'Till...

June 17, 2012, 7:04 pm

On this lovely summer evening, I would like to share with you, my dear readers, that I will be taking a hiatus from PlumSiena for a while. As those of you with blogs know, maintaining a blog is très time consuming, much less posting daily.

While I thoroughly enjoy the research, I have found that I need to concentrate on my other project, Design Culture Cleveland, an online resource of our city's boutiques, artisans and professionals with a focus on the many aspects of art and design. My goal is to promote local artists, designers, shopkeepers and galleries and to cultivate design and the arts in our area. Needless to say, I will truly miss the many friends that you all have become!

I am sure I will be popping in occasionally to say Hi and share stories about those that inspire. Till then, please stop by Design Culture Cleveland and visit for a while!

Rebecca Cross' beautiful dancing silk in her presence/absence exhibit at the Morgan Conservatory

The assemblage art of Susie Frazier

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Greetings From the Garden

July 1, 2012, 12:32 pm

≫ Next: Inspired Ideas

≪ Previous: 'Till...

Hi y'all!

I've missed my friends and thought I'd pop in to say Hi and see how you are all doing.

Even though most of us are experiencing a rather uncomfortable heat wave, our garden is enjoying every moment. We just managed to put the leaf humus mulch down this weekend! The bad thing was we sure needed to weed a lot beforehand; the good thing is I don't plan on needing to weed for a long while!

The Lily Show has begun in earnest here on the North coast. The bulbs were purchased from Costco this year (yep, really) and we are having a banner year for blooms, although they are blooming a good three weeks earlier than normal.

Here are the fleurs:

So, how are your gardens doing in all of the heat?

I'd love to hear about them!

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Inspired Ideas

October 1, 2012, 3:34 am

≫ Next: Materials Focus

≪ Previous: Greetings From the Garden

Sharing with you creatively cool ideas in design from around the world...

Leather is used more and more in unexpected ways; the London and LA based company, TING, has re-invented the leather belt by sourcing reclaimed leather and vintage belts from London, Paris and LA. Is this a gorgeous floor or what?

TING leather flooring

Here the vintage belts are assembled as a part of a door pull.

A new Portuguese company, Reve d'Or, is creating gilded screens in fabulous colors.

With a varnished, high gloss finish, they reflect beautifully and are well protected.

Love this happy wall of humble, curated tiles. One could even begin collecting tiles as a rather unconventional gift.

(Of course, those copper pans are stunning in their own right.)

Chameleon Fine Lighting custom created this crystal chandelier for interior designer, Jarlath Mellett. Simple, elegant, fun.

Last, but not least, I think if I were to walk into this room, with its high ceilings and sophisticated decor, I would wish to stay for a while.

[1,2,3-5,6-8]

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Materials Focus

October 16, 2012, 3:07 am

≫ Next: Inspirations and Friends

≪ Previous: Inspired Ideas

Loved this couch- such a happy, fun look.

Then I noticed the walls.

Would you do this in your home?

As we all know, lighting is everything. Lately I am drawn to simplicity. LED strip lights formed into several circles- brilliantly understated, definitely contemporary and full of potential to form interesting gobo effects in the room.

OK, so we all cannot have a rolled steel staircase. But why not have a silver leaf staircase? I'd probably go with aluminum leaf and age it a bit. Actually, I can't wait to do this!

I am into screens. They are so versatile, especially when created in smaller panels. When I saw this Venetian plaster wall, it occurred to me to make a screen with the iced black VP on one side and a white gold VP on the other. Two looks, one screen.

Elitis, the French wallpaper company, has fabulous wallpapers. This is the Paso doble variation of their "Tenue de soirée" wallpaper. So you can't quite afford to bring this in from France, but perhaps you could use a stencil to give a similar effect. Go with a metallic background with a flat design or have a flat background with a metallic design. Either way, it will certainly become a compliment receiver!

Do you have a favorite?

[1,2,3,4,5,6-7]

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Inspirations and Friends

November 6, 2012, 10:02 am

≫ Next: Hello there!

