{photographer: damian russell}

Damian Russell's portfolio is a heady mix of dark and light, minimalist and maximalist, at times neutral, and at others, awash in colours and patterns . . .






{images:1, 4-8 damian russell via inside out; 2, 3 - via emma; thanks, felicity!}

{inspiration: smokey walls + florals}

Insane for the soft grey walls and white floorboards of this cozy Georgian cottage in Sussex, especially when mixed with charming florals . . .

{p.s.} more florals:
* a sunny morning
* in bloom
* the scent of lilacs
* impossibly romantic

{images: from livingetc september 2009, photography by chris everard, styling by mary weaver}

{interior designer: rees roberts}

. . . crème caramel-coloured velvet perfectly paired with lucite, exotic wood and modern classics, sweeps of carerra and ultra-glamorous mirrors, and most of all, beautiful spaces that defer to the elements of views, art, and light . . .

{images: rees roberts + partners llc via the diversion project}

{give-away: crystal & 24 karat gold tray}

. . . has been a while since the last glamorous give-away, but most definitely well worth the wait . . .




. . . designer anna rabinowicz launched her first home collection for new york-based rab | labs in 2002, creating objects inspired by nature, fusing ancient, precious materials in a luxurious palette with modern design, layering semi-precious gems, including crystal and agate, with the finishing touches of pure gold and sterling silver . . .



. . . resulting in beautiful pieces such these pure brazilian agate bookends, left, and a personal favourite, the rose quartz tray with 24 karat gold trim, right

. . . rab | labs' pieces are so lovely, they have been featured in the new york times, elle décor, architectural digest, harper’s bazaar, o magazine, and new york magazine and carried by the museum of modern art stores, moss, and barneys new york . . .

. . . and best of all, today, one charmed reader will win a crystal and 24 karat gold or sterling silver tray {retail $325.00 - $375.00}, perfect for brie & table water crackers on a romantically overcast autumn afternoon, or champagne & macarons in a pair of sequined heels after dinner, or even as an ultra-stylish place to display an exquisite perfume collection on the dressing table . . .

to enter, {click here} to visit rab | labs or {here} to browse the beautiful selection of crystal trays, then leave a comment below

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

* one winner will be randomly selected and contacted by e-mail after thursday, september 30, 2010; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include it with your comment for notification; this give-away is open to u.s. & canadian readers only - apologies!; images: haute design - one & four; 2 - the cherry blossom girl; 3 - barbara palvin by max von gumppenberg & patrick bienert for vogue germany, october 2010 via oh}

{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: dusky taupe}

. . . afternoons are still wonderfully bright, but evenings are beginning to arrive earlier, and with them, a surprising briskness to unaccustomed summer skin, and already this past weekend, faux fur stoles and soft cashmere scarves and the longing for luxuriously warm textures, velvet and tweed and satin-trimmed coverlets -- and even warmer hues and tones, featherstone and champagne and deliriously lovely shades of dusky taupe . . .

{images: 1 - photography by nastasha; 2 - elle decor via mochatini; 3 - lonny magazine; 4 - simply seductive; 5 - country style magazine (australian) via daily imprint; 6 - a glamorous little side project}

{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}

{interior designer: tom scheerer}

. . . early autumn days always bring back thoughts of overwhelmingly cozy and welcoming rooms like the ones by manhattan-based interior designer tom scheerer -- overflowing in natural elements of wood and wicker, and luxurious textures of fur and velvet, a warm & woodsy palette steeped in a wonderfully relaxed modernism, and best of all, always beautiful and classic pieces such as the insanely stylish white and gold four poster bed made for dreaming of september sunsets . . .

{p.s.} reminds me a little of this collection

{images: tom scheerer via domicile interior design}

{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}

{late summer, early fall}

. . . intricately panelled walls, juliet balconies and elegant fireplaces, floods of dusky and romantic light and stunning chevron floors -- if one could describe the beautiful and all too fleeting moments between late summer and early fall, perhaps it would as this . . .

{p.s.} more perfectly ornate walls:
* happily ever after
* gilt & chevron

{also:} a corner fireplace

{images: b&b italia via marcus design, haute design & a previous post}