Gray Built-In Bookshelves

Joni, of Cote de Texas, is famous for bring us gorgeous home tours and I came across this West University home she featured back in December 2009, as decorated by Sally Wheat.  Although the entire home is beautiful, what really caught my attention was the gray built-in bookcases in the family room.  Ms. Wheat is definitely ahead of the trends as gray is as relevant as ever, four years later. 

via Cote de Texas

via Cote de Texas

I scoured the entire post for the name of the paint color and found that Joni graciously shared it in the comments. 

Here's another darker gray built-in from Home & Design.

via Home & Design

Laura at Bright, Bold, and Beautiful featured a home office remodel by Niki and Bradely Davidson that has the same dark gray built-in look.

via Bright, Bold, and Beautiful 

I'm in love with just about every design from M.E. Beck Design, Inc. including her use of dark gray in this living room.

via M.E. Beck Design, Inc.

All of this gorgeous gray is making me want to paint our living room media cabinet/bookshelves gray.  Here's what they look like now.  Who has photoshop and can give me a rendering?? :) 

I painted a white door gray and love the look, so I'm thinking I'd love the look in the living room too.  It's more interesting and dramatic. 

I'm just not sure how dark I want to go.  The door is painted Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams.  

What medium to dark gray paint do you like?  I'd love to hear. 

Villa en Santorini / Villa in Santorini

En Akrotiri, en un lugar precioso con vistas impresionantes del volcán  y al mar se encuentra esta preciosa villa. Coloridas pinturas, objetos de arte, muebles elegantes, paredes pintadas, techos de madera y unas vistas impresionantes, todo en armonía y con un carácter muy sereno y relajado.

 ¿se puede pedir más?

Via

Swedish apartment: black, white and texture

I spotted this beautiful apartment over on Emmas Design blog this morning. The kitchen and bedroom in particular are soooooo fab. Bistro style dining chairs are quickly becoming the dining chair of the moment and I love the contrast of the black against the otherwise white kitchen. The wood effect wall (wallpaper?) also adds warmth to the room.  Having seen the painted grey floor in the bedroom I am seriously tempted with my own bedroom! And what about how they've cut a square out of the plaster to expose the brickwork?

Stadshem

What do you think?

An important announcement - thank you so much for all your wonderful entries to win the Vitra L'oiseau from Designcollectors. The winner of the beautiful birdy is Karina from Makao Home! Congratulations! I wish you could have all won :)

Here in Sweden my family and I are heading up the coast to celebrate Valborg (Walpurgis night) with a huge bonfire and singing. Do you celebrate Walpurgis night in your country?

Buena mezcla / Good mix

Aunque no lo parece esta casa de estilo francés está en las afueras de Estocolmo, prácticamente todo en blanco, muebles antiguos franceses con historia se mezclan con piezas danesas  y suecas, una perfecta combinación que con la gran cantidad de  plantas y motivos botánicos crean un ambiente luminoso y muy acogedor. 

!!Me gusta especialmente el toque vintage de  las laminas botánicas!!

via

!Gracias por tu visita!!     Vicky

Updated Office Pictures

This month marks two years since I moved into this office.  Where does the time go?  The last time I posted pictures I believe was here, so I figured I owed y'all some updated pictures.  Truth be told, it is rarely in any condition to be photographed....it is a "working" office after all.  However, a few weeks ago after another shoot we decided to take some quick pictures and here they are...

 Trim has been painted and the desk chairs have survived a few makeovers.

 One side houses all the fabric samples and catalogs...

 The other side is shelving filled with bags marked for current client projects.

 I don't have pictures of the rest of the office right now because it is in transition.  I did include the exit though because the trim is painted one of my current favorite colors- Sherwin Williams 6215 Rocky River.

I still have the option to close the walls but I don't think I ever will, I love the exposed walls.  Like everything else, it is a work in progress but I am glad it is mine.

Impromptu Picnic

This weekend, in between thunderstorms, we had a pocketful of really nice weather.  The kind of mild weather that is perfect for an impromptu picnic, and just the excuse I needed to bust out my new picnic basket I found at HomeGoods.   They are designed by Cynthia Rowley and come is several different colors and patterns.

The padded handle is nice and inside, they are insulated.  I was able to fit a small cutting board, 4 tupperware containers, 2 boxes of crackers, a juice box, hand towel and ice bag. 

A small pocket on the outside is great for napkins and cutlery. 

You don't need to get all fancy for a picnic, just a few light snacks are perfect.  

I showed my son that, on a picnic, you can take off your shoes and enjoy bare feet:) 

But then he was off to the playground. 

Have you enjoyed a picnic lately?  Next time I'm bringing the wine.