August 31, 2011

New on the Virtual Newsstand

The new issue of Dabble Magazine hit the Virtual Newsstand yesterday, and I just had a chance to look through it last night. I am looking forward to reading their New Orleans feature, but what also jumped out at me was the Industry Profile on India Hicks (page 64)!



After thumbing through the issue, I went digging on their website and found this pretty bedroom ...

I spy a really cool DIY paint job!!
Take a closer look at the bookshelves on the back wall. This reminds me... when in the paint department picking a color and you come across those long pain chips, it's so hard to pick just one shade. Should it be intense and dark, or should it be light and airy? Well, now you don't even have to pick! Why not use all the pretty colors??? And what is even better; you can get away with a test can of paint in each color, saving money AND you do not need to store all those cans of unused paint!! Great design idea, right??

Have fun Dabbel-ing in your new DIY project ;)

Natasha

Both images via Dabble Magazine.

August 28, 2011

Sunday Flowers



































Figuring I would stay with the "green theme" of the weekend, and post these beautiful green Hydrangeas, I believe the variety is called Limelight (I could be wrong)...

Have a great week ahead!
Natasha

Image via ACF

August 26, 2011

Dinner with friends.










































TGIF!!!

Tonight we are having dinner with friends at a new restaurant in town; Organic food, locally grown veggies and locally caught fish. Looking forward to the experience, I am sure it will be really yummy :)

This weekend is the last weekend before VACATION time starts... It's not going to be here fast enough for me, only 9 more days before we leave hot and steamy Florida! 
Let the countdown begin :)

Natasha

Image from Style Me Pretty via Pinterest


August 25, 2011

Wave action!

This evening I went down to the beach to take a walk and see the waves roll in...

... and this is what I saw!
Beautiful tall waves - we very seldom get these here - lots of wind and many surfers enjoying themselves! This direction is due east, and the dark clouds on the horizon is Hurricane Irene, just leaving the Bahamas. It was quite beautiful down at the beach; lots of people taking it all in, very windy but warm.

Just wanted to share :)
Natasha

Image Mr. Wonderful for the Northern Light Blog

August 24, 2011

Vintage Bahamas!























When visiting the newly restored Dunmore Beach Club on Harbour Island in the Bahamas, this charming little reception pavilion is where you start your journey...
The Beach Club has been given an overhaul by designer Amanda Lindroth, bringing the property back to its early 1960's roots, complete with vintage photos and lots and lots of island-y rattan and wicker!






















This exterior porch has been reworked as a bar and lounge area, complete with louvered windows (good for tropical breezes). The graphic fabric on the ottoman and the bar stools is Petite Zig Zag in New Brown from China Seas. The pillow fabric is Melong Batik in Brown, also from CS. These fabrics have been used throughout the property. It gives the furniture a cohesive, natural look, complimenting all the rattan and wicker, making sure the furniture looks substantial and not cheap.
Pay attention to another detail; the light fixtures in the bar are Bahamian baskets that have been fitted as lampshades, a detail that has been repeated throughout the property as you will see.























Without actually having visited myself, I must admit this dining room corner is my absolute favorite spot! LOVE the Tangerine color used, so fresh! LOVE the vintage posters and photos! And what a great idea painting one or two frames in the accent color, totally makes them pop!! (This trick could easily be used in your own home!)

Notice the great attention to detail; Napkins have a pattern in the same Tangerine color! The same light fixture as in the bar is hanging above the tables... and the Tangerine sash on the little Bahamian statue on the top shelf.






















Sometimes you just need a place to sit and somewhere to hang your straw hat... Rattan piece upholstered in the same China Seas fabric as seen throughout the property. Gotta love those big hats, a sophisticated beach look, especially in the tropics where the sun is super strong!






















The Cabana Bath...
Now it does not get much more beach-y, or prettier, than this; Island Living at its best!!!






















