{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}

{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}

{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}

{one last thing}

. . . dashing out the door for a late brunch, but can never resist a beautiful chevron floor, especially perfectly time-worn and intermingled with elegant wood panelling, a tailored white sofa, floods of light, and a pile of strewn books & magazines . . .

{p.s.} late weekend links below xo

{image: b&b italia via linen & lavender}

{two lovely things: smokey violet & chevron floors}

{two lovely things}: whether in velvet on dining chairs and intermingling with mirrors and chandeliers, or in linen on an elegantly casual sofa and paired with perfectly paneled walls and luxurious gilt french mirrors, there is nothing quite like the stunning combination of smokey violet and always classic chevron floors . . .

{p.s.} utterly enchanted by the mirrored wall with the secret door

{images: head over heels}

{inspiration: carved wood + crystal}

. . . an undying adoration for the wonderfully ornate -- crown moulding and carved wood, panelled walls and glittering chandeliers and, most certainly and always, all enveloped in soft and hazy spills of light . . .

{image: homes & gardens magazine via brabourne farm}