Saturday, June 26, 2010

Vacation Time

Dear Friends,
We are headed on a long over due family vacation. Our destination this time is Anaheim, or more specifically, Disneyland. The children are so excited. Fortunately for me, we will be getting outside of the park a bit too with visits to museums and to the beach on our agenda for the week. I'm going to leave my computer behind and just enjoy the time together. See you back here in about a week!
Fondly, Karyn

P.S. The lovely print pictured above can be found here.

One Thing Leads to Another

I've finally watched the "Coco Before Chanel" movie which I loved of course. Two things have come of it directly. First, I've decided to give striped shirts another try and found one that doesn't make me look like a toddler. Second, I've gone out and purchased two succulents for the planters in my driveway because the ones potted at the estate of Etienne Balsan were so inspiring. Mine are aloe and will take a while to get as big as I'd like them to be right now but I can be patient. I think.
Ivillage

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Summer Time

I love eating seasonally. Summer crops are my favorite and so it's hard to wait. Tomatoes are beginning to grow in our garden but it will be a while before they are ready to eat. In the meantime, it's fun to search out new recipes for all of our upcoming harvest. "Recipes from an Italian Summer" will be a good place to start.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Gasp

I need to know more about these drapes! They are amazing...

*Update- The drapes are custom made by Annabel Grey. Thanks, Lynea.
found via Shannon Fricke

Monday, June 21, 2010

Things I Want

I'd really like to add an adorable wrap skirt just like this one to my summer wardrobe so if you know were I might find a pattern, please tell.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Mimic

Secondhand Rose is the place to go if ever you are looking for vintage wallpapers. This one seems to mimic the beauty of the old building we were just admiring with the same use of colors. It would be beautiful used in a sun porch.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Improving with Age

I wonder how this building looked when it was fresh and new. It couldn't possibly be any more beautiful than it is now but it would be great to know so that a recipe of sorts could be determined for achieving this look (hundreds of years from now). There must be a way to speed up the process though, to make a new house look extremely old. Any ideas on how to do that?
1st Option

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Interaction

I can just imagine the response I'd have if I were to walk into this room. First I'd be compelled to walk up and touch the mantle and then the bathtub and then I think I'd sneak my sandals off to make sure that the floor wasn't too rough underfoot. Once all of the textures had been assessed, I'd stare in amazement at the amount of light coming in from that extra large window and of course, look behind the curtain to see what the view was like.
Marie Claire

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Made in England

Part of the charm of the "Garden Kitchen" are the pretty floral biscuit tins displayed on the shelves. There are many to be found if you would like to make one (or two) your own. I am thinking that I need one to corral all of the spare change I've been finding around the house.
I'm So Vintage

Garden Kitchen

There are aspects to this kitchen that would be very beneficial to a gardener. Please note the extra large sink and bins where things like onions and potatoes could be stored. Very handy, don't you think?
Living Etc.

Monday, June 14, 2010

Make Something

Maybe, like me, you are finding summer to be a time when you have a little more time for creating. If so, consider these hand printed fabrics from Jezzeprints.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

It Seems

What better place to house tools used for creating beautiful gardens than an equally as beautiful potting shed? It does seem though, that a nicer name would be necessary when referring to it than "shed".
HSP Garden Buildings, My Sweet Savannah

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Possibilites

Illustrated pages of old french dictionaries could make great affordable art pieces. Especially if they were to be enlarged and maybe colored strategically with watercolor pencils here and there.
Sushi Pot Parts

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Research

Love these variations of purplish brown on the walls in the first picture and the chest of drawers in the second. I can see where these colors could be very soothing and restful in a bedroom.
Design Sponge, unknown (sorry)

Show & Tell

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to find a few perfect pieces. This is one of them. I've been looking for a tall dresser or armoire to replace my short one for ages . The wait has paid off. This one is almost 5ft tall and very wide, perfect for the space I have for it. It's old, well made and completely affordable at $75.

I'm thinking I'll like it even more if I paint it but I'm a bit leary of that project with all of it's angles. I've painted a couple of pieces of furniture before but it's not a project I look forward to, there's so much prep work. For now, I think I'll just sit with it for a bit, decide what color will replace the green on the wall that you can see poking out just a bit and go from there.

Monday, June 07, 2010

Statement of Fact

Pink and orange complement each other in such an unexpected way.

Friday, June 04, 2010

A Fun Find

Just stumbled upon these army/navy issue pillowcases from Sadie Olive and I'm thinking that they have great possibilities! What might read "U.S." in a little boys or bachelor's room can just as easily read "us" in a master bedroom. Fun!

Thursday, June 03, 2010

Stay

I like to think of myself here, in this room. When I do, it's in an apartment in Paris. Although, I don't know that it really matters where it might be. I'd be happy just staying put in it. It is just the right amount of "worn in" for me and the pinks are the most perfect shade.
via Native Key

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Alternatively

Who says flowers should only be relegated to the beds surrounding manicured lawns? By adding a flower mixture so beautifully named, Fleur de Lawn, a lawn can quickly be transformed to a place of ease, a meadow of sorts where one might be tempted to put a blanket down and simply enjoy a bit of the day.

Over the last two years, our lawn has been increasingly taken over by Blue Star Creeper and I couldn't be more pleased. Not only is it pretty to look at, but the denseness of this blooming ground cover is very nice underfoot and it requires less upkeep.
Hobbs & Hopkins via Frolic