Christmas, I'm done with you!

Just took our tree down and can't really say I was sad to see it go. Since "they" decided to start Christmas before Thanksgiving again this year by January 1st I was officially over it.

(images via swiss-miss)

New Stairs.

So, I had a chance to see the (almost) finished staircase this past weekend and I LOVED it! Thank God. This whole renovation business is so nerve-wracking. It just feels like months of paper-clipping money to balloons and letting them go.

Glad that I didn't see this staircase until just now. It's not as if anything like this would be possible, but I'm sure I would have tried.

(Image found via Texturism)

Shadows.

(Images by Marcus Buck via The Dark Victory)

Neglect.

Hello Blog,

Please forgive me for neglecting you for the past few weeks. I know I have been absent and distracted, but it's not from a lack of interest in you, I swear. It's not like I didn't think about you often. I hope to be able to give you more attention in the New Year, as you deserve.

Yours Truly.

(image from Vena Cava)

Woah.

Underground home in Switzerland via Freckle Farm.

I want an owl.

I have always been mesmerized by owls...something about those eyes...

...Or maybe it's the obsession with Twin Peaks that I have carried with me for the past nineteen years.

In any case, this girl FOUND an injured one on the side of the road and had the pleasure of sharing a ride with it.

(found here via kate pruitt)

Snow!

First day on the mountain!!!!

It was really decent for so early in the season. The pup loved it too. Now I have snow on the brain...

(image from treehugger via automatism)

Rustic/Modern.

Great balance between old and new in this kitchen.

Stairs.

Hopefully the next time we see the cabin we will have a brand new staircase that looks a little something like this...

...So rad. Just gotta tackle the white IKEA country kitchen and beige shag carpeting some day.

(image via remodelista or desire to inspire)

It's Coming.

The first big storm of the year is pummeling Tahoe right now. Can't wait to play in the snowy mountains...

(images via all the mountains...)

Holiday

The cutest couple is cute during the holidays, too, making wreaths out of driftwood together. Aww...

Wishlist. #1

Donna Wilson Throw Blanket, Lace Wallet, United Bamboo Dress, Grand Lodge Salad Plates, Mountain Beanbag.

Party Life.

Is that a giant die in the back corner? Love it.

(found via emmas designblogg)

Gallery

I love displaying art gallery style, but my skills aren't that great yet. Here are some inspirational examples...

(Images from emmas designblogg and skona hem)

Mmmmm.

Kevin Appel is my new favorite.

DIY

I'm not much of a DIYer, but this project looks soooo easy and really cool.

(Found at emmas designblogg)

Love it.

What a perfect room....

Jamie's Garden

Though this is mainly a place where I write about mountain living, renovating and decorating, I have a huge soft spot for the desert as well (I'll get to that a little later). So ever since Jamie from A Desert Fete asked for some ideas for her Southern California walled garden I've been eager to do some brainstorming. Here's what I have come up with.

Flora Grubb does amazing, low impact landscaping using native california plants that require little water and maintenance. Her succulent installations immediately came to mind. For a garden with a large wall, why not adorn it?

Up close, it's really just a bunch of small plastic six-pack garden containers, probably nailed to a backing and then refilled with the succulents (sorry Flora!). This would require little attention and water, and the coolest thing is that it's like art that is constantly changing as it grows and blooms!

Flora also does an amazing bromeliad wall (below). It looks like the key here is alignment, and as an architect I'm sure Jamie would be great at it. To create this, they drilled long nails into concrete, sticking out about six inches, and then just clipped the air plants with metal clips to the nails.

For an urban outdoor space there is no reason not to treat it like another room in your house, with furniture, side tables, objets d'art and pillows and rugs. If you are worried about weather, just move the plush stuff in at night. Remodelista did a great "steal this look" of the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs a while back that prompted me to immediately order a hammock for our Oakland backyard. Now I think every yard needs a hammock. And a rug on a patio does all kinds of good things too...

Yes Please.

Lindsey Adelman's work is a m a z i n g!

Donna Wilson.