peace to you

merry christmas..happy holidays from hillside.

we were organizing and cleaning a bit today at the cabin. it is starting to look like a home....baby steps. it will all change very soon, but i wanted to unpack a few boxes and try a few things out.

tomorrow holds dinner for 9 in the city and then out to hillside with our out of town friend sarah...she will christen hillside as our first overnight guest. the good news is she doesn't mind that there is no electricity in the bathroom, we have no real kitchen, only one room has been painted, but there is enough love to fill the house...so we will be good.

the photo above is my usual hodge podge of finds that made the cut for hillside :). from $250.00 french countryside cabinet (steal) to $1.99 prayer candle, all of equal importance.

better late than never

i am the guy who starts to welcome in the holiday's a month early...the day after turkey day i am digging in the basement storage area, looking for the christmas boxes as well as pounding the pavement for the perfect tree.

lets just say i am late this year. company coming in today and as of yesterday nothing was ready. i was sad to face the harsh reality of no christmas trees left (but this little guy), no wreaths ( so had to buy a candle center piece and trim it up a bit), BUT i was able to get some headway as of yesterday.

now, the reality is....none of this really matters as i consider everything that we have all been through this year..the highs and the lows. what DOES matter is our health, our friendships, our family and all the blessings, such as being employed and feeling loved.

a few shots of some of yesterdays accomplishments in our home. less is more.

history

i love the holidays. it is a time to put aside work, gather one and all and just spend some time together and hopefully create some special memory and history.

another reason is i get to bring out some special ornaments and trinkets that have great meaning and history. i know, every year i post these iron elk figurines. they were Maxine's (gma) and i will always remember the day she told me to pick one thing out of her collection of christmas fun....no question in my mind what would hold the memories together for me..the elk.

the photo of the tree's was also a photo that maxine took in the 50's...i asked her about it long ago and she said it was one of the first winters in california..somewhere in the siera's i think?

so, from my nook to yours...may the quickly approaching holidays bring that spark of fond memories.

closer

my 17 year old self, "OMG....we see transformation...like big time".

well, this weekend the $1.91 per square foot, 2 grade, 8" pine floors from lumber liquidators were installed by yours truly, the better half and a work friends fiance named patrick (shout out). they look awesome (17 year old self) for the quality and price. super happy as you never really know what it will look like until you see the actual wood. we lucked out.

i thought i would start from the beginning with this room. it is the living room/kitchen nook area that has had some major transforming moments.

in the first photo check out the ceiling (ply wood with layer upon layer of clear lacquer), the divider wall that sectioned off the kitchenette and the living room, the flooring. WOW!

the following photo's are the stages of the transformation....it is not complete, but it has been awhile since i have posted any hillside photo's and i think this one is meaningful enough to share.

table time

a few holiday table top options, if you can stomach the horns. if you are disturbed by horns, you can buy resin everywhere now, see photo of three resin options. check out haus interior

photo's from a new blog favorite emma's designblogg

just a litte bit of living

i love this home in norway. it is so graphic to me with the stark contrasts of color and clean lines and minimal approach. what draws me in are the warm wood hues on the legs of the table in the dining room and the desk in the bedroom. it is almost the perfect balance to me...all it needs is something living...a fig tree, a rose, or i can even imagine b-mo. :0)


photo's from bo bedre norway and they are photographs of the home of

thinking of you part 2

i posted this candle back in February of this year. it is the little candle of hope. it has a tag that has the names of those we are thinking of and hoping/praying will get through their time of need and struggle, as well as names of those to celebrate.

i have written your name down donna. someone on the west coast is thinking of you during this time of loss. i have hope this will be a great time of reflection, and that love will endure over the heartache.

green + gray

to all of you gray lovers (donna) out there, i thought it appropriate to share some mighty fine images that have a twinkle of green (in honor of the evergreen tree..though no photo's of evergreens) and our ever growing popular color gray. i have been a gray loyalist since 2001 when i convinced my second interior design client to paint her entire 5000 square foot home in shades of gray....i haven't looked back since then and i think she is still in shock she took the plunge (good shock of course):o)..a risky move for a traditional-english lover.

anyway, i decided it high time to rally and put aside the busy life for 20 minutes a day and breathe...

images found elle decor

holiday hints

this photo perfectly captures how engaged i have been with the holiday spirit...so close to the action, but still a room away.

if you look closely you can see the reflection of the christmas tree in the mirror and the warm glow of the fire in the corner...but not in the room photographed. i want to be in the other room with the cheer.

i think the problem is, i am longing for a christmas tree. tradition is to get our tree the day after thanksgiving, but this year we were out of town and it just hasnt happened yet..and the lack of lights and fragrance of the tree is messing with my psyche :)

then a reminder...the season is not about the tree, the music, the parties, the busy....but rather about the spirit of giving and helping others. i will call it simple holiday hints for now. (i bought wrapping paper on the way home tonight..its a start)

self help by me.

image found on skona hem