With the start of the school year getting closer I find myself wanting to hold on to the magic of summer. I sometimes log-on to Zillow to stalk beautiful homes for sale in chic beachy places, like the Hamptons for example. It really is the perfect pastime. So, I was delighted to learn about the new and beautiful Out East coffee table book filled with some of the most beautiful houses and gardens of the Hamptons. This book is the perfect antidote to the end of summer blues. Published by Vendome Press, Out East: House and Gardens of the Hamptons by Jennifer Ash Rudick and photography by Tria Giovan, is a beautiful coffee table book that celebrates this coveted locale and captures the lush gardens, cozy cottages and chic designed spaces. The book leads us in an insider's tour of more than 30 of The Hampton's most distinctive houses and gardens. Take a look!-
Everything and anything from House of Hackney, a British brand, is pure design bliss. They marry traditional designs with modern colors and themes making their products- like wallpaper, fabrics, tabletop items and even clothing- stand out with elegance. I just love the whimsical and sassy patterns that make their pieces so interesting and original.
House of Hackney, the perfect mix between fashion and interiors, was founded in 2011 by husband-and-wife team Javvy Royle and Frieda
Gormley. For them, it is not only about a beautiful and daring product but also about utilizing the great tradition of British print houses. They source the best manufacturers in the UK supporting local employment and protecting these age-old industries that might otherwise seize to exist. Let me show you what I'm talking about-
Happy Sunday friends. We are loving the sweet pinks of warm weather combined with some sassy reds for that perfect punchy combination.
You all know I love discovering new artists. Well I have been in love with Paige Gemmel's colorful and chic original and prints for a few years. She combines Chinoiserie and Palm Beach Chic in the most perfect way. This piece above that she made for Paige Minear's One Room Challenge is fabulous. She sells her work through her etsy store Pink Lion Dog where she has amazing prints, but the originals are my favorite (below)-
Letterboards are all the rage. Fill them with uplifting quotes, sassy remarks, dream reminders or even with just your to-do list and you will be on trend. Old school is now super cool. Go figure! Not only are they great for instagram photos or your bar cart but they could make your kitchen or office a little more fun as well. If you are in the market for one I recommend either of these two companies- Letterfolk, Three Potato Four. Also, this cute pink board is pretty sweet. I hope you enjoy these-
Linda's fabulous #OneRoomChallenge Spring reveals occurred last week, and they were so fun!! I am highlighting my favorites from the 20 blogger projects and will share some of my favorites from the guest participants next week. I love looking through these because they are huge idea generators for me. I'm honestly so inspired by the different projects and just enjoy seeing the creativity that goes into each and every detail. First off, I really loved this living room by Sketch42. I'm a huge fan of folding screens and the use of this one is just perfection in my book. -
I forget how I first found out about Tamara Magel, but I am so glad I did. Her impeccable style and great eye makes every room standout. Her luxe and modern interiors are always filled with warmth and a touch of whimsy. Although mostly neutral her spaces have a lot of personality. Let's take a look-
This small but beautifully designed apartment by Jayne Design Studio in New York's Upper West side is a standout because of its daring walls. The exquisite walls in the living room are covered in painted canvas by Anne Harris (you can read more about her jaw-dropping murals here), based on 1707 designs for English dress silk by James Lehman, which goes to show that inspiration is everywhere. And the bedroom has a handpainted Chinese wallpaper commissioned from Gracie with views of villages in a soothing light blue palette. One thing is for certain, this apartment may be small but the design makes it grand.
Jenny Komenda's Little Green Notebook was one of the first blogs I was instantly addicted to (you can see my old living room here on her blog). She is so talented in design, crafty in DYIs, creative in general, such a great entrepreneur, and just the loveliest person ever. I was really excited to learn that she recently launched, Jenny's Print Shop, where you can download some of her beautiful photos for just $15. These are high resolution images that you can then print in large format (my favorite! you can print these over 20"×30″ if you wanted to) and frame to your liking. So, for just $15 you can get beautiful art for your home to enliven your space. Her photos are fun, colorful and different. There is something for everyone. Let me show you my faves....this flower one is definitely my most favorite....but there are many that I would not mind hanging in my home.
