We would like to introduce two new patterns in our greige textiles line - Stick Stripe and Hinkley. Each of these patterns is available in our late fall color grouping and is hand printed on Belgian linen here in California. The colors in this release are some of our favorites.. Lipgloss Pink, Tealish, Dublin, Seagrass and Dove Grey. Stop by the shop to grab pillows or fabric by the yard along with samples.
images via aldous photo for greige
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Hugh – calls to mind worn stone pathways that lead to glorious beaches and rolling hills
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I always love it when I find another creative person that inspires me, I tend to gorge myself on information about them and their work. My infatuation usually lasts a long while and I try to keep them in my life by surrounding myself with their art or whatever their talent might be. Sometimes it might be against their will but we won't talk about that! I fell in love with Kate's art about a year or so ago and haven't looked back. I have several of her pieces at home and continue to follow her online and on Instagram so I can get my dose of inspiration as often as possible. So you can see why I was so excited to be able to have her be a part of our 5 Things series.
You can see even more about Kate on her website, Instagram and shop her pieces on Charish.
What did you dream about being when you grew up?
I am the first to admit that anything with hype… gets me. I had my Professional Hockey Player phase: thanks to the Mighty Ducks movie, and Nun phase: Sister Act, and coincidentally I actually have three amazing great aunts who are nuns. My parents will always say they always knew I would be doing something within the creative sphere. It wasn’t till a few years into college that I actually believed I could be a working artist, it was my dream come true (other than being a hockey playing nun ;)
Where do you find inspiration?
I really believe inspiration comes from anywhere if you are willing to receive it. I recently took a little social media break and would highly recommend it to anyone feeling: A. Addicted (me) or B. Tired of feeling Consumed/always Consuming others (me). Having more physical time and brain function allowed me the creative space to think and dream again. Floods of inspiration came during this time from just about every angle: trips out of town, time with my children reading stories, watching a film, a trip to the library, a walk in the woods.
Do you work from home? Office? Studio?
I work out of my studio which is a renovated old shed that came with our house. When we moved in we called it “the piece of shed” and honestly, the squirrels living in it must have paid off the inspector because this thing should have never passed.
We renovated it, and now its my little sliver of heaven, i.e. ESCAPE from my amazingly cute children :)
Are you a City girl or a Country girl?
I was raised in the city, with big city dreams— and have found myself in the middle of Chattanooga, TN which has a breathtaking slice of the country surrounding its own compact little city. Like Chattanooga, I'm a little bit of both.
What are you reading right now?
I love to read (!!!<nerd alert !!!) and currently I'm reading the biography, Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature.
My husband is in a book club and Ill read just about all their books because I think they have good taste. I'm like the unofficial First Lady of their book club ;)
All images by Jaime Smialek @our_ampersand_photo
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We are delighted to share our next 5 Things participant with you, Cassandra LaValle. We first became inspired by Cassandra after seeing her speak at the Design Bloggers Conference in LA years ago. Cassandra is the voice behind one of our favorite design and lifestyle blogs, Coco + Kelley. She is also the Creative Director of The Emerald Studio, an interior design, event design and brand collaboration firm. Cassandra is a true creative and we just love everything she does. Here's a little peek into her world!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A magazine editor - so that sort of worked out well for me! I didn’t really think that interior design could be a career back then. If I had, I probably would have pursued that earlier. I was always into redecorating my room, but I also loved graphic design so I feel like my blog has magically made a career of both.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere, anywhere. I think getting offline is essential for true inspiration though. Travel is a huge one for me - I am endlessly inspired by seeing new places and it always refreshes my desire to create when I come back from a big trip. I also love driving through smaller towns and seeing how people who are living more offline are doing things. Galleries, international magazines, and old design books from other eras all help keep me inspired.
Do you work from home? Office? Studio?
Right now I have a beautiful office studio in an area of Seattle called Georgetown - it’s basically our design district which is convenient! It’s me and a few fellow creatives who share one space, and I love it.
Are you a City girl or a Country girl?
I’d say I’m more city than country, but wherever I go, I require water. I’ve always lived near the ocean and could never stray far from being on a coast! As I get older, I definitely value getting away from the city and into more open space.
What are you reading right now?
I just finished read ‘The Girls’ … now I need to dig into something new!
