We had an unusally rainy weekend here in Los Angeles, so I decided to take advantage of the time indoors to finally read the stack of books that is overtaking my office. There are three in particular that I think you will enjoy...
Reading Living in Provence by Barbara and Rene Stoeltie made me want to do just that! I used up an entire pad of Post-it notes, saving almost every image as inpiration for Patina Farm as well as for our clients' project...
The French know how to create beautiful, imperfect displays. I'm saving this image for future cabinetry inspiration!
I'm contemplating using a farmhouse table in the center of my kitchen. This looks like a wonderful place to have a casual dinner with close friends and family.
Gravel, old stone walls, long farmhouse table... what's not to love?
We plan to have several fountains on Patina Farm. I prefer rustic fountains, similar to this. Oh, and I'll take some grape vines as well.
My present garden is filled with blooms of many muted colors, but lately I seem to drawn to gorgeous green gardens, with plenty of boxwood balls. There's nothing wrong with a chaotic mass of intertwined vines to balance out the manicured topiaries.
This is the best pool I've ever seen... a simple rectangle surrounded by garden.
Details to note: Rustic: old beams, chalky gray floor, creamy aged plaster walls, casual bedding... added to Refined: elegant fireplace, crystal sconces, tall trumeau = Perfection.
The Dream Bathroom: Chalky blue paneling, antique brass fixtures, unfinished wood floors...
Finally, some Chicken Kitchen inspiration: a rustic stone sink, and a quirky little window looking out towards the chicken garden.
If you love Provence as much as I do, I highly recommend Living in Provence!
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After lunch, as the rain continued to drench my garden outside, I wrapped myself in a blanket next to the fire and began turning the pages of Country Chic by Beatrix Kleuver.
I first read about this wonderful book on my friend Greet's blog, Belgian Pearls. I love Greet's taste, so I wasn't surprised by the beauty inside this book.
Every image is stunning.
To preview Country Chic, please visit Beatrix Kleuver's website.
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I spent the rest of the day underlining and taking notes as I tried to absorb all of the indispensible information in my friend Keith Granet's new book, The Business of Design: Balancing Creativity and Profitablity.
Keith has worked with many of the top architects and interior designers, helping them to create business plans that have allowed many of them to expand their design businesses to include successful publishing ventures and licensing deals.
A couple of the products designed by Keith's clients, including one of my favorites, the Morris Lantern by Suzanne Kasler.
As Keith states in his book, there are thousands of design books that provide visual inspiration, but there aren't any books that address the specific business challenges of the design industry... until now!
In The Business of Design, Keith explains in depth: how to write a business plan, how to structure your financial system, the importance of marketing and public relations, the role of human resources, the steps of project management, and finally the trend in the design community to develop products.
Samples of designer brand books.
The Business of Design is well written and easy to understand, even for us "artsy" people. After years of working with designers, who is better to write this book than Keith Granet?
I loved reading the interviews with noted architects and designers at the end of each chapter.
I highly recommend The Business of Design for anyone in the design industry.
What are your reading? I'd love some recommendations!
xo
Brooke
If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me about our design services. You can also purchase many items found here on Velvet and Linen as well as "to the trade" furnishings through Giannetti Home. Email Kelly about the details.
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