Featured Home: A House in the Hills

Here at Kotimaa, we're big blog junkies because we love finding in creativity and inspiration from people through their own personalized perspectives.  One of our favorite blogs is A House In The Hills from local photographer Sarah Yates.  Her blog is so much more than her photography though, with tons of healthy recipes and inspirational style posts.

Through her blog we were also able to get a peek into her Palm Springs, CA home and can we say we have major home envy?  Everything feels so bright and open and her pieces are beautiful!

That amazing mirror!

Please check out all her home updates here!

Susan's Home Tour

Recent travels took me to San Francisco and I knew I wanted to document Susan's apartment in the Mission. It's great in so many ways: in a prime location just down the street from Bi-rite, Tartine and Deflina (basically all the things you'd want to eat in SF); lots of natural light that floods into a space with built-in character; and most importantly, it's the beautiful and loving home she built with her husband, Andrew.

We Love :: Desk Accents

I just moved into a new office and have been trying to figure out ways to add some fun and functional pieces to personalize it. Similar to homes, I love getting a glimpse into people's office space as I think it's a great reflection on their working styles and aesthetics.

In my hunt to beautify my office, here are some great office accessories I've discovered:


1. Brass Stationery Trays by Muhs Home Perfect for papers, mail, and holding all the small miscellaneous items that we use in the office.

2. Akita Tape Dispenser by Plant and Moss A concrete tape dispenser that feels a little industrial, but pops with a little copper detail.

3. Jonathan Adler Dachshund Bookends Not all office accessories need to be serious, and these JA bookends present the perfect way to add some fun.

4. Wooden Business Card Holder by Masakage Tanno Tanno is a young Japanese craftsman and this business card holder made from Japanese walnut is a classic alternative to traditional card holders.

Abbott Kinney Neighborhood Tour

Touted as the coolest block in America, Abbott Kinney is full of trendy boutiques, great restaurants, art galleries, bars and hipster cafes.  It is also full of a dozen or so home stores, each a little different and special in their own way.

The Juicy Leaf

As soon I saw this place my eyes lit up.  The Juicy Leaf is a floral design firm specializing in succulents.  It's a one stop shop to build your perfect arrangement. You can choose all your design elements from the planter, sand, rocks and the succulent itself.  They also have plenty of beautiful already made arrangements if you are looking for a nice gift.

https://www.facebook.com/thejuicyleaf

A&R
A&R has two locations (both in the LA area).  They sell all types of specially curated merchandise from watches to soaps but all have one thing in common.  They all match beautiful clean designs with high functionality.

http://www.aplusrstore.com/

Huset 
Huset features modern Scandinavian designs for apparel and home.  Similar to A&R, most of their merchandise has that minimalist appeal (as is characteristic of Scandanavian design) but the difference is the warmth and hominess behind the designs. This quality is referred to as Hygge.

https://www.huset-shop.com/

Bountiful
Bountiful is an antique store that's full of vintage elegance.  While you can find some of these items at a flea market, it's nice to skip the search and come here.  With a wide variety of items in all shades of color, you will be sure to find something or at least some inspiration here.

http://www.bountifulhome.com/

Abbot Kinney is located in Venice, CA in between Main St and Venice Blvd.

Mark's Home Tour

Mark's home blew us away - plain and simple. It's an architectural home, which is exciting in and of itself, but it really is a wonderful reflection of Mark's impeccable style and personality. Every piece in Mark's home serves a purpose or has a story behind it, and it all comes together to create a beautiful, liveable space.

 
You have an amazing home. Can you tell us more about the architecture and history of it?
Thanks! The home, which is called "Hearn House" after the original owner who commissioned it, was designed by Lloyd Wright (Frank Lloyd Wright's son)in 1952. Hearn wanted a home that opened up to the outdoors and lent itself to entertaining. Lloyd Wright's design succeeds on both counts. I'm told that a yacht served as the inspiration for the design. If you stand down the street looking up, the structure of the living room cantilevered over the carport does indeed resemble the prow of a ship. It's definitely unique.

Photo via WWDIS

Featured Home: Library House by Jessica Helgerson

I came across Jessica Helgerson, a Portland based interior designer, online and immediately appreciated her design aesthetic. Her projects reflect a broad range of styles, but each showcase a well-planned, cohesive look.

In particular, I was particularly impressed with the Library House - a remodel and addition to what was originally a public library in Portland. Amazing! As an avid reader and patron of public libraries, I love this idea. It's a mix of vintage and modern, and is a creative use of relatively small space.

We Love :: Clocks

As I mentioned in my home tour, the clock is one of my favorite pieces, not only because of its sentimental value but also because it's a focal point of the room. Clocks are functional but also might be the best way to dress up a bare wall. Here are some of my choices:

 
1. George Nelson Sunflower Clock via Vitra Vitra Design Museum A re-edition of the classic 1958 George Nelson clock.

2. Parsons Wall Clock via West Elm. A classic shape with bone inlay detail.

3. Industrial Iron Circle Clock via CB2. Love this minimalist, industrial clock with the brass hands.

4. George Nelson Turbine Clock via Hayneedle Another George Nelson classic in a starburst design and maybe my favorite of this lot.