A Place For Everything

I LOVE this! They took old french doors and put them in the bookcase to conceal the TV. They finished the doors in the same molding as the bookshelves so it looks consistent. That chair is from the 1950's and belonged to the owner's grandfather.

It's hip to be square.

This is a walk in closet. I love how you could easily do this to a room with dead space.

An inspired office is the cat's meow.

For the girl who loves her shoes - a good way to store and see where all that money is going!


A place for everything and everything in it's place! In many things in my life, I strive to mix it up a bit and not always be regimented. However, I do LOVE an organized house and clever ways of doing things. For one thing, being organized saves a tremendous amount of time. I can't say my house is as perfect as these photos but it's always good to have a goal right? My father used to have a grocery list printed in the order of aisles in the store. My mother puts professional organizers to shame. I suppose I came by it naturally. Here's hoping my boys will one day pick up their socks. I wouldn't want to reach too high at this point...

Photos via Canadian House and Home, Tumblr and Pintrest

Lavender Haze

I would love to smell this field...so pretty

Looks very restful

Simple and elegant

Lavender mint lemonade

Dessert table of extreme perfection

Lavender is one of those hard colors to nail because too much purple would really bother me but a pale shade mixed with natural materials is very sophisticated. My friend has her whole living room done in pale lavender linen slipcovers with a seagrass rug and french antiques. It looks amazing. Even better, it was done a few years ago and remains timeless and fresh. Color is very unique to each person but for me, a soothing color with more grey tones will has a longer life than a strong color. Sage green has stayed for years while kelly green is about to get the boot! It was a Viceroy Hotel phase I was in. Have a soothing and relaxing day...it's Friday after all.

Photos via Blowout Party Blog and others I can't remember!

Photographer Corrie Bond

I love these shots! I will have to show more of Corrie's work because choosing a series was tough. Much like my choices for interior design, I love when vintage and modern collide for a rich result. Although this magazine shoot was reminiscent of times past, the clothes are just as chic and sophisticated today. I rarely read Vogue because of their need to put the most outrageous ensembles together with women looking like heroin addicts who need a hot meal. Then they want you to race to the store and spend thousands of dollars to look like a freak show, all in the name of non-verbally saying, "Yes, I did spend more than you...it's blah, blah designer." Ridiculous! Classic lines, great accessories, red lips...done. Notice the woman, not the designer.

Photos: Corrie Bond

A Peek at Pecky Cypress

Pecky Cypress refers to cypress lumber, whether tidewater or sinker, that has holes throughout it. It is rare, since it only occurs in occasional logs, and cannot be discovered until the log is cut. It only forms from the inside out in a circular pattern following the tree's rings. When milled, the pattern of pecky holes is random, and only lumber cut from the inside of the log will contain the pecky. In addition to looking great, it is durable and rot and insect resistant. It can be done in darker shades but I prefer the milky grays shown above. Remember my mantra...beauty is in the details!

Photos via Limestone & Boxwoods, House Beautiful

Mantastic!

For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know I like the idea of a masculine store with cool design ideas for the guy who doesn't gravitate towards the sectional sofa with the built-in ice chest. Well here it is! Modern Anthology is in Brooklyn, New York. It is a creative studio and retail store brimming with uber chic furniture, vintage finds, clothing, home accessories and personal products for the well groomed man. It's too bad internet photos don't have the ability to be "scratched and sniffed" because I have the feeling this store would smell like a good combination of buttery leather and the shirt you won't wash due to the lingering smell of that incredible date. I love to mix masculine and feminine elements in a home. The masculine pieces anchor the room with symmetry while the feminine ones invite you to live a little. As a creative studio and retail store, Modern Anthology says storytelling is what they do best. What a clever concept. After all, interior design is usually something created over time, with elements that reflect one's personality. What story does your home tell about you?

Photos via Not So Lolita & Modern Anthology

Mr. & Mrs. Smith Get Romantic

Welcome to my new obsession...the website Mr. and Mrs Smith. It's a travel site with spectacular boutique and luxury hotels. With a wink and a smile, it is named for the most commonly used American names when checking into a hotel incognito. How sexy is that? They are all about romantic escapes to fabulous places and each hotel has been couple tested to make sure it is top quality in terms of services, amenities and over-all luxury. They will also tell you which particular room to get or restaurants and shops to visit. The hotel pictured above is called Aenaon Villas in Santorini, Greece. I know, I know...Greece is in an uproar with 21% unemployment and mayhem in Athens right now. For this blog, please focus on the turquoise water and pretend such horrible things are not happening. It only has 7 villas in the entire place and children younger than 8 are not permitted. Music to my ears! I guess you have noticed it is Valentine's Day. Rather than posting on everything red and pink and discussing all the different cheesy ways a teddy bear can be attached to an object like a coffee mug to profess a person's true love, I thought I would focus on what's inadvertently sexy and loving. A phone call from someone making sure you reached your destination, a funny remark that makes you laugh, a touch that makes you shiver and have butterflies in your stomach, a real conversation where you don't always have to agree but you know that person understands and hears you and eye contact that conveys, "I've got your back" are just a few examples I can think of. Last I checked, Hallmark doesn't make a coffee mug that says all that. Happy Valentine's Day.

Photos via Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Check out these great photos:
Aenaon Villas

Color Me Happy

Whenever I see these color combinations, it always makes me happy. Nothing in my house looks like this but maybe it will someday. It's all part of my fantasy world where I either have a vacation house that can represent my alter ego OR where changing fabrics and paints is as easy as impulsively buying a great pair of shoes on the way to the make up counter. I am famous for buying things at Round Top and never finishing the important part of completing the task. Examples: the chandelier sits in my powder bath waiting to be wired, several things are waiting to be framed and hung and the lion door knocker has not been installed to be knocked. Will someone please call the house fairy to make these things magically happen?!? Until then, enjoy the photos of things that were actually completed and I hope it makes you happy!

Photos via The Lennoxx Blog, Eddie Ross, Cote de Texas Blog