Author: nataliya

interior designer, dreamer, nature lover, wife. my goal is not to just transform spaces, but to also transform lives. (photo credit: VIE Magazine *I did not take this photo, but I did participate on this project)

thursday thoughts: stay humble

(All images link back to their original source, if known)

design obsession: hexagon

Ahh yes, my favorite 6 sided shape. We meet again!

Loving the Hicks Hexagon wallpaper.

Or if you’re feeling very ambitious, you can stencil it on your walls. (I was kidding – but if you are totally insane and up for the challenge, the DIY can be found here. )

Seeing a lot of hexagon mosaic tile too lately!

The above mosaic is very contemporary. But the dark tile below shows how you can use this shape in a more traditional setting.

Lovely pavers to use in your garden too! I dig it. (Pun intended. Very corny yes indeed.)

Don’t worry – there’s plenty of honeycomb shaped treasures to share.

a: embroidered pillow cover // b: mirror // c: bedding set // d: cuff bracelet // e: woven garden seats // f: rug // g: marble top side table

Have a wonderful night all! xo

(All photos link back to their original source, if known)

Vows, Scenic Drives, and Cheesesteaks

As I mentioned, Nate & I spent Memorial Day weekend in Pennsylvania for his brother’s wedding. The ceremony took place in a little town called New Hope. It’s a cute, quaint riverfront town with an artsy appeal. Picture beautiful winding roads, upscale boutiques, and a lovely historical presence.

We spent Friday and Saturday at the 1740 House, a Bed and Breakfast in neighboring Lumberville. It was a gorgeous property located right on the Delaware River. Although it was cold and rainy Friday, Saturday it cleared up and ended up being beautiful for the wedding.

The wedding was held at the nearby Holly Hedge Estate. Gorgeous landscape, wonderful service, amazing food – I would recommend it to anyone looking for a venue in that area!! The reception was a blast, it was so great to hang out with family and make new friends too!

Hubby & I

On our way out-of-town on Sunday, I saw a sign for Bowman’s Hill Tower. I had no clue what that was, but hey, I like hills and I like towers, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong. So after taking a one lane road up the hill, we came to a stone tower nestled at the top. Come to find out the Tower was built in 1931 and commemorates the spot where George Washington and his soldiers crossed the Delaware during the Revolutionary War, and then went on to fight the Battle of Trenton. I’m not huge into history, but it was really cool. And the view from the top was phenomenal.

Our next stop: Philadelphia.

Our hotel there was awesome. We stayed downtown at the Hotel Palomar. It’s actually LEED certified at the Gold level, so of course this is a freakin big deal to me and I had to document it!

Never thought of mixing the 3×6 tiles with the 6×6 like this. Really pretty!

The view from our window.

We walked around near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.

And stole a kiss in the park nearby. 😉

We also had the chance to meet up with some of our good friends who live in nearby Jersey and we got to explore South Street with them.

Fat Tuesday's

Since we had 1 day in Philly, I made it my sole mission to get an authentic Philly Cheese Steak. We went to famous rival sandwich shops Geno’s and Pat’s. Yes, I had to try both to see which one was better. The verdict: Pat’s was my fave! Both were great though. Soooo good!

They take this stuff very seriously. There is a whole process for ordering, no joke. I got “Provolone with”.

Geno’s looks like it belongs in Vegas!

Before we knew it, we were on a flight back to SA. I kinda have a fear of flying, but I always have to take pictures while up in the air. There’s something so serene and heavenly about being above the clouds.

I think our little weekend getaway was just what I needed to get inspired and re-motivate myself. Memorial Day Weekend means summer has arrived – this is always my favorite time of the year. 🙂

thursday thoughts: wander

50’s inspired hillside home

Tomorrow is the day that I’ve been looking forward to for quite some time now. We get to hop a plane and escape to Philadelphia for Nate’s bro’s wedding! I can’t believe Memorial Day weekend is already here. (Time just flies when you are remodeling and unpacking.)

In honor of our getaway to the East Coast, I’ll leave you with this dreamy hillside home tucked in Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountains . Featured in AD, this home was designed by Peter Bohlin of the Pennsylvania-based architectural firm, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson. (I’ll have you know that Peter was a graduate of Michigan’s Cranbrook School of Art. REPRESENT!!)

In the article, Peter described the client’s desire for a timeless space. I think I fall in love with the idea of something being “timeless”…that time can pass and it remains just as true, believable, and fabulous as day one. It’s such a hard concept to achieve with all of the trends in the design world. It really makes you think hard about what will withstand the test of time vs. what is a fad.

For me, what makes this home so special is the use of materials and furniture pieces that aren’t fussy or easily dated. This must be why mid-century furniture holds a special place in my heart :).