.friday floataway

Really excited to spend time at the beach with my family. My brother and sister and the entire gang will be with my husband and I and all four of our offspring AT ONE TIME! No way! Way!!! Counting the minutes...

Hope your weekend is everything you want it to be!

xox

g.

(image via French Blue)

.style or vile?

$75,000 smackeroos.

No..no typo.

Aerin Lauder of Estee Lauder fame has one in her son's room that was recently featured in Elle Decor. That price tag is how many tubes of mascara?

Oh, and it is a chair......

Style or vile?

(image Raina and Fernando and Humberto Campana)

.corner view

Weekend evenings is this the theme for corner view this week.

Friday 7:45- Dinner at cool Mexican restaurant with even cooler hubby.

Saturday 7:45-Home watching a movie with this little boy, Buddy, who was awaiting the return of....

Sunday 745-his buddy,my son, back from a week-long mission trip painting a shelter for abused women and children in New Mexico. I could not be prouder or squeeze him hard enough at the airport. I looked kind of like Buddy this week, too!

Enjoy the wonderful corner views of:

jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,

caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, schanett, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, dianna, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria, crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, virgina, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, dorit, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, desiree, di, travelingmama, aimee, sunnymama, amanda, ali, jenell, guusje, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, gillian,

athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, kelleyn, iris, demara

.i spy

As I browse through recent images I've saved on kitchens, it is clear to me that a trend is emerging....in my folder at least. Simple, clean lines, few upper cabinets and no fuss. But I seem to like many counter materials.

Do you have a favorite these days?

(images Head over Heels, Marcy Post, Jane Grier, Domino, Met. Home)

.friday floataway

How relaxed do I look in the pool overlooking the ocean on my private island? Look! There is hardly a cloud in the sky and zero humidity. I am sure all of my customers will understand why I cannot pack and ship their orders this afternoon! Don't you?

You cannot see them, but there is a staff of forty mixing drinks and slicing fruit just to my left. In a minute, one of them is going to get my thirteen year old daughter from volleyball camp where she, as the only kiddo home, will return to polish my toenails. She will laugh merrily at all of my jokes, never say "Good one, Mom" when I am clearly being hilarious, and will spend the afternoon gazing at me with affection for all of the words of wisdom I have to share. There is no eye rolling. There is only content satisfaction, which also means no mention, for the twentieth time, of going to Target to get another bathing suit, as everyone here LOVES the 9 she already has. Why don't you come over? I have plenty of room in this fantasy for you, too....

If not, have a great weekend!

(image jane greer)

.style or vile?

Yep.

Have at it.

.yum

Ok, so feeling a bit stretched is making me a lot late. Last week, the lovely From the Right Bank to the Left Coast posed an interesting challenge called "What's your style in one picture?" One picture! Yikes, that is quite a challenge for me! I sifted through images I have saved online, looked through some magazines, the usual, but was a bit stuck when I stumbled on a room that really spoke to me right on her scrumptious blog!

There is so much said using very little in this room. Love the open space, love the light, adore the old table and grand beams with the shimmery, contemporary fixture and love the pop of color and design in an unexpected place. To me, it looks relaxed and refined at the same time.

Love it. And her wonderful blog. So, how would you describe your decor style in one WORD?

Tricky,huh? And fabulous does not count...

.feeling a bit stretched

Do you ever get that way? I am trying to cover lots of bases in little time. No complaints, just need a few more hours in the day....or like a dozen!

You?

.weekend, here I come...

So happy it is Friday. I have an extra spring in my step as I pick my baby girl up from camp tomorrow! Yahoo!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

xox

g.

(image ffffound)

.style or vile?

Ok, another one of those images that, for me, vile is too strong a word. The question I ponder is can you take a theme in decorating too far? I imagine this person adores the beach and probably likes to daydream about it when, well, nevermind, BUT, if I told you this home was in Boise, Idaho, would that seem out of place or just fine? Sometimes I wonder how many tuscan mansions a rural American town can hold. Can design following a beloved theme or place become an avalanche of bad taste?

Style or vile?

