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Friday, June 28, 2013

Designer Spotlight: Ashley Whitaker

Ashley Whitaker's designs have been popping up on Pinterest and I have been drooling over all of them. Some of my all-time favorite pins are her designs and I didn't even know it! Her website describes her as a "neo-traditionalist" designer and says she is "characterized by tailored rooms that incorporate charming detail and engaging play on color and pattern." The New York City designer has got mixing color and patterns down to a tee while still knowing how to keep a room from looking busy. Below are a few of her designs that are my favorite. P.S. Have a great weekend everyone! I'm off to Canada tomorrow (yes, I know, how un-American to go to Canada for the 4th) to see Riley and am so excited for my week off! 



























Images via House Beautiful and Ashley Whitaker Designs




Thursday, June 27, 2013

Jean Cutoffs

Is there anything better than jean shorts in the summer!? Throw them on with a loose tank over a bathing suit for the beach or dress them up with wedges and a blazer. They're so versatile! I still have my favorite pair from Urban Outfitters that I bought about 5 years ago and don't think I'll ever part with them! How do you style yours?? P.S. Who What Wear just did an awesome compilation of the best jean shorts here.
























Images from theyallhateus.com,  remainsimple.tumblr.com, lolobu.com, marionwd.tumblr.com,  harpersbazaar.com, popofstyle.com, refinedstyle.tumblr.com, elle.com, whowhatwear.com, thepetticoat.blogspot.pt, stylezen.net, dailymail.co.uk, electric-minx.tumblr.com, fashionsalade.com


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Lake House

I grew up going to Douglas, Michigan and I literally dream about the lake there. I love the slower pace of life, cool night breeze, beach bonfires, sunsets, quaint town, old Schwinn bikes (I could go on and on....). 

In 2002 my mom bought an old french restaurant up in the Berkshires on a tiny little lake called Queechy Lake (in Canaan, NY not Queechy, VT). We thought she was nuts. With it's heavy drapery, creaky floors, industrial grease stained kitchen, not to mention none of us had ever been up there besides her, the house seemed like a disaster.  Fast forward a year and she had completely gutted the place, while still keeping the original charm (and the full-sized bar!) and we had all fallen in love with the Berkshires and cozy fires and fall foliage and canoeing and ice fishing (you get the picture). We thought she was crazy (again) when she sold that house to buy another fixer-upper on the other side of the lake ("the good side," she claimed). My parents tore down the place leaving only the original foundation and began building their dream lake house right around the beginning of the recession. It took a little longer than expected but it is one of my favorite places to be. It has a different vibe than lake Michigan, probably because the lake is a fraction of the size and in an East coast town but I love it in a different way. 

I've had some of my fondest memories growing up from lakes from Lake Michigan to Queechy Lake to Lake George, where I went to Adirondack Camp, to Saranac Lake, where we did an awesome family vacation. I love the idea of getting away from it all and getting into full relax mode with the sounds of the water. And what is better than the actual lake house? I die over Thom Fillica's lake house and a ton of others on pinterest.

This weekend I'm leaving to go see Riley up in British Columbia (an 11 hour travel day - wahoo!) and can't wait to get up to one of the lakes there! I'm taking a week off from work and who knows if I'll even come back! Just kidding...Where is your happy place? Do you like the waves crashing of the ocean or the vibey scene of a happening town? I personally think there's nothing better than backgammon on the screened in porch with the sun going down over the lake.

























*Images from trans-america.com, tmsarchitects.com, summerfielddesign.wordpress.com, betterthanfine.tumblr.com, debraprinzing.com, dustjacketattic.blogspot.com, remodelista.com, ohsimplelife.tumblr.com, homebunch.com, houzz.com, housebeautiful.com, bourbonandpearls.tumblr.com, adoreyourplace.com, fieldstonehilldesign.com, peppermintbliss.com


 

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