Okay so let’s look at some inspiring rooms for a moment, shall we? I thought we’d step into the world of Warren Heath. I found out about him because my friend Tine sent me this great bedroom photo and I asked her to tell me where it came from and she said she thought it was someone named Warren Heath. I googled him and found his website and there was the photo. Stunning! Then I noticed in google that my friend Emma wrote about Warren recently too after she found him in a copy of a design mag she was flipping through. Emma pretty much shared his entire portfolio here so I steal her thunder, but I will share a few of my personal favorites from his portfolio that really speak to me.

Warren Heath is represented by South African agency Frank Features and his work has appeared in top design magazines such as Elle Decoration. Definitely a photographer whom I’d love to observe in action, I imagine on his shoots he really takes a lot of patience as it’s obvious from the natural lighting that he really waits for the right moment to capture it in order to convey the mood he’s setting… And these locations, wow — I look at them and wonder why I’m not living in Australia, Cape Town or L.A. as this entire coastal aesthetic really speaks to me and I like all of the clean, modern lines. And by the way, how cute is that Blythe portrait? (images: warren heath)

Nicole — you are one seriously talented lady! What an inspiration. I could flip through your portfolio all day… Wait. I sorta did.

(images: nicole hill gerulat)

That is exactly how I describe my experience this morning as I first flipped through her virtual portfolio. With each image, a new sensation, thought, even a few fresh ideas. Her photography is moving, inspiring and though art is subjective and I realize your experience may be different — I absolutely connect with her style (especially the still life photographs) and think there is a good chance you may feel a connection too. Here is but a brief glimpse into her world.

To view additional photos kindly visit her website.

(images: tara donne photography)

If you are interested in their classes, including upcoming topics, you may visit the Flower School blog. Nicolette has a very pretty website, I found her portfolio to be quite casual and her floral designs aren’t at all stuffy– her arrangements are loose, overflowing and very feminine. In case you were looking for a little spring inspiration today, well I think you may have just found it!

(images: nicolette camille and saipua)

How do these images make you feel? What do you sense about her work as you look at them? How would you describe her sensibility? I’d love to get your fresh take on these images so then, have a go at it! It’s a fun creative exercise I think!

(images: ali bradshaw)

The first is called Bonjour Tristesse. I love the inky blue and gray tones — so moody and sensual. Notice the big shoes next to the clothing rack. Are those not the best?

I also love the mood in her Patchwork collection of pinks and neutrals along with ethnic prints and patterns. I think my favorite is also the most simple arrangement of the four portraits tacked to the wall with a simple string of pom pom trim in an “L” shape placed very casually near them as a partial frame. These little adds are so interesting to me, I tend to pick these things out when I look at photos to try and figure out exactly how a mood was created and what about an image pulled me in. These images above are quite alluring don’t you think?

And lastly, her Culture Club ensemble is another favorite in and lots of pretty pink but mostly for the feathers all a-flutter and the huge rice paper lanterns, you can find these from IKEA in white and decorate them with black dots to create a similar look for a few dollars (they are so cheap, I have one in my living room and it was around 5,- Euros).

Irina got her start as a tailor for Jil Sander in Hamburg and then relocated briefly to London to attend the London College of Fashion. Upon graduating, she realized her true calling was not in fashion but interiors, so she relocated back to her home country to pursue a career in interior styling and set design and her work has appeared in top magazines throughout Germany so unless you read them you may not have heard of her before — which is why I felt even more inclined to share her on decor8! Her work shows her passion and eye for detail and a whimsical approach which is so appealing to me because interior styling becomes a bit dull when it looks too perfectly arranged in my opinion.

What do you think of these images that I’ve shown you from Irina’s portfolio? Does anything in particular about them, from the colors to arrangements and beyond, connect with you on a personal level? I’m surprised at how drawn I am to the first collection, Bonjour Tristesse. It’s not something I’d normally gravitate towards but something about it feels very cinematic – I can almost put a story to them — can’t you?

(images: irina graewe)

This is why I love the work of so many great interior and still life photographers — their work shows me glimpses of these phases trapped in time from the past to the present and is why I’ll never tired of browsing their many online portfolios. Take Paul Costello for example, whose photos are shown below.

Breathtaking glimpses, right? They made me remember my foo dog phase, all the times that my mother told me stand up straight, my former love of faux Zebra rugs (I hold Domino magazine responsible for that phase), my vintage velvet boxy sofa obsession phase, the canopy bed I had to have a child, making out in an actual car (ha ha, that’s not something you tend to carry on for life!), and how much I loved that bedroom in Domino with the blue and white striped cotton rug. It also reminded me of a passion I once had that I’m considering picking up again — collecting vintage feminine mismatched china to use and display.

I invite you to visit Paul Costello’s portfolio online to see if you can find spot some memories and phases lurking in there for you, too. If so, mind sharing them with me? :)

(image: paul costello photography)

Wood & Wool Stool

Ivy Style, Haust and Anja Mulder.

Anja Mulder and Renee Anne

Sandra Juto, Ich & Chi and Dottie Angel.

I’ll be back in a moment with a happy weekend goodbye post! :)

(images linked to their sources above)

Do you think the Dalmatian is dreaming about Spring too?

About Lucas Allen: He began shooting professionally at the age of 21 and has been at it ever since and he’s now in his mid thirties. Australian born and raised, he currently lives in New York and has worked for a broad range of publications from Real Simple to Blueprint and Vogue in addition to various ad campaigns. His photographs have appeared in magazines worldwide… do your recognize any of these from your favorite glossies? I encourage you to view his work online, there are many images I’ve not shown here that you will most likely find inspirational.

And in regards to winter well friends, hang in there. I hear Spring begins next month, psst…pass it on…

This is the time of the year that I enjoy because Winter melts into clear, warm days and slowly you begin to find clothes and home accessories that fill you with the promise of flirty sundresses and brightly-colored wellies. Over the weekend I bought the cutest pale gray shoes and visited Noa Noa where you can find some of the loveliest Spring fashion ever. My white narcissus also bloomed on my windowsill after waiting several weeks though the transformation from bulb to bloom is always a pleasure to watch… I think it is because of being a gentle reminder of the patience we need to have in order to grow and blossom – beauty does not come overnight!

Don’t you enjoy the product shots from Bloomingville above? I do, though they are a bit too country for my taste I see many that I can mix and match into a more modern home with clean lines and that is what I live about Bloomingville, there is something for everyone. Did you notice the dresser in the top left photo? It looks like it was painted with light grey chalkboard paint. I love the idea of pale gray chalkboard paint, many tend to go with black chalkboard paint on the walls which is lovely but upon seeing this I think gray appeals to me a bit more right now I think. What about you?

I need to run off to teach a class for a few hours, so I’ll be back a little later…

(images: bloomingville)