Scandinavian Apartments

As I continue my search for an apartment in San Francisco, I find myself drooling over images of beautiful apartments that I would love to dwell in. The only problem? They all seem to be in Sweden. If I could read Swedish, I would likely find that these apartments are far outside of my budget, anyway. So, while I keep searching for the perfect San Francisco apartment, I'll be daydreaming of a lovely, light-filled apartment like this one. The white-washed wood floors and sparse white walls are offset perfectly with the neutral and mint color palette. Simply stunning.

All images via emmas designblogg

Union Wood Company Retail Space

If I were to have a storefront, I would wish for it to look like this. A little rustic and industrial, a touch of masculine, and a whole lot of character. Of course, if this were truly my space, I would balance all of this masculine design with a good dose of feminine flair. After working in retail for the past 5 years (in various roles, from sales to visual to buying) I have a firm belief in bringing in the 'smalls', as I so lovingly refer to them. These are the little knick-knacks that really make you stop to take a closer look. Things like handmade stationery, fragrances and beautifully designed books. If organized thoughtfully, these are the items that will grab your attention and keep you coming back for more.

Images via poppytalk. Check out Union Wood Company here.

Living Space Project

Moscow-based Kerimov Prishin Architects have designed ‘Arbor 15’, an outdoor dining room and living space for a family home in the Russian capital. 
The arbor is designed to comfortably seat fifteen people at the dramatically long (and seemingly unsupported) table. This industrial outdoor space has three defined 'zones', including a kitchen/fireplace area, a dining table, and an outdoor terrace.

Images via Creative Home Idea 

How I would love to warm up this arbor with some color and print, a few mismatched vintage chairs, and the warm glow of candlelight.  These accents would be a great starting point to add a little personal charm to the space, while getting set up for a cozy dinner party.

Items via BHLDN

Outdoor Spaces

As the weather turns crisp and the days get shorter, I begin to lust for the outdoors all the more. Backyard bonfires, hot cider after a hayride, brisk walks through the fallen leaves... Fall really is the best time of year. Oh how I wish that I had an outdoor space of my own to enjoy the season in. For now, I'll satisfy my craving by enjoying other people's outdoor spaces. Here's a peak into the backyard of Blue Lotus Gardens. 

Images via BLUE LOTUS

WeeHouse

Tiny homes have been increasingly popular. As I realize that I may not be 'moving up' in therms of my square footage ownership anytime soon (I've been sharing apartment spaces under 500 sq. feet for the past few years now), my interest in these spaces continues to grow.

There are several 'tiny home' companies out there, offering a range in prefab home sizes and designs. Some offer cabin-like second homes, while others focus on more livable spaces designed to be your primary dwelling. Many use recycled and re-purposed materials and even incorporate environmentally conscience elements like solar power panels. The 'WeeHouses' below come from Alchemy. Their houses can be found all over the US, in both rural and urban locations. 

This first House is in Pepin, Wisconsin. This is the original WeeHouse, and has become the iconic image of the WeeHouse brand. Offering a mere 336 sq. feet of living space, it manages to maintain simplicity in design while intelligently creating storage solutions that keep clutter out of sight.

This next home is located in Moab, Utah and stands outs from the others thanks to its stunning backdrop.  Located in the red-rock desert landscape in Utah, this home was among the first 'net zero' homes, meaning it incorporates water recycling, passive solar, solar electric and solar thermal collectors in order to balance its overall energy consumption.

All images via Alchemy WeeHouses

Microbial Home

The Microbial Home Probe from Philips houses a domestic ecosystem. With this system, each function's output is another function's input, creating a cyclical balance that takes advantage of waste and puts it to good use. It does all this while maintaining a strong sense of design. A Danish-modern-esque eocsystem? I wouldn't mind seeing this in my home everyday.  Image and information via Philips

Bohemian Inspiration

Back on the topic of creating a event space, this inspiration comes from Blue Lotus. I love the use of textures and materials here, from natural stones and driftwood to a Mexican-style blanket. The minds behind this set-up understand how to transform a space by using well-edited materials to communicate a theme. The little details go a long way-- can't you just imagine a beautiful bohemian bride in a vintage 1960's lace dress sitting at that table?