Life of Style: August 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

Island Chic

I am back, sorry to be away so long! I promise with school in session there will be some time in my life to dedicate to the blog.

Where to start, earthquakes, broken bones, 1st grade, and now a monster lady looming over the Atlantic named Irene ready to tear some you know what up?! Really what is new in your life?

Living a few hours from the NC coast hurricanes are always an imminent threat during the season. Our coastal communities have been rocked in years past and today in the calm before the storm I am saying a big prayer for all those along the Eastern coast.

8 years ago this September my husband and I dodged a bullet with hurricane Isabel when we were married in Atlantic Beach, NC. It was all such a blur to me, seeing the storm on the radar, having the wedding, thankfully not having to reschedule our honeymoon because the hurricane had already passed through, but while in the French West Indies (St. Barths) of all places there was the Atlantic Beach pier being rocked! Thankfully everyone was okay back home but whew, I bet some bride is having the same crisis about her wedding tomorrow, poor thing.

I just picked up this copy In the Spirit of St. Barth's by Pamela Fiori and have enjoyed flipping through the pages and reminiscing about the time we spent there...oh I would love to go back! Yes, it gets a lot of celebrity hype but we definitely were not there during peak season and its charm was still like no other. It is that place I think of when I imagine giving it all up here and living the island life although my French might need a little work.

This cottage high on a hill above St. Jean Bay, designed by Barry Dixon is not too shabby. What a wonderful view.

Photography by Tria Giovan for Coastal Living

All my friends Happy Friday and Batten down the Hatches!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Dogs Days

Anyone else feel like these pups? I think I have a case of the summer blahs...is that even possible? After 2 days of client shopping I am feeling a tad frustrated from not finding the perfect pieces and my head is spinning from all the "things" I have seen... or not I should say. Not to mention another day of what are we going to do today, it is only 90 degrees?

Maybe a relaxing weekend away (no kids) or a long pruning soak in the tub might be in order.

Green is good for the soul.

Pinterest and Christina Murphy Interiors

Monday, August 15, 2011

This and That

Happy Weekend my friends, the days are so long, and years are becoming shorter. Where does the time go?

My practically brand new MacBook is driving me bananas this week, maybe I have too many images saved, and an imminent crash is near... wouldn't surprise me. Time to take it to the Genius Bar for some tlc and some understanding as to why I am unable to get out a post to my peeps in decent time.

We just returned from a weekend at the Chesapeake Bay of VA. I was hoping to score a few finds and gather some inspiration in my travels and I feel somewhat successful. I just love that area, full of history, charm, and tranquility.

Here are some random goings on that are on my platter keeping me busy and turning my wheels. What has you busy or should I say keeping you sane these last weeks of summer? Would love to hear!

First of all I wanted to share the new man in my life, well he is not really new but I have brought him out of hiding and given him a new head of hair, even my husband likes him, so all in all a win for the Mr. in the house.

Isn't he stunning? Ferns do him justice.

Caroline of Perch in NOLA has her own Mr. too and he looks lovely with lavender...

it seems has she has many of them and don't even get me started with the degree of envy I am feeling about the antelope rug she has too. Some women they have it all!

A new project involving these 2 lovely prints. I just can't get enough of Katie Ridder and am eagerly anticipating the release of her first book.

Elle Decor

The window treatments were installed in my project we have been working on and it is so exciting to see everything come together...the evolution of a home. Unfortunately I took pictures and the chevron ones did not come out like I hoped but the eggplant dining room turned out so here out some snaps.

The green really pops against the eggplant walls and makes the space. It is divine...

I am off to shop with a client today, who doesn't love shopping on a Monday, and to work on flowers for a friends small intimate wedding on a farm Friday...beyond ecstatic about this! Looking for inspiration and it just so happens another stylish Brit was married recently and her flowers are sweet, simple and might be just perfect for the setting.

Happy Monday all!

Mario Testino for Vogue

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Hello rainy Saturday morning where have you been all summer? It was so nice to lie in bed this morning and listen to the sounds of thunder and rain while fading in and out of my sleepy slumber.

I have had a rather eventful week involving a little work and a whole lot of fun!

Mid-week we surprised my 6 year old daughter with tickets to see Selena Gomez in concert. She was beyond thrilled and relished the idea that she was an only child even if for only 24 hours. Our road trip took us to the Queen City, Charlotte, NC which included her losing a big front tooth, a much anticipated stop at Ikea, and a few wrong turns. All in all one for the books.

Before I left Charlotte we popped into women's clothing boutique Capitol for a design fix. Yes it is gorgeous women's clothing but the interior is amazing and it along with owner Laura Vinroot Poole have been featured in several publications. It so happens that Charlottean interior designer Barrie Benson helped Poole with Capitol as well as her home which was featured in an issue of Domino Magazine back in the day. A month or two after Poole's home was featured, Barrie Benson popped up on the cover too with a glimpse into her mid-century ranch style home.

I have had a design crush since that time and have been unable to find anything about Mrs. Benson. Although I was pleasantly surprised to find her in this month's Garden and Gun magazine (that I picked up at Barnes and Nobles right before we went into Capitol) in an article with other lovely women as "Redefining the Southern Belle"...strange how things like that happen.

Great inspiration all around. Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend...enjoy!

Capitol