Wristlets

I love these cute little clutches from Loungeluxe. Perfect for when your hands are full, just slip the strap around your wrist and go.

Expansion Ideas

In our minds, the "bad garage" has been torn down and we've added an addition in it's place. Our vision is a great room with lots of storage on the first level, and a bathroom of a yet-to-be-determined size. On the upper level would be a master bedroom and deck with unobstructed mountain views- not 360 degrees but as close as we can get. When my new edition of Atomic Ranch arrived this weekend, there was a very good example of what we are envisioning.

Our bedroom would be on the upper level with large deck accessible only from that room.

We would like to keep the room uncluttered, just a bed and maybe one chair, with all of the storage built into the walls around the bed. The windows would extend around on three sides, similar to this design.

Of course all of this is very long term (at least five years from now) but it's good to be coming to consensus before we call the architect. Then again, knowing how very impatient Aaron and I are, maybe we can find a way to fast track this!

New Goodies from SFMoMA

We're heading to San Franciso in December for the big Art Deco and Modernism Sale, so I'm putting together my short list to help focus our browsing (yeah, right). While there I plan to finally visit SFMoMA, and maybe check out some of their new fall items.

Lily Table Lamp

Tiered Elliptical Raytray

Nested Mixing Bowls

L Bookends

Dozi Paperclip Holder

Bedside Reading

Covering seating, tables, storage and office furniture, Fifties Furniture by Leslie Pina is an invaluable resource on the designers and furniture companies that created todays icons. Boy is this ever a dangerous book for me!

Fall in Love with West Elm

Their new Fall catalog is full of soft brown hues and deep reds, making for a warm and cozy environment to usher the change of season. Visit West Elm and check out their new Fall look.

Wingback Lounge Chair

Crushed Eggshell Side Table

Globe Ceramic Lamp

Pagoda Hurricanes

Sofa Savers

Need to bring new life to your IKEA sofa? The Swedish company Bemz makes custom, machine-washable slipcovers specifically for IKEA model sofas and chairs. Maybe you just want to liven your decor or try a completely new color scheme- either way, try one of these slipcovers. They actually fit!Stromstad Sofa in Dijon Yellow

Nikkala Sofa in Bulbous Ash Brown

Fab Fabric Sale

Now at Textile Arts save up to 70% on discontinued fabrics. Here is just a sample:

Tantsu Brown

Silkkikuikka Gray

Pieni Unikko Red

Keisarin Blue

Ruusunen Gray

Getting Crafty

I really don't have an artistic bone in my body, but a friend and I recently got together and created some journals, bookmarks and invitations using some cool vintage paper and other neat things. It was a fun way to spend a hot afternoon indoors, enjoying the AC.

Hummingbird Rescue

The covered entryway into our house has skylights, and often we have hummingbirds stuck up there. We rush out with a broom, get them to land on it and bring them down to freedom. We may think hummingbirds are fragile, but they clearly are tough little birds. This one would not land on the broom, but I finally got him to come down low enough so that he landed on my hand and let me take him out to a tree branch near the hummingbird feeder. It was an amazing moment, and we were glad to get a couple of quick pictures while he rested in my hands.

A Click Away

Beautiful images from PointClickHome (my husband selected minimalist bedrooms):

August Homework

We have begun an art wall with simple, black and white photos that we have taken over the years. It helps break up the really long wall in our open dining room/living room, without being too busy or distracting. The only drawback I can think of is that it will require constant straightening.

We added Beearo's walnut veneer wall art in the living room.

Danish Kitchens

Sleek, elegant and functional- courtesy of Bo Bedre.

Sweet Slumber

For over a year now we have been pondering a new mattress. We wanted a natural mattress and looked a natural rubber, organic cotton and wool. The Shepherd's Dream wool mattress was the one we kept going back to all these months. Today we made the big call to Montague CA and ordered our mattress. In just four weeks, we will be sleeping soundly on the last mattress we will ever have to buy.

• Wool harmonizes with the body’s temperature changes ~ warms you without overheating and keeps you cool and comfortable in the heat of the summer
• Wool is fast drying and completely mildew resistant ~ keeps you dry and comfortable, not clammy
• Wool is naturally resilient, providing relief to pressure points
• Wool is naturally flame resistant ~ safe for the family
• Wool Is ecologically and domestically grown
• Wool helps to reduce the heart rate while you sleep
• Wool batting is superior to most other fibers for individuals with allergies and sensitivities
• Wool helps to relieve everyday back pains and arthritic symptoms
• Wool is biodegradable (unlike synthetic fibers)
• Wool is the greatest insulator ~ it has been used for thousands of years in the walls of homes, as clothing, as rugs and as bedding.

Leaf by Dedon

"Naturalness is high art."

"A leaf’s natural shape with its light division running down its length creates a gentle depression for relaxed lounging. A comfortable cushion made of breathable foam rubber has been integrated into the top of the beach chair. Leaf’s perfect complement is the matching overlay made of soft, thick cotton. The beach chairs rest on four stationary points and always give the needed support."

Sky-Frame

We really need to replace our living room windows. The seal is ruined on one of our big picture windows and the insulation (or lack thereof) is so 1979. My husband wants to install another sliding glass door, but we already have one that doesn't even lock anymore. Enter Sky-Frame.

Sky-Frame is a unique system for large-surface sliding windows whose surrounding frame can be installed flush with walls, ceilings and floors - the only visible part of the frame is a 20 mm thin vertical muntin where two elements overlap. This allows for unrestricted views and sill-less floor transitions from indoors to the outside. In addition to these aesthetic advantages the system also fulfils the highest requirements with regard to heat insulation and safety.

Since we live in the beautiful mountains of northern New Mexico, it would be wonderful to enjoy the unobstructed views out of floor-to-ceiling windows!

Heath Ceramics

Hand-crafted since 1948, Heath Ceramics creates tableware for those who appreciate classic, modern design paired with functionality. I'll save their amazing tiles for a later post and focus on their tableware today.

The Coupe Line, in production since 1948.

The Rim Line from 1960.

Their most modern Plaza Line.

Their extensive line of accessories compliments all of their dinnerware patterns.

SkyGarden Lamp by Marcel Wanders

"In my former house I had a fabulous antique decorated plaster ceiling. I called it my Skygarden, it always looked good even without me having green ingers or taking care of it very well. It didn`t need water or sun but would live only on the warm rays of the electrical light under it.

I loved it so much that by the time I moved houses I could not leave it. I had to find a way to take it to my new home. I took my tools and stole it from the ceiling. This fabulous pieces of history is now secretly hidden in a minimalist architecturel sphere in the hearth of my new home where I can enjoy it with friend."

So Serene

Soothing, yet so dramatic! I can't take my eyes off of that rug!

Catifa Task Chairs

Hitting the Trails

Modern design does most certainly extend to my Vasque Blurs. If you notice my posts being way more intermittent in the next few weeks, that's because I'm hitting the trails in earnest. I'll try to keep up a post or two here each week, in addition to my weekly spot on 2Modern's Design Talk. For the time being my free time will be more focused on getting my butt up the mountain!

CB2 Sneak Peek

Zin Rug

Gaucho Chair in White