my inspiration from my favourite movie

This morning I woke up and realized how we are truly influenced by our surroundings. When we go through major changes it is good to get a fresh start. what better way than to redecorate. Recently I was given an opportunity to redo my whole house or at least my living room. I thought a new splash of paint would do. However I realized that new furniture was in order. So I hauled it all away in a Uhaul van. I kept a few choice pieces such as a black and taupe striped cabinet, a chinoiserie hanging cabinet, a 19th century Chinese scholar's chair and a coir area rug.
over the past year while recovering from STAGE THREE COLON CANCER. I have made some major changes in my life. I also watched my favourite movie over and over again. The Devil wears Prada
My inspiration for my new living room is The classic scene at the beginning of my well worn DVD disc. Our heroine,Andy, makes light of two "identical belts". Her employer, Miranda Priestley soon sheds some light on her ignorance about the belts. I just love how she informs her about the colour Cerulean with her vast knowledge about the colour and how it is used in fashion.
So my challenge begins, As anyone that knows me it will be all about the eclectic mix. It will be a fun blend of chartreuse, rust,gold,silver, black,taupe,old and new. This time I am going to have a feather and down wrap on the sofa cushion.hey why not.



Cerulean, also spelled caerulean, may be applied to a range of colors from deep blue, sky-blue, bright blue or azure color through greenish blue colors.

The first recorded use of cerulean as a color name in English was in 1590.[1] The word is probably derived from the Latin word caeruleus, "dark blue, blue or blue-green", which in turn probably derives from caelulum, diminutive of caelum, "heaven, sky".[2]



Please take care all and have a HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

love, john

I think I found a photo of one of my blog readers, Patricia Gray, an Interior designer from Vancouver. thanks Patricia for the great inspiration.

calm and serene

I have been thinking about Labour day weekend all week long. I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend away. I thought I would leave you with some serene photos of some interiors and gardens. Please take care and seek serenity and peace throughout your life. What better way than your surroundings in your home.

take care,

love, John

broaden your horizons

There is something about a horizontal stripe that I find intriguing. Often it is used in a contemporary setting. In actuality it is a classic concept. The Florence Cathedral is a prime example of the classic horizontal stripe.
I know this is short and sweet, but nothing needs to be said other than start thinking about stripes and life in a different way. You never know what exciting adventure may come your way when you open your mind to a different thought process.

FYI:I am starting a new project for a client's bathroom. so I will be taking you all on a crash course on tiles.

TB with you all later,

john

it's time for a change

Autumn is right around the corner. The other day I noticed Halloween candy in the aisles at the grocery store. Soon Christmas will be massed produced. We will be bombarded with the glitz and glitter of the season. All of this reminded me of how I am trying really hard not to eat candy.I actually almost drowned myself in a mountain of candy earlier this year after I finished chemotherapy.
I am making healthy choices for my life feeling better than ever before.
The other day, a friend of mine told me that I have actually made such headway in my efforts in bicycling. As an avid cyclist, that means a lot. especially since I haven't been able to ride in almost two years because of my poor health that I have had. FYI to those who are just getting into my blog. I AM A COLON CANCER SURVIVOR. My goal is to stay healthy and to continue to be fit and trim. so with all of that and a
little bit of an imagination I decided that I would write about trim. Trimming, gimp, cord on tape, tassels and tie backs are all about the detail that is given to our interiors.it is this attention to detail that give our rooms, furniture, pillows and drapery excitement and power.

Passementerie or passementarie is the art of making elaborate trimmings or edgings (in French, passements) of applied braid, gold or silver cord, embroidery, colored silk, or beads for clothing or furnishings.

Passementerie worked in white linen thread is the origin of bobbin lace, [1] and passement is an early French word for lace.[2]

Modern passementerie includes the gold braid on military dress uniforms, the elaborate trims on used on some lampshades and draperies, and for decorating couture clothing and wedding gowns.

Fringe and tassels are categorized as forms of passementerie

Get trim, stay healthy and add a little detail to your life.

love, john

HB 2 me!

