Modern Day Murals

I spied this tropical wallpaper mural by Swedish company Mr. Perswall on 79 Ideas recently and I've been captivated ever since. Maybe it's because it's juxtaposed against more modern furnishings that don't play into a tropical theme. Maybe it's the use of an unexpected deep color palette in the scene itself. In any case, what I see in this room defies any former perceptions I might have had about wall murals.

I'm prone to using larger scale art and photography for big impact anyway. But honestly, I've always relegated murals to panoramic battle scenes or bucolic, colonial era countryside vignettes in stuffy mansion estates. Today's interpretations have me reconsidering though and scheming about how we might incorporate something that was originally conceived long before cameras were ever invented, into our contemporary home.

I like the idea of pairing old and new. A nursery is what comes to mind first (not now Mom, but someday). Something like this, albeit on a much smaller scale and with less ornate, streamlined furnishings.

Designer Ilse Crawford, Dinder House in Somerset, England

I also like the color they can infuse, particularly against white walls. I saw this custom watercolor mural by Black Crow Studios and those pesky little gears in my brain started turning, trying to figure out how I could replicate it (yeah right). While the swirled, coral hues alone make it beautiful, I like it even more hung up against the white coffered ceilings and all that molding, something we don't have in our mid-century home.

Robert Passal Interiors, Hampton Showhouse 2012

I also like this interpretation, created by Jenny of LGN for an art-historian client. This is a scan people of an antique Zuber mural, printed on adhesive backed paper. Genius.

I guess what it boils down to for me is that I'm drawn to modern-day murals for the unexpected quality they can infuse in a room.

The tropical image at top set against rustic chopped wood and Bertoia chairs or the image just above, pairing a European historical scene with black upholstered bed, dressed in Americana and neon piped pillows.

It's layered and unpredictable, qualities I not only admire in designed spaces, but people too.

It's In My Head

Hi there! I'm over visiting Emily at Main Street Chic this morning, sharing 5 Things I Love right now at Holtwood House. She has created such a fun series that I was so happy to take part in. I hope you'll hop on over and see what has my eye and my heart right now (it was hard to choose!).

Here are some other things that have my attention at the moment- lots of playful patterns and soft new textiles for various rooms and projects around the house.

Clockwise from top right: 

Angles Wallpaper by Erika Wakerly. I have my heart set on the white/silver color way for the dining room. Thinking about mixing in a little La Fiorentina as well as some fun spotted fabric found on Spoonflower throughout the house. Finally, our big grey sectional needs a little warming up. I'll probably throw together some new pillows in these velvety smooth hues.

I Was a Painter, But Now I'm a Farmer

Over the past several years, I have become increasingly interested in the Slow Food Movement. Besides my love of toiling away in the dirt, it's one of the reasons why I was inspired to build (if ever so painfully slow) my dream garden I started chronicling here. There are a lot of articles that detail the SFM philosophy, but the bottom line is this- good, quality food with a commitment to the community and environment.

That Farmer's Market you frequent for fresh veggies every weekend? It's more than just a Saturday social outing where you can pick up some pretty vegetables on the cheap. You are helping to sustain small local farms and businesses as well. Many times, you are also helping to make someone's dream a reality.

I love it when the little guy helps the big guy too. Whole Foods Market famously sends Buyers out into their local communities to forage for quality products crafted or farmed by local artisans. Their "Love Local Stories", introducing us to a handful of these folks makes for some of the best reality TV out there.

Here are a few California-local stories that hooked me this week.

Black Mesa Ranch
"Happy Goats Make Happy Cheese"

Soaptopia
"I'm a big believer in creating a very big, yummy, life affirming, large product, but in small batches."

Golden Road Brewing
"Whole Foods has built our brand and built our company and built our brewery."

Check out other Southern Pacific area bios via Love Local Stories featured here or type in your own Whole Foods zip code to be introduced to other local artisans bringing farm fresh products to your own table.

Totally Radical / Nautical Giftwrap

An hour before you leave for a birthday party, are you crazy enough to try and do this? I found myself without a gift bag or wrap on Sunday and you know how they say necessity is the mother of invention? Well yeah, it totally is.  Cue a fabric remnant, some neon embroidery floss, leftover neon paint from Easter and a couple of starfish I had stashed away and I had myself some totally radical, nautical gift wrap. Tucked just inside the chevron fabric was a mermaid themed gift and since we were on our way to celebrate dockside at a local restaurant, this solution ended up working out perfectly.