Let the sunshine in..

love the windows, airiness and play of light in all of these spaces..if you live down south I'm sure you've had a chance to throw open the windows..for now, I'm counting the days!

images: via desire to inspire, Elle Decor, Tria Giovan, via just beachy, country living, jeffrey bilhuber, ?, jay jeffers

Nautically inspired..breton stripes

timeless..style

images: victoria hagan, kate spade, moschino, t. keller donovan

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring!!

I don't have time for much of a post today, as I have a baby in one hand and am typing with the other! I'm just so excited that there are warmer, sunny days ahead. Aren't these flowers gorgeous? What great color palette inspiration.

Image: Reed Davis photography

Sweet Galley..

As a designer, I realize not everyone has gobs of money to make their home look smashing. {I certainly don't}..but I'm a firm believer that a small sweet home beautified on a budget can look and work just as wonderfully as a huge Mc Mansion..{who needs all that extra STUFF anyway?}. I came across this small galley kitchen from Southern Living today, it's simple but has a great feel doesn't it? Note the small details that make the difference.

- painted wood plank ceiling

- great light fixtures

- Use a piece of furniture to store and display your platters, dishes and plates

-clean simple surfaces and finishes

-creative storage solutions, recessed t.v. eg. stashed cutting board

- leaving one side open without upper cabinetry makes this kitchen feel roomier

- Always allow enough natural light into your spaces - even if you have to splurge on a new window or two

- Use shallow shelving for storage, every space counts!

In search of..

{many things..but I won't bore you with that now. (wink)} A credenza. I desperately need some place for our television. Our setup now is a bit scary but I don't want to jump the gun and waste my money {or time} on something temporary. Ideally I'd like to design something and have it built. It's either going to be painted or in a limed/cerused wood. Limed wood isn't an easy find. I also want it to be large enough so I can fit two lamps on either side of the flat screen television. If it's painted then the lamps will be wood..I'm thinking maybe something like these, from Wisteria but with an ivory shade. If the piece ends up being wood I have the two porcelain {yard sale find} lamps already! Here are some possible inspiration pieces.

I'm not going to go with black but I like the overall shape and idea of the hardware {really loving the hardware on the piece noted below} on this piece.

Love the cerused oak used on this one!

Spotted this beauty on I Suwannee a while back. How great is the color that oversized hardware? I would LOVE to find hardware like this...

I like the simplicity and scale of this one.

A vintage credenza.

Clean + Classic

As much as I am a color freak, I still LOVE a clean black and white home. I think it works best with classically modern interiors. A number of these images are second homes {nice life right?} yeah maybe if I ever have a second home I'll give the classic black and white look a shot, at least in one room..in the meantime I'll keep dreaming!

Fashion wise..you definitely can't miss with black and white.

images: Douglas Friedman, Turquoise L.A., Elle Decor, via Porch Light Interiors, Chanel, Douglas Friedman, Douglas Friedman

Are you loving??

Graphic prints in shades of blue?

This shaggy poof from Calypso Home? {would look sooo-good with soo many styles}

Stylishly fitted blazers? {still not tired of}

Chambray for Spring

All the amazing sandals out right now?

& fitted, cropped pants a la Audrey Hepburn?

As much as I am!

Happy Weekend!- sleep in for me will you?

Images: Harper's Bazaar March 2010, Calypso, Definitely Golden, Calypso, shoes from top: Coach, Piperlime, Anthropologie, Tory Burch, J.Crew, Mark Shaw Photography,

Pretty Please..

I went to college in Maryland, but always made it a point to head to D.C. to see the gorgeous cherry blossoms this time of year! How I miss early Spring! {it's non-existent here in Boston}

SPRING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER...!! or so it had better be, I need a dose of sunny warm weather like never before!

isn't this brooch bouquet darling?

Images: ngo cmin hngo, ?, Michael Graydon, via Snippet and Ink, via Brown Button, Veere Grenney, via Beautiful Paper

Lights out..

a couple of weeks ago North of Boston was hit with an intense windstorm..I honestly thought the roof may blow away that night as my husband, son and I snuggled under the covers.
The power went out around ten p.m. and didn't return for three days. I headed south to my parent's home the next afternoon, living in a 45 degree home without electricity or heat is less then ideal, especially with a five week and two year old! I also realized I wouldn't fair so well previous to the invention of electricity. {most homes in the United States were fitted with electricity from about 1905-1910 on.} Hence the invention of the canopy bed, which provided both an extra layer of warmth and privacy. Used today for more glamorous reasons, here are a few of my favorites..

Mary McDonald often uses canopy beds in her work. Below are two versions of her bedroom followed by two of her projects..

note how she just painted her sisal rug! {above image}

Clearly Mary McDonald is influenced by the "king" of canopy beds. David Hicks. His work is timeless.

Clean + Simple looks

Cozy feminity by Phoebe Howard

two shots of the former style director of Domino magazine Dara Caponigro's elegant bedroom

for the kiddies

Images: Domino, Domino, Mary McDonald, Harmony and Home blog, Veranda, David Hicks - three images, Elle Decor, ?, Phoebe Howard, Domino, via Pink Wallpaper, House and Garden