Today I love...

These soft and romantic interiors. They are neither overly frilly, nor too reduced in style. I like a sofa to sink in, laced with pillows....

I like the garden stool, yes, used all over, but why not? An ottoman to put my feet up and a romantic chandelier! The lightest pink on the walls, offset by the milky sage green.

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Or this garden style room, where large windows invite the outside in. I absolutely love the window casings in a darker shade, while the walls and floor blend gently together! 

This is a very large room, and yet, it feels cozy! Summer calm!

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And this interior has me absolutely enchanted, I love everything about it: The soft colors, the darker paneling and door frame, painted floor and the overall styling, which reminds me of the early 19th Century! Nature inspired wall decor gets me anytime! Again softest pink walls!

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And do I need to explain that I find this girly bedroom utterly charming?

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Lately I love the idea of darker painted woodwork. What do you think? White or color?

Happy Tuesday!

All images as indicated!

It's a jungle out there

Saw this yesterday, while browsing some sites... 
I am not quite sure where the fabrics from, the site does not mention it, but I guess it could be Designers Guild!

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Looking at this alone certainly puts a spring in my step!








Images as indicated!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter to you!

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XOXO

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Images as indicated!

Book sale alert

Quick in between message:


Go to Joss and Main if you happen to be with them, or sign up.... they are having a great sale going on on design and decorating books, enough to please a crowd!

Great selection and great price. 

Have fun!

Image via Joss and Main.

Garden day

The day began bright and sunny and I was drawn to the buzzing, humming and twittering outside. I watched the birds and the bees, the budding plants and I was overall delighted with the progression of spring.

Something has to be said of the fresh green tips, the dark red, still unfurled, leaves of the maple trees, the just opened blossoms of the azaleas and the wisteria, climbing around the garage wall.

There were the sound of insects, birds busily flattering in and out of the hedges, looking for food, twigs and this and that to build their nests...

The lilac begins to green, in front of the, still standing, dried grasses from last year. A task waiting for me, to cut them, to make space for this year's growth.

In the afternoon all changed to kid's laughter on the trampoline, my son and friends sprung happily around and the sounds of

happy chatter rung through the otherwise quiet  neighborhood. These are the moments I so cherish!

My sweet young neighbors explored the blossoms and the garden at large, not missing a beat!

They discovered what I had found earlier this morning: The beauty of spring!

Wishing you all the joys of the season and a Happy Easter to come! May you all feel a sense of awakening and renewal!

Easter greetings to you all!

PS: Don't forget to see my other site here!

All images by V.Zlotkowski

Looking ahead to linen

The coming months always inspire for me the use of linen. I do love the slip covered look, although I shy away from it, since my household is still filled with kids going all over the place and a black dog, making things not easier. I can't stand smudges and stains, so I stick for a while longer to leather. And constant washing is also not economical, time- , green -and otherwise...But they are gorgeous!

Oh, maybe I want to reconsider...via

So I admire this from afar...

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But as much as slipcovers I do love linen cloths! Summer says linen to me. There is a softness to it and an easy going spirit. I smell lavender and sun screen, sand between my toes and sunshine!

Wicker, linen and lavender....via

The wrinkles make them classy and the soft colors give me nothing but pleasure.

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And I feel feminine and a little lazy and luxurious!

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Oh, I can't wait to pull out a nice linen dress and feel a little like summer's queen...

All images as indicated.

Windows of opportunity

Music room window sill until yesterday

I have two window sills, facing east, the front of the house, deep enough to have a whole shop display exhibited and I change what's there regularly, to entertain us, keep something new displayed or enhance seasonal decorating. There are stars and evergreen branches at Christmas time, shells during the summer, leaves and twigs collected at walks in autumn and ghostly ghouls at Halloween! It's a wonderful place to have some plants, flowers and some glass, candles or books, showing our latest interests, finds or new collected things. 

Some displays are short lived, some stay for weeks at the time without much change.

Dining room window with Easter lilly

I switched the vase to the other room, to have the Easter lilly in there and found some Willow pussies for the other!

I love this book: The Book of Botanical Prints by Taschen

Two brass mushrooms from Anthropologie

One belongs to our dining room, the room where all the action takes place in our family.

Our dining room at 6pm

Every meal, writing, homework, all this and more happens at this dining table and many after dinner conversation.

Afternoon light streaming through the music room.

The other resides over the music room, where we, apart from making music, sit around the fireplace for conversation and reading. It is a cozy room, beloved also by the dog, who has had chosen the ottoman as 'his' central cozy spot early in his life with us!

Willow pussies slowly greening

Spring has given me yet another chance to bring out some Easter decorations, some of my glass collection and white vases, lucky finds at Marshall's, where I did not spend more then $10 each. I couldn't have passed such a chance now, could I? 

Early afternoon, the sun has moved on...

Willow Pussies in one, Easter Lilly in the other and the foundation for a new window display was created.

Glass bird, bunny and a moss ball sharing the space with the Easter lilly. 

There is an old ceramic bunny with carrot, which has been with us for as long as the kids have been around and sometimes he is joined by some paper mache ones, but they are still in their boxes...

Do you have a spot, where decorations and displays are changed regularly?

Please, do tell me!