I have always HATED these cheesy school pictures with the awful beach-esque (I guess?) backgrounds. (I also totally forgot that it was picture day, and she is wearing a $5 dress from Walmart.) But, I HAD to buy this one of my Lou Lou Bug. I mean, how friggin cute is she? I swear, I want to eat her.
How did my baby go from this
to this
Overnight? (Did you notice she’s even crossing those little legs… Ugh, I can’t stand it.)
When my friend, Kristin Mika of Hampton Paper Designs asked me to help her with her son Thomas’ room in their new house, of course I jumped at the chance. Kristin and her family had just moved to a new home, and she wanted to make sure that this was a room that eight year old Thomas could grow into. Here are some pics of his room today. I swear, this is bigger than my bedroom!
Kristin’s style is very simple, and classic- much like her products. So I wanted to make sure that the room would make both her and Thomas happy. Thomas’ favorite color is orange, and we wanted to incorporate as much of the current furnishings as possible, there is currently a lot of navy– which will work perfectly with the pops of orange. Here is the design I came up with:
I suggested painting the walls a crisp white and adding crown moulding, a chair rail three quarters of the way up the wall, and striped wallpaper above the chair rail. (A great way to get the same effect, but using much less wallpaper Although, this wallpaper is a steal!) Because this room is so much bigger than his old room, we will need to add more furniture- perfect for toy storage. The fans are a great alternative to Matthew’s Duplo Dinamico. I have two of these in my family room, and I love them!
I can’t wait to see the progress Kristin makes on Thomas’ room. I will be sure to send you the completed project.
So, I thought it would be a great idea to introduce you all to the creator of Nama Rococo, Karen Combs.
Karen is another woman who was inspired to follow her dreams, and what began as a hobby has turned into a full-fledged business. She was kind enough to chat with me about how. Please join me as we take a Peek Into Her World:
What is your background?
As far as the wallpaper background goes: I went to art school first at Indiana University, and then at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. For years, along with doing regular jobs, like working in the libraries at Harvard, or at a Bakery in Cambridge, I did my own paintings and prints and had a sort of traditional artist’s path with galleries and suchlike. Around that time, I also sold a few different DIY artist-craft-type design projects in little galleries around town. (Like a whole series of hand-dyed, hand-sewn bikinis!)
Later, when I moved to Northern California, I got into doing big colorful multifaceted art installations on walls, composed of groupings of my own prints and drawings. After awhile that seemed to just naturally segue into the idea of wallpaper. Pasting my prints on paper to the wall may, in a way, have been my first *wallpaper*.
What inspired you to start designing wallpaper?
I have always loved frescoes and other forms of painting or drawing done directly on walls. So many artists through the ages have made paintings directly on the walls of their own homes, or in other religious or commercial spaces, and I’d always taken an interest in that idea. I think looking at a lot of these types of works over the years, from 14th C. Italian Frescoes, to Bloomsbury group house at Charleston, to Jackson Pollack to contemporary artists like Shepard Fairey (not to mention Asian and African examples) — and then making my own works on paper, just grew into a vision of somehow learning to make my own wallpaper. At first I think I just wanted to just make it for myself, a kind of wallpaper my own spaces, then gradually the whole thing blossomed into a model for a full-fledged business.
Where do you look for inspiration?
Often in museums or books, at the work of other artists through the ages, and in all parts of the world. As well as other arts, music, literature, fashion. I’m also out in nature a lot, and that always feels important. Inspiration feels free ranging and always available.
Who are your favorite artists?
Well, that Alexander McQueen show I just saw at the Met Museum was pretty mind-blowingly inspirational! I’ve always loved Chris Ofili, especially his Afro-muses series from a few years ago. I have a big print I’m mad for, by Judy Pfaff. I love the look of the work, and the freewheeling spirit of the artists who were in Aaron Rose’s Alleged Gallery, I love just about everything Bjork does!
Describe a typical day.
There’s no such thing. ( I’m not too good at following a routine!) The only constant is that I usually get up very early and have leisurely from my Bialetti Coffee maker, and some type of toast with jam! My sister jokes that my toast & coffee ritual in the morning is the glue that holds my life together!
What’s the biggest mistake that you’ve made on the job?
Mistakes, I’ve made a few. But then again- Must you remind me!? 😉
Best professional moment.
Well, there have been loads of magnificent moments, and some very special clients, but I guess my favorite recent moment, is being asked by director from the Royal Opera House in London if I would make a variation of one of my designs for them for the set of a Cocteau/Poulenc opera piece.