 A sneak peak into one of the guest cottages, reveal crisp white sheets, an Indian Quilt by John Robshaw Textiles and furniture upholstered in China Seas Island Ikat in Pale Aqua. The braided sea grass headboard can be found here.






















This Tangerine color is used throughout the property, and while it reads a little more on the coral side for me, I know where designer Amanda Lindroths inspiration has come from.... Not only the inside glossy color of the conch shell, but also from Palm Beach where she grew up. This is a color that is widely used in Palm Beach, from stucco to flowers to paint.

Nassau-based designer Amanda Lindroth sitting pretty in the tropical interiors she has (re)created so beautifully. The Dunmore Beach Club has been infused with crisp white backdrop, layered with natural colors and textures and brought to life with colors found in the surrounding landscape; coral, green, natural and let's not forget the most amazing turquoise.


The original aqua and white cabanas are a trademark of The Dunmore Beach Club, since 1963... By the way; The Beach Club is named after Lord Dunmore, the first Governor of the Bahamas.

Now that I have tempted you to seek out this restored Beach Club, you can get your reservation here.
Enjoy yourself :)

Natasha

All images photographed by Tria Giovan, for Coastal Living.

August 23, 2011

Preparing...

Rumor has it we are in for a bad hurricane (Irene) this week, so a small break in blogging will probably happen as I need to concentrate on securing my house...

UPDATE: 
Looks like Hurricane Irene is taking a more easterly course, so we should be good!
Phew!!

I have been slowly starting to prepare the last couple of days, not wanting to panic, nor wanting to get caught in the supermarket stampede, fighting for the last couple of necessities either! So for those of you who have not been through a storm like this before; there is a lot of prep work involved! Don't really want to bore you with the long list....

If you are in the Bahamas, STAY SAFE, as you will be getting the brunt of this storm!
...that is it for now: See you later!

Natasha

PS. I have come to really like the day before a hurricane, as it's often sunny, quiet, not too hot and windy. LOVE when it's windy in Florida! Sometimes I go to the beach to see the huge waves roll in with the dark clouds in the horizon... Beautiful!
The Clam Before the Storm, for sure.

Image via Google search

August 21, 2011

{East Hampton} House Love



































Are you in for a Sunday house tour?

This East Hampton 1920's stucco cottage has been fully renovated by writer Frances Schultz, with a keen eye for what needs to be changed, what does not need changing;
Fully preserving the integrity of the cottage and surrounding grounds.

Let's explore Bee Cottage...
I am sure you have seen a few images from this home out there in blog land, I know I have (I even used one in a previous post), never realizing where the image actually came from.














Charming curb appeal; A new front door was fitted with Bulls Eye Glass, salvaged from the original front door... The dusty blue color on the shutters is Benjamin Moore's Mountain Laurel.






































The only room in the house that was entirely gutted was the galley kitchen! Since this is such a narrow space, Frances was careful not to overwhelm the space, using open shelving and fully taking advantage of the great natural light streaming through the row of windows. Painting the low ceiling a high gloss white, helps make the space visually larger!



































What appears to be limed oak floors is actually ceramic tile, making this space highly functional! In the butlers pantry the ceiling has been painted blue... a color that in various shades appear throughout the cottage.



































What was a dark, oddly shaped bedroom before, has been cleverly made into a Master Suite, complete with a dreamy canopy. Not only does this make a statement, it also hides the sloping ceiling!



































One of the funny little nooks in the home is this mirrored arc; Beautifully made into a makeup counter. For a close-up of this space click here.

































 
Opposite the master bedroom an office space. A few tricks to make the space feel bigger; Again, notice the glossy walls, bouncing light around in what otherwise could have been a dark, cramped corner. The arrangement of artwork, drawing the eye up, fooling you to think the ceiling is taller than it actually is... + keeping to a consistent color pallet!



