New England Charm

I am working on a project in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado and we are transforming a very basic, brick and clapboard home into a New England Cottage. We are drafting details now with these pictures as our inspiration..

from RESTORATION HARDWARE.

Garnet Hill has you covered...

Very cute new sheets from Garnet Hill by Lilly Pulitzer, Eileen Fisher and Nicola Manganello:

Madeleine!

This is an adorable children's bedroom in Paris. Reminds me of Madeleine's loft bedroom, one of my daughters favorite stories. The iron beds, the double candlestick lamps and the striped curtains. Very sweet.

San Francisco Show House 2007

I am not a fan of tall rooms with no interest. This is an interesting way to embrace the height in an artistic format.



I really like how the 'painting' looks on the wall as a backdrop for other art. Very sophisticated. I especially love the colors they chose- very soft, warm. I like that the molding does not stand alone, which is usually painted white, but blends with the walls.

Very Cool Fixture

by Guy Chaddock & Co.- this chandelier is part mountain man tough and part Ralph Lauren classic. It is made of hand forged iron with a leather canopy hiding six candelabras.

Vintage L.A.

There are so many treasures at Downtown in Los Angeles, here are just a few. If you are in their neighborhood- add this stop to your day.

Hardwood Floors

Today, hardwood floors are so much more!







Go to Burchette & Burchette to see more styles.

I have always wanted to be an architect...

This is the first floorplan I drew at age 6. My parents passed along some keepsakes recently and I found this sketch. I drew it on the back of a church donation envelope at Easter service in 1982.

Not sure how one would access the 'corner' bedroom....but the stairs are easy enough to see! I thought this was pretty funny but the diving team photo not so much- so I will pass on posting that memory.

Conan's Pad

Conan may be in the dumps about his show...but I am glad to see he isn't living in one.

Check out his California house- click to enlarge.

Star Rooms

Celebrities have their pickings of the best houses and best designers around the world. Some of these homes are totally over the top and some are enviably simple and tasteful. Here are some of my favorite, livable rooms.

Suzanne Somer's Palm Springs patio and garden.Sally Field's California Home.

Gwyneth Paltrow's kitchen in the Hamptons.

Edwards' family playroom in South Carolina.

Cluck Cluck Cluck

More and more, people are raising chickens and we too, are jumping on this 'tractor'. You can build many different sizes and styles of the traditional 'farm coop'. Even a nomadic coop as a tractor can be used to fertilize your gardens which I have been told, is the very best stuff out there. This new venture and our bunny hutch should keep us very busy this summer.

I remember taking the litters to our neighborhood Oktoberfest, the babies nestled in a basket, and giving them away to neighbors. Mama bunny, Sadie and dad bunny, Tucker- RIP.

A room with THE view...

Portugal

I received the Spring catalog for Papo d'Anjo yesterday and was flipping thru the pages dog-earring cute dresses for my girls and began to wonder....if this great style came from Portugal- the houses must be stylish too.


I think I should move there just so I can paint my house pink!


The lighting in this library adds so much...

This estate even comes with a private chapel- I love the wall mosaic.

My favorite colors- pink and blue!

Both of these homes are just outside Sintra, Lisboa, Portugal.

Easy Design

An easy way to change a room or update it without punching holes in drywall or involving an outside contractor is to switch your lighting. Here are some architecturally interesting table lamps that will add table sculpture to your room.





Table lighting by Alexa Hampton for Visual Comfort.







Table lighting by Thomas O'Brien for Visual Comfort.