black + white + brass

I must admit, I was a little late to jump on the brass bandwagon, but now I can't get enough! (Better late than never, right?)  I especially love it paired with a black and white - it doesn't get any more classic, sophisticated or elegant than a black and white color scheme, but when you add aged or unlacquered brass accessories to the mix, the result is chic, modern and crisp!  Brass pendant lights, gold picture frames, unlacquered brass hardware and fixtures, even an amazing, unexpected brass toe kick like in Sasha Seymour's kitchen below, add warmth, interest and a bit of glamour to any space, but, as always, I love it most in small, subtle doses:

Lonny

Thomas Smythe via House and Home

Ashley Putman via Lonny

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Badgley Mischka via Elle Decor

Lonny

Kate Jackson Design

Buckingham Interiors

Tia Zoldan

Sasha Seymour via House and Home

Sasha Seymour via House and Home

Bailey McCarthy

Susan Welty Interiors

take me away: sunrise house - mustique

The hubs and I are in DIRE need of a vacation, preferably on a deserted island with access to unlimited quantities of alcohol, a hammock and zero contact with the outside world.  I think I've set my sights a little high on this one, but hey, a girl can dream, right?  You can totally tell my search for possible summer getaways over the weekend turned into a full-fledged dream fest after I stumbled upon Sunrise House, a fabulous five bedroom villa on the island of Mustique.  Prices start at $16,000 and go WAY up from there...that's PER night, by the way, which really kills it for me, but, hello, gorgeous!  All-white interiors, vualted ceilings, limestone flooring, slipcovered furniture (and an amazing tufted ottoman) are a perfect backdrop to the most gorgeous view of Macaroni Beach.  I'm definitely ruined for stays at the Marriott and Days Inn from here on out...

See more of the Sunrise House here.

set a summer table with c. wonder

I am such a sucker for anything navy and gold, so when I saw this chain link dinnerware set from C. Wonder, my heart skipped a beat!  How amazing would it look with rope placemats and matte gold flatware for a summer dinner party? It reminds me of the Chain d'Ancre set by Hermes, but it costs A LOT less, making this set perfect for every day use:

             

C. Wonder is one of my favorite go-to shops for inexpensive gifts and decor - if you haven't visited their site, you must!  Here are a few more fabulous finds that would compliment the above set beautifully, like this GORGEOUS matte gold bamboo serveware set:

...as well as these chevron highball or these striped double old fashioned glasses:

                                   

To tie in with the bamboo salad servers, how beautiful are these napkin rings?  These navy blue enamel chain link rings would work, too:

                             

To see more from C. Wonder, check out their website here. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

topiary love

I stopped in to my favorite local florist yesterday to pick up some fresh flowers to stage a recently completed project, and the most amazing table of different sized myrtle topiaries in crusty terra cotta pots literally stopped me in my tracks!  I have always admired myrtle topiaries-they look so beautiful clustered together for an unexpected table centerpiece or alone on a coffee table, kitchen counter or mantle, but they also add elegance to your garden or patio, too!  They are pretty hard to come by here in North Carolina - until yesterday, I have actually not seen live ones for sale, so you can imagine my delight at seeing so many.  I wasn't allowed to snap any photos, but here are some of my favorite ways to incorporate topiaries into your home and garden:

Domino

Jeanie Johnson via Traditional Home

Deborah Silver

Brooke Giannetti

Cottage Living

Molly Frey Design

Southern Living

Tone on Tone Antiques

Deborah Silver

Martha Stewart

before + after: buffet-turned-changing table

I'm a huge fan of mis-matched furniture in any room, but I especially love incorporating non-traditional pieces in nurseries and children's spaces for a fun, unexpected twist!  My client and good friend already had this buffet and wanted to use it as a changing table in her baby boy's nursery - the size, lines and demilune shape were beautiful, but the finish was more yellow than "antique white", like it looks like online, so it had to go. A good sanding and some gray/blue paint, rubbed back to reveal a newly-painted creamy white beneath gives this piece new life, while jute monkey's fist pulls add texture and a touch of whimsy - perfect for a little one's room!

Here is what we started with:

And here is what it looks like now:

The monkey's fists are my favorite part:

A little distressing for contrast around the edges:

Pictures of the finished nursery coming soon!