Bookcases

How beautiful are these bookcases? We can't say the amount of books we have and would love to have safe and sound in a bookcase. These images really make the room spacious. The first two divide up the long studio warehouse style space so well. They act as walls as well as storage and display space. The one bookcase painted turquoise just makes such a great color statement to the room. It also adds height being painted a deeper color than the room. Of course we are always enamored with a bookcase full of books in a bedroom it adds tradition and warmth.

*Images compliments of Antony Todd, Eric Staduenmaier

Bold, Blue and Beautiful

Crisp clean and classic, with a nautical edge to it. We are loving these images of navy and perwinkle blues. The first image of Eric Cohlers Charleston house is stunning. That beautiful day bed with those pretty pillows and fabulous painting just stole our hearts. The next image with the horizontal striping just makes us stand up and pay attention. Those wide stripes certainly are bold, blue and beautiful.

*Images compliments of Eric Cohler Charleston House, Elle Decor, Massucco Warner Miller

Post and Beamed Kitchens

There is something about the rustic appeal of hand hewn beams in a house. A lot of these beams have been rescued from old Barns. How amazing to be able give new life to these wonderful old beams. They give such a warm welcoming feel to a kitchen. It is very homey and warm. The kitchens in these images are all very classic with the white cabinets and black granite counter tops which is an all time favorite of  ours.  The beams just give the kitchen a little old world feel and definitely warms it up and gives it a lot personality.

*Images compliments of: Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Amy Morris, Canadian House and Home

The Hutch

Storage and ascetics both come to mind when we think of the hutch. Storage and organization are a huge issue in every home. The hutch was hugely popular when every one had large TVs they wanted to store away. The wires and large backs of the TVs were so unsightly. I remember drooling over the beautiful pine hutches that Crate and Barrel sold in Cambridge Mass in the 80's. So the question today and asked of us many times is do I keep my pine hutch? There are a number of ways to update it. It can be stained a darker color, painted a high gloss white, or milk paint it to a subtle color. To keep the hutch can be important for two very important reasons. The storage and display possibilities are very important. The Hutches can also add hight and dimension to a room, where you have lower pieces of furniture.  This includes sofas in a living room or family room and bedroom room furniture which can all be very low in profile. It helps to add scale and size to a room. Also does any one have a storage problem with bedding, china and books? Huge issue for us. The flat screen TV has solved a few problems for us.

*Images compliments of Canadian House and Home

Day Dreaming about this Clog...

So sorry for the lack of posts...my teachers are really making me earn this degree.  To get my mind off of tests, papers and homework, I am going to day dream about this Jeffrey Campbell clog.  Although I would probably fall flat on my face, I would really love to get a pair of these babies!

Jeffrey Campbell-$125

Chic Coles Outfit Colors

There are just some colors I am drawn to when I go shopping.  Navy blue, turquoise, pink and orange.  For some reason, I have these four colors overwhelming my closet at the moment and whenever I go to a store I always buy a piece of clothing that has one of these fun colors.  There is nothing better than these wraps in the first image.  These are perfect for going to the movies or for a class where the air conditioning is blasting.  I love having a big necklace to make a statement with a basic outfit.  A pink wallet and orange wrap bracelet are a bold addition as well!

Is there a color you always gravitate towards when you go shopping?

images compliments of: Rebecca Minkoff, Marc by Marc Jacobs

Luxurious Beach Hotels

When thinking about taking vacations, I always think of it as a beach vacation.  If I am not at the beach with a good book catching some sun, it just does not feel like a REAL vacation for me.  Spoiled I know, but I would rather go to the beach or a luxurious hotel where the weather is warm and sunny and one that requires a bathing suit, rather than a ski vacation.  Don't get me wrong, I love skiing and hot chocolate and all that those trips entail, but we have a house in NH and I can do that anytime...and I say anytime because there is always a strong possibility there will be snow on the ground in April.  I am a big traveler.  I love going to new places and discovering beautiful places...I love being able to immerse myself in another culture or sink my toes in foreign sand.  Most of these places I have been however, have been sunny and sandy!  Costa Rica, Galapagos, Ecuador, Puerto Rico...all tropical and sunny.  I wish I could travel more.  I would take a trip to all of the places here:

Barcelo Raval Hotel-Barcelona, Spain

Florblanca-Costa Rica

Anantara in the Maldives

Closet Make Over

A fun weekend activity would be to wallpaper your closets. It gives the room a sense of warmth but also brings some more color to the room. Our closet's in the Sugar Hill houses have been wallpapered and we love the way it looks. We sometimes wonder when they were papered and who decided on the paper, but it does bring a certain feel to the room that is fun.

*Images compliments of Country Living

Favorite Element: Toile

Toile is a design element I love to see in interiors.  It is a fabric that really tells a story based on the print chosen.  Light brown, pink and blue are my favorite colors for toile and can really make a room stand out.  Toile can be really pretty on a chair or bedspread, a shower curtain or window treatments.  I like when it is used in smaller scales, which allows it not to become too overwhelming but to have the perfect amount of "pop."  It can, however be beautiful as a wallpaper or in a nursery as well.  We have a blue toile covered chair in our living room, similar to the shape of the one below and is one of my favorites.   

Do any of you have toile in your home?

*Images compliments of Tom Scheerer, Elle Decor, Homes and Gardens

Naturals Going Green

Natural and Green are buzz words we have have all heard time and time again. The April issue of House Beautiful has a number of wonderful articles on the subject. "Living Green the World of Wood" article starts in 1637 when the first Puritan erected the Fairbanks House in Dedham Massachusetts, believed to be the oldest wood-frame house in North America. The article ends in 2009 with the European Union setting standadrs for an "Eco-label" certifying that wood used in furniture must come from documented sustainable sources. One of our favorite ways to be green is giving new life to existing products. We love going to action houses and purchasing lightly loved but "new to us" products. We then reupholster or refurnish them, giving them the once over, you might say. We also love to keep and reuse all flooring and bead board, old doors, moldings ect. in projects.  Painting an old floor is a great way to go green. Every little bit helps. Plus, we love the color green as the trees start to bud and the grass starts to grow. Emerald green is a color we can definitely live with.

Quite Possibly THE Coolest Thing Ever

Located in Fiji, an island in the South Pacific about 2000km north of New Zealand, lies the Poseidon Underwater Resort.  An underwater resort in the heart of the Fiji Lagoon, this undersea paradise is one of the coolest things I have ever seen. An all inclusive package is available for $30,000 (per couple) per week.  You can have the opportunity to stay 4 nights in their luxury beach or over water villa, 2 nights in the underwater resort along with a plethora of other activities and dining opportunities.  They even offer wedding packages, which would go down in history as THE best wedding. Period.

Lonny #4

We are so excited for Lonny #4-the April/May Issue!  I can spend hours going through this magazine clicking on all the items I love and being able to see the websites they come from.  It is really interactive and I love seeing the homes they feature.  This issue has a lot of eco-friendly tips and ways to make your home more environmentally friendly.  If you haven't checked it out yet, head over there now! Here is a little preview of what's in this fabulous issue:

*Images compliments of Lonny