One of the things I love most about having this little blog and about social media is connecting with amazing people from different parts of the world and sharing in all the interests we have in common. This past weekend I met the inspired and lovely Sharon Santoni from My French Country Home.
I'm excited to share Brant McFarlain's
portfolio with you all today. I recently learned about him through a
dear friend and I fell in love with his sexy and elegant yet warm design aesthetic.
I also love that he is a local Dallas designer. From gold fireplaces,
to mirrored vaulted ceilings to energetic art I think you will enjoying
looking through his work. Here are my favorite shots-
I really enjoy when new companies make your life easier. I remember a few years ago I undertook a fun but time-consuming project. I wanted to line one of our hallways in the bedroom area with framed family photographs. This entailed printing the photos at a local store, picking them up when they were ready and then going to the framer's to have each one framed. A few short years later and this process seems long, absurd and obsolete. These two photographs were printed and framed by Livestock Framing. This was my first time trying them and I loved the experience. You upload any photo, choose the size and frame and you are done! The quality of the printing and framing is really great. Here are the two photos I printed. You will enjoy hearing about each photo as well-
This beautiful living room stands out for a few reasons, but that perfect blue hue is the most important one (in my humble opinion). Jack Pierson used Benjamin Moore's Whale Gray for this room which just makes it pop. Finding that perfect wall color is not easy, but when you do everything looks grandeur, prettier, it stands out more. You can see the rest of his apartment here. Oh and a few links-
I have been a long time admirer of Anna Karlin's chess furniture pieces. I love their elegant, playful and sculptural design. Her arm chairs are pretty amazing as well. The drama that arises from mixing hard lines with curves is beautiful. Her designs are "usable sculpture" says Anna about her work. Her firm also takes on projects like set design for fashion shows and conceptual interiors for lifestyle and hospitality clients. But the chess stools are my favorite, specially the brass ones. Here is more of her work-
Years ago in my former life when I lived in NY I had a couple of catered cocktail parties and Mary Giuliani was the one who catered my little events (and I mean little, I lived in a tiny apartment!) She was just starting out, and I remember how delicious and perfectly managed everything was. So now I'm excited to see she has a book out- Cocktail Party Book. I'm sure it is full of fabulous tips and recipes.
Back in May I was swept away by The Palmyra floor lamp designed by Moving Mountain studios in Brooklyn. If I remember correctly this beauty was quite expensive so, of course it is now filed under the 'Someday' list. Well, last night as I was looking through the PB Teen catalogue I spotted a very similar palm lamp for under $400! Not bad at all since with it you can get a similar look yet at a fraction of the cost. And then, I kept flipping through the pages and discovered other pieces from this PB Teen catalogue that have grown-up style but have a teen price ;P
This beautiful blue vignette took my breath away! The combination of the delicate vintage shield back chair with those beautiful silk curtains and the royal blue rug is monochrome perfection! The fabulous mastermind behind this beautiful set-up is Wesley Moon, a New York based interior designer with a background in architecture. I would have never, ever thought of getting a rug in this color, but Wesley makes it seem like the most natural choice. I have thoroughly enjoyed going through his portfolio that is wonderful at mixing vintage with modern pieces, is playful in nature and incorporates art into the designs falwlessly. Here are some of my favorite images-
White and blue always feels so crisp and fresh! Add some ruffles, quatrefoils and a greek key or two and you are close to heaven! See what I'm currently coveting-
The pretty little pendants in the girls room from yesterday's post sent me down a rabbit hole....who was the artist and creator behind those beauties? Michael Anastassiades that's who! Why do I love and appreciate lighting design so much? I think it's because I see lighting pieces as functional art... as sculptures maybe but that we get to interact with on a daily basis, and that can permit us to see and live when darkness surrounds. They are vessels for light and light just makes everything better. I love learning about light designers and sharing their work. Michael has a modern, clean, streamlined and sophisticated aesthetic that I really admire. Born in Cypress and based in London, Michael Anastassiades' pieces seem simple but are full of life and they are featured in the permanent collections at The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum,
London, the Craft Council in London, the FRAC Centre in Orleans, France,
and the MAK in Vienna. Not bad at all, right? Take a look at my favorite pieces-






















