Blog Page 258

More from my European backpacking trip – the colorful and unusual Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna

0

I have really dropped the ball on sharing my images from my 2010 summer backpacking around Europe, so I’m going to try to do it more often. I’ll pick up right where we left off, in beautiful Vienna, Austria. I’m sharing with you today the very cool and unusual Kunst Haus Wien, a museum celebrating the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

 A little bit about the house and Friedensreich:

   Hundertwasser’s original and unruly artistic vision expressed itself in pictorial art, environmentalism, philosophy, and design of facades, postage stamps, flags, and clothing (among other areas). The common themes in his work utilised bright colours, organic forms, a reconciliation of humans with nature, and a strong individualism, rejecting straight lines. He remains sui generis, although his architectural work is comparable to Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926) in its use of biomorphic forms and the use of tile. He was also inspired by the art of the Vienna Secession, and by the Austrian painters Egon Schiele (1890–1918) and Gustav Klimt (1862–1918). He was fascinated by spirals, and called straight lines “the devil’s tools”. He called his theory of art “transautomatism”, based on Surrealist automatism, but focusing on the experience of the viewer, rather than the artist. via Wikipedia

 The museum … is designed in typical Hundertwasser style, with wavy, undulating floors and a notable lack of straight lines. Bright, glaring colours are used throughout, and foliage abounds. There is a fountain in the foyer, and a restaurant with abundant plant life reminiscent of a winter garden. An unevenly winding staircase leads to the main part of the exhibition on the upper floors. To keep the rooms flooded with daylight, Hundertwasser, who was said to be fond of sunlight and therefore windows too, had a glass frontage built in front of the facade.via Wikipedia

Hundertwasser designed an apartment building close to the Museum, it also “features undulating floors (“an uneven floor is a divine melody to the feet”), a roof covered with earth and grass, and large trees growing from inside the rooms, with limbs extending from windows.” –via Wikipedia

The exterior…

A shot from the staircase.  Notice the curve of the floor where it meets the wall below.

  4 images above via my honey

Below are some shots of the gallery spaces

via Kunst Haus Wien

 Hudertwasser dabbled in almost all forms of 2D and 3D art. He started as a painter but ultimately focused on architecture. Here are some of my favorite works in some of his various mediums:

so beautiful!  Many of his lithographs have metallic gold accents, which makes them especially beautiful, but that aspect doesn’t come through well in photographs.
via Hundertwasser.com

My favorite part of so many of his 2D works are the markings he makes on the sides and bottom.
via Art Brokerage

One of his postage stamp designs

via Photobucket

Some of his architectural masterpieces:

A model of the Bad Blumau, a spa

2 images above via Flickr

2 images above are of the Rogner Bad Blumau, in eastern Austria
via Paintings Art Picture

Hundertwasser with another one of his models
via Picasa
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little glimpse of Vienna and one of it’s most cherished artists!

Here’s that list again of all my posts from our travels that I’ve posted –

Spain

•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia – Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia – the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains – Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy

• Not to miss – the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy’s Cinque Terre
• More from my summer traveling Europe – amazing Rome
• From my summer in Europe – amazing Pompeii
• Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs – the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast
• My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy
• Enchanting Siena
Venice
Lake Como, Italy

Switzerland
Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 1
Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 2

Germany
• One of my favorite cities from my European backpacking trips – Ulm, Germany
• Lake Constance
• Cute HOUSE Overload – the charming medieval homes of Germany’s Romantic Road
• Regensburg, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria  

Austria
• Salzburg
• A charming lakeside village, Hallstatt
Beautiful Vienna

Only a few hours left to enter to win a lovely pair of distressed wood angel wings!

0

Visit this post and follow the instructions for your chance to win these french-country beauties~

Perfect little dining rooms

0

I have been in dire need of a new dining room table for over a year now. Why oh why is it so hard for me to find one I like and a price I like. I think I want a round one…

I really like this one…

or a Saarien style table

Which one is your favorite?

via BHG

Elegant and sophisticated interiors with a fun modern twist

0

The lines of this room are clean and classic, but the wallpaper and bright green also make it fresh.

I like symmetry in design as long as the objects used are fun and unstuffy.

The colors in the rooms above and below are so lush…if I lived in a colder climate I would definitely use them.

Acrylic chairs and pops of fuchsia make a traditional dining table fun.

all images via Ivy & Piper

Super cute home accessories

0

How cute are these plates? How cute is the price? $4.99/ea. !  Get ’em here.

I love the horse bits!

An awesome sale for all you crafters/sewers/organizers!

0

I am definitely a crafter/sewer/organizer…now I just need the time! This sale is great though, and it might just be the motivation I need to add sewing up a notch on my priority list!

 

Love this oak table!

 

 

 

 

All these goodies are on sale at Joss & Main – it’s one of those flash sale sites though, so these items will only be available for about another 2.5 days! If you’re not a member of Joss & Main – it’s free and instant to sign up. Click here to shop.

Important steps to take before remodeling and redecorating

0

Decorating has never been more popular. The plethora of magazines, television programmes and websites dedicated to DIY stand testament to that.

Visit your local hardware store any day of the week and you will see people browsing the aisles and seeking inspiration for that big decorating project. But before you go ahead and pick up that paintbrush, just give a little extra thought and consideration to what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. Planning is probably the most important part of the job. This is also involves planning against anything that could go wrong and cost you extra money.

Avoiding Problems
There are perhaps two reasons for choosing to undertake your own decorating job. You derive great pleasure from something which is all your own work or you simply cannot afford to employ a professional to do it for you. My boyfriend and I personally LOVE building and creating things for our home. We take a lot of pride in it, but it does tend to take us awhile to finish it up. 

