{inspiration: birds of a feather}

Feathers, feathers everywhere -- ostrich on evening gowns, in vases on fireplace mantels and in pretty up-swept hair -- but best of all, atop four-poster beds all draped in French fabrics, as if awaking on a magical, misty morning in le château de Versailles . . .







{p.s.} more feathers

{images: mary kate by margo silver, you magazine june 2007; clockwise from top left, desire to inspire; selina lake; desire to inspire;shabby chic via daisy pink cupcake; hervé pierre's manhattan apartment, tig scan from house & garden, november 2002, photography by james waddell, also seen at moodboard; style bytes; art partner; entryway - domino; flickr, siri tollerod by cedric buchet for v magazine december 2008; mon chou; domino; a glamorous little side project}

{happy september + the countryside}

. . . there's something about the crisp early morning breezes of September that always reminds me of the countryside and although am always a little wistful to see summer's end, Autumn has its own particular loveliness . . .














{images: 1, 2 - record the day; 3 - country living via vt interiors; 4 - pale & interesting; 5 - elle decor via the city sage; 6 - martha stewart via martha moments; 7 - photography by james waddell for domino magazine november 2008; 8 - flickr; 9 - design fragment; 9 - bliss; 10 - mikael dubois via weekend host; 11 - photography by mark scott via four walls and a roof; 12 - simon brown via desire to inspire; 13 - ffffound!; 14 - design lovely; 1 - 3: thank you, felicity!}

{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}

{lost in a good book}

The coffee table is currently buried under pile upon pile of fashion and design hardcover books and magazines, and rather than stow them away on shelves or in armoires, I rather like the idea of neat and colourful stacks tucked in a well-lit corner alongside art and elegant hatboxes, as in Hervé Pierre's Manhatten apartment, which is described as a combination of "fun, frenchness and fashion history" . . .

{Sounds just about perfect.}

For those who prefer a more neutral palette, classic built-ins in warm tones and books shelved with their ends facing outward create a softer, more unified space.

{more great storage and display ideas:}
> a pretty endtable magazine rack
> stacks of magazines for a desk
> stacks of magazines for a bench

{images: 1 - House & Garden, November 2002, photography by James Waddell; 2 - apartment living by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, photography by Winfried Heinze}