I’m glad to be back home in L.A., after an extremely windblown, relaxing, and gorgeous weekend at Gaviota State Beach camping with friends!

“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.”Buddha. Here was a moment like this.

Below the kelp grew naturally on the rocks as beautiful as any painting.

In the background, lies the train bridge and pier. I truly love is the subtle play of a man made presence within nature.

Look out this week, I’m well rested and ready to go! I promise to delve into a new studio piece and a facelift on a dresser.

I have also just joined Bloglovin’, so you can Follow my blog with bloglovin, so many talented writers are there!

Content as ever to be back here with you all:)

When I got home today, I was thrilled because the order I placed last week finally arrived!

I decided that some porcelain palettes and nesting bowls would help me get my dresser top into order and provide a welcome change. Sometimes all the junk tends to pile up here in the bedroom and this one of my favorite spaces to showcase.

While it’s super embarassing that I’m showing you all the clutter on my dresser, I think I am liking the way these palettes can organize the space.

I first saw the idea of using a porcelain palette in Martha Stewart Living. Since I am a painter, who also makes jewelry, this idea immediately appealed to me.

I looked around at all the local art stores for inexpensive porcelain palettes but found them to be all overpriced! $23 for a palette, C’mon, I know there’s gotta be somethin’ on Amazon. As it turns out Blick online had the most affordable option and I even scored some nesting bowls.

Kinda’ cool that we have nesting dolls (top pic), nesting tables, and nesting palettes all in one room! Which means you can stack them up, like the one pictured below right.

Although, they are originally intended for paint, I think they’d make a great storage for beads. There are even grander palettes out there that could store lots of tiny earrings and necklaces. I could see them going in fabulous directions!

Having things all tidied up reminds me that I own a unique pocket watch from Malaysia! It is probably not valuable, but was the sweetest gift that my boyfriend got for me ’til date. While on a long layover in Kuala Lumpur, we ventured out to bargain for lovelies out in the market. I tried to haggle my best, but couldn’t get the vendor to budge a bit on the price of this watch. As foreigners, we knew were being had, so sadly walked away from the piece. As a surprise on a return trip alone, he went back out in to town an scored the same watch for me!

Now, I should really find more occasions to wear it!

Here are the lastest pieces that I’d love to add to this sweet little collection I have got going.

Do you know of some great jewelry designers or organizers?…please share the link!

I love the crisp clean lines of an all white office. Does it just seem easier locate the important paperwork, when the backdrop is clean and all in white? Below is a collage that I created featuring several elements that I am considering using for an upcoming project.

• Linen wrapped corkboards
• Round white table
• Round white rug
• Sturdy white chairs with backrests
• White organizers, files, and bins
• Soft brightly painted walls

This reading room in this months Lonny Magazine grabbed my attention with the shiny white table surrounded by bright cushy stools, which would be practical for short studies, but not so much long work sessions…Another great detail is in the artwork propped up atop the bookshelves.

As for IKEA’s 2011 catalogue full of organizational splendor, I am loving the white magazine files, drawers, and storage tubs.

Meanwhile, I am desperate to reorganize my own office! Please share, what are your favorite ways to organize your workspace? We could all use a few simple tricks! In fact, maybe we can even get a little bit more work done:)

I was a little thrilled when I came across this designer on the front page of Etsy last week. FreyaArt creates these wondrous and colorful prints for the home.

This artwork clearly describes how I like to feel at heart.

Wouldn’t this make sweet decor for a child’s room?

The colors in this one POP! I’ll bet you have a few strange and magnificent creatures in your life!

Hope your week  is off to a vibrant start!

It is rare that I find the time to promote my PinkPianos shop on Etsy. Perhaps, now that I am on vacation in Kentucky, I can really get to work!

It has taken me some time to launch, but keeping the doors open I have had lots of lovely visitors trickle on in which makes me happy.

My shop is a bridge to all the furniture and design work that I do. Here I offer home accessories, vintage finds, hand painted knobs, along with original artworks. As always, custom pieces are available simply email me at hilary.hahn@pinkpianos.com to talk about what you envision.

Just look at what the creative people on  The Wedding Channel did with peacock feathers.

Isn’t that sweet?! Then, there’s also hair clips, bookmarks, and I’d love to see a peacock feather garland!

Well, I’m going back to relaxing and catching up on all the blogs that I love to read. I promise to share inspiration from my visit to Kentucky before I leave and to post the final pics of the Girls’ Room Metamorphosis for those of you that have been following.

What could you make with feathers?

Whether you are,

Gazing out the window.

Reading a magazine.

Enjoying a book.

Staring out over at the ocean.

Waking up to the sunrise.

Daydreaming…

Looking for the hummingbirds

nestled in the palm fronds.

Watching the sunset,

A sheer pair of curtains goes a long way. I love the view from our bedroom in Los Angeles because we have lush green banana trees that give me the feeling we might very well be living in Hawaii.

Light weight curtains paired with blinds even the ugly ones that came with our apartment do just the trick.

I’m also digging these Hippie Chick, tie-dye curtains by CottageHomeCouture.

