A-Musee Bien en Paris

France and Museums are synonymous. With a society and culture rooted in a long and storied past, having a wide variety of museums only seems fitting. Wonderfully, the buildings in which house these collections are in themselves masterpieces. Masterpieces that can be photographed and enjoyed for free! I could spend a whole day just admiring the detail on the outside...

Louvre

Via Of French

Via Photo Everywhere

Musee D'Orsay

Via Here

Musee Rodin
Via Travel Photo

France, je t'aime

I love the french language. This is a new realization, which is odd considering I was in french immersion through my entire grade school education. It was the first language I learned how to spell! A couple of weeks ago I tried to speak french, and when it didn't come easily I realized that I have lost so much of it! I couldn't believe it, I was upset, disappointed and especially sad. So, this week I am going to try to practice my french... and while I do, I thought I would explore everything beautiful that is associated with being francaise! Come along with me and explore the fine culture and beauty of France. Drawing inspiration from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea... lets soak it in!

This the the National Emblem, designed in 2007 by Jerome Blume.

To start off the week, here are some beautiful Parisian bedrooms... wouldn't it be lovely to wake up in one of these beds? I think I would wear high heels and dresses everyday if I lived in this room, but then again, I would also speak french everyday! Bien, j'ai besoin de commencer a pratiquer!

Via this is Glamorous

Marie Claire Maison via a la parisienne

Airspace Via Paris Apartment

Keep on browsing...

I'm going to spend this weekend trying to make up for daylight savings, which means no late sleep in mornings for me... so, while my roommate sleeps, I thought I would enjoy some morning sun catching up on some reading, blog and non blog related! If you are doing some browsing too, here are a few I thought were interesting...

Via Design Crisis

• Something to think about during our busy and stressful days... (from Mimi Charmante
• A little Van recognition, and some beautiful water scapes over at Design Crisis by guest poster Designer's Brew.
• Remember when I kept on seeing globes around? (here and here and earlier today) Well they haven't gone away, they have only become more interesting... as seen on Door Sixteen...
• Check out the painting going on at Apartment #412, Etc... it seems like she has managed to paint her whole place overnight! Maybe a little incentive to get me started on a few projects I have in waiting....
• A cool new application from Design for Mankind, which was featured on Sfgirlbybay...
• Here's something to get you ready for spring - flats from I'll Seen, I'll Said
• And last but not least, take a moment to imagine your life in another city, like La Dolce Vida did!
  

Wish I could be browsing from here....via Wind Lost

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and take some time to browse!

Crafty Globe

Do you remember back in January when I kept on seeing beautiful globe lights around and wondered if I should replace my bedroom light with one of them instead of a chandelier? Well, I am still convinced that I want a chandelier, but I still think they are amazingly beautiful! Maybe my dining room needs a new light?

From Bobo Intriguing Objects

These ones used to be old wine spheres.... I love the slightly charcoal tint in the glass and the flat bottoms. I imagine their unusual shape will make for some great light reflections!

Origami Folds

I used to love folding those paper cranes, so you can imagine how excited I was when I started seeing neat little folds and paperesque angles pop up on the red carpet, the catwalk and in home design. The designs these days are so much more sophisticated than those little cranes I used to fold up in my school days!

Yuko Nishimura via Origami Blog

I love the way that origami folds can create detail without additional products such as gems, embroidery, patterns or beads. Linked together, the folds can either focus your eye up towards the face such as seen on Cameron Diaz, elongate your silhouette as seen with Angelina Jolie or make you look all wrapped up like Marisa Tomei!

Via The Glam Guide

Via Origami Blog

I just have to add more to my love of how Angelina's dress uses two colours to add a pop and an element of 3D to her dress. It literally looks like it has been folded around her, and if she were to take it off, the whole inside of the dress would be yellow. Speaking of yellow - I love this origami inspired folded dress by Proenza Schouler.

Via the Origami Blog

Christian Dior Via Instyle

Collage via Origami Blog

The folds and angles are also finding their way into home decor. From pillows to beds!

PJ Pocket Pillow by Modern Twist via Apartment Therapy

Thomas Feichtner via Design Milk

Oh and I can't forget about how BIG of a statement those folded edges can make. Thanks Hedi!

Via This is London

I'm off to find my old origami book and make some folds.... If you want any more inspiration I suggest checking out Origami Blog, they are a great resource (as you can see from my credits!) and are totally dedicated to bring you everything folded, pleated and bent!

Bathe

An Arctic air mass blew in yesterday, while being beautifully sunny, it is also freezing! It would be a perfect day to take a bath in one of these.... Cozy warm water, yet with a view of the beautiful blue skies!

Attic bathroom? I love how they managed to put the little window in front of the bath... So cute!

Via Black Eiffel

I could just imagine this house being on a hill, where you could hunker down in this tub and storm watch... the sound of rain hitting the glass and the distorted view through the water flowing down the panes, such a great contrast to the warm calm waters of the bath!

Via Bo Bedre

These sophisticated dark bathrooms inspire so much contrast and you can't help but be drawn to the light outside... especially if it's a bright day. I love dark bathrooms.

Via Domino

The French do it so well....

Via Marie Claire Maison

A shower and a bath? And a bath in black? I think I have died and gone to heaven!

Via Desire to Inspire

Cottage baths? Can it get any more relaxing?

Via Designers Brew - formally The Nerdy Fashionista

Modern and sleek, looking out into your garden oasis. I hope your neighbours don't peep over the fence!

via A Life's Design

Rustic yet crisp. I love the ceiling, the tons of light keep it nice and airy.

S. Russell Groves via A Life's Design

Aren't these two little kids just the cutest?