OK this is not a humble way to act on one's birthday! However, I am happy to have made it this far. This past year has been all about the struggle of survival. The challenge to stay focused on the road ahead. Taking it day by day. I have learned so much about myself and the good things in my life. It has been wonderful to understand what is important. love, nurturing, happiness. treating others with genuine respect. Being true to oneself. standing up to loyalty, trustworthiness and honour. These are values that I have bonded with in my life over the years. It is those tools that my parents gave me to work with and bring to my life.

In business, in design and in every aspect of my life those high contrasts of light and dark,good and evil. right and wrong, black and white have all been shaken in my life. however, I believe I have stood strong over the course of this last year and my life.
We have these challenges in our lives to help us to see the growth, to see who we are as humans.
I have pulled some weeds,I have discarded. I have even been left standing wondering what had just happened. I have cried enough tears to fill a dry desert with wonderful reservoirs of water. I have found myself in an oasis in the midst of a wilderness. I have survived and I am alive.

I am beginning anew. ready for the next adventure!

Love your life, make decisions to choose to love everyday, Choose quality over quantity. In the end it will bring you happiness. So proceed forward. It's back to the drafting table to remodel and redesign something fresh.

Love,
John

(don't tell anyone but I am not really 39 anymore)

the delightful afternoon!

I am at peace pursuing love, hope and happiness. Intoxicated by the richness of charm and beautiful spirit. I fell in love with MCE. MCE has brought joy, love and laughter to me in one afternoon.
Metamorphosis is amazing. I am in love forever. He is amazing I don't.I can't.. leave. I love so much. truly the best experience.
Okay that sounds like a really bad romance novel. this afternoon I had spent some quality time by myself pursuing my first love. My love for art. The Portland Art Museum is exhibiting the wonderful Escher exhibit. As anyone who has ever met me can attest. I have a love for strong contrast and graphic art. They would know that I would have fallen in love with M.C.Escher exhibit. Before today I couldn't spell his name, but that did not matter when you are in love. What is a name?. The joy and pleasurable moment of passion can forgive the forgotten spelling of a name.
later of course i spent the afternoon eating a quiet lunch by myself,if i smoked i could have used a cigarette. I just had to be content breathing the fumes of the cars as i sat outside recalling the beauty of my experience. I could hardly leave friends messages. I was so enthralled by the memories of the day. I am glad i am a member of the art museum. next time I will have to leave my volume on my phone on mute. . I can't wait to see him again. The beauty of his work is being shown at the Portland Art Museum until September. I can't wait for another date with MCE. He is truly amazing. I love MCE. I need to see him again. I could go into withdrawls looking at every intmate details of every small drawing and etching. He is that amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love,
john

M.C. Escher was a Dutch graphic artist, most recognized for spatial
illusions, impossible buildings, repeating geometric patterns
and his incredible techniques in woodcutting and lithography.
He was a man studied and greatly appreciated by respected
mathematicians, scientists and crystallographers. Yet he had no
formal training in maths nor science. He was a humble man who
considered himself neither as an artist nor as a mathematician.
His work continues to fascinate both young and old across
a broad spectrum of interests.
Intricate repeating patterns, mathematically complex structures,
spacial perspectives all require a "second look".
In Escher's work, what you see the first time is most certainly
not all there is to see.

encore! encore!

This afternoon, a private party of a few friends and business associates was given by designer and friend, Angela Todd. She is an up and coming designer in Portland, Oregon that has designed a space in the penthouse of the Encore in Portland, Oregon for the Urban "street of dreams". It was good to finally meet her. We became friends on facebook after Angela started following my blog on www.johnthompsondesigner.blogspot.com .
Her jovial personality mixed with the music and wonderful array of good friends made her beautiful space a wonderful place to spend a Friday evening.
Michael and Laura from SRM Architects were there along with my good friend Kathryn, a wonderful and truly honest and loyal friend. She is a wonderful designer also.
Angela's space had hand painted embossed wallpaper tiles. The awesome deck overlooks the city . it has breathe taking views of the Willamette River. the views embraced the contrast of the industrial NW with the high tech modern building of the Encore. The angle of the space truly captured the West Hills. The 40 miles of forest in the hills above Portland made the view even more spectacular.
Angela, thank you very much for inviting me and Kathryn to your private party. I truly enjoyed myself alot. I can't wait to chat with you more.
You did a such wonderful job.
sincerely,

john