Shiree's Favorite Sweet and Tangy Salad

There are so many delicious ingredients I use on a regular basis in my salads but the one that has captured the most of my attention is this salad of baby greens with organic black beans, lots of strawberries, avocado, red bell pepper, creamy Feta cheese, cilantro and a honey lime juice dressing made with extra virgin olive oil. The honey and the lime juice make it completely irresistible. Drooling.

Guest what's for dinner tonight? Yep.

Climbing the Walls... Some Flowery Inspirations for Spring

I don't know about you, but spring fills me with energy. Can you believe it's only four weeks away? I've put together a little gallery of my favorite climbing vines to inspire us both.

Bougainvillea, roses, wisteria, clematis, trumpet vine, honeysuckle, jasmine...

Clipped and controlled, or overgrown and blowsy...

 

I'm dreaming of adding flowering vines to my garden, but it's so full already I wouldn't know where to start.

Divine smells and color. Purple clematis flowing over a garden wall.

Bougainvillea covered arbor over a dining area. You might have petals in your soup before lunch is through, but wouldn't it be worth it?

Trained wisteria on an iron arbor. Crushed granite patio cover.

Iris along a garden path. Rustic arbor covered in grape vines.

Warm, limestone walls surrounded by vines and flowers. Barroux, France.

A cherub statue barely detectable through the maze of climbing roses.

Boxwood around a fountain, a perennial favorite among gardeners.  Bay standards and Banks roses too. Annie Moore.

Clematis surrounding a garden gate.

Image above by French photographer Clive Nichols.

Woodwardia, ivy and climbing fuchsia surrounding a path at Hidcote Manor near Chipping Camden in Gloucester, England. Gloucester is in one of the most picturesque areas of England, the Cotswold's.

Dominique LaFourcade. I might take up fishing if I had a pond like this.

The sweetest shed in the world.

Doorway blocked by hydrangeas and wisteria. A beautiful entrapment.

"Honey, I'm Home...Six Great Office Spaces for In or Out of the House"

Does the idea of a clean, efficient, attractive and spacious work room with a drawer, cabinet or container for everything get you excited? Me too! I derive a great deal of energy from my own office space but there's still more to be done.

Maybe I need a built in closet unit like the one above. Those orange containers are quite compelling aren't they? Image from Better Homes and Gardens.

Following images attributed where available.

There's a pared down appeal in the sharp looking office above. Can you work efficiently without supplies at your fingertips? I dislike bobbing up and down for the stapler and paper clips.

Am I seeing lacquer in this beautiful space? While I truly love the cool, gray Swedish inspired color scheme, I think it's going to be a bit dated at some point. But for now it's "vacker".

Steven Gambrel, one of my favorite designers. Click on his name to visit his website. He's an amazing talent.

There are two work stations in this light filled room with a sliver of shared desk space. Hmm, that could cause a tiff or two.

Who says you can't be stylish and comfy while being productive? I do hope this charming tufted wing back is on wheels. Pulling out an over sized chair from my desk would truly kill my back.

I'm off to work. Enjoy your day, My Dear.

Shiree'

Book Worm's Bliss... a Gallery of the Best Library Design Ideas

Browsing through book stores is probably my most favorite down time activity. There's something so hopeful about a pile of books pertaining to business practices, time management and of course, interior design.

Consequently I have a huge library, broken up into different categories and displayed in different places throughout the house. Fiction, biographies and design books in the living room; cook books and design books in the kitchen and guest rooms; design and garden books in the dining room; and health and beauty books in the master bedroom.

Call me old fashioned but I believe every home needs at least two built in units of books cases. If a client's home doesn't possess them I almost always suggest they're added to the overall scheme.

Book cases are not the exclusive domain of books. Stacks on the coffee table, dining room table, dressers and more are equally good homes for hardbound editions.

Francisco Costa gets it: books are meant to be displayed vertically and horizontally.

In fact, I'd go out on a limb and say any unused space in the home is fair game for the addition of a book case or two. This hallway library is a perfect example.

My hope is that the popularity of Kindle doesn't completely do away with the printed form. Library, home office, Emily A. Clark.

A restful library in clear, cool greens.

Mark D. Sikes. Don't you love the wonderful rattan chairs and woven shades.

How do you like your reading nook? Messy...

...or tidy?

 

Feminine...

...or masculine?

 

Mixing Up Mid-Century Modern... Selections for My Latest Image Board

I've recently been collecting sources and images for a mid-century modern, residential project I'm working on. The challenge in this one (and there's always a challenge isn't there?) is to add warmth to the characteristically cool decor scheme.

Jonathan Adler designed lamp. Another brilliant mixologist.

I'm using the image board to "inform" my eye of the style and all it's modern day variations. The room above with the russet velvet barrel chairs is a stunning example of  mid-century used alongside furnishings from other eras.

This tufted chair has a distinctly retro influence and would be perfect for a small living room. The fact that it has no skirt is even better. Chairs and sofas without skirts lend themselves beautifully to small spaces because they allow light to travel underneath them.

No one does mid-century modern like Steven Gambrel. He knows exactly how to mix the style up with warm, modern day elements like wood and textiles.

The Satellite ceiling fixture above is a stunner, but five figure chandeliers are not in the budget. I find it's appearance inspiring nonetheless.

This tufted, wood framed sofa covered in teal velvet with coral plaid chair, pillows and ottoman is decidedly English Country but I'm wondering how the colors would translate to a Mid-Century mix. Hmm.

This olive green and celadon velvet daybed is not mid-century either but again, I find the colors most inspiring.

I will keep you posted as the project progresses.

Ta for now, Shiree'