a special package

i'm sending out a very special package today. tobi fairley was kind enough to include me in a blog post a few weeks back. i asked if she would like a complimentary set of my calling cards. she did!

i threw in a little extra something for her. shhhh.... don't tell her. they're on the way to her now.

and did you happen to see her and her home in the latest traditional home? if not, go here. i'm in love with these dining room chairs.

and this room. gorgeous.
and a snippet of her foyer. fab.

black and white

this was one of my favorite images from the new tradhome online magazine that released just a few days ago. (click to enlarge.)

via

the outdoor space was designed by jolene ballard and amanda malson. there's just something about black and white (this time mixed with shades of pink) that get me every time, especially in an outdoor space. the green of the outdoors complements the black and white so well.

here's another image of black and white in an outdoor space from the same issue, design by jamie herzlinger. pop over here to see more black and white incorporated into the outdoor spaces of this gorgeous home.

and then i remembered this space from one of my favorite bloggers, knight moves. it's her outdoor covered patio.

i popped onto pottery barn. lots of black and white in their outdoor merchandise this season.

including the drapes. just might have to put these on my wish list for the new home in dallas.

european elegance

last week lindsey of everything leb posted this kitchen on her blog. i fell in love. with the farm house table right. there. the long wood island. the gigantic window by the sink. the shelves!
the photo was taken by morten smidt. i dug around and found the rest of the house (also by morten smidt). it's just as lovely. it belongs to the neleman family. hans neleman is also a photographer.
the foyer. gorgeous dark wood floors throughout. white walls.hallway.
dining room. love this! that brick gallery wall!
the library. (i think i need to color-arrange my books.) and i love their distressed leather sofa... makes me feel not so bad about all the "character" my 5 month old sofa has (thanks, pixel).
master bedroom.
a moment.
another moment.
mrs. neleman's watercoloring rendering of her house.

beautiful, huh?

i've been busy

making lots of new stuff for the shop. (click on photo to enlarge.)

the fishscale pattern is one of my faves.
now if i could just get a little elf to come take pretty photos of each new item and load them in the shop, i'd be ecstatic.

i need 3 more days

in this week. or 6 more hands. i'm swamped. literally. can barely keep my head above water. lots of shop orders and prepping for 2 craft shows this weekend. wish i could prep in this space. it's hers. and yes, i know we've all seen it a thousand times. but it's dreamy. it's inspiring.

i'm so busy i went to bed last night leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen sink. hasn't happened in years. it's my pet peeve. i HAVE to come downstairs to a clean kitchen in the morning. wonder if martha ever leaves dirty dishes in her sink?
probably not. see ya over the weekend. i'm gonna get back to work.

5 minutes to spare

so i thought i'd daydream at one of my favorite sites, alys beach. according to the site, it's a resort town located along the gulf of mexcio, whose design was led by internationally acclaimed town planners, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Company. i perused their vacation homes. and drooled.

i'd love to cook in one of these kitchens.
eat my meals at this banquette.followed by a snooze on this daybed infront of a fire.
and some reading on this sunporch.then a dip in the pool.
gazing at this view.
finally, a hot shower.
or should i soak in the tub? or both?

and then fall dreamily asleep in this bed.images from here

stripe it

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

1. michael penny design of his own home, angus fergusson photography, from canadian house & home

2.from house beautiful
3. from house beautitful, designer markham roberts, photo francesco lagnese
4. charlotte moss design, photo tria giovan, from veranda
5. image from the pink house, via cote de texas
6. homeowner and designer joseph abbati, photos natalie caudill, via elle decor
7. jenny lyons home, via blueprint bliss

lovin' yellow

yellow, or rather citron as southern accents calls it, speaks summer to me. to celebrate the end of summer i thought i'd post a few photos showing yellow. i love these spaces.

love all the windows, the window seat, the lucite chairs and those punchy stripe pillows

photos tria giovan, designer amanda nisbet

love those silky drapes puddled ever so slighty, the teal chair and wishing i could pan the photo to see more of the artwork

designer Heidi Friedler, photos Michel Arnaud

love the mix of artwork

photos tory williams, designer amanda nisbet

hmmm, apparently i'm really loving yellow with pinks

photos Pieter Estersohn, designer Nestor Santa-Cruz, SKB Architecture and Design

all images courtesy southern accents

a must read

joni over at cote de texas did the most thorough post on lighting fixtures yesterday on her blog. you must stop by and take a look... even if it's simply to ogle all the lovely photos. here's my fave.

we have a similar lantern in our foyer. good to know i'm still a little stylish.

more orange

you know i love orange. i wrote about it here. i had an email in my inbox the other day from jonathan adler. yes, he writes to me. subject line was 'orange looks...". here's a few of the finishing lines.

"orange looks like happiness."
"orange looks zesty with white."
"orange looks chic with pink."
"orange looks like you're living the california dream."

and a few of my favorites from their orange colored selections.

british flag pillow

morrow slipper chair

shelter island chair
capri bottle lamp
morrow settee
english breakfast tea towel
big sur candle

go, jonathan.

images from here