{holiday inspiration: gold flatware}

... after a weekend spent on cozy velvet cushions in front of the fireplace, dinner reservations and shopping, and a countryside dinner party on sunday evening {homemade french onion soup and chicken & bacon pies} things are beginning to feel wonderfully festive . . . and since have been on the topic of tabletop inspiration, could not think of anything more beautiful for the holidays than gold flatware {although must confess, adore gold any time of year}, and am positively smitten with the italian-made brushed gold linea ice oro five piece setting {above} and the insanely elegant and ultra-stylish midas golden cutlery set {below} from the conran shop . . .




{p.s.} the fun & festive napkin holders were created from strings of sequins & paillettes wrapped around styrofoam spheres

{image: 1 - gretel via apartment therapy; 2 - iphone photo by this is glamorous, photography by pia ulin for martha stewart living december 2010}

{table for two: what katie ate, encore}

. . . this week's table for two is favourite australian food photographer katie quinn davies, who was featured here in july, but has added a charming new cookbook layout to her blog, a few gorgeous new photographs, as well as amazingly wonderful new recipes, such as farfalle with bacon, peas and sage, baby fig and apple fruit tarts, conchiglie pasta with mushrooms and parmesan cream sauce, red velvet cupcakes, and of course, pink grapefruit granita . . .




















{p.s.} previous table for two features:
* desserts for breakfast
* what katie ate

{all images © katie quinn davies}

{in the bedroom: crisp linens & scalloped edges}

. . . whether a wrought-iron italian campaign canopy or time-worn wood and draped in yards and yards of twilight gold linen, have always loved beds with canopies best, especially when strewn with crisp, late-summer white bedding and lacy, scalloped edges . . .

{image: trouvais}

{table for two: katie quinn davies}

. . . must confess am rather quite a disaster in the kitchen, but could happily recommend the best tarte niçoise or crème brulée in town, share the most delicious-tasting recipes and beautiful cookbooks and could most definitely gaze at stunning food photography forever, and so, was utterly delighted to happen upon what katie ate, a blog by australian food photographer katie quinn davies, who cooks, styles, and photographs every delectable recipe and may even inspire an afternoon venture back into the kitchen . . .

{p.s.} also fun: a peek at katie's home

{images: photography by katie quinn davies, via pretty good; also seen on decor8}

{home inspiration: sofia's paris apartment}

. . . many shots of sofia coppola's new york apartment with the now famous beautiful blue george smith sofa, but only a few & fleeting photographs of the bright and perfect paris apartment, showcasing her trademark and favourite pale backgrounds offset by arm-fulls of pink peonies -- but by far the very best part is the stunningly lovely white linen sofa . . .

{images: photography by andrew durham for vogue nippon via lola is beauty}

{colour inspiration: petal pink + french grey}

. . . charming florals paired with elegant mirrored side tables and delicate lilac petals on bright windowsills, tea cups and cakestands and beribboned shoes; alongside marble and mother-of-pearl and bits of gold and whether in shades of champagne, taupe or tea rose, shall always and forever adore perfectly pretty pink . . .

{images: 1 - unstitched.; 2 - romantic homes; 3 - apartment therapy; 4 - rosie tupper via a glamorous little side project; 5 - sunday suppers; 6 - everything fabulous; 7 - a previous post; 8 - mitica illustrations; 9 - tumblr; 10 - stylist kate morris via 79 ideas; 11 - krisatomic; 12 - jamo associates for laura ashley; 13 - trouvais; 14 - a previous post; 15 - rachelle vance}

{two lovely things: smokey violet & chevron floors}

{two lovely things}: whether in velvet on dining chairs and intermingling with mirrors and chandeliers, or in linen on an elegantly casual sofa and paired with perfectly paneled walls and luxurious gilt french mirrors, there is nothing quite like the stunning combination of smokey violet and always classic chevron floors . . .

{p.s.} utterly enchanted by the mirrored wall with the secret door

{images: head over heels}

{inspiration: pared-down}

Return again and again to this pale and perfectly pared-down room by photographer Paul Massey . . . such a welcoming, laid-back place . . .

{images: livingetc via automatism}