Wednesday, April 22, 2009
tunic cutenes...
as the warm weather approaches (of course mother nature decides to descend 80 degree weather onto boston just as i'm heading out of town) i begin to crave the fashions of summer. and nothing says summer like a lightweight tunic. i'm loving these from boden...
mudroom, yes please...
one thing i'm most looking forward to when i buy a house is having a mudroom. yes, a place to neatly store shoes, jackets, umbrellas, bags and dog items. some people also like to include their washer & dryer in said room, although i'd prefer a totally separate room for that (somehow the idea of muddy shoes doesn't bode well next to clean sheets and towels???). here are a few inspirational lovelies...
image courtesy of jenny bova associates
image courtesy of garden web
image courtesy of apartment therapy
10 Tips for Mudroom Magic (from Accent Magazine)
1. Outfit closet doors with Brickman hinges, which turn closet lights on and off when the door is open and shut,and are a great energy saver.
2. Shoe drainers help keep mud and dirt from escaping into other rooms.
3. An airlock will save money on fuel because less heat will escape out the door and fewer cold drafts will enter
the house.
4. Keep the space from overflowing with seasonal changeovers. In spring, move winter coats into deeper storage
to make room for rain slickers and windbreakers.
5. If you have small children make sure there are hooks low enough for them to hang up their own coats and
backpacks.
6. Use materials that will withstand water from dripping coats or melting off boots.
7. A mudroom may also serve as a “safe haven” for a valued canine family member when the family is away from
the property during the day.
8. To track a family’s busy schedule, hang a bulletin board in the mudroom with family members’ schedules
posted in plain view.
9. An absorbent doormat on a non-slip surface and a tray for boots are essential to containing those winter
elements.
10. If using cabinetry and counters, use the same style as in the kitchen to make the transition from one room to
the next seamless.
designer love, kelly mcguill...
kelly mcguill, of kelly mcguill home, is one of my favorite local (walpole, ma) interior designers/photo stylists. she's been featured in country home magazine, yankee magazine, the boston globe magazine multiple times. her design is clean, simple, airy and fresh... i'm ready to move into any one of her rooms...
happy earth day...
this day in 1970 led to the creation of the united states environmental protection agency and the passage of the clean air, clean water, and endangered species acts...go planet earth!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
what should i read next?...
i have a feeling television and internet are going to be scarce on my upcoming trip to peru, and since i just finished my latest book i'm on the hunt for a new one...
i just read a review about this book, and given the fact i'll be traveling with my mother it might be the most appropriate...
not becoming my mother by ruth reichlmy sister, who used to work for simon and schuster publishing is currently reading this one and highly recommends it...
the brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz
snow flower and the secret fan by lisa see
water for elephants by sara gruen
see you in a hundred years by logan wardand i also saw a few others that seemed like i might enjoy them, has anyone read any of them yet?...
when will there be good news by kate atkinson
the zookeeper's wife: a war story by diane ackerman
happiness sold separately by lolly winston
the given day by dennis lehane
peace like a river by leif engerparty dress...
still 4 1/2 months away but i needed to find the perfect rehearsal dinner dress for my sisters colorado wedding...and here it is!
it's from amanda archer collection on etsy. she called me right after i placed the order to get my exact measurements to customize the dress to my size and she sent me the fabric swatches for alternative colors...i chose plum since i'm going to wear a navy dress to the bridal shower in june. i love it! what color shoes do i wear? gold perhaps? she makes dresses for wedding parties too, maybe i'll have her do my bridesmaids dresses someday.
it's from amanda archer collection on etsy. she called me right after i placed the order to get my exact measurements to customize the dress to my size and she sent me the fabric swatches for alternative colors...i chose plum since i'm going to wear a navy dress to the bridal shower in june. i love it! what color shoes do i wear? gold perhaps? she makes dresses for wedding parties too, maybe i'll have her do my bridesmaids dresses someday.
good advice...
as mother's day approaches we naturally think about all the wonderful things mom has done for us growing up. and although i'm not yet a mother, i hope to someday be one. as i get older and more and more of my friends begin to get pregnant (erin! she's due in just about 1 month!) i wonder just what type of mother i will actually be. we all say "i'm going to be the best mother ever" or "i won't make the mistakes my own parents made with me", but let's be honest here, parenting can't be as easy as we'd like it to be. geez, i have a hard enough time disciplining my dog, as she can't talk back!
i read about "10 ways to be a more light-hearted parent" by gretchen rubin on wide open spaces blog today and honestly pray that i can remember these words when i have little rug-rats of my own. i gave my own parents a run for their money back in the day (basically from birth until i was about 17...oh boy, i'm in trouble) so i know staying patient and remaining calm is inherently going to be a challenge for me.
i read about "10 ways to be a more light-hearted parent" by gretchen rubin on wide open spaces blog today and honestly pray that i can remember these words when i have little rug-rats of my own. i gave my own parents a run for their money back in the day (basically from birth until i was about 17...oh boy, i'm in trouble) so i know staying patient and remaining calm is inherently going to be a challenge for me.
Monday, April 20, 2009
upholstered headboard, yes please...
i'm slowly acquire my own pieces of furniture (in lieu of my hand-me-downs thanks to mom & dad), and the next area to tackle is the bedroom. i've always had a very traditional headboard/foot board combo, however, i like the idea of an upholstered headboard and frame to anchor the bed, but with no foot board. instead of a foot board, a lovely upholstered bench that spans the width of the bed. i currenly have a queen size bed, but after experiencing the luxury of a king i may have to super-size it in the future...
bardot bed from usona home
thurman bed from usona home
antonio citterios maxalto 9830 bed from diva furniture
tufty bed from b&b italia
latham upholstered bed in natural cotton from restoration hardware
humphrey bed cotton petite basketweave upholstered bed in plaza taupe from William Sonoma Home
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