Spring flowers : an inspiration

Being surrounded by flowers (live ones, not in vases) has always been necessary for me, ever since I was a small boy. My happiest times at my dad's paternal home was being in the garden, playing with mud and watering the plants, watching the various flowers my grandma grew on soil or in pots blossom, making our world even more beautiful.

One of the more then ten blooms of my rose bush!

Even though I live in an apartment, I am lucky enough to have a big veranda, which of course I filled with many pots soon after moving in. And now that the spring is in full force, I am surrounded by blooming flowers every day of the year almost (except the bleakest winter periods)

One of my numerous yellow calendulas (dimorphotheca)

A rose bush, a peony, daisies, lilies in various types, a bougainvillea, dahlias (a big and a small one), passion flower, a hydrangea, a camellia, a Japanese maple (Acer Japonicum, my pride and joy), strawberries (yummy!), chilli peppers, jasmine, honey suckle, cestrum (or lady of the night if you prefer - the Hindu name even more poetic: Raat ki Rani, which means queen of the night), wandering Jews (not Silver ones I'm afraid Mr. Dustroad!) or telegraph poles as they call them in Greece, gladiolus (gladius means sword in latin), plumed cockscombs, ranunculuses, begonia and many more... phew! Enjoy the photos of my flowers as an inspiration for spring! And remember: it helps the environment too!

My pink ranunculus plant in full bloom

My red ranunculus

My acer japonicus

One of my strawberry plants before their transplant into a single big rectangular pot.

A single fuchsia dancing in the wind...

Another calendula

I will be posting again with more flowers as they bloom and grace my veranda with their colours and perfumes. I hope I made some of you go out and start planting more!

Drew Barrymore's office - colour galore!

The US edition of Domino magazine has actress and entrepreneur Drew Barrymore's production company offices as their cover story for April. She hired designer Ruthie Sommers to help her decorate and the results, while not my cup of tea style wise, are great:stylish, elegant and very personal (as all great interior design should be).



The reason it stands out for me is the use of colour: bold, ingenious and eccentric, it makes each room of the building stand out, while acting as a great background for furniture and accessories.

The kitchen

The concept was named "un-office": a space looking more like a home-away-from-home, chic, relaxed and reflecting each partner΄s personality. The office incorporates an eclectic collection of styles and artefacts.

The "powder room"

I also liked the quirky use of personal items and furniture, like the old record player in a suitcase in the pic below:



I really dig Chris Miller's office space. He is the production vice-president of Flower Films. His favorite feature is a recess in the L-shaped room that Sommers turned into a bar. "It really is fun," he says. "And on a bad day, that I-could-have-a-whiskey thought is a serious comfort."

Chris Miller΄s minimal desk - get me one!

The bar corner at Miller's office.

The wall covered with numerous pictures is amazing - it really gives me ideas...



Drew is looking lovely in the photo spread and it seems that everyone working there must be enjoying the new décor - and why shouldn΄t they:

Check out the use of brown and beige/gold at the photos above left-looks great!

The photo below shows the entrance corridor - the amazing red door with an antique door knob makes a bold statement. I hope you all enjoyed peeking at Drew΄s office as much as I did!


Footnote: compare the above with the Greek edition...

Inspiration: how to review

"For good measure, it gives the last word to a snooty food critic (Peter O'Toole) who sees the light and argues that the best role a reviewer can play is to champion the new; hailing those unsung heroes who are trying something different, regardless of their background, colour, creed or species."

This is taken from the Guardian's review of the film Ratatouille (which I loved by the way). I think it sums it up so nicely.


I loved the colors of the film - not the harsh bright ones of earlier Pixar, but lovely tones of blue and red and copper and green, with images of Paris so lovely and romantic. And the rat is amazing-even his colour is great. Visually (and not only) inspiring.

Goodbye to summer- inspiration: the color orange

The weather has finally turned to Autumn - so goodbye summer, with some more inspirational colors from my holidays. This time, the colour orange, one of my favourites.



From left to right, clockwise: tourist in the old city of Corfu, sunset in Igoumenitsa, child in the park of St. George & St. Michael's Palace in Corfu, sunset with Paxoi in view, sunset in Igoumenitsa, old house in Lefkada.