{work, work, work}

. . . being away means catching up on a few things upon returning, and so, a flurry of things early this morning and well into the afternoon, but after, there will be many new and exciting things here, and even after that, so many more beautiful things to share later on in the day . . . do stop in again if you like . . .

hope you're well,
xo

{p.s.} if you're just arriving:
* this week's give-away: a stunning crystal & 24 karat gold tray

{images: the startorialist}

{hello & a few things . . .}

. . . hello! a quiet evening after a busy late-summer day, a little exhausted and beautifully so, after an amazingly productive start to the week and already it feels as if time is slipping away . . . and drowning, drowning in e-mails and a little overwhelmed -- if you have written and have not received a response, please take no offense, and click here . . .

hope you're having a perfectly wonderful week so far,
xo

{photography by tommy ton for jak&jil via apartment 34}

{back from nyc + hello!}

hello! home again and so lovely to see you -- sincerest apologies for being suddenly m.i.a. the past few days -- an unscheduled and dramatically last-minute trip to new york city late last week, and it's been a whirlwind of romance and strawberry cocktails, long dinners and late nights, beautiful shops and sunrises over the water, early morning swims and menus filled with the most delicious things, like wild blossom salad with champagne vinaigrette . . . much to tell and many, lovely photographs -- but first, a few moments to catch my breath . . .

{images: natalia chabanenko by serge leblon, styling by styled by mattias karlsson for harper's bazaar uk, september 2010 via picsandmodels, also seen at a dustjacket attic}

{hello + a new week}

. . . hello again! another beautiful summer weekend has come and gone, and so much so, that couldn't resist one more day away . . . and now, a new week and so lovely to be back again, more inspired than ever and utterly overflowing with lovely things to share . . .

hope you are well and that your week is off to a perfect start,
xo

{p.s.} is there anything more beautiful than carrera marble?

>> more here & here & here

{late-summer sunshine}

. . . one of those mornings where a million things are happening at once and the week has gotten away a little . . . a few lovely things planned for the day as well as weekend wishes & links later on, and before we know it, another summer weekend . . .

{anja rubik by carter smith via studded hearts, also here}

{hello + glamorous gold velvet}

. . . shall always and forever adore velvet {this sofa is stunning}, and even more so after happening upon it in mesmerizingly beautiful and wonderfully luxurious shades of gold . . .

{p.s.} hello! thursday again, and dashing out the door for a late lunch on a sunny terrace across town, and today it's a chignon and diamond earrings, a delicate white dress with thin straps and gold embroidery, perfectly paired with gold strappy summer sandals

hope you're having spectacular week and more lovely things soon,
xo

{image: elle decoration uk via the diversion project}

{hello + a few things}

. . . dashing out the door -- sexy tousled hair, a light linen summer dress, suede heels and coral lips -- but first, a quick hello and two new & lovely things:

* summertime: a dreamy & languid light
* two lovely things: bits of green

{p.s.} isn't the miu miu bow satchel in palest pink the loveliest thing?

{image: the cherry blossom girl via beautiful things to share}

{hello + happy monday}

. . . hello! . . . monday, monday and sincerest apologies for the long absence, both here and on twitter -- delightfully surprised by unexpected guests from out of town on friday, and after the afternoons around and about and the late dinner reservations, dancing in heels and conversations long into the night, quaint british pubs and brunches of eggs benedict and bellinis, spent an unintentional and very rare few days nearly completely offline . . . and lovely to be back again to what has been missed while away and while still much to get caught up on, also many wonderful things to share this week . . .

hope you are well & wishing you a perfect start to the week,
xo

{p.s.} more feathers

{images: 1, 3, 5 - maria lucia hohan’s atelier, the cherry blossom girl via beautiful things to share & what anna loves; 2 - tumblr via felicity -- thank you! xo; 4 - scan by this is glamorous, photography by polly wreford for at home with white by atlanta bartlett}

{thursday thoughts}

. . . a dashing out the door day and on the way to a long lunch on a terrace overlooking the park, oversized sunglasses and a classic chignon, always a coffee in hand -- but first, a quick hello and the promise to return later in the day with more beautiful inspiration . . .

hope you're having an extraordinarily lovely week so far,
xo

{image: dress, rodarte spring 2008 collection, tumblr via felicity}

{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}

{hello + brand new things}

. . . hello! has been a while since there was site news and today there are many exciting things . . . under the intoxicating glow of dimly lit chandeliers and candlelight over a late dinner one evening, p. came up with the brilliant idea of creating a beautiful way to browse the {this is glamorous} archives, and while things are only at the beginning, here are the new pages so far . . .

one: features & favourites
browse favourite posts, as well as categories, and soon, weekly features such as two lovely things, at the shops & colour inspiration . . .
{click here} for a peek

two: photography | fashion | travel
browse by category, broken down into photography {in both design & fashion}, fashion editorials & lookbooks, and travel . . .
{click here} for peek; this page is still in progress

. . . still more to come, but for now, it's too many cups of coffee and dashing out the door, a perfectly messy topknot, heels and trench . . .

{this week is going by quickly!} hope it's beautiful where you are,
xo

{images: 1 - style me pretty via follow studio; 2&3 - ~elena; 3- cannelle et vanille via follow studio; 5 - ~elena; 6 - scan by this is glamorous, photography polly wreford for wedding inspirations by margaret caselton}

{hello + a few things}

. . . hello! apologies for the rather sporadic start to the week -- one of those dashing about days, meetings and appointments, a quick stop at the market on the way home for a bouquet of champagne-coloured roses and now there's much catching up, but also a few wonderful things to share a little later, as well as another beautiful give-away, so check back if you like -- would be lovely to see you xo

{p.s.} shall never tire of marble table tops or staircases

{images: photography by lucas allen, via ephemerette}

{hello + a few things}

. . . hello! how we arrived at friday again is a beautiful mystery, but another wonderful week filled with enchanting things has come and gone and hope it's sunny where you are,
xo

{p.s.} such lovely, lovely comments, tweets & e-mails recently -- thanks so much!

{and quite exciting:} a visit from hervé pierre, creative director at carolina herrara, in response to this post -- always fun to think of who might be reading . . .

{image: studded hearts}

{happy monday + inspiration boards}

. . . hello! a very late start this morning and after the rain and petal-laden breezes, away, away for a bit this weekend, not returning until late sunday night and now, a whirlwind all around and quite hopelessly drawn to the calm and order of these inspiration boards . . .

happy monday & hope your week is off to a wonderful start,
xo

{p.s.} aren't these lovely?

{image: 1 - domino via chateau de lu; 2 - hall ready}

{a sunny thursday afternoon}

. . . hello! a sunny spring afternoon and out the door for a late lunch, but wanted to stop in for a quick hello -- shall return later with more beautiful inspiration . . .

hope you're having a wonderful week,
xo

{p.s.} also:
* new -- warm & woodsy
* thanks ever so much for the lovely comments on the 10 things list

{images: 1 - the home within us by bobby mcalpine via greige; 2 - photography by patrick demarchelier}

{thoughts on a rainy afternoon}

. . . a drizzly, foggy afternoon on one of those weeks where a million things are happening at once, and today is e-mails, projects, deadlines and out the door for a late lunch, but wanted to say a quick hello -- and shall return later today with some perfectly exciting news . . .

hope you're having a lovely thursday,
xo

{p.s.} have been obsessed with florals lately

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