Flowers from the Quintessential Magazine

Flowers from the Quintessential Magazine

Australia flowers quinessential magazine styling

Photographs by Sharyn Cairns via the Quintessential magazine.

Moments from a Photo Shoot

Moments from a Photo Shoot

flowers photo shoot thonet Wellington

Thonet chairs on display - the cl

Today I was out of the office and being an interior stylist on a photo shoot. We were located at the Thonet showroom in Wellington - a great space to work with and surrounded by great furniture to admire in between photo takes. Nice.

The stunning Artek 901 Trolley designed by Alvar Aalto. One day...

An awesome photo shoot perk - taking home the gorgeous flowers.

Another perk - finding awesome objects while you source products. This time it was a Cardinal Bird Whistle - you know you want one.

Photographs by Charlotte Minty.

Feeling flowers

Feeling flowers

Accessories flowers Margaret Ryall artist Marimekko poppies

Do  you agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson that the earth laughs in flowers? I do.  Flowers are such an integral part of my existence; I could not imagine a world without them.  There are certain times of the year that I think about flowers more than others, and spring (so called, little evidence yet) in Newfoundland is one of those times. As I look out at a light dusting of snow today (yes, snow), I am happy I have beautiful tulips on my coffee table.

Happiness reflected

I can't get enough fresh flowers in my house, but my budget doesn't allow frequent trips to the florist resulting in long gaps between vibrant colour.  No deals in this city when it comes to flowers!  I constantly joke that if I won a million dollars I would have fresh flowers in every room of my house every day.   Yep, that would be the first change I would make. Not a very exciting option according to friends, but it would make me happy.

  Flowers also move me to paint.  I  go through cycles of painting florals and gardens, and several weeks ago when  I was  in total despair about the weather I went downstairs and painted a fantasy bouquet.  I had no reference, these are not identifiable flowers; they are a hybrid I dreamed up to represent the many flowers I like.

Feeling Flowers (2014 ) Margaret Ryall

This work is a joyful  expression of my love for flowers. Painting helps me to bridge the seasonal gap between winter and spring while I wait for nature to turn green and colourful. Sometimes my work is the exact opposite of Feeling Flowers.  It can be close up, calculated, detailed - an invitation to the viewer to take a closer look at the world of plants.

Garden Patterns I (2010) Margaret Ryall

Garden patterns II (2010) Margaret Ryall

Leyton Gallery of Fine Art 

 But all the paintings come from my deep love of flowers, a love born early as I lay face down in the meadow and smelled the buttercups.

 Red poppies are favourites because they are so brilliant and fragile. I am attracted to them in all their guises: in a garden, painted or as design motifs on household items.

 

 I don't even mind a good fake poppy as an accent in decor.

 Where did all this poppy design love come from?

 Well, it started a long time ago with the first  Marimekko's poppy design released in  1964!  I was not very old when  I first saw  Finnish textile designer,Maija Isola  iconic unikko design  in a magazine in our local library.  A love affair began.

And now 50 years later, I am thinking about this same design for a duvet cover in my guest room.

 

  In many ways 2014 is the year of the poppy because I just received two metres of Marimekko fabric from my daughter . Then my sister got in on the act and made me 12 dinner napkins from the fabric. A family affair for sure.

 

From tulips in the flesh,  fantasy flowers, poppies and wherever your heart desires if you feel flowers.

I will end as I began, with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson...

" Flowers.... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty out values all the utilities of the world".  

Sometimes you get to combine both !  

Happy Mother's Day 2014.

Happy Week-end!

Happy Week-end!

flowers pool quote Summer

Miami Beach

School finished today for my daughter....my son finishes next week.

The academic year that I thought would never end....did.

I made it. She made it. We made it.

To say it's been quite a year is an understatement.

So much has happened....ups & downs.

Good and Bad.

A tentative start, a very fraught & unhappy middle....the ending of the year has been slightly happier....thankfully.

As always, the holidays have arrived at just the right time.

This week-end we will be basking in the glorious sunshine, spending time outdoors as much as possible....and tomorrow I am meeting up with my oldest & much loved friends, my University girls....I cannot wait. Good times await!

And I wonder if the Royal baby may arrive this week-end, I think he or she might, exciting!!

You know that I love a good movie, but it seems like ages since I've seen a really good film at the cinema. 

I recently discovered the Gallo Film Club - free to join up online & when you do they recommend films, wines & other fun accessories for your movie night.

We took up their recommendation for "New York, I Love You"....

Andy Garcia, Bradley Cooper, New York City, the concept of "everyone has their own love story...."

what's not to love, as they say?

Our wine recommendation of a Gallo Cabernet Sauvignon was perfect :)

They have a great range of film suggestions and trailers,  along with wines to go with & facts about your movie.

Check it out here....

Happy Week-end! 

strawberry mint tart

a modern farmhouse

a modern farmhouse

casual comfort Country farm house flowers Grey Kitchen Modern neutral

this home is absolute perfection. It's casual and pulled together, inviting and livable, charming and neutral ( tee hee ). Modern, country, and a place I would LOVE to visit in person-

all images via Garden & Gun

design philosophy | providing a foundation to grow and alter through the years, I keep the core basic and layer in the current, creating a room that is innately yours. I believe great interiors are not found in one shop. I know you should feel a sense of calm in your space as well as balance, and revel in that gut feeling that it’s the right fit. DESIGN SERVICES start at only 10.00. See Sarah Swanson Design at the top left of this blog!

Flowers of Giverny

Flowers of Giverny

flowers France Garden gardens travel

 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I spent some much needed time just relaxing and working on planning my trip.  This time we will not be visiting Giverny, but our last visit was so fun and beautiful I thought I would share it with you today.  My garden has been on my mind lately as I am going to have to start fresh once we are finished with the pool.  I cannot wait to gather more ideas from the beautiful gardens on our upcoming visit.  

If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us!

France once again...

France once again...

doors flowers France gardens Normandy paris spring travel versailles

 

It is official... I am getting ready for another trip to Paris in a few weeks and we are bringing back our first container.  I am a little nervous I will admit but excited at the same time.  We will stay in Paris and shop the flea markets there for the first week mixed with much site seeing and relaxing around the city, then it is off to Normandy to shop with Sharon from My French Country Home.  I am so excited to see her again and experience a bit more of her amazing everyday life!

These are just a few of the photos that we snapped on our last trip, some you may have seen and some are new.  I was just going through them and thought I would share some of my current favorites with you.  I have a few more posts lined up from our last adventure to share before we leave too!

 

 


If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us!