One Love: The Marimekko Shop

Marimekko is one of our first and favorite loves. The bold, graphic prints, bright, beautiful colors, and playful patterns from this Finnish design house are timeless. Crate and Barrel has had a partnership with Marimekko since the early '60s. They've recently launched The Marimekko Shop, which carries everything from kitchenware to furniture to accessories and clothing all designed with the colorful, joyful prints of Marimekko. Stores are on the way, but until one opens in your area, visit The Marimekko Shop online and fill your home with some fabulous, classic design.

New Service: Gallery and Artwork Placement!

Announcing Gallery and Artwork Placement from 

Visual Jill Interior Home Styling!

Clockwise from top left
Elle Decoration :: Maison Francaise :: Elle Decor :: Elle Decor :: Elle Decoration :: Maison Francaise :: Elle Decor

Open any shelter magazine, any new decorating book, watch any home improvement show on TLC and you're bound to see an artwork gallery. Every client we've had has either requested one or we've suggested one, and they've all been huge hits. So we've decided to offer Gallery and Artwork Placement as a stand-alone service from Visual Jill. Show us your artwork (fine art, photographs, posters, travel mementos, kid's drawings, whatever you've got that can go in a frame on a wall), we'll arrange it and hang it. Fast, easy, impressive. Want one? Visit www.VisualJill.com and contact us for an appointment!

For Brita

Brita Oberwetter, 1923-2011

This post is in remembrance of Jill's mother, Brita, who passed away last week. Brita was born in Norway and came to the United States after World War II. She worked as a nurse, which is how she met her husband, Art. She was a loving mother to two daughters and grandmother to three grandchildren. Her favorite flowers were peonies and lilacs, and she made beautiful hand-knit Norwegian sweaters and mittens.

Brita, we wish you a peaceful journey into the next world, and thank you for sharing your time on this earth with your family and friends. You are loved, and you will be missed.

Takin' a break

We're taking the week off from the blog here at Visual Jill, focusing on getting some things taken care of around the office. But don't despair, we'll be back next week and ready to share more goodies that we've uncovered with you! Have a great weekend!

A Mid-Century Modern Masterpiece

The Eero Saarinen-designed home of J. Irwin Miller, the wealthy industrialist who put Columbus, Indiana on the mid-century modern map, is opening its doors for tours to the general public. All the design magazines are a-buzz, and let's just say Indiana is lookin' like a great destination vacation right about now! Of course we're not going to make you take our word for it. Just try not to drool on your computer, ok?

The sunken conversation pit. We're dying over the pillows--aren't they amazing?!!
(Elle Decor :: The New York Times magazine)

The Dining Room makes us giddy: The illuminated table base! The custom tile-patterned rug! The chandelier! Oh my...
(Dwell)

The Library/Office with custom-designed textiles
(Elle Decor)

The Floor Plan :: A custom-designed rug and Eames lounge chair in the den :: Textile Designer Alexander Girad's textile master plan :: A detail of the den rug, with a design based on the floor plan of the house
(Elle Decor :: Dwell)

One Love: The IKEA Leather Karlstad Sofa

Overarching Lamp - West Elm :: Karlstad Sofa - IKEA :: Panama Braid rug - West Elm

We got a new sofa! And we LOVE IT. The size is perfect, the price was great, the leather is nice (and allows for super easy cleaning when living with dogs), it was amazingly easy to assemble, and look how light and bright and clean the living room looks now! (For a view of the LR-Before Sofa, check the photo from the One Love: Bliss Pillow post). To top it all off, it goes great with the other new additions to the living room, the Overarching Lamp and the Panama Braided rug, both from West Elm. Bring on the summer--we're ready!

Spring Sleep

With the days getting longer, brighter, and warmer, our thoughts are definitely turning to the outdoors, activities, and taking advantage of the lovely weather. But as much as we love venturing out of the house, the fact remains every night we come home and head to bed for a good (we hope) night's sleep. So here are our favorite Spring/Summer bed linens from West Elm. They are crisp, bright, and clean, and make us think sweet dreams will be right around the corner.

Island Ikat bedding

Greek Key bedding

Eyelet bedding

Hand-Blocked Mosaic bedding

*Credits: All photography from West Elm

One Love: The Balancing Barn

Elle Decoration

How cool is this house?! The Balancing Barn was designed by a Dutch company, MVRDV and sits balanced on a hill in Suffolk, England. Visit the MVRDV website for more photos of this project and a bunch of other really interesting projects that they have worked on. Of course, I'm dying to know what happens when you put a bunch of people in the room at the very end and tell them all to jump at the same time...I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Happy Earth Day!

Here's some special Earth Day inspiration for you of rooftop gardens in urban settings. There are so many environmental, social, and psychological benefits of rooftop gardens: they reduce the heat island effect, they create community spaces, and they break up the monotonous concrete landscape of a major metropolitan area. Of course, nothing is better than getting yourself out into nature, breathing in that fresh, clean air, feeling the dirt under your feet, and having nothing but trees, land, and sky for as far as the eye can see. This planet we live on is the most incredible place, full of amazing natural wonders. Wherever you happen to be, take a moment today to appreciate it and reflect on the ways you can and do make it a better place.

*Credits: All images from Elle Decoration

Undecorate

We just got this book and have been enjoying perusing its pages full of new takes on the idea of what it means to decorate a home. Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design is a look at how people are setting aside the conventional rules traditionally applied to decorating and allowing their own sense of style and personality take the lead in creating their space. It's a nice idea, and we think there's some great sources of inspiration and innovation highlighted here. Take a peek and see for yourself...

*Credits: All photos from Undecorate: The No-Rules Approach to Interior Design by Christiane Lemieux, published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers