{beautiful details: marble & gold}

. . . carerra marble and graceful archways, floods of light and artful chandeliers, elegantly panelled walls and bits of gold -- sometimes all that's needed are a few beautiful details . . .

{images: the diversion project}

{colour inspiration: gold & lilac}

. . . high-heeled shoes and cupcake wrappers, mirrored dressers and vintage sconces -- always and irresistibly drawn to all things gold, and especially when intermingled with shades of lilac . . .

{images: stylist eva lindh; kendall wilkinson & also via felicity; flickr via coco & kelley}

{two lovely things: black & white}

. . . whether an iconic and luxurious custom design perfectly paired with an ornate gilt console in the entryway, or a bold and impossibly stylish herringbone pattern in the powder room, there is such wonderful drama and visual impact in graphic patterns in shades of black and white . . .

{p.s.} recent two lovely things:
* bits of green
* cool august nights
* light & lavender

{ 1 - coco chanel's suite at the ritz paris via marcus design; 2 - christina murphy interiors}

{two lovely things: bits of green}

{two lovely things:} . . . whether lacy white linen and beautifully etched glasses, or intricately arranged along the top of a luxurious and stately bath, such astonishing elegance in bits of green, dashes of huntington and buckingham gardens, and especially when combined with crisp summer whites . . .

{p.s.} more {two lovely things:}
* light & lavender
* cool august nights
* mirror, mirror
* indoor swings

{images: 1 - photography by matt armendariz; 2 - the diversion project}

{two lovely things: mirror, mirror}

{two lovely things:}

one.
there is a mirrored tray on the marble vanity in the bathroom that holds favourite perfumes and an hermès box of hairpins, and every morning, adore the beautifully organized and perfectly pretty way everything looks, but had not thought to include a personal photograph -- such an inspiring idea!

two.
next to aerin lauder's glamorous white & gold office, this one has been a long-time favourite for its wonderfully elegant mirrored desk, inviting stacks of books and magazines, and always seem to work better when surrounded by shoes . . .

{images: 1 - ryan korban's apartment photographed by lucas allen for domino magazine via brides; 2 - samantha reitmayer's home via design*sponge}

{décor inspiration: balloon shades}

. . . whether always elegant silk or sumptuous velvet, billowing, pooled, or luxuriously layered, curtains & shades always add a layer of texture, depth and style to a space, and ever since rita konig's neo-english manhattan bedroom and hamish bowles' parisian grande hallway/drawing gallery {center}, have fallen for the elegant ruching of balloon shades, their romantic, old-world charm and the sense of grandeur they lend to any room . . .

{images: 1 - domino magazine via iffer's little nest; 2 - a previous post; 3 - country living}

{colour inspiration: buttercream}

. . . fashionably late once more and it's quickly becoming clear that things will continue to be a little sporadic around here as summertime's chaos continues and that's what makes it so beautiful -- the dashing about, the projects & plans and late lunches -- only to slow things down {just a little} on weekends, when the world slips away and there is nothing left but the sound of crashing waves and everything comes in shades of buttercream . . .

hope you're having a wonderful week,
xo

{recent colour inspiration:}
* petal pink & french grey
* driftwood
* olive & dusky taupe
* more buttercream

{images: 1 - little blue deer; 2 - photography by carla coulson via trouvais; 3 - pink preppy lilly lover; 4 - the sweetest occasion; 5 - martha stewart; 6 - lovely clusters via the style files; 7 - photography by paul ryan-goff via desire to inspire; 8 - anna zakusylo - by stefania paparelli for maria claire uk june 2010 via picsandmodels}

{home inspiration: old world glamour}

. . . quite possibly the most romantic ever, have completely fallen for this master bath designed to evoke the luxury and glamour of a powder room in a 1920s grand hotel, with perfectly elegant details such as mirrored bureaus and calcutta marble, an antique gilt mirror and mosaic tiles, vintage gilt & crystal sconces and a 1930s french tufted settee, floods of light and a mirrored tray always filled with perfume and roses . . .

{images: scans, photography by john granen for house beautiful june 2010, interview by lisa cregan, bathroom design by carrie hayden}