a little furniture rearranging

hi all!

no i’m not back to regular blogging just yet but i did some furniture rearranging yesterday and am so into the new layout that i wanted to share the results with you all. just because you live in a small space [my place would definitely be considered small!] don’t feel boxed into just one set-up! use your imagination and make things work for YOU. it’s funny how something as easy and simple as moving some stuff around can literally make you feel better...happier - at least i did!

my previous layout was fine but i knew that having the majority of the furniture up against the walls was not the look i was going for. sure it was fine for the time being but i knew i wanted to create more defined ‘zones’ and make better use of my small space. however, for the time being i wanted to just get stuff into the space and live with it for a while. see what worked and what didn’t. see how i used the space and how i wanted to better use the space. did i have a particular view i wanted to take advantage of? a feature i wanted to highlight [or hide]?

without further ado here are some photos i took just a few minutes ago to share my “new” space with you all. i’ve also included some of my thoughts on why i changed things the way i did.

...view from behind the front door. if you remember before the sofa was below my DIY artwork. there are several things in this view you wouldn’t have seen before! i knew i had to place something behind the sofa to keep it in place and the desk is all i had! it's a bit too deep but it works & i like it [you could place a console, sofa table, a horizontal bookshelf...]

...ALSO now i can work at my desk and still watch tv [yes, i can actually get work done while wathching tv!] i love my desk and love working at it but with the old layout i didn't work at it much because i couldn't see the tv. [ignore my sorry looking orchid. i leave it there as a reminder to go buy a new one!] when i look directly up and straight ahead my view is filled with [for the most part] treetops :) 

...the black club chair is still in the approximate same place BUT i’ve pulled it away from the wall, put the floor lamp behind it, and put my eileen gray table beside it - it’s now a nice little reading nook and i have a spot to rest my books/drinks. PLUS because it’s facing the sofa [whereas before it was kinda beside the sofa] it’s now a proper conversation area & feels more intimate when friends are over [plus you can still easy view the tv for movie watching and stuff!]

...i was unsure of placing the sofa perpendicular to the 'entertainment unit.' (1) because i didn't like the idea of having my back to the front door and (2) because i thought my head would be in a weird angle to watch tv. in actuality (1) because i sit with my legs stretched out in the sofa my back is not really do the door and (2) it's actually quite a natural way to watch tv - no neck aches or anything!

...the desk used to be here. now there is nothing. lol. eventually i want to get a round table with 2 or 3 chairs [bamboo ones like my desk chair]. with the windows and pictures - i think it’ll be nice to sit and eat a meal here [though i’ll probably still eat at my sofa ;)] & PLEASE ignore the fact that i STILL don’t have proper window treatments :(

...this is the view from the bathroom [hence the door knob seen!]. before you would have just seen the bookshelf with the floor lamp beside it and the edge of the sofa. it now kinda feels like a little work area. i hung my frame that i found for $1 and painted white [i still need to attach cork to the back] and plan to use as an inspiration board. i can’t wait to get some stuff put up on it! i actually really like this view :)

i hope this inspires you to look at your OWN space a little more creatively :)

[and i hope you are all enjoying your summer!]

p.s. howard just had to figure out how to stay close to me when i'm working at my desk...i think this is close enough!

i'm taking a break...

..from this blog. 

wow.

that was so difficult to write. actually, much more difficult than i ever thought it would be. i've been blogging for just over 1.5 years [1 year & 4 months on this blog] and in that time the blogging community has become one that i've so enjoyed being apart of. it's just that lately - i've been distracted-and i don't think that comes as a surprise to any of my readers who know how diligent i normally i am with keeping my blog updated. one reason is that i don't have regular access to the internet [i don't have internet at home]. but it's much more than that. there are a few things i'm trying to get started and i really just need to focus on them. i see and read of others who are doing things and creating their own path and i think "hey, i could do that. i really, really could." and i've come to realize the biggest difference between me & them is that they, eventually, just go for it. i need to be more like that. i need to push myself outside of my comfort zone. i need to stop fearing fear and failure. i need to trust in myself and the fact that everything happens as it should. i won't know if i never try. if i never take the plunge. if i don't truly put myself out there. plus, it's likely that i'll be going overseas later this year so decorating my apartment has come to a stand-still.

