Summer Song: Light & Airy Inspiration

simply styled textiles from hardtofind.com.au

While Spring has toyed with us these past few months, I've been trying to get ready for Summer. Along with purging magazines, there is a lengthy deep-clean underway. A few inspiration photos really help keep me focused on the end goal. They also help me recognize and appreciate my own progress. 

Light, bright and airy. That's the goal!

State of the Blog

lotus & fig: the scarf. my new calvin klein score from marshall's

During the holiday break I'm taking some time to do a bunch of posts that have been on my mind for quite some time. So there will be a slew of new posts that feature film and tv screencaps, though the topics will be slightly different.

Cozy Under Foot: Zara Home Runner

istanbul runner: my hallway can't wait

I finally did it! Ordered something from Zara Home. The Istanbul runner has been on my mind for quite some months and it's finally gonna be mine. My jubilation over the availability of Zara Home goods is too much to chronicle - and I do mean chronicle - in this post. After failing to set foot in either of Paris' two Zara Home stores during my solo vacation back in 2007, I have been eating my heart out browsing their website over and over again! 

But no more. At last, a little Zara for me.

Summer Stripe: Lee Jofa's Bittersweet

unspeakably gorgeous upholstery fabric

If there's one thing I love it's a pretty stripe. Especially if it includes both pink and green. This upholstery fabric, Remo in Bittersweet, is pretty much all good things. It reminds me of some Roger La Borde cans I use to hold pens.  Sometimes I go into a mode of trying to acquire every pretty stripe that crosses my path. 

Dreaming of Morocco

I'd like to do all my lazing about in a spot just like this...

I think the model is actress Imogen Poots from Fright Night and Jane Eyre.

Dilemma: Birthday Self-Gifting

My birthday is looming and I need to decide on a gift. Traditionally, I allow myself one gift, specifically a splurge. Not that the belt's all that tight the rest of the year. Flights to Paris are really expensive nowadays, so I'm looking at objects on my covet list. Feel free to weigh in: 

image courtesy of greenyourdecor.com

Cozy Under Foot: Anthro + Argentina

huari: stunning. subtly pops a little earth tone in amongst the searing brights

By now, we've pretty much all seen "Man Shops Globe," right? The owner of Anthropologie travels to different countries to find new and interesting artisans and merchandise for his stores? Even after watching marathons of that show, I am still blown away by many of the home goods they offer. How do they do it?! Their new Argentinian rugs are...there are no words. I've fallen for their rugs before and it looks like I'm falling again: 

Musings & Wants: Summer Stripes

urban outfitters' yarn dyed striped tapestry

Despite my recent score, I saw something new that went to the top of my must-have list. This yarn-dyed striped tapestry is exactly right for my place. The product details do say that each one is unique and not exactly like the one pictured. Well, I hope I get the Olsen Twin of the picture: fraternal, but still impossible to tell apart.

eBay Score: The Spice Must Flow

The past few years I've been working on a project to put together a couple of old bedding collections from '05 and '06 that I let pass by. One of those collections is the Spice Market bedding from Sigrid Olsen HOME. I spied it on display at Macy's back in 2005, but decided to pass on it. (Not least because it was quite expensive. The bedskirt was $129!) But you can't easily forget something so warm and unique: reversible pink/orange patterns of stripe and lotus floral. 

Eventually I started looking it up on eBay, but the prices were still pretty prohibitive. Here and there, I have managed to snag a throw pillow and a bedskirt ($1.99!) for good prices. After seeing the euro shams in a home profile in Better Homes & Gardens, I thought I'd gladly settle for those. Alas, no go. 

Until now. I recently snagged a used duvet and king-size shams for $41.00!!!

Gray Days: Summer's End

Today was a tough one: cold and overcast. It was 48 degrees outside this morning and my windows were still open. Actually, one window was open about five inches. That's enough to freeze my whole apartment. Living on street level, I refuse to open/close windows without being 'presentable' to passersby. (This one time, when I had just moved into my first place and didn't have curtains yet, I came out of the bathroom in a shower cap and towel. The bathroom door was next to big double windows that overlooked a highway entrance. I made eye contact with a lady in the passenger seat of a minivan. Then I got curtains.)  

So, it was a long day of trying to get properly warm. At the office and even hours after having closed the window tonight, I still feel vaguely chilled. Just a little bit shy of comfortable. A hot bath would certainly help with that. But my tub is so tiny, and the grout so old that I never, ever take baths at home. Instead, I'll settle for a good cup of tea and dream of a warm, relaxing, summer soak...

Source: Elle Decor     Photo Credit: William Waldron

Cozy Under Foot: An Awesome Flor Tile Carpet

The past few days have brought me quite a few surprises, not least a debilitating and unseasonable head cold. But the niftiest surprise thus far is in the pages of the sneak peak of Rue Magazine's new issue, due to post on October 4th. 

photo credit: emily johnston-anderson

I must confess to not being too interested in tv decorators' homes. That might just be complacency, but it seems like their general style comes across on-air. Also, I tend to think their homes must be neglected since they spend so much time traveling and working. Like when you read that some actor bought a house but its completely empty because they're always working. Anyway, thumbing through the rooms of Chez Soto I noticed two things: 1) a number of the accessories are from West Elm's past year or so of collections, and 2) her Flor tile rug has my name written ALL over it! 

Dream Palace: Time Enough at Last

One of the key reasons I decided to move from Flickr to a proper blog is that I got a little tired of seeing the same rooms come around time and again. Don't misunderstand, a lot of those rooms from domino, Livingetc, Better Homes & Gardens, etc are my faves too. But they've been circulating and recycling for several years and a new room is more of a surprise now. 

So I started fishing around for other publications we don't normally see in North America. Bless the internet for closing the divide between hither and yon. Not only can you grab a look at mags from almost every continent, I now subscribe to House & Leisure South Africa! (And uh, they seem to be livin' pretty swell down there.)

So, you will be seeing some gorgeous, familiar rooms, but also you will be seeing some new stuff (depending on where you live) like this room. The homeowner's name is Mario Fortunato and he's a writer of many sorts. This house is his retreat and this room is his...office. Everything I can dream of to be happy writing is in this room (except maybe a jar of homemade sour cream cookies). Daylight, a fantastic view of lush greenery + open sky, books books books, huge work surface, cushy furniture, bright accessories and a stereo system within arm's reach. 

What is not to love? I ask you!

writing retreat of mario fortunato (pictured)

Source: Io Donna magazine  Photo: Barbara Corsica