{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}

{two lovely things: headboards}

. . . upholstered perfection and custom cane . . .

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

{in the bedroom: summer whites}

. . . the sultry days of summer have arrived and it has been hot, hot, hot and positively living in pretty summer dresses and upswept hair, and in the evenings, the duvet with its lovely lacy trim becoming far too heavy and we're dreaming, dreaming, of draping everything in romantic mosquito netting and saturating the bermuda teal walls in enchanting shades of crisp summer white . . .

{p.s.} don't you just adore the crochet bedcover?

{images: stylist susanna vento via the style files; 2 & 4 - cyrus, home hotel firenze via apartment therapy; 3 - shabby chic via decorology}

{two lovely things: summer wicker}

{two lovely things:} there is something about wicker that brings back memories of luxuriously beautiful summer afternoons -- perhaps a reminder of picnic baskets and sunrooms overflowing with roses and sunlight . . . and lovely, lovely to see wicker move beyond and into bedrooms, draped in seductive and always romantic mosquito netting, and dining rooms, be-ribboned and rustically elegantly alongside white tufted chairs with an air of perfect countryside charm . . .

{p.s.} recent two lovely things:
* light & lavender
* mirror, mirror

{images: both rivièra maison via linen + lavender: one & two}

{happy monday + nate berkus}

. . . had been hoping to work the room nate berkus designed for katie lee {below}, into a an upcoming charming mix, as the second-floor den has been a long-time favourite, when happened upon a happy collective of nearly one hundred bloggers who also adore the elegance and sophistication of nate's work, always a beguiling mix of beautiful things: antique french jade glass lamps, luxurious tones and textures, gilded headboards and monogrammed linens . . . and so, a few favourite rooms to begin the week after a wonderful weekend . . .

happy monday! hope it's off to a perfect start,
xo



{previous nate posts:}
* two lovely things: mirrors & chandeliers
* two lovely things: pink & purple

{thanks to @creategirl & @moggitgirls for organizing; images: 1 - a previous post; 2 - scan by this is glamorous, photography by paul costello for domino june/july 2008; 3 - brown turtleneck sweater; 4 - a previous post}

{colour inspiration: driftwood}

. . . soft summer skies and the nostalgia of worn floorboards, quiet glimmers of crystals on a chandelier, a sequined wrap or a mirror -- on this early may afternoon, daydreams are filled with the warm, seaside shades of driftwood . . .

{images: 1 & 3 - scans by this is glamorous, photography by polly wreford for at home with white by atlanta bartlett; 2 - gemma comas; 4 - new farmhouse style via the city sage; 5 - a previous post; 6 - photography by andrew hayes-watkins; 7 - 1st option via sanctuary; 8 - tumblr; 9 - brabourne farm; 10 - dreamy whites via felicity; 11 - thread social}

{happy monday + easy elegance}

. . . good morning! monday, monday and hope you've had beautiful a weekend -- it's a three cups of freshly ground coffee and hopelessly elegant antique french bed kind of morning, upholstered, of course, in perfectly charming pink & white polka dots . . .

{p.s.}
* more dots here
* a lovely way to begin the week {thank you!}

{image: scan, photography by polly wreford for easy elegance by atlanta bartlett}

{soft neutrals + pale pastels}

. . . as the days become longer, afternoons are infused with a soft, late-winter light laced with nostalgia, casting hazy shadows and moody hues on everything, more beautiful with glimpses and glimmers of lucite, metallics and venetian glass . . .



{p.s.} shades of blue:
* winter blues
* pale october
* electric
* turquoise waters
* tiffany's
* blue-blooded

{images: lonny & marc jacobs via style.com, more of this collection at the side project}

{happy ♥ weekend}

. . . vintage champagne & chocolate truffles, stolen kisses or a weekend away, however you celebrate or if you don't, wishing you a weekend filled with the things you love . . .

happy valentine's day & have a beautiful, beautiful weekend!
xo

{a few lovely ♥ links:}
* pretty pretty: all aflutter
* inspiration: brushed with gold
* graphic art: just the two of us
* download: sweet straws {here}
* fashion forward: grey trenches
* DIY: lacy mirror {via design*sponge}
* dinner party: heart-shaped doilies {via style me pretty on twitter}
* download: lovely gift tags {via creature comforts}

{as always, some things you may have missed:}
* pattern inspiration: bold stripes
* fais de beaux rêves: canopy beds
* valentine's day: breakfast at tiffany's
* outdoor inspiration: seaside dreams
* two lovely things: pink & purple
* tout ce qui brille: sequins in sunlight

{images: 1 - photography by laura letinksy for martha stewart living; 2 - designers guild via beautiful things to share; 3 - photography by josé picayo for martha stewart living;4 - a glamorous little side project; 5 - twitpic via twitter; 6 - a glamorous little side project}