Heartfire At Home - Creating Interiors With Soul

Home Libraries, Nooks, and Reading Corners....

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sat, 26 May 2012 10:11:00 +0000

Are you ready for this?

Over on Houzz (one of my favourite sites ever), I've compiled an idea-book of photos showcasing libraries, books, shelving, and nooks great for curling up and reading a good book in.

You all know how important having books around my home is for me, and how much importance I place on their presence, so this idea-book was an absolute pleasure to collate.

There's over 70 photos in the complete idea book, but the slide show below lets you see a mere 20 of them, so click through here to see the rest!

A feast of bookish joy awaits!

Reading and Nooks

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More»

Browse Kids Products on Houzz- For Example:

Baby Swings And Bouncers · Changing Tables · Cribs · Kids Bedding · Kids Beds · Kids Decor · Kids Dressers · Toy Storage ·

You can find lots of interesting interior pics and ideas over at Houzz.

Between that site and Pinterest, I can disappear for a whole afternoon before I know what's happened.

Linda. xox

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A Path Through The Forest........My Room Fantasy....

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Wed, 23 May 2012 10:57:00 +0000

Whilst rummaging around my inspiration folders a few days ago, I came across these photographs.

I think they'd look amazing as large canvas prints or photographs on the walls of a single room.

I find them to be intriguing, mysterious, thought provoking, ethereal.... just beautiful!

I can just imagine the space I would use them in if I had the room! I'd have them hanging in my dining room...... the room would have a table in it something like the one in this pic.....

... a wooden, organic, earthy, spontaneous feeling sort of table.

The walls wouldn't be white though.... they'd be a soft grey green, or a medium warm grey, and the colour would wrap around on the ceiling to cocoon the room.

The ceiling may even be a darker colour like a soft charcoal... a little like putting a 'night sky' into the room, adding to the overall 'foresty' effect.

The floor would have beautiful dark wooden boards to ground the whole scene, and also a huge rug with forest tones in it...... greens, golds, muted autumn reds, rusts, light greys.... symbolising the forest floor.

There'd be some lovely organically shaped vases of opaque coloured glass to bring some accent (both colour and textural) to the room, and in them or around them some objects collected from nature displayed in various ways...... twisted wood, pine cones, smooth rocks, beautiful flowers of all colours.

Image from Honey and Jam on Etsy

Maybe some 'touchy-feely' felted bowls like these....very textural and natural...

Image from Papaververt on Etsy

And, some curvy, flowing, wooden bowls like these...

Image from Holzfurhaus on Etsy

And the light would be some sort of free form 'branch' light with little fairy lights sprinkled through it,

And, I'd use that room as a place for dinner parties or late night get togethers where deep discussion would take place! The photos could prompt us to talk about where our lives are taking us, what's leading us along, the path we're taking, what we're working towards, what we can use to 'light' our way, the goals we can make to illuminate our journey.

The crockery would be delightful, rich hues of green, golden yellow, cherry red, tans, maybe even some aubergine thrown in!

Image from Atelier

There'd be lots of beautiful beeswax candles, votives burning in gorgeous glass holders, and some earthy essential oil like ylang ylang or patchouli with a dash of sweet orange burning in my vapourizer.

My favourite Northern Light Beeswax Candles

A room of warm, soft light; forest colours, beautiful textures, grounding scents.

Sigh.

How nice to be able to have a room like that. It'd really take care of my 'thing for trees' and my love of soft glowing light.

Oh well........ it's nice to dream!

Linda. xox

P.S: I've had the top 6 pics in my inspiration folders for so long I've forgotten where I found them. Apologies to the owners. If anyone recognises them, please let me know and I'll link them up asap.

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Speaking Of My Favourite Colours...

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:27:00 +0000

My last post was a return to my nostalgic feelings towards the warmer colours.... reds, golds, rusts, bronze, oranges.....

When I saw this room, you can see why it immediately struck a chord at my inner core.

Photo from Eric Ross Interiors

I could see myself 'holed up' in that room indefinitely.

