historic house tour

What a beautiful restoration! This c. 1750 Saltbox Colonial sits on 11 serene acres in Sharon, Connecticut. The home actually was restored more than 20 years ago; kudos to the owners for their timeless selections. See more inspiring photos here.

splendid spain

¡Espléndida! I'm in awe of this photograph (featured on Simply Grove) of a building façade in Barcelona. Those shutters! Photo by Sarah Tucker and available to order via her Etsy shop here.

weekend wall project

Do you have a blank wall begging for some texture and color? Consider a fun grouping of mismatched plates. This display brings together all sorts of themes and sizes; hung together they become an art installation and conversation piece (photo: Sunset)!

Here's a bit of colorful inspiration to get you started:

{Laminated Josef Frank textile trays from Svenskt Tenn, featured on Cup of Jo}

{Check out my true blue post for more wall-plate inspiration}

bathroom of the week

A striking bath in a 19th-century Brooklyn townhome re-designed by Levenson McDavid Architects (via houzz). Where to begin? The gray archway, that black tub, those brass fittings, the chevron-patterned floors...

See more of the firm's work in this stunning Park Slope home here.

great stuff by paul

Are you looking for an antique grain scoop, fishing creel, or school desk? Visit the online home of Great Stuff By Paul for all kinds of interesting, old things. It's fun to peruse the site and imagine how you might use (or display) a Tibetan butter churn or Turkish dough riser, for example. Those who live in the Frederick, Maryland area can check out Paul's finds (Paul and others travel the world to find their "great stuff") at two locations. The shop also travels; check their tour schedule to see if they're coming to a town near you.  

From top: vintage child's wash stands, $78; old Chinese wooden boxes, $28 each; old Hubbei pottery, $85/piece; old Tibetan painted wood bowls, $21 each; c. 1930s Pennsylvania factory bobbins (with original blue thread), $3 each.

mudroom chic

A charming, country mudroom (photo: Andre Rider). If you like this look, you may like...

Ghanian market basket

Antique fire bucket (a great catchall!)

Handmade teak mirror

Classic Hunter wellies

true blue

Happy Monday to you. This room (featured in Gourmet) has a blue Monday kind of vibe. I love the arrangement of of the majolica plates on the wall and that fabulous midcentury lamp!

a sleeping porch

Hope you've had a relaxing weekend! I feel relaxed just looking at this setup!

summer & sarah richardson

Happy Friday! It's a balmy 76 degrees here today, so I'm pretending it's already summer. I love the summery feel of this bedroom designed by Sarah Richardson. What a nice touch to frame the Audubon prints in yellow! Normally, I may shy away from such a dramatic headboard and the hanging dress effect; but hey, it's summertime—I'll go with it! Richardson's rooms always have beautifully distinct personalities and this one certainly has a cheery, chic one.

{Tip: Search online for "Audubon prints" to find reproductions for $25-$35. Click here for a Great Blue Heron print at Art.com}

bathroom of the week

A vintage-chic bathroom at The Soho Beach House hotel, Miami (photo: James McDonald for Interior Design; via Belle Maison).  The c. 1941 oceanfront hotel was recently redesigned by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio. I love the row of vanity mirrors and "pouf" ottomans!

pewter love

Top: Chocolate cake on vintage Wilton Armetale pewter plate. Find a similar plate at Giving Gallery (photo: John Cullen for Forty Sixth at Grace).

Middle: "Luciano" handmade pewter pitcher from Match.

Bottom: Early 1900s French measuring cup from Lapomme.

haymarket hotel

How about this fabulous conservatory at London's Haymarket Hotel? So many great textures going on here! The gray oak floors are perfect for grounding (no pun intended) the space. Guests enjoy afternoon tea in this room where classic and contemporary come together (Adore Home).

Here's a close-up of tea (and champagne!) time:

blog inspiration

I'm loving Katie Quinn Davies' foodie/photography blog What Katie Ate. The fresh color combinations, the styling...delish! I'm also inspired by the work of designer/calligrapher Cynthia Warren. Take a peek at her process on her blog; here's a sampling of her lovely (frame-worthy!) menu and event designs (click on each sample for a larger view):

bright & beautiful

Colorful inspiration via Mia Linnman.

all you need is love

Happy Valentine's Day! When a piece is handmade, I somehow don't mind the mushy messages that can seem insincere when mass-produced. These hand-embroidered pillows from Jan Constantine's textiles collection send just the right message for today!

bathroom of the week

This large, classic bathroom is actually a former bedroom. A Boston couple lacked a true master bath in their 1850s row house, so they used an extra room to create a luxury bath with a spa shower (top); a separate water closet (photos two and three); and a dressing area (bottom, separated from the master bedroom with a pocket door). I love the transom windows used between each section--a nice touch if you have tall ceilings. See their blueprint and read more here (photos: Eric Roth).

{Find a similar teak shower stool here}

{Find a similar sink (with chrome, "bistro-style" legs) here}

{If you like the look of marble floors but need a budget-friendly alternative, try porcelain tiles designed to mimic Carrara marble}

a space solution

Tight on floor space? Use a Queen Anne-style or pagoda pendant lamp instead of a floor lamp and floating shelves intead of a side table (photo: Mark Burstyn for H&H). Find this brass entry lamp at Elte.com; try Christopher Hyde for a true period look.

{Click here for a budget-friendly pendant lighting option}

a worldly vignette

I love this vignette (via loftandcottage). Could it be because it reminds me of high school World History class?! I think, actually, it's the simple-but-impactful style that draws me in. 

Like this look? Search for "pulldown" or "pull down" classroom maps from the 1950s and 1960s in vintage shops like Three Potato Four or Cathode Blue. The four-seater bench could be an old ferry deck bench; achieve a similar look with antique folding theater seats or an antique church bench with storage seats, like this one from English Country Antiques of Bridgehampton: