Last summer, my husband and I went to Longwood Gardens in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Honestly, I don’t know why we don’t go there more often, because it is less than an hour from where we live! Hmmm…I think I am just now hatching a plan to visit again this summer—provided this coronavirus doesn’t keep us away. Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked… We decided to go there on a gorgeous summer day in August to see all the colorful and exotic flowers, creatively sculpted formal gardens, and equally stunning water fountains. It had been YEARS since I had been there, so I had forgotten how beautiful this place is! And I took my Canon DSLR camera…Man, am I glad I took my camera! Can you say eye candy?! This place is a dream for me. I love nature and the healing effect it has on me. Maybe that’s why I started an art and design business that is “nature-inspired”… And I have a thing for photography as well. I’m still quite the amateur, but I’m getting better every day, motivated by the drive to capture the exquisite but often minuscule details in the flowers, trees, and plants around me. (If you haven’t seen my Instagram profile, you can find me at @disstudiodesigns.) I don’t know…something about the incredible variety of life and complexity of the details brings me alive. Hidden worlds are happening right under our noses and all around us. I say “hidden” because it’s only unseen. After all, we don’t take the time to see them. But they exist—and I’m trying to capture whatever I can with my handy dandy camera! Sometimes, that camera will be my iPhone, but whatever gets the job done, as they say. (And these iPhone cameras take AMAZING photos, by the way.) On this trip, I took my Canon DSLR and tried to take as many photos as possible of whatever beautiful gem called out to me. Vibrant colors, lush green plants, and dancing water were all around me, and I had to stop myself from spending hours in one spot. The day got hotter as the hours ticked by (this WAS August), but I had so much fun capturing the colors, patterns, and textures. Just look at the precious little tendrils in this plant below, curled inward like it’s hugging itself! I don’t even remember what type of plant this is, but I’m glad I found this tiny little plant nestled in the sea of green. (Update: I discovered that this exotic fern can be found in tropical places like Malaysia. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a decent website to share. I'll keep my eye open!) I had two regrets, though… The first one was that I didn’t have a tripod. I have notoriously shaky hands, so some shots were difficult for me. I powered through it and made do. On the next trip, I will need to pack my mini tripod. Many of the shots I struggled with were closer to the ground, and a mini tripod would have done wonders for my nerves! My second regret was not taking a longer lens. There was a point where we were watching the fountain displays from quite a distance back, and I tried to zoom in as much as possible with my standard lens, but I was so disappointed with the lack of sharpness in my shots, and I couldn’t zoom in enough to get something creative. So next time I need to take more kit...and choose a day with cooler weather! But it was a relaxing yet invigorating day, and I enjoyed it immensely. Spending time in nature is healing and therapeutic, as is the sight and sound of water. I watched the shimmering water bounce and bubble and was instantly in my happy place! So, for one glorious day and afternoon, I was in heaven! I need to find that sense of peace again…I need to immerse myself in nature and focus on something positive and something bigger than myself. I need to find those “hidden” worlds again and explore the tiny details that make up the natural world around us. I need to plan another trip…And—of course—I will take my camera along to capture as much as possible!
Related blog posts you may want to read: Biophilia in Interior Design Nature and well-being Inspiration
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I’m sitting on a secluded beach…Colonies of seagrass are swaying and rustling behind me in the ocean breeze. Golden grey sand fills the spaces between my toes. The deserted rocky beach is littered with weathered pieces of driftwood, seashells lying about haphazardly, and small pebbles worn smooth by the relentless actions of the tide. The ocean--its rolling waves reaching out to greet me--stretches out endlessly before me, only stopping when it meets the horizon with its watercolors of peach, pink, and yellow morphing one into another as the morning sun wakes from its slumber. That’s not where I am at the moment—just in case you were wondering—but that’s where I’d like to be! If I can’t be there in person, maybe I can be there in spirit—through a little design magic. This vision of perfection inspired me to create a design concept of an interior that mirrors the colors and ambiance of such a sweet spot of solitude. As you can see from my mood board above, I used two sets of color trios. The first set has cool, muted blues and dusty greens that represent the look of the water and sky in the early morning light. The second set of colors is the warmer and more earthy tones, consisting of grey, sand, and peach tones—all colors evocative of sand, stone, wood, and the warm pinkish glow of the morning sky. A few decorative pieces that inspired me were the Driftwood candleholder, the coastal wall clock, the sandpiper decorative pillow, the green beach bottles, and the rose pink decorative pillow. The colors and textures of those items captured the look and feel I was going for in my final design. Before decisions were made about individual design elements, I decided to dig a little into the coastal style to find some inspiration. I found a dizzying array of labels and sub-labels for any