{for love or art}

Feels wonderfully like a summer cottage -- the rustic ceiling, the fresh and breezy palette, the laid-back summery vibe, and most of all, the hopelessly romantic artwork . . .

{images: 1 - purple area; 2 - apartment therapy; artwork available here}

{seashell chandeliers}

Forever drawn to the intoxicating lure of the ocean -- the salty air, the rise and fall of crashing waves, seaglass, scallop shells and starfish, and these intricately beautiful grotto shell chandeliers that have such a magical, underwater allure . . .

{images: 1 - Costal Living via follow studio; 2 - Metropolitan Home; 3 - shelter}

{happy monday + a give-away!}

Good morning! After a weekend of dinner dates, sunlit walks along the waterfront and a little champagne, ready for a fun and busy week -- hope your weekend was lovely!

Crazy excited about today's give-away: an ultra-chic and summer-perfect jet black charmeuse jumpsuit from chickdowntown!

Wile away balmy summer nights in this sexy strapless jumpsuit of the softest shimmer of silk by ABS by Allen B. Schwartz, whose collections are worn by New York and L.A. fashionistas like Jennifer Hudson, Natalie Portman and Mischa Barton . . .

To enter, {click here} to visit the chickdowntown website, then leave a comment below.

{bonne chance!/good luck!}

{p.s.} facebook + twitter {+ tig twitter}

* a winner will be randomly selected after Monday, July 6, 2009; if you do not have a blog or contact e-mail on your blog, please include it with your comment for notification -- contest open to readers including international

{happy weekend + long summer days}

An eventful week for certain -- happy to have a little time to slow things down -- there are no cases to pack or flights to catch this weekend, just endless time in summer's long and hazy days . . .

Have a beautiful, beautiful weekend, everyone!
xo

{p.s.} a few links:
* if you're an aspiring model, here's your chance
* a fun cabin-chic look
* shall always love pretty blue toile
* a perfect time to stock up on summer dresses
* wood + resin legs and a disco ball lamp!
* lovely emma watson

{p.s.} exciting new give-away on Monday!

{images: 1 - flickr; 2 - melanie acevedo via delight by design}

{inspiration: handmade}

Lately have been a little obsessed with notebook and scrapbook layouts, such as on the ever-inspiring French blog, Boubou Teatime, and these lovely water-stained, handwritten photographs . . .

{p.s.} this spring collection elevates eco-chic to a whole new level



{images: mr. larkin via a very lovely reader}

{flight of fancy}

. . . quite taken with the idea of a glass staircase -- as with lucite, glass is light and airy, with a little dash of fairytale glamour . . .

{image: october 2007 issue of Livingetc; via dress design decor; similar staircases available at bisca}

{bella italia}

Garance Doré's shots from Italy are incredibly beautiful as always, and have me dreaming of wearing only nautical stripes and perfect little summer dresses forever . . .

{a parisian countryside wedding}

Swept away by this romantic wedding in the French countryside just outside of Paris, that included, among a myriad of magical things, accents of green & gold and a stunning bouquet of butterflies and feathers intermingled with ferns and orchids . . .


{p.s.} an oceanside wedding

{images: photography by Mallory Samson for Veranda via The Paris Hotel Boutique Journal}

{moonwalk}

So much sadness today -- first Farrah Fawcett, then The King of Pop. Had posted this fantastic link to the complete video library on twitter, but for those who may have missed it:

* farewell MJ

{p.s.} some things:
* nate's apartment with the iconic farah poster
* a perfectly compiled tribute

{image: lover}

{bicycle chic}

. . . a fun little bicycle necklace

* also a tennis necklace, perfect for Wimbledon

{via refinery29}

{inspiration: cloak & dagger}

The Cloak & Dagger Spring Collection is a fun mix of sleek silouhettes + full skirts, sexy little black dresses + pretty patterned tops . . .

{via mer mag}

{chevrons + chandeliers}

Attended the opening of a friend's new British gastropub on Monday evening and fell into a beautiful space with two floors, the first of which, along with an undeniably glamorous chandelier that glittered in the candlelight, also had a stunning original herringbone floor . . .


While the ones pictured are chevron, the effect is quite similar. Things that Inspire has a lovely post on the difference between the two . . .

{images: 1 - styling by Lili Diallo for domino magaine via apartment therapy; 2 - desire to inspire}

{new: kevin o'brien studio}

A chance e-mail lead to the discovery of Kevin O'Brien Studio + a lovely line of devore velvet, which begins with plain white velvet and is transformed into a colorful pattern of silk chiffon and glowing velvet . . .

The original patterns are still designed by Kevin, whose career began in fashion creating textiles for designers including Isaac Mizrahi, Donna Karan and Ralph Lauren.