The first time I "made my way down" this narrow hallway, I kept my eye on the prize at the end, wanting to see more of this brilliant blue color... BUT, I actually learned something from this space!
The built in chests of drawers on the right were originally pained white, so to disappear into the wall, something I probably would have done. But you see... painting them a dark, glossy brown actually works, now the drawers work as a piece of furniture, they ground the space, and keep your eye moving down the hallway...

Check out this guest room!! An attempt to use accents of cranberry-red in this room without it screaming "Red, White and Blue" has been successfully reached in my opinion. The natural element of the rush beds (these are actually new, from Crate & Barrel) and the little woven cube, keeps the feeling of the room beach-y and relaxed.



































Two things to pay attention to here; The Bee - we are after all in the Bee Cottage - and the lamp base.  Frances Schultz has done a great job in "branding" her little cottage, and finishing touches such as the appliqued Bee on the bedding ads to the charm. The otherwise crisp white sheets keep the room from feeling too dark. The Staffordshire dogs have been wired as lamps (they were inherited from Frances' mother), and fitted with cranberry colored shades, completing the look, and carrying the accent color beautifully!


































OK, so what to do when there is nothing wrong with the bathroom, but it's in need of a makeover... Paint!! Paint the ceiling and why not have a little fun while you are at it? Carry the fantastic blue from the guest room into the guest bath, work with the odd angles of the small room... Small detail that did not pass me by; the towels have been trimmed in red, giving a cohesive look to the guest suite. It's all in the attention to detail, my friends :)



































Owner of Bee Cottage; Journalist Frances Schultz.


































Beautiful Garden gate leading you to the pool area of Bee Cottage. Notice the cutout... and the ironwork.

In a garden that had seen better days, a landscape designer by the name of Jane Lappin was brought in to make it what it is today, complete with a long narrow pool. "I don't know how I came up with those crazy fountains in the pool, but they added just the je ne sais quoi I wanted. And I burst out laughing every time I turn them on" says Frances.









This last image is from Frances' blog, the clematis is filling in the arch just beautifully, don't you think??


Hope you enjoyed this home as much as I did reading about it. For the full article on the renovation of Bee Cottage, go to Frances' website, it's complete with links etc. There are before images and more interior shots as well.

Have a wonderful Sunday!
Natasha

Image #13, all other images via House Beautiful

August 20, 2011

Pretty in Pink!

Happy Weekend and welcome to new readers of the Northern Light Blog!
May these beautiful flowers brighten your day!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Natasha

Image via High Gloss Magazine (sorry to see this virtual magazine end its reign!)

August 19, 2011

Cashmere at it's best...

J.Crew went to St. Petersburg, Russia, to photograph their fall cashmere collection. They descended on the beautiful ballerinas of the Mariinsky & Yakobson dance schools...
Beautifully choreographed, don't you think?

The light, the ballerinas, the cashmere sweaters... all so beautifully captured!

While we are in the heat of summer I am thinking cashmere might not be such a bad thing, but then again, it never was ;)! I am lucky to have a few yummy sweaters and cherish the one or two cool-enough day(s), where I get to wear them. The rest of the time I have them stored in a cotton bag on my shelf. I was once told that moths are picky eaters and that they do not eat cotton, so my sweaters should be safe!

From Russia with Love!

Natasha

All images via J. Crew

August 16, 2011

Basket Case!


































I was thinking that if you were traveling this summer, perhaps you could pick up some of these fun, ethnic baskets and hang them as wall decor upon your return? The texture and the colors are pretty and soft, and it's a slightly different look than the typical art wall, I feel we have seen that so many times by now...






















Look how great a few different plates and bowls look on a colorful wall; common denominator being the circles, colors and patterns.

I imagine the baskets in the first image would also look great in a summerhouse setting, where things are not so precious... I would ad to the "art installation" from time to time, perhaps even change up the color selection... Or one could go completely neutral in color to warm up a white wall!

