Recent Inspiration

I haven't been terribly inspired by much online lately.  A few images here and there.  I'm sure its partially my own fault because I haven't really been looking in any concentrated way and partly because everyone seems more into Instagram postings than blog posts these days.  I'm guilty of it myself.  Instagram is so fast, most of the photos are original and posts are sort of in real-time.  Its appealing, but the downside is that the images are tiny, you can't zoom in for a closer look, and the platform isn't about imparting details.  I find most of the online and boutique magazines similar.  Pretty photographs but few details and no articles to speak of.  Magazines used to have a variety of columns, not just the brief prose that accompanies the main photo spreads.  Where did the writers go?  I'd like both please.  Anyone have any recommendations?

A few images over the last few months have inspired me though and they are both kind of out of character for me-- monochromatic.  I can't get this living room out of my head from Shareen Joel's beach house, discovered via The Marion House Book's pintrest.

And this product shot from the Justin Timberlake / Estee Stanley collaboration for Homemint.

I misinterpreted the caption thinking that the headboard was black linen, which inspired me to start planning a DIY.   I'm rethinking my Albuquerque bedroom to go black and white. 

What's inspiring you lately?

Home Kitchen Progress

I try to get some small home project done whenever I visit Albuquerque.  Last October I painted my living room.  This last trip I started painting my kitchen cabinets.  The color is Benjamin Moore Van Deusen blue.  It turned a little greyer as it dried.

Before and during.  No after pictures yet, but its getting there, little by little.  I plan to have very limited upper cabinets, one in the corner there above the microwave and one above the refrigerator, which is just out of frame on the left.  They won't be painted blue, but I haven't quite decided what they'll look like.  If I reuse one of the old cabinets I'll probably paint them to match the wall color, but I also might just buy a couple of new cabinets.  Like I said, little by little.  I also keep changing my mind on the backsplash.  Right now I'm favoring this:

Blue and white talavera tiles in "Harlequin" pattern, which allows for a zig zag pattern.  I don't want to over-kill on the blue, so I'm also considering a brown color way... or green, or yellow...