instead of posting infrequently here [i mean, i hate when other bloggers do that] or posting 'fluff' i decided to let you all know what is up and take a break. you wouldn't believe how guilty and somewhat stressed i've felt these past few weeks when i haven't posted regularly. i really just want to take that bit of stress & guilt out of my life. oh, and i haven't forgotten there are two people i owe prizes to and 1 person who i still have to send a book to [plus one i still need to make arrangements with for some lotus bowls they picked up for me] - those will be going out in the mail this week. I SWEAR.

will i continue this blog? chances are i will. it may be in 2 or 3 weeks or it may take longer but either way i will let you all know...chances are the blog will evolve into something different though...we'll see. so don't unsubscribe just yet!

in the meantime, i will continue to read & comment on all of the blogs that i regularly do. i feel like i've gotten to know so many of you that i can't imagine not reading your blogs to see what you are up to. and with saying that i want to give a special shout out to the following bloggers - many have been long time readers & commenters here and have provided endless words of encouragement and kind words. others are newer but quickly became a must read on my daily blog list. despite having not met ANY of them i kinda feel like i KNOW them and consider them my blog friends :)

katelin of gorgeous footsteps in the sand, tiffany of i am style-ish, mrs.limestone of adventures in renovating a brooklyn limestone, davida chanel of introducing davida chanel, elizabeth of peacock feathers, mandy of just a small town girl, lindsb of everything leb, tam styles of get it girl style, candi of candace rose, that short chick of late bloomer's revelations,  t of tea and such, faith of gotta have faith, and ebony intuition of ebony intuition. oh, and the only blogger i DO know, jessica claire of the world according to jessica claire. please visit there blogs - i promise you'll love them. 

i'll still be twittering so please feel free to follow me there! here's the link.

xoxo

kisha (aka kay) & howard

from my inspiration folder

i have had these pictures saved in my inspiration folder and have been waiting for the right blog post to attach them too. but enough waiting. i'm just going to post a few of them here to share and perhaps inspire one of you. so this is just a random-ish kinda post with beautiful pictures :)

i just love these two photos by rachel papo. i love the colours and the femininity of them.

i think they would look so sweet framed in a little girls room. or in the house of someone 

who studied dance...

the dark wood floors. the creamy white walls and doors. 

the natural light. the pink flowers.

i love it all.

i love this book cover. i ESPECIALLY love the curtains.

this outdoor space styled by selina lake is so simple and pretty.

it shows you don't need a lot to make your outdoor special.

...and i know this isn't design related [well not directly] but how beautiful is this cake?

for me the simpler the better & this is just divine.

have a great weekend!

the perfect laptop bag

if i worked in an environment that required me to take a laptop back and forth, along with paperwork and such, i would definitely want to carry it in one of these. actually, i want one anyways. they are absolutely too cute for words and are among the most stylish laptop bags i've come across [and yes they come in colours that aren't quite as flashy :)]

but the two styles i'm most in love with are these two:

this first is a bag and will fit some additional paperwork...

...and this is just a laptop sleeve - but so chic no?

check out knomo bags for many, many, more styles and to for pricing. i only wish they sold camera bags too. that would be perfect.

******

i spoke too soon. this one from kena kai is pretty damn sweet too. i mean, hello?!? not only is it leather embossed with a lizard print..it's gold! GOLD! i'm in love.

first offer!

my first overseas offer has come in! [read this post if you're not sure what i'm talking about] what an exciting [and scary] moment!

i don't want to give out too many details as yet but it's located in...india! which is not a country i was specifically interested in being placed in but the more i read about the specific region the more interesting it sounds - that's why it's extremely important to be open-minded. i love history and this place seems to have tons of it.

my initial thought was to decline the offer because the time commitment is longer than i wanted to commit to...but i'm beginning to wonder if they would consider a shorter time. but then again i don't to be overly eager and accept the first thing that comes my way! we'll see.