A good book, some good food, a warm cup of something, music in the background.

For me, life couldn't get much better.

Does your home make you feel life couldn't get much better when you're relaxing in it?

Linda. xox

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Feeling Nostalgic and Re-visiting A Classic...

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Fri, 18 May 2012 10:58:00 +0000

It's Friday night here, it's cold, and I'm feeling a tad nostalgic.

I just changed the desktop wallpaper on my computer from a lovely lush green forest to a close up of autumn leaves with a beautiful muted red background. All my favourite colours are featured, golds, reds, oranges, rusts, bronze.

And, it reminded me of one of the first ever articles I wrote for this blog talking about one of the reasons I think I like some of these colours so much. It's an important key to the philosophy of my decorating style, so I'm giving the post a new lease of life and rescuing it from my deepest archives.

I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks also to Liv Lane for letting me link up this post with other blissful posts.

What've Two Fields Of Wheat Got To Do With Interior Design?

One of the most distinct memories I have of my youth centres around fields of wheat. I lived in an agricultural area, and spent an awful lot of time riding my bike.

On holidays I'd pack a lunch, disappear for the day, and ride for miles.

Bliss!

Near where I lived were lots of pine tree plantations, orchards, and huge fields of wheat. A real mish mash of plant life! I'd ride down the rutted dirt tracks the tractors used to take, get off my bike and explore.

Wander through the trees and breathe in their scent.

Pick up pine cones.

Hear the twigs crack beneath my feet as I walked.

But some of the moments I loved the most involved two particular fields of wheat.

Either one, if caught at just the right moment, at the right time of year, would reveal the most breathtaking view. They were both massive, and on a day with a warm gentle breeze, at sunset, it was as if the world had stopped and life couldn't get any better.

Magic.

I'd usually be on the way home from my day of adventuring.

I'd ride up, stop my bike, lean on it, and gaze.

The sunset would slowly spread with the most glorious colours, and light would glint, and sparkle, and roll off the slowly nodding heads of wheat.

And across the whole field an undulating ripple affect would happen, and it would look like an ocean of wisely bobbing heads all swaying to some beautiful, orchestrated, symphony of movement.

There would often be insects humming in the air, and the scent of the wheat, the pine trees nearby (planted as an edge along the other side of the road), and the not too far-away orchards would waft around me.

I'd stay for 10 minutes or so.... breathing deeply, just thinking how brilliant and beautiful the world was. And, then I'd ride on home, feeling uplifted, content, and just plain old happy!

And I often wonder.....

...if those fields of wheat, and the glinting gold, the warm pinks, yellows, oranges, and reds of the sunset, are a big part of the reason I love to use all those colours in my personal interiors.

For many years a sort of buttery yellow colour, or a wheaten sort of colour, were my favourites for walls! I craved the warm, cozy, uplifting, alive, happy feeling they brought me. I'd wrap myself in the colours that brought me joy!

Photos from Country Living

Photo from BHG

Walking into a room with those colours on the walls, plus accents of red, pink, orange, and apple green gave me feelings of happiness akin to drinking in those fields of wheat.

Only a simple field of wheat and a sunset...

From Caranxcaranx via Flickr

and over 30 years ago...

but if I shut my eyes I can see, smell, and feel it like it was yesterday.

A memory that matters - to me.

Ask yourself: 'Are there any uplifting, joyous, simple memories from my childhood that remain as vibrant today as they were then?'

Which leads to: Is there anything (colours, scents, textures) you can take from your memories and entwine in your home's interiors?

Because: Memories matter. Including a reminder of things that matter will comfort and uplift you in a way nothing else can.

Cheers,

Linda.

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Linda. xox

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A Pinterest Board To Delight You With Colour And Pattern

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:04:00 +0000

Image from The Aestate via Julie on Pinterest

If you're looking for a brilliant dose of living room inspiration, try Julie's Living Room pinboard over on Pinterest.

Image from Decor Pad via Julie on Pinterest

So many colourful and pattern filled rooms to gaze at!

