Exterior Design

Over the weekend, when the snow was melting into slippery puddles, and the sunny glint of the bright white made it hard to see, I felt the first hint of spring.  As my dog tried to navigate his way through, my mind was elsewhere, dreaming of upcoming warm days.
I can't wait for the hint of green, and it makes me want to start planning my fantasy garden.  Two years ago I was lucky enough to spend a part of the summer traipsing through gardens in Tuscany- observing, watercoloring, and enjoying the spaces.  The interesting thing about an Italian garden is the formality.  Restraining and shaping nature to create an organized environment that aims to transport you to another place.  Or at least a place that provides a little shade from the sweltering heat or a hidden nook for a garden tryst.  The funny thing about the gardens was the element of surprise-  hidden statue or jet of water right around the corner.
The most beautiful ones though, are those that are rough around the edges.  Kind of overgrown, reverting back to the way it used to be.
I desperately want to design a rambling backyard later in life- preferably my own?   Until that time, I'll make do with the houseplants.

Live Leatha.

I saw this today on Materia and it was really fascinating.  Studio Art, an Italian-based company, designs unique materials and home accessories composed of natural elements, such as stone, wood, and especially leather.  One of their specialties are leather mosaics, i.e. mosaico in pelle.  I've seen leather used in a lot of unique ways- floor tiles (what's the wear on those?) to bar tops (your glass probably stays in place), but never quite like this.  Leathers are tiled into place on walls, sometimes dyed beforehand.  They are versatile, from really bold styles, with widely varying shades, to muted, tidy mosaics of one tone.  Either way it's a statement wall.  I love that they embraced the texture by applying it to a curved wall in their showroom.  People are going to be trailing their hands all over that.

And yes, while part of me cringes at the thought of using so much animal, I can't forget that leather is a part of Italian culture.  I visited a leather production house in Florence, and the whole process was almost reverent.
It's a celebration of leather, in a way.  Studio Art says it the best:

"...offering ancient emotions, essential fragrances and tactile sensations and showing just how much leather is a live element full of expressive meaning."

Portfolio!

My whole portfolio is now online. [Click photo to link.] Eventually I want to have all the work individualized on my photo page, but for now, here is each page as it stands.
On the job front, I've got something non-interiors related in order to pay rent. But still on the hunt!
Once I unpack my camera I want to get some pictures of my loft on here. Before our renovations! I'm trying to design a set of stairs that does not require a lot of material.
As of now, tasks for today include de-frosting the fridge, taking Bubu to the park, and working on a painting. Wonderful Saturday!