Design that Reveals
Design that Reveals
Creativity is my love, interior design is my focus. Whether it be full service interior design, re-decoration or even online design through Design in a Box, I am passionate about all things creative. Here, I will share insights into projects, inspirations and what's going on in the world of design from Calgary and beyond. Would love to have you follow along.
my bedroom reveal May 10, 2011
publications: my home in avenue magazine Jun 14, 2012
exciting news! Jul 13, 2011
The best way to describe the last four months of 2012 is “all consuming”. The intensity, work load, stress, sleepless nights and lack of appetite really took it’s toll. After returning from BlogTour London, things escalated from manageable, to overwhelm, to ‘something’s gotta give’. I just. Couldn’t. Do. It. All.
There I said it. It’s hard to admit.
My blog and social media presence was the first to go. I didn’t have the time nor head space to manage it. I had to shift my priorities and in doing so, realized I needed to evaluate my business. In any growing business, there comes a point when a decision needs to be made and a client was the one who really made me think. “You need to decide if you’re going to stay small and turn work away, or grow your business and hire the support to do so”, was what she said. These words resonated with me and put a new perspective on the next chapter for my business.
What is the next chapter? Well, it involves growing up and moving out. Setting boundaries, asking for help and adding support where needed will allow me to get my life back. It’s also about learning, prioritizing and spending time ON my business as well as IN it, as I love the relationships and creativity that comes with each project. I am blessed to work with amazing clients.
I’m also excited to get back to social media and my blog. I value these platforms and am grateful for the way they have propelled my business. In the coming weeks I’ll be updating you on what’s happening behind the scenes with Nyla Free Designs, sharing completed projects from the Fall and up and coming projects, sneak peek’s and inspirations. I have lots to share!
So… here’s to a new chapter.
Image source.
It was cold. It was raining. We were exhausted. The truth is I could have thought of a million reasons not to go. But, I knew I should. I knew in my heart this was important.
We bundled up and hopped in a cab. Upon arrival the rain stopped. Upon arrival at Leadenhall Market, I was overwhelmed not only by the architecture, but the people. This was bigger than me, much bigger than my selfishness, feeling cold or tired. My emotion moved towards excitement as I drew off the energy of the crowd and those I was with.
We were serious about our walk! From left to right: Patti Johnson – Patti Johnson Interiors, me, Erin Tye – Modenus, Vitania Liscio – Verdigris Vie, Veronika Miller – Modenus. Photo taken by Cheryl Kees Clendenon – Details and Design.
We set out on the hike, moving at a snails pace. 10,000 + people were participating, walking for loved ones. A walk to end this evil we call cancer. A walk to support Maggie’s Centers, a facility of care for those dealing with the words, “you have cancer” and the ones who are caring for them.
We slowly made our way. First stop was Tower of London, a historically eerie spectacle. I was in awe of it’s size and daunting aura. And then… Tower Bridge.
A take my breath away moment. I walked across the bridge in amazement. I wanted to take in every moment, every step, every ounce of history embodied in it. We moved slowly amidst others standing in wonder, taking photographs, sharing smiles. Memories.
We made our way to the top of a new City Hall building. The elevator doors opened to a choir singing Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror” and we took in the spectacular view of the Tower Bridge from the observation deck.
I began chatting with a woman who was walking in memory of five, yes five loved ones she recently lost. She was convicted, sad, strong. I held back my tears. We said good bye but I won’t ever forget her. Cancer affects us all. It robs us of loved ones and friends too soon.
The BlogTour team made our way along the River Thames, admiring architecture and chatting. Getting to know each other.
I have a quote on my bulletin board “celebrate what you don’t have”. I have much to be thankful for. I am blessed. Turn the table and consider what you don’t have. I have my health. I don’t have cancer. Celebrate.
However, millions do. Maggie’s is there to help, to support, to encourage and lift you up when you’re world is crumbling down. We need more Maggie’s in the world. They are critical in the assistance of overcoming this illness. A tower of strength.
Riding the London Eye was an amazing experience. The view, spectacular. The world so big, yet so small when people join together with a common bond of hope.
Walking with my BlogTour friends, in support of Maggie’s Centres was priceless. It made me realize there’s more to give. It made me think I should get more involved. It gave me hope that we’ll find a cure.
Thank you Maggie’s for all you are doing in support of those with cancer, for embracing BlogTour and inviting us to walk alongside you in this fight.
