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The Design Inspirationalist

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The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: sea

Inspiration Photo Friday: Maine on my Mind

01 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

air, anniversary, clouds, lighthouse, Maine, nature, new england, ocean, sea, sky, travel, vacation, wedding

My husband and I love Maine. We first visited the beautiful state a few years ago and said we would definitely go back. Since our first year wedding anniversary is coming up in May, we have been thinking of places to go for vacation to celebrate. We can’t afford anything crazy so dream trips like going to Italy are out of the question, sadly. But the other day I thought of Maine and how much we loved it. It kind of made sense to go back and explore the things we didn’t get to see last time.

It will be our first trip with our new dog, Jenny, which should be cool. And yes, we bring our dogs with us on vacation. They are a part of the family aren’t they? I think I would be a wreck if I was away from them for more than a few days, never mind a week or two. So, a family trip it will be!

I am hoping for two weeks away, which would be so nice. I could use the time off for sure. Now that winter seems to be slowing down a bit, hints of spring are near. It’s making me anxious for the warmer weather. Spring, I must say, is one of my favorite seasons. It’s a time for rebirth and growth. The flowers start to bloom, gardening gets fun again, the trees come alive – its just so beautiful.

The last time we were in Maine, it was late September and pretty cool over there. Now that we are planning to go in May, it is going to be such a different experience. I can’t wait! The cool crisp air and warm sun, the gorgeous blue skies and soft ivory clouds, the amazing landscape that always surrounds you. Maine is so close to our hearts and we are so excited to give our love back once more.

Inspiration Photo Friday: Maine on my Mind - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

Inspiration Photo Friday: Nautical Days

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday, The Great Outdoors

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Tags

antique, boat, connecticut, fall, house, mystic, nature, nautical, new england, ocean, sea, shore, spring, stars, tree, white, winter

Boy, do I hate the cold. These past few days have been bitter for sure. Winter is never as fun and inspiring to me as spring and fall but it does have it’s beautiful moments.

Below is a photo I took in Connecticut during the end of the fall season. You can feel the cold air hitting your face and the crisp salty breeze from the ocean. I imagine myself living in this white house by the sea. Watching and waiting as the seasons pass me by. Looking out the window at night and seeing the stars twinkle. I have a sense of peace as the calming water by the shore creates a multitude of serenades, just for me.

Oh, do I miss nautical days. Being by the water always makes me feel at home. There is something about the New England area that calls out to me as I have always been drawn to its historic feel. I hear you loud and clear. Maybe one day I will not only stand on your shores but have a little white house of my own. Until then…

{You can purchase this photo in my Etsy shop for $6 + shipping}

Inspiration Photo Friday: Nautical Days - © Melissa O'Connor. All Rights Reserved

Nautical Design and Decor

20 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, Jim Klossner, The Home

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

blue, boats, decor, design, home, Jim Klossner, nautical, navy, ocean, redecorating, sea, shells, water, waves

Do you ever crave a moment by the sea? Maybe it’s the tranquility of the waves lulling you to sleep, the fresh salty breeze, or the feeling of sand between your toes. Whatever it is about the ocean that sets your heart in motion, you can carry the look into a beachside house or bring the ocean to you when you’re 1000 miles from the sea. Here are some great designs for inspiration.

A great nautical design starts by leveraging navy blues and bone whites throughout your fabrics, paints, and accents. Navy and white stripes make a great runner and pillow combo, especially when combined with this funky navigational chart wallpaper.
Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: The Home Barn

White furniture is easily given a nautical flare with some blue pillows scattered about.  The boat book shelf is an ingenious touch that leaves you in a “sitting beside the sea” mood.
Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Decor Medley

Blue stripes integrate with this ultra-modern nautical take, with sleek clean lines and lots of natural light. Check out the mirror a la porthole for a fun twist.
Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: At Interior

There are several ways to bring the ocean theme to your bedroom – these striped walls provide the perfect backdrop for an otherwise mellow nautical design.
Nautical Design and Decor

Crisp modern nautical sheets and coverlets, along with curtains and other fabrics, are a great and inexpensive way to bring this look to the bedroom. Some options hearken back to the glory days of big ships, and have an antique nautical feel like this set.
Nautical Design and Decor

Nautical Design and Decor

Other approaches are more minimalist.
Nautical Design and Decor

Another popular approach is integrating the patriotic with navy themes. These tend to be bolder, and bring in reds and more color to work with. If you like a bigger color palette, this is a distinctive take on the nautical theme.
Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Home Decorating Co

If your kids are little sailors at heart, the options are endless. Some light carpentry quickly builds a shell that turns a kid’s bed into an actual boat.
Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Marine Insight

