face it

Okay, it's time to face facts.  Even though it is still 90 degrees outside summer is really over.  School is in full swing.  The holidays are starting to lurk.  I actually really love the holidays.  A lot. And like any good girl scout, I find that I enjoy things most when I am well prepared.  For me, being prepared for the holidays begins with the bar.  A lovely bar sets a great mood, is well & creatively stocked, and is ready when friends pop over. 

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Try the bar checklists here and here. 



Have a great day!!

super fly

If there is such a thing as an "it" insect, then butterflies are having their moment.  They have been turning up everywhere.  My two little ladies and I were not aware that butterflies were ever out of the spotlight (as we spend a lot of time discussing, observing, and drawing pictures of butterflies).  Apparently they were, and now they are back.  They are about to be back in a huge way in the world of interiors. 


Designer Tabitha Simmons had this rug specially made for her Chelsea town house.

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This wallpaper, by Nina Campbell, was used in a prewar Greenwich Village apartment designed by Fawn Galli.

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A great source of pattern and color for any room, butterfly wallpaper choices are abundant.  This one, from Schumacher, combines butterflies and birds. 

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Some would argue this trend could be traced directly to John Derian.  He has dozens of different butterfly objects to choose from.



Butterfly collecting itself is frowned upon.  Really.  Please do not do it.  There are, however, some amazing collections in existence.  This one is located in the private Butterfly Room at Singapore House in Adelaide, Australia.  There are six hundred framed butterfly specimens.

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Paper butterfly collections are a beautiful option. These are hand cut by artist Catherine Swan from vintage Playboy and Esquire magazines. Ms. Swan calls them "heartbreaking beauty."

Have a great day!!

succulents are awesome

My dear friends, succulents are awesome.  With the exception of the cactus, almost everything about succulents is wonderful.  They require very little water, very little attention, they propagate themselves very easily and they look beautiful.  Succulents are so loved that our little town even has its own succulent society. 


Check out these gorgeous terrariums.

They can be equally beautiful outdoors.

This is another vertical garden. LOOK at those colors!



These are from my own garden.

This pocket garden was created by Elizabeth Abernathy.  Get the DIY directions from her here.  This would be super cute on a desk or windowsill.

All photos are from pinterest unless otherwise noted.

Hope you have a great weekend!!







fancy

Tiny beautiful details really excite me.  Attention to detail in general can be exciting.  It often signals that something special is ahead...or that you are in its midst. A gorgeous lining inside a bag, a delicate monogram or fancy matches.  I have such a soft spot for fancy matches.

These are from a super cute shop in Southern Pines, NC called The Mockingbird.  The owner, Sundi, is adorable and likes to keep things personal and old school (910-692-5338).

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This collection of vintage matchbooks is only part of a larger collection. 

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Have a great day!



My kid could paint that

Full disclosure: neither one of my kids actually has the patience to finish a paint by numbers painting.  I barely do.  When I first heard about this trend, I'll admit, I was resistent.  But it is growing on me. When I came across the rooms below, I instantly loved them.  Then I looked at them more closely and there they were; PBN paintings.  And they look adorable and chic.  Whether or not I get around to doing this at my own home is another story.  But these rooms have really inspired me.

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Have a great weekend!