{inspiration: jewel tones}

. . . falling, falling for autumn's deep and rich jewel tones






{images: 1 - The Complete Book of the Home via brabourne farm; numéro tokyo october 2009 via lace & tea; 3 + 5 - toast; 4 - amanda seyfried via dirty little secret; photography by gemma comas for domino magazine december/january 2009; 6 - desire to inspire}

{décor inspiration: a sense of grandeur}

. . . adore the idea of enveloping the walls of a small space in deep charcoal hues and positively filling every corner with perfectly ornate and beautifully embellished details -- chandeliers and velvet, walk-in closets and wine cellars, silk curtains and tufted headboards and wonderful french antiques -- to create a certain romance, an old-world charm with a luxurious sense of grandeur . . .

{1,000 square foot bungalow of designer & stylist lizzie carney; photography by bjorn wallander for country living, scans by shelter}

{DIY: black + white}

. . . fun DIY: a black and white zig zag rug made of painted sea grass

{p.s.} another zig zag DIY

{image: bella sugar via pink wallpaper}

{two lovely things: headboards}

. . . upholstered perfection and custom cane . . .

{images: 1 - design*sponge; 2 - the french bedroom}

{two lovely things: inside out}

. . . crisp linens and throwing open all the windows and doors . . .

{p.s.}
* sharing thoughts on summer at the lovely blog automatism today
* more {two lovely things} posts . . .

{images: 1 - the white collection at designers guild; 2 - architectural digest, november 2005 via verdigrisvie}

{photographer: ellen silverman}

. . . there is a beautifully serene, painterly quality to new york-based photographer ellen silverman's work -- a perfectly moody, atmospheric light that infuses each frame and inspires thoughts of sultry august afternoons moments after a rainstorm . . .

{p.s.} an interview & more work

{images: all photography by ellen silverman, via my paradissi}

{colour inspiration: sea green & summer white}

. . . a kelly green cashmere cardigan from a lifetime ago aside, not often drawn to shades of green -- that is -- until happening upon these serenely elegant rooms overflowing with prettily patterned chaises and ruffled bed linens, elegant topiaries and cascading bouquets -- and suddenly -- the shade is as a fresh the summer air just before an early august thundershower, and believe am now quite enamoured with this perfect shade that hangs somewhere just between chartreuse and the leaves of gardenias . . .

{p.s.} more inspiration:
* spring greens
* chartreuse & velvet
* green & white stripes

{images: photography by casey sills for veranda, july/august 2001 via mrs. blandings -- thanks ever so much, felicity!}

{pure romance: a tiny victorian cottage}

. . . nearly impossible not to be utterly captivated by this perfectly tiny and devastatingly romantic victorian cottage in the catskills, all draped in netting and dusky white and overflowing with ruffly bed linens and silver tea services, antique mirrors and chandeliers, and limoges china patterned in tiny rosebuds -- an enchanting summery retreat for long and luxurious afternoons spent dreaming, dreaming to the soft sounds of a sunlit stream . . .

{p.s.} special thanks to lovely reader betsy for sending along the link xo








{images: trevor tondro for the new york times}

{blog inspiration: linen + lavender}

. . . completely over heels for this stunning room -- the incredibly elegant chandelier, the soft greys and crisp linens . . .

. . . and always exciting to discover new & wonderful blogs positively filled with beautiful things, such as linen + lavender, {here & here} a place that have been visiting nearly obsessively for the past little while and a place absolutely made for wandering about, getting hopelessly caught up and utterly lost in . . .

{p.s.} previous blog inspiration: bardot in blue

{also new today:}
* summertime, summertime
* happy monday

{this image, linen+lavender via beautiful things to share}

{colour inspiration: august sunrise + bits of gold}

. . . hello! monday, monday and things are off to beautiful start -- early morning at the gym, plans & projects and a brand new week, and couldn't dream of a lovelier way to begin than with shades of pink -- tea rose and cherry blossom, bermuda and august sunrise -- all intermingled with summer wicker and lace, and always elegant with bits of gold . . .

******

{a few things from late last week:}
* give-away: until wednesday
* guest post: at home in arkansas magazine
* scandinavian style: photographer per gunnarsson

{& new today:}
* two lovely things: champagne & lace

{images: 1 - sköna hem; 2 - photography by jory cordy for southern weddings, tumblr via felicity -- thank you!; 3 - martha stewart via the city sage; 4 - photography by jolijn snijders via studded hearts}

{two lovely things: same room, different light}

. . . happened across these photographs quite by accident and weeks apart, drawn to the striking combination of grand chandelier and gilt mirror, only to discover they were of the same room, in different light -- the first, warm rays and soft greys with a glimmer of gold, and the second, a more casual, rustic elegance, in deeper shades of slate and cobalt -- the difference is like spring and autumn . . .

{p.s.} more two lovely things

{images: 1 - red ticking; 2 - scan by haute design, photography by h. del olmo for côté sud, june/july 2008 via sacramento street}