the hubs and i found the most charming little home in sonoma and i'm so excited to announce that we're moving (again) december 1st! the house has a large backyard with planter beds and plenty of space for gardening so i've been looking for inspiration. i'm currently loving all aspects of gardenista - an offshoot of remodelista - from what to plant/when to identifying gorgeous floral arrangements, this is a great guide for tips on honing your little green thumb.



image via: gardenista

now don't get me wrong...i completely adore shelter/lifestyle glossies and digital magazines. however -- sometimes the actual lifestyles portrayed in these publications feel sliiiiiiiightly out of reach. i believe that style should be attainable at any budget and it bums me out when design is made to feel stuffy, impractical and unlivable. in come brit + co. and clementine daily...two of my new favorite sites to follow because they speak to my "...authentic-sometimes-frenzied-often-harried-but-always-inspired" life. you guys, they're total must reads. trust me.

Image via: Clementine Daily

mckenzie powell's floral studio

i love, l o v e, loooooove sneak peeks of inspiring workspaces. this evening i stumbled upon mckenzie powell's website/blog and hello. her floral studio? the fresh/vintage styling? i swear...one day i'll have my own space like this.

photography by belathee photography

dear genevieve: nyc pied-a-terre

i've had this episode of dear genevieve saved in my dvr for months. i love going back to it every once in a while for inspiration...

cheers to rue

just finished devouring the very first issue of rue magazine and i can honestly say the girls did not let us down. as i drink my glass of cab i raise it to you crystal, anne, alaina and caitlin and allllll of the fabulous contributors at rue. congratulations and here's to many more issues!!!!

p.s. ju...i totally jacked your photo collage. sorry and thanks in advance <3

image via: jrdm designs via rue magazine

the bourgie

so when i first walked into farm (the restaurant at the carneros inn in napa) my jaw dropped at the sight of the fantastic bourgie table lamps...hung as pendants in the bar area. s w o o n. omg. seriously? not only that, but the design of the entire resort is out of this world. if you make a trip to the napa valley be sure to stop by for dinner/drinks and be sure to check out the surroundings...every little detail is brilliantly designed.

image via: farm

g l i t z

i discovered this super feminine, dressy bathroom while browsing for tile inspiration.
isn't it fun?

image via: living, etc

i've got my eye on...

these simple + pretty inspiration boards over at anthropologie.

playful home tour

another incredible space to share today...i'm totally in love with this "fashion-forward" home designed by samantha farjo for a family in toronto, canada. what gorgeous mix of pattern, texture and style...

aaaand...this is one of the sweetest nurseries i've seen. absolutely perfect for transforming into big kid years. AND...that birdcage fixture was handmade by the owner! wow. wow. wow.

images via: style at home

mary mcgee interiors

loving this space by mary mcgee. she has the most incredible sense of style and i love her line: "style isn't about money but its about making something great out of whatever you have!"

so fresh n' so clean

loving every bit of this fresh, white bathroom from the tub placement to the gorgeous modern fixtures to the glitzy iridescent accent tile...take a look at the rest of the house here.

live your best life

since it's still #nateday here on the west coast (at 11:30pm)...here are a few more images of some of my favorite spaces designed by nate the great...

and a few great design tips from nate:
[may 2010 issue of o magazine]

1. if you touch it every day, it should be beautiful: from your cabinet knobs to your mail tray. my toothbrush holder is a heavy cut-glass tumbler that i got for a couple of bucks at a flea market. it's lovely, and it feels special to me.

2. brighten your outlook: on your next grocery run, buy some tulips and put them in a vase by the kitchen sink. doing the dishes won't seem so drab anymore.

3. edit, edit, edit: i jam-pack my rooms with all kinds of found objects and accessories - but then i step back and put a few items away. paring down is what makes a good room great.

4. don't let the tv take over the living room: mine hangs amid wall-to-wall bookshelves, so the space looks more like a den than a media room. alternatively, an antique armoire can double as an entertainment cabinet - when the tv is off, close the doors and watch your family and friends instead.

5. get the picture: i have a million and one photos in my home: family, friends, my dogs, vacations. the fabric of my life is framed and hung on my walls. photographs can turn a house into a home.

images all via: flickr

#nateday

it's "nate day" in the blogosphere! with nate berkus's new design show debuting this fall, the fabulous @moggitgirls tweeted the idea of having an all design blogger audience for the september 13th premiere...AND nate and the producers are actually making it happen! today marks exactly three months before the premiere in ny and all of my favorite bloggers are celebrating by posting about mr. berkus - here is my contribution...

here nate shows us how to instantly create a stylish and comfortable home library with pattern & texture:

 fabric choices for graphic linen pillows, chair, durable cotton sofa and cashmere draperies...

an incredible cognac nubuck leather, perfect for an ottoman...

pumice colored upholstered/wallpapered/painted walls create an intimate feeling...

a couple of these stuyvesant lounge chairs covered in the cypress mohair above...

and a masculine, boxy sofa covered in the olive green durable cotton...


what do you think? do you feel the library vibe here? i certainly do.

images via: house beautiful

loves from lonny magazine

i always get so excited when a new issue of lonny comes out and as usual, this time around did not disappoint. as a matter of fact i was even more excited about this issue because a friend of a dear friend, fellow fidm interior design graduate and fabulous blogger jessica of destined to design was featured on page 158 as one of ellie's favorite bloggers! so exciting. here are a few tidbits that i admired from the issue...

ellie somerville's stunning new york apartment (pg. 143)...

ellie's key design picks (pg. 160-162)...

tom and drew's weekend house in the hamptons (pg. 163)...

this gorgeous vignette (pg. 217)...

kishani perera

i've recently been introduced to the work of kishani perera, an interior designer based in new york + los angeles and i have fallen in love. she has an incredible eye for mixing color, pattern, texture and style resulting in some of the most stunning spaces i've ever seen. definitely adding her to my list of inspiration sources...

images via: kishani perera

alfresco dining

the reeves table, bench and stool in this outdoor space immediately caught my attention. paired with the rustic decking, black lacquered chair, monochromatic linens and elegant glassware - this makes one sultry + stylish outdoor dining experience.

image via: living, etc

vintage whimsy

absolutely loving the idea of a colorful "art wall" composed of carefully selected vintage serveware. how fun is this arrangement from lisa congdon's adorable san francisco apartment?

images via: design*sponge

outdoor living with style

wishing i could be enjoying this long holiday weekend (i'll be at work) in a stylish/comfortable outdoor space just like this one.  pair the incredible design with a yummy margarita, a bbq and some good company and i'd be a happy girl.

want to achieve a similar look for your own backyard? 

1. define your space with an outdoor rug

2. mix in a few indoor pieces of furniture (much more comfortable than typical outdoor furniture) think flea market + thrift store for deals and outdoor slipcovers can help prevent weather damage

3. accessorize with lots of bold pillows with color + texture

4. lanterns and candles work wonders in creating ambiance

5. art + mirrors give the feeling of an indoor living room

image via: chapman interiors blog

color collective

loving every aspect of this color board from color collective...wouldn't this fabric make great accent pillows or a fun upholstered headboard?

image via: color collective

gardenhouse

one of the downsides to working weekends is that i am unable to scavenge the local sunday flea markets. my grandparents are avid flea marketers and they even sell antiques out of their adorable barn in oregon so a love of vintage furnishings and accessories runs through my blood - but i love vintage pieces with a modern twist. i've recently stumbled across this adorable website called gardenhouse. this little shop is run by a husband and wife team out of florida who scour flea markets then update their finds with fresh finishes and modern fabrics. here are some of my favorite treasures...what are your favorites?

images via: gardenhouse