While I am weary of the overdone ikat craze, I think a touch of the eclectic, well traveled , global chic style is always in style. Why not let the alluring patterns and colors of India, Central Asia and Turkey give your home and wardrobe a well traveled, summertime vibe? 
windsor smith living room via style court
blue and turqoise napkins from roberta roller rabbit
gold block print pillow from john robshaw
aqua journal from john robshaw
kurta from roberta roller rabbit
irving and fine tunics via the devine life
martin lawrence bullard candle
porcelian and bronze lamp from anthropologie
woodstock pillow from ankasa
patmos stripe fabric from carolina irving textiles
peter dunham samarkand fabric
madeline weinrib blue thistle fabric Labels: Design
I am not at the beach this week, but I wish I were. These images bring back floods of memories of childhood summers spent swimming in the turquoise waters of Laguna Beach. Have a beautiful day wherever you are...
{images: 1- town and country, august 2009; 2- unkown; moa maria via flickr; 3- via this is glamorous; 4- emma jane pilkington via patricia gray; 5- via brabouune farm}
Labels: Design
There is nothing like trellis on walls to bring the outdoors in, which is exactly what I want to do this time of year. It is fresh, airy and chic, giving a space a classic flair without being to serious or heavy.
Trellis work has been used throughout history to keep light out but to allow air to flow freely. In the early 1900's, legendary designer, Elsie de Wolfe introduced the use of trellis as a decorative wall treatment when she covered a room at the Colony Club in New York with panels of garden trellis. In the 1930's trellis work was used to add whimsical glamour to celebrity homes decorated in the Hollywood Regency style.
{colony club decorated by Elsie de Wolfe}Trellis works best in sun rooms, eating areas, solariums and other well lit spaces. I prefer when the trellis and the walls are white but as you can see from the images below, it can be applied to interiors in a multitude of ways.
{home of style icon c.z.guest}{images: 1 and 2 via lonny magazine, 4- via ashley whittaker, 5- unknown, 6- vesta forte via domino; 7- via southern accents; 8- via house beautiful, 9- home of c.z. guest via home and garden}
Labels: Design
I am sure you have noticed that most of the bathrooms featured in today's shelter magazines are spacious spa-like oases with glass encased showers and free standing tubs. These personal spaces are beautiful, and many of them have made their way to my inspiration files. But they cause me to beg the question, what are those of us with small, humdrum bathrooms to to spruce things up without ripping out walls? Shower curtains are quick easy and affordable way to give your old or generic bath a new and affordable lease on life.
This is probably one of my most favorite "small" bathrooms. With all white walls, polished nickel hardware and a Porthault shower curtain (made from a sheet!) and matching towels who needs a personal spa?
This pre-war bathroom, belonging to Ralph Lauren executives Tom Bezucha and Margaret Hamilton, was given a fresh look with a cheerful red and white striped shower curtain and an antique side chair. I do love seating in a bathroom!
This tired tub was perked up by designer Sara Gilbane with a shower curtain made from Raoul Textiles fabric. Creating a custom shower curtain out of your favorite fabric is an easy way to personalize your private space.
This distinctly feminine bathroom was featured in Domino Magazine several years ago. It is hard to see but the shower is framed by two curtains that tie back on either side. This gives the tub a more finished and room-like feel. 
Kate and Andy Spade's guest bathroom is punctuated by the bold black banded shower curtains that so beautifully complement the Scalamandre Zebra print wallpaper.
If you are searching for a shower curtain to bring new life to your bath, here are a few suggestions:
Target sells these polka dot shower curtains in black, red, or green. They have a "Kate Spade" feel at a fraction of the price. These would be prefect in a child's bath as they are fun without being too juvenile.
I am loving this red damask shower curtain offered through Amazon. It would be a stunning statement in an otherwise all white bath.
This Greek key embroidered shower curtain is a handsome classic. For a similar look you could apply a Greek key tape trim like this one to a plain white shower curtain.
Home textile company, India Rose offers this smart seersucker shower curtain.
John Robshaw offers a variety of beautiful block-printed shower curtains with a global flair.
Anthropologie is another great source for unique shower curtains with a romantic vibe. This Flamenco curtain would be perfect for a teen's bathroom. Labels: Design
{dining room designed by jeffrey bilhuber}Wood paneling is one of those design elements that has swung in and out of favor throughout the decades. In this day in age, the pendulum has swung away in favor of lighter, painted interiors. Paneled rooms today are often considered stuffy, dark, and heavy. When we moved into our new home, we inherited a large, dark paneled family room. My initial plan was to paint it right away but as often is the case, time and budgetary restraints have delayed if not halted my original plans. For the time being I am embracing the space's stately English feel and am trying to decorate accordingly. In search of inspiration, I gathered images of paneled rooms that I appreciate. When done correctly and when fine wood is used, paneled rooms can be quite dashing.
Above is a beautiful pine paneled room by Rose Tarlow. The antique gold mirror and the modern art inset in the wood panels on either side of the fireplace add dimension while keeping the overall feel serene. 
Design legend David Hicks adds an unexpected twist to a paneled room by painting the insides of the bookshelves white. I also love the Venetian mirror, black leather and pop of yellow on the chairs. Hick's never fails to keep things interesting!
I found several inspiring paneled rooms deigned by Jeffrey Bilhuber. He, like Hicks, uses bright colors to liven up dark, womb-like wood paneled rooms. In the above image, the wicker and light floral fabric are unexpected and lively additions to a dark room. 
This dining room, from Bilhuber's own home is stunning because of the combination of beautiful paneling with a vibrant cornflower blue fabric on the chairs. The room does not feel the least bit stuffy or heavy.
Lisa Jackson's Upper East Side apartment's dark wood paneled dining room makes such a statement with solid off white dining chairs and an off white rug. 
Mary McDonald's Beverly Hills home is filled with beautiful paneling that is original to the 1920s house. When McDonald purchased the home it had dark mahogany paneling (see above) which she accentuated with her trademark chinoiserie accents. After a complete renovation, the paneling remained but the stain was lightened to co-ordinate with warm orange tones that she used throughout the updated space.
{images: 1- via cote de texas, 2- unknown, 3- via peak of chic, 4, 5 - via vogue, 6- via elle decor style and substance, 7- via peak of chic, 8- via veranda}Labels: Design
John Vierreg, owner of Charlotte's Post & Gray and Interiors Marketplace has launched new site and blog. I for one am excited to be able to see some of their amazing inventory online since I am unable to visit their store on a regular basis!! Labels: Design