unpolished life

Casual dining

2013-05-07T11:09:00.000-07:00

It's easy to be distracted by stuff (like dining furniture, silverware, glassware, etc) in pursuit of an enjoyable dining experience but what really matters most (and a lot harder to have) is good company. An unpretentious setting is not just OK but preferable so everyone can be themselves. Whether it's some flowers in a vase, a potted plant nearby, or a lush garden, let nature provide all the aesthetic touches.

Top image from desdemventana.blogspot.hu and the bottom one is from jellysundae.tumblr.com

Random inspiration

2013-04-30T16:07:00.002-07:00

Simple, honest, natural, functional.

Images from principlesofaesthetics.tumblr.com

Satisfaction & happiness

2013-04-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

It is the modest, the natural, the cozy and the comfortable that soothe our souls and make us happy -not the fancy, the luxurious, and the pretentious. The former brings us together and the latter feeds the status quo and puts barriers between us.

That's a great simple coffee table in the bottom picture!

Images from brendan-i-am.tumblr.com

Amazing natural and rustic cabins

2013-04-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some inspiring pictures of amazing cabins in beautiful settings. Enjoy!

Images from ctmarchitects.com

Small cabins - great porches

2013-04-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure I would like to live in such isolation, but the settings are definitely great and the images offer a lot of inspiration for a simpler and more natural architecture and landscaping.

Images from standout-cabin-designs.com

Super easygoing cabin

2013-04-15T14:37:00.002-07:00

Just looking at these images is relaxing, and make no mistake, the humble setting & materials have a hand in that effect, too. It would not be as relaxing with super polished fancy stuff. Keep things simple and enjoy life!

Images from gardenandgun.com

Let it grow!

2013-04-09T16:14:00.001-07:00

Martha* shows us that it can be nice to let plants grow where they may, and display their natural characteristics. No need to force them into submission, and if you do, you usually miss out on what can be more beautiful and easier to maintain.

*This image is from Martha Stewart's Skylands property.

Image from marthamoments.blogspot.com

Inspiration for a simpler life

2013-03-29T14:50:00.000-07:00

Seeking perfection is pathological and wasteful. Don't put yourself in debt and tie yourself down to jobs you don't like, just so you can have a bigger house, fancy furniture, or a brand new car. We have one life and it goes by faster than you think - try to maximize your freedom and enjoy it.

Images from kiyoaki.tumblr.com

Coastal life and a tree house

2013-03-28T11:15:00.003-07:00

This is one of the best tree houses ever, and it's made from scrap pieces of wood. The bottom image offers more luxury but still a lot of inspiration for a simpler and more natural life.

Images from dontcallmebetty.tumblr.com

Simple textiles with character

2013-03-26T15:50:00.004-07:00

Textiles make a room/bed/couch/etc cozier. When picking textiles go for character and simplicity, that way they'll cheer you up and help you relax. The fancy stuff is for show and you can't really use them comfortably for fear of staining them or pulling a thread, or something.

Top 2 images from brendan-i-am.tumblr.com, the bottom image is from anindiansummer-design.blogspot.com

Adirondack chairs indoors

2013-03-22T11:16:00.002-07:00

Adirondack chairs are great! They're simply put together, they're very comfortable, and even their iconic looks inspire a desire to relax! Who says they're "meant" for outdoors anyway? Might as well place them somewhere where they'll get more use! (That end table's pretty cool, too.)

Image from blissfulbblog.com

Beautiful ≠ fancy

2013-03-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

Don't get sold on the idea that fancy and pricey things are more beautiful. Most often they lack sincerity, and in places & in things (just as in people) nothing is as beautiful as the simple and the natural.

Top two images from apartmenttherapy.com , bottom image from pinterest.com/kvideagirl

Casual and comfortable outdoor areas

2013-03-13T23:23:00.001-07:00

Outdoor areas should be comfortable, casual, and cozy. Especially outside, perfection is not a good look. Aged, imperfect, cared for but not anally maintained spaces are the best.

Top image from gypsypurplehome.tumblr.com , bottom image from nicety.livejournal.com

Broken tiles outdoors

2013-02-27T15:04:00.002-08:00

Creative and great looking use of broken tiles outdoors. A cool way to make something beautiful with stuff that's otherwise headed to a landfill. It's pretty cool in itself to see signs of ingenuity, resourcefulness, and creativity around!

Top image from myhomeideas.com, bottom two images from custommade.com

Simple & beautiful

2013-02-20T15:35:00.001-08:00

Here's a beautiful yard, that's functional, and edible, as well as beautiful. It's hard to see an image like this and not wish for a simpler life.

Image from diyhomedesignpins.com

Broken tiles, stairs, creativity, & resourcefulness

2013-02-12T09:53:00.000-08:00

I love it when something useful and beautiful is created resourcefully. That's how everything should be created.

Image from salvagesecretsblog.com

Rustic dining & humble luxury

2013-02-08T11:33:00.002-08:00

Modesty often offers the highest quality.

Images from cboheme.tumblr.com

Simple beauty, a happy life

2013-01-31T09:36:00.000-08:00

Happiness is finding joy in simple pleasures and beauty in the humble & the imperfect.

Images 1, 3, & 4 from brendan-i-am.tumblr.com, the 2nd image from fantasticfrank.se

Lush & natural landscapes

2013-01-22T08:18:00.000-08:00

I repeat myself; natural looking landscapes with a variety of plants are the best! And the natural look principle works well with hardscapes as well!

Images from wisteriaandcowparsley.com

Free your plants!

2013-01-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

To me landscaping is about creating a beautiful composition of plants whose sizes, colors, textures, and foliage compliment each other. It's not about forcing plants into certain sizes and shapes and lining them up like obedient subjects of a dictator. It's 'nature's beauty highlighted' not 'plants under oppression.'

You should give plants and trees the care they need so they can be their best selves: Prune to highlight their beauty and to remove dead/dry parts, cut branches off that might pull the plant off balance, crowd certain areas, or stifle its growth - don't just trim them down to geometric shapes (doing so will create more work for you, place undue stress on your plants, and generate more waste.)

Images from cornerstonesonoma.com

Lush xeriscapes

2013-01-14T12:34:00.000-08:00

That "lush xericapes" title is not an oxymoron. It is possible, low-maintenance, and gorgeous!

All images from agrowingobsession.com

Patchwork quilts, throws, and even skirts

2012-12-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

There's something inherently unpretentious about the resourcefulness of patchworks. The colorful and wonderfully casual results, along with that unpretentious attitude create items that are soothing and relaxing to our souls! (Click here for more patchwork inspiration!)

Top 3 images from blueelephantstitches.blogspot.com, bottom image from jemimabean.blogspot.com

Casual barrel pool & painted bathroom walls

2012-12-03T14:29:00.001-08:00

Casual + natural + colorful = beautiful, practical, easy-going.
I am not sure how long painted bathroom walls would last with so much exposure to water, but the idea of easily applying a new coat definitely has its appeal, and the example here looks amazing with a touch of stoic, humble, & authentic.

Top image from issuu.com/leafmag, bottom image from elle.es

Sophisticated casual

2012-11-15T11:21:00.000-08:00

Casual decor does not have to be like a dorm room. When done right, casual is sophisticated and mirrors the elegance of modesty and natural beauty.

Images from johanfrancoise.blogspot.com

Stone paths, stairs, & rustic outdoor dining

2012-11-02T08:41:00.001-07:00

These images make a great case for natural materials and forms, don't they? They age better, they look better, they're easier to maintain, and take less processing to prepare. What else could we ask for? Btw, the paint job in that patio is really nice, too.

Images from bluepueblo.tumblr.com