SHOP: Niki Jones

Ahhh another home shop that I've fallen for, as if I really needed another one. There are just so many wonderful and inspiring creators, curators, and artists of all kinds out there.  Niki Jones, named after the founder, is filled with unique, and beautifully crafted home decor, and furniture. Niki started the shop after finding it hard to find unique and well made products online for herself. She finds inspiration in her travels all over the world and that is apparent in her products.

I have long loved bone inlay furniture and these are absolutely spectacular. I like the incorporation of the Moroccan arch in the mirror. This rug looks like jewelry for the floor!

The textures, patterns, colors, and the intricate details are intoxicating for an interior junkie like myself.

Are you as smitten as I am? I would love to have a mix of those pillows in my home. I always love a successful mix of patterns and colors. You can visit Niki Jones here for more eye candy.

Happy Friday!

(Images: Niki Jones)

DIY Project - Gallery Wall

I finally got around to finishing, or at least starting my gallery wall dedicated to my kids' art work. It was a fun and rewarding project I must say. I got Jalika to be a part of the whole process which was nice.

I picked up some frames at the thrift store that we painted. I thought it would be a fun and functional art project and it worked out perfectly.

They were just plain ole ugly frames that my husband looked at me funny for buying. Ah, but I had vision, and I knew they'd turn out just perfect. All I needed was my trusted friend....paint!

The key to a project like this is letting go of any perfectionist tendencies you might have. I just had to be okay with a not perfect paint job. We had Bob Marley blasting in the background as we painted our not so perfect frames...yet they turned out perfect. She is proud to show off her work hanging on the walls and I can't help but smile, and be a proud mama every time I go by them.

This one is her and I, I am the one with the "messed up" hand. I think it's the one on the right. :-)

A happy Monday to you!

(Images: Fatou Bah)

Rose and Grey

Oh my! Have I racked up another extensive lust list. Rose and Grey is a British store with a beautiful collection of interior pieces. The store owned by the couple Guy and Lyndsey Goodger, were inspired to set up shop by their passion of interiors and interior design. You can tell that the collection is carefully curated. The pieces are items that caught their eyes from their travels abroad and home.

I'll take that pink vintage luggage please! I like that a vintage piece is given a modern facelift while still staying true to the original design.

So this is really cool, a bed spring used to clip up prints with clothspin.

Union Jack rug, all I can say #olympics. :) Anybody else out there as obsessed with the olympics as I am? I have been glued to the swimming and gymnastics.

I am slightly obsessed with these wall stickers that you can write on with chalk. Especially loving the world map one.                 

I find myself always attracted to shops that were collected purely based on what the owners love as opposed to what "will sell." It makes the collection feel very personal, and you can sense it even if it's in virtual space.

See anything you like? For more eye candy, check out the site here.

Happy Friday all!!!

(Images: Rose and Grey)

Wee One's Wall Gallery

So, I have been procrastinating on a project of framing my older daughter's beautiful artwork - that are now laying in my nightstand. I feel bad, because I think they are incredible, and not only because I'm her mom :-).
I decided to look for inspiration to get me going. I found some pretty neat ones that I want to share with you.

I like how casual this display looks. It feels very undecorated in a great way. And the nice thing is art can be added and removed easily.

This, like the ones above has that same casual feel, but because they are neatly lined and arranged it feels more polished.

I love this idea of using wall decals, easily changeable and you leave no holes from nailing up actual frames.

I saw this on TV before can't remember which show anymore. But I remember loving the idea, basically what you are doing is uploading the artwork and resizing them. It is a really cool and concise way to display a lot of your kids' art work.

I've thought about doing one of those Shutterfly books too, but I think I'll start with the wall gallery.

How have you all been? I feel I have been neglecting this lil ole blog, still finding my groove. I wish you a gorgeous day!

(Images: Spearmint Baby, Sycamore Street)

West Elm South African Collection

Have you seen West Elm's collection of South African designs? The collection ranges from furniture to pillows, lighting and decorative pieces. Though the collection is from different artists, there is a slight commonality in the pieces. They all are vibrant in color, and they have an organic quality to them. Which makes sense because it's all about working with craftsman/women and local artists. I really like a lot from this collection,  it does feel like a breath of fresh air for this genre. It is very frustrating that every time a design whether in fashion or interiors is labeled "African", it is usually some stereotypical print and color combination.

There is so much diversity in each African country let alone the whole continet. Even me as an African more specifically Gambian, I can't speak for the whole continents design aesthetic. Each culture/tribe has a little something (or big) that is quite different from the other. I think the bold colors, and vibrancy is one thing that ties them all together. African design is usually very bold, and uplifting, which is very true for this collection. What do you think of this collection?

Wishing you a bright and happy week! :)

(Images: West Elm)

Vintage Chic Penthouse

I love mixing design styles, and I love it even more when I see styles that aren't supposed to work, but they do so well. Vintage Modern almost sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? :)
This sleek New York City penthouse with its clean lines and minimal design incorporates some vintage pieces. Warmth is brought in by the rich brown colors of the furniture, art, and accessories.

Thoughts? What do you think of this mix? I know it's nothing new, but it's one of the most extreme mix of modern and vintage I've seen in a while. I love too that its not disguised, the modern design is able to stand on it's own just like the vintage pieces do, but it still looks cohesive.

(Images: Living Etc.)

Alma's Room

Hello, hello!!! Long time no "see". I have to say I have missed blogging, and I feel terrible about the long absences. At this point I sound like a broken radio with why am always gone. But it's true, school, school, and more school, that's what's up in my world. What is going on with you? How have you been?
The long absences, and non stop stress, headaches and very little sleep are all worth it though. I am doing really well in school. I've had a few of my projects archived, which basically means that your project is so good the instructor keeps it to show CIDA the organization that accredits our school. The school has to show that their students are learning the appropriate curriculum, and they show the best of the best student work to proof it. To say that I am honored and even a little surprised is an understatement. It is so rewarding and above all such a great confirmation that I am doing what I'm meant to do, that this is more than love, but I actually have talent for it.

One of my projects that I'm really excited about is a group one, (gasp) just two people in a group though, and I am excited about my team mate. I think we'll work great together and it will be nice bouncing off ideas to each other. We have two rooms to design, one for teenager who's a recluse and another for two little girls. I won't bore you with the details but my brain is already reeling. Three more weeks before summer starts. I can't wait! As much as I love what I'm doing can't wait for this quarter to be over, enjoy the summer with my family relaxing and taking it a bit easy.

These gorgeous images are from Alma's Room. A Danish lifestyle company with "a focus on developing and finding functional and aesthetic products for the discerning consumer who wishes to furnish their home with soul and sophistication" . The bird ceramic lights are designed by Amy Adams of Perch Design, the cool hanging clocks are by Lukas Peet, and the bowls are by Milia Seyppel. I am loving the ceramic bird lights. Gorgeous, no? I love the soft color palette in all these pieces.

If you've been reading my blog for sometime now, I'd like to hear from you. Blogging most of the time can feel like talking to a vacuum and I can't help but feel like is there a point to all this. But the answer that quickly comes up is YES! I love blogging, i love the idea of sharing what i know and what i love, and knowing that there are people out there who can relate to it, or might I even say get inspired :-). I would love to know my readers more, I appreciate everyone who's taken the time to say hello, and offer their kinds words and thoughts! But I'm greedy people I'd like to hear from more of you, get to know more of you out there. :-)

(Images: Alma's Room)