~ photo from here.

apologies

ugh. i'm so sorry for the lack of posts lately (these past 2 weeks to be specific). i'll be honest with you all, because i always am, i'm beginning to get a bit frantic from not having a job. during the winter you hang out inside most of the time so i was cool being unemployed then - but now that the nice whether is here...i want to be out. doing things. buying things. traveling a bit. and, well, money is a little bit tight. so i'm doing a bit of job hunting which is not going so well so far. and then i think - i'm talented and smart...i should think of a way i can work for myself. so i've been racking my brain. i've really been into photography (as you all know) and i'm thinking - maybe i can do a bit of that? perhaps some family portraits or couples photos? [i have a 'shoot' this weekend with my bestie and her kids which will let me know if this is something i maybe want to do]. i've found some wonderful blogs that i've been devouring...soaking up a lot of knowledge and information. and i've been teaching myself about natural light, photoshop, and lightroom. i'm learning a lot but understand i have so much to learn - you never really know it all, ya know? i don't know if this is what i'll decide to do for some extra cash but it's something i am enjoying learning about. i promise i'll be back to regular blog posts next week - so thanks for hanging around.

and because a blog post without pictures is...well...unacceptable really - here's a couple photos i've taken over the past few days. 

one of my bros (it's a bit overexposed in the whites...hence learning lightroom)

another one of my brothers

i hate feet but i really like this picture. it's of my siblings (all but 1)

i think it's a bit telling...

(i applied an action to it)

and of course howard - who needs a bit of a haircut.

have fantastic weekend!

oh mai

one of my favourite fabrics is still shumacher's chiang mai dragon in the alabster colourway. i know, i know. it's been blogged by others oh...about A HUNDRED KADRILLION TIMES but still. i've never blogged about it, so...you know...

i don't know what it is about it. maybeit's the crazy business of it all or the kind of exotic taste of asia-ish feel...heck it could very well be the touches of hot pink but i just adore this fabric. i would LOVE to use it for custom drapes (ooooooooooh that would be sooooooooo pretty) or to upholster a larger piece of furniture like a bergere armchair, oversized ottoman, or a headboard (ooooh a headboard would be so fab!) but since i'm assuming it's outta my price range (i assume this because on the website they don't even list the price...that's usually a sign!) i'll just have to drool over images of it until that lucky day.

if any designers are reading this or anyone who knows someone who knows someone...or someone has some remnants they'd be willing to part with...let me know! seriously.

ask away

i heart my converse

i thought it would be fun to once again open up my blog to questions about me from you - the readers. i love when other bloggers do this because it gives me a chance to ask any random questions i have or to just ask something i may have been curious or wondering about. the rules? there are no rules! feel free to ask me anything you'd like. it can be about something i've written in a past post, about something i usually blog about [design, my apartment, travel, my dog...] about something i don't usually blog about [my family, personal life...] about something totally random [favourite food, colour...] or anything else you can think of. the sky is the limit :)

i'm really looking forward to seeing what you all come up with. and i'll answer the questions in an upcoming post.

photography friday: composition

today i wanted to talk about composition. that is - the way things look in your viewfinder/on your lcd screen in the finished product. i’m not going to go in-depth because there are literally entire books devoted to the subject but i did want to share a few tips that i find particularly helpful when composing some of my pictures.

the most important compositional rule [and of course rules are meant to be broken on occasion!] you’ll probably come across is the rule-of-thirds. haven’t heard of it? that's okay! 

this is basically how it works. when you look at your lcd screen [or in your viewfinder] divide the screen into 9 equal parts - so essentially you’re picturing 2 horizontal lines and 2 vertical lines on your screen which would form a 9 square grid. [some cameras even have a feature in the menu that allows you to turn a grid on - so that when you look in your viewfinder or on your screen there are lines there - making it easier for you!] now when you take your picture DON’T PUT YOUR SUBJECT IN THE MIDDLE! 

place your subject [whatever is the focus] along one of the 4 intersecting points of the grid.you’ll immediately see that by implementing this one tiny step your pictures will become much more interesting and tell more of a story. the rule-of-thirds applies well to most scenarios but i especially love it’s use when dealing with horizon lines. mostly, when composition isn’t really given a thought, you’ll notice that in a beach scene [for example] the horizon line literally cuts the photo in half. this can cause confusion to the viewer - what do you want them to focus on? what should they be looking at? the sky - with the dark interesting clouds? or the water with the lovely boats floating along? unless you tell your viewer what they should be focusing on you risk them just taking a quick glance at your photo, reply ‘oh that’s nice’, and moving on without really “seeing” what it is you wanted them to see.

