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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: water

Inspiration Photo Friday: The Vast Open Sea

08 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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Tags

blue, couds, earth, journey, life, Maine, nature, ocean, photography, sea, sky, vacation, vast open sea, water

You can always look to Mother Earth for inspiration and guidance. Whether its peering out your window on a snowy day or being surrounded by an endless forest of trees, she is there to lead the way. I am constantly being influenced by the Earth and among my travels, my experiences have been seriously amazing.

On our trip to Maine a few years ago, we were loving the cabin on the water we were staying in. To look outside and see that first thing in the morning was really nice. There is something about water that is refreshing and peaceful, it truly touches a part of your soul. Our trip was awesome, to say the least. We did a lot of exploring and relaxing, which a vacation should be. There are many memories we created while visiting.

One, in particular, really was inspiring though. We took a boat ride out into the ocean and got to see views of Maine we would of never have got to see on land. It was fantastic! Even though it was cold and our faces were almost frozen, we enjoyed every minute of it. I took so many photos because I didn’t want to miss anything. But even though I was on guard with the camera shooting, I silently took it all in and was taken back by the beauty that surrounded us.

This photo almost sums up our boat trip. Even though the ocean is wild and has millions of lifeforms calling it home, it’s peaceful, serene, and calming. The sky offers a horizon so beautiful it can be a painting and the clouds seem weightless, like fluffy streams of cotton. How can you not be inspired by such an amazing view.

It reminds me that life is an endless journey. Just like the vast open sea, there are so many experiences just waiting for us to take and make our own, tons of possibilities to prove, and millions of things to learn and share. This endless journey doesn’t have to be something you fear, for the Earth has given us so much to support our adventures. You just have to walk the distance and open your eyes to what is being shown. There is always more to see.

So if you just look a little deeper and expand your vision, you will realize how important each experience really is. You’re not truly alive unless you’re really living. Create, share, inspire, love, and laugh. These are things that move you farther and deeper into happiness and I wish you all a spectacular journey.

Inspiration Photo Friday: The Vast Open Sea - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

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

Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

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

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Tags

abundance, art, balance, creativity, design, earth, energy, family, Feng Shui, Fire, harmony, health, In Style Modern, intimate relationships, manifestations, Marial Samuels, metal, water, wood, yin and yang

The art of consciously choosing the designs that support people’s life path is called feng shui. And the aspects of your life you consider as important, such as your family, health, abundance, intimate relationships and creativity, are mirrored by your home. The walls, tables and other accessories you place at home are physical manifestations of your beliefs on life in general. This also applies to the structures, patterns and colors that you surround yourself. Each one sends an energy vibration which may be useful or harmful to you.

Understanding how you use feng shui at home is the key to reaping the energy that helps you live a better life. But first you must determine what chi is moving through your body and your environment. This is where the concept of yin and yang emerges as these two dictate the energy that flows in people’s lives. The presence of too much yin energy has negative impact on health, affects the chi flow and shuts down the body. Meanwhile, an excess of yang energy also results in ill health, most noticeable effect include increased heart rate and blood pressure.

The most important part is to balance the yin and yang energy movements to establish a whole state, thus, paving the way for healing, emotionally, mentally and physically. It is also noteworthy to remember that no person carries an entire yin or yang energy. This is because our energy changes with the current season as well as the food people eat and the time of a day.

Here are the 5 enhancing element energy designs in feng shui that can aid you to controlling the yin and yang chi in your life:

Fire
Fire energy is synonymous with expansion and transformation. This means that you are more open to new ideas and are more willing to sharing your gifts with others.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

You can add fire energy at home by using any bright color, such as red or orange, or any active color that helps energy and light to bounce. To send up more energy into a room, use the following shapes: diamonds, triangles, pyramids and sunbursts. You can also add lamps, a carved wooden box, spotlights, lanterns, red or green candles, backlit plants, palm trees or yucca trees, pillars, tall chairs, and any groupings of three.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Earth
Earth helps you become more grounded, thus, helping you to feel more protected, stabilized, secure and safe. Aside from moving downward, earth energy is slow on its motion and is represented by nurturing, soft objects as well as solid, heavy objects.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

The goal of earth energy is to serve as reminder to people that the physical body, physical world and physical needs must be given due honor. Earth colors are subdued and are usually represented by yellow and brown. Also, the shapes and structures associated with earth energy stone, adobe, straw and brick. Think of warm cozy blankets, terra-cotta pots, a rock garden, brightly colored pillows, pottery, and pillows

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Water
Water energy helps you to a relaxed state where you release the things that have been bothering you for the day. To attain physical and emotional healing, make it a ritual to start your day in a water environment and end it as well on similar surrounding.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Black and dark blue are the water colors, thus, adding white tiles around the bath, a curved path, a white vase, a black or dark blue birdbath. I’ve always loved indoor fountains and this copper fountain has stolen my heart, and hanging plants are perfect ways to experience water energy.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Wood
Wood energy manifests creativity and growth in your life.

Guest Post: Creating Balance and Harmony at Home Using Feng Shui’s Five Elements

Definitely not pastel, wood colors bring in clarity and energy in your life. And these are purple to allow expression and bring in abundance as well as green to grow and heal at the same time. To ensure growth is achieved, you must not pick colors that are too muddy or have lots of gray. Objects that are related to wood include vertical blinds, flowing curtains, a blue or green vase, sloping or tall furniture pieces.

Metal
Metal represents the mind energy, with two essential aspects: the intellectual left-brained and the creative right-brained. Too much of this energy, however, can influence people to be sarcastic and overly critical of others.

For the left-brained, the colors associated are gray, white and silver. These are most beneficial for people engaged in accounting or computer programming or any job that requires detailed tasks. To avoid any sharp edge, you can color your room with a soft warm color as well or just opt for creamy or rosy white. For the right-brained, rainbow colors are ideal to bring out your creativity at the same time allow body healing.

Adding bells, metal chimes, a brick pathway, long comfortable sofa, low, wide furniture will bring in the metal energy in your life

Written by Marial Samuels 

Inspiration Photo Friday: The Blue

12 Friday Oct 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday

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Tags

blue, color, earth, gray, interior design, moss, natural, nature, new jersey, palette, photography, raritan, rocks, stream, water

I always liked this photo because it was serene. The delicate water resting against the earthbound rocks set a nice canvas for nature to shine. The fantastic blue of the sky showing its reflection oh so beautifully in the water makes me smile. The moss slightly peeks out among the stream. Earth is truly a main character here.

I shot this in Raritan, New Jersey about 6 years ago. I remember that quiet March day being nice and cool and the setting where I was taking photographs was calm. No one was around which left me and my subjects at ease. No distractions. No unnecessary noise. Just me and the blue.

The color scheme from this photo is a great inspiration for interior spaces as well as events. I have this palette throughout my own home because it is soothing, earthy and adrogynous. It allows for many accent colors to come into play as well. Think of it as a natural background for endless possibilities.

Inspiration Photo Friday: The Blue - © Melissa O'Connor-Arena

 

Inspiration Photo Friday: The Blue

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