Summer Colors Week (halfway through)

I found out yesterday that Jan of Poppytalk is coordinating a "Summer Colours Week" where she invites bloggers from all over to post around a specific color each day of this week. I know I'm a little late in the game, but I thought I'd join in. Today's post is brought to you by the color green. Enjoy! And then get outdoors for some green inspiration of your own!

Sources: green bike // cactus candles // lovebirds // green bottles // tray of drinks // green dresser // woman + rabbit // dinner table // table numbers // dandelion couple // green collection // silhouette pins // office space // green lanterns // handsome lineup

Summer Styling

It's been awhile since we've looked at the portfolio of a prop stylist so when I ran across the work of Christine Rudolph I thought it worth sharing. Especially since she has so many lovely, summery photographs. I love that her aesthetic is a little chaotic with pictures hung slightly crooked and fabrics draped haphazardly—it's so cozy and friendly. I found her indoors-outside, beach styling to be particularly inspirational and interesting.

Splash of Color

When I moved into my grandfathers house I was lucky enough to have a harvest gold fridge and matching stove. Unfortunately the fridge had to be replaced but the stove still adds it's 1970's character to my kitchen. A colored major appliance isn't for the faint of heart—a bright orange fridge says a lot about your personality and the personality of your home. It's definitely a commitment but if you love a bright yellow range, you'll probably always love a bright yellow range.


sources from top to bottom: Country Living // Laurence Pasquier // Design Desk // Manolo // Country Living // HGTV // CasaSugar

Not ready to commit to a pink refrigerator but still want a splash of color? Check out these bright kitchen electronics:

pink stove // green kitchenaid // orange blender // baby blue microwave // red coffee maker // navy food processor // sky blue + white fridge // magenta toaster

Book Love from Alice Stevenson

I for sure judge a book by it's cover. And the covers from illustrator Alice Stevenson would definitely help these books make their way from the bookstore to my shelf. Wouldn't they be lovely?

Chic Horses

Today is my mother's birthday and in honor of her I thought I'd focus on one of her favorite things: horses. She's been obsessed with horses since the first time she saw them I think. Luckily, she's never been a theme decorator—because there is some atrocious horse decor out there. Believe me, I've looked at it. They are so majestic and beautiful I don't know where the translation is lost when it comes to creating housewares inspired by horses. Although I suppose any sort of toilet paper holder is going to be a little cheesy - even if it is inspired by a gorgeous animal. These rooms are far from cheesy.

Sources from top right and clockwise: La Dolce Vita // Marie Burgos // Marie Burgos // Terramia // Marie Burgos
If you're looking for a gift for a horse-lover or are one yourself, or are just in the mood for something equestrian, here's a little something:

Horse Pillow // gold horse sunglasses (see it? it's small but completely charming) // T-shirt // pink barrette // horse printed top // wallpaper

Retro Beachwear

I went to college in Savannah, Georgia but unfortunately spent most of my summers back in Illinois with hardly any access to sand and surf. Oh sure there were occasional trips to the man-made lake and its pebbly beach or to the local water park but nothing compares to the ocean: the wind and salt and sand in your swimsuit/car/beach bag. I grew up watching Gidget and Moon Doggy surf and Frankie and Annette flirt and I dreamed of living in the 1960s. I ran across some great photos of fabulously glamorous starlets on the beach (or maybe that's the desert...) and thought you'd enjoy them.

Elizabeth Taylor is so cool with her lasso and ruffly bikini top and don't even get me started on how gorgeous that shot is of Marilyn. Then there's the lovely Susan Hayward with her tropical print and the fabulous Natalie Wood.
In the spirit of things, let's you and I channel retro glamour and hit the pool in something like this:

Sources: Floppy Hat // Beach Ball // Steel Grey Halter // Swim Cap // Vintage True Story Magazine // Beach Towels // Blue Striped Sandals // Red Polka-Dot Bikini // Floral Terrycloth Beach Bag // Sunglasses

Nearly White Rooms

I'm a big fan of color and have never even considered having white walls. But I'm easily persuaded and these rooms just may have convinced me to try it out in my next space. I do love colorful accents anyway and with a white backdrop you have such freedom — it's so easy to change the look of a room by simply adding a different pillow or a colorful lamp.

