Spark

In Curlin's Studio

A little bit of this . . . and a generous dab of that . . . and maybe a smidge of those. I could be talking about mixing up a simmering soup or creating a painting or even decorating a living room (emphasis on living). The idea is that whatever comes together is a collection of experiments & experiences, favorites & intuition. This ledge of  collected “dabs and smidges” is an assembly of ceramics (made by Curlin), a modern orange pitcher, and a cluster of found objects. It doesn’t matter what each piece costs or where it came from, but what do all the pieces become together?

When we (the royal “we”, me or you or them) design a room, we want to make that room a living room by infusing it with our collected objects and experiences and our favorite, most joyful things — just like Curlin’s ledge. We want to create rooms that are both fun and functional, but also treasured and adored.

By the same token, when I decided to gather a Spark team I handpicked women who represented a range of life stages and lifestyles. They are each creative people with diverse and valuable skill sets (functional), but they also bring me joy and inspiration (fun). I want to work with people who delight me and who will bring delightful spaces to our clients.

I encourage you to meet the whole Spark entourage and join us November 7 from 2:00-6:00 for a delightful afternoon at Curlin’s artistic abode. It’ll be a relaxed, casual Sunday afternoon sitting on the porch drinking sparkling somethings and eating tasty tidbits (our menu is making my mouth water). We, along with many other entrepreneurial women, will be chatting about all sorts of things –  landscapes & gardens, craft, interior & exterior decor, business dreams & aspirations! It’s the perfect opportunity to brainstorm about your next creative idea and to win free design consultations from the Spark team.

Curlin's Illustrations

I have boring wooden blinds that are functional but NOT very stylish. I don’t like fussy drapes, so what are my other options? Window treatments should not only serve a purpose but should also add another layer to your room. It’s amazing how a little window dressing can pull a room together. With all the [...]

There is no better time to plant in Central Texas than now! Plants will have a long establishment time before getting socked with the searing summer heat. We can work happily in the garden without sweating ourselves to dried husks. And often times, nurseries will reduce the pricing on some stock to move it before [...]

We’ve been seeing the softer side of stones lately and we like it. These Felted Wool Stones are both natural and fanciful in their play on hard and soft surfaces. Having one or two of these in a room would be sure to start conversation and intrigue guests. Just for fun, take a peek at [...]

These chairs by Johan Lindstén make me go week at the knees. (Which is absolutely fine since they’re chairs, afterall.) Johan and his desgin firm, Lindstén Form are based in Stockholm.  Lucky Swedes. His chairs artfully combine the best of modern shape with vintage needlepoint: “This furniture’s destiny is to elevate and promote these neglected pieces [...]

Call this a shameless promo, but my son approached me with a brilliant idea.  He asked me if I could feature the information for his school fundraiser on my website and he even came up with a pitch. My kid is adorable (like your kid) and his school is well deserving of any and all [...]

Today’s Around Town post (or “pictures from my iPhone” post) brings us to Rough and Ready Antiques off the historic square in Georgetown. I can easily waste a couple of hours treasure hunting in this well organized and reasonably priced antique store. Because I tend to look at everything and get my brain overloaded, I [...]

“Objects are important. They reflect and shape our identity. They influence our moods and inform our interactions with the world around us. Objects are the tools that bring meaning to our daily rituals, and living with objects we love can make us happy. When well designed, they survive year after year and age with grace. [...]