A Cozy Cape

I am loving the new spreads in Veranda magazine since Dara Caponigro (of Domino fame) took the helm as the mag’s Editor-in-Chief.  Dara and her team hit it outta the park with this pictorial on an amazing cottage renovation on Cape Cod. 

{I love the double decker porches and the natural landscape.  I spy an outdoor shower too!}

{Ok, you all know me, I am a sucker for flags as art, and especially at the beach.}

{IMHO, this is a little too Pottery-Barn beachy-matchy, but I included the picture because I love the color of the walls and the contrast with the crisp white wainscoting below.}

{The owner/designer used local beach stones on the fireplace.  Loves!  Also, the use of driftwood as the mantel was brilliant.}

{Great casual eating area.  A great example of how wood finishes don’t have to match to look fab (e.g., white table with natural chairs).}

{I like the simplicity of this bedroom.  The built-ins are drool-worthy and I am coveting the Schoolhouse Electric pendant and Dash and Albert rug.}

{Doesn’t your laundry room look like this?  Matching monogrammed Bean totes and all?}

Images courtesy of Veranda, click here to see the whole story;
Designed by Meredith Hutchison; Photos by Tria Giovan.

My New Crush? Meet Purple.

I go through color crushes like Lindsay Lohan goes through rehabs.  (See here for yellow, and here and here for orange).  My newest paramour is purple.  If I didn’t have 729,391,182 other projects brewing, I would paint my dining room deep aubergine and use lots of linen and white with pops of earthy green (inspired by the picture below).  I just can’t get enough purple this season….

 

 

 

{Images: 1. Cerise Pink Blog; 2. Apartment Therapy; 3. Candian House and Home; 4. House to Home; 5. Coach Kristin Leather Pleated Sachel, $398; 6. London Amethyst Mini Hurricane, Crate and Barrel, $16.95; 7.  Hunter Wellies, Piperlime, $125; 8. Patinaed Pillar Holder, Anthropologie, $48; 9. You Are Love Print, The Love Shop, $29. 10.  Zambia {Faux} Throw, Z Gallerie, $99; 11. Essie, Damsel in a Dress, $8}

Summer’s Last Hurrah

With Labor Day just around the corner, summer is winding down.  And while I am SO READY for brisk mornings, crisp apples and pumpkin spice lattes, I can’t help but miss trips to the beach, refreshing glasses of iced tea,
and comfy summer living….

Enjoy summer’s last hurrah!

{All images courtesy of Coastal Living}

Modern Richmond Penthouse

It’s not often in Richmond, Virginia, that I peruse the real estate offerings and see a truly modern aesthetic.  Usually the decor includes a combination of overblown bright blue toile, waaaay too many country accents and civil war muskets used by the resident’s great-grand-daddy.  Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Richmond, but the home decor in this city could use an update!

So, imagine my surprise when I came across this gorgeously modern penthouse at Rocketts Landing overlooking the James River and Richmond’s skyline:

{I love this clean, all-white Master Bedroom, especially the white floor-to-ceiling curtains and the all-lucite table lamps.}

{I like the simplicity of this dining room, especially the lines of the table and chairs}

{The perfect modern kitchen — fabulous Bertoia bar stools and Elsa Peretti-esque light fixtures!}

{Now THAT’S a man cave!!  I love the Greek Key rug and the mod light fixture.}

{Two story view of the gorgeous James River and the scenic Richmond skyline.}

{Rooftop Deck.  Yes please!}

And this can all be yours for a cool $1.5M!  For more pictures, click here.

{All pictures courtesy of Lynn Pritchard, Joyner Fine Properties}

The One Room Challenge, Part II

Last week, I posted the one room that summed up my style in response to Ally’s “What’s Your Style in One Room?” challenge.

As I mentioned, it was SO HARD to choose one room and as promised, here are my many runner-ups:

{I love the white bedding, pops of orange and lots of natural light.}

{Again, more white, pops of color (this time turquoise) and lots of light!}

{Gorgeous white washed floors and lots of different textures.}

{Hmm, I am sensing a pattern, white bedding, pop of color and lots of light!}

{Am I that predictable?}

{Apparently so.}

{Oh jeez, this is getting embarrassing.}

{Like, really embarrassing.}

But seriously, these rooms are my drug of choice.  Perfection!

And here are a few of my faves from the other participants in the challenge:

{Ally’s fave from the challenge in summer 2009}

{Image chosen by  Decor Happy, credit: Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles}

{Image Chosen by Lillies of the Field, credit: Jon Jensen Photography via Black*Eiffel}

{Image Chosen by My Dream Canvas, credit: Traditional Home}

Wasn’t this fun?  Thanks again to Ally at From the Right Bank for this challenge!

Image credits: 1. House Beautiful, 2. My Home Ideas, 3. Ohdeedoh, 4. Live Like You, 5. With Two Cats via A Few of My Favorite Things, 6. Southern Living, 7. House Beautiful, 8. Southern Living, 9. Can’t find source!}

The One Picture Challenge

Ally over at From the Right Bank is challenging design bloggers to choose one picture that sums up their design aesthetic. 