Julie also has a great blog here that features beautiful images and quotes.

Linda. xox

PS: Happy Mother's Day to all the mums enjoying it today. I hope you all had a beautiful day with your nearest and dearest.

If you liked this article, would you share it with your friends? Just click here to post it to Twitter without having to type anything yourself! Thanks so much. :)

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How Many Of You....

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:44:00 +0000

.....have the stereo up super loud and are bopping stupidly around the house?

Right now?

Apart from a 2 minute hiatus to bang on the keys long enough to write this.... that's exactly what I'm doing.

How important is music to you?

This is how important it is to me.

Happy dancing.... GO GET SOME GROOVE ON!

Just do it.

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo and A Romantic, Fairytale Dining Room...

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:56:00 +0000

Image from Home Designing

Happy Monday everyone!

This week I hope your mojo is with you, and you get to do something you've always dreamed of doing.

Linda. xox

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Oh, Here's Some Kitchens To Love...

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:02:00 +0000

Images from Home-Designing

I adore these kitchens, but particularly the last one for its mix of different textures, elements, and the welcoming vibe I get from it. I'd love to cook and have a meal with friends or family in there. I can also see myself getting a cup of tea and wandering out that door and relaxing just outside. Plus, there's plenty of room for cats or other furry friends to wander around and laze about on the floor.

The table top in the second last picture is also amazing I think.

And, the view in that first picture..... WOW!

Happy weekend everyone. I hope you get the chance to share a meal with someone special (which includes one with just yourself!), and to enjoy simply relaxing in a room that makes you feel comfortable and nurtured.

Linda. xox

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Love These Porcelain 'HOME' Candle Votives

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:30:00 +0000

Not On The High Street

From one of my favourite online stores, these votives embody the whole 'spirit of home' for me. They just seem as if they'd create a calm, glowing, nurturing, warm, soft, harmonious sort of vibe.

I have the word 'home' spelled out in large scrapbooking letters above a doorway (the first one you see as you enter my home through the front door), and it's such a simple way to remind myself of why I love where I live so much....

... it's not just my house.... it's my home.

Do you have the word 'home' spelled out anywhere at your place?

Linda. xox

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Live In Such A Way...

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:04:00 +0000

Happy Monday lovelies!

It's time for some Monday Mojo and wise words.

Image found on Marcus Design Inc.

I try my best to do this every day.

May your own special mojo be with you this week as you enjoy each day and give it all you've got.

Linda. xox

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The Three Cs In A Room!

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 11:49:00 +0000

Sometimes, an image just cries out to me in every way.

The colours, the cushions, the comfort factor. (The three Cs!)

I could sure take a luxurious nap on that bed, or take pleasure in drifting through a lazy afternoon with a great book.

Image from Down and Out Chic Interiors

A room that's just right for you is absorbed by your body, not just your eyes.

Linda. xox

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Do You Have One Of These?

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:59:00 +0000

Lately my energy has been diverted away from those things I consider a part of my 'calling' towards things that have to be done to keep the budget ticking over and ensure the bills get paid.

Unfortunately, this has trampled all over the time I spend with friends and family, and just as importantly (for me), the time I spend with myself and in the process of doing the things that nurture my soul and feed my creativity.

The balance has been lost, and for the moment, it's going to be staying that way as I forge through the year ahead trying a new day job on for size. I've dedicated at least one whole year to it to see what it brings.... but I have to say, if it continues to impede what I consider to be my true calling, it may indeed have to bite the dust.

Currently, the time I used to dedicate to getting my courses (Pathways to Home and The Tiny Tidy Challenge) ready has disappeared down a fast moving sink hole, then drained away. This is not good for my overall life-time dreams and goals.

Taking on this new job has, however, been an extremely clarifying and eye opening experience that has helped bring many things in my life into sharp focus. For that, I am truly grateful no matter how long I continue to do it.

I truly do believe if you feel you have a 'calling', you must follow it with all your heart. I think I've made the path to my calling a little hard to follow for a while, but I'll never lose sight of it, and I'm more passionate about it than ever.

