Inspiration 11.12

Absolutely adored this glam bed/bath/dressing room suite featured in Lonny Mag. This is what my dreams are made of.

Spotted (The Grey Area)

Loving shades of black so faded they're almost grey. Think worn-in motorcycle jackets, chalkboards and grainy heirloom photos.

1. Via Lonny 2. Via These are Hard Times for Dreamers 3. Via Le Princesse Endormie 4. Jenna Lyons' home via Domino 5. Linen Trays from Brook Farm General Store 6. via Fondly Seen Blown glass vase, similar available at Viva Terra 7. Inlaid Mother of Pearl Mirror from Wisteria

Inspiration 11.4

Shower doors made from reclaimed factory windows. Brilliant.

Via Remodelista

Inspiration 10.8

Gorgeous wallpaper and color. I think it would be impossible to look bad in the bathroom mirror. P.S. Fun announcement coming soon!

via Emma Lee Photography

Inspiration 9.27 (French Restraint)

Via Maison Francaise

Want: Modern Vintage Florals

I'm frequently impressed by the preponderance of pretty but affordable home goods available at Urban Outfitters. Right now, I'm absolutely loving these "modern vintage" floral prints popping up all over the site. Even though I have nowhere to put it, I'm dying to get the small faded floral rug at the bottom for just $18.

1. Russian Scarf Medallion Shams ($36) 2. Striped Cabbage Rose Shower Curtain ($38) 3. 2x3 Faded Rose Rug ($18)

Inspiration 9.8

I wasn't really into most of the interiors in the September Anthropologie catalog -- just wasn't my style -- but this particular image jumped out at me.

Yes, the picture shown would be fundamentally impractical for real life, but I think a bathroom with a little old-world charm, mismatched colorful textiles and tons of flea market paintings and tiny potted succulents could be really fun (and doesn't require a full bathroom remodel).

Inspiration 8.23

I love how the architect carved out this little enclosed space in such an airy bathroom. Something about applying liquid eyeliner or using a heated eyelash curler brings out that primordial cave-dwelling need for tight quarters, doesn't it?

via Kika Reichert

Inspiration 7.20

Remembering this gorgeous Chris Barrett home. Sigh.

Inspiration 7.9

Ok, kids, confession time. Sometimes...when I get really bored, I mean really bored, I start making lists of things I want-- 50-item long lists. So occasionally, when I'm cleaning, I'll find pieces of paper with numbered lists that terrify me. A recent example:

Want:

• Jorts (but the cool Parisian ones, I swear they exist)
• Stairs
• A straw hat
• Shiny pans
• Canning jars (I'm laughing while typing this one out. Like THAT will ever happen)
• A sectional sofa
• Loose, silky button up
• Brown K-Jacques (done!)
• Shutters

Ok, so you get the point. Anyways, this self indulgent rambling was brought on by the shutters in the photo above, where I think how nice it would be to wake up in the country with an early morning breeze wafting in, or closing the shutters at night during a storm.

Of course, I think the room would be a bit too spare in real life, even for "daydream me" who never accumulates clutter, but the composition is certainly pretty to look at.

Image discovered on Head Over Heels, a great blog after my own heart. Oh, and another thing I want desperately -- to incorporate written sentiments into my home. Another fave from the site:

Forget want, I need this floor, and I'll take the trough sink too.

Inspiration 7.6

Yes, this is from Pottery Barn, and yes I love it. Some might call it boring, but I dream of having a bath (and kitchen) outfitted with white subway tile. So clean and calming.

Inspiration 6.29

Rounding out the last day of my trip with some more French interiors...

Inspiration 6.23

via Fondly Seen

Inspiration 6.16

via Canadian House and Home

Etsy Fave: Peg and Awl

File this under...heavenly. I don't relax well. I'm the person whose always running around cleaning during tv shows (or inadvertently making a mess while cleaning.), the person who closes their laptop in the hopes of signing off for the night only to furtively check their BlackBerry every five minutes. It's AWFUL.

The only way I ever actually relax is a long soak. I mean, once you're in, you're invested. Bringing anything electronic near the tub is at best a very, very bad idea, and at its worst, a great way to achieve sudden death.

But what if I could achieve the holy trinity of relaxing in one sitting: reading, drinking tea (iced, please) and soaking. Well, with this lovely tub caddy from Peg and Awl I can. The piece actually has a great back story too -- the wood is reclaimed oak from an hardware store built in 1897.

Available here, but fair warning. It's pretty pricey for what amounts to a plank of wood. If you're crafty, you could probably make a similar version on your own.

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

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 5.20

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

Task Lamps in the Bedroom, Bath and Kitchen

It seems like the task lamp trend, has more than hit the tipping point. They're showing up everywhere I look -- from shelter mags, blogs and catalogs. I'm especially loving them in bedrooms and baths.

I kind of hate using the word trend here, because it implies a certain level of frivolity and transience -- like next year, gourd lamps will be back, or chandeliers. I think task lamps are here to stay, especially wall-mounted ones because....they just make really, really great sense. They can serve as movable spotlight for art, reading in bed or provide a nice, sculptural alternative to high hats in the kitchen or bath.

Would you guys get on board with one in an unconventional place, or will it always scream "work" to you?


Images: 1. Rita Konig 2. and 3. Fondly Seen 4. The City Sage 5. Veranda. 6. Martha Stewart Living 7. House Beautiful.