All images from Coco + Kelley and The Emerald Studio.
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We love having the opportunity to connect with women that inspire us through our 5 Things series. This month, we are thrilled to share a bit about the talented Susan Connor! Susan is a self-taught pattern designer and artist based out of Bushwick, Brooklyn. We just love everything she produces! You can view her beautiful designs here. AND guess what?? We are giving away TWO Susan Connor pillows to a lucky reader. Head over to our Instagram, @greigedesign, to enter!
Read on for 5 Things with Susan Connor....We hope you enjoy the insight into her create process as much as we did!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I alternated between wanting to be an archaeologist and an abstract artist.
Where do you find inspiration?
Many times, my inspiration comes from ancient things. I love going to museums and traveling and seeing what people made with their hands long ago. The textures, materials and attention to detail are always beautifully compelling. I also find a great deal of inspiration in the arts - and I am always looking for ideas that feel somehow new, and often, artists are the first to explore new terrain in new ways. Lately, I have been really inspired by the contrasting movements in Martha Graham dance pieces. I love how her work uses the body to describe primal human ideas in totally new ways. I’m also very inspired by my designer accounts, and the interior designers we work with...they find ways to use materials that I would never think of, and I’m continually amazed and inspired by their skill and creativity.
Do you work from home? Office? Studio?
I work from my studio - I am here much of the week. Though, often my days are not made up of purely creativity. There is a lot of work that goes into running the business, art directing, and logistical planning. Though, sometimes I work at home, if I have an idea that really needs some exploring and it just can’t wait.
Are you a City girl or a Country girl?
I am a city girl. Though I would probably not survive without being able to escape to the country and get out among some trees now and then. But, I always find myself attracted to busy, urban places. I have loved cities since I was a child, and always feel a thrill of excitement when being in a place where a lot seems to be happening, and I love living in a diverse city with lots of different perspectives. Diversity is hugely inspiring and exciting to me.
What are you reading right now?
So many things! I am a New York Public Library regular and love looking for books. Right now, I’m reading a b iography, Sojourner Truth: A Life, A Symbol, by Nell Painter, and Dirty Inspirations by Terri Schneider, an extreme endurance athlete. Next on my list is a biography of Black Elk by Joe Jackson. I’m drawn to books about characters and real people from history who find themselves in extreme situations. I find their resolve and commitment to their visions incredibly inspiring. But, I also love fiction.
Susan Connor NY
c/o Brooklyn Brush Studios
347 Troutman Street
Suite 304
Brooklyn, NY 11237
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We loved having the opportunity to work with Charlotte Reiss of Vivi et Margot for the next installment of our 5 Things series. Charlotte is a mother of two, runs a successful modeling agency AND an online shop, Vivi et Margot (named after her two daughters). This woman truly does it all. Charlotte is incredibly inspiring, and such a sweetheart too! Thank you, Charlotte, for taking time out of your busy schedule to participate in this series with us!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I grew up in England and moved to America at 23 for a work opportunity. I’ve been in the Modelling Industry for over 20 years as an agent and it really is a passion of mine as it combines all the aesthetics that appeal to me. Photography, art, fashion and design so I’ve never wavered in career choice as I knew I was where I am meant to be.
Where do you find inspiration?
My obvious and biggest source of inspiration is in France. My husband who is in the home construction field and I bought a property 5 years ago in rural France that we have completely renovated. I don’t think there is a single original wall left standing. While we only spend Summers and Christmas there each year, France awakens a different side of me. Its peaceful there, tranquil, there’s a focus on family , and every day its visually stimulating with the homes, architecture, design and sense of history. It was only last year that I decided to open a store in USA so I could bring a little piece of France back with me to share. I started with Instagram while I was setting everything up and was awe inspired by the design community I discovered. Warm, friendly encouraging like minded women (mainly) that appreciate the French lifestyle.It inspires me and challenges me to think carefully about my image for the store. I was truly inspired by Kathryn Ireland and her story (her book is called Summers in France) and I felt the similarities to our lives (British, living in LA, building a home in France, building a family etc). As funny as it sounds watching HGTV House Hunter International motivated me that its not impossible for a foreigner to buy land or property overseas. It was an incredible challenge and one I would do over and over again.
Do you work from home? Office? Studio?
