FINDS: Green Walls for Indoors

After I managed to turn our balcony into a little green jungle this year, I thought it might be an extra to have green walls inside as well. I mean real green walls with plants growing vertically not horizontally.

There are a couple of companies who create breathtaking green walls for inside with immense advantages for your well being and enjoyment because who would not love to have a green living wall in front of you rather than a grey concrete monster? Here are a few examples which may give your interior designs a completely new twist:

The first examples are from a company in Stockholm, Sweden, Greenworks:

image source for all above images:

  http://www.greenworks.se/index.html

Wouldn't it be exciting to work in an environment such as this? Or imagine to have a green wall in your living room so that it would not be necessary to have an additional sunroom to enjoy the feeling of an inside garden?

The following examples are from Indoorlandscaping, a German company, located now in Munich but with subsidiaries in Los Angeles and Mexico City:

 image source for above images:

  http://www.indoorlandscaping.de/

And here are some more examples from a company in England, Bio Tecture which are specifically charming:

 image source for above images:

 http://www.biotecture.uk.com

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FINDS: Frédérique Morrel

Some time ago I stumbled over an artist you might know already but if not you might find her as interesting as I did. Actually it is a couple who combine their creative juices and make something new from old in a unique way. The couple I am talking about is Frédérique Morrel and Aaron Levin.

Frédérique says about herself that she "was troubled by the fact that her grandmother's needlework was discarded when she passed." She became obsessed with the idea to bring these kinds of artefacts back to life in a completely new way. Aaron is more the guardian of the Morrel brand and on the lookout for unique tapestries which are then worked into new pieces of art such as the following.

What I found to be extremely charming are the life-sized deer sculptures (called "MY DEAR" by Morrell) in all kinds of colourful patterns but which carry antlers which ARE realistic.

These sculptures start with a fiberglass taxidermy mold, injected with expanding foam. Pieces that are molded separately are assembled and reinforced with steel rods. Realistic details such as hoofs, ears, muzzle, teeth and tongue are finished with resin or latex and airbrushed. Real antlers are fixed to the head. The mold is then completely covered with vintage tapestries (from their website).

Smaller sculptures are these "trophy heads" which of course are really charming in contrast to those abominable real hunting trophies which I could never tolerate:



But there is more that this creative couple creates, "artifacts are their personal answer to re-enchant the world, using their special ingredients: materials that tell stories of simple, ideal happiness".

If you want to see more of these works and learn more about this creative couple from France you should check out the website of Frédérique Morell.

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GUEST POST: Wreaths for the Holidays

Wreaths can be a beautiful decor for your home. You don't need to water them regularly as you would have to do with a bouquet and you don't need an extra vessel to put them in - you just can hang them on your door or on the wall, place them on a table or on a planter  etc.
I love to have a wreath for the holidays, one made from pine twigs or fir because I love the scent of the needles - this always reminds me of childhood days. The downside of these is though that they lose the needles eventually and you have all that mess on your table and home.

Yesterday I received  a letter from Home Infatuation about unusual wreaths for the holidays and I found  them very beautiful so that I did not want to withhold to show you these.

"The foliage is fresh magnolia leaves and the company is The Magnolia Company. The foliage is grown on a family-owned farm. Over 70 years ago the original founders of The Magnolia Company grew and sold fresh fern foliage to florists across the US. In the 1990s they began receiving requests for fresh magnolia leaves, and soon afterwards they began planting acres of magnolia.

Now they ship thousands of fresh and dried wreaths and lacquer painted wreaths which were selected last year by the White House.
The wreaths can be purchased at Home Infatuation, which offers everything required for distinctive outdoor living. For more information, call 877-224-8925, or visit www.homeinfatuation.com. Check out our blog at http://www.homeinfatuationblog.com."
(with courtesy by homeinfatuation.com)

"How to Use Holiday Wreaths

From open houses to family get-togethers, the holiday season is an ideal time to express yourself through creative home décor, and wreaths offer a great starting point. "Fresh and dried wreaths come in different styles and add a rich look to any space," says Mike Voyles of www.homeinfatuation.com. "Themed wreaths using flowers, leaves and dried vegetables can add whimsy to Halloween or create a warm and elegant look for end-of-year celebrations."

