Dressing for the Fourth of July

Blue and White Gingham Seersucker Landis Midi Dress

Gingham is such a classic for Fourth of July attire. This dress is a great choice and is available in blue or red. 

The Landis Midi Dress is ideal for sunny days spent out and about. With ruching along the sleeves and waist, a tiered skirt, and a front button placket, this breezy beauty is everything and more! Pair with sandals and a tote or dress up with wedges and a clutch!

A Wicker Coastal Christmas

Blue Wicker Nutcracker

Wicker Christmas decorations are such favorites of mine with a classic, vintage, coastal, nautical, beachy vibe. Here are some really special pieces - 

The Chinoiserie Kitchen

Amanda Lindroth

Isn't this a fabulous chinoiserie kitchen by Amanda Lindroth? Note the blue painted cabinets and hood and black soapstone countertops and backsplash. The hood and cabinets are trellised.

Scallops for the Bathroom

Todd Romano - Veranda

This beautiful chinoiserie bathroom is in Todd Romano's own home in San Antonio, Texas with chinoiserie wallpaper, bamboo matchstick blinds, and an Imari porcelain platter above the door. I love the lilac trimmed scalloped towels - a pretty and unexpected pop of color.

Blue Wicker

Lilly Pulitzer

 

This is such a great handbag for summer. It combines blue and wicker and bamboo - three of my favorite things.

The Elegant Boot Tray

CCC

 

I love when function and form combine in something for the home that is functional and beautiful. This was my copper boot tray at CCC in my laundry room in Alexandria, Virginia that was "lost" in the move. I have finally found a replacement for CCC Florida.

Fall Florals

Carolyne Roehm

 

Mums are plentiful this time of year in both potted plants and cut flowers. To really elevate this flower, pair it with blue and white Chinese porcelain. A perfect combination.

A Chic Pink & Blue Palette

Jonathan Adler

 

My design aesthetic has definitely changed somewhat since living in Florida. I have really embraced white walls. My house is white stucco outside (Sherwin Williams Alabaster) and white walls inside as well (Benjamin Moore Classic Gray), a warm white. 

Navy Enamel Bamboo

Tiffany & Co. Enamel Bamboo Ring

For years I have wanted this iconic vintage navy enamel bamboo ring from Tiffany & Co. circa 1960s. They are hard to find, especially in the right size and are expensive - around $1500 to $2,000.

Lavender & Blue

Lavender & Blue Scalloped Linen Placemats

Recently I have been drawn to the color combination of lavender and blue. It's such a pretty color palette for the spring and summer. My study in Alexandria was painted a soft lavender and I loved it. It pairs beautifully with blue and white Chinese porcelain.

The Grown Up Easter Basket

Amanda Lindroth Birkin Basket

 

I love Amanda Lindroth's Birkin Baskets - I have one and carry it it all the time. I decided to add this one in light blue as a little Easter gift to myself.

Flower Arranging

Studio McGee Glass Fluted Angular Vase

 

I was looking for a vase for shorter stemmed flowers like tulips and such and found this wonderful blue glass vase. It has a modern but classic vibe. The color works beautifully with blue and white Chinese porcelain.

A Blue Halloween

London - Explore the Pretty

It's Friday the Thirteenth, so let's do a Halloween post. I thought this was fun Halloween decorating inspiration with its blue skeletons and blue pumpkins. Acrylic craft paint works great for painting pumpkins. Use spray paint for the skeletons. Do you see how the skeleton on the left is reading a book?

Color Palettes for Your Home

Roseate Spoonbill

To me, the best way to choose a color palette for your home is to look to the colors of nature right outside your door. Think of beach houses of blue and white and mountain cabins filled with warm wood tones.

Setting the Summer Table

Sarah Bray Bermuda for Aerin

 

Setting the table here in South Florida, more and more I am using beautiful seashells as a centerpiece - usually either coral or large conch shells, with bud vases with a single bloom -  white oriental lilies as used here are a lovely choice. Wherever you live, this is a wonderful look for setting the summer table.

Blue Bamboo

Blue Bamboo Flatware

For years I have thought to myself, "Why hasn't someone come out with blue bamboo flatware?" Well, someone finally did.

Feeling Blue

Mark D. Sikes

 

This wonderful breakfast room is in Liz Lange's beautiful restoration of the iconic East Hampton home Grey Gardens.

Le Creuset New Blue Color

Le Creuset in Matte Navy

 

One of the many reasons I love Le Creuset cookware is their color selection. They have had over 200 colors in their history with new colors added each year and others discontinued. 

Red and Green My Way

Blue Print

Christmas decor and attire need not mean a traditional palette of red and green. This table setting of pink, green, and blue is a lovely alternative. It would work better with the colors of my home and has a lighter more beachy vibe for those of us in tropical climates. And I of course love the chinoiserie china and vases.

A Blue Champagne Bucket

Oscar de la Renta Champagne Bucket

A decade ago, fashion designer and master of entertaining Oscar de la Renta debuted a tropical-inspired line of home accessories infused with the breezy sophistication of his beach house. I bought several pieces at the time at Saks Fifth Avenue before the line was discontinued, but there are several pieces I didn't get and have been tying to track down ever since. They would go especially well in my Florida home.