≪ Previous: Materials Focus

For the By Invitation Only November topic, Marsha asked us to share how we got started in the blogging world. Who influenced us, who befriended us in those first few months as we took our tentative steps. I bet you remember your first few friends...

Several years ago, the only blog I had ever come into contact with was called Fauxology. Created by Regina Garay, it was full of eye candy for decorative painters. Regina still remains an icon in the industry, does beautiful work and is the friendliest person you would ever want to meet.

It goes without saying that I am a gardener through and through and when I discovered Deborah Silver's blog, Dirt Simple, I was, and continue to be, amazed. Deborah is the proprietor of Detroit Garden Works, a fabulous garden store just north of Detroit. She is extremely knowledgeable, and generous with that knowledge. If you want to get hundreds of ideas for your pots and garden, visit Dirt Simple.

There are so many others that have inspired me over the past few years, including Trouvais, La Pouyette and The Shiny Pebble. All of these blog creators are vibrant, passionate women and I am proud to call them my friends.

Blogging has truly opened my life, urged me to explore and has allowed my family to meet folks from all over the world.

Here are some inspirations from our travels in the past few years, both abroad and at home.

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Hello there!

March 12, 2013, 7:11 pm

≫ Next: Going Indigo

≪ Previous: Inspirations and Friends

Hello everyone!

Yes, I am surfacing after a long hiatus... to ask your help.

While I've been away, I have been thinking about starting a new project that will allow me to follow one of my life-long passions: scents and perfumes. I am seriously considering opening a fragrance shop in my hometown of Cleveland to finally bring a specialized scent shop that focuses on niche fragrances not carried in department stores, but rather unique scents with the focus on celebrating the art of the scent.

I am in the research phase at this time and have developed a quick questionnaire.

If you would be so kind, simply fill out the form and click Submit.

Thank you in advance! I'll share the survey results with you as soon as I am able.

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Going Indigo

November 11, 2013, 6:49 pm

≫ Next: Books, books, never enough books

≪ Previous: Hello there!

Even though 2013 was the year of Tangerine Tango, we believe it is really the year of Indigo.

(BTW, one of 2014's Pantone Spring Colors is Dazzling Blue, a tad brighter than Indigo).

Introducing Indigo Perfumery!

We opened our perfume shop and website on October 15th and have been going strong since.

Indigo Perfumery's gallery space showcases perfumes made by smaller, artisanal companies who concentrate on the art of the scent rather than mass production. We also carry five 'natural' perfume lines, exquisite scented candles and natural soaps.

Back in January, the idea that had been in the back of my mind for years suddenly surfaced and it wouldn't go away. As in totally took over. I dove in head first, researching all that I could devour, often saying to myself "What are you doing?"

But I just kept right on going.

Needless to say, I am now in awe of any entrepreneur. It may seem fun and glamorous, but it pretty much is the opposite.

See this article just published today- it is so true.

I still have much to learn...

That said- here are a few photos of what we started with >

and where we are now >

If you're looking for a new fragrance, come on over and browse through

Indigo's website.

The fragrance lines include:

Ambre Blends, Ann Gerard Parfum, Jardin D'Écrivains, Jul et Mad, Magnetic Scent, Maria Candida Gentile, Phoenicia Perfumes, PK Perfumes, Providence Perfume Co., Sarah Horowitz, Tommi Sooni, Viktoria Minya, Undergreen and Yates Apothecary (a Cleveland company)

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Books, books, never enough books

November 13, 2013, 7:03 pm

≫ Next: Metallic Beauties

≪ Previous: Going Indigo

Who says books are on their way out?

Digital viewing may be handy, but nothing beats holding a beautiful tome in your hands.

Walking into a library automatically increases my pulse. The possibilities!

I just ran across The Library: A World History by James WP Campbell, just published a few weeks ago. If you're like me, this will make a perfect gift for the holiday gift giving. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

It is available for purchase here.

