Yesterday I shared a place to design your own wallpaper, today let's take a look at a gal who upcycles her own one-of-a-kind lovely wallpapers. I have been a long time admirer of artist Claire Coles. She hand sources vintage wallpapers and uses fragments that she intricately cuts and then layers to create beautiful scenes.

She embellishes with silk threads and leather and allows her sewing machine to freely create the whimsical worlds. Her works are custom commissioned for each client to crawl and grow beautifully across the walls of their space so the sky is the limit on color and scenes.

To see more of Claires designs, visit here.

Have a huge daunting bookcase, built-in or shelving unit to fill??

One of Emily's clients did.

She used abut 150 mason jars in different sizes.

And painted the inside of each blue.  

Using one blue paint swatch, she bought a quart of each color--7 in all. 

And this magically happened.

Uh-May-Zing.

 Read all about it here.

{all images via Emily Henderson: photography by Bethany Nauert} 

I am working with a few clients right now that are downsizing. I really appreciate the idea of simplifying ones life, getting rid of extras, and surrounding yourself with only truly meaningful loved pieces. I have actually contemplated this idea myself lately...do we really need this much space?  

Designer Jessica Helgerson strongly believes in leaving a tiny footprint.

'The house is an interesting experiment in reduction and reuse not only because it is only 540 square feet or because it was remodeled using nearly exclusively reclaimed materials, but because the building itself is now being recycled for the fourth time. It was first built in the early 1940s as part of Vanport Village; a quickly erected development built to house shipyard workers. When Vanport Village flooded in 1948 this particular little house was floated down the river to Sauvie Island, where it became the goose-check station. Years later it was remodeled to become a rental house.' **

In 2008, Jessica and her architect husband, Yianni, bought the tiny house as a weekend getaway for their young family. Every square inch of the home was considered,utilized and redesigned. It didn't take long before the family decided to make this their permanent home.

Can you believe that a sectional of this size is in a home with 540 sq feet?? They were designed to be deep so that they also function as beds for guests and another added bonus--all of the toys are hidden in drawers under the sectional. genius.  

Jessica claims that all roofs in Oregon want to be mossy, so they embraced the idea and took it one step further, actually planting the roof with moss and ferns that grow along the Oregon River Gorge. It adds a beautiful fun layer of extra insulation.

The house sits on a five-acre farm, deep in lush grass and surrounded by garden patches, beehives, chicken coops, and an outdoor wood oven. They have big dreams for Wild Goose Farm {affectionately named by their son, Max} and once a month they entertain large groups with outside farm tables and curated evenings filled with food from great chefs that reflect their love of food, drink, and design.

I think I could really buy into this tiny house living idea...what about you?

{images via bliss, ** jessica hegerson}

Have you been watching the Olympics?? I am such a fan of all of it! Sports I have never watched before {bike racing, shooting and water polo}, I watch during the Olympics! I couldn't wait for the opening ceremonies and although it was very British and a little slow in spots, it had some great moments. And did you notice how many women were carrying their countries flag?! Even Iran!

And how great is it to watch the parents of the olympians watching their kids compete?? During a few of the events, they have cameras focused only on the parents of the child competing and it is so much fun to watch these incredibly invested, dedicated parents!! Having athletes of my own, I can't imagine how nerve wracking that must be. 

So, in honor of the host city, here is a beautiful London stone and stucco flat that Sarah Richardson gutted and then fully decorated.    

This lower level living room has fireplaces on each of its ends so dual sitting areas were created. It's hard to tell, but, soft buttery walls create the backdrop for the cherry and orange furniture and pillow palette.  

Because days can be very dreary in London, Sarah added color to every room of the 2500 sq ft home. The walls are soft green, yellow, light blue and pink. Very watery and pale, but just enough to illuminate the interior, even on the most overcast of days. 

 A very simple yet sophisticated kids room.

The kids bathroom wall is covered in beautiful pinwheel tiles in Ming green and Thassos marble. And the scale of the mirror is perfect over the gustavian dresser turned vanity.  

 What a lovely classic girls room with a soft lavender ceiling and pink toile duvet.

 Love the polka dot trim on the roman shade.

To see more of this London home, check out House and Home.

{via House and Home/ photographer Stacey Brandford}  .