Hobbies?
Okay, here goes …. home decor, architecture, garden design & plants, alt rock and alt folk music (making mix cd’s!), cooking (organic), exploring, swimming, yoga, art-travel, sewing and all kinds of DIY craft type projects I used to do, and plan to find the time to do again, like making hand-bound books.
Favorite vacation spots?
My favorite vacation spot in the past few years (outside of countless art museums…) was a visit to the LIQUIDROM in Berlin. Maybe because I went in the dead of winter, after trudging cold streets full of snow for a few weeks, it felt like pure water-steam-spa heaven! Not to mention the pool with the colored light show and underwater electronica music…
Favorite Nama Rococo pattern?
Ongoing – my favorite wallpaper to MAKE is French Dot – because it is of the moment, ongoing and each one is unique. To keep in stock I have to paint a new selection every month or so, for a few days and I always love doing it. But really at different moments any given one might be my *favorite child* .
What’s next for Nama Rococo?
Launching a few new patterns into the world in September, which I’m quite excited about — and after that I’m really delving some studio work through the winter. Expanding the creative end of things & see where that takes me.
Thanks Karen. I can’t wait to see what is next for Nama Rococo. Obviously, I am a big fan.
Keep your eyes on this lady, people, she’s definitely one to watch!
I am an Aquarius, so by nature, a water lover. Growing up, I spent most of my summers in Bethany Beach, Delaware. The sound of the ocean brings me peace. Looking around our house you will see elements of the sea in nearly every room.
Each of the girls have their own seashell collection that we have gathered on trips.
I have a big clam shell in my kitchen for storing sponges, brushes, etc.
See those sea urchins below?
I also have a few pieces of coral laying around.
These are only a few of the elements (the only ones that I had pictures of) but I think you get the point. You don’t have to have a beach house to bring elements of the sea into your home. Go out and get yourself some seaside chic pieces to make your summer last forever.
The Grand Daddy Hotel in Cape Town, South Africa is certainly making it’s mark on the hotel industry. This swanky yet playful hotel has put a new twist on the old trailer park. The Daddy is famous for it’s Airstream Rooftop Trailer Park. It’s seriously amazing.
Let’s take a looksie at the interiors, shall we? Each Airstream was custom designed by local artists.
The tomatoes in our garden are thriving. We can’t eat them fast enough. We originally planted two varieties; a cherry tomato and one similar to a beefsteak. After our trip down south, I was inspired to make some fried green tomatoes.
The girls had a blast picking them from the garden.
Mom was obviously in charge of the slicing…
and I think that they had the most fun coating the tomatoes.
Lou was in charge of the flour (you can imagine what our kitchen looked like afterwards.)
E did the bread crumb mixture.
We also fried up some goat cheese.
I should also mention that we planted some red onions. I tossed them with some arugula, avocados and oil and vinegar (a little salt and pepper too),
topped with our fried deliciousness,
and served with some grilled corn and Daddy Steak.
It was amazing. I literally danced throughout dinner it was that good.
INGREDIENTS
4 medium green tomatoes
1 log of goat cheese
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
2 teaspoons sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
vegetable oil for frying
DIRECTIONS
1.) Slice tomatoes and goat cheese (if you don’t cook goat cheese immediately, place in freezer to keep firm)
2.) Place the flour on one plate, the whisked eggs in a bowl and the cornmeal, bread crumbs and salt and pepper on another plate.
3.) Start with tomatoes. Coat in flour, then dip in the eggs and lastly dredge in bread crumbs. Make sure they are fully coated. Place on clean plate until all tomatoes are coated.
4.) Cover the bottom of a large skillet in vegetable oil, place on medium heat. Once oil has been heated add tomatoes (do not crowd) once the tomatoes are browned. flip and fry on the other side. Drain on paper towels.
As most of you know, we have been working on Lou’s Big Girl Room. First, the bed, then the mirror, shelves and stripes, next up: new lighting.
We have all seen this Majorie Skouras chandelier, which I love. Unfortunately, it is a bit out of my price range. But that’s ok, because it’s far to large for Lou’s little room and the turquoise beads would be a bit too bright. That being said, check out this tutorial on making your own.
I was able to locate the beads that I beleive they used on the original.
I know my limits (ability and time) and will be outsourcing this one, but I am confident that it will be just perfect as we have painstakingly selected all of the elements. I can’t wait to send you pictures of the finished project.
