The Great Outdoors

First off, I do apologize for the long hiatus! I have been a little MIA. I wish I could say it was basic summer laziness, but the truth is I've been busier than ever! However, this morning I spent sipping my tea and visiting some of my favorite girls. I'm recharged and very inspired.

After months of working on other peoples' places, I've finally started to address the outdoor areas of my own home. I know, it's mid-summer, but considering we entertain outside nearly all year here, It's never too late. This week I'll be sharing lots of thoughts on outdoor spaces.

I'm really loving the ethnic inspired, loungey boho chic feel. There are some great outdoor ikats around these days...

Windsor Smith

Eddie Ross

(Okay technically it was more "event"  than "outdoor")

Veranda

This one above looks like the perfect spot for a margarita party.

Delight by Design

Blue and white still feels so cool and fresh...

               

House Beautiful

I'm finding these two images particularly inspiring, with black and white, boxwood topiaries. Classic yet fun. If only I had room for a tented cabana.

designactually

I think I might be headed toward a patio of Black and White. Think I'll start by painting my old navy wicker black...

House and Garden

Stay tuned...

By the way, we're shooting the latest project this week. Can't wait to show you how that Nantucket style house of blues came out. As soon as I get the shots from the photographer, I'll share them with you all. 

What I'm Working On: Blue and White Master Suite

Here's a peek at the master suite I'm working on. My client wants a soothing blue, spa-like space. Her own pair of coral silver prints served as inspiration for the motif and the color scheme. I thought we were on the same page, blues and whites with silver and crystal accents, until I mentioned layering in creams, textured natural fabric and golds to warm an otherwise dull and cold palette. While I personally don't care for mixing silver and gold on the body, I think it's a necessity in home decor. We dress every morning, but a home is supposed to feel layered and evolved over time. So far she's a bit resistant. So here's hoping my first mood board can help nudge her along. I know it's hard to see so tiny, so check out the photos below.

I'll use lots of antiqued mirror (hopefully framed in silvery gold). I love the idea of a little lucite end table in the sitting area. Any good resources?

Trims and fixtures with warm accents will give the room depth. Notice how the brass floor lamp mixes beautifully with sterling silver desk accessories.

My idea for the hallway leading to the master bath is mirrors inset in panel moulding. It will brighten the short dark hallway from the bedroom to the bath area. I especially love the warmth of the antique gold light fixtures, camel leather wing chair and the dark beige coral on the mantel.

For the bath area, I found this Thibaut paper which made me fall for coral motifs all over again. It is TDF in person. Aqua rice paper with hand blocked metallic coral in three shades of blue and silver. The silver picks up the veins of the carrera marble I'm using on the countertops.

While this photo doesn't necessarily reflect the style we're going after, it has the layered blue tones and gilded frames we'll use. I'll keep you all posted!  

See the final photos here!

Images: Elle Decor, Traditional Home, Southern Accents, Layla Grace, House Beautiful, Schumacher, Ankasa, Traditional Home, Traditional Home, Traditional Home, Thibaut, Tradtional Home, House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Thibaut, Traditional Home

Elle Decor La Cienega Legends of Design

This is where I'll be tomorrow. If you are within driving distance, you can't miss Elle Decor Legends of La Cienega Design Walk!! I'm especially looking forward to the panel discussion at George Smith "How the Blogosphere is Reshaping the Design World" with Cassandra Lavalle, Joy Cho and others. Here is  the complete list of events. The weather should be perfect so, See you there!

Turquoise, White and Gold...

...in any variation is gorgeous. Wouldn't you just love to have cocktails with friends here, followed by an elegant dinner in the perfect outfit.

Kelly Wearstler designed Avalon Hotel

sequined dress $1,920, net-a-porter; clutch, $425, Tiffany and Co.; bracelet, $345, Ben-Amun; earrings $100, Kenneth Jay Lane at Saks; sandals, $7.99, amiclubwear

Breakfast at Tiffany's

Then retire to your suite to sleep 'til noon, thanks to this eye mask and tassle earplugs. If only the rest of my family understood that this is the way I was born to live.

This color combo has been ubiquitous throughout history, as early and the Egyptian and Greeks. It was hugely popular in the 50's and 60's, when Breakfast at Tiffany's was made. Remember the scene where Patricia Neal's scandalous character phones her lover to say she won't be able to meet him as her husband mixes drinks in the foreground. As a young girl I got that this was sort of wrong, but I sure gave her points for her glamorous living room! Check out the white and gold painted credenza with greek key and grecian figures.

Breakfast at Tiffany's

 It's all the same palette as the Avalon bar and this outfit, which would also make for a fun night.

dress $925, DVF; clutch Lara Bohinc; sandals $925, farfetch; cuff, $249, CalleenCordero; earrings $295, Alexis Bittar

In this more laid back ensemble, you could knock back a few blue martinis, slouch a little, even chow down a steak dinner (gotta love a roomy, drapey knit). I'd take either outfit, either room, anytime.