From Asberg Interior and Design

Tuesday Bluesday

A little blue for this blah Tuesday.

I love this picture... it almost always makes me happy. Hopefully I can look at it long enough today to lighten my spirits.

Via Domino

I feel like these branches today, totally off kilter. I don't know whether to try and straighten up or allow myself to completely fall over. I don't think I will know for a while. I can only hope I look half as good as these branches as I teeter....

Kate French

Easy Eco Mondays - Bus Passes

If you don't already have a bus pass can I suggest trying one out for a month? I just bought one March 1st and I have already used it way more than I expected to. I am almost giddy when I can hop on the back of the bus and don't have to wait in line at the front to stuff my change into that little money slot and ask for a transfer. I feel like I have just been accepted into this secret mass transit society, I just wish we all had a secret hand shake!

Argentinian Bus Tickets via Black Pearl Press

So join the club and see how many different ways you can hop on the back of the bus!

Island Bound

Empress hotel via Victoria Travel Guide

So I'm off for a little trip this weekend. Nothing too crazy, just a quick little ferry ride across the Straight of Georgia. I have some friends across the waters and I have been way over due for a visit! Despite passing through Victoria several times, I have never really taken a weekend to go be a tourist. There are three uber touristy things I want to do this weekend: Have tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, browse Chinatown, and rent scooters! Does anyone have any other suggestions?

by Photographe du rue

I'm looking forward to it all, lets hope that this glorious weather holds up for the weekend!

Layer on Pink

I'm posting about pink again! Well it seems like I have developed a little hankering for it! I do love this rich plum version of the bubblegum favourite! (I'm sure that colour experts are reeling at my comparison!)

I feel that it is alright for me to like this pink - it is so rich but not overbearingly bright and it doesn't scream barbie doll corvette! I love how this colour adds some flair to the rooms without overpowering the space. I am drawn to the depth and warmth evoked in these rooms. I think this strong rich colour as the backdrop helps the layers of textures and shapes (see mantle below and shelves above) appear to be more cohesive and look less cluttered. I could spend hours looking at all the details in these two images. Okay - I'll list a few that have caught my eye!

Kitchen: garlands, the old signs and tins, the wall mounted spices - round containers, put together in a square shape - love that geometry

Living Room: Wood set of 4 drawers, the ottoman, the l-o-v-e letters on the top shelf, the candle holder/angel in front of the fire place.

This room is inspiring - see I'm a closet pack rat, I am so worried that one day I am going to be buried by all my 'stuff' but India shows that you can have a lot of stuff, display it (which is what I like to do) and still have a house that looks beautiful! How I wish I could make all of my 'stuff' look this good!
We all know that I love black, but it can be very bold, stark and formal. This lovely pink pattern sooths the otherwise stark wall and ties in well with the pink on the bed. Just imagine how formal this room would feel if the pink stencils weren't applied to the wall! I also love the way the bed just pops out of the room, as it contrasts with the furniture and wall.

What a poetic way to wrap a pot! Random - just like I feel this post is!

All images of India Knight's Victorian home from Living Etc.

Mental Replacement

I'm inspired by this mantra these days.

Via Daydream Lily

How wonderfully liberating?

Second time charm

I posted about my new years resolution to dress up a little more, which had me looking (untimely) at different accessories and jewellery including cocktail rings. While buying a real cocktail ring dripping with jewels is probably not going to happen in my lifetime, I always like to look! However this time I have found a frugal and unique alternative. Vintage rings.

I love the pearls in this one. It is classic. The blue adds a punch of colour and keeps it fresh! From Capricious Traveler's Etsy shop

Wow, this ring demands attention! I love the contrast between the red and the blue! Found on cuestaray's Flickr

First of all - I love the grey nail polish! I also love how shinny the ring is and the deep purplish black. Photography by Brittanie Shey, found on flickr

Easy Eco Mondays - Give Plants with Roots

A lot of lucky ladies (and some men) received bouquets of flowers this February...an estimated 180 million stems of roses. Stunning when first received, as the week progresses, they will start to droop and wilt. If you take very good care of your cut flowers, change the water every other day, keep the stems cut and give them flower food, they can last up to 2 weeks. But in the life cycle (seed, growth, transport, your counter) two weeks is a short period.

So are there alternatives? Well there were some great posts on paper flowers (although at the moment I can only find one!), but if fake isn't really your thing, you might want to think about potted plants. Now I must admit this is coming from a bias source, I think we have over 20 plants in our apartment! Don't get me wrong, I don't have a huge green thumb (I am extremely efficient at killing plants - I think we are down a handful since moving in 6 months ago.) but I do love the warmth and colour plants bring to a space!

So what to buy? Well there are many potted plants that flower and can be found at your local grocer, however they tend to flower once and then slowly die off. This process does take longer than 2 weeks so they are a step above cut flowers. Another step above would be a potted plant that flowers annually, or one that doesn't flower. These last for as long as the recipient can take care of them for. Cacti and arid environment plants do the best if you suspect that your loved one won't water them very well, while ones that love shade are good for indoor spaces that don't have direct light. Usually your local florist will tell you what would work best for each situation and what plants work best for where you live.

All these inspiring images are from the talented Katja at Nestled In her plant photos inspire me to work on my non green thumb!

Is it Monday already?

I can't believe Monday is here! That weekend whirled by! I didn't have a chance to write any posts!
So until I catch up, let me leave you with two of my favorite chairs right now...

The scoop back chair from West Elm

Via SimplyPear

How lovely it would be to have a seat in these!

Keep it Obscure...

This weekend I'm going to sink into the background and watch.
escape into the darkness.
hide away in a corner.
and let be my thoughts which I can not clearly express....

Photography by Thierry Le Goues

breathe