Victorian Cottage

Photos by Trevor Tondro for the New York Times



http://moodboard.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/07/victorian-in-the-woods.html


The owner, Sandra Foster converted an old hunting cabin into a romantic Victorian dream house, all by herself.

Nature drawings & TEXTILES

TIMOROUS BEASTIES
  
'Noted for its surreal and provocative textiles and wallpapers, the design studio Timorous Beasties was founded in Glasgow in 1990 by Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons, who met while studying textile design at Glasgow School of Art.

Thistle Rug - winner of the 'Elle Decoration Design Award for flooring 2006'.

By depicting uncompromisingly contemporary images on traditional textiles and wallpapers, Timorous Beasties has defined an iconoclastic style of design once described as “William Morris on acid.”  via timorous beasties

  

 

Drawing from Nature

NATURE Drawing - Diagonal study - BREE

NATURE DRAWING - emphasis study - LAMIA

NATURE Drawing - Radial layout study - HANNAH

NATURE drawing - Diagonal study -  CAROL

NATURE Drawing - pattern repeat study - LEYLA

NATURE Drawing - Radial layout study - EKTI

CONTOUR Drawings or 'OUTLINE' drawing is one approach to drawing from observation - the main purpose is to develop visual perception & sensitivity to surface & form of objects. The process of contour drawing involves suppressing the abstraction & simplification of forms & representation of objects. It makes us observe carefully objects with our visual AND tactile senses.

Use your eye to trace the contours of your object, your hand moving your pencil at the same slow & deliberate pace responding to every bump, fold, crease & curve. The process is methodical & involves working from detail to detail, form to form. 
For more detailed information read the book by Francis DK CHING ' Design Drawing'

Art of photography when he stops time

INSPIRATIONAL Styling Ideas

VISIT this site for fantastic styling images, Decor8
Blogs, websites, graphic design books, posters, & magazines are all great resources for layout & grid ideas. Trace page layouts from magazines that you like, take note of image sizes & how they line up with each other. Where does the text sit in relation to the images, look at the size & different FONTS that may be used. Use you visual diary to keep sketches of different layouts you have found, they will be a good reference for presentations.


via COLOURlovers

Start creating your own styling collages- find different objects in the one colour. Create interesting layouts & photograph them. Keep images as reference in your visual diary.
These will become a valuable resource when you may be looking for a certain tone or value of a colour & are useful to show a client.

Look around your environment & take note of different graphics, symbols & colours. Create your own alphabet using images of signage you may find. Go to Spell with FLICKR
& have a look at what your name may look like!

SUSTAINABILITY

'Good design is not about color, style or trends – but instead about thoughtfully considering the user, the experience, the social context and the impact of an object on the surrounding environment.' inhabitat Selecting products that are sustainable & eco-friendly begins with you as designer/ decorator.
Choose products that are kind to the environment, are able to be recycled or are reclaimed. Choose local product where you can.
Flooring is one of the main components of an interior. Timber floors being generally the most commonly selected. 'Recycled Timber Flooring is a unique floorboard due to the natural features and variation in colours from deep forest reds to soft golden creams. There are a large number of natural swirls, grain effects and other features that evolved naturally in the forest that adds a unique charm to your floor.' IRONWOOD 88-90 Lilyfield Rd, Rozelle NSW is a great showroom to visit & get an idea of how recycled timber can be used.
Or visit Australian Achitectural Hardwoods 55 pattersons Lane, Kempsey next time you are going North.

Note the use of LINE as a predominant design element in the images. Horizontal & vertical lines used in different materials, thicknesses & sizes create an interesting & dynamic composition.

COLOUR & PATTERN in a Living Space

In a former warehouse in Rotterdam, colour & pattern create a vibrant & lively space. Randomly placed stone feature wall & flooring creates variation & contrast from the rigid bands of vertical colour, dividing screens & large horizontal beams.
For great feature tiles or any other tile products have a look at SKHEME.
The showroom is at 713 Darling St Rozelle, NSW
AND while you are in Rozelle drop into ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT for a fantastic range of all your cooking & entertaining needs. 731-735 Darling St Rozelle NSW
In addition to providing quality foods, cookware and culinary books for chefs, gourmets, and discerning home cooks, The Essential Ingredient Rozelle features its own Cooking School, equipped with Australian Design Award winning St George appliances.