{a fond farewell to summer}

. . . lovely to be back again after a stunningly beautiful weekend filled with sunny, sunny skies and balmy mid-afternoon breezes fitting for the last long-weekend of the summer -- even as the early mornings turn crisp and it's nearly time for soft scarves, tall boots and elegant trenches, one last look at the perfect loveliness we leave behind . . .







{images: 1 - country style; 2 - collette dinnigan; 3 - Rooms to Inspire in the Country by annie kelly; 4 - Living by Design by john stefanidis; 5 - belinda merrie; 6 - house & garden; 7 - michael graydon; 8 - oberto gill - all images via the ever-inspiring brabourne farm -- thank you, felicity!}

{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}

{happy monday + thoughts for a new week}

. . . another summer weekend may have come and gone, but it was filled with french bread and escargots, nights in silk dresses and upswept hair, and a lingering of early morning breezes laden with a beautiful excitement . . . and over morning cups of coffee, reminded of a favourite winston churchill quote:

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

. . . a wonderful thought for a brand new week, and hope yours is off to a perfect start,
xo

{p.s.} late august, which means a wildly sporadic posting schedule and never quite seem to get into the week until it's nearly over, and so -- many new & wonderful things you may have missed at week's end:
* weekend romance & lovely links
* in the bedroom: only sweet dreams
* photographer: camilla akrans & autumn blossoms
* in the bedroom: crisp linens & scalloped edges

{my wonderworld}

{croissants on a friday morning}

. . . has only been a little while since our last breakfast in paris, but any time away from paris is far too long and while we may not be having our croissants and café au lait in the jardin du luxembourg this beautiful summer morning, we will be packing our weekend carryalls for a little time away . . .

{p.s.} don' you just adore the rhinestone detail against the wicker?

{one last thing:} weekend wishes & links to follow xo

{images:1 - taverne agency via living art interiors; 2 - heather bullard via everything fabulous; 3 - oliveaux}

{hello + a few things}

. . . french doors and a velvet tufted settee, wood floors and another stunning chandelier -- there is something about each of these things that adds such glamour and elegance to a room -- and all intermingled in one place, sheer perfection . . .

{p.s.} hello! things around here are rather sporadic on the best of days, but this week, more so than usual, so if you've just arrived, a list of the new & lovely things this week so far:

* hazy summer days: play of light & shadow
* lace bangle set give-away: and the winner is . . .
* blog inspiration: linen & lavender
* a new week: happy monday!
* first day of summer: italian silk & manicured gardens

{image: design is mine; more chandeliers here}

{colour inspiration: olive & dusky taupe}

. . . summertime always reminds me of warm & woodsy earth tones, shades of chardonnay and riverside moss, mediterranean olive and dusky taupe, and the colour of early morning mist, lush and languid and perfect complements for crashing waves and sunkissed skin . . .

{images: 1 - greige; 2 - photography by chris benton via aubrey road; 3 - photography by peo eriksson for world of interiors via natural history; 4 - definitely golden}

{inspiration: weathering winter beautifully}

good morning! a wonderfully late start & a brand new week and as it goes, next to white floorboards and french doors, rooms flooded in sunlight seem to be just the thing to weather winter beautifully; a few bright bouquets or a gathering of flowering plants and everything begins to feel like spring . . .

{p.s.} stunning transparent butterfly

{image: martha stewart}