Looks I Love
Divine Decor: Jackie’s “Modern Cottage” Living Room
Over Christmas I got to step foot into my mom’s neighbor’s house and see her latest decorating achievements. Now you probably know from my photos that our house style is not country or cottage. What you probably don’t know is that I’m a sucker for a well-put-together, not over-the-top cottagey space. But Ryan is not. Ever. So what I’ve always loved about Jackie’s house is the way she’s blended pieces she loves, heirlooms, and cottage-y accents to creates a very modern, very breezy cottage/country feel. Read the rest of this entry »
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Fall In Love With “Fallingwater”
Over the Labor Day holiday, Ryan and I took a short vacation with my parents, staying in a cabin in the rural part of western PA. While the cabin itself was fine, it wasn’t anything exciting from a decor or architectural standpoint. However, Ryan and I got our design fix when we visited two Frank Lloyd Wright homes: Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob.
While both homes were beautiful, and chock-full of innovative design and storage elements, it was the infamous Fallingwater that showed me exactly what all the hype is about.
Interior photography was not allowed, so I had to comb the web for some photos of my favorite elements. I’ve used captions to give credit for photos that are not mine. Please, if you “pin” any images that aren’t mine, make a note in the “pin” to give proper credit.
While I think the shape and harmony of the home’s exterior are awesome, I don’t love the actual look of the beige stucco or cement. The real design treats lay in wait across the threshold.
Exploring Miami’s “MiMo” District
Aside from eating all the amazing food I shared yesterday, Ryan and I were also looking forward to exploring Miami’s “MiMo District” – an old neighborhood north of downtown filled with mid-century modern architecture. In several major newspapers I’d read travel articles discussing all the new restaurants and shops in this recently gentrified area, and the stories had us dying to check the place out.
After filling our bellies at the Latin Cafe, we hopped into a cab and swerved up Rt. 1 (Biscayne Boulevard) through the city, with a very charismatic driver who thanked Jesus very, very vocally and enthusiastically every time the car made a turn without having to be re-started. I got super excited (and may or may not have squealed) when we started passing very interesting and retro looking buildings.
When she dropped us off on a side street (63rd?) and we walked one block to check out the bay, we were immediately conscious of groups of loitering people just watching us. Fortunately their was a police officer stationed nearby. But still, we walked right back to the main boulevard, thinking we’d be better off staying away from the side streets. Read the rest of this entry »
Social Graces Shop & DIY Decor Ideas
Every once in a while I happen upon a local shop that is so beautifully and invitingly decorated, that I find myself wandering around and wanting to buy things I know I don’t need. If that isn’t expert merchandising, then I don’t know what is.
Such was the case on a solitary Sunday, when I wandered into Social Graces, a store offering stationery, gifts, and invitations in the Hillsboro neighborhood of Nashville.
One display in the middle of the shop immediately caught my eye: This elegantly rough old cabinet, the merchandise nestled in straw . . .
. . . and what is that over-sized garland I spy?
It’s a new twist on the coffee filter wreath/garland look. Circles of what appear to be unbleached muslin, white cotton, and brown and white coffee filters sandwiched together, and strung out on a strand of twine. I never loved the plain coffee filter wreaths, but this I am dying to try at home.
But the inspiration didn’t stop there. Every way I turned I spied beautiful arrangements of even more beautiful candles and paper goods.
These Voluspa Candles kept catching my attention, and one probably would have come home with me if I hadn’t had an already-overflowing suitcase.
Ok, I’ll admit it: Besides the luscious scents, I really just wanted the candles for their containers.
When I was convinced I couldn’t absorb one more ounce of decor awesomeness, I turned to leave, and noticed the amazing paper flower display adorning the window.
It’s totally DIY-able . . . if you’ve got a seriously patient, detail-oriented personality. Look how intricate the different types of flowers are. Wouldn’t it make a gorgeous accent, arching across a bare wall in your home – perhaps for a wedding or baby shower?
In addition to all the eye candy, the shop offers custom wedding invitations, letterpress stationery, and has friendly and helpful staff.
Have you discovered any good locally-owned shops lately?
Psst: Note to shop-loving bloggers: Just for the sake of politeness, it’s always a good idea to ask for permission before whipping out the camera and photographing parts of a shop. I’ve yet to have a shop owner say no, and it offers a great way to get a conversation going.
{Recap} Holiday party & Vera Wang
Friday night found me and Ryan racing home from work, then getting all dolled up for our company’s holiday party – held at the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space museum. Not the one in downtown DC, but the one by the airport. It’s quite an experience to attend a formal party held in a vast airplane-hangar-turned-museum, with space shuttles and vintage spy planes all around you. In addition to the fun of decking black tie attire and eating amazing food, I love checking out the party decor and tablescapes each year. Last year I shared a few photos from my camera – like this crazy pink feather centerpiece:
This year all I had handy was Ryan’s phone, which had a bit of trouble with the lighting. But here we go:
First, it’s amazing to be selecting desserts from a table directly at the nose of the Enterprise. But from a decor & DIY perspective, what I loved was these simple iridescent cone trees that were on each of the tables by the space shuttle.
