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.

Rethink :: Chairs

One of the pieces I loved most about Esther & Frank's home tour was her DIY reupholstered wingback chair. It's a project that I've always wanted to take on myself but am terrified and overwhelmed by the idea. So I applaud anyone that has successfully taken on a reupholstering project!

I also realized in going through my Pinterest board that I have an affinity for accent chairs - all shapes, sizes and especially bold prints and colors. Here are some of my favorites:

1. A modern white and pink geometric print - via an old Domino magazine cataloged on Flickr.



2. A classic Eames-inspired lounge chair and ottoman in white with a pop of color - via Marissa Waddell Interiors.



3. A vintage tufted wingback chair in a soft peach, perfect for a neutral room palette via DesignSponge.

Featured Home :: Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör

Desire to Inspire was where we first discovered Alvhem Mäkleri & Interiör and now it's become a regular on our blog roll. It's a Swedish real estate site and is great inspiration for Scandinavian design and aesthetics.

This is one of their recent homes which seamlessly incorporates so many of my favorite design elements:

• hanging pendant lamp - check, check, check!
• character pieces - that fireplace!
• simplicity with pops of color or texture - loving the rug in the bedroom
• wallpaper - I think wallpaper is so easily overwhelming and hard to get right - this is a great exception!

Dia De Los Muertos

Halloween may be long gone but if you remember Johnney and Krystallin's home tour, you know that Day of the Dead style home decor can be year round (especially for the bar!).  It can be kitschy but it can also be modern, sleek and blend with most styles.  On my evening walk tonight, I even passed a neighborhood sushi spot that used skulls as patio decor.  Doing a quick search online, we found these fun items so enjoy!

1. Morelia Decanter from CrateandBarrel.com

2. Crystal Head Vodka from Bevmo.com

3. Skull Shot Glass from Bevmo.com

4. Human Skull Replica from RestorationHardware.com

Esther and Frank's Home Tour

We're really excited to bring you today's tour of Esther and Frank's home in Lake Balboa, CA.  We're not sure where to start with this one because not only is Esther a total DIYer but she's also a complete character (they don't call her @quirkyesther for nothing). Her talents go far beyond home decor and include being an amazing chef.  The day we visited, Esther made a delicious meal for us which included her famous ribs, sides and my favorite, the Momofuku crack pie (more on her later).

Although Esther may have been the mastermind behind their many DIY projects, Frank isn't a bystander when it comes to working a paint brush.  Their hard work has resulted in a warm, inviting place that has so many interesting details, it was hard to choose which ones to showcase here.  Their hand stenciled walls, quirky quotes and reupholstered pieces are just a few of the many special things about their home.

Customized Canvas Prints

Hand Stenciled Walls

Johnney and Krystallin's Home Tour

Johnney and Krystallin are one hip couple.  Both work in digital advertising and share a fun, kitschy duplex in Culver City, CA. They do a great job of mixing vintage and mid century modern pieces along with incorporating their personalities into the decor.  Krystallin loves anything related to Dia de Los Muertos..and Johnney?  He loves GTA and punk rock!  We just loved shooting their home because everything is so reflective of Johnney & Krystallin's (visit her blog!) fun personalities.

    

Describe Your Style...

Our style is Mid Century Modern with a splash of Dia de los Muertos. I love retro looking furniture, and I'm fascinated by Mexican art. I think the bright colors are great accents to our dark walls and wood furniture.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

I'm inspired by the vintage furniture I grew up with. I used to think that it was old and out dated, but now I appreciate the simplicity of the style. 

Where do you like shopping for home goods?

Everywhere! Some of our furniture is from second hand stores & flea markets, while others are new from retail stores.

What is your favorite home item/find?

Our vintage bar. We found it at a local thrift store for only $150. It was a steal!

Favorite thing about your home...

I love that everything in our home is 100% us. We picked out the floor tiles, the colors on the wall, and all of the furniture. I've never seen another home decorated like ours.

We Love :: Books

Who doesn't love a good coffee table book? We love books and Casey's home tour reminded us how books can add character and color to any room and home. But aside from serving as decor, a good coffee table book should have a great cover and tempt you (or guests) to peek inside. Here are some of our favorites:

1. Chanel: Collections and Creations. Amazing archival photographs of Coco Chanel and original drawings by Karl Lagerfeld that have built this classic brand.

2. David Hockney by Paul Melia. A retrospective filled with colorful photographs showing the artistic development of one of my favorite contemporary artists, David Hockney.

3. Kinfolk Table A minimalist cookbook from the creators of Kinfolk magazine showcasing simple recipes perfect for intimate dinner parties.

4. Neutra: Complete Works Richard Neutra, a name synonymous with California modern architecture, has a cult following, but all will love this book filled with over 1,000 photographs of his inspiring work.

Casey's Home Tour

We're so excited to share our first home tour! Casey's "tiny house" is ideal in so many ways: it's in a great neighborhood with a lot that's accessible within walking distance (rare in LA!); is a completely standalone bungalow with no shared walls and feels like a completely private space; and most importantly, serves a great blank canvas to showcase his great design sense.


Describe your style
Clean, comfortable and masculine.Vintage-inspired, with a hint of humor.

Where do you get your inspiration from? I mostly look for pieces that fit the feel of what I’m trying to achieve and that fit with the pieces I already have. I’ve been slowly collecting furniture and art, one piece at a time, over the last 10 years, during which I’ve lived in seven apartments in four cities. I try to only buy pieces that I think will work in any setting and that I will want to have forever. I usually start with a need (“I need a dresser,” “I need a chair”) and then look everywhere, sometimes for several months, until I find something I can’t live without. I have a lot of personal design quirks, too – I don’t like rugs, and I prefer a weathered, lacquered finish to woodgrain.

Oh, and I love the look of old James Bond movies.

So it begins....

Believe it or not, this blog has been in the making for over 2+ years. The concept for KOTIMAA  may have only come to us sometime this year, but Christie and I have been talking about collaborating on a creative venture since we met. We bonded over a love of vintage, crafting, Etsy and flea markets but what has really motivated us has been the consistent desire to nurture our creativity in a way that our 9-5 jobs just doesn't allow.

We'll showcase interesting homes and work spaces reflecting a wide range of design aesthetics. And we hope KOTIMAA will serve as a source of creative inspiration for daily living in your live and/or work space!




Enjoy!