Asparagus Interiors

I’ve been meaning to write about some inspiration lately.  What moves me? What influences my designs and how are these elements incorporated into recommendations?

I’m usually like a sponge soaking up every color, graphic, and natural anomaly in sight.  But recently I ran across two very different crafts that speak to my core design philosophy.  Experiment with color and incorporate nature.  Nature in this blog comes from wood and glass.

Woven Glass - Two artists, Tom and Eric of Markow and Norris , create delicate hand woven glass sculpture.  The vibrant colors, fabric like drapery and creative inlays take glass to a new level of tactile bliss.

Carved Wood Sculpture - Tom Langan’s carved birds take me a back to my roots.  The grouping of the birds and clustering of the sculptures create a real feeling and sense that this art is alive.  It’s the grouping that interests me and influences how I group objects in my designs.  I love the realistic approach to carving and painting the birds.  I most of all love the Egrets.

I’ve been on a lighting kick lately.  A new fixture for the exterior, but how about inside?

I love modern design, but it’s nice to glam-up the decor and feel pretty again.  Crystal lamp bases are in this season as well as anything glass.  It’s timeless, never goes out of style and keeps an air of lightness and sophistication in the space.

Some of my favorites:

Williams Sonoma Home
Miss K Lamp - DWR.com
Bourgie Table Lamp - DWR.com

What’s all the buzz about purple this season? It’s back and it’s popping up everywhere.

In the past couple months I’ve had 3 clients ask for a deep darker tone of the jelly colored favorite.  Similar to the Tokyo flag shown.  We have paired the purple with deep chocolate brown, butter yam and deeper teal green. Another favorite cropping up is a lighter purple with a cold gray accent paired with brown or natural steel gray add a crisp finished look to a room.

Check out what’s happening in the fashion world and we’re now seeing it in on the interiors side. Take a deeper look a purple. It may just be the regal punch your looking for.

Origins of Purple

After shopping this past weekend at my favorite home store, Dwellings in Le Claire, IA, I stumbled upon a Marooshka graphic print.  Marooshka, that’s funny, my last name is Marusin.  Art inspiration or serendipity?

We picked up the Bittersweet print with it’s striking orange screen print on a natural linen fabric.  Bittersweet is shown above next to the vintage sand dollar Marushka. The designs are similar to the Marimekko designs we love. The new print is a great addition to our living room.

After doing more research, I found that Marooshka originated as Marushka.

Marushka prints were made by Michigan in the 70’s and 80’s by Michigan Rag Company in Grand Haven.  Founded by Richard Sweet, the graphic prints were simple designs mounted on linen and fabric canvas.  Inexpensive prints that featured many sea side creatures and natural themes.

We’re heading to the Grand Haven area in August, I’m gotta be on the lookout for some vintage finds.

Sites, I found related to the Marushka / Marooshka art work:
The Art Farmer
http://marushkaprints.blogspot.com/

Last night was the final week of our European Floral Design class at College of Dupage.

The landscape design is intended to mimic plants in their natural environment, like scooping up a section of the earth and putting it on display.

The arrangement has groupings of flowers above a bed of moss. The twigs and berries add texture to the vibrant flowers. I enjoyed this style of arranging and hope to continue working on this concept.

It’s time to dress up the front stoop.  Why not use Dogwood sticks?  Sticks add color, height and dimension to a planter.

I introduced natural grasses, succulents and varied heights using the sticks w/ a punch of color in the vessel.  I may add red when they come in season.

Try dressing up your front stoop, it’s welcoming and homey.

It’s Spring Time!  What better way to enjoy the spring with tulips.

This weeks arrangement is comprised of a large glass bowl, complimentary colors, contrasting shapes and a metal element.

The key to this design.  Creating a focal point with the yellow tulips.  Adding interest with the metal wire, reinforces the circular movement and "bending" the tulip just slightly to wrap around the circumference of the bowl.

The contrast of the square block of foam to the round container adds an edge and contrasts the flow of the design.

Simple yet elegant.  That’s what I like most about this design.

I’ve decided it’s time to add an animal presence to the house. Besides our Lab Westerly, I’m thinking a little more fanciful, a Bestiary!

Long ago we gave a set of bull antlers to my sister as a white elephant gift. I’m thinking it’s time to go one step further and revive that animal spirit. Complimenting the deep orange on our fireplace wall a white bull may take charge of our living room with vengance.

Stray Dog Designs created Ferdinand . A serious yet spirited bull bust. He’d go great next to the fireplace, and constructed in white, may softens his tough demeanor.

This Tuesday, Maureen and I kicked off our European Floral Design class by focusing on accentuating the "vertical lines" of the composition.

Goals for the arrangement:

- Accentuate the vertical lines with complimentary colors
(purple and yellow)
- Add a realistic approach w/ a moss covered base
- Create "plant like" groupings of flowers
- Incorporate a bird for interest and to draw the eye to a
definitive location

It’s becoming clear to me that all levels of design whether it be fine arts, interiors, floral, fashion, etc. all focus on the same principals. Pattern, color, texture, and space all play into creating a well composed design.

I’ve also become inspired by the simple gesture of giving flowers and how they add joy and life to a space.

Lately, I’ve been flower crazed. Spring is on it’s way, our new daughter Poppy has arrived and our fish also named Flower is thriving in her little tank with pink rocks.

I’m thinking of taking a class with my sister Maureen in the art of “European Floral Design,”at College of DuPage.

I personally believe that flowers and plants add life to a space. With out them, there’s no balance, no life, no greenery.

Simple flower arrangements add an understated elegance. A clear glass vase with a handful of tulips or daffodils are fresh and clean. Calalily stems wrapped up in a tall glass vessel are exquisite and simple.

We’re contemplating event decorating as an extension of our design offerings. I look forward to the blending of interior design using natural materials and fresh flora.