Sources clockwise from top right starting with that amazing dark floor: Calfinder // Hooked on Houses // Hooked on Houses // Eva Designs // Becoming Home // Room Envy

Beautiful white bathrooms starting with that gorgeous vanity and the chandeliers and going clockwise: Decor Pad // Design Heaven // Miss Decor // Homebug

These bedrooms are my favorite. I purchased a white down comforter a year and a half ago and can't bring myself to put a duvet cover on it. It's like a sweet little cloud in my tiny bedroom. Yes it gets dirty fast, but who cares! It makes me happy every morning when I make my bed and that's definitely worth the cost of washing a little more often. Sources (clockwise from top right again): Maison Boheme // ABD // Maison Boheme // Smokeye

And finally, since we're in the thick of it, some sweet summer-ready white porches. Don't you just want to curl up with that sleeping puppy? (Clockwise from top right: House No.8 // Absolutely Beautiful Things // Musings // Country Living)

Hidden Posters

You're like me—and we both love mid-century design. Particularly graphic/poster design. Oh, and we both love when things are discovered in their natural habitat. It's like they've been just waiting for us to be appreciated again. Which is why I know you'll love this as much as I did. Renovations at Notting Hill Gate Tube Station have recently uncovered these posters in a now non-public area of the station. This is where the elevators (lifts as it were) used to be, but when escalators were put in, this area was simply closed off. But with renovation comes exploration and they were found again. And aren't we thrilled? Check it out.


There are a handful more images on the London Underground Flickr page, but I've shared most of what they've got up. Since I am a notorious player-of-favorites, I have decided on one poster in particular to focus on. That little "travel Royal Blue" sailor on the end is so cute I can barely handle it. His little red nose and pipe and fantastic striped blue hat are so perfect. Certainly makes me want to get on that funny little blue bus. Thanks to Grain Edit I found out that the illustrator of that poster is a Ms. Daphne Padden. And she has created some other exceptional travel posters.


I love this child-like, jovial illustration style. And because I can't help myself, I've established a favorite: isn't the yellow-bearded sailor in the bottom right poster the cutest with that little cat? Boy oh boy. I would love to have that (or any of the others for that matter) hanging in my little house. Let me know if you discover one somewhere won't you? (Thanks to the Daphne Padden poster set on Flickr for sharing these great images!)

Tea Towels

I love linens. I love screen printing. And I love anything cheeky. So these tea towels were pretty much made for me. Granted, some are cheekier than others, but they are all super fun and would make my dish drying much more enjoyable. (The first two towels are my favorite I think. They are from artist Donna Wilson and read "use my beehive to dry your dishes" and "use my beard to dry your dishes". So stinkin cute!)



And yes, that is a Mr. T tea towel. Hilarious! With the exception of the first two towels, the alphabet from illustrator Linzie Hunter and that lovely bike at the end, all of these are available at To Dry For. There are oodles more to look at as well. Such a fun shower or wedding gift don't you think?

Simple Flowers

I've always been a huge fan of simple flower arrangements. Give me one perfect bloom in a charming container and I'm set. Here are some lovely ideas for displaying your summer flowers: easy and sweet.



Sources from top right: design sponge // nibs // sweetest occasion // once wed // petit poney // electric home // sweetest occasion // rock my wedding // fabulously green

Pretty, Pretty Pantries

The kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where everyone gathers to chat and drink coffee and eat delicious food (homemade or not). No matter where I've lived or who I happened to share the house with, the kitchen was always the choice location. My first apartment after college didn't even have a table in the kitchen, yet my roommate and I still spent countless hours sitting on the cupboards or leaning on the kitchen windowsill laughing and spending time together. One thing that kitchen did have (that may have been my favorite thing in that space) was an exposed pantry. It was nothing fancy, just a few shelves and a cabinet but I found it to be so charming. I've always been intrigued by pantries and beautiful and interesting kitchen storage. I love anything that displays everyday, useful things—especially well-designed food packaging or beautiful dishes. They add such life to the room. And it's revolving art that naturally changes with the seasons.