These two arrangements both made the use of huge birch branches, which I think is totally over the top and totally awesome. I’m guessing since Ryan likes to leave the branches outside, though, this would never fly in the borrowed abode.
I liked this arrangement because of its simplicity, and use of natural elements. The two tall vases are filled with water and a single floating candle, then skinny sticks (taller than the vases) are placed against them and held in place with a wrapping of birch bark. I love it!!
Another one of those floating candles, this time with another vase full of huuuuuuge birch branches.
All in all, I think these are some great ideas for simple, mostly-natural table decor. Airplanes optional, of course.
And now let’s talk fashion. I was so stoked to be able to borrow this beautiful Vera Wang gown from my friend Carolynn. She’s always finding the most awesome unique designer items on eBay and other sites.
I. Love. It.
(Note to the ladies: it’s really convenient if you can arrange for your man’s best friend to get engaged to a woman your size, with an eye for designer duds.) She didn’t buy a new dress either, wearing instead a simple black satin (silk?) dress from a previous year, and rocked it – going for a 1940′s glamour look, with simple upswept hair and sparkling antique family jewelry.
And here I am with my handsome man . . . when we got home from the party, and I finally took my shoes off. He may have been crossing his eyes in this . . . I set the camera to take 6 shots automatically, and he screwed most of them up with his goofball antics. :)
The end.
Just L: Mid-mod heaven in the White Mountains
Who would have thought that the small town of Littleton, NH would have a top-rate mid-century modern furniture store? Certainly not me. But Monday morning Ryan and I discovered just that, in the form of Just L, a “modern antique” store. We never would have thought to look for such a shop in the town, but we were thrilled when we stumbled into it after getting our morning cappuccino and WiFi hook-up at Miller’s Cafe & Bakery.
The kickass selection of vintage glassware had me swooning:
I was easily able to check one much-wanted item off my shopping list: a set of 8 vintage highball/water glasses to replace the mismatched mess in our kitchen cabinets. I also scored a beautiful vintage ice bucket and an awesome coffee carafe that I think I can use as a wine decanter as well. Ryan got a lamp which you will see when Ryan lets me share a photo of his office (I guess it’s no longer going to be a blog-free zone)!
There were several Danish modern & mid-century modern wooden pieces that would make perfect additions to our home, like this sleek upholstered chair:
Or either of these gorgeous wooden dressers – both of which were reasonably priced:
Or what about this entire “living room”? I wish I “needed” that coffee table set!
And this lamp made me wish I needed more lighting in my home:
And I think I’ve saved the best for last: this vanity has a ton of fun little drawers:
And this awesome little mirror that pulls out and props up for you to remind yourself how fabulous you look:
But even better than all the merchandise were the guys running the shop: Lance and Greg. Their friendliness and helpfulness, coupled with the awesome items at fair prices, have me plotting how on earth I can justify driving back to New Hampshire just to buy furniture this winter. New Years vacation, perhaps?
In the mean time, be sure to check them out on Facebook. If you want to swoon in person, go to 16 Mill St. Littleton, NH. And stay tuned for next week, when I’ll sure to share my new vintage glasswares as soon as I get home and unpack!
An English Cottage. . . in New Hampshire?
I’m happily enjoying a relaxing long weekend in New Hampshire with my mom. We’re staying on Lake Winnipesaukee. At night I sit on the porch, enjoying the cool air, and seeing all the stars in the sky. And when it’s quiet you can hear the loons calling back and forth; a very haunting sound.
Today, during our travels about the countryside, we happened on this charming English style cottage, and I just had to get a few shots. It’s so precious!!
The place is clearly uninhabited, and it’s so sad. I can just imagine how nice it was when the little back garden was truly a kitchen garden. How romantic!
That’s all for now. I’ve got more stars to look at!
Neighborhood Nakedness & Front Porch Envy
Almost every day, on my drive home from work, I pass a home where a couple sits in matching white rocking chairs on their front porch, sharing a bottle of red wine. They’re young, they’re hip, and they have a gorgeous home – with a cozy and welcoming front porch. Super cute.
It’s the porches like theirs that give me front porch envy on walks through the town. The new construction that has replaced many of the original small brick ranchers on the lots is arts & crafts style. Almost every one of them is flanked by a fantastic front porch.
Even though I’m more of 50′s ranch home kinda girl, this is one of my favorite homes to walk by. I just love the espresso wood siding with the red trim:
This second-story porch, in particular, grabs me every time.
The other homes’ porches also call to me, except that – aside from the usual bench or white Adirondack chair – they are devastatingly naked and unadorned. I can’t imagine having a naked front porch! It’s the perfect spot to spend a lazy weekend morning, watching the world go by. (And being a nosy neighbor!)
If you ask me, the porch on this uniquely painted home is just begging to be furnished.
I love the white trim detail on this one:
Another naked porch!
Finally, this one has some nice wooden seating that compliments the cedar shingles well.
Maybe it’s a nasty little side effect of blogging. Am I the only one who can’t lay eyes on a naked porch without wanting to furnish it?
