{style inspiration: bright whites & bits of colour}

. . . while in theory, may love the thought of stepping out in vibrant spring hues, in actuality, much more likely to dash out the door in pale & pretty neutrals . . . and so, was delighted to happen upon a perfect compromise: a crisply tailored white coat accented with an elegantly thin fuchsia belt and pale yellow clutch, or long layers of lace and cool colour-block sandals, or perhaps, floor-length in warm whites, cinched with a perfectly preppy band of kelly green . . .


{images: anna selezneva by mariano vivanco for vogue russia, june 2011 via fgr}

{two lovely things: chalkboards & garden sheds}

. . . a grand and gilded chalkboard intermingling with dusky olive velvet and always elegant chevron floors . . . and a charming gardening shed with wonderfully ornate bracketed shelves and a porcelain sink overflowing with delicate late-spring blossoms . . .

......................................................................................................

{p.s.} recent two lovely things
* a paris apartment & hermès
* green & white
* open shelves & elegant black
* bar carts & blossoms
* books & bouquets


{images: 1 - original scan from côté paris via belle vivir, discovered via head over heels; 2 - country living via brabourne farm & also seen at the french tangerine}

{décor inspiration: always herringbone}

. . . can never resist a chevron or herringbone floor, especially when mixed with moulding, elegantly panelled walls and beautiful bits of light . . .

{p.s.} more chevron & herringbone:
* all dressed up
* a paris apartment
* perfectly ornate
* all in a day's work
* enchanted afternoons
* a charming mix

{image: that kind of woman}

{décor inspiration: sheer opulence}

. . . while it may be wonderful to explore the possibilities in the clean lines of minimalist and modern interiors, at the end of it all, it always comes back to the luxe warmth and sheer opulence of intricate inlaid floors and elegant chaises, breathtaking wall murals and tufted chesterfields, delicately carved and paneled walls and gold & crystal chandeliers, enveloped by yards of pooling drapery and autumn evenings spent perched on leopard print cushions by fire . . .

{images: the diversion project; lonny via greige; flickr via julia; elle decor via greige; nicholas haslam, sheer opulence via from the right bank; brabourne farm; trouvais; rdujour; lilac and grey; lonny}

{a glimpse: beautiful balmain}

. . . impossibly elegant gilt-panelled walls and mirrored halls, velvet chairs and intoxicating bouquets of roses, softly pooling drapery and sexy tulle-enveloped dresses: a glimpse into the enchanted world of balmain . . .

{images: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 - joseph dirand architecture for balmain via the diversion project; 3 - magdalena frackowiak, paris fashion week - balmain spring/summer 2009 fashion show via fashionising; jacket via maison des rêveries; ;tulle skirt via a glamorous little side project; daria via a glamorous little side project}

{hello + a few things}

. . . hello! a sunny summer tuesday and had been planning to announce an impossibly exciting give-away today, but blogger has been having technical difficulties with comment moderation and so, perhaps it shall have to wait a little longer . . . out the door for a bit and it's a silk partydress and sky-high summer wedges kind of day and leaving you with the intricately stunning appliqués, shades of gold and champagne encrusted with paillettes and clusters of crystals & pearls, cascades of dégradé feathers, and flows of duchesse satin and chantially lace of riccardo tisci's fall 2010 couture collection for givenchy . . .

à bientôt / see you soon! & hope your week is off to a perfect start,
xo

{p.s.} also adore the romantic gilded walls and chevron floors

{also new this week:}
* two lovely things: mirror, mirror
* storage inspiration: pretty jewelry display
* wedding inspiration: little white dresses
* room inspiration: always de gournay
* shoes, shoes, shoes: sergio rossi

{& one last thing:} many thanks for this lovely post

{images: style.com via a glamorous little side project}

{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}

{colour inspiration: gold}

. . . always in love with all things gold, and after covering a cocktail table in gold-leaf in early spring, even more drawn to its elegant shimmer, especially as gilded accents on walls and along ceilings, and on luxuriously beautiful carved sofas . . .

{p.s.} the fourth guest post for lucky magazine can be viewed here

{images: 1 - fendi ad, elle decoration uk march 2010; kate moss by mario testino, vogue paris january 2006 via fashion gone rogue}