head to the hills

since I'm still in LA and since I love to troll real estate listings, I thought I'd share a total dream of a home.  do not blame me if you injure your jaw when it hits your keyboard.

this 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom mid-century stunner is located in the super-charming Franklin Hills on a cul-de-sac (always a bonus).  in addition to the charming wood-clad exterior, it has tiered outdoor patios, an outdoor shower, and access to a community vegetable garden.  DREAM.

those windows, that natural light!  the private patio off the master bedroom!  the teak soaking tub!  that stove!  the wrapped fireplace with the slate edge!  the hammock!  the shade and the cactus and the succulents and and and...

swoon/sigh.  maybe someday.  

I love lamp

don't judge, I'm preeeeeetttty sure that most of us nerdy shelter-bloggers have at least one post with this title.  in fact, this is probably my second post, because I have a terrible memory.  but who cares, I love lamp(s) and I'm not afraid to admit it.  

SO.  allow me to introduce you to my newest lovah...the Lamp Store. 

 I mean, just look at this tiny sampling of their selection!  the Lamp Store pretty much has it all, so no matter the vibe of your space (or your clients'), I'm betting you can find something unique that'll fit the bill.  classic, contemporary, quirky, cute, ceramic, reclaimed, regency, mid-century, feminine, masculine,...need I go on?  the best part is that the stock changes constantly, so you can peek every week to see what's new.  

also, let it be known that this is not a sponsored post.  I'm just sharin' a little somethin' somethin' with you because I love you.  and...I love lamp.  

diamond dancer

I was scoutin' fabrics for a client and came across this minty diamond pattern...it feels so perfect for this time of year, right?  super springy, about to get a jump on summer...it's like Hollywood Regency meets Miami cool meets baseball diamond.  or whatever.

it'd be such a rad headboard.  or a valance.  it would definitely be perfect as a pair of pillows.  paired with brass accents?  duh, you knew that was coming.  I could go on.....how would you use it??  

giveaway: Shabby Apple

with summer right around the corner, I can't help but dream of a little warm-weather getaway abroad.  after our last two trips to Paris, I've been bitten hard by the I-want-to-move-to-Europe bug.  I think about it probably more than I should, though I'd happily settle for a few trips a year (we are still talking about day-dreams, right?).

I've only hopped across the pond during the fall (which is lovely and so romantic), but I can imagine that it's an entirely different experience during warmer months.  since one of my favorite parts of going on a trip is planning what I'm going to wear (and also packing, I loooove packing), here are some super cute dresses with a vintage vibe that would be perfect for a warm-weather date in Europe.

clockwise from the top left, the Red Queen dress would be perfect for a bike ride and park picnic in Berlin, the black and white striped Whistlestop sheath would be ideal to hop a train to Amsterdam, I can picture that Yellow Days number sharing gelato in Rome, I'd sip sangria in Barcelona while wearing the color-blocked Dressing Gong frock, and the Guinea A Minute makes me want to walk the gardens of Versailles.  

while I can't hop a plane to another country, I can make someone's day-dream come true.  Shabby Apple is giving away a $75 gift card to one of my very lucky readers!  all you have to do is like Shabby Apple on Facebook and then leave me a comment, telling me where you'd wear your favorite Shabby Apple dress.  I'll randomly pick a winner on Thursday evening and announce the winner on Friday.  bonne chance!

UPDATE:  and the winner is....Carla!  congrats, Carla, I hope you enjoy wearing your Shabby Apple dress to your bridal shower!

flowers & indians

I'm huntin' around for some rugs to use in the LA event space I'm workin' on and I came across these two art deco beauties.  I am tooooootally obsessed with the black floral rug.  like, love at first sight.  like, want to design a whole room- nay- a whole house around it!  I mean, it's just. that. good.  eat your heart out, Anthropologie.  or at least, eat your heart out until you start selling a knock off.

and then there's this Indian option, which I also love, though not as passionately as the first one.  even though it's got hints of pink and some little flowers, it's way more dude-friendly.  I love the hexagons, grids, lines, and other geometric shapes.  plus, the color palate is seriously rad.  mint and pink with red accents?  totally happenin'.  

if you had to choose, which would you want in your space?  

No.5

the other day, while combing online auctions, I came across this vintage Chanel No. 5 box.  

I am completely obsessed with the typeface...

that's all.

a day in the country

the Stamping Ground, KY farm of Eddie Woods and Willie Brown, dear friends of my mother's, was recently featured in Country Living.  while I'm not usually Country Living kinda gal, there is so much to love about their space.  for starters, they created a "glass house" for entertaining, using salvaged windows and doors...

the interior of the main house is all exposed wood which has aged to the absolute perfect grey.  bonus points: the overturned rain barrel used as a nightstand and the wheres-Waldo flashlight for reading under the covers.

because they live in the country and are constantly entertaining, Willie & Eddie converted a corn crib into a bath house and built out a barn with enough bunks to sleep 14.  this is like, my dreeaaaam.  I've always wanted to have a huge amazing space (an entire building in the city, a big old estate in the country, a forgotten factory, an abandoned castle, etc etc etc) where I could have  big dinner party and then everyone could just stay the night.  

also, I went to summer camp for 13 years and never minded venturing out of my cabin each morning to go to the bath house.  I actually kinda liked it?  putting on slippers and a robe to shuffle through the foggy morning with perfect light, everything covered in dew, smelling all of the early-morning smells...I seriously doubt any of my friends would mind a little trip over this charming wooden bridge to the bathhouse if it looked like this one, right?

that tile is amazing and I love the blue and red garden water knobs.  some things are best when they're not all fancied up, ya know?

and to end the day on this porch swing, watching the sun set with a cocktail or a cup of tea?  *sigh*  it makes me a little heartsick for home...