Travel

“Photo Bombed” by Stonehenge

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Never easy ending a vacation….especially one that was super inspiring as Neil and I made our way through the English Countryside in the North Devon Region of the U.K.

Driving a car in these parts is what any American would say…”an adventure unto itself”. Not only are you driving on the opposite side of the road and your steering wheel is flush right, the roads of Devon are the size of a bike path for two way traffic!

English Country Gardens are rustic and refined…colors are saturated and flowers this time of the year have an aroma worth the drive! So much inspiration and natural beauty……on our way back to London we made a special detour to a place that has been on my bucket list for some time now…Stonehenge….speaking of Natural Beauty from 4500 years ago…we had to check out these fine rocks…and we are glad we did!

An ancient temple aligned from the movement of the sun, Stonehenge will not dissapoint! It’s massive scale, textured surface and history are all part of the experience!Hard enough to end a vacation but we found a great segue to get us back….being “Photo Bombed” by Stonehenge!   

  

  

  

  

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!

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!

               

     

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

Night Walk Central Park NYC

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Just love this city…they say it’s “The City That Never Sleeps” and I truly know why. It’s not just about the “Action” in places like Times Square or the busy streets of NYC…its about that magical moment when day turns into night and the city takes on a new form of energy…its like a symphony of lights between the sky and the city. My favorite time of day in my favorite city to go for a “Night Walk in Central Park”.

Photo by Nancy Fire

 

Opposites Attract 

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Photo Credit @nancy_fire

Does “Black and White” really ever go out of style?

No matter what trade show I might be attending, or country I might be traveling to, I always seem to find products in black and white refreshing.

 It might be a resting point for my eye or a way to wipe my overstimulated mind clean after viewing so many patterns and colors…but wherever I am and whatever I post on social media I always seem to get an overwhelming response to black and white imagery!

Do some see it as a safe way to add print and pattern in their lives without too much chaos over adding color? 

Do some favor the simplicity of a graphic statement without color?

Do some see it as a secure way to decorate because it never seems to “Go out of Style”?

In my humble opinion…it could be “all of the above”…..because I personally look forward to finding my next resting point during my upcoming travels…and this is coming from a person who lives in a world of color and pattern!

Trend Shopping in Shanghai 

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Someone has to do it….so why not me?

Often I am asked why I love what I do everyday for a living and as the old saying goes…”Find a job you love and you”ll never work a day in your life”….25 years in my design studio in NYC with some of the most talented and dedicated designers, amazing clients and friends, my husband Neil as my business and life partner and two kids that are well on their way to creating their own path in life…sounds easy right…nope lots of hard work, dedication, long days and nights in the studio, PTA meetings and more! 

My point…it takes time to build ones career and good things are worth the wait. This is my mantra during the many interviews I conduct in my studio because I feel it so important today to be realistic about ones professional path. It took years of hard work to build our business and today we are humbled to still be in business in one of the greatest cities in the world!

So trend shopping in Shanghai…..why not, after all “Find a job that you love and you”ll never work a day in your life”!



Photo by @nancy_fire