mhDESIGN
mandy harper.
Christ follower. wife. cook. athlete. artist. nurse. aspiring mother. farmer. musician. thinker. writer. organizer.
ideate: it's a mad mesh.
●
●
●
Monday, July 18, 2011
wooden radio MP3 player @ 11:13 AM
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
@ 2:15 PM
This book is so new to me that I haven't had the opportunity to add it to my online library collection, but it truly has me fascinated, excited, and relieved of past interior design angst that I had built up inside against "balance and perfection".
The concept of "undecorating" is entirely liberating. Here's the book, written by Dwell Design studio founder and director, Christiane Lemieux. Access a sneak peak at the book by clicking the link below the picture:
hgtv GREEN home giveaway!! @ 2:04 PM
Don't forget to enter the 2011 HGTV Green Home giveaway sweepstakes. Once again it looks a-maz-ing with such resourceful decoration. Here's the link...go get some!
@ 1:41 PM
It's like sticking your hand into a candy dish. Only healthier.
With spring here, we find our souls gravitating towards color because it means life. It's the color of tulips and daffodils. Green grass. Blue skies. And budding trees. Every spring I find myself splurging on a bunch of handcut flowers from Trader Joes to prop up in the house to show resolution in the change of seasons. It leads to more color blossoming around the home: changing out accessories, such as pillows, planting herbs and flowers, and cooking with color--stepping away for a break from the heavier foods of the winter.
It also prompts a new resolution to keep my Savior close to my thoughts, growing in Him in fresh, new ways. Bringing exitement to my prayer life again. Finding new life in my Bible reading. Falling in love with His Creation and the beauty of seasons.
Loving people I'm placed in contact with.
Loving those I see every day...and redicovering the reasons they make me smile.
Monday, April 11, 2011
White fixes all. @ 2:07 PM
Today is one of "those" days.
Then again, shopping online at Ruche doesn't sound bad either...
Labels: carrera marble, cooking, farmhouse, kitchen, white
Monday, March 21, 2011
@ 3:23 PM
Hanging Pendant Lamp
Suspend a vintage Jack Daniel's repurposed bottle lamp the atypical way: with a vintage hand pulley. The *plus*? You can adjust the height of your light above your bed or chair for reading or for ambiance.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
@ 8:57 PM
Checklist for my home:
Like:
1| Floor to ceiling windows
2| Exposed beams and high ceilings (it doesn't hurt to dream, right?!)
3| Walk-in pantry...can't imagine life without mine. Really. Plus, it's a throw-back to Gramma's pantry which is a dear memory.
4| Black or stainless industrial GAS stove top....doesn't show buildup. Our rental has one and I'm sold.
5| Wood floor in Master closet. Absolutely everything must have a place above the ground. That means lots of specific compartments for wardrobe items.
6| NO DRYWALL. Drywall is pathetic in every form of its being. If I absolutely can't get rid of the drywall which is highly probable in these neck of the woods, then at least it must be flat textured. My preference over drywall? Teak. I'm imagining our family lake house in Clear Lake, IA because that is where I was exposed to teak walls. Naturally, their existence was a mere afterthought until I moved to California. Those walls breathe life into a person, and I miss them daily.
7| Cantilevered roof. It protects from the sun yet still allows for light to enter through those floor-to-ceiling windows. Which brings me to my next must-have....
8| Sunset facing living area.
9| Kitchen to have both East and West window light.
10| As much natural lighting as humanely possible
11| Fireplace. Gotta have one 'cause they look so cozy.
2| Exposed beams and high ceilings (it doesn't hurt to dream, right?!)
3| Walk-in pantry...can't imagine life without mine. Really. Plus, it's a throw-back to Gramma's pantry which is a dear memory.
4| Black or stainless industrial GAS stove top....doesn't show buildup. Our rental has one and I'm sold.
5| Wood floor in Master closet. Absolutely everything must have a place above the ground. That means lots of specific compartments for wardrobe items.
6| NO DRYWALL. Drywall is pathetic in every form of its being. If I absolutely can't get rid of the drywall which is highly probable in these neck of the woods, then at least it must be flat textured. My preference over drywall? Teak. I'm imagining our family lake house in Clear Lake, IA because that is where I was exposed to teak walls. Naturally, their existence was a mere afterthought until I moved to California. Those walls breathe life into a person, and I miss them daily.
7| Cantilevered roof. It protects from the sun yet still allows for light to enter through those floor-to-ceiling windows. Which brings me to my next must-have....
8| Sunset facing living area.
9| Kitchen to have both East and West window light.
10| As much natural lighting as humanely possible
11| Fireplace. Gotta have one 'cause they look so cozy.
12| A simple outdoor shower.
13| White carrera marble countertops with subtle aurbergine, malachite, and silvered veins.
14| Dark floors
15| The great kitchen triangle. You'll find the more and more you dwell on it, the concept leads to obsession.
The perfect angles for absolute efficiency in the kitchen.
Nots:
1| Carpet. Bleh. Ok, maybe for the guest bedroom only. Don't like the "cold feeling" of hard floors? That's where area rugs bring comfort and versatility.
2| Much lawn. I'm all about keepin' it green, just not in the form of monstrous lawns. (Money green and ecologically green)
3| Absolutely NO BLINDS. Worried about the sun? Again, the cantilevered rooftop is a friend. If our dream home can't include a cantilevered rooftop, the next best thing is getting a home with a wraparound porch for a similar affect. Seek drama and warmth inside? Then add layered drapes and sheers ad lib. Use muted glass for bathroom privacy when necessary. Exception for blinds: if the window itself is a blind. In Maui, my husband and I loved the windows where the glass itself looked like a plantation shutter blind. You could tilt the windows slightly open for breeze or shut for comfort. The angle and thickness of the glass provided privacy without the need for other blinds or window treatments. I wonder what these are called? Certainly they are limited to climate; however, perhaps still feasible for our portion of Northern California.
4| Say no to beige. Need more be said?
I'm sure I'll add more to the list later. These were on my mind today.
