Mellow Yellows

Don’t you just love it when you find yourself eating your words???  Well today’s my day.  I actually am partial to, make that totally digging these yellow interiors!  Just a few weeks ago I gave my “I’m the designer and I KNOW what I’m talking about” evil eye to my other half when he suggested we paint our bedroom yellow. “Never” was actually mentioned.  And now here I am posting about this very shade…

Hello sunshine…  Block printed slipcovers make this space so cute and SO easy to switch out when the season changes! 

 

White walls get a real pick-me up from these creamy yellow fabrics and bold frames. 

 

Just a touch of yellow gives this room so much life.

 

 

 

On my wish list. 

 

Perfect poolside stripes.

 

Looks like a lot of monkeying around goes on in this fuss free kitchen.

 

 

Do you suffer from color commitment issues like moi???  I prefer color in the accessories rather than the big ticket items.  This Kitchen is totally up my alley.  And the fabulous metal island and big ol’ gas range sure doesn’t hurt either!

 

Can’t you just feel the breeze and hear the ocean in this bathroom???   Bead board and plank walls shout beach house to me.

 

 

A delicious tablescape from Mr. Eddie Ross.  Love the vintage flatware and tablecloth!

 

Oooh don’t you just love the bright mustardy color of these foldable bistro chairs and bright sunflowers?

{Photos from 1. Eloquent Essence and Mary Emmerling’s Beach Cottages, 2. Stacy Hyde via Willow Decor, 3. House & Garden, 4. French Country, 5. Compulsively Compiled, 6. House Beautiful(maybe), 7. Better Homes and Gardens, 8. Brabourne Farm, 9. Eddie Ross, 10. Country French Antiques}

Friday Flowers

Peonies are a fave flower among so many, and since they have such a sadly short season I'm posting away with them...hmm maybe I need to retitle this Friday Peonies instead of Friday Flowers!

This one is from my parents house, where a storm conveniently made this perfect bloom fall. I love it in the pretty turquoise blue vase I gave them last Christmas from here.

Happy weekend!

A Kitchen fit for an Antiques-Loving-Warehouse-Stylin’ Queen

One of my favorite Kitchens is that by Nashville designer and shop-owner Rozanne Jackson, originally featured in Southern Accents a few years ago.  Her mix of modern, traditional, and industrial  makes it an inviting and edgy space… it’s a feast for the eyes!

Clean, open and interesting are the first thoughts that come to my mind. I love how streamlined the Kitchen is without being JUST modern.  The antique wood island and classic materials like wrought iron, marble, and china make this appeal to people with more traditional taste as well.  Appeal may be too subtle a word!  Adding to the design mix, the restaurant style range and hood and other stainless appliances give this an industrial tone.  It really feels as though the Kitchen was placed in the corner of a great old warehouse building. 

To me, this is the perfect mix of styles.  The texture and interest of the antique and reclaimed pieces of different eras; the airy and not at all fussy quality of the room; it’s usability… Everything’s right where you need it and not hidden away!  I love the stacks of dishes on the island shelf…so convenient and they look beautiful too.

The huge windows allow for incredible natural light, and the contrast of the dark steel frame windows enhance the warehousey feel.  This long island must be great for parties, since everyone has room to gather round!

Usually cabinets are the big star of the Kitchen- not this time!  In fact, there aren’t even upper cabinets (another great lofty feature).  Those that are here provide more of a backdrop to the other wonderful pieces in the Kitchen and the Butler’s Pantry.  Their simple clean lines and neutral blue-gray color keeps them modern but doesn’t scream at you.  I love that and can’t really picture any other cabinets looking so good.  The Butler’s Pantry has a few more contemporary touches- the stainless steel countertop (it looks like it has a built in sink- such a beautiful custom detail!), and blue subway tiles (glass perhaps?).  It’s refreshing, and blends so well with the more decorative accessories sitting atop the counter. 

One of the major elements that’s hard to miss in this house is the artwork.  Yes, artwork in the Kitchen- do it, do it, do it!  How unexpected are these pieces of fine art?  They show a little more of the homeowner’s personality and bring in little touches of color.  When you spend so much time in your kitchen, isn't it silly that we’ve left so little room for art in the past?  If storage space allows, I’d much rather look at a painting or photograph than an upper cabinet, wouldn’t you?

A couple of years after first seeing it, I still love this space!  The combination of the materials, textures and styles is just so perfectly balanced.  It has so many of the features and functions that people want now, and will still be in style years from now.  I think I’ll be loving it just the same then too!

{Photos via Southern Accents}

Friday Flowers via Seattle

 

It must rain Miracle-Gro in Seattle, because the flowers here are ENORMOUS.   If I wasn’t living out of a suitcase I’d be so tempted to pillage through some out of the pretty gardens I’ve seen!    These flowers are from my in-laws garden, which is overflowing with blooms of all colors and sweet fragrances. 

     

This is my first time visiting Washington in the summer- I can barely believe it’s the same place that I’ve seen in past winters!  Luckily we’ve had beautiful weather so far, and hopefully it will continue through the weekend here and wherever you are too!

PS. Peony lovers, you’d be in floral heaven here…  More to come on that later!

Friday Flowers

Peonies are so beautiful with layer upon layer of unfolding petals creating that huge blossom…

Hope your weekend is just as intriguing!

{Photos via 1. Brabourne Farm, 2. & 3. Unknown- if they are yours please let me know!}

Tagged

I’ve been tagged by the always charming blogger Leeann of Fabulously French who shares the joy in the everyday musings of her French life…

Here are the game rules:

-I’ve got to share with you 6 uninteresting things that make me happy,

-Mention and link to the person who tagged me

-Tag six of my favorite bloggers to play along and comment on their blog to let them know they’ve been tagged!

Ok, here goes…I don’t know how interesting this is going to be, which I suppose is the point!

ONE.  Making the rounds to my favorite home and antique shops.  Even if I don’t purchase a thing, the thrill is in simply in seeing their goods and beautiful ideas.

TWO. When I do make a purchase, but a small and guilt free one!

 

THREE. Watching my dog Rocco roll around on his back in the grass.  He squirms around so much and gets all kinds of grass and leaves in his fur, has a big smile on his face and not a care in the world!  It’s so cute and it makes me laugh every time I catch him doing this!

FOUR. Using Mrs. Meyers cleaning products- not that I enjoy the cleaning, but I adore their wonderful and natural fragrances.  My house was never so well cleaned until I started using her Lemon Verbena spray on my surfaces and her Basil fabric softener in the laundry.   This is actually the second time I’ve mentioned Mrs. Meyers, so you know I must really like it!

FIVE. Spending an entire afternoon reading a book outside with a mimosa or an iced tea, and not feeling guilty about the time!  I get even happier when the afternoon turns into an evening when my husband Jim grills dinner and lights a fire in our Mexican Chimenea.

SIX. Walking by my front window and seeing the flowers I planted actually 1. Still there, 2. ALIVE, and 3. Flowering!  I have to admit I’ve driven past the house just to see them from the street view!

There you have it- just how uninteresting I really am! 

Now that you’re back awake, it’s time to tag some other bloggers and find out the uninteresting things that make them happy:

Brooke @ Linen & Velvet

Catherine @ Simply Natural

Joni @ Cote de Texas

Lauren @ Pure Style Home

Seleta @ Simply Seleta

Vicki @ French Essence