Friday Photo Finish

I realize the Fourth of July was last weekend, but there’s nothing I like more than a good ole small town parade, so I present to you… “Scenes from a Small Town Parade” courtesy of good people of Mammoth Lakes, Ca… enjoy!

Red’s whites and blues.


Giddy-up pardner!


I double dare you.


Llama ride with me?


Yes we can.


Who wants caaandy?


Dog is my co-pilot.


Come fly with me, come fly, let’s fly away…


It’s a balancing act.


Tennis anyone?


Hitchin’ a ride.


For my dad. Go Cal Fire! Woot!


Kickin’ it old school.


The answer to the question of “what to do with all of those leftover paper plates, silver paint, and Saran Wrap I’ve got lying around”.


Coming to you from a Galaxy far far away…


The END.

images by me

Camping Beauty

I’ve gone camping many a time back in the day, but it was never this beautiful. How amazing would it be to wake up amidst a gorgeous setting like this in such a girly tent?

The tent is available from Cath Kidston.

image via Country Living

Modern Victorian

Caught this feature on SFGate (the online version of the SF Chronicle) about artist Darren Waterston’s newly redecorated Victorian apartment, and totally fell in love. It’s an interesting juxtaposition to his art which has a striking yet ethereal quality and is mostly in dark and neutral colors.




The downstairs neighbor, designer Gary Wiss, advised the use of a neutral color such as this taupe color in the hallways to help tie the brightly colored rooms together. Darren and his partner chose the bright colors with black accents after being inspired by a trip to Europe.

images via SFGate, photographed by Matthew Millman

Greens & Pinks

This image of this chair and pillow caught my eye the other day. I just really liked how the colors complimented each other to create a moment of serenity, so I took a look through my archives of images to see what other versions of this color combination were stored there.


This is from one of my favorite Domino homes, Amanda Peet’s. I just loved how her home actually felt lived in and livable in instead of a showpiece.


This is a bit of a departure from the serenity of the first two images, but I can appreciate the brighter mix. I think I actually saved this image for the painted-on-wall headboard idea or it might have been the middle of winter and the bright room cheered me up during the mid-winter blahs.


A classic Domino image. Striking horizontal stripes visually widen a small room. The all white furniture helps keep it from feeling overwhelming. The wall is the focal point, and nothing else should detract or distract.


Here’s an even more intense version of the colors together. Take a Victorian style home and mix with Andy Warhol sensibilities for a modern look.


Another modern version, but a bit more calmed down.


This of course is a favorite porch… from the hand-painted porch “rug” to the pink accessories.


Here’s a peachy pink room that is accessorized with a bright pop of color via the green vases and a more subtle green sofa.


I’ll end this tour with another favorite room of mine…a lovely all white room accessorized with various shades of pinks and greens.

images via: Living Etc., Domino, Domino via laurasmera, Skona Hem, Tria Giovan, Pink Loves Brown/Making it Lovely, Domino, and lastly Domino (?) via laurasmera

I’m a Safety Girl

No not that… these…

What a great idea to take something so important as a life saving device that is plain, often hidden, and more often non-existent in most homes, and turn it into something that people will not only be drawn to, but will probably want to buy more than one of. Kudos to the French company Fire Design for this fabulous idea. They’ve essentially done for fire extinguishers what Sigg has done for aluminum water bottles.

images via The Dieline

Friday Photo Finish

Hanging out in Mammoth for the long weekend with some friends and Pete’s parents. Should be a great time. Here is a photo I took last evening of the hills north of Mono Lake. I had to capture the shades of blue mountains as the sun set to the east. The thin blue line at the bottom is the lake.

image by me

Red, White, and Blue Home

Some interiors and exteriors inspired by the 4th of July. Whether subtle or bold, these colors together don't always have to invoke pictures of country kitsch and clutter. They can be sophisticated and modern as well.

images: top- Paul Costello, 2nd & 3rd- Sang An, 4th- Country Living, 5th-9th- Living Etc., 10th- Coastal Living, 11th- Pottery Barn, bottom- Atlanta Bartlett

St Germain Liqueur

Stunning bottle for St. Germain, an elderflower liqueur. I had seen it previously in the June issue of Martha Stewart Living, but The Dieline just did a post on it and reminded me again of how beautiful it is. The design really captures the quintessential Art Deco movement of the 1920’s in France… it instantly brings to mind boisterous cafes filled with writers, musicians, and actors.

images via The Dieline

Quietly Beautiful

Looking at these images by Jennifer Causey make me feel so calm. So simply and quietly beautiful.

images via Etsy seller Photobird

Emma Watson in Teen Vogue

These photos of Emma Watson for the August 2009 issue of Teen Vogue are simply stunning… I love everything about them… Emma, the clothes, the set design.

They’re taken by one of my favorite fashion photographers, Norma Jean Roy. She takes really cool old Hollywood style photos… see more of her work here.

images via Imagebam via The Fashion Spot

Friday Photo Finish

The last few photos to share with you from our trip to New Orleans.

Lafayette Cemetery No. 1

On the street behind our hotel. We had a view of her from our window.

A statue along the waterfront. I loved how it looked like she was going to walk out into thin air.

A bike covered in Mardi Gras beads (as so many things were) on the free ferry back to New Orleans from Algiers.


Get your Mardi Gras masks here.

Water fountain in the Audubon Park.

In the Garden District.

St. Charles street cars.

Bathing beauties in Jackson Square.

Jackson Square at night.

We hearted this bike…literally. :)

images by me

Silver Stairs

I don’t know why I’m so enamored with stairs these days, but I think these are one of my favorites so far. That silver stripe drawing the eye up? So glamorous! Also check out that white stripe along the floor. It makes for such a nice contrast with dark wood. And all of these elements are paired with one of my favorite shades of blue. Swoon!

image via Beach Studios

Black Pearl Press

These beautifully lined envelopes caught my eye the other day. They are made by hand by Elisabeth Warman, who lives in Boston with her hubby and has a beautiful new studio (her second move this year).

Below are some new screen prints she’s been working on that she posted on her blog. This is a new technique for her as the above are printed on a press. I can’t wait to see where she takes this. They are beautiful. It’s always nice to get a peak into an artists studio to see what they are working on.

The envelopes and cards shown in the first three images are sold here.

Hand-cast Vintage Replicas

Such a cool idea to turn vintage glassware and turning it into cute ceramic lights and vases.


These would be great for a twilight picnic outdoors. Nostalgic and useful!



These ceramic replicas of vintage milk bottles are cute too. I especially like the one with the stag head.

Available here.

images via Alyssa Ettinger Design; photography credit for the lanterns: Jen Sliker

Etsy Shop Adventures in Vintage

Love the offerings at Adventures in Vintage (seller jwhite2). Not to mention how incredibly inexpensive the pieces are. This would be a great resource for a stylist.

Aqua Blue Glass Cookie Jar $34


2 Milk Glass Compote Planters $21.40


Vintage Eskimo Fan $49


Vintage 1950’s Tear Drop Glass Snack Set $19.75


Milk Glass Compote Trinket Dish $15

Trio of Three Large Milk Glass Vases $24