Almost Christmas

Winter Solstice

It is the darkest night of the year.

From now on it starts getting lighter.

Making a Forest Christmas Wreath

I'm now on the “Flipside”.

All the way across the world in Cali (California).

I got my freedom.

We are moving into a tiny cottage and I don’t exaggerate when I say tiny.  Now the Simple Life will be truly tested.

Big News

Sette Design

The Simple Life (ha!)

Hello my darlings.

Do you like to be shocked and surprised?

I hope you answered YES.

The girls and I have moved from Italy to California.

After 12 years abroad we are now moving back home to start a new adventure.

IT IS SO EXCITING!

Sette Design

Cheers,

Natalie

Painted Ceiling in Perugia

Here is the café at the train station in Perugia, Italy.

The ceiling is fantastic!

I also love the crumbling effect on the walls painted over in deep rich red.  I can see having a loft space with the walls aged in this manner.

A Little Shabby Chic and French Provincial

Happy Friday it is almost the weekend.

Today I’m just showing an after and before photo. 

I fell in love with this piece the moment I saw it.  I like the curved legs and curved door, plus a corner piece is always lovely.

Happy 2nd Anniversary Sette Design Blog

Can you believe it we have made two years.  We are still kicking!

It sure has been fun.

Will we make it to three years.  Will you still be here?

Stones for Peace

The Simple Life

You never know what you might find here at Sette Design.  I hope this is a tiny part of why you keep coming back.

I made a simple discovery recently, if I leave stones around the house it makes people happy.  I love to collect stones from the river or from the Adriatic and then display them around the house, sometimes with art or sometimes just randomly left around.

Coffee and Tangerines

“Life starts

all over again

when it gets

crisp in the air.”

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

How To Grow Rosemary Topiaries

Hello EVERYONE

Yes I did tint the colors on the photo above, did I get your attention?

I have been working on this project for so long and I have been excited to show you.  Why, because it is easy and simple and so pretty. This is what we just love here at Sette Design.

Marcus Aurelius

The Simple Life

Today just a few words from my hero Marcus and then some pretty photos.
Sending joy across the world to YOU!

Painting a Restaurant - Distressing Walls

Here are the finished shots of the restaurant I have been working on in the center of our city, Foligno, Italy.

Everyone was thrilled with the the final look, rustic, distressed, aged walls and two smooth plum colored back walls, which gave a nice accent.

Autumn, Apples and Apple Pie

The Simple Life

How are you?  Are you an Autumn type of person?  Do you thrive as the weather begins to turn cold?  I must say that I’m more of a Spring and Summer California girl but I do love the golden light of Umbria at this time of year.  It is crazy how the light really turns orange or sepia.

Glamour Moment

I’m having a little glamour moment at work.  I’m painting a restaurant right in the main Piazza of our city Foligno, Italy.

I’m must say that the space is gorgeous with vaulted ceilings and a stone wall and beautiful old wooden tables.  

Antiquing and Distressing Furniture

For a long time I have wanted to paint a piece that was painted brown underneath and then creamy white on top.

A while back I found a beautiful antique dresser that was already painted a good chocolate brown.

Lavender in Umbria, Italy

The Simple Life

Just a few words today.

Lavender lavender lavender,

Umbria not Provence,

A whole heap of lavender.

The smell is so pungent it almost knocks you over when you walk in our door.

Wall of Furniture

I love the idea of furniture or living in design being alternative, day dreamy or fantastical.  I believe that if our eyes are intrigued, our minds expand.

I took a class in University called Architecture Futures.  I was so in awe of the professor that I hard time speaking to him (I think my eyes watered or my face became blotchy, some bad action) he was splendidly smart and interesting to listen to, he believed that in the future our rooms and interiors would be made out of water in an organic way. 

Almost September

The Simple Life

I cannot believe that it is almost September.  Here in Italy it seems like the heat is hitting us now. 

My girls still have another 2 weeks before school starts.

I’ve started lighting candles in the morning at the breakfast table, even if no one wakes up to come to breakfast.

Earthquakes, Espresso and Ice Cream

The Simple Life

Yesterday at 3:20 A.M. there was a huge Earthquake in Napa Valley.

My family in California is fine.

We have a house in the Napa Valley and even one on the coast that the San Andreas Fault passes under.

DIY Beaded Painted Crystal Lamp

For a long time I have wanted to make a beaded lamp.  I  wanted a tall freestanding one, but this is what I had in my studio.  The shade has a good structure to start with because the frame of the lampshade had many parts to attach the wire and beads.

Paint It White - Add Color

The power of white is grand.

If you read this blog you know by now that I love color!

White always looks modern and fresh.  I adore interior spaces with white floors and walls and then color added in the furniture rugs, art and flowers.

Here are a few before shots.

I also believe that it is a good exercise in design to paint a few items from your life WHITE and then just add COLOR as you choose.

This little side table I’m creating a special process for my E-Course on Painting Techniques and as you see it here, it is in the white primer phase.  Doesn’t it look so pretty?

Go around your house and grab a few items and paint them all white.  I took a lamp, a cigar box, perfume bottle, side table, basket and a jar.

Sette Design White makes color pop!

My kiwi-green floor is still holding up Click Here for is the post on how I painted it.  I think the key here was I used an anti –scrap finish at the end.  The green floor is doing far better then the floors painted without the anti-scrape varnish.

Sette Design

Next post I’ll share how I made the lampshade, it was so fun and easy.  Do you like it?  There are some people in my life I won't mention who, they sarcastically question my sanity after seeing that lamp creation.

Tomorrow is a big summer holiday in Italy.

Buon Ferragosto a tutti.

With affection,

Natalie

I'm linking with these fun parties:
French Country Cottage
Romantic Home
Miss Mustard Seed
Between Naps on the Porch
Mod Vintage Lif