{inspiration: always the ocean}

. . . few things are more romantic than the ocean -- the lull of crashing waves, the promise of sandy toes and saltwater kisses -- and so, fell in love with the underwater enchantment of glittering and iridescent mother-of-pearl & mirrors, and the shapes of scallop shells & starfish in this charming beach house powder room . . .

". . . if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches."

~from The Princess Bride

{images: 1 - daria werbowy via a glamorous little side project; 2 - photography by james merrell for house beautiful via creategirl}

{400 square feet of style}

Flipping through a few magazines last week over a morning coffee, and completely fell {along with everyone else} for Rita Konig's West Village apartment as featured in the current issue of Domino. There is so much warmth and style wrapped up in 400 beautiful sqare feet, and the family & friends polaroid display above the fireplace mantel is such a wonderfully fun and creative idea.

{see also:}
{frolic!}
Absolutely Beautiful Things

{images: 1 - photography by anna wolf; 2-5 - photography by james merrell; via rita konig's deco book: bank street: starting from scratch, with the exception of image 3 - tig scan from domino September 2008}

{wrapped in luxury}

And while we're on the subject of cozy Fall things, Balineum, the British company that makes my favourite ruffled shower curtain, has just come out with a range of ultra-plush towels for those late evening soaks after a long day . . .

{interesting facts:}
> at an incredible 820 grams per square meter {most are 500-600 gsm}, this line is considered to be the most luxurious on sale in Europe
> Sarah Watson, Balineum's founder, is really lovely
> these beautiful shots were taken by James Merrell

{another lifetime}

The beautiful thing about vintage and perfectly rustic pieces is that the chipped paint, tiny dents, and worn places all hold the secrets and stories of another lifetime . . .

{images 1, 2, 4 - marie claire maison; image 3 - via classic style in the city; image 5 - photography by james merrell}

{triptych}

{james merrell}

Three different photographers, three different works, and yet, a striking similarity, a certain transiency, and the feeling that we've happened upon a private and fleeting moment or a secret space in time . . .

{autume de wilde}

{trine thorsen}

{happy weekend!}

No cases to pack or flights to catch . . . just plans to lounge about and feel the sand between our toes . . .

{Have a fantastic weekend!}

{images: 1 - james merrell; 2 - foto decadent; 3 - wendell t. webber}

{warm and woodsy}

{photography by claire richardson}

Painted the sitting room an elegant gray in early summer, and almost immediately missed the pretty and chalky buttercream walls before the new paint had time to dry . . .

{via flickr}

Of course, am now adoring the new, sophisticated and saturated gray, but every once in a while think about the warm and woodsy tones . . .

{via hoping for happy incidents}

{first published in ideal home july 2008; via house to home}

{via flickr}

{photography by james merrell}

{maison-rêve}

{photography by james merrell}

{via flickr}

{photography by polly wreford}

{Fall 2008 Couture - Anne Valérie Hash - Runway; Irina Lazareanu; Photography by Marcio Madeira; via style.com}

{photography by james merrell}

{via flickr}

{flea market finds & classic designs}

If you were expecting the south London home of Liza Giles, senior stylist for Tricia Guild of Designers Guild, to be creative and romantic and colourful and perfect, then you'd be right. Featured in Elle Decoration, I fell pretty hard for the white walls and brilliant splashes of colour, the boho-chic flavour, the expertly mixed colours and fabrics . . . but my favourites are the little vignettes of flea market finds--pretty objects and picture groupings alongside classic designs.

{all images from Elle Decoration, UK Edition October 2007 (NO 182), photography by James Merrell}

{links to this post:}
decor8
a beautiful living