For more photos of the night hike, and to see how you can support Maggie’s please visit the website. Information about Night Hike 2013 is already posted. Anyone care to jump the pond and go for a walk?
While on a flight home from Toronto a few weeks ago I created a blog calendar. Browsing photos and ideas, I wrote a topic for each day until the end of March. Thrilled with myself, I opened my calendar Monday morning to admire my work and……nothing. In fact my whole calendar had been wiped out. All Nyla Free Designs work entries were now non existent. #cuethetears
After a two hour visit to the Apple store ‘special projects’ division and the nice young man bearing bad news early in the morning I walked away trying to remember my entire January. iCloud, you failed me.
My oldest daughter, bless her, loves to talk and the best part is she tells me everything. So a recent conversation goes something like this:
A: “Oh Mom, I hope you don’t mind if I deleted your meetings off our iPad”
Me: “What do you mean, deleted?”
A: “You know, ‘meeting with Judy’…things like that.”
Me: “So you deleted everything in the calendar that was mine?”
A: “Um, well, ohhhh….”
You’re probably wondering what I’m getting at. Well, iCloud is working perfectly fine amongst all Apple products in our household. Good news.
I re-created my blog calendar but as I look at what I’m ‘supposed’ to be blogging about tonight, it’s just not coming to me. The pretty pictures are there, but nothing else. No substance or giant level of inspiration. Sometimes you gotta leave it alone and walk away. Am I right?
Blog calendars are a great idea and I will endeavor to use mine, however….and that’s a BIG however. If it’s not right it’s not right and I’m not going to force it, for tonight anyway.
Do you use a blog calendar? How does it work for you? Any advice you can offer? How do you organize your blogs?
I love the dialogue a blog can bring so comment away and let me know your thoughts. And thanks for listening :)
Image via: ohmydeer‘s etsy shop
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
Fill in the blank.
I love the idea of a new year, clean slate and a year full of opportunities and possibilities. Don’t you? This year, more than ever I have an incredible sense of optimism. 2011 was incredible but it’s time to hone in on things and really focus. I’m not talking about resolutions (not a fan) but evaluating, reconnecting and digging deeper into my business and creative juices. Can’t wait!
Here’s a collage of some of my 2011 highlights. With this reflection comes a wish for you. Not just a happy new year, but healthy, successful, and filled with an abundance of love. Thank you for contributing to my amazing year and looking ahead I hope to see you around here even more.
What’s on the go for you this year? Would love to hear how you’re embracing 2012.
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch. Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
Photo collage by postermywall.com
From my home to yours…..
As I sat last night in a rare moment of peace and quiet, this is what came to mind:
It’s at this very moment when I can’t help but wish time would stand still.
{Silent night}
The hustle and bustle over. The anticipation and wonder still there.
{All is calm}
A time to reflect, appreciate and embrace time with loved ones whether family or friends.
{All is bright}
A new day awaits filled with Joy. Unspeakable JOY.
{Sleep in heavenly peace}
Merry Christmas one and all.
ps. I set my table early in an effort to remove one more item from my to-do list today which means I can relax a tiny bit more. Here’s a little sneak peek :)
Today’s post is a little more on the personal side, but that’s ok right? It’s important that you know me for me and sometimes that doesn’t always revolve around design.
Perhaps its the Thanksgiving weekend that has brought on these thoughts of nostalgia and tradition and the fact that I miss my Grandma. I like to think that everyone’s Grandma is super special to them but if you had met mine I’m pretty sure she would have topped your list. She was one amazing woman.
I am reminded of her gracious ways and welcoming spirit. I remember large gatherings in their home. Family, friends and neighbors, it didn’t matter, everyone was welcome. My Grandparents’ home had a door that was always open and it seemed as though the bell would ring regardless of the occasion with people just stopping by to say hi. My Grandma would be fussing away in the kitchen and upon hearing the bell, would throw her arms up walking towards the door, proclaiming, “Oh…it’s Phyllis!” so everyone could hear and welcome a new guest to sit for coffee or even dinner. There was always room for one more.
We’ve had a wonderful weekend with family and friends. We are thankful. We are blessed. I’ve got a roast in the oven today and I find myself wishing we lived in a time when people would just pop around, uninvited, but not any imposition in the least. Today we’re busy, aren’t we? A sense of community has been lost along the way. Families spread out and it’s not always easy to connect.
