A Style to Call My Own: Nature

Nature is something that is constantly a source of inspiration for me. On just about any given day you can find me, at some point, staring up into the sky in amazement. The stars, the moon, the clouds, the colors…all utterly fascinating. The sheer vastness of it is awe-inspiring. I can’t tell you how many pictures I’ve taken only to realize that the sky’s beauty simply can not be captured accurately in a photo. (But I’ll share some with you anyways.)

I took this one at World Showcase in Disney World…

 

(not sure who the photographer is of most of these…)

 

Germany…

(sample photo from my computer)

Tornado over Atlanta…

And there’s almost nothing I enjoy more than taking a leisurely walk outside and enjoying every blade of grass, every wild flower, the colors, shapes, and the texture of the trees, the birds, the way water sparkles like diamonds when the sun hits it… I could go on and on. I am simply in love with all things in nature (well, except for spiders and bats and such, but that’s a different topic…). I think a lot of people take nature for granted, maybe because it’s always there so they’re just use to it, I don’t know, and they just don’t stop and take a moment to enjoy their surroundings.

A field of sunflowers about twenty minutes from my house…

Shell Island in Florida…

I love the smoky grays and browns of the rocks with the white foam and the blues & greens of the sky and water. Gorgeous colors…

I mean seriously, could you create a more fantastic setting in your dreams? I doubt it… 

Lagoinha- Ceara, Brazil

An African baobab tree. Isn’t it majestic?…

Electric blue water in Bora Bora…

Simple and pure…

Little snake in Singapore…

 

Dracaena trees…

  Another photo I took in WDW…

 

(Mark Regs)

An Angel Oak in South Carolina. What can I say besides “WOW”?

Of course I know some people live in such big cities that they don’t have much nature around- that’s what’s so great about zoos, gardens, and parks. Even in big cities you have places where you can go and come down from all the hustle and bustle, traffic jams, honking horns, emails, and demands of everyday life. It’s important to do that I think. Ask anyone who works in their little gray cube in a high-rise what they wish they had at work and they will tell you “a spot near a window.” And they probably have a plant or flower at their desk and a beach screensaver. It’s healthy to stay connected with nature. 

  This is at Animal Kingdom in Disney World. Look how very different their markings are…

(Not sure who took this photo, but it is beautiful!)

(windlost)

The creamy white of this little lamb and the graphite wool sweater are perfect inspiration for my master bedroom. A strong contrast in color, but the textures soften it dramatically… 

(windlost)

I never grow tired of black and white. Simple, striking, and just plain beautiful…

I took these at the Botanical Gardens on a date with my hubs a few years ago…

Anytime I design I always include nature, whether through texture, color, pattern, or all the above. Sometimes its literally bringing in natural items, other times its a more subtle introduction of say, a color palette inspired by stormy weather. Maybe I do it because, as a Virgo with Virgo rising, I am a strong earth sign. All I know is that incorporating nature into a home (or any space for that matter) helps it feel full of life and energy. For me, its a peaceful connection with something I already feel part of. Natural and organic things are an absolute must have. After all, nature has always been and always will be, it refreshes and renews itself beautifully, and it’s familiar to anyone and everyone. I mean, what is nature? It’s something untouched, untainted, natural/not man-made, and pure. Does it get any more perfect?

(thesomedayblog.com)

  

(velvetmirror.blox)

Home in Sao Paolo by Marcio Kogan (my favorite architect). I love how he incorporated different natural stones and wood. I also love the smooth transition between inside and outside…