Because my little house is so humid, any dry good that I open needs to immediately be put into tupperware or something similar. If I had lovely exposed cabinets or shelving, I may be tempted to put everything in gorgeous glass jars like some of the inspiration shots above. So many lovely ideas!

Sources (clockwise from top right): Country Living // Kitchen Bath Ideas // Elle Decor // Hoechstetter Interiors // Design Sponge // Design Sponge // Elements of Style // Elle Decor // Decor Design // Country Living

Wallpaper

Wallpaper has come a long way. Not only is it much, much easier to put up and take down but it's now available in any pattern you can imagine. I particularly love bold wallpaper in small spaces like hallways or bathrooms—it's so unexpected and fun.


Sources: Top three retro florals // amazing map // cityscape // circus silhouettes // profiles (not sure if that woman has a horn or crazy 80's bangs) // flocked profiles // bottom four are from Dutch artist Inke Heiland and are made from vintage wallpapers. Aren't they amazing? Such a fun idea!
And because I'm a sucker for good prop styling, I couldn't resist showing you these beautiful shots done for Swedish company Decor Maison. The trailers are so beautiful! And the papers are quite lovely as well.

Carnivale

Once upon a time there was a dark little show called Carnivale. It explored human nature and all that that implies: good and evil, love and hate, hard times, good times... It only lasted for two seasons (and I'm just now finishing up watching the second season) but it's made an impact on me. Not just the story but also the cinematography. You know I love a historically accurate television series (see the Mad Men post below) and the designers of Carnivale did an excellent job of transporting me to this era.






This era is not a particular favorite of mine in regards to interior design (too many hard sofas and wood panelled walls) or fashion (all of those drop waists and shift dresses - no thank you). BUT one thing that I've loved seeing is all of the lounge wear. Such beautiful florals and silks and girliness.

One of the ladies of the Carnivale has a robe very similar to that one on the far left and I'm in love with it. Unfortunately, all four of these pieces have been sold, but this site has a lot of other great items (including some amazing vintage dresses).

Chalkboard Paint

My cousin and I were out last weekend and saw a fun chalkboard menu and she said "you should do a blog post about those!". And here we are... Like any good decorating idea, some people do a better job with it than others. Here are some of my favorites.

I love that this design element can easily translate into an eclectic bathroom (isn't that fun? "you look marvelous" instead of a mirror!) or an industrial office space or a delicate kitchen. You could design something more permanent like that gorgeous wall behind the bed or use it as a list keeper. What would you do with a can of chalkboard paint?

sources: left restaurant // right restaurant // bedroom // top bath // bottom bath // oval menu // eating space // office // kitchen

Carl Kleiner

I am intrigued by the styling of Swedish photographer Carl Kleiner's photographs. They are often ethereal always imaginative and definitely creative. His fashion shoots are particularly fascinating: the doll house with the strong lighting and the cloud tethered to the floor are a couple of my favorites.


Aren't the macaroons fun? They're already so whimsical but to suspend them in a cage reminiscent of an electric beater is so brilliant.
Last, I love these sportier shots— especially all of those beautiful shoes!

Berlin with Brian

Brian Ferry used to live in Brooklyn but now lives in London and is the author of the blog "the blue hour". He's an exceptionally talented photographer with an abundance of interesting and beautiful things and places to shoot. He recently went to Berlin and photographed a wide assortment of goodies. There were just so many things I thought you'd enjoy, so I think I'll get out of the way and let you travel in your mind for a little bit. I'll meet you at bonanza coffee heroes when you're done for a sweet treat and a cup of dark roast (with cream of course).



Favorites: spearmint gum ad, suitcases and shoes, "i feel so funny... is this real life?", cupcakes on lovely blue plates. Let's get out of here!