{a new week & the last month of the year . . . }

. . . summer feels like a beautiful dream and the last of the autumn leaves have fluttered away, and now, it's waking up to mornings of romantically swirling snowflakes, wreaths of holly and towers of meringue, ruffled bed canopies and gold satin slipcovers, gingerbread with icing and the warmth of crackling fires, fairy lights and candlelight and the most beautifully decorated trees, and most of all, a feeling of magic in the air . . .

{images: 1 - domino magazine via pinterest; 2 - homes & gardens; 3 - toast; 4 - photography by chris everard; 5 & 8 - simple home by mark & sally bailey via linen & lavender; 6 - at home via 1st dibs & delight by design; 7 - homes & gardens; 8 - style at home, both via delight by design}

{colour inspiration: late-summer pink}

. . . the last day of august and how it has arrived so quickly is a mystery, and while the early morning air has become a little cooler, the sun still shines warmly and whether it's ribbons or tulle, stripes on a chair or a soft cashmere sweater, whether in shades of monticello or azalea, somehow, the last days of summer always feels like pink . . .

{p.s.} today is also p's birthday and we're off to lose ourselves in beautiful things . . . à bientôt & hope your week is off to a perfect start xo

{images: photography by jose villa via follow studio; absolutely beautiful things; t.i.g. scan, martha stewart weddings; peonies: photography by sarah tucker via ada & darcy; t.i.g. scan, photography by tom leighton, styling by ali brown and kate french for homes & gardens july 2010; t.i.g. scan, j.crew august 2009}

{inspiration: polished glamour}

Have always adored the polished glamour of mirrors, especially when combined with metal, as with this stunning set of gold nested bedside tables . . .

. . . this pretty mirrored shoe display

. . . & beautifully ornate coffee table

{images: 1 - Homes & Gardens; 2 - Polly Wreford; 3 - Harlequin via AT}

{merry christmas}

Wintry inspiration on these, the last softly falling snow days before Christmas . . . off for the rest of week for some much-anticipated time away, and wishing you holidays filled with laughter and warmth and someone to hold you close . . .

Happy, happy holidays!

xo

{images: 1 -Homes & Gardens December 2008, photography by David Giles; 2 - Ludwig Design via desire to inspire; 3 - fashion in my eyes; 4 - Genevieve Wiseman via desire to inspire; 5- Marie Claire Maison via automatism; 6 - Country Living via The Inspired Room; 7 - Country Home; 8 - from an earlier post}

{fun-loving ways + moments of repose}

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a lovely weekend and was able to find a little time to relax before the busy-ness of the holidays begins, if it hasn't already. Between dinners, being out and about and home again for a little re-organizing, the weekend was filled with fun-loving ways and a few stolen moments of repose before the start of a new and happily busy week . . .

{p.s.}
Fun and exciting things planned for this week, including more festive cheer and some lovely gift ideas at some of my favourite places.

{a few posts on the side:}

* black lace + pink ruffles
* editorial: bella de nuit
* the party dress

{images: 1 - vice 2008, cabin fever via i know what you wore last season; 2 - Alex & Jann Cresswell-Turner's London home as featured in Homes & Gardens December 2008, photography by Spike Powell; 3 - chanel fall winter 2001 ad campaign via starbucks and jane austen}

{a little ruffled}

Love Sarah Watson's pretty new shower curtain designs, made by traditional weavers in Italy, Lithuania and Portugal. There are four designs in all, including the charming and ruffle-trimmed, Catherine.

{the gallery effect}

{Photography by Bjarni B. Jacobsen for Livingetc.}

Recently, P. {dashing as ever in Versace} and I had the chance to attend a gallery opening for a well-known British artist, and while we were sipping our wine and admiring the work in the bright and lovely gallery space, remembered how wonderful art looks against a clean, white background . . .

{via Homes & Gardens}

{via absolutely beautiful things}

{via emmas designblogg}

{via timfalle on flickr}

{via carolina eclectic}

{via Livingetc.}

{via andyland}

{photography by debi treloar}

{via house t0 home}

{via More Ways to Waste Time}

{a brick wall was exposed and painted white to add character, and a collection of art from Cornwall hangs above a vintage Tulip table and chairs; Livingetc., photography by Penny Wincer}

{via andyland}

{via Homes & Gardens}

{via Livingetc.}

{via decor8}

{via house to home}

{via design*sponge}

{via Livingetc., photography by Sharyn Cairns}