Images: Kelly Wearstler; an outfit that would look amazing on moi, styled by moi (and did you happen to catch the $2,000 dress with the $8 shoes?); Paramount Studios; and another outfit for and by you-know-who.

Earth Day Jewelry

These beautiful jewelry creations are by

Bulgarian textile artist Ceca Georgieva.

I also love her experiments with snowballs.

Doesn't it feel like this tree is wearing

an amazing bib necklace?

Happy Earth Day.

Images via: Hollister Hovey, Ceca Georgieva

Navy is my black.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm obsessed with navy blue. To me it exemplifies taste, restraint and refinement like nothing else. Plus, I look horrible in black. Navy is my black. It's also my white, my gray, my casual, my dressy, my pick-me-up, my calm-me-down... you get the idea. I suppose this near worship of navy began in grade school, when I was forced to wear an almost acidic, bright scarlet cardigan with my otherwise attactive uniform. I was painfully jealous of the upper grade girls, traipsing around in their navy blue sweaters, the inky blue hiding the cardigan's cheap acrylic. 

                                      

(Excuse me while I sulk down bad memory lane.) I'll never forget sullenly driving to the uniform shop somewhere deep in the valley to pick out my new garb. I practically squealed with delight when I saw my new school's name perched atop a rack of nautically inspired uniforms, complete with middy blouses and red sailors' ties! My mom shot me a knowing smile that said, "See, this won't be so bad." I was trying not to let on just how pleased I was as we stood at the counter, my new look piled high. Then evil struck. The clerk informed us that the navy sweaters, and navy Friday service blazers, were for "upper grades only." Sigh, I thought. What will I have to wear, some babyish navy pullover? Suddenly, the woman returned with the most hideous red sweater ever weaved. It may have actually been molded. I'd been able to overlook the crunchy, scratchiness of my navy sweater. But somehow in the junior "scarlet" version the cardigan's plastic-ness was all the more apparent, even offensive. I winced, then felt a burning in my throat and the dreaded sting of tears filling my eyes. Honestly, this was the sweater I was being forced to wear for the next five years?? Wasn't it enough that I was being torn from all my public school friends and the second-grade boyfriend I swore I was meant to marry? Or that I had just been mercilessly teased with an ensemble that I was actually quite thrilled to don? This sweater not only ruined an otherwise perfect uniform, it ruined my chances of any real happiness, or of ever being warm (I'd rather freeze, thank you very much) for the next five years. So, I guess it's no wonder wearing navy makes me feel the way it does. Like the day I hit 7th grade, I put it on and I feel warm, cool and happy all at once. Now, if you've stayed with me this long, you deserve a treat. And here it is, compliments of my Polyvore friend Andley. Check out these lovely navy ensembles...

I could live in this outfit. Who needs kids? Paul Smith jacket $1,345. farfetch.com;

Camilla & Marc skirt $260, Louis Vuitton "Melrose" handbag, louisvuitton.com

I'd be so ladylike in this Hobbs Christie jacket, $260, johnlewis.com, and Dolce and Gabbana shoes, $660, couture.zappos.com

People would sure think I was getting work done in this Marc Jacobs cashmere cardigan, $320;

Tibi skirt, $240, both at net-a-porter.com; handbag and bangles, Kate Spade, katespade.com.

Images: Navy blazer at top, forgotten (I'm so sorry! I know you're on my blogroll, so please email me and I will credit you for this incredibly inspirational photo), all other images from Andley at Polyvore and sites where noted.

Love this painting...

This one's for you A Perfect Gray :-) 

Michael S. Smith

Doesn't this make you happy....

LuluDK's latest patterns

perhaps her trail of inspiration

It definitely made me smile. I'm absolutely crazy for this soon to be fabric by LuluDK. She is in the process of having it printed. I reminds me so much of Matisse's Paper Cut-out series, which I've adored since I was a little girl. There's a reason they called him "The Happy Painter." I hung the posters from the Icarus series in my preteen bedroom and thought they looked so smart with with my bold Marimekko bedding. Brights on white. Yum. I can't wait to get my hands on this fabric!!

For more about Matisse and his brilliance, check out this page on artsy.com

images: LuluDK, Henri Matisse (source unknown), Barnes and Noble

I'm in love with Nick Olsen

I know, I know, he looks young enough to be my little brother ;),  he's probably gay, and I'm married. But I still feel we could make something work.... Until then, I'll be drooling over his hip and witty blog. And his apartment. Thank you Mrs. Blandings, for introducing us. I'll let you know how things go.

Pink flowers on pale blue

I'm currently working on a project steeped in pale blues. While recently combing through my books for inspiration, I realized the rooms that really jump out at me always had a spot of pink, usually in the form of a bouquet of flowers. Put you finger over the flowers in these rooms and you'll see the happiness just drains from the picture.

I have always loved this combination of soft blue and pale pink. Especially, as I'm trying to convince my client, when it's sprinkled with bits of gold! 

images: Decor, Decor, Alexandra Rae Interiors, Southern Accents, my garden, Anne Coyle

I especially love blue and white porcelain with pink flowers!