Do you have a 'calling'?

Are you following it in your life now?

Linda. xox

PS: Thank you to those who have signed up to the Tiny Tidy Challenge in the last couple of weeks! I promise it will be on its way before the end of the year. That's not as soon as I would have liked it to happen, but I'm determined it WILL happen!

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Happy Easter Everyone!

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:08:00 +0000

Inside, Outside, All Around....

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:06:00 +0000

..... all you need is love.

Image found on Maxabella Loves

Linda. xox

P.S. Just after publishing this I saw the most amazing Spring Sale over at the shop of one of my best bloggy friends. Check out Bobbi's post here to find out more. Her shop is always full of beautiful designs and creations.

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What Do You Think Of This Historic Victorian Home?

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 10:13:00 +0000

What do you think of this home?

I love the living areas with all their colour! I could really get cozy in those.

Some of the other rooms are not so much to my taste, but it's one fab home.

My Houzz: Hip, Historic Victorian in Santa Cruz

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More»

Browse Bath Products on Houzz- For Example:

Bath And Spa Accessories · Bath Mats · Bathroom Sinks · Bathroom Storage · Bathroom Tile · Toilet Accessories · Toilets · Towel Bars And Hooks ·

I hope everyone had a super weekend!

Linda. xox

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Fearless Fantasy Friday - How Would You Like To Be Lounging Here?....

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Found on House of Fifty via Country Living

This space is just breath-taking for me...... all those trees so beautifully majestic in the background would make that porch the perfect place for soul restoration.

The part of my heart that yearns to have trees around me would be very happy indeed if I had somewhere like that to find my peace.

I'm a trifle late for a Fearless Fantasy Friday post, but as it's only just gone Saturday here, and it's still Friday on the other side of the world, I figure I can still make it count. And, this image just jumped off the page at me.

Happy weekend my lovelies! May you find a place to reach your own peace this weekend.

Linda. xox

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Are You In A Superb Meteor, Or A Sleepy Planet?

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:36:00 +0000

It's time for a little sprinkle of 'Monday Mojo'!

Happy Monday lovelies!

May your mojo be with you this week.

Linda. xox

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And The Winners Are.....

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:39:00 +0000

I'm a trifle late drawing the give-away for the 2 Home Sweet Home cushion covers..... but all names have now been put into a hat (well, it was a mixing bowl actually), and 2 drawn out to receive one cushion cover each.

The lucky winners were Cristie and Rhonda!!

Congratulations ladies - woohoo!

If you email me with your home address, I'll send a cover on its way to each of you.

Enjoy. :)

Linda. xox

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A Beautiful Apartment In Stockholm..... I Think I Like White After All!

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:15:00 +0000

I'm not a huge lover of interiors with lots of white.... but every now and then I almost fall in love with one.

I can certainly see (and feel - which is more important) myself in this one. I get a great vibe from it, and I can imagine what the air and the space would feel like if I was in it. It draws me to it, and that's how I know I really love a room or a house.

This home is an apartment in Stockholm, and it looks like it is the epitome of Swedish style!

The shelving in the living room is glorious isn't it?!

All images found on Fresh Home via Skeppsolmen

The whole place beams with harmony. I could find peace there I think.

What do you think?

Linda. xox

P.S. Remember to enter my lovely cushion give-away. The cushion cover featured (see below) would look perfect in the rooms above I reckon!

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It's A Great Day To Launch A Great Give-Away!!

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 08:29:00 +0000

It's been a while since I've had a give-away over here, so it's time to launch a good one!

I'm going to be giving away 2 (one each to two lucky readers) Home Sweet Home cushion covers.

These are just about my favourite cushion cover of all time. They express the sentiment we've all heard so often, that happens to be exactly how I feel about my home every single time I walk in the door.

I love my little home, and it really is my very own 'home sweet home',

So, if you'd like a cushion cover with the words 'home sweet home' written in a gorgeous funky red font, then leave a comment on this post!

