My Dream Home

A few weeks ago a wonderful blogging friend, Cindy who pens the wonderful blog

 Rough Luxe Lifestyle

came up with the idea of having a group of bloggers write about

 building their dream home

and...

 you can visit all of the other blogs 

today too and see what they designed!

This was a bit of a challenge for sure, because like most of us...

I would love to live in many different places...

A loft in Manhattan?

An apartment in Paris?

On a yacht in Monaco?

(remember this is a dream..right?)

Hawaii?

Mexico? Montana?

 But I  kept coming back to a place
that has left an impression on my heart

 this special spot
 has what I consider to be the most compelling and beautiful
landscape
that can be found anywhere....

a big blue sky

rocky coastal ocean panoramas

views,  vistas and rolling hills

plants and wildlife

not one of which takes center stage....

 all are of equal importance to this spot along the coast of California

called Big Sur
it sits
140 miles south of San Francisco

I have had the opportunity to vacation there, quite a few times,
 at an incredible Inn called the 

Post Ranch 

 The Inn and surrounding buildings
were designed by Big Sur architect Mickey Muennig

His designs combine the elements of nature, art and architecture

into a dwelling which becomes part of the site itself

It is hard to see where each aspect of the design begins 

and where it ends

"Architecture is much more than shelter;  it bonds a continuous and worldwide mystery to its inhabitants.  The clients lifestyle, inherent attitudes, cultural background and specific dreams or desires can often inspire new ideas from which a design may spring"  G.K. Muennig

His work is further complimented by the use of raw steel

concrete, redwood, glass and stone

This is a house he designed which has all of those aspects 

as well as an incredible site along the 

coastline

this is it...my dream home!

Big Sur has one of the most stringent environmentally protective land use policies in the United States

which make it difficult to build 

but allows the further protection of declining species of plants, insects and animals

Another aspect of Muennig designs is his use of solar and "off the grid"  

carbon neutral philosophies

such as sod roofs, solar panels and reclaimed gray water

Now for some eye candy....!!!

For those of you who have read this blog for a while 

you know that I am a huge fan of 

modern country

 I have recently fallen for 

 designers that have that certain "thing"...

which is actually the lack of excess and clutter

  clean almost unfurnished rooms 

where art, architecture and texture can be the focus

 Karen Blake

Briggs Edward Solomon

 Pam Pierce

 Ralph Lauren

 Nancy Fischelson

 m. elle designs

 Darryl Carter

I could really go on and on....there are so many beautiful designs to love

but

I have to admit

I really don't believe in dream homes

 life changes so much
and often what you thought you really wanted was just someone else's version
 of the perfect house and not really your version

I wish we spent more time saying
 "right now this is good enough"
and
sometimes less is more
in ways other than decor or architecture

  sometimes all of the hard work results
in a big bucket of flowers and not a house in Big Sur

 so for today I'll take a bunch of lavender

or a swing on the porch

 or a nap on the lawn

in my "dream" house
the one I happen to live in today!

thanks for stopping by, I know this was a long one

here are the others

Collage of Life
Rough Luxe Lifestyle
TG Interiors
Roses and Rust
Linen and Lavender
Splenderosa


please take a peek
I know you will love them

Happy Dream House Hunting

~*Kelley*~

DIY Weekend Garden Project

Who doesn't love a wicker basket filled with flowers?

Rogers Gardens in Corona Del Mar California 

started this "trend" of living plants in interesting baskets

years and years ago 

and it has become one of their signature gift items 

at the nursery

They have mastered this look by making the baskets and wooden boxes waterproof

 for use inside 

or outside on your porch or garden table

They 

hide the soil and roots 

with moss and tuck little ferns, Ivy's and succulents 

into every square inch

I have quite a few pretty little baskets

 to use for this weekend project

 I have followed the "Rogers Garden method" of containing the soil 

by lining the baskets with waterproof floral paper

 You can find this paper at craft stores and floral supply stores

It's a bit like aluminum foil but has a plastic over lining 

which makes it completely waterproof

If you are using these out side you will need to poke a few holes for drainage

I secure the paper to the baskets with heavy duty staples 

so it stays put along the sides of the baskets

 Here is the little oval basket 

 It has a new home on the garden table 

in the apple orchard 

 I used some succulents in the little square ones

You can cut the paper as needed or just shape it unto your basket

 This is an old hand picking orchard bucket 

used to pick and load fruit from the tree to the bushel

It definitely  looked like it was in need of 

some cheering up

 I added some geraniums and petunias

and hung it by the little buckle on the back 

over the top of my garden gate

It will be fun to check back on these in about a month 

to see the flowers spilling over the edges

Have a fun weekend 

&

 try this little DIY project

And don't for forget about the special post on Tuesday

"Dream Home Ideas"

xo 

Kelley

a little shopping

Thanks for stopping by today!

 Sorry for the lack of blog posts...I have quite a list of things going on 

and now that spring is here.... 

 the garden is screaming for attention

so I just had to get outside and get a little dirty

 I have most of the vegetable beds planted

 and I'm hoping to experiment with a few new varieties of vegetables this year

....especially some really interesting new tomatoes

but today....lets go shopping!

I haven't really shared much about vintage shopping on the Internet

but....if you like vintage 

you will love 

Second Shout Out

there are dozens of sellers

 with all the things I love...like rusty buckets

pillows and pottery

and I have been selling there too!

here are a few things from my shop

if you like vintage ....

visit Second Shout Out

today

here

 and next Tuesday

I will have a really fun post to share

along with some other really creative and talented

bloggers

It's a chance to build my dream home!

hummmm

where will I live?

and

what will it look like

better start working on this one right away

see you soon

Kelley