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Archive for the ‘crazy awesome’ Category

Nantucket Escape

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013

I am just DYING to spend a couple days by the ocean this summer. It’s going to be an incredibly busy time for us, but a few days rest by the water is a great way to recharge. And ever since seeing the images of the newly opened 76 Main on the island, designed by the awesome Rachel Reider of Boston, I want to go even more! She used so many of my favorite wallpapers, fabrics and accents all in one place! I would LOVE to someday design a small inn like this_ I can’t even imagine how much fun creatively it would be!

Posted in because i love it, commercial design, crazy awesome, design crush, i want to go to there | 23 Comments »

Design Crush: Jeanette Whitson and Hague Blue!

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

I kind of flipped when I saw the cover of the new House Beautiful. And the editors clearly felt the way I do about this room since they made it a fold out cover to show the entire space! The designer is self-taught Jeannette Whitson of Garden Variety Design. It’s a beautiful home with lots of traditional details that somehow feel fresh and new.

This kitchen is amazing- and making me think I should have painted the frame of my window the same color as my lower cabinets!

Where to start here? The light? The banister? The windows? The ceiling?

Best. Butlers Pantry. EVERRRRRR. Do you even SEE that sink? And while taxidermy is not everyone’s jam, I love that it’s the mascot for her shop Garden Variety Design (you can shop yourself on 1st Dibs!)

I have a soapstone sink JUST LIKE THIS in my basement waiting to be used in this way…..

Shall we venture outdoors? Yes, lets.

OK, back to the blue room of my dreams….ridonculous. And the second I saw it I knew it was Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue because it’s my favorite paint color ever. It looks lighter in this photo than it really is, but it’s the most perfect navy with a dash of peacock blue ever created. It’s so amazing it serves almost as a neutral backdrop to tones like orange, violet, tan leather, yellow….. you name it.

On top of the amazing paint job she used two of my all time favorite fabrics-Peter Dunham’s Ikat Stripe and Michael Smith/ Jasper’s Indian Flower. I seriously bow down to this room.

Initially I thought it was so out there to do a sofa in the same navy as the walls but then I quickly found a few other images where designers had done the same thing!

And a few more images of Hague Blue (mostly high gloss) in use proving that it’s the most magical of colors!

I used it in an small Beacon Hill home office paired with Osborne & Little’s Coronata Star on the ceiling….

I painted Andrew’s office similar shade and we love it- it’s a tiny space (as is the space above) and the dark color makes the walls recess instead of close in on you- so consider a dark shade like this in any of your small spaces!

Posted in colors, crazy awesome, design crush, fabrics, lustworthy, paint | 30 Comments »

Guess What I Did?

Monday, April 29th, 2013

Any guesses?

How about now?

Oh, yes I did.

(Except there is no way anyone is DRINKING/EATING/CRYING in it’s presence. See how concerned Charlotte looks?)

Yes folks, after five years and wanting, waiting, lusting…. I bought myself the H blanket.

It was a big moment. After landing the BH&G cover (check out my post on their blog today) and the whole book deal thing, I said I was going to get myself something absolutely ridiculous in celebration. Even Andrew supported such fiscal irresponsibility. So when I figured there was no way I could afford the Celine bag I wanted, I knew what that would be.

So last week after work I met Andrew and in we went to Hermes. I made a beeline to the one I wanted (black and ecru) and picked it up. It’s absurd, the thing is just wool. But it is SO GOOD. I looked at the price tag again and said to Andrew “I can’t. It’s too much.” And that sweet fella said “You are getting it. Now. You deserve this.”

And so I did. Thinking, well, if I get home and freak my face off, I can always return it. we got back to the house and Andrew yells from the kitchen “I’m gonna recycle this box right?” I don’t think I’ve ever made it into the kitchen from the sofa faster. “Are you INSANE???” I yelled? Half the fun is that huge orange box!!!!” Men.

But as most huge, huge purchases (and haircuts) go- this magical thing did not change my life or make me a better person. It’s just a blanket. A very expensive blanket. I checked the receipt to see how many days I had to return it… only to see NO REFUNDS. So there you have it, it’s mine.

I don’t want to put it on the sofa because my dirty little monsters will probably chew a bone on it and then barf all over it. So I folded on my favorite chair in the corner and you know what- it totally elevates the space. And when I walk into the room it makes me fell happy and reminds me of how hard I’ve worked to have it. The past 12 months have been full of milestones and now I have something to mark it I’ll hang onto forever. Take that, guilty conscience.