{colour inspiration: overcast skies}

. . . early monday evening and the skies have already fallen dark, and earlier, brilliant leaves of orange and crimson, floating in the autumn breezes and fluttering along sidewalks, everything cast in utterly romantic shades of overcast skies . . .

{p.s.} a few updates:
* features & favourites
* fashion & photography

{images: 1 - linen & lavender; 2 - scan, photography by laura sewry for victoria magazine march/april 2009; 3, 4, 5, 8 - matteo; 6 - linen & lavender; 7 - .la doleur exquise.}

{happy monday + a give-away}

. . . hello! monday, monday and beautifully exhausted after a summer weekend away, lavender-laden thoughts still lingering . . . and while wonderful to get away, always lovely to return home again to a new week filled with a million brilliant things: to do, to see, to plan, to accomplish, to dream . . .

hope you had a spectacular weekend & wishing you a perfect start to the week,
xo

{p.s.} new & lovely things you may have missed:
* colour inspiration: shades of citron
* in the bedroom: crisp summer whites

{images: 1 - shabby chic via decorology; 2 - scan by this is glamorous, photography by jeff macnamara for victoria october 2001; 3 - style me pretty}

{colour inspiration: shades of citron}

. . . whether on floral and lacy bed linens, a favourite novel in hand, or in the garden and sunlit breezes, a bottle of vintage, antique crystal goblets and good company, happily soaking up every last beautiful moment of these, the long and breathless days of summer . . .

{images: 1 - scan by this is glamorous, photography by jeff macnamara for victoria october 2001; 2 - style me pretty}

{holiday inspiration: gift wrapping}

. . . although this year it's all heavy kraft paper and endless lengths of velvet smokey lavender ribbon, also adore the idea of white on white opalescence and starfish, and shiny satin ribbons embellished with vintage and glittery rhinestone pins . . .

{p.s.} more gift wrapping inspiration: diamonds & stars

{images: 1 - country living via verdigris; 2 - victoria januaray 2003 via haute design}

{christmas time in the city}

. . . late, late november and soon it will be time for pretty bed linens in cozy guest bedrooms, warm slants of sunlight and extra blankets, and best of all, tables set with gold-rimmed glasses for elegantly festive dinner parties . . .{this is glamorous}

{p.s.} holiday decorating ideas:
* freshly chopped wood
* artful arrangements
* mahogany & gold

{images:1 - victoria magazine via papillon linens; living at home via neu4bauer; anson smart; flickr}

{curling up}

Have never used shag rugs in any room, mainly because have always assumed they'd be difficult to keep tidy, but have always found them to be warm and inviting, and definitely dramatic, and with the approach of winter, could imagine curling up on one in front of the fireplace . . .

{images: Retro Home, The Cross Design & Décor, House & Garden, Canadian House & Home, Victoria, Met Home, Living Etc. UK Edition}