Creative Spaces with Trisha Brink

Trisha's Blog ~ Trisha Brink Design, Trisha's Flickr. ~ Trisha Brink Design, Her Shop ~ Grandiflora Home and Garden

"Even if I had a million dollars, I would STILL shop at junk stores. Random statement? Yes. Silly? No. One can find the most interesting things at junk shops. I like the way they challenge me to rethink things....to tweek an object to my whim...to amuse me.

I've always wanted my home to be comfy and cozy. I want folks to enter the front door and be at ease and intruigued all at once. You know those homes that you walk into and everyting matches? It looks like they went to the local box store and asked for room number sixteen and had it deliverd and "applied" to their living room? Well, I couldn't go there. Even if I could've afforded to buy room number sixteen, I just wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it. I can only label my style as "Trisha's house" style. I don't know anyone who wallpapers with old sheet music, hangs an embroidery hoop on their wall filled with car fabric, and hangs paper party lanterns out all year, even though the party is over.

You can't overthink good design. Good design comes from your feelings. The way I am and the way we are as a family, comes out in our decor. I'm happy to tell you that our home reflects who we are for now and I hope I never stop rearranging to reflect who we become. I love my home. I want to take care of it, give it life, help it breathe. Decor does that...it beckons to be refreshed. Are you listening to yours? I guarantee if you do, you will be pleasantly rewarded with a feeling of peace as you are surrounded by your most favored posessions...your family. For, after all, a home is nothing if not shared."

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I love your thoughts on home and family, Trisha (I'll definitely have to try that "car fabric" idea). Thanks so much for sharing them with us today. :)

In your opinion, what makes Trisha's home a "Creative Space"?

I'll tell you what I like...the cozy vignettes, colorful/whimsical objects, and the clean crisp feel. Boy, does my house need some work! lol.

A New Series ~ Creative Spaces

Madhu from Miel Bakes is one of my new contacts on Flickr. When I discovered her photostream recently I was immediately drawn to her crisp colorful style of photography, not to mention images of delectable desserts she's created. I was excited to see that Madhu has a set of photos of her beautiful and creative home and asked if she would let you know a little bit about herself, her background, and her decorating style.

Btw, do you have a "creative space" that you would like to submit for a possible feature on Simply Hue? Send a few photos to me (Vicki) at matissecolor@gmail.com. :)

Enjoy Madhu's interview below!

Creative Spaces ~ Madhu from Miel Bakes

My parents named me Madhu which means "honey" in Sanskrit. Home to me is in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with my man and our two sons.

As a child I remember, vividly, my mother passionately whipping up the most delicious butter cakes whilst my father was absorbed in taking photographs. As I write this I realize I am taking after both their footsteps!

Having spent many years in England and Wales as a student I came back home with an accountancy degree and my very first cookbook by Marguerite Patten which I purchased with a book voucher I won for having written the best Physics essay in class!

I joined the corporate world and was climbing the walls when my latent joy and passion in baking resurfaced. I am now doing it as business and pleasure right from my favourite place, my home. I love that my kitchen overlooks the lounge as I like being close to the sound of my family whilst I satisfy my passion.

When I am not baking I enjoy doing up my home. My favourite style has to do with comfort and whatever makes me happy from white painted furniture to bursts of colours here and there. Looking around my home I dare say it reflects my all time favourite magazine "Country Living - UK".

Besides family, baking and home I am also enjoying my spiritual journey as I try my best to synchronize with the music of the universe.

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Thanks so much for giving us a peak into your home and life, Madhu. You're an inspiration. :)

And, I have a question for YOU, my sweet readers. What in your opinion makes Miel's home a creative space? What inspires you about her decorating style? What makes your home a creative space?

Favorite Four ~ Colors of the Moment

When I spotted these colorful home photos on Flickr a few days ago I knew I wanted to do a post about my FAVORITE 4 house colors....of the moment, at least. The colors that stand out to me the most in this home's color scheme are:

AQUA
FUSHIA
WHITE
TURQUOISE

I love the crispness and freshness of these tones! I tend to change my preferences with each changing season, though. Are you like that? In the Fall and Winter I lean towards cozy warm colors and in the Spring and Summer I'm drawn to fresh light colors like the ones in these photos.

Jutta, the homeowner, is a new contact of mine on Flickr and I'm not only inspired by her decorating talent and eye for beauty, she's also a gifted ARTIST, taking time to sketch every single day and posting a "Monday Morning Coffee and Sketch" on her blog. Over the weekend I took out my drawing pencils and sketch pad again (it's been a long time) and now I can't put them down! Thanks for the inspiration, Jutta. :)

Here's what Jutta says about herself on her blog:

"I'm Jutta and this is my blog Kootut murut.

I started Kootut Murut when we were about to buy a rintamamiestalo, a certain type of house built after WW II. At the same time I discovered the world of blogs. I realized there were quite a lot of people living my dream, renovating old houses and doing all kinds of creative things. So I started reading blogs and pretty soon started my own.

During the day I work as a freelance graphic designer / illustrator. My background is in web design and 2D animation. During the evening - and a lot of nights - I walk our dogs and renovate our home with my husband Panu. We do most of the work ourselves, it's pretty much a learning process. Living in a house over 50 years old, we try to preserve as much of the history as we can. We are the second owners and there's quite a lot of original features left, although covered with newer layers. We want to save as much of it as possible, so maybe in another 50 years time somebody else will peek under the layers of wallpapers and discover all that history."

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I think I asked a similar question recently, but I'm curious what you do to remain creative? When and how do you make the time? What projects are you working on right now?

Btw, my husband and I are leaving on a mini-vacation to Port Townsend for our birthdays (mine's tomorrow!) and anniversary, so I won't be holding the Spotlights tomorrow (Friday) or Monday. I'll post the "I Create" interview on Tuesday and then hold the Artist Spotlights as usual on Wednesday and Friday. :)

Have a great weekend and I'll see you next Tuesday (I'll announce the GIVEAWAY winner then, too)! xo