Friday, July 29, 2011

Interior of the Week

This week's interior is a gorgeous, open and airy loft.  There are a lot of quirky and fun elements to this home that give it character and personality and really make it feel lived in, which is something I love and can be difficult to achieve. I also can't get over the combination of that beautiful royal blue tufted headboard with the peach granny chic quilt.  Peach and blue are a great color combo, don't you think?





Thursday, July 28, 2011

Favorite Things

Welcome to a weekly new feature - Favorite Things.  Favorite Things is a collection of my current obsessions, favorite finds from around the web, and things I am generally lusting over.  Oh, and from time to time I will be asking fellow bloggers and readers to share their collections of Favorite Things. Enjoy!
the design boards favorite things

Sources: 1. Porcelain Deer Trophy Head via Empiric Studio / 2. Botanicals Notebook Collection via Chronicle Books / 3. Infinity Bracelet via Mesa Blue / 4. Canvas Flight Bag via Mills Canvas / 5. Herna Scarf in Cloud via Coterie

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Travel by Design - Bungalow Hotel

This week we are traveling to the Jersey Shore to visit Bungalow.  You may remember Bungalow if you watched 9 by Design last year. Couple and design team, Courtney and Bob Novogratz designed the Jersey shore hotel which includes many of their design signatures including a large glass garage door in the bar, custom art work by their favorite UK artist, Ann Carrington, and the much debated bathtub in the middle of the bedroom!  I love the chic laid back vibe, it almost feels like you are visiting a friend's beach house for the weekend rather than staying in a hotel. 

bungalow hotel
bungalow hotel
bungalow hotel
bungalow hotel
bungalow hotel
bungalow hotel
bungalow hotel

Monday, July 25, 2011

My picks on Houzz.com

In June I was invited by Houzz to create a monthly ideabook which is a lookbook of sorts full of things I am loving right now.  Each month I get to pick a broad theme of my choice and choose my favorite products related to that theme.  With my trip to England things got a little hectic and I never got a chance to mention it.  However some of you may have noticed the button in my sidebar linking to my current ideabook.  Last month I featured my favorite products for outdoor living and entertaining.  This month I am featuring my absolute essentials for the home bar.  Be sure to stop by and check out all of my favorite picks!

Friday, July 22, 2011

Interior of the Week

This week's interior is a gorgeous, industrial chic loft.  I love the juxtaposition of dark and industrial with light and feminine touches like the pastel chair and sofa, or the pink vase next to the pair of baby shoes on the black mantel.  I am also slightly obsessed with that giant, weathered antique mirror on the mantel. What are your thoughts on the space?



Thursday, July 21, 2011

Summer Shandy

One of my favorite beer cocktails is a shandy or a radler as they are called in Germany.  I always have them when I'm in Europe and just recently I discovered the perfect European lemon soda at our local market and I've been enjoying them all summer long.  You can play with the ratio of beer to soda, I personally like more of a 50:50 ratio but it's a matter of taste. Enjoy!

summer shandy cocktail recipe

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Reno Diary - pillows and fabrics

We ordered the West Elm curtains previously mentioned in this post and they are fantastic.  They add a lot of warmth and color to the space.  Now I am searching for pillows for the two chairs that are in the room.  Our Danish arm chair and an Ikea "place holder" chair until we find something we love more, like a vintage Barcelona. The chairs face each other and one sits directly in front of the curtains so I really want to work with the indigo blue that's in the curtains.  I love the deep, inky blueness of indigo and gray and blue are my new favorite color combo.  These are some of the options I am considering.  What do you think?

indigo pillows and fabrics

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Things that make me smile...

I can't help but think that summer is more than halfway over and soon I'll be enjoying weekends of college football and pulling out my favorite pair of brown boots to keep me warm on those cool fall evenings.

Today I'm thinking about the last few fleeting moments of summer which I plan to take full advantage of.  I'm going to enjoy fresh cut flowers, take evening bike rides, dip my feet in the water, go on impromptu camping trips, and curl up in the sun with a worn copy of my favorite book.  How are you going to enjoy these last few moments of summer?

flowers and coffee
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pink bicycle seat
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girl dipping feet in water
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camping
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vintage books
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Monday, July 18, 2011

Travel by Design - Vieques Island

We're starting off the week with a virtual trip to Puerto Rico to visit the W Retreat and Spa designed by Spanish architect and designer, Patricia Urquiola.  I love the laid back beachy, bohemian style and I would die for that fabulous multi colored hanging chair, wouldn't you? 

W Hotel Vieques Island

W Hotel Vieques Island

W Hotel Vieques Island

W Hotel Vieques Island

Friday, July 15, 2011

Interior of the Week

I'm such a sucker for exposed beams and extra high ceilings. This house, on Lake Martin in Alabama is all about the beams, ceilings, and windows. The home is a wonderful mix of traditional and rustic with just a hint of modern thrown in like with those metallic, high backed Windsor chairs.  This is exactly what my mind conjures up when I think weekend lake house, don't you agree?

lake house living room

lake house living room

lake house dining room

lake house kitchen

lake house bathroom

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Details

"Objects are the secret language of a home.  They transmit intimate messages about the inhabitant.  The presence of an object, ugly or pretty, is justified by the owner's connection to it.  They can have sentimental value and relate to memories, or they can be chosen based on sheer beauty, humor, purpose, uselessness, or simply mysterious appeal."  - Lili Diallo, Details

I've been reading Details by Lili Diallo and I came across this paragraph on objects in the home.  I've been thinking a lot about objects lately.  We are building a wall of bookshelves in our living room where we plan to display our favorite books and collections - purchases from our travels, our favorite vintage finds that we couldn't bear to put up for sale in the shop - items that tell who we are, what we enjoy, where we've been.  Through these objects, we tell the story of us.  What objects do you keep on display in your home?  What do you enjoy collecting?


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