My family loves to entertain. Our girls are always asking when we can have someone over next. They are little social butterflies and I can only think that they inherited this from their Great-Grandmother.
Sweet memories of my Grandma. She will always be close to my heart.
Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends! I hope you have had a chance to enjoy the company of loved ones this weekend.
Image sources: Top image Dottie Angel via Sweet Sweet Life, 1. A pack of chiclets tucked away in a drawer was a staple in the kitchen 2. I played jacks by the hour on the floor while she cooked or baked 3. In their front yard was a massive birch tree. Maybe that’s why I love this wallpaper so much? 4. I come by my love of travel honestly. My Grandma was ready to go at anytime and it didn’t matter if it involved a car ride or an airplane, her luggage was packed and waiting by the door 5. Grandma’s make it look so easy! Image via: Photobucket 6. Grandma would bake and I would eat…welsh cakes by the dozen. 7. With a love of knitting there was always a ball of yarn around.
MODERN. I’m not referring to the dictionary meaning but rather the feeling, the emotion or the lifestyle of a Modern interior. Vintage, retro, mid-century, classic, country. These have all been paired with the word Modern. This week I am exploring what Modern means with four people I admire and would love to introduce you to or if you already know them, for you to get to know them better.
Fabulous opportunities have come about for Michelle in the last year and it’s no surprise. Her blog, Holley & Gill radiates with eloquent writing and gorgeous images and what I love best is that she causes you to think and ponder thoughts on design and it’s processes. Michelle is so aware of the design world in all it’s shapes and forms and truly passionate about every single detail. Holley & Gill began as custom headboards designed by Michelle and hand crafted in Montreal. Michelle is a blog contributor for Poppy Talk and HGTV Canada and has most recently become Style Editor for Pure Green Magazine. Congratulations on all your success this year Michelle! and thank you for sharing your thoughts today.
“What is modern to me?”
In the world of iconic furniture, products and interiors, the hardest part of the design process is not the creative stage but in fact, the editing stage.
To me, modern is a complete design which has already done all the editing for us. It has visited the extremes, has been inspired by it all and left us with the most important and integral lines, shapes and surfaces. All together, it has managed to push all limits and beliefs to evoke entirely new emotions from its viewers unlike any others.
Modern by definition also means that it is ahead of its time. So a few other questions come to mind: Is it still considered modern once inspiration is drawn from it and morphed into something new? If a variation or a new take has been developed, does its label as being modern no longer apply?
If an innovative design stands the test of time, keeps challenging those limits and its audience and remains captivating, then regardless of when it came to be, it will always remain relevant and modern in my eyes.
Thank you Nyla for letting me in on such a great discussion and topic!
Images via: William O-Brien Jr.
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
MODERN. I’m not referring to the dictionary meaning but rather the feeling, the emotion or the lifestyle of a Modern interior. Vintage, retro, mid-century, classic, country. These have all been paired with the word Modern. This week I am exploring what Modern means with four people I admire and would love to introduce you to or if you already know them, for you to get to know them better.
Lori Andrews, a.k.a. the 10 cent Designer is creative is all aspects of the word. Lori is an Interior Designer and photographer not to mention she is always up for an adventure. Her approach to design is simple, modern, and clean with a functional and stylish perspective. Lori and I have recently started working together on photographing my spaces for Dabble Mag and I think we are complimenting each other nicely. She brings a fashion forward flavor to each photo shoot. Here is what Modern means to Lori ~
mod·ern
Of or relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past.
materials- new materials and re-imagined forms
optimism- we can create sustainable environments
depth- form follows function
environment- order, clean lines, accessible
reality- hand crafted, humanism
new- the creation of entirely new forms and ways of thinking
Modern to me is new forms and old forms re-imagined. Modern is reused, recycled, rethought. modern is clean and simple, light and colorful. Modern is sustainable. Modern is affordable.
New Forms
Retro with New Materials
Reuse Re-Imagine
Repetition
Handcrafted
Artistic Handmade
Colour gives doors new life.
Light and Simple
Old forms New colours
Space age materials
10 cent Designer
All images courtesy of Lori Andrews.
