Uncommon Goods – The Beauty of Curious Things Part 1

Tommy Mitchell -Gilded Wall Display

It’s no secret that I gravitate toward two distinct but complimentary styles – Curiosity Cabinet Chic and Darkly Romantic.  The true core of my aesthetic is a blend of natural curiosities mixed with lush textures, cold metals and warm lighting. This isn’t to say that I don’t love clean, crisp minimalism or a riot of bright, bold colors and patterns – because I do. However, time and time again I find myself going back to the special beauty of what I’ll call uncommon goods. This three-part blog series will feature just a few of the want-worthy items I’ve been craving and how I’d love to style them if I were actually lucky enough to hold them in my hands.

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The Timeless Beauty of Chinoiserie

The gorgeous work of Benjamin Dhong as seen in a San Francisco Residence
The gorgeous work of Benjamin Dhong as seen in a San Francisco Residence

Of the many things I am drawn to, in love with, can’t get enough of, chinoiserie has to be one of the most potent. Chinoiserie, pronounced SHēnˌwäz(ə)ˈrē,ˌSHēnˈwäzərē, is the imitation and interpretation of Chinese motifs and techniques in Western art, furniture, and architecture, especially in the 18th-19th century. The sheer volume of information about the style defies belief, and I’ve found that you either love it like crazy or you don’t.

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7 Tips for Creating Sacred Space

Creating Sacred Space(2)It doesn’t matter if you live alone or are a family bursting at the seams. Whether your home is large or small, if you have a room or your own, or no room to breathe, creating a little sacred space can do wonders for your well-being. A while back, I wrote an article on Houzz about this very thing – ways you can carve out magical moments in your home that keep you grounded, remind you of what’s important in life, and touch on whatever spirituality means to you.  To help get you started, here are 7 of my most favorite ways to add a bit of spirit and soul to your surroundings.

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Where Hope Has A Home – Update!

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My beautiful niece Selah

Each time I sit to down to write a post I am overwhelmed by all of the things that have happened since I last updated my blog. It’s apparent that I need to devote as much love to the blog as I do to my projects because it’s an awesome creative outlet that helps me connect with you in a way that my Facebook and Instagram posts cannot.

Having been chosen as a designer for the Where Hope Has a Home Project at the Ronald McDonald House Stanford, has been such a humbling and challenging experience. I am continually in awe of the design talent that has come together to make this very special building a beautiful, safe and comforting place for children and their families.

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