Outfit #3-Graduation Idea

With my impending graduation coming up,  I have been thinking of some cute graduation outfits.  This Theory dress is such a cute option for me when New Orleans is hot and humid in May.  These cute sandals  are the perfect addition to any dress and would also look great with jeans.  The cream bag is Rebecca Minkoff and the nail polish is Lilacism, from the new Essie spring line and looks so cute.

1. Theory Dress- $275 Net-a -Porter

2. Shop Chic Coles $16

3. Essie Lilacism - $8.00

4. Steve Madden - $ 49.94

5. Designer Social bag- $550

*images compliments of The Lennoxx 

Calm and Cool

Calm and cool would describe these beautiful interiors by designer Deborah Lipner. We love the gray- green walls throughout the home, it gives such a cohesive feel. There is something about using the same color on the walls throughout a home. Deborah uses a subtle blend of contemporary and traditional with her furniture selection. The upholstery is in natural linen jazzed up a bit by a zebra-skin rug in the living room. The furniture arrangement in the living room has all been positioned on the diagonal. This keeps the room from appearing flat, which would happen if the furniture was all lined up. The dining room is so beautiful with the mirrored chest and lighting. The Kitchen we just die for with that steel shelving and collection of white stoneware.

*Images Compliments of: Veranda, Deborah Lipner

Bar Stools

One thing that is so exciting about the interior design business is discovering new products. We love to re-discover familiar companies but we also love finding new companies. We do this through all the wonderful blogs we read and going to market,  gift shows, auction houses, all the wonderful showrooms and beautiful stores that surround us. We found some wonderful new products that were so unquie on Jan Showers' web site. We are just loving her furniture collection.  The bar stools, chairs and benches really stood out as some fun new products. The white Coco Counter Stool with it's nail heads, circle motif and raffie seat  is our favorite in the collection and there is also a  coordinating dining chair. There are also some new bar stools that we found appealing from the Ralph Lauren furniture collection and Design Workshop. We have put together a grouping of kitchens with interesting bar stools.

**We also want to thank Emily of Material Girls for featuring our home on her 2-part series of "Bloggers' Homes."  We are being featured with some other fabulous bloggers and were so excited to be asked!  Thanks!!

*images compliments of :Jan Showers, Ralph Lauren, House Beautiful, Veranda, Design Workshop

New Books

   We were so excited when we read Grant Gibson's post on new and exciting books debuting on the design scene.  Our blood started pumping when we saw Joe Nye's new book Flair on Grants post.  Just the cover of the book is gorgeous with the table cloth and the black crystal wine glass and black bamboo flatwear and that gorgeous Chinoiserie china. Yum! How does he do it?
  American Modern by Thomas O'Brien is another book we have been waiting for ever since we met and interiewed Mr. O'brien last year at High Point.  We were given a sneak preview of this wonderful American classic designer's new book. We love everything about this book that also starts with its handsome tailored book jacket..
  Also new on the design book "must haves" is The Home With in Us by Bobby McAlpine. Which is a collection of romantic and evocative rooms and houses.
   Rooms to Inspire by Ann Kelly and her photographer husband Tim Street-Porter came out when I was working for Lillian August in Greenwich CT.  It was just my kind of design book and I used it as a reference and guide in designing rooms and houses.  Their next book Rooms to Inspire in the Country will go down as an all time favorite that I first spotted at Dovecote in Westport CT.   Now Ann Kelly has written another book in her Inspiring collection. Rooms to Inspire in the City looks like it will find a place on our bookshelf.

   Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Images Compliments of: *Amazon

NYC Bound

For spring break this year, I am headed to the big city of NYC.  I am so excited because I haven't been home since Christmas.  I hope I have beautiful weather, although I imagine it will not be as nice as New Orleans.  I hope to visit a lot of fun stores and maybe do some bead shopping (to see some cute necklaces go to EverythingLEB blog who has recently starting making jewelry.) I will then be headed up to our house in NH to spend Easter with the family.  I am going to hiking with the dogs and enjoying the spring weather.

If anyone has any favorites activities or shops in NYC, I would love to hear your suggestions. Whenever I am in the city I feel like I take the train in and then only do the one thing for the intended reason of going into the city.  But this visit, I want to take my time and enjoy being in New York.  I want to wander around and explore the city I seldom visit. 

*Images compliments of Live Creating Yourself, Chic Coles

Beyond Excited for THESE:

I am beyond excited because tonight I went to Target with my roommate who is going to Jamaica for spring break...I am going to NYC and home to spend Easter with the family so I can't complain but while she was trying on some really cute bikini's...I found these: 

Sugared Grapefruit Candle

and...

Sixty Print Mini Journals (set of 3)

I am so excited about these because last week was the debut of their line and I figured it would be all sold out.  I was able to find my two favorite things, candles (love) and notebooks, which are a necessity because I am always writing notes about things that inspire me, to do lists, etc.  Do not get discouraged if you think everything will be sold out, you could be very PLEASANTLY surprised!  I cannot wait to light  my candle and use my notebooks.

Have any of you bought any of the Liberty of London for Target items?  

Longing for an Enclosed Porch

With all the classic homes there are in New England, there are also lovely porches that many people have enclosed to make an extended living space. This space often times incorporates the outside exterior of the house.  The exterior sometimes has shack work, sometimes it is left natural or can be painted a "fun porch color."  The porch setting usaully will have wrap around windows creating a very sunny or bright room.  It can be screened in the summer and sometimes even used as a sleeping porch on very hot days. We would love to have one that would be open and bright in the summer and in the winter have a field stone fireplace at one end so that people could gather around and enjoy the view from the enclosed porch. Of course dining alfresco in an enclosed porch is also wonderful and much more causal than the more formal dining.

Field Stone Fireplace

Images Compliments of: House Beautiful,  Standout-Fireplace-Designs, Life12

Fabulous Window Treatments

Where do you start when considering window treatments? Take your cue from existing design elements in your room. When designing the window treatment remember to take into account the architectural features of the window, the molding, how close it is to a wall. You may want to enhance these features or disguise a flaw in the architecture with your window treatment. Our inspiration is simple sophistication. The images below show a simple straight forward approach to window treatment designs. We love a pare down, barely-there window treatment. Panels and romans are our number one choice for the design.

*Images compliments of House Beautiful, Christopher Maya, David Lawrence, Eric Cohler, Kimberly Ayres, Palmer Weiss

"Bring Nate Berkus Home" through HSN Bedding

I love the Nate Berkus home line for HSN.  I am so excited to get myself a pair of these wonderfully fun sheets he is selling, and for only $49.95!  I want to get fun sheets to go with a white comforter...I think it is time for me to have a more sophisticated bedroom...but under the covers I can still have a fun pattern.  The navy and white are my favorite color way (as always) but if I were going for a more fun comforter I would want the gray and white sheets.  I also think the second set of sheets, in what I am going to call...paint splats in the pink color way is a great pattern for a little girls room!  Which color way do you like the best?

Nate Berkus Pillow Cases