I'll draw the winners in two weeks time, at 6.00 pm, Saturday the 17th of March, my time.

Happy weekend lovelies!

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo.... Some Music Please!

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 20:44:00 +0000

Sheesh, I've been so remiss lately..... sorry everyone whose blog I usually get to. I seem to be lacking about another 10 hours in the day lately - bleh.

Time for some music... that always helps me get my mojo back.

This song was played at the first 'disco' I ever went to in my youth (all those years ago), and it was my most favourite song EVA. (At the time - ha ha).

I don't have it on cd or anything else at home, so I can't blast it from my stereo, but at least I can enjoy it on Youtube.

Yep, my musical tastes are wide and varied. (But you already knew that!)

I'll be back some time in the coming week with the afore promised cushion cover give-away that I mentioned a few weeks back.

Happy Monday everyone, and may your mojo be with you this week in everything you do.

Linda. xox

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Home Is Where The Heart Is...

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:20:00 +0000

Happy Valentine's Day evereyone!

I hope you have a lovely day and enjoy the company of someone special.

Here's a great home found over on Coco and Kelly, where the spirit of Valentine's Day has been infused into every room. How cute! Hop over to this post to see how the theme runs through all the rooms.

Found on Coco and Kelly

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - A Room With A View!

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:32:00 +0000

Happy Monday lovelies!!

I've been absent from the land of the computer due to the final capitulation of my hard drive which is now resting in the land of the scrap heap.

Getting the new one up and running has been very tedious.... but thank goodness I'd backed up all my important files, email, and favourites a few days before as I'd guessed the end was nigh.

So, here we go with a new hard drive, a new week, and a new view!

Image found on Charming Ages

I hope your week is wonderful and gives you lots of new views on different things in your life.

And, as always on a Monday morning, may your mojo be with you!

Linda. xox

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Speaking Of Bookshelves... Here's A Magnificent One For You!

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:48:00 +0000

Speaking of bookshelves (as I did a few days ago), how would you like a room with one like this in it?

Image from This Is Glamorous

Uh huh. Dang that's fabulous!

Of course, it's in this house, so it had to be amazing really, didn't it!

Image from This Is Glamorous

Beautiful.

More lovely images over at This Is Glamorous.

Linda. xox

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Monday Mojo - Are You Sitting Still?...

noreply@blogger.com (Heartfire At Home) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:24:00 +0000

Often times I need to remind myself that just because I've made a decision about something, or I think I'm on the right track.... if I don't actually DO something to take action about it.... then it's probably just as bad as not being on the right track anyway!

This harks back to books like 'The Secret' that seem (I admit I haven't read the actual book) to propose that merely visualising a dream, or writing down a list of what you want to manifest, will magically cause it to appear as if some dream fairy swooped down and sprinkled instant gratification sparkle dust all over your life!

Critics of books like 'The Secret' suggest that of course none of your wishes/dreams will actually happen unless you take some type of forward motion or action towards what you want (other than just thinking about it of course!).

I have to say I agree whole-heartedly with them. Getting off your backside and actually DOING something walks all over just thinking or writing about it.

That being said, according to Dave Kohl, a professor at Virginia Tech in America, people who regularly write down their goals earn nine times as much over their lifetimes as people who don't. Yet, says Prof. Kohl, 80% of Americans don't write down their goals. Sixteen percent do have goals but don't write them down. Less than four percent do write them down, and fewer than one percent actually review them on an ongoing basis. (This info taken from my copy of the book 'Where Will You Be Five Years From Today?')

Imagine then, the small amount of people who actually write them down, review them.... and DO something about them.

This week I'm going to challenge myself to get my 'goals folder' out of the cupboard (yes, I really do have one with different categories and lists, a lot of which have to do with things I want to do around my home), blow the dust off it, and then see what I can actually DO about some of them.... even if it's only baby steps.

Time to stop sitting still.

I hope you have a happy and productive week!

And, as always on a Monday....'may your mojo be with you'!

Linda. xox

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