Simplicity & Beauty

synonym, issue one: ennui  ///  a small bowl that my mother beautifully hand glazed

My parents brought these for me from the States.  They make me happy.

Tuesday With Moi

Tuesday, October 16

An ESM Tuesday

  What's strange about this Tuesday's collection of photos is that they all match.

They're full of soft browns, charcoal blacks, warm greys and greens.

Which is great because those are the colors I'm using to decorate and paint our home.

Remember when I said the Bonsai Garden at the National Arboretum was my color-inspiration for our new space.  Well, it's happening.

Maybe my life will become more zen in the process, too?

Painting, however, was not zen.  My mind was full of doubts and fears yesterday as I painted our hallway.  I'm impatient and frustrated by where we are right now and instead of counting my many blessings, I obsessed over all the things that are going wrong- or, rather, not going the way I want them to.

Le Chat stayed out of my way yesterday.  She doesn't like it when I compete with her for Queen Bitch status in the flat.  But isn't it cute that even she matches our color scheme?  Those green eyes kill me.

Eventually, I had to take a break from painting to stop and get some real work done.

I was cold in the living room so I relocated to my bed and turned up the heat.

And then I complained in my head about how I don't have a desk and could feel myself turning into a hunchback.  Like I said, I was mentally not in a good place.

David went out for a beer with one of his sons and I got to stay home to finish painting.
And then I had ugly thoughts about never being included in David's family life and I felt miserable.

Which, of course, is ridiculous.  All of it- ridiculous.

And then I was like, fuck it, I'm going to have a glass of wine while I do this.

This pretty much sums up my mood.

Ugly.

Finally, I was done.  For a while, at least.
I'd sanded the woodwork, filled holes, and wiped away spider webs.  I'd painted over the fingerprints and grime that had accumulated over the years.  I'd contorted myself to reach awkward corners and had a few aches and bruises to prove it.  And I wasn't anywhere close to being done.
Today I will paint green stripes on top.  God bless my math skills...

After all the painting I sat my ass on the couch and whined/cried to David about how tired I was.

This issue of Monocle was close at hand, but I wasn't actually reading it at the time.

I was crying, instead. 

Why am I painting this house when all I want to do is move away from it?  Why did I leave so many possessions that I love in America when I could have them here and be living more comfortably?  Why oh why did we come to this country?  Why isn't everyone telling me how amazing I am for painting this hallway? etc.

And then David was like, "Kate, you need to focus on getting out of this negative place you're in."

And then he let me whine a little more and was really nice and listened to all my grievances. 

And then he gave me a hug and told me I couldn't go on this way- that he wouldn't stand for it.

So we went to bed. 

And today I feel a lot better.

And, like, if I don't get my period in the next couple days, I will have no justification for being so miserable yesterday. 
So godspeed, Menstrual Cycle.  Let's do this.

Off now to paint some green stripes... wish me luck. 

xox

Cox Quarters DIY: Paint It Black

Ever since I was sixteen and living in Brussels, I've been obsessed with the idea of a black kitchen.  The idea sparked when I first visited L'Atelier en Herbe in the Sablon, which is a beautiful flower shop that is completely painted matte black.  The flowers dramatically pop against the dark background and I remember thinking how beautiful an eggplant, leek or strawberry would look in a kitchen with black walls. 

Fastforward eight hears and I finally have it- my very own black kitchen!  And though we have a few spots to touch up and some finishing tweaks to make, I can say with much certainty that I am obsessed with my black kitchen.  It is so sleek and warm, so dramatic and clean.  I am in l.o.v.e.

See how the colors just pop!  So cool.  

This is the first major overhaul I've made to Cox Quarters so far, but it will certainly not be the last.  I still have major plans for the living room (which will be finished this week), hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.  Basically it's all getting an overhaul.  And then, knowing us, David will get a job in Bristol or something and we'll end up moving.  Whatever.  This is just the beginning of a number of changes to our environment that I've set it motion to help us take control of our space and our lives.  I got tired of saying, When you get a job, let's.... so instead of waiting around for the world to meet my needs, I am going to meet them myself.  And boy does it feel good! 

Tuesday w/Moi II

I bought this book at a used bookstore last week because I just can't turn down Hemingway.  I love him! Why? Because Hotchner describes him of having a fear of the telephone, because he always wore an old Nazi belt which was too wide for his belt loops, so he wore it over them, and because he said incredibly wise things very simply, such as, 'Never confuse movement with action.'  Also, Hemingway is basically synonymous with 'badass' and I like that, too.  And he was a great writer.

 

During my years working in a salon, I became very particular about the products I use to keep my hair healthy and gorgeous (no really, I love my hair, though it's in desperate need of a color soon).  Every ten days or so, I use Rene Furterer Complex 5 on my scalp and Karite Oil on my follicle to keep my head moisturized and healthy.  These plant extract oils have the added bonus of smelling heavenly, making them a morning indulgence that I look forward to between treatments.  Yesterday was one of those special mornings and I lit a candle to celebrate (sidenote: I prefer candlelight when I'm showering, it makes everything so soft and lovely!).

It was a long time coming, but I finally got around to hanging my earring rack and kimono yesterday.  Slowly but surely this apartment is coming together to become a home.

Made a shopping list.  We needed a lot of soap!

In town, I found a little street paved with rocks that reminded me of the surface of an oyster shell.  It made my heart ache for the ocean.

I didn't end up buying any flowers on my shopping trip, but I did buy a mint plant which is almost as good!  I'm definitely going to make a pitcher of minty lemon fizzy water this afternoon.

