Random inspiration

Simple, honest, natural, functional.

Images from principlesofaesthetics.tumblr.com

Interiors with character (or, random inspiration 2)

The most inspiring interiors are neither the ones that were put together with expensive items, or are organized and anally matchy-matchy in style, or color, etc. The real beautiful interiors have a quality that is hard to easily replicate, they're not formulaic. They are not just for show, they don't seem lifeless and perfect as if the stylists have just left, or empty like a fancy hotel suite waiting for its guests. They are lived in and the inhabitants' lifetstyle added to the room's style. They have character.

Images from brendan-i-am.tumblr.com

Rustic cabinets

Not the most exciting thing but these solid wood cabinets and shelves are pretty cool.  The rustic stool's quite nice, too.

Image from DesignSponge.com

Flexible & eclectic -and I don't mean your aunt!

A casual and comfortable living room. The barn light above, that Adirondack style chair indoors, that red stool used as a side table, and that big pillow that can be used as a foot-rest are nice and comfortable touches. It's nice that you can move most of those things around as you see fit.

Image from HouseBeautiful.com

Let the sunshine in!

The flooring would be hard to clean I imagine, so it's probably not the best choice for a bathroom -even though it looks great. That industrial light fixture above the mirror looks like it would last a while but what I like most about this bathroom is  the door letting in lots of natural light, and the simple and casual cabinetry!

Image from the flickr stream of The Estate of Things

Biodegradable seating

Vegetable tanned leather is great. There's depth and variation in its colors (unlike chemically dyed leather,) and it looks better with age. Isao Takezawa Design creates some warm and casual stools with the stuff.

Images from IsaoTakezawa.com

Authenticity & beauty

When wood is used in a way that honors its nature, when unique markings on it are not removed as flaws but accepted and even highlighted, the end result is usually more aesthetically pleasing... as demonstrated by the great designs here from André Joyau.




All images from AndreJoyau.com

Jurgen Lehl

Jurgen Lehl designs some rough/casual/earthy furniture along with his clothing line.

Above - these stools are hand carved from one solid piece of wood. Image from JurgenLehlShop.jp

Above - Stools are made of woven bamboo and stainless steel, naturally each one is unique. Image from DesignBoom.com

Aged, Rustic, & Practical

I like these stools (as I've mentioned before,) the tin lamps, and the stone wall in the background but I especially like the island/table. I like mobile islands instead of permanent ones anyway, and it is nice that this one has some drawers along with leg room on all sides so you can use it as a table, too. Even though it didn't look anything like this, my grandma used to have a table with a couple of drawers as well. She had silverware in the drawers and I remember it was so easy to set up the table that way and if you ever needed a spoon or a knife during a meal you could just get one from the drawers without leaving the table. Image from CountryLiving.com - ultimate kitchen guide.

Natural Choices for Side Tables

These side tables are simultaneously modern and rustic. It is relaxing in itself to have natural forms around but these tables are also easy-going because they would age well and look better with use - meaning you could enjoy them instead of worrying about scratching them.
Above - Fir Root side table/stool from Pendleton.
Above - Branch side table from West Elm.

Stool Samples

I love industrial stools at home. They last forever, age really well, have a lot of character, and are usually inexpensive. You can place one by a chair to set a drink/plate on, they're light and small enough so you can move them wherever you need them or put them away if you don't... and people can actually sit on them if need be.
Above - the CB2 alchemy stool found on Apartment Therapy.

I prefer the ones with wooden seats/tops since they have some warmth along with an everlasting metal structure.
Above - Vintage painter's stool from Modern50.