He would later venture into home furnishings, creating beautiful hand-made, hand-painted fabrics including devore velvet and printed linen, and expanding his use of color and texture to create a home accessories line.

{happy weekend!}

This week was live music and late nights, grand openings and French wine -- and while last weekend was sunlit drives and waterfalls, this weekend will be a little more low-key: lounging and dinner reservations, time in the sun and falling, falling into beautiful exhaustion . . .

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
xo

{p.s.} a bit of a creative overflow this week -- some of the things you may have missed:

* chevrons + chandeliers
* lover the label
* pretty puppies
* a bouquet of butterflies
* travel inspiration
* pale & watery blues
* stunning

{image: emma tempest -- via felictiy - thank you!}

{sunny yellow + champagne}

There's just something about this room -- sunny splashes of yellow, a peek of glamorous gold, the promise of a party . . .

{image: lee kleinhelter's home - cottage living via shelter}

{deepest midnight blue}

A little later than usual planning our first summer adventure -- destination still unknown -- although lounging in the middle of the deepest midnight blue waters near a sleepy town nestled beneath beautiful cliffs may be just the place . . .

{p.s.} a few lovely links:
* such a fun web design
* lovely lace floors
* ribbons & romance
* a pretty pink makeover
* a tiny summer cottage
* stunning at the beach

{image: philip newton from this lovely post via creature comforts}

{a bouquet of butterflies}

Summer is flutters of pretty greens and citrus shades of fresh yellows and vibrant oranges intermingled with hazy whites drenched with floods of early morning sunlight . . . and there is just something about butterflies that make everything feel like a fairytale . . .



{images:1 - desire to inspire; 2 - design; 3 - francesco lagnese}

{a simple arrangement}

One ornamental piece and a few tiny bouquets of yellow blossoms in vibrant vases -- so simple at yet so lovely . . .

{p.s.} also love the herringbone pattern in the fireplace

{image: martha stewart via desire to inspire}

{pale + watery blues}

. . . four straight days of sunshine and a weekend that included sunlit drives and waterfalls . . . lead to thoughts of pale & watery blues and midsummer afternoons of salty air and sunkissed happiness . . .

{1 - flickr, unknown; 2 - cachemir et soie; 3 - amlul via miss at la playa; 4 - alicia bock}

{book: glamour dogs}

Doesn't this look like a fun book?

{available in september}

{new lover}

Lover's new collections, white moon rising, fw09 for the northern hemisphere and ss09 the southern hemisphere, is a lovely mix of tailored jackets, lacy things and romantic bohemian dresses . . .

{p.s.}
* have you seen their adorable one-off piece for unicef?

{pretty on the inside}

Perfume bottles, shimmery powders, necklaces, silk throw cushions and shoes are overtaking the place, resulting in thoughts of Spring cleaning, and since my favourite tailored linen pants have disappeared, it may be time to explore the fashion abyss in the farthest corners of the closet . . .



. . . although am rather inspired {and a little tempted} to hide everything behind yards and yards of soft and beautifully patterned curtains . . .

{images: 1 - eddie ross; 2 - j.crew catalogue; 3 - Easy Elegance by Atlanta Bartlett, photography by Polly Wreford via bloomacious - layout by bloomacious, photo-editing by t.i.g.; 4 - apartment therapy; 5 - Daria Werbowy shot by Paolo Roversi for Vogue UK June 2007; 6 - Carolyn Quartermaine via flickr}

{ochre: now & then}

Fell completely for this room -- the large windows, impossibly high ceilings, upholstered bed and stunning bespoke chandelier, only to discover that I had fallen for the very same room a year before . . .

{both images, ochre, the first photographed by anna wolf}

{alexander wang: day to night}

Day to night: Alexander Wang lightens the palette + keeps things sexy

{images: alexander wang resort 2010 via style com}

{sunny yellow + pom-poms}

Overcast skies calls for sunny yellow bedcovers, especially when arranged with a pretty scalloped-trimmed pillow and dreamy mosquito netting . . .

. . . or fun and functional light-weight curtains with a pom-pom fringe

{images: 1 - flickr; 2 - martha stewart via martha moments}

{runway: stella mccartney}

Stella McCartney's Cruise 2010 collection is fun, fun, fun. Especially love this combination of navy & yellow {above} and {this} black lace jumpsuit . . .

{via bloomacious, wwd & twitter}

{inspiration: oceanside}

Doesn't the idea of a beach wedding sound incredibly romantic?

{images: GQ & Martha Stewart Weddings via Snippet & Ink}

{inspiration: polished glamour}

Have always adored the polished glamour of mirrors, especially when combined with metal, as with this stunning set of gold nested bedside tables . . .

. . . this pretty mirrored shoe display

. . . & beautifully ornate coffee table

{images: 1 - Homes & Gardens; 2 - Polly Wreford; 3 - Harlequin via AT}