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)

Helt Enkelt Blog

I have been a fan of Anna Malin's blog Helt Enkelt for a while. She is a photographer in Sweden, with a very lovely blog. She shares photos from her home and of her work. These pictures from a summer day is such a beautiful caption of that perfect day, spent enjoying nature's abundant beauty. I was struck by how gorgeous these photos were, and something about the feel of the whole post really captured my attention. 

You can visit her blog here for more beautiful and inspiring images.

(Images: Anna Malin)

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.)

Purple Reign

Boy has it been a long time! I have missed blogging, the last few weeks of school were so brutal. It's over, it was a tremendous quarter of growth and self discovery for me. More like affirmation rather than discovery maybe? Taking more of my core classes reaffirmed that I have finally chosen the right path for me. I really enjoy this field of Interior Design. Even after finding out things that I wasn't expecting about the industry, or for the first time really working my butt off in school, because everything is not coming so easy for me (I'm talking about you Auto CAD). I finished school a weeks ago I think, and I have just been distressing, and I really haven't felt very motivated to blog either. Don't get me wrong, everyday I think about it, and I missed the process, but I just haven't seen or felt passionate about anything that I wanted to share. I was okay with that, instead of feeling like I had to come up with something, I just went with it. I figured once my brain was ready, I will be back. Last thing I want to do is to post for the sake of it.

That wall is no doubt the focal point in this room. I love the height of the headboard against the half painted wall. The pillows, the prints on them and the rug is just perfect. You can see the Moroccan influence, but it is nicely balanced with some modern touches. 

The last few weeks of school I noticed myself being drawn to rich purple tones with my projects. I've never really been a purple person. Lately lavender, but never really deep rich purples. It is said to be the color of royalty, and I think I finally get it. It is quite regal.

This beautiful crocheted blanket brings in such warmth and softness to this room. This room could have easily been on the very formal side, but the addition of this beautiful blanket loosens it up.

I love this saturated shade of purple for this couch. 

This chair is sexy!!! The lines and that plush luxurious velvet upholstery. I'm a fan of purple with yellow too. 

I love the round bubble rug. I like this mix of industrial and classic design. 

I find this room so perfectly eclectic and sophisticated.

How have you all been? Thanks to all of you who checked in regularly and bared with me on my long absence. Wishing you a lovely weekend!

(Images: House to Home)

Friends, Food, and Family

Happy Sunday!! Are you having a lovely weekend? It's Memorial Day weekend in the U.S. For all you who have the long weekend, I hope you have a great one! This weekend a dear friend had a surprise birthday that we went to last night. It was at one of the coolest bar/lounges I've ever been to. They had a killer terrace (didn't get photos of it, sadly). The inside was an industrial, midcentury, cool modern success. It was a super cool chill place, perfect for a gathering of friends.

This was the cutest lamb cake and it was even more delicious!

I am always amazed at how getting out and hanging out with good friends, lifts the spirit. Each time I do these things I am reminded of how these meaningful connections enrich our life. For me especially as a homebody it can be a chore to get out of my little nest. I am comfortable, I like my nice quiet time with my family. But every once in a while having good friends over, to laugh at silly stories, exchange ideas, or go out and do the same does wonders for the soul.

This morning I woke up craving some good music while I made our Sunday breakfast. My older daughter now always asks for pancakes every Sunday, and my mixed berry sauce has to be made. Now its' to a point she'll tell me make sure my plate has two strawberries, two blueberries and two raspberries. I find it adorable and heartwarming. I sometimes can't believe that I have a family of my own, and to top it off even our own family traditions. I was Instagram happy too (one of the side effects of good music) so took pics of our breakfast. It was yummy too. :-)

Have a wonderful weekend, and I hope yours too is filled with much love and happiness!

(Images: Fatou Bah)

French Connection: New Home Collection

Soft, soothing colors have been on my radar lately. I've been drawn to beautiful pastels, soft greys, and warm whites, which is weird for this time of year, because I tend to be all about the bright oranges, pinks, and yellows. So imagine my delight when I came across French Connection's new home collection, filled with beautiful neutrals, and I couldn't help but zone in on the greys. I love French Connection cloths, so no surprise that I would love their home collection too, but I think I might like their home stuff more. Their color palette is really working for me.

I love the touch of rustic and industrial in their pieces. Everything is so simple and understated, and by no means boring.

 
I really really want this white washed mango base! I can see it in my home.
   
 

 

Their lighting is very easily my favorite out of their home collection.
See anything you like?

(Images: French Connection)

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)