What do you think? Did I make a case for (or against) baskets :)
Natasha

Image #1 via The Beautiful Soup, Image #2 via A Creative Mint

August 15, 2011

The letter H



































Take a close look at this cuff... Do you see it?

I share the initial H with non other than India Hicks, and this cuff is from her collection at Sugar Mill by India Hicks. It's very inexpensive, even better right?

Have a fun week :)
Natasha

Image via Sugar Mill

August 14, 2011

Words of Wisdom!!
























Need I say more??

Thank you so much for all of your lovely comments and congrats on my new blog award, it means the world to me! Also, I want to welcome new readers to the Northern Light Blog, I hope you find inspiration here!

Natasha

Image #1 via tumblr, Image #2 via This is Glamorous

August 11, 2011

Just Lovely!






















I had the best start to the day today!!!

The Northern Light Blog has received a very Lovely Award from non other than than the Australian author of Scrapbook, Melissah!
Thank you so very much, I am totally honored and SO HAPPY to receive this award. I find that acknowledgement from my peers is the best kind; you all know what it takes to keep a blog up and running, successful and inspiring!

For the 'One Lovely Blog Award' paste the link to the blog that you have received the Award from on your blog, share seven things about yourself and list another 15 great bloggers (but not the one who nominated you!)


I would like to give out an honorable mention to Melissah's other blog, the brand new Coastal Style. I enjoy reading both your blogs, and I commend you for your impeccable choice of images!

Here are my fifteen picks:

... and the seven things you don't already know about me... Do you really want to know this stuff??
  1. I love to travel, sadly I don't do it enough...
  2. I love living in a tropical climate!
  3. I enjoy Cuban food, but not Mexican.
  4. My husband is Chinese.
  5. My current guilty pleasure is watching Million Dollar Decorators; Such characters and such drama!!
  6. I love spending hours searching for images for the Northern Light Blog and have a HUGE image library.
  7. I have a Pinterest account as well, check it out here.
Thank you for staying with me & for supporting the Northern Light Blog!
I love all your comments and emails, so keep 'em coming..

Have a Lovely Day :)
Natasha

Image #2 via Pinterest

August 10, 2011

Shell Shock






















I came across this beautiful image the other day; what caught my eye was the striking color of the Limpet shells... this fantastic turquoise color, in all the different variations. This image really show how a few simple shells can make a big impact, don't you think?






















Limpets do not only come one shade, there are also White versions and Pink versions (they are sub tidal) as well as Grey and Brown versions (that are an intertidal species). And guess what... you can actually eat them! They are sought to be a delicacy in both Hawaii and Portugal! Have you ever tried one of these??






















OK, so you might not want to eat these little guys, but appreciating their beauty, that we can all agree on, right? What about using the shells in artwork?

I see this as a wonderful DIY project for all you shell collectors out there!! Get your self set up with a shadow box frame, a glue gun and some of these beautiful shells and go to town. I suggest measuring out the space first and marking where to place the shells.... but that's just the designer in me :)





















Depending on how may shells you have collected, or the size of them, decide on the size of your frame.

Hope this has inspired you to use some of those shells you have collected over the summer?!
But if you - like me - have not had a beach vacation, but want a little beach decor anyhow, a few of these beautiful Shells in Shadows can be purchased here.

Have fun!
Natasha

Image #1 & #2 via Google search, Image #3 & #4 Via Shells in Shadows

August 7, 2011

Living large in a small space!































Check out this very cool, but small home, located in Copenhagen, Denmark.



































Great way to bring a little color to an all white space, and gaining valuable storage space at the same time! I really like the worn leather chairs; the warmth of the leather against the cool chrome....



































This is how you do it! Art wall at it's best...
Keeping it black and white, mixing frames and sizes. Great job!!
































A peak out to the small outdoor space, extending the living space.




































Taking full advantage of the summer and the green space, this little oasis is living large!!

Natasha

All images via Skona Hem
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