so how do you resolve this? well, if the foreground -the beautiful palm trees dotting the landscape - or the water - with its rocky waves or beautiful boats - are most important place the horizon line on the top horizontal line. this way there’ll be more of what’s important in the photo - in effect telling your viewer what’s more important. if the sky is more important - with the dark interesting clouds coming in - then place the horizon line on the lower horizontal line - giving more importance to the sky.

the importance here is on the sky

trust me. the rule-of thirds works. try it.

the next time you’re taking a quick snapshot of someone place them in the centre of the frame and take your pic. then place them off-centre to the left or right and see which photo you find more interesting.

of course you wouldn’t use the rule-of-thirds in every scenario but i find it a good rule of thumb, in general, to follow.

if you snap some photos this weekend apply the rule-of-thirds and let me know what you think!

*all photos mine except for ocean picture...that's from secondpicture.com

p.s. happy fourth of july to readers in the US :)

a bit of wednesday afternoon randomness 2

[happy canada day!]

just some random thoughts that, on their own, aren't quite enough for a post but together...well - together you have a bit of wednesday afternoon randomness.

• while i don't think the movie the island [starring ewan mcgregor and scarlett johansson] did particularly well at the box office i really enjoy it...despite the fact that it kinda scares the crap out of me because i can totally envision something like that happening in the not so distant future. actually i think that's precisely why i like the movie. twisted.
• i really want to go to cuba in august. must get some cash together.
• i kinda have a bit of a crush on him. seriously, i don't get hollywood crushes easily and the ones i do have are long-standing crushes but...everytime i see this guy in an interview he just seems so modest and humble...and funny. 3 traits i admire in people.
• since i got my haircut i've been into wearing fun nail polish colours. next up on my to buy list is russian navy - a really great dark blue with a hint of shimmer. any suggestions?
• lately, while walking howard, i've been trying to decide what my top 5 favourite books are. the ones that have meant the most to me for whatever reason and that i've enjoyed. so far i can only come up with 3. roots by alex haley, who will cry when you die by robin sharma, and the alchemist by paulo coelho. i think, i THINK #4 may be a thousand splendid suns by khaled hosseini. and #5 MAY be song of solomon by toni morrison [i read this when i was really young and remember enjoying it...but i'll have to read it again to be sure.] don't ask me why i'm so keen to note my favourite 5. maybe i want to be ready for when oprah's magazine calls.
• despite the fact that i will likely be going overseas by the years end i've decided it's time to look for a job [the cash flow is gettin' kinda low if you know what i mean]. i've applied for a few jobs in my field, good jobs [some are pretty exciting], that i'm totally qualified for and have yet to get a call back. i'm a bit frustrated, actually a lot frustrated to be honest, as to why i haven't gotten a call back. i'm 100% qualified and i write a pretty mean resume and cover letter if i do say so myself. i keep telling myself that because of this horrendous economic time there must be hundreds of applicants...but still...

• i want 2 new tattoo's. i already have 3. all of them have meaning to me and it takes me a long time to decide exactly what i want then i take months to make sure i can commit to it and to decide on placement. i'm 100% certain of what i want and 97% certain of placement. hopefully both will come before the end of summer. i also love this particular tattoo as seen on angelina jolie. i'd like to use it to symbolize something different but will have to give it more thought...or perhaps i'll save it & use it for when i have kids.
• i really love my hair cut. no regrets.
• i'd really love to take howard on a trip to seattle so i can have this talented photographer take his pictures. by far the BEST pet photographer i've ever come across. i've never seen pet portraits that i really like but these...they're freakin' amazing [and so is howard. so, you know...] i DARE you to take a look and not want to get your pet photographed too. [she also has a blog. you will fall in love.]
• i'm trying, when i remember, to work on my posture. any tips?
• a part of me wants to try revitalash but know i won't because i'm afraid of having an allergic or negative reaction. i have watery eyes in general and am always rubbing them and stuff so it's probably not the best idea to put some foreign substance on my lashes.
• i'm still loving this song.

• oh how i wish lauryn hill would make a come back. i can't hear this song or this song and NOT get chills and sing at the top of my lungs.
• i really want to bake cupcakes but keep putting it off. must. buy. ingredients. this. week.

i think that's it for now. feel free to share your thoughts on my random thoughts :)