It occurred to me, now that I am in the process of helping a new client choose finishes for her kitchen, that some people are afraid of white. They think the kitchen will be too stark or feel cold and clinical. My client wants a white kitchen in her vintage 1925 Spanish style home, but just isn’t sure how it will feel. My own kitchen in Santa Barbara was not white when we purchased the house, and there was no…
I’ve had a love affair with Home Bunch since I first moved to California. Moving from the East coast was quite a transition and meant a change of lifestyle. Life here is geared to the outdoors and I wanted my home to lend itself to that…easy, bright, comfortable and welcoming. Luciane’s blog Home Bunch was such an inspiration with gorgeous homes from all over! But best of all, she lists sources for everything, including furniture, light fixtures, cabinet hardware and yes, paint…
It has been a rough winter in Santa Barbara. From the Thomas Fire to the mudslides, everything has been turned upside down. We have not had rain since the slide and with warmer than normal temperatures, it certainly doesn’t feel like winter. Although it is only the beginning of February, I was feeling the need for a bit of color and to lighten things up both aesthetically and emotionally.…
Instagram can be an amazing introduction to small businesses and trade from all over. When I first saw an incredible wall hanging on The Beach Lodge’s Instagram feed, my jaw dropped. Of course I had to follow up! I found out it was from The Dharma Door , founded in 2004 by Australian Shannon Sheedy, with the “dream of creating products that combine good design with ethical production. Shannon and her husband are one of the leading sources for contemporary fair…
By far one of my most popular posts and highly pinned images, is my parents breakfast nook in their Vermont farmhouse. I am often asked questions about it, so I’ve updated my blog post from a year ago with more facts, sources, and dimensions for those of you who are interested in maybe adding a nook to your own home! Here it is……
Growing up, I wasn’t the biggest fan of fall. Oh, I loved the hot apple cider, wearing sweaters and boots, and of course the changing colors of the leaves…but sweaters turn into coats, leaves need to be raked and before you know it, winter is upon you! At the first sight of mums in the grocery store I would be resigned to the fact that summer was truly over. Maybe that’s why I never really caught on to fall decorating…
Summers in New England can be brutally hot and humid, especially in August. I was lucky to experience some beautiful balmy clear days, a little rain, and even a few fall like days. As a child, August was never my favorite month, even with my birthday at the tail end. It signaled the end of carefree summer days and colder weather just around the corner. I can appreciate August and September now. …
Summer in Vermont is so green and lush that it’s easy to see why its nickname is the Green Mountain State. It was an education for me to see my parents field being mowed, tedded (fluffing the hay), and then baled. And of course there is antiquing and seeing what new projects my parents are working on at their farmhouse. Sharing a few photos from a fun filled few days……
Today I’m sharing 3 women whose style inspires and delights the senses. That they are generous and kind with their time is just icing on the cake. These ladies were some of my early contacts on Instagram, and their support and encouragement were everything to a newbie Instagrammer like myself who didn’t even know what a hashtag was! All of these women have websites worth checking out that you can link to through their Instagram accounts. I highly recommend that…