Skyping with my Dad.  He's in Australia right now.  Our family is a time-zone nightmare!

The English don't call French Presses French Presses, they call them Cafetieres.  Weird.  Also, I miss my Moccamaster so so so much!  We fried the motor when we plugged it into our UK outlet (with an adapter, mind you) and it's sadly beyond repair.  As is my heart.

Checking-in on Le Chat.  She has the best life ever, no?

David came home!  I still get excited when I see him after a day spent apart.

I made Aperol cocktails with prosecco and soda water.  Like an Aperol Spritz, minus the ice.  More on this later in the week...

Cowboy dinner.

Got lost in my work and forgot to take a picture at 21:00, OOPS!

I like to think that Lula and Samantha House Jewelry are going to be good friends.  Girl of my dreams, indeed! 

Thank you for sharing my Tuesday with me, friends!  I think I need to get over my penchant for left-leaning paper-goods, no?  It's so painfully obvious that I'm right-handed! 

xoxo

@ The National Arboretum

After four full days in the new flat, I've decided to dub our new home Cox Quarters.  This place has been occupied by a steady stream of testosterone-charged young men for the last five years and the scuffed walls, layers of kitchen grime and utilitarian decor are all in serious need of a tasteful touch.

As I've been thinking about my plans for the flat, my mind keeps going back to the National Bansai and Penjing Museum at the National Arboretum in DC.  Ever since visiting a couple weeks ago, I've been obsessed with the chlorophyll rich greens, the teak wood, and subtle greys and browns of the bonsai trees.  The bonsai exhibit was breathtaking (I love that the trees are described as being "in training") and the crisp colors made me feel clean, serene and refreshed.  I'm thinking some grey-white paint, teak furniture and manicured houseplants are definitely in my future.

As much as I'm drawn to the beauty of bonsai, I'm also fascinated by the art and philosophy of bonsai.  How lovely that some of these trees have been in training for hundreds and hundreds of years and have been cared for by just as many people.  Just as a bonsai artist must know when to trim and edit a tree's growth pattern, so must a small business owner know when to trim and edit their business growth (and an artist their craft).   As much as you try, you oftentimes can't plan exactly how your business will grow and change over time, but you can adapt to make sure your growth is properly tended to.  Bonsai business- how lovely! 

And just to update everyone- Le Chat safely arrived in the UK on Friday.  She's acclimated wonderfully to the new space, though she is quite afraid of the step-sons who are approximately 2,000 times her size and 100 times louder.  Let's just say she and I are having a lot of quiet time together in the bedroom, with the door closed.   xox

Goodbye Worldly Possessions

I'm selling stuff on Craigslist for the first time ever and even though I blew my mom off on the phone when she told me to be careful with the people I deal with, I'm still convinced that the next buyer is actually going to be a Craigslist killer.  This is exacerbated by the fact that everyone who has contacted me has a totally ludicrous email address, fails to grasp any understanding of email composition or grammar, and doesn't seem to have a name.  Like, who are these people trolling CL for old guitars and filing cabinets anyway?  But don't worry, mom, I'm making David answer the door.

Anyone have any awesome or weird Craigslist stories?  I think it's fascinating that people want to buy my old stuff... fascinating, but also really awesome. 

Inspired By: It's Lonely in the Modern World

 
I realized when taking these photos that Slum Castle (the manor in which I reside) seems to have eaten my tripod.  I searched high and low, in suitcases and cupboards, but could not find my tripod.  Ergo, I apologize for the wonkiness of the pictures.  I also used really inconsistent light, but that is neither here nor there.

Now that I'm finished with the disclaimers, let me tell you more about what's inspiring me today!  My BFFL, David, has a flat in a Narnia-sounding town south-east of London named Tunbridge Wells (Royal Tunbridge Wells, if you're feeling fancy, which I am).  One of his two sons (which you will learn about in a later posts, I'm sure) lives in said flat, which is a two bed, two bath, sunny-ish space.  The square footage and layout isn't terrible, but the place could use some finishing touches and I am very much looking forward to fixing up the flat (there are some missing doorknobs, to say the least), painting everything, and then getting the hell out of there.

To give you some insight into my future life, I will confess to having no idea what I'm going to be doing with myself after I move to the UK.  Obviously, I intend on gaining some kind of [v. v. lucrative] employment, but if we're able, I'd like to take two months off to acclimate to my new surroundings upon landing in the foreign land.  A v. v. important part of my acclimation process will be transforming his son's [/our] bachelor pad into a livable space (no offense, Ben, if you're reading this!).  To gain inspiration for this endeavor, I have turned to the design guide It's Lonely in the Modern World written by Molly Jane Quinn and illustrated by Jenna Talbott, aka the founders of Unhappy Hipsters. 

Before the FALALAFABULOUS holiday season, a dear friend and I went to a book signing party at Twelve Chairs for the launch of the book (the ladies behind it were Boston-based at the time of its conception).  While the book is tongue-and-cheek, it's still a really fun read for anyone with a modern aesthetic and a love for modernist decorating.  It's a mixture of sage advice and snarky commentary, which I lovelovelove.  My favorite part of the entire book is on page 34 when they're writing about "The Kitchen Checklist" and dismiss the usefulness of the pantry by saying, "What is this, the Depression?" Ha!  Though it's not a super tool for modern living, it is a fun read and I recommend it (it's also a great gift.  I recommend gifting it in addendum to the Design Sponge book).

I really can't wait to move to the UK and DIY the shit out of the flat.  And yes, I'll be documenting my every improvement (and every improvement failure).  Stay tuned....