{home inspiration: a paris apartment}

. . . oftentimes, on evening walks, love to stop by the bookstore for a few glossy magazines, always in search of inspiration, but has been far too long since there was a space that overwhelmed with loveliness like this parisian apartment -- the glimpses of perfectly ornate balconies and streams of soft, gauzy light, the yards upon yards of shimmery taupe drapery and beautifully time-worn chevron floors, and best of all, in paris . . .

{image: patterson maker, perhaps originally from sotheby's international realty france, collection privée les 100 plus belles proprietes de france}

{décor inspiration: modern classic}

. . . have been lamenting just the other day that it has been forever since there was an interior that overwhelmed with a sheer elegance intermingled with a certain romance, and then, all of a sudden . . . french doors and chevron floors, marble fireplaces and graceful archways, paneled walls and 19th century mouldings, all enchantingly flooded in light, and best of all, in paris . . .

{images: amador toril via french by design}

{spanish inspiration: gallery white + tea rose}

. . . quite taken with this bright and sun-drenched home in madrid, with its gallery white walls and alcove bookcases, sweeping windows and juliet balconies, perfectly worn wood floors and soft accents of romantic tea rose . . .

{via deco love}

{a charming mix of things}

. . . shall always adore white, light-flooded rooms for the understated beauty and feeling of serenity they invoke, but truth be told, am a maximalist at heart, bits of boarding passes and foreign currency tucked away in pretty boxes, every issue of every magazine overflowing from shelves and coffee tables and so, fell completely for everything about these rooms -- the charming mix of tray and glass tables, warm and rich orange, pink & turquoise intermingled with soft sable and flowers everywhere, walls of artwork and paneling and molding, luxurious ruching, tassels and pleats -- everything working perfectly together as if part of a beautiful and unwinding story . . .

{images: hamish bowles' paris apartment, photography by françois halard for world of interiors, scans via flickr}

{at home with: elie saab, paris}

. . . completely swept away by this stunningly beautiful bedroom in fashion designer elie saab's paris apartment -- the mirrored screens and four-post bed, the satin-trimmed pillows, and most of all, the spectacularly over-sized blossoming branches that may be just the thing for getting through the winter . . .

{p.s.} more at home with:
* jessica alba
* marc jacobs, paris
* carter smith
* alexander wang

{image: ad via white & wander, interior design by chakib richani architects, photography by marina faust}

{autumn afternoons}

friday's happy weekend posts have somehow fallen away to weekend plans -- sometimes suitcases to pack or dinner reservations, but always excitement for the days ahead -- this weekend was moments in the still-warm september sun, afternoons in dusky cafés and evenings in candlelight, remembering rustling leaves and starlight and enveloped in the magic of autumn . . .

hope you had a beautiful weekend!
xo




{a wrap-up of the previous week:}
* travel: chicago
* in the post: anna sheffield earrings
* a beautiful day + the winner is
* in the post: the sartorialist
* at home with: marc jacobs
* inspiration: new york fashion week
* at home with: carter smith

{images: stylist Marianne Cotterill's home scanned by Moodboard -- Elle Decoration September 2003, photography by JP Masclet}

{inspiration: black + white}

When there's a moment to spend sorting through the abyss that is the closet, often find myself wandering away to do other things -- sometimes difficult to pare down and part with things, infinitely easier to sort through the hundreds of photographs in inspiration folders -- and happened upon these lovely shots of black + white -- the best of both worlds: bright airiness contrasted with bold elegance . . .









{images:1 - otis & frank; 2 - brigitte bardot via moodboard; 3 - elle decor; 4 - the french bedroom; 5 - desire to inspire; 6 - tiny k; 7 - desire to inspire; 8 - unknown; 9 - australian home beautiful june 2008; 9 - kate moss by bruce weber for vogue november 2006 via moodboard; 10 - skona hem}

{inspiration: a walk on the wild side}

Lately have been considering adventurous animal prints such as leopard and cheetah as accents, such as throw cushions and especially when mixed with crisp whites and feminine florals . . .

. . . or on the floor, perfectly paired with white trim and seagrass walls

. . . perhaps even a few fun Fall fashion accessories:
1 - fendi marshmallow leopard-print shoulder bag; 2 - topshop leopard tie belt; 3 - very privé peep-toe platforms; 4 - christian louboutin leopard loubiday clutch; 5 - miss clichy 140 boots; 6 - helena rubinstein lash queen feline blacks mascara; 7 - toss designs leopard flask by art effect

{images: 1 - photography by james waddell for domino magazine november 2008; 2 - kate moss via tfs}

{inspiration: black or white}

If you're still a little uncertain about shades of charcoal sweeping across the walls . . . a comparison: two similar rooms, one crisp + nautical, and the other, dramatic + modern . . .

{images: 1 - from a previous post; 2 - domino magazine}

{at home with: alexander wang}

Flipping through a past issue of domino and happily came across Alexander Wang's NYC apartment {above, styled by Lili Diallo} and remembered completely falling for its perfect mix of rock + refined -- a Terry Richardson photo hangs above the bed and beside a fantastically pretty flea market dresser about which Wang has said, "People are so self- conscious and afraid of things that might make them look cheesy. The coolest people are the ones who aren't afraid to look like dorks."

above + below: images of the bedroom from decorator and friend Ryan Korban's porfolio


above: amazing leather handbag {definitely on the fall shopping list} and shoes with see-through heels from the fall 2009 collection + a sexy, body-conscious dress from the resort 2010 collection

above: home office with perfectly arranged and framed portraits of models styled as oil-field workers, drifters and miners

above + below: bright and spacious new office space photographed by Todd Selby



above: a perfect mix of rock + refined

above + below: worn leather Chesterfield sofa


above: among the coffee table books is the work of iconoclastic photographer Helmut Newton

above: an all-time favourite from the resort 2010 collection -- assymetrical + blue sequins

{images: 1, 5, 9, 11 - photography by david black for domino magazine february 2008; 2 + 3 - ryan korban via desire to inspire;4 - nitrolicious + style.com; 6, 7, 8, 10 - the selby; 12 - style.com}