Naturally Inspiring

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The perfect view…while hiking in Bratten Fleming, a small village in North Devon U.K. I stumbled upon the “perfect view”! Perfect you might ask, how can something actually be this perfect….I will tell you….it’s a moment in time that was not staged for a photo shoot, it’s a moment in time that does not appear on a catalog cover (not yet) but a moment in time that one can appreciate if they just stop and enjoy. It has all the right ingredients: perspective, texture, saturated color and natural charm. 
I bet if we started to look at our surroundings a bit more we would learn to appreciate more of these “perfect views”. Take that walk that you have been putting off, enjoy that city block that we were meaning to explore, find that beach during a sunset…because there are so many “perfect views” in our life that do not always come in the form of this photograph…sometimes we just need to create them within ourselves!

Global Greats…North Devon U.K. 

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Wanted to share a few “Global Greats” from our trip this past week to the English Countryside! These pics are from Dunster, Barnstaple, Braunton and Wiltshire. I will be posting images over the next week on this blog as well as Instagram @nancy_fire

Our amazing week in Devon was reflective of the people, places and experiences that we had! An adventure that was truly aspirational and eye opening….

Tomorrow’s post will include lodging and favorite food picks.

Jet lag is setting in….good nite all!

Nancy

The Gardens of North Devon

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Traveling through the English countryside around North Devon this past week has reconfirmed my love for gardens that have a “rustic” touch. In America I call this style “rustic glam” when beauty meets a more unfinished sensibility…still beautiful but in a rustic way!

Personally as an avid gardener I  have never liked my gardens perfect and manicured. I have always preferred them a bit “rough around the edges” paired with substrates like old stone walls, distressed wood and in groupings of tonal colors that define my borders in a more color centric way…..well my friends after a week in North Devon I am heading back to the U.S. in awe of these magical gardens with more ways to keep my “rustic glam” garden trend more authentic!

Take note of some of my inspiration….and do note that the English Rose gives off a scent that is even more overwhelming than its beauty!

               

     

Updated Style in the Medieval Town of Dunster, Somerset

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Tucked into a 16th century shop in the Medieval town of Dunster, houses a Garden and Home Store with an updated style and sensibility known as the Horse and Crook. Shop owner and curator Abigail Larter has been in business the past 9 years because her style is somewhat unique in this tourist centric town where thousands of people from all over the world come and visit the Dunster Castle and Gardens.

Traveling as I do for my business, shopping trends and style throughout the world it’s refreshing to see a store that is unique to its town…and that is exactly what Abigail has created at the Horse and Crook.

Dunster is a town filled with many eateries and shops that are more tourist centric catering to bus loads of people on excursions to the castle. The Horse and Crook are exactly the opposite as a garden and home store with an updated “rustic glam” style. Abigail seeks out rustic and natural products from many local sources and curators them in an updated fashion. Her terra cotta and cream colored walls really do the trick creating a beautiful backdrop for her carefully curatored products. Succulents displayed in distressed painted pots, rustic frames with hand stamped detailing, hand lettered gift tags and printed textiles are just a few of Abigail’s fun finds at the Horse and Crook.

The Horse and Crook is located at:                  18 High Street in Dunster, Somerset. http://www.horseandcrook.co.uk 

          

From this Magical Place…Bratten Fleming, North Devon U.K. 

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First I have to thank my art director at Design Works International, Selina and her husband Pete for inviting us to their wedding in North Devon this coming Saturday…because when that invite arrived a few months back I did not even know this magical part of the country existed! After some quick research and my wonderful husband agreeing to rent a car and drive 4 hours out of London…on the opposite side of the road and a steering wheel flush right…our plans were official! (Kudos to my hubby Neil who drove like a pro…noted from Heathrow..into Central London for a day and 4 hours into the English Countryside)

Arriving into Bratten Fleming via the back roads that emulate glorified bike paths…I knew we were in for a fantastic adventure….you see these back roads are wide enough for a single vehicle no bigger than a Mini Cooper by UK standards…had to back up twice to let oncoming local traffic pass…these roads, or paths really, are flanked by fern and wild hollyhocks in bright magenta I might add! A photographers paradise…begging Neil to take me back on these roads today so I can capture their beauty! As a designer and photographer this part of the country is pure paradise!

We are staying at the lovely Bracken House in Bratten Fleming where I will dedicate a full blog post in a few days…so much to capture here that my brain needs time to comprehend and organize all my thoughts and images…so for now I will just post “moments of brillance” from this Magical Place!

Enjoy❤️

All photos by Nancy Fire

                

London Inspiration

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A quick trip in London before heading to North Devon today….wanted to share some “Global Greats”. Always love being in London especially when the sun is shinning  and the sky is blue!    Mesob Baskets and Kilim Rugs from Liberty of London and embroidered pillows from John Lewis Oxford Street.

  Fabrics, pillows and lampshades from John Lewis Oxford Street.

  Everything Home at John Lewis Oxford Street

  Berners Tavern at The London Edition

Berners Tavern at The London Edition

A New York Night “Take A Seat”

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Hosted by the IFDA NY, Safavieh and NYC&G, the Take A Seat Action held in NY, a design exhibition which featured up-cycled chairs creatively redesigned by area professionals was a night to remember. The event was held at the Safavieh showroom which hosted a fullhouse of industry professionals all bidding on these 26 creative pieces of art-inspired chairs, where all proceeds went to Habitit for Humanity NYC.

This diverse group of designers were made up of architects, builders, craftsman, furniture designers and various design professionals showing their support for Habitit for Humanity. The following designers took part in this successful event: Lani Adeoye, Michael Arguello, Carly Bassen, Allison Bassen, Jonathan Bressler, Bromley Caldari Architects, Cliff Young Intern Team, Gregory Allan Cramer, Iris Danker, Christopher Hyland, Vanessa Deleon, Nancy Fire, Patricia Fox, Mari O’Connor, Stacy Garcia, Jan Girard, Barry Goralnick, Lorraine Gordon, John Locke, Jennifer Mack, Lindsey Smith, Karim Rashid, Esther…

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