Inspiration 5.28

Hi, guys! Arrived home safe and sound, and am looking forward to a relaxing weekend with family. Unfortunately, I've been separated from my laptop and all my fun bloggy software, so I apologize for the minimal posting schedule this past week.

Until I'm back up and running at full speed again on Tuesday, here are a few lovely bathroom inspiration picks for the long weekend.

Speaking of the weekend..I'm looking forward to mani/pedis with my grandma, shopping in NYC (John Derian here I come!) and the obligatory barbecues. Would love to know what fab things you're all up to in the comments.

Images sourced from Plush Palate via Global Atelier and Think Decor

Inspiration 5.27

Sooo, remember yesterday when I declared it "open windows" season? I was so wrong. It's officially AC on full blast, lights off season.

But y'know what makes the unbearable heat ok? Brights. I don't know what it is, but sweltering days like this make me desperate to break out of my uniform of creams, navy, and light pink with glorious neon accents -- belts or sandals, a fun, beachy tote or an AC worthy cardigan.

My seasonal love for hot pinks and electric greens spills over into interiors too. I'm adoring the Mexican riviera vibe of these rooms.

Both photos discovered on An Indian Summer via Nuevo Estilo

Inspiration 5.26

It's open windows season. Love these cool, tilting pane examples...

Via This is Glamorous and White Trash Beautiful

Marie Isabelle-Callier at Poppy in Georgetown

Something cool to check out in Georgetown -- Poppy is showing the works of artist Marie Isabelle-Callier now through June 20. I especially love her series of silhouettes, zoomed in above and below.

Inspiration 5.25

With temperatures set to hit "classic DC swamp weather" tomorrow, and Memorial Day around the corner, I'm dreaming of escaping to cooler temps at a lakeside retreat. Rustic, but chic cabins, impromptu outdoor meals with whatever is on hand, running around barefoot, rope swings, and breeze through old screen windows.

Instead, I'll be escaping to my equally sweltering suburban New York hometown, but at least I'll have a screen porch!

Images: 1. White Trash Beautiful 2. Annabel Mehran 3.Wedding Whims 4. That Girl 5. Elle Decor

Angela Adams Sail Totes for J.Crew

I've actually never been a huge fan of Sea Bags, the iconic New England totes made from recycled sails. While I loved the concept, a lot of the ones I saw were too over the top. Nautical overkill, even for someone like me who loves everything nautical. I still think they work if you're the type of person who summers in Cape Cod, but I couldn't imagine toting it around the rooftop pools I spend my DC summers in.

However, the ones Mainer Angela Adams designed for J.Crew seem like the perfect mix of urban meets preppy seaside. No numbers, anchors or stars, just clean shots of perfect summer colors -- neon orange, lemon yellow and faded blue. Available here.

Update: Just want to make it totally clear that Angela Adams collaborated with Sea Bags to make these!

Twig Hutchinson

Reason #757 to love Twitter: This weekend, local foodie, and all around stylish girl, Nikki Rappaport tweeted a link to stylist Twig Hutchinson's site to me.

I was blown away. Hutchinson has the most perfect design sensibility -- romantic, homey, lived-in and bohemian. It's everything I love about interiors rolled into one gorgeous portfolio.

It reminded me of this great Jezebel post about catalogs: "The life your life could look like." They describe the secret life of catalog models. The description for Anthropologie, just seems so fitting for these images:

"You press flowers between the pages of first-edition Dickens novels. Your job involves traveling to Italy and being pensive in rooms. You have a book-strap. You have a wrought-iron bed. You know how to applique. Any sorrow you experience is like fine tea, artfully staining the stationery of your life."

The worst (best?) part is, that's basically the life of my daydreams. So, if any of my colleagues are reading this...all of those times you caught me blankly staring into space in my cubicle...this is where my brain has wandered...and I would prefer it if you didn't bother me while I'm busy making imaginary flower arrangements, or sipping imaginary tea in my imaginary wrought-iron bed.

P.S. Go check out Nikki's blog -- she has an amazing banana bread recipe up right now.

Inspiration 5.24

Spied on Automatism this weekend....

Love: Sailor's Knots

Let's face it...right about now, all of our cubicle daydreams wind up at the beach. We start wearing navy and white stripes more than sailors do, and strangely regret not buying those borderline tacky bottles of sand from our last vacation.

I'm suffering from sea fever as much as anyone right now, and am snapping up anything and everything related to my new nautical fave, sailor's knots. Some of my favorite picks below.

(Zippered pouch above from Mon Ami)

Sailor's knot card set (Russell & Salguero)

Nautical rope headband (Hello, Dolly Design)

Turks Head Knot Bracelet (Julie by the Sea)
Clockwise: 1. Golden Rope Headband (Anthropologie) 2. Ivory rope bracelet (L. Burns Designs) 3. Sailor's Knot Necklace (The Vamoose) 4. Knotted Rope Bracelet (Junghwa)5. Overhand Knot Necklace (Anthropologie) 6. Turks Head Bracelet Set (Mystic KnotWork)

Inspiration 5.21

How amazing are the textures in this photo? And that is quite possibly the most beautiful reclaimed wood I've ever seen.

Via the New York Times

Inspiration 5.20

Loved these spaces from Nuevo Estilo spied on Desire to Inspire the other day...

New Faves: From Me to You & Telesca Jewelry

I've been a big fan of photo/lifestyle blog From Me to You for a while now. As a native New Yorker, I loved how the blog's founder, Jamie, captures the lives of cool gothamites in her "At Home With" and "Food Diary of a Brocavore" series.

Even though I've always said I'd take the walkable, clean DC over the intense, grey NYC any day, her blog totally makes me question that statement. But yesterday's post, featuring Telesca jewelry and owner Meagan's studio, put my blog crush into overdrive. It was vintage, glittery, perfection.

To sum up, yesterday I added From Me to You to my daily reads, and Telesca jewelry to my Etsy favorites (not to mention about six virtual wish lists -- birthday wish list, good day at work wish list, bad day at work wish list...). And I think you should do the same :)

Inspiration 5.19

Sometimes, I get so obsessed with details that I forget how elegant perfect restraint can be.

Images: top to bottom 1. White Trash Beautiful 2. Marie Claire Maison 3. Desire to Inspire 4. Nate Berkus 5. Western Interiors 6. Marie Claire Maison 7. Plush Palate