.corner view

This weeks corner view is places of reflection. When I want to clear my head, I go outside. A couple of miles from town, where the farms begin, seems like a world away from my house. It is amazing how rural and calm it becomes so quickly around these parts. I love it. But even just riding in my car to pick my kids up from somewhere close by, with the window open, things easily become a bit clearer in my mind. Fresh air is always the answer for me, come rain or shine.

You?

More corner view here: jane, ladybug-zen, ian, bonnie, esti, sophie, cele, modsquad,

caitlin, joyce, ani, kim, a day that is dessert, natsumi, epe, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, c.t., jeannette, outi, schanett, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, jennifer, dana, denise, cabrizette, bohemia girl, dianna, isabelle, amber, a girl in the yellow shoes, mister e, janis, kari, jgy, skymring, elizabeth, audrey, allison, lise, cate, mon, victoria, crescent moon, erin, otli, amy, ida, caroline, lisa, dorte, kimmie, la lune dans le ciel, nicola, malo, vanessa, britta, virgina, april, b, kyndale samantha, karen, kristina, dorit, goldensunfamily, sophie, janet, mcgillicutty, desiree, di, travelingmama, aimee, sunnymama, amanda, ali, jenell, guusje, britta, juanita, pamela, inna, daan, myrtille, cris, ibb, susi, jodi, lily, gillian, jeanette, athena, pienduzz, latisha, clairette, satsuki

.this is not my kitchen

...but it could come close. A day with a design dilemma. Anyone dare to give two cents worth?

Ok. Good!

We found a home that we are considering renovating. See images three and four. Kitchen has many good points, great light, good space and nice stone countertops and backsplash in neutral colors. But the cabinets are a bit dated. I am an open kitchen gal and have not had upper cabinets for some time BUT, can I do it here? I am concerned as a feature of the kitchen is the backsplash right behind the stove goes about 12 to 15 inches higher than the rest of the backsplash.

Option one- Can I pull these babies off the wall(the cabinets!) and put my brackets for my shelves right where the lower backsplash stops and thus, with the shelves on the brackets, there is a consistent, straight line, sort of like in image one up top. Would this line end up making it look as if it all matches up to the highest point of the backsplash? Make sense?

or

Option two- Keep the cabinets and take the doors off. I am painting the entire set a light shade, sort of like in image two, so the brown is out, but just not sure if they should stay at all. I am keeping the pantry, but if I keep any others, I would probably take the doors off and mirror the inside.

Ick. Trying to describe this gave me a headache. Ok, so the question is not do I leave the cabinets brown. It is can I rid of this entire section? This is a good problem to have, but one that I would love some input from all you artsy/interior designer/architecture/tasteful/sane types.

Ok. Got my coffee. Thoughts, please. I so appreciate it.

.lazy days

A hammock, a crisp breeze and a great book. Or dinner by candlelight with wine and special friends. I'd take a wonderful patio lit up with laughter and a cool beer, too.

Is Summer the best season of the year? Or do you favor another?

Do tell?

(images if the lampshade fits, stye redux)

.thanks, jodi!

I want to share the wonderful gift I received as the lucky winner over at sea & jae. If you have not been to Jodi's blog, you are truly missing out. Not only does she have great ideas on a daily basis, but she is such a sweet person and so supportive of the blog community. She is just one of those nice people. You know the kind I mean. I have loved getting to know her and I know you will, too. And her blue cheese coleslaw is just too good. And her picnic ideas, and her cute kids, and, well, go see for yourself!

Thanks, Jodi!!!!!

xoxoxox g.

P.S.-you cannot believe how cute I look with this bag. It has changed everything...

.happy birthday, U.S.A.

There are few things I enjoy as much as fireworks. They stun me, each year, as if it is the first time I have been lucky enough to witness this marvel. The color, designs, noise, all against a dark sky, lead to an excited chorus of ooooh's and aahhhh's. No matter where the person next to you is from, at that moment, you are all speaking the same language. The silence and anticipation between explosions give way to sheer delight. I love looking around and watching people break into a collective grin. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the sky becomes. And while it is illuminated and quite the entertainer, it is also calm. It is as if the moon is pausing to watch as well, and everything stands still for just a moment.

Happy Birthday, U.S.A. I always think you put on quite a party.

Be safe. xoxox g.

.style or vile?

Hmmmm.................jungle love?

No words seem appropriate EXCEPT...

Style or vile?

(sent over by the wonderful T)