Archive for category Travel

Linières-Bouton-Part 2 of the Loire Valley Chronicles

Just a short walk from Moulin Bregeon is the small town of Linières-Bouton. Home to 96 people, one low income house, Napoleon’s great, great grandniece, the requisite church and chateau; and…Jonathan Robinson who calls himself an ”aesthetic refugee,” and who is bent on preserving the traditional architecture of France one building at a time.

Linières-Bouton's downtown, thanks to Father Bartolomew

About six years ago Jonathan purchased most of the buildings in this charming village, which had been abandoned about 20 years before when local residents started moving to larger towns to live, work and shop. He now owns the remains of an old dry goods store, a blacksmith’s shop still crammed with all its original tools, and even a local type of bowling alley, along with several homes. One which houses his art studio.    Continue reading “Linières-Bouton-Part 2 of the Loire Valley Chronicles” »

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Le Moulin Bregeon-Part 1 of the Loire Valley Chronicles

During my recent project in Geneva Switzerland, we had the great good fortune to take a 4 day side trip to Linières-Bouton, Pays De La Loire, in France. I wanted to visit my friend Jonathan, whom I initially met on FB and then in person in California. He told me about his small town and the historic water mill that he was restoring and I was intrigued…so, we went to see for ourselves…Words cannot begin to describe the magic…

Nestled deep in the Loire is an old 19th Century Water Mill (called a Moulin in French) that has been restored and renovated into a fabulous bed and breakfast. Owned by artist Jonathan Robinson, and run with his partners Pascal and Bernard, it is called Moulin Bregeon, and is one of the most tranquil, rejuvenating and uplifting places on earth.

Thanks to Jonathan Robinson and Friends of Moulin Bregeon for sharing this fab photo by Olivia Rae James

It is a sensual retreat for the spirit; Continue reading “Le Moulin Bregeon-Part 1 of the Loire Valley Chronicles” »

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Geneva Switzerland-Project via Santa Rosa Interior Design

My clients apartment is in this lovely building in the Champel District of Geneva

I’m back from Geneva! Yes, it was a fabulous trip…and…it’s always great to come home isn’t it?

And, of course, that was the purpose of this trip, to create a home. It was not to design an interior space, but rather to consult with two adults, in mid age, combining two separate and completed households, merging two distinctly different styles and creating their first home together…in a much smaller space…in Geneva Switzerland, far from family and friends!

Yes, quite a feat for them wouldn’t you say? It was a pleasure and a privilege to be able to consult with them through out the process, from our first meeting in Nashville where we edited each house into three piles:    Continue reading “Geneva Switzerland-Project via Santa Rosa Interior Design” »

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Leaving on a Jet Plane-Geneva, Switzerland

Leaving on a Jet Plane

I’m off to Geneva Switzerland tomorrow to help a client and her fiance to settle into their new apartment. Yes…I am excited to work with a long time client and friend, and yes…it is a wonderful and challenging project. Here is just a little of what it will entail.  Continue reading “Leaving on a Jet Plane-Geneva, Switzerland” »

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#1 Ladies Detective Agency-colorful on every level

LOVE the caption for the show "Never underestimate a woman's intuition"

I’m writing this blog post because of a casual comment by Pat Zahn left on my blog post about tea, she said: “Also reminds me of the book series, #1 Ladies Detective Agency; I got into Red Bush tea because of that series – the ritual of the tea permeates the stories.” OMG, how could I have forgotten about these fabulous, fabulous, fabulous books and HBO TV series?   (see…inspiration CAN come from everywhere!)

What does this have to do with Little Bit’s of Beauty ™ you ask? Well, in an era of violence, crudeness and utter banality on TV, this show is beautiful in it’s simplicity!  I LOVE the cadence of the speech of all the characters. The slow simple lifestyle depicted is beautiful, the characters are funny, irreverent and downright human…plus the colors and patterns used in the show’s homes, dress, and artwork used for the intro to the show are all stunning and inspiring to me as a designer!    Continue reading “#1 Ladies Detective Agency-colorful on every level” »

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