This is also where your forward planning is important. Before you start to consider decorating your home yourself, check that your home insurance is up to date and that your buildings and contents insurance cover you adequately. This means that you have a policy that will pay for rebuilding your home and for the replacement of all your clothing, furniture, white goods, trinkets and treasures. In short, your home and everything you have in it. Failure to do this could result in your being seriously out of pocket, so it is of paramount importance to check the figures. We never take on projects of that scope, as we just rent right now, but if you are planning on taking your kitchen down to the studs, for example, you really want to make sure you are protected should something go wrong.

Of course, if you do choose to hire a professional, they will be covered by public liability insurance, so if anything goes wrong you and your home are covered. But to avoid having to make a claim after redecorating, ensure that you are careful and remove all items of value which could get broken or damaged. Cover carpets and furniture which cannot be moved with thick dustsheets. Plastic-backed ones are a good choice as any spillages do not go through them. I am guilty of using only an old sheet to cover things when painting, but I’ve learned the hard way that paint goes right through a sheet.

Be particularly careful about using blowtorches to burn off paint from wood, especially in confined spaces. Keep a wet rag and bucket of water near to hand to cool down any hotspots. Smouldering wood can ignite and, ultimately, your house could burn down. If you are working in the bathroom or anywhere where there is water present take great care in using electrical appliances. Water and electricity definitely do not mix! Aside from blowing every fuse in the house, your life could be at risk, so keep them apart.

Your insurance company is there to help and advise you. Check the paperwork and ensure you are covered so that any disasters are paid for. If you follow these simple tips you can enjoy giving your home a stunning makeover. Just a little planning can avert financial disaster should the worst happen.

 Below is some inspiration if you need a little nudge to start planning that redecorating/remodeling project…

Decorative trim, moldings, and a sophisticated paint job can make a huge impact.

via BHG 

If remodeling makes you nervous, start small.  Some easy to install shelves can make greatly improve a space in much need of storage.

via BHG

Outdoor improvement projects include just as much planning, thought, and  protection as indoor projects.

via BHG

Built-ins can be a worthwhile investment when carefully planned out.

via BHG

A custom kitchen is probably the most rewarding home improvement project you can undertake.

via Traditional Home


 *disclosure: 
This post is brought to you in partnership with Churchill 

A beautiful French Country-chic giveaway!

0

Another gorgeous giveaway coming at you guys!  This one comes from The Bella Cottage, a boutique full of shabby chic, french-style decor and furniture.  One lucky reader will win a lovely pair of distressed wood angel wings in warm cream.

Here’s the product description:
These gorgeous distressed angel wings have flown in just in time! The warm cream paint has been distressed to show natural wood peeking through. A lovely wall hanging near a crackling fireplace with stockings, or even as part of a door decoration! Such a versatile piece will enhance your cottage home year round. Comes ready to hang. Sold as a pair. Ships immediately otherwise please allow 2-3 prior to shipment weeks if not in stock. 40h x 13w x 1d

In order to enter the contest:

1. Share this blog post to your facebook wall.

 2. Like The Bella Cottage Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/TheBellaCottage

 3. Visit The Bella Cottage site, pick your favorite product and tell us what it is in a comment on this post.

 Good Luck! One Winner will be chosen by random number generator July 17, 2012

 CONTEST RULES: CONTEST IS OPEN TO ALL LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES (48 CONTIGUOUS STATES ONLY). PRIZES ARE AS SHOWN AND SUBSTITUTIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH CONTEST RULES MAY RESULT IN CONTESTANT’S DISQUALIFICATION. must be 18 or older to enter.

Tour an amazing Georgian Revival home…

0

This home in Somerset Co., NJ is the home of John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross. The gorgeous Georgian Revival is full of interesting furniture, history, and top-notch style.

You can tell the home is full of character just from the outside.

The first of two grand foyers.  “The home was designed in 1929 by prominent NY architect A. Musgrave Hyde as a shared residence for two sisters.” – Lonny Mag

I don’t think that bed would look bad anywhere.

I love the faux Persian rug in the master bath.  It’s water resistant canvas by Dransfield and Ross.  If you’re talented with a brush, it could be a rewarding DIY project using a canvas dropcloth.

Does anyone know what that plant is?

 The guest bedroom is bohemian and elegant

Another foyer

What do you think?

Read and see more in the June/July 2012 Lonny Mag.

Celebrating the 4th in style!

0

This is a guest post I did for my good friends over at Bae – a fab home decor boutique in SF. Visit their blog at Bae Home & Design

You don’t need to clear out your local Hobby Lobby of everything with a star or a stripe this month to give your home or 4th of July celebration a patriotic sparkle, you can show your pride this Independence Day in a less is more approach with style, sophistication, and a little bit of fun.

The opening of The Pledge of Allegiance in a bold modern graphic print is a great way to show some spirit.

via eighteen25 download art here.

What is more decadent than cheesecake? Individual jar servings make it special, strawberries and blueberries make it festive.

via The Tomkat Studio Recipe: My Baking Addiction
 

Show up to the cookout in this chic and pretty sweetheart dress.

Available at Anthropologie.

Bae’s SkLo float vessels would look great anywhere in your home or party. Cluster a grouping of them around some candles to create a colorful glow. See more

 

This patriotic throw pillow is so cute you can use it year round.

 Via The Stir, available on Etsy.

You can also decorate with your own accessories. Group together any red, white, and blue items you already have around your home to get that patriotic feel.

Via The Examiner

Have a happy, stylish 4th of July!