Staying ZEN….

I have entered a period of great change and restlessness … so much so that even my two wonderful rescue dogs are picking up on my moods. 

I wish that after the numerous trips I've taken to Asia, I would have spent more time listening and absorbing the teaching of Buddhism. My heart and soul gravitates to the Zen philosophy.

Change is scary … in such times, ones needs to find their own peace and reality. My surroundings deeply affect my moods and I find refuge in nature and my home. I am able to capture moments of great but simple beauty, be it a sun ray of pure morning light casting shadows of tree leaves on my walls, the sound of morning dove, the thought of a friend.

All the emotions and feelings are part of the personal journey reflected in my design work.

Share with me a few moments of Bliss, Zen and Beauty ….

These images are from my various Interior Design projects.

Soon InterieursDesign Studio by Francine Gardner is too launch.

Join us on October 14th at Interieurs, 228 East 58th Street for an intimate gathering celebrating our design work and our new website.

Dreaming of a Zen refuge…email me: fgardner@interieurs.com

Waking up....

I woke up to a glorious fall morning, my new iPhone by my side, I captured the morning's first ray of light.
I am a rather poor sleeper, anxiety ridden into the night... my bedroom is my retreat, my refuge of sorts. As I wake up, my eyes will open to this image, an antique chinese scroll once belonging to the grand son of the last emperor of China, a centuries old goddess statue from Cambodia, a glass necklace from Botswana and flowers from my garden. Waking up to this image encapsulates my life. I clearly recall the moment I laid my eyes on the scroll in an art gallery in the forbidden city in Beijing,  when I fell in love with this ancient statue in Cambodia and when I could not resist the colors of these glass stones while in Africa.
The walls of my bedroom are covered with artwork, soft oil paintings, ancient Indian works on paper, my dearest friend Michelle's paintings, simple drawings bought on the streets of Hanoi, an antique Buddha from Burma on my nightstand.
Every morning, I remind myself that the past is truly enriching my soul, making me stronger to accept the present and live every moment.
My bed is a cocoon with its woven cotton canopy from Bali, dressed in soft embroidered white linens passed on from my grand mother, and a soft luscious thick cashmere blanket. From my bed, I have an open view of the courtyard in its fall splendor, the wall beeing made of glass only, immersing the room into nature, gardens, the sounds of birds...

Enjoy the day,

Francine