I just read the best article on dip-dying fabric in Living magazine and I’m itching to give this technique a try. Here you see the two tone turquoise color panels. I also think bright white dipped in indigo looks really fresh!

My favorite curtain inspiration is below. I love anything monochromatic or playing with hue. This photo from Domino magazine was taken from a Prada inspired palette.

Sweet!

I have to admit designing a room for a pre-teen girl is a fun and awesome challenge. Mia is a creative girl and has tons of great ideas that she’d like to incorporate into her teen dream room. She loves purples, hates pink and has lots of cool ideas for lighting. So far we’ve have been through a series of inspirational pics and products still searching for the perfect fit.

You may remember the bed round-up from a month ago. Well, who knew the Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel only carry queen sizes and up! Now I do.

Luckily, Annie, my project partner stumbled upon this awesome platform bed at Brocade Home.

We are seriously considering it, but waiting for Mia to give the ultimate thumbs up!

Here is what Annie came up with. I love the faux leather silver cubes from Brocade Home and I think Mia will too! Mia and her mom, Veronica spotted this hip black and white Mandala bedding at CB2 and I think it could be the perfect design solution.

As a design alternative I came up with a brighter board for us to look at and perhaps pull other products that Mia loves. The white chest from PB teen is a must for her bean bag seating area, along with the black linen dress form that she can attire in the mornings while picking out clothes for school.

Now, we know that pink can be a bit girly, but this ruffle bedding also comes in Celery green and Gray! We love the way the pink is paired with yellow, red, and orange, for a splash of sunshine indoors. The rug is optional but does tie together the room nicely. We are also considering a shag rug, if anyone knows of a colorful shag rug retailer please do share! Finally, the lace tower at left will make space for Mia’s blossoming shoe collection. Really, what more could a girl ask for?

I am so excited to get the shopping underway this month. We promise to share the final products in July, while they are installed.

Well, she’s done it again…that Martha!

She never ceases to amaze. Tiny dust-like flecks of glitter in every color of the rainbow.

Next week, I’ll show you just what happened with all this lovely glitter and I bet you will not guess what I’m gonna do with this glitter buffalo.

…a simple thought in sparkling text.

There are no words to describe all the cool treasures I found in Goa.

This wall panel is functional as both art and a candle holder. I love the charm of the elephant carving and the colored stain on the wood.

This antique panel measures 11″h x 21″w . I have never seen anything quite like this!

These carved wood elephant bookends were my favorite. Just searching for the right books to display with them.

Now you can see the whole mantle with a painting by textile designer Mabel Martinez. I like to change up the mantle all year.

I think of the mantle as sort of an ongoing art installation, where I can add and subtract things for the season; according to my travels or (my favorite) display garlands and cards near the holidays. Since, we live in an apartment is something refreshing to change and style regularly.

I found these brilliant nesting tables in Goa.

I loved the colors and the composition of the design.

I think we are going to use these as nightstands. One large on one side and two small in a little stair step configuration for my stuff! Sometimes, perfect symmetry in design can be over rated, but balance is a must!

Some of these antiques,  I have to share and others have found a place in our home. I set this gorgeous wood carved mirror on top of a chinese butterfly chest, both of which are for sale. I can picture them together or apart, but I love the way mirrors look propped up on vanities or leaned against walls.

The ornate carving and color of the mirror make it a great focal point. It measures 14″h x 16″w.

For now, I am offering all items here, until I can add Google checkout to PinkPianos…a feature that is coming soon:)

If you want to see more contact me at hilary.hahn@pinkpianos.com , I have a glass lantern, paper stars and an Indian beanbag (flattened and re-filled)  all of which need a home.

Believe me, were there not a limit on suitcases for travel I would have brought more. Literally, it was a sight to see us dragging all of the above through the Chhatrapati Shivaji airport! The nesting tables were the toughest to explain at customs because they had been wrapped and sewn shut in this funky looking burlap (too bad I should have snapped a pic!), people thought something was alive inside of there.

All in all, I know it was worth effort.

I did something daring yesterday in Mumbai. I met with blogger, Vineeta Nair, whose blog, ArtnLight, I’ve been following over the last six months. We met just outside of the Lotus Cafe, a famous spot to lunch at the J.W. Marriot in Juhu, Mumbai. I could go on and on about the food, the ambiance, the extravagance of the surroundings, but what  I really want to share with you is Vineeta. She is a refreshing source for design ideas and creative energy here in the city.

As an artist, she does paintings, collage, and has a photographer’s eye. One thing, she designs beautifully are these decoupaged trays. You can see all the love and spirit that goes into making them unique.

Here in India, these are used often as serving trays for tea and home decor. Sometimes, I find the thing we do can be a work of genius, that said, here’s a look at Vineeta’s first tray design.

When visiting ArtnLight, you’ll notice pages of well curated banners, buttons, and photography. Therein, Vineeta’s background as an Art Director shines through. It was exciting to meet the person behind the blog!

I’d like to thank Vineeta for being such a fun and delightful host yesterday.

I have scoured the web for other fascinating Indian bloggers because the palette here is so vibrant and the objects are captivating. If you are in the mood for further enchantment, then you must read on!

Now get out there and explore;)