style relating to the seashore or the beach. You name it, there’s a label for it—modern coastal, transitional coastal, beach cottage, boho beach house, coastal farmhouse, modern coastal cottage, beach bungalow, coastal chic, boho botanical, and many more. It’s all in the interpretation. Look at a few links below to see examples of each style. Popular Coastal styles Modern Coastal Boho Beach decor Farmhouse Coastal Beach Chic Coastal Cottage People do love to put labels on things. I’m not such a great fan of labels. I like spaces that don’t necessarily have a defined style but instead speak to the human interactions that should take place in a room. Design is all about association. So, as you may have already guessed, I’m more of an eclectic type of gal, which is why my dream design today is called “eclectic coastal”—since I have to put a label on it! I am more than happy to put things together that wouldn’t normally be in the same style family, but I am always careful to make sure there is a common thread holding it all together. So, what makes this room design special? I first fell in love with the rattan barrel chair, and then I found a coffee table that matched the style, and I was off and running with ideas! The area rug--with a beautiful range of blues and grays--sits on top of a wood floor with a color resembling sun-bleached driftwood. I adore mid-century modern furniture and clean lines, so I decided on a few interesting pieces that would tone down the rattan and keep me from creating a space that explodes with wicker furniture (I almost did just that!). Once I made that decision, the rest of the furniture pieces fell into place, tied together through the rich golden brown wood of the sofa and the antique brown metal finishes of the console table. Beige and off-white run through the entire room to keep the space from being too dark and to keep a common thread in the color scheme. A blue side table plays on the blues in the area rug, and the wall art I found on Etsy kept me inspired and helped guide my color choices for the furniture and the accessories. The lighting I chose played into the textural aspects of worn wood and rope, with a weathered wood light pendant and a table lamp with a rope-lined base. Decorative pillows were added with a sea green blue, cream, palm frond design, and crab and fish motif. Final decorative accessories include a jar of shells, a set of blue vases, coral, and rock sculptures. And finally, I decided on a sandy color for the walls to tie the entire design together in a warm cocoon. So I hope you enjoyed taking this little journey with me! Please feel free to drop a comment below about how you bring elements into your home that remind you of your favorite spot outdoors. I hope you found this eclectic exploration of the popular coastal theme! Drop a line below in the comments if you have created a coastal haven of your own!
Enjoy your summer! This article contains external links for demonstration purposes only, and are not endorsements for specific products or brands. Related blog posts you may want to read: Biophilia in interior design Let's talk Bohemian The Tree of Life…There are not too many symbolic icons that stretch so far back into the mists of time and mean so much to so many cultures. It’s a symbol that represents anything from the afterlife, the bond between heaven and earth, the connection to the earth, and the cycles of life (birth, life, death, and renewal). The trees were sacred to the Celts, and different trees held special meanings to the people of the time. So, of course, I had to create an art piece with the Tree of Life! My latest Tree of Life art piece is the third rendition—the first one I kept for myself, and the second one sold within a half hour of listing it for sale! So I decided to make another one… I already had the template from my previous versions, so this step in the process was already done. I needed to trace the design onto the blank plate and wood burn. (I say that like it was a quick and easy process. It was still a lot of work!) A project like this should only take me maybe a few weeks from start to finish—depending on how long it takes me to finish a final draft of a drawing. But coronavirus happened…Let’s just say I got sidetracked. I started this piece in late January or early February and was slated to be finished before mid-March, but it didn’t quite work out that way. We are now in mid-May, and I finally got around to putting on the varnish. The artwork was done by mid-March, but I couldn't find the time to apply the protective varnish coating. Then--when I finally thought I had found the time--my household came down with the virus…and, well, it just didn’t happen. But now it’s done…better late than never! And, oh, by the way…This one is now for sale! To view or purchase my latest decorative plate, visit
How do you define Bohemian? As it turns out, this is quite a versatile style! Bohemian means lots of plants, rattan, wicker, and texture. Boho can be fun and vivid or neutral and calming. But at the heart of it, Boho is about celebrating natural elements, bringing nature's textures indoors. Boho is unique and free-spirited. When I think of Bohemian interior decor, I tend to visualize wicker and macrame, but there can also be an exotic or Moroccan flair with bold poufs and decorative planters. It’s a design style celebrating life and an organic way of living absent in contemporary design trends. The words alternative, earthy, natural, unconventional, and even hippie tend to pop up when you search for Bohemian styles. Take a look... Contemporary Bohemian style 20 Bohemian Chic Interiors The Boho Chic look Bohemian decor tips Bohemian interior decor But what are the benefits of this style, and how does that relate to interior spaces? Boho or Boho Chic is a style that encapsulates casual living, creative or romantic