tink makes art

1. photo by Stellan Herner. styled by Lo Bjurulf. via 2 by Design and Emmas Design Blog
2. photo via apartment therapy.
3. photo via this is glamorous.

One of my favorite artists, Kelli Murray, recently did three chalk murals in three days at the Del Mar Fair at the Microsoft “KIN” booth. First of all, a chalk mural?! How cool! Secondly, didn’t Kelli do an amazing job?!

A current project of mine is finding the right light fixtures for different rooms in our home. Currently, we have those amazingly, beautiful (cough, cough) brass fixtures, which are, needless to say, a bit outdated. I’ve settled on a floor lamp for our living room and a pendant for our foyer, narrowed down a few others for our dining room and breakfast nook, and am still searching through the thousands available, in the event I change my mind altogether. Having so many selections is a bit overwhelming. It is like walking into a paint store and saying, “I think blue would be a great color for the room.” Do you know how many blues there are? Whew. The same infinite possibilities exists with lighting.

Pottery Barn’s Photographer’s Tripod Floor Lamp, like this one pictured in the bronze finish, will be our new living room addition, except in antique nickel.

This beautiful hexagon pendant by Arteriors will greet you as you come in.

This simple yet elegant chandelier, which can also be found at Pottery Barn, is one of my choices for our dining room…minus the shades.

Arteriors has some amazing pieces like this one. Another potential dining room chandelier. I love this one but feel I may get tired of it. And, being someone who moves furniture around as often as I change clothes (ok, maybe not that often), I think it may not be as transitional as the other. What do you think?

The Calhoun Glass Pendant is one option for the breakfast nook.

I’m thinking of maybe hanging two like in this photo.

Option #2: Hundi Lantern also by Pottery Barn

Loving this light by Roost.

And this one by, you guessed it, Pottery Barn.

I’m back from Aruba! It was a fantastic trip full of family time, love, and adventures! Each night we had dinner at a different family member’s home. The homes there are incredibly expensive because of the costs to import materials. A home that would cost a couple hundred thousand in the states sells for millions in Aruba.  Each home has an interesting layout that includes pocket walls that open up the entire floor plan in a minute! The separated living room and kitchen become one space along with an open courtyard. I want that in my home!

We spent one full day on a 42′ catamaran sailing around the island. My cousin pointed out some of the local surf spots, which were all flat, but I could see their potentials for nice beach breaks.  We stopped for a few hours at one of the most popular snorkeling spots. A variety of tropical fish, star fish, sea spiders, and sea urchins were spotted (and held) along with several species of coral.

Strouse and I took kiteboarding lessons. The power of wind is extraordinary and potentially dangerous, but the thrill is incomparable. I think this is a sport we will invest some time and money into in the near future.

I am already planning my next trip to Aruba but am also hoping to do more traveling in general. I love the change of atmosphere, language, pace, people, and activity. The world is full. Live!

I’m heading out a bit early this week. Strouse and I are leaving for Aruba on Friday! We are only gone until Tuesday, so you’ll be hearing more from me mid-next week. Do you have any travel plans for the weekend? I love this scene from Armageddon when the boys start singing “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”

photo by vanilla_coquelicot

The Summer Solstice is just a month away, which means only one more month of Spring. And, what’s Spring without a little Spring cleaning? I gave tink makes art a face-lift today! I hope you enjoy the new look as much as I do! Leave a comment, and let me know what you think!

photo by le prochain arrêt

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I want to be doing this:

Not sleeping, but relaxing on a boat in the sun. Dream.