Depending on how you use it, the wreath can be the center of attention. It can adorn the big double doors of a custom home or hang above a fireplace, adding to the coziness of a living room. Add candles, and it also can serve as an elegant centerpiece for your holiday table.

The use of natural colors, textures and materials continues to be an increasingly popular trend. Fresh wreaths reflect the growth of green-friendly design, using magnolia leaves adorned with elements au naturel, from holiday gourds, pomegranates and natural pods to lemons, artichokes and berries. "They also add a sense of serenity to an unadorned space," says Voyles. "One of our favorites is the Magnolia Leaf Wreath, creating attention with its eye-catching luminous look."

According to Voyles, dried wreaths are a practical option. “To infuse color into a neutral-shade area and welcome in the fall or holiday season, try wreaths made of dried green and copper colored magnolia leaves adorned with dried autumn oak leaves, setaria, magnolia pods, yarrow and fall gourds. Presented as an accent or an integral part of your décor, it can define the landscape of your living space.”

Home Infatuation features fresh and dried magnolia wreaths that are made from foliage grown on a family-owned farm. The company offers everything required for distinctive outdoor living. Home Infatuation -- which now offers international shipping -- chooses products from around the world, delivering a high level of customer service and a quality experience. For more information, call 877-224-8925, or visit www.homeinfatuation.com. Check out our blog at http://www.homeinfatuationblog.com."

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FINDS: More than just Pottery from Etsy....

Here is another find from Etsy:  works from the Clay Studio by Heather Knight. 
Heather creates tiles - tiles which are beautiful little sculptures, inspired by the flora and fauna of the oceans, by creatures which live in an area that might never be seen by you but are so beautiful in their forms and patterns that they became the inspirations of a ceramic artist.

These tiles are not just meant to cover the wall of your bathroom or kitchen, these tiles are unique artworks, very fragile and delicate. But Heather does not only create tiles but also bowls, vases and more, equally inspired by the creatures of our planet...

In an interview she said: "...my inspiration comes mainly from textures and forms I find on my visits to the beach, or walks in the woods, and sometimes I find really cool stuff on city sidewalks..."

And now visit her studio on Etsy:

all images with courtesy of Heather Knight

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FINDS: an incredible Chandelier by Sander Mulder

A short while ago I stumbled upon a designer in The Netherlands via the De Liever Koffietafelblog in my blogroll. They featured an incredible design of a modern chandelier which I do not want to withhold - I think you might be equally fascinated:

original image source:  www.sandermulder.com

This model Therese is " made from 16 transparent contours illuminated by a fluorescent bulb, this chandelier provides a modern reincarnation of the traditional chandelier."
(read more:  http://www.sandermulder.com/therese.html)

Another incredible design is this floor lamp Josephine, "made from 16 transparent contours illuminated by a dimmable fluorescent bulb".

original image source:  www.sandermulder.com

Check out their website for more exciting designs.

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FINDS: Handthrown Porcelain Sinks by Neil Estrick

Today I want to start with a new series about Finds from the Internet. These are ideas for interior design which I find remarkable, simply beautiful or just eye catchers in any way.

I'll start with a find I made on Etsy: hand thrown porcelain sinks with a Celadon glaze. They are absolutely beautiful and would be a bijou for your bathroom. They are created by Neil Estrick, located in Greyslake, Illinois.

He opened the gallery and studio in Grayslake, Illinois in 2004, with an emphasis on creating and selling simple, functional, well designed pottery. Since then, the business has grown to included pottery classes for adults and children, as well as instruction in oil painting, watercolors, glass beads and jewelry, and now an online store. For more information on him and the shop, please visit his gallery on the Internet.
His work is food safe, dishwasher safe and microwave safe. Every glaze he uses is lead free. Neil also welcomes special orders.

More information you can find on his blog.

with courtesy of Neil Estrick

 all images are ©Neil Estrick

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