personalities, and relaxed interiors. It’s both psychologically relaxing and yet emotionally invigorating, with a sense of balance and harmony between the manmade and the natural world. If you are a person who sees nature as an experience, as a way to tap into something more human, intuitive, and creative, this is the style for you! Blue can be a soothing color in any design style. In the design board above, I paired a blue sofa and worn blue area rug with a light-colored wood floor, earthy tactile textures, and plenty of plants! A William Morris-style wallpaper brings an organic touch to one focal wall in the space while incorporating the various colors in the room, tying the design together. Of course, I had to include the obligatory rattan chair and chaise lounge! And an amazingly textural rusty wall sconce is a nice touch, especially when paired with the wallpaper. Blue is one of my favorite colors, as it is calming and organic. It’s funny how color association can affect the psyche! If you’d like more tips on designing your room around the beautiful color of blue, check out Designing Your Blue Living Room. Is blue not your thing? Well--if you are bold--you could go in the opposite direction and create a design using an earthy but vibrant orange as a base for your room’s Boho color scheme. In the design below, I have used a burnt orange sofa paired with a dark wood rattan chair, both sitting atop a William Morris floral area rug that brings in the yellows, greens, beiges, and even a pale blue that tones down the orange. Yellow and beige decorative pillows help tie the color scheme together. The tables are an eclectic mixture (this is Boho, after all) of Moroccan influence and Celtic (if you can believe it!). The chandelier shimmers with its Art Deco gold, green, and white color scheme. And, of course, I had to throw in macrame! If you’re feeling brave, check out more ideas for decorating with orange! You know what I love about this design style? The plants, of course! But I also love the use of color. Even the most dramatic hues can be used, but if you want color without the bright jewel tones, you can always choose a strong (yet earthy) color palette with which to work. The more vibrant versions of this unconventional style can have gypsy or Moroccan-influenced design elements, making a space feel exotic and removed from the day-to-day where you can take a mini-vacation without leaving home! I hope you liked this little exploration of the Bohemian design style. What do you think of it as a style for an interior space? Leave your comments below!
This article contains external links for demonstration purposes, and are not endorsements for specific products or brands. Related blog posts you may want to read: Biophilia in interior design A design concept for a dreamy coastal interior So far, this year has been sad and distressing, but despite all of it, I have somehow found the space in my head to be inspired to create new art pieces. Three art pieces are a work-in-progress, and a fourth “idea” for an art piece in the brainstorming phase. In addition, there are preliminary plans for new candleholder design projects to keep me busy during the summer. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Not to be cryptic, but plans are in the works as we speak to unveil new design options, so stay tuned for that! For now, three art pieces are in different stages of completion. (Clearly, my ADD has kicked in!) The one closest to completion is a new Tree of Life plate. This one is just waiting for a couple of coats of varnish, and then it can be listed for sale. The next one to be finished will be a decorative plate featuring a dreamy castle ruin…because I love drawing castles—I love everything about castles—and wanted to woodburn one. I can’t believe it took me this long to get around to it! And the final piece of Celtic artwork—which is only just in the drawing stage—is a commemorative plate for my mom. She passed away a few days before Easter—right in the middle of this pandemic. I decided the best way to honor her memory was to create a plate with her family crest--a pear tree. (There is supposed to be an arm with a hand holding the tree, but I took some artistic license for aesthetic reasons.) This one (obviously) will not be for sale, but I am open to special requests starting in June. Just shoot me an email at dmlilly@disstudiodesigns.com.
So that about sums up the chaos in “Di’s World” for now. A lot is happening, and some new stuff is coming soon! I’ll do my part and keep you posted…so stay tuned! Related blog posts you may want to read: Celtic Tree of Life I like to draw—particularly Celtic-inspired knotwork and designs—and in the past few years, I’ve discovered an outlet for these drawings through wood burning. As it turns out, wood burning is not much different from drawing with pencils—except you can’t just use an eraser to fix a mistake! But I love the challenge and the beautiful pieces of finished artwork. I’ve decided recently to try my hand at some customized wood-burned designs. Last year, I collaborated with my husband, who does comic illustration. Our joint project was to create a graduation gift for our son, who loves Batman. My husband drew out the basic sketch, and then I took that sketch and “translated” it onto a blank wood plaque. Needless to say, comic art is a WAY different style than I am used to, but it was refreshing to try something new and outside my comfort zone. I had a lot of fun exploring line styles and shading techniques. And my son loved the finished piece! If you would like a custom wood-burned piece, contact me at dmlilly@disstudiodesigns.com.
And check out my husband’s work on the following social media pages: Thomas H. Lilly https://www.facebook.com/ForceOneStudios/ https://www.instagram.com/force1studios/ |
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