{inspiration: summer solstice}

. . . deep into summer and it's as many wonderfully languorous hours en plein air as possible, an afternoon spent dreaming away or lost in the pages of a beautiful book and breathing the scent of a million blossoms, or idyllically swinging from the boughs of a perfect tree, or best of all, lilting conversations over an early evening dinner under the cover of the most charming canopy in a shade lost somewhere between lilac and lavender . . .

{images: photography by tim evan-cook for elle decoration uk july 2002 via moodboard}

{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: moody & atmospheric}

. . . have always dreamed of spring in shades of sunny whites and whispered greens, but recently the skies have been dark at turns and golden at others and during the cloudy moments, imagine spring as dusk and deep violet -- moody and atmospheric -- the colour of thundershowers . . .

{images: 1 - scan, josé picayo for martha stewart living february 2005; 2 - aubrey road via fondly seen}

{spring things: bicycles}

. . . must confess am not much of a bicycle girl {petrified of the traffic and would most likely try to ride in heels}, but after coming across this pretty city bicycle in the most spectacular shade of smokey violet, suddenly dreaming of careening down side-streets with reckless abandon . . .

{bicycle design by note + abici, discovered via design*sponge}

{morning light + smokey violet}

good monday morning! must confess that it still feels like the weekend as sun-drenched memories still linger and things are moving along at a perfectly leisurely pace . . .

beautiful things and exciting news for this week and the next, but for now, hope your week is off is to a wonderful start,
xo

{images: 1 - shabby chic interiors: my rooms, treasures, and trinkets via brabourne farm; 2 - a perfect gray; 3 & 4 - photography by amy neunsinger for shabby chic interiors: my rooms, treasures, and trinkets by rachel ashwell via haute design}

{two lovely things: pink + purple}

{two lovely things:} a glamorous and airy dressing room with floods of light and lavish storage, and a perfectly patterned sitting room with a pink & gold tufted sofa and gilt accents . . .

{p.s.} more:
* pattern & colour
* storage inspiration
* two lovely things

{images: photography by william waldron for elle decor march 2010 via delight by design; 2 - brandon barré via desire to inspire}

{feels like spring}

Fallen for the amazingly lovely soft lavender silk curtains and streaming sunlight in this Parisian bedroom . . .

. . . and these quietly beautiful rooms that feel like Spring . . .

{p.s.} silkscreen journal give-away continues below

{images: 1 - the paris apartment; 2 - Perfect English by Ros Byam Shaw, photography by Chris Tubbs via the city sage; 2 - romo fabrics via apartment therapy}

{the scent of lilacs}

Can think of fewer things more relaxing at the moment than a cozy weekend in a French country cottage by the ocean, the mist of saltwater intermingled with the scent of deep purple lilacs . . .

{some things:}
* lovely, lovely to be on Pia's list of blog favourites
* rose gold earrings give-away continues below

{images: both better homes and gardens, 2 also via apartment therapy chicago}

{lavender & gold}

Had been trying to configure an artful arrangement of all my favourite paintings, photographs, and artwork, that is, until I happened across the simplicity of this exclusive arrangement of fashion illustrations. The uniform gold frames against the deep lavender adds a beautifully luxe and elegant element to an otherwise perfectly simple grouping.

{see also:}
> purple reign
> Jessica Stam's pretty NY apartment

{image: H&H September 2008, photography by Angus Fergusson}