In any room, small touches that quickly lend a nautical feel include interesting rope designs, like these framed on the wall and used as part of accessories.
Nautical Design and Decor

Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Ocean Home Mag

Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Style Theories

Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Style Theories

Boats are being worked into design in interesting ways, from accent pieces to the furniture itself.
Nautical Design and Decor

Nautical Design and Decor

Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: The HomeBarn

Life preservers have a role in nautical design, both indoors and outdoors. Some are functional, others purely decorative.
Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: The HomeBarn

A whole other approach works in softer pastel colors, seashells, and sand to give more of an “at the beach feeling.” Shells can actually become part of the structural support of a house or an accent piece.
Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Porta Weddings

Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Make Merry Events

Outdoor spaces can also be transformed with nautical elements, from lighting to lawn furniture. Any backyard can give the feeling of overlooking the sea.
Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Nautical Cottage Blog

Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Shades of Light

Nautical Design and Decor
Photo Credit: Houzz

With all of these great ideas, you can give a nautical makeover to any room of your house in no time. So what are you waiting for? Start redecorating today!

Written by Jim Klossner

Guest Post: Five Weird Bedroom Ideas

06 Saturday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, The Home

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Animi Causa, bedroom, De Vrouwe van Stavoren, Divan Beds, Feel Seating System, Fiji, interior design, Krisxi Chasanov, Nautilus Undersea Suite, Old Wine Barrels, Sandwich Bed, sea, Switzerland, The Poseidon Resort, water, Waterbed, weird bedroom ideas

Bedrooms are our reserved refuges where we hideaway to every night and get away with the worries of the world outside. Throughout our lives, they are the cozy and private spaces where we first experienced to sleep by ourselves, where we first learned not to sleep forlorn, where we penned our inmost thoughts and concealed them underneath the mattress, where it was acceptable to cater to ourselves flamboyantly and where we all perhaps made our first decisions on design.

Beyond bed skirts and bolsters, see how great design decisions turn into great design ideas. Some even take it to the next level and make a point that they have personalized their rooms thoroughly. Change is inevitable and with comes those people who would like to have their rooms customized similar to their friends. Others have come up with a peculiar taste.

Listed below are some of the weirdest bedroom ideas that have been prevalent these days. They have surfaced the internet and made great noises. We hope you will be amazed by the following and consequently, come out with your own exceptional bedroom concepts.

Old Wine Barrels
A hotel concept that included restored wine barrels might seem bizarre wherever in the world but not in the Netherlands. They always welcome outrageous or odd ideas. As a result, a brilliant De Vrouwe van Stavoren hotel was built from old wine barrels from Switzerland. They were brought to the Netherlands, then rinsed and transformed into hotel rooms.

Guest Post: Five Weird Bedroom Ideas - wine barrels

Waterbed
A waterbed is not as simple as you think it is. This next idea has added a new meaning to the word. This is not recommended to anyone that sleepwalks for sure! It may appear a little icy and very hazardous if you go home drunk and if you cannot swim, than this is certainly not a great idea. However, this is perhaps the coolest bedroom we have ever witnessed!

Guest Post: Five Weird Bedroom Ideas - waterbed

Sandwich Bed
It truly stinks to climb out of bed and walk across the cold floor just to satiate your hunger in the middle of the night. Why not save yourself and turn your room into your personal diner?  This sandwich bed will really provide you with sweet dreams.

Guest Post: Five Weird Bedroom Ideas - sandwich bed

Nautilus Undersea Suite
It is just so magical, transcendent and inimitably fascinating to live under the sea. This might have been the motivation of the person who developed a Nautilus Undersea Suite, which is located at The Poseidon Resort in Fiji. It can be found 40 feet under water.

Guest Post: Five Weird Bedroom Ideas - nautilis

Feel Seating System – Animi Causa
Animi Causa designed the Feel Seating System which has a cool and strange shape. It has a molecular structure which is the basic block for all things around us. It consists of 120 sofa balls enclosed in elastic fabric which enables you to feel comfortable and relaxed. Since the design allows you to make various forms, you can utilize it in a number of imaginative ways.

Guest Post: Five Weird Bedroom Ideas - feel

You might have been surprised by the five bedroom ideas we have presented here. Costs may bring you some hesitation to start now but these bedroom ideas can certainly inspire someone who has a burning passion within him. A third of our lives are being spent in bed so why not make the bedroom the most splendid place in our home? Start now and design your own extraordinary bedroom!

{Krisxi Chasanov writes for Divan Beds, one of the UK’s leading online suppliers of cheapest divan beds and mattresses. When she comes home, she’s a dedicated housewife and a mother of two. You can follow her on Twitter @bedcritter}

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