{a glimpse: beautiful balmain}

. . . impossibly elegant gilt-panelled walls and mirrored halls, velvet chairs and intoxicating bouquets of roses, softly pooling drapery and sexy tulle-enveloped dresses: a glimpse into the enchanted world of balmain . . .

{images: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 - joseph dirand architecture for balmain via the diversion project; 3 - magdalena frackowiak, paris fashion week - balmain spring/summer 2009 fashion show via fashionising; jacket via maison des rêveries; ;tulle skirt via a glamorous little side project; daria via a glamorous little side project}

{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}

{colour inspiration: gold & lilac}

. . . high-heeled shoes and cupcake wrappers, mirrored dressers and vintage sconces -- always and irresistibly drawn to all things gold, and especially when intermingled with shades of lilac . . .

{images: stylist eva lindh; kendall wilkinson & also via felicity; flickr via coco & kelley}

{interior designer: miles redd}

. . . most often drawn to bright and airy, spaces, crisp whites and pale and pretty neutrals {here & here}, but every once in a while, something comes along that changes everything and suddently it's deep hues and jewel tones, an intoxicating mix of colours, patterns and textures, and pure and unbridled maximalism -- hervé pierre's paris apartment, david kaihoi's new york flat, hamish bowles' paris apartment -- and now boxwood, an enchanting and wonderfully romantic old 1920's home in altanta filled with fish ponds and gardens, grand columns and archways, french doors and luxurious velvet sofas, elegant monogrammed linens and de gournay . . .

{p.s.} the living room walls are upholstered entirely in turquoise satin

{images: photography by francesco lagnese for town & country via the love list}

{decor inspiration: endless summer}

. . . can never resist the elegance of french doors, especially when they are flung open to the intoxicating sounds of the ocean and the last fading days of summer -- and every year around this time, striped rugs and ceiling beams and the charm of a quaint beachside cottage is overwhelmingly alluring . . .

{carolyn espley-miller's beach house in carpinteria, california, photography by david tsay for house beautiful, aged and gilded via the simply luxurious life}

{two lovely things: eames molded plywood chairs}

{two lovely things:} around the dining table or beneath a gallery wall, there is just something about the perfectly graceful lines of eames chairs -- still -- that adds a beautiful elegance to any room and no matter how many times you may come across them, they always remain classic and utterly timeless . . .

{p.s.} and while you may have seen these images before, they are here as a glimpse of very, very exciting things to come xo

{images: 1 - desire to inspire; 2 - david netto, both via a cup of jo}

{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}

{pink stripes & yellow pom poms}

. . . if you have been reading for some time, you may remember a wonderful give-away from last year, for complete interior design services to one reader in new york city by lavender & plum, a boutique design agency known for sophisticated and eclectic style with a hint of whimsicality . . .

the winner was the lovely melisa of the lil bee, who was expecting at the time, and so chose to have a new nursery designed -- and now, a year and a new arrival later, a peek at how it all turned out . . .



{photography by bentley waters}

{home inspiration: old world glamour}

. . . quite possibly the most romantic ever, have completely fallen for this master bath designed to evoke the luxury and glamour of a powder room in a 1920s grand hotel, with perfectly elegant details such as mirrored bureaus and calcutta marble, an antique gilt mirror and mosaic tiles, vintage gilt & crystal sconces and a 1930s french tufted settee, floods of light and a mirrored tray always filled with perfume and roses . . .

{images: scans, photography by john granen for house beautiful june 2010, interview by lisa cregan, bathroom design by carrie hayden}