Home. What started out as a small idea/hobby has turned into an incredible small business growing at a rapid speed. I keep everything family based so all the employee help, stock, shipping in onsite. I am a full time working Mother of 2 girls (Vivienne and Margot) and run a very successful Modelling agency The Lions.
Are you a City girl or a Country girl?
My heart and soul are all Country! Yet my realistic life is City being a career girl. I grew up in Marlborough, Wilshire in England. I lived in London in my early Twenties, NYC for the first 3 years and LA for the past 16 years. The permanent move to France will come in the next 10 years. – like many I dream of being barefoot growing my own vegetables and designing interiors but I think I have a few more years left in my career before that happens!
What are you reading right now?
With 2 small children under 5, Full time Career, The online store and life in general I hate to admit I don’t have time to read these days. Although I do find time to peruse Instagram. I can get lost in peoples design ideas, photography and meeting like minded hardworking creative people. I would absolutely recommend to everyone picking up a copy of Kathryns book Summers in France by Kathryn Ireland. One day maybe I’ll have my own book and share my story too?!
Website: Vivi et Margot
All images via: @vivietmargot // @charlotte_reiss
I feel so lucky to be able to share another amazingly talented lady with you in our 5 things series. Carla Coulson is an super talented photographer living in Paris. She has been a part of some of my favorite books, offers beautiful portrait sessions in the city and photography workshops all over Europe among other things. I cannot wait to have my own session with her on my next trip to Paris!!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I had no idea. I remember thinking I wanted to be a beautician or a nurse in my teens and then tried a week of work experience and decided against it. I was one of those people that had no clear idea about what they wanted to do and it took me till I was 35 to find photography and it was almost by accident. But when I found it was as good as a great love affair.
Where do you find inspiration?
Light is an incredible inspiration for me because it can turn the most mundane subject into pure magic. I also adore the cinema, the work that goes into a film, the attention to detail and lighting often sends me home wanting to grab the camera and do a photo shoot.
Do you work from home? Office? Studio?
I work from home and I love it. I adore the lack of commuting and as I am often out shooting or away it works perfectly for me. I also love having the time to make myself something fabulous for lunch or organize my washing!
Are you a City girl or a Country girl?
I lived in the country for most of my teens but have spent my adult life in the city. There is a big part of me that yearns to live in the country, have an organic vegetable patch and be surrounded by nature. For now I live in Paris with my Italian husband and cat.
What are you reading right now?
A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor
I loved this book. I adore history and this book is a journey through history via 100 objects in the British Museum. The author does a great job recreating the world as it was around the object and the importance it represents in the evolution of our society. Fabulous.
Visit Carla @
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If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us! 
If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us! 
If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us! 
If you would like help creating inspirational spaces for yourself contact us! 
It is my pleasure to bring you our latest installment of our 5 things series. This time we are so excited to have had the opportunity to chat with Caitlin Flemming from Sacramento Street and Caitlin Flemming Design. I have been following Caitlin for what seems like the lifetime of this little blogging gig. She has a gorgeous sense of design and her style is so timeless and clean. L O V E !
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a marine biologist and decipher the language between dolphins or a photographer. As a child, I lived in Mexico and my father was a conservationist. We would go to remote areas of Mexico for his work and that’s probably where my idea of working with dolphins came from. As I got a bit older, I decided being a photographer would be the job for me – especially if it included travel. It doesn’t surprise me at all that I’ve ended up in a creative career. I think my eye was developed at a young age and it was bound to be my path in life.
Where do you find inspiration?
I tend to find inspiration all around me. It can be how the light is hitting the bay when I take my daily walk, or the pattern of the leaves outside my bedroom window. But I think it’s during my travels that my inspiration is enhanced. Maybe it’s that I don’t have the distractions of home and so I notice more details that I might overlook at home. Every trip I’ve taken brings me new lessons and ideas for my design. After a trip to Nature is still the best teacher – there is no better design.
Do you work from home? Office? Studio?
I always worked from a home office until having two kids and it was next to impossible to focus on my work at home. I now have an office one block from my home. Luckily it’s on Sacramento Street!
Are you a City girl or a Country girl?
