I'm going to Sweden in a few weeks. Until a couple of days ago I was too busy to do any research. Now that I've started I'm more excited than ever! The first place I went to get inspired to start my list of "Must Sees" was the Design Sponge city guide for Stockholm.  Since I found the guides about four years ago I've checked them before all my trips. They have led me to some great places I never would have found otherwise (like a bakery in Hawaii with the best cream puffs on the planet, and a great vintage store in Vegas that was way off the beaten track). I love these guides so much I wrote one for the area I live in (the Comox Valley), and updated their Vegas guide after the last time I was there. If not for the original Vegas guide I probably wouldn't have known I could get into the Neon Boneyard (a gravel yard full of the old signs), which, other than the natural wonders I got to see like Death Valley and the Valley of Fire, was definitely the highlight of my trip. Here are some shots I took in the Boneyard. I can't wait to see some of these images blown up to poster size!

My creative skills are strongest in ReDesign (making old new again). It appeals to me because of the recycling aspect, but it's simply something I do in my head ALL the time EVERYWHERE I go. If I have been to your house you can bet that in my head I've rearranged your furniture, repainted your walls, maybe put in a skylight or a new counter top or simply given you a new throw for the back of your sofa (and if you're my parents you've come home to MANY real changes). Not that I don't like the way you've done it but I'm just curious about how else it could be. I pay particular attention to traffic flow, site lines, and colours.

My friends and family know this is just part of the way I see the world and often ask for input, especially with colour choices. The most recent request was from my dear friend Naomi of mulBerryland.com who knew she wanted a pop of colour at her front door. She already has a red door so was thinking blue for the front. She showed me a primary blue she was considering. I suggested she instead go with a blue that was slightly more natural since the other colours of her exterior are natural. She immediately agreed and got to work. Isn't the result fun? 

The house a few doors down from my work got new owners about two years ago. It's been great to see the house transform and to see the garden get established. One of the times I was photographing their tulips the lady of the house came out and told me how sad she was that she would be away when the irises she'd planted in her ditch bloomed. I offered to photograph them for her while she was away. She just wrote back to say how much she appreciated the photos. Not as good as the real thing but I do like how the images turned out.