassy, available at Mokkasin.
Hope you are having a fantastic Thursday!

What a Card

1- Apple Tree Love
2- Chap
3, 6, 7, 8- kikki.k
4- Uncommon Goods
5- Hammerpress

Hooray for Friday! Any big plans for the weekend? We are going to go see The Little Mermaid at our local theater, and the Cat and I are planning on having a girl's weekend, with shopping, sleeping, and painting my laundry room to prepare for the new washer and dryer I had to go buy today. Any exciting weekend plans? Lori

Etsy Spotlight: 716 Designs

716 Designs

I'm loving these graphic prints from etsy seller 716 Designs.  Ariel Tyndell is a graphic designer based out of Nashville who specializes in branding and web design, but really nails it with these super cute prints for all the Harry Potter nerds fans out there (like me!).  I would love these for my classroom, in my library section.
There are a bunch of other great travel oriented prints, like this Italia one, that would be fun in the right space.

716 Designs

716 Design

I also love this print, which is a nod to Arrested Development.  I'm thinking it would look good in my house somewhere.  There's also a print of a Lucille quote that I love.

716 Design

And for fans of Breaking Bad, how can you not love this print of Walter White?
 I finally got the Christmas tree down yesterday- although, in my defense, I did wait on purpose and kept it up through Three King's Day.  That had been the plan, and it worked out, as Friday I woke up completely sick and then Saturday I went for a consultation for LASIK and got the surgery done in the same day.  I've been recovering pretty nicely, and I am so thrilled with the results. If you wear glasses or contacts, I definitely recommend at least considering getting LASIK done.
I hope your week is off to a great start!