{the blog}: favorite magazine features

my brain feels something like this right now:

My internet provider was down all day yesterday, they really aggravate me. Do they know what this does to my blood pressure when it comes back on and my inbox is flashing red warning signs due to an influx of emails that would make most want to crawl under a desk and die?

Despite my anxiety level... two really fun things:

I challenged Snippet & Ink to "make this fabric a wedding"... and to no surprise she totally rocked it:

In her words: A slightly beachy, slightly nautical, very preppy Hamptons wedding in navy and green.

Mood: preppy seaside
Palette: navy, green, white

To my embarrassment - I had that clipping of fabric on my bulletin board because I love it - but had lost the source... anyone??

And on another Hamptons note... Absolutely Beautiful Things made my heart skip a beat when she featured this article on Steven Gambrel's Sag Harbor cottage. Precious is the only word that comes to mind - agree? Snippet & Ink's wedding could totally take place in the backyard...

And in case you don't follow the link to the article - I don't want you to miss this (the inside):

(annmarie, are you reading? this reminds me of your house)

Peace kids.

Happy Birthday (again) Mom!

The weekend was a weekend of renewal for me. I was up to my eyeballs in old files that needed to be sorted and cleaned out (dreadful), the conference table was piled mile-high with fabric samples, the desk before me was not visible due to the stuff on top of it... so I CLEANED and SORTED and PURGED. Don't you love doing that? I do. In the process I came across one of my many "favorites" stacks. I thought I would share. And what I find shrilly common in all of these - a lack of color. Not sure if it was just a "phase" or if I am really into neutrals? I will tell you another common theme in these that I also find missing from many "designers" palate is a good solid "mix". Mix of finishes (yes, it's okay to use gold/brass with silver/stainless - in fact I think it is better that way), your floors don't have to match your other wood accents, so on and so forth. Mix of styles... (contemporary with traditional) ... yes, in one single space. Mix of materials... concrete, wood, brick, fabric, metals, etc.
Over Thanksgiving Chance's cousin asked me "what's your personal style?" She totally stumped me. It was all I could to do utter "uhhhh, ummmmm, let's see... ummmmmmmmmm"... I finally turned to Leah (my dear sister-in-law to be) and asked her to tell the cousin what my style is. I've thought about this random occurrence numerous times since and I've come to the realization that what I like is very "un-pin-pointable". Leah answered like this "flea market, yard sale, cool vintage-ish, cottage-ish, sort of traditional, sort of modern"... or something along those lines. She probably hit the nail on the head.

Without further adieu - a few of my personal favorites:

Metropolitan Home featured this house in March/April of 2003 they described the house as "Country Modern"... whatever the category... I think it is perfect in every way.

Of course in some of these files I found Martha. Anyone who doesn't think she is a brilliant designer is probably fibbing. Her house at Turkey Hill was featured on her website - so I've found better images there than the tattered ones I had cut out...

(her "cappuccino corner" is almost the same size as my entire kitchen)

I love all things industrial and things that have multiple purposes - or - better yet had a former life used for a different purpose.

Not into kitties, but I'll take the craft station.

People ask me all the time "with our stainless appliances we need to do stainless or brushed nickel fixtures right?"... wrong. I'll say it again, all matchy-matchy finishes results in a very flat end product.

Again, could do without the plethora of kitties. But a laundry room renovation is on my list this year.

This is her Skylands (one of her many homes) Butler's Pantry... I love the warm wood tones against the stainless sink.

The "Servery" at Turkey Hill... I wish I had a Servery {and a "server"}.

Now on to the creative design mogul Bobby McAlpine. House Beautiful featured his personal Nashville home in February of 2005, and I'm still loving it.