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
MODERN. I’m not referring to the dictionary meaning but rather the feeling, the emotion or the lifestyle of a Modern interior. Vintage, retro, mid-century, classic, country. These have all been paired with the word Modern. This week I am exploring what Modern means with four people I admire and would love to introduce you to or if you already know them, for you to get to know them better.
An Interior Designer, collaborator, and someone who brings people together in a positive and creative way, Lisa Ferguson inspires me with her daily encouragement and insights all the way from Toronto. Recently founding Decor Mentor, Lisa is on the pulse of the design world and works hard to educate readers about the process and practices of Interior Design. I have had the pleasure of meeting Lisa a few times this year and more recently collaborating with her as one of the mentors over at Decor Mentor.
Thank you for sharing with us Lisa!
What is Modern Design?
If I said “ Modern Design”. What images and descriptors would immediately be brought to your mind? Mid Century Modern? Minimalism? Cold? Uncomfortable? Clean Lines?
Wikepedia describes moderism in architecture as “simplification of form and subtraction of ornament from the structure and theme of the building”.
When I think of modern design, these are the first four words that come to my mind.
Looking at Interiors by fabulous designers, I find myself using the word modern for a wide range of looks. These spaces from Amy Lau Design, West Architecture Studio and Nyla Free Designs would probably be considered ” modern” by most.
I tend to also call spaces with clean lines and modern shapes, “modern” design. Like the ones here from Pulp Design Studios, my work — Lisa Ferguson Interior Designs and Saavedra Design Studio. Would you agree?
There is so much sameness in modern products, so I wanted to share some great modern products that I am not tired of yet! Do they do anything for you?
What does modern design mean to you? Please share! We would love to hear from you.
Product Sources: Alex Earl Stool, Tivoli Radio, Wall Desk, Zinc Chair by Room & Board, Tom Dixon Pendants, Art Society 6
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
MODERN. I’m not referring to the dictionary meaning but rather the feeling, the emotion or the lifestyle of a Modern interior. Vintage, retro, mid-century, classic, country. These have all been paired with the word Modern. This week I am exploring what Modern means with four people I admire and would love to introduce you to or if you already know them, for you to get to know them better.
I am so thrilled to introduce you to my guest blogger today. Fiona Richards is the creative personality behind Cartolina Cards, a stationary line with vintage appeal and worldly curiosities. Her cards are some of the most interesting and creative designs I have ever seen and since I have a slight obsession for paper goods… I have seen a lot! I look forward to the opportunity of one day meeting Fiona in person as I admire her very much for her business savvy, creativity, talent and genuine sense of style and self. If you haven’t stopped by Cafe Cartolina yet, please do. It’s a fabulous blog showcasing influences and inspirations behind her work. Also, you must know about Cartolina’s iPhone App. It is one of the coolest app’s out there!
When Nyla asked, “What does Modern mean to you, Fiona?” It took me a while to get my head around it because I really enjoy vintage.
I’m not a trend follower at all, so to me, it’s always been about the vibe and the lifestyle than the status or the designer.
I grew up in the UK in the 70s and, while all my friends lived in cookie cutter tract houses filled with the standard matching 3 piece suite of the day, I grew up in my grandparents house filled to the brim with exotic treasures that they had collected from their days as textile traders in India. And it rubbed off on me – I’ve never had a modern house and really never collected modern pieces. To me modern is all about being free to live in unusual spaces and surround yourself with unusual things - things collected over time and the newer things coveted and acquired more recently. Having the confidence to say ‘this is my unique eclectic place and these are my fabulous, curious things.’
We live in the country so I tend towards the rustic. Give me old wood, stone and iron, industrial salvage and vintage fixtures. Mix them up and change them on a weekly basis. Gone are the decorating restrictions of the past – and what we have is more interesting, more personal and, in my mind, more modern!
Here are some styles that I love:
Source: Freshome
Source left: Pinterest right: Pinterest via HomeShoppingSpy
Source: Tumbler
Source left: Taverne Agency right: Pinterest
Source: Tumbler
Source left: Remodelista right: Tumbler
Thank you Fiona for sharing your thoughts with us!
What does Modern mean to you? We would love to hear what you have to say!
Nyla Free Designs is a full service Calgary Interior Design studio. Our goal is to bring your home to life by revealing your style and infusing unexpected elements of design and detail. If we can help with your project please let us know! See the contact page to get in touch.
Nyla Free Designs also offers an online design service through Design in a Box.
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