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Metallic Beauties

November 14, 2013, 6:23 pm

≫ Next: With Hope and Inspiration

≪ Previous: Books, books, never enough books

I've admired her work for a very long time.

Miriam Ellner's quest for beauty, methodology and inventiveness continues to grow. She is the premier verre églomisé artist in the world.

(You ask what that is? I quote from Miriam's website: "the process of gilding precious metals on the reverse side of glass, etching in a design and setting it off with color...")

Discover what Miriam's been up to in 2013 in her latest newsletter.

PlumSiena last profiled her stunning work here and here.

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With Hope and Inspiration

January 1, 2014, 10:10 am

≫ Next: Texturing

≪ Previous: Metallic Beauties

Dogwood bloom ready to burst

As we take stock this first day of the year, we are truly thankful for our amazing family and friends. If we all would step back and look at the beauty surrounding us and the miracles that occur daily, this world would no doubt be a better place.

PlumSiena wishes you a very Happy 2014!

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Texturing

January 2, 2014, 12:20 pm

≫ Next: Stay Warm, Stay Safe

≪ Previous: With Hope and Inspiration

No boring walls here!

Parisian designer Jean-Louis Denoit's took his own library's oak wall panelling one step further and surrounded it with a laser-printed canvas inspired by tree bark.

An intriguing way to bring in more texture and subtle colors...

If you want rustic...

Love these birch veneer wall panels, framed by split branches.

For the glitzy side of your persona, instead of boring stain, I would definitely be interested in cladding the cupboards with a hammered silver leaf top à la Deniot. These were made in Morocco...

Paint and glazes can also do wonders. This ceiling was intended to be a sky trompe l'oeil, but the owner liked it so much that he continued it all the way down the walls. This is where it gets tricky- you really need an expert to do this, otherwise it would look too "faux." Here it is like being in the painting.

And lastly, here the pattern of the floor was continued up onto the walls by a decorative painter. You can't even tell!

The only element missing is a lovely scent wafting from the scented candle...

Would you go woody, floral or green?

1,2,3,4,5

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Stay Warm, Stay Safe

January 5, 2014, 7:45 pm

≫ Next: Peacock Walls? Oh yes...

≪ Previous: Texturing

With many of us experiencing record, frigid temperatures,

PlumSiena wishes everyone safety and warmth.

With that in mind, here are some tips to pass along to get your home through the

sub-zero temps from a heating & cooling company in Indiana:

We are expecting the coldest weather we have faced in over 20 years Sunday night through Tuesday night with wind chill temperatures of up to -40 degrees. Please read the information below to assist you in preparing your heating and plumbing for this extreme weather.

Set your thermostat a few degrees higher to build up some warmth BEFORE the extreme temperature arrives. You can expect your furnace to run constantly until the outside temperature returns to a seasonal average.
Your furnace is designed to keep your home comfortably warm for average weather conditions. The extreme weather that we are expecting will cause your furnace to work its hardest. It may not keep your inside temperature to the set-point because of the huge temperature difference between indoors and outdoors. You may need to put on a few more layers until the extreme weather is over. (Layering covers on your bed will keep you warmer at night also.)
For Heat Pumps: Please do NOT switch your thermostat to the Emergency Heat setting. It will turn off the outdoor unit and provide less heat.
Shut the registers in unused rooms only if they do not have plumbing. Close the doors to those rooms also.
Close the dampers on your fireplace only if it is NOT in use.
Use towels at the base of your outside doors to lessen the entry of cold air.
Keep your garage door closed.
If you have plumbing in the garage, provide heat to that area if possible.
Close your crawlspace vents and access holes.
Open cabinet doors for all plumbing fixtures located on the outside wall.
Leave the water running in a small stream when plumbing fixtures are located on an outside wall. NOTE: If you are leaving for an extended period of time, turn the water off to your home and shut off the power supply to the water heater.
If your washer is located on an outside wall, add a small amount of anti-freeze to the trap and monitor it while in use during this extreme cold.
Locate your water shut-off valve now in case you experience a burst pipe.

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