I’m a city girl with a big part of my heart in the country. As a child I always lived in cities (Washington D.C., Mexico City, Portland) and that’s where I continue to enjoy living but I also crave time in the country. Growing up, I spent part of my summers on working ranches in eastern Oregon as well as in Mexico where I would ride horses and herd cattle. There is nothing better than getting your feet dirty and breathing fresh air.
What are you reading right now?
I’m trying to challenge myself more in my reading choices. Recently, I’ve been diving into travel writing from the past. Right now I’m reading The Road to Oxiana by Robert Byran. It was first published in 1934 and is in the form of a travel diary on his ten- month journey through the Middle East. He begins in Venice and ends in Peshawar, India (now a part of Pakistan). It’s considered to be the first example of great travel writing. I heard about this book and others in an interview of Carolina Irving in Milieu Magazine. I finished reading the article and ordered all the books she referred to. It’s been such a source of learning for me.
I love to travel and seeing travel through the eyes of those who went before me, has been an eye opening experience. Byran doesn’t mince words on his disdain for interior decorators, but perhaps there are lessons I can learn! For example, when he enters the Mosque of Sheikh Lutfullah, he states:
“I have never encountered splendour of this kind before. Other interiors came into my mind as I stood there: Versailles, or the porcelain rooms at Schonbrunn, or the Doge’s Palace or St Peter’s. All are rich; but none are so rich. Their richness is three-dimensional; it is attended by all the effort of shadow: In the Mosque of Sheikh Lutfullah, it is a richness of light and surface, of pattern and colour only. The architectural form is unimportant. It is not smothered, as in rococo; it is simply the instrument of a garden. And then I suddenly thought of that unfortunate species, modern interior decorators, who imagine they can make a restaurant, or a cinema, or a plutocrat’s drawing-room look rich if given money enough for gold leaf and looking-glass. They little know what amateurs they are. Nor, alas, do their clients.” (page 232)
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We are so excited to share another amazingly talented woman with you as a part of the return of our 5 Things series. Erin Benzakein is the founder of Floret Flowers, a family run flower farm in Skagit Valley, Washington. We have been following Erin's beautiful work for quite some time (see our previous post here) and were thrilled at the opportunity to interview her for this series! Erin's flower business has been expanding like crazy with a blog, workshops and now even a book - Floret Farm's Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms - releasing on March 7!
What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was really young, I wanted to be a schoolteacher. When I got a little older, my interests evolved a bit and I decided I wanted to be a biologist. And even now there is a part of me that still dreams of being a midwife.
Where do you find inspiration?
My inspiration comes from the natural environment and specifically the elements that define each season. I love the different colors, tastes, textures and temperatures that capture a particular moment. My designs draw directly from the natural world and the abundance of whatever is blooming—whether it is lilacs and narcissus in the spring or dahlias and heirloom mums in the fall. Each design reflects the ephemeral beauty of the season.
Do you work from home? Office? Studio?
Yes, Yes, & Yes. Floret is based out of my home and farm. Our flower field, garden and greenhouse are just steps from our back door. The Floret office occupies our basement and my design studio and shop (where we operate Floret Seeds) are now in what was a garage. The business is our home and our home is the business. This is generally wonderful, but I admit there are times it is frustrating when I need a break from work, yet I am surrounded by it because there is no real separation.
Are you a City girl or a Country girl?
Most definitely a Country girl. Even though I grew up in the city, country life was in my blood. As a kid, I remember digging up plants (mostly weeds) and then replanting them in straight lines in the yard on my faux “farm.” I adored visiting my Grammy and her garden and I’d come back to the city after my visits and try to grow tomatoes—even in our dimly lit apartment. When my husband, Chris, and I moved to the country, I finally got the garden I’d been dreaming about. It was there where I could breathe. I finally felt at home.
What are you reading right now?
There are four books that I have on my bedside table right now: Compact Farms by Josh Folk, In the Company of Women by Grace Bonney, Rising Strong by Brené Brown and Small Victories by Julia Turshen. I am a chronic consumer of multiple books at one time. It is usually a mix of books on business marketing and self-help for entrepreneurs, with an occasional cookbook thrown in the mix.
Purchase Erin's new book here and here!
And check out more of her work here:
FB: https://www.facebook.com/floretflowers/
IG: @floretflower https://www.instagram.com/floretflower/
PIN: https://www.pinterest.com/floretflwrfarm/
https://www.floretflowers.com/
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