Oak Tree Galls a Creative Display




The Simple Life
Hi everyone!

I’ve finished the loft I was painting a while back.  I call it the Californian Bohemian Loft. I plan to show you it in the next post. Today some strange and splendid inspiration, Oak Tree Galls and garden flowers.  

Ukrainian Egg Dying




Buona Pasqua

Around this family compound there is lots of Ukrainian Egg Dying going on.  Since this is the wine country, I can also say that friends bring over bottles of precious wine and then sit down and let their creativity go.  It is interesting how good people are at it.  Everyone wants to dye eggs!

Springtime and The Nashberry Cocktail




The Simple Life

Oh do I have a special treat for you.  It is COCKTAIL TIME, now here in California (and the U.S.) we have change our clocks forward to save daylight time.

Spring forward
Fall back

March Already



The Simple Life

I’ve lost my grip on The Simple Life.  I don’t have my calm.  It’s funny because I changed the heading on this blog to The Simple Life in California but it isn’t true at all at this point.  We moved into a tiny little cottage but honestly it is a mess most of the time and not simple.  I don’t make bread anymore either.  I’ll tell you there is a lot that goes on and down when one moves across the world even if it is to a world that you think you know.  I don’t know this life in Cali, I’m learning it all over again.

Crazy for Camellias




I go crazy for Camellias they bring vivid color to any environment in the winter, in Umbria and where we live now in the Wine Country of California they are abundant.  To me they always seemed like a Valentines flower because of all the varying shades of pink, red and white.

This post I have for you today is just a few ideas about displaying Camellias, it is filled with pretty photos, some silliness and always nice design.

Two Houses I Love




If you read this blog a tiny bit, you know that I love houses, tiny houses, rambling big houses, colored houses.  As I wander through my days I fall in love with so many houses.

Today I have for you a couple of houses that I LOVE.

One is a playhouse covered in brambles and winter leafless wonder.


Sette Design
This other house is just gorgeous perfection.  It gives black and white a good name.  Some days I think houses should be white where ever they are in the world, white is always the right color choice.  A perfect iconic white house is always good design.

http://settedesign7.blogspot.com
I understand I am contradicting myself because the playhouse is not white and yes it is just lovely, wood mixed with growing natural wood.

Anyone interested in taking my Online Painting Class for Interiors, Art and Furniture --click the link below.  It is inspirational!




Cheers,
Natalie

Credenza and Table





Today as promised I’m going to show you the last job I did in Italy.  The last job before I left.  There will still be other jobs in Italy in the future, “Salve Italia”.

I hope this will be inspiring.  As you know I love grey, this was a taupe-grey.  Here I did the credenza a shade lighter than the table.  Distressed both the pieces.  Then on the table I sanded the edges irregularly and added bronze.

A New Year 2015




I can hear the train whistling in the distance.
I’m drinking a Ruby Red Grapefruit Margarita
Why because I’m in Cali not Italy, it is still so shocking.
It was 68 degrees today- unprecedented!
The sky was deep blue, now it is black.
At night I look up in the sky and there are so many stars I know I’m home and this is my big sky.
I’m sorry I disappeared for a bit there I took an unannounced hiatus.
I did just move across the world.  There may be more hiatuses to come.
I’m back now and I want to wish you
Happy New Year.

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.

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!