I chose this amazingly simple dining room designed by my new design crush, Skye Kirby:

I am smitten with its simplicity, symmetry, the soothing artwork, the fabulous capiz shell chandelier, the lines of the chairs, the oval-shaped pedestal table, the easy natural rug, the mirror over the mantle, the glass urns on either side of the mirror, and the sprig of greenery as the spartan centerpiece.  Every piece looks considered and edited.  The vibe is light, open and free, and the antithesis of cluttered and suffocating. 

I cannot tell you how hard this was, but it was a revealing exercise for me.  All of my “finalists” had the following in common: a ton of white, pops of bright color (mostly turquoise or orange), something organic (like a great woodsy view or fresh greenery), simple or sparse pieces of furniture, amazing light fixtures, and all were either dining rooms or bedrooms.  Maybe I will post my runners up tomorrow….

What would your one room look like?

If you are a blogger, click HERE to join in the challenge!

{Image Courtesy of Elle Decor}

Design Crush: Skye Kirby

I fell in love with Skye Kirby’s design aesthetic while leafing through thie month’s issue of Traditional Home.  May we have a moment of silence for one of the most perfect rooms ever?

I wish that Traditional Home had the digital image of the sweeping view featured in the magazine.  I love the soothing colors, the symmetry, the layers, the casual yet refined vibe, her choice of artwork, the sisal rug and the floor cushions…I could go on and on.  This project was designed for the pool house for the 2009 Hampton Desigher Showhouse.  Skye (I feel like we should be on a first name basis!) envisioned this space as a summer studio for an artistic couple. 

So, I searched high and low for more rooms designed by my BFF Skye.  Here is what I found (I hope you are sitting down!):

Holy gorgeousness!  In addition to being a kick-butt designer, Skye is the vice president of stores and marketing for Lillian August.  I absolutely love her work and can’t wait to see more! 

I will leave you with one of Skye’s 10 “Must Have” design elements that I really identify (and struggle) with: “Over-accessorizing can take away from the calming nature of a room and become distracting.”  Loves!

{Image Credits: 1. Design My Way, 2. Can’t Find Source, 3. Elle Decor, 4. DecorPad, 5. Elle Decor, 6. Elle Decor, 7. Can’t Find Source, 8. Elle Decor, 9. Elle Decor}

Buy This, Not That: I Did!

I have been eyeing these modern dining chairs for a while.  So….

LOVE THIS?

{Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair, Design Within Reach, $499 for white}

AND LOVE THIS TOO?

{Scoop Back Chairs, West Elm, $99 for designed chairs, $79 for white chairs}

BUY THIS!

{Modern Stacking Chairs, 2 pack, Target, $59.99 for 2 (in stores), less than $30 per chair!}

I did a post a while back on the gray and white West Elm chairs above and have been thinking about those beauties ever since.  Earlier this week, I saw the Target chairs above on sale at my local store for $59.99 for 2!

We have the kitchen table and chairs that my family sat at throughout my childhood.  For sentimental reasons, I don’t think that I could ever get rid of the table, but the set looks really dated (uh hem, ’70s).  I wanted a little update without getting a new kitchen table set.  These chairs are perfect!

I snapped some impromptu, before-and-after pictures last night before dinner:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I love the new sleeker look!  There is no longer a jumble of thick wooden spindles under the table. I was considering painting the table, but I really like the contrast of the wood table and white chairs.  The white chairs break up the color of the floor and the table.  I am really enjoying my $30 chairs!

Happy Memorial Day weekend!  I hope it’s fabulous.  xxoo!

Dreaming of a Vacation

Won’t you join me?

{All images courtesy of Coastal Living}

Random Things I am Liking Lately

I can already tell that this is going to be a random-ish week.  BUT, tomorrow, I have a GREAT GIVEAWAY for you all.  Hint: It involves my favorite city in the whole wide world!

Ok, here’s what’s striking my fancy these days….

LOVES this summer handbag:

{Knotted Satchel, Anthropologie, $78}

Coveting this chic & affordable duvet:

{Links Duvet Cover, West Elm, $59 for full/queen}

In a similar vein, I would love to throw one of these tunics (only $49??) on over white jeans with a pair of silver flip flops:

{Chain Link Tunics, RSH Catalog, $49}

This is PERFECT (and so true, of course!) for my daughter’s new “big girl room”:

{The World is Amazing and So are You, The Love Shop, Etsy, $18 for 8×10}

Drooling over these two pairs of earrings:

{Andalusia Earrings, Sundance Catalog, $65}

{Copernicus Earrings, Sundance Catalog, $98}

Jill introduced me and now I can’t get stop thinking about these:

{Tretorn, Piperlime, $55}

And their mini-me:

{Tretorn Infant, Piperlime, $35}

Metallic wallpaper, need I say more?

{Image via Design Manifest}

{Image via Decor*Pad}

WHEW.  That was random!  Click back tomorrow for a great giveaway!