yay or nay: the floral rug

um... 

sorry it's been a while since I've posted, lovelies, but promise that I have turned a corner and will be back by a little more! 

We are moving again (deadly-long-story-that's-another-post) and have been caught up in the madness that goes along with that...

In any case, my favorite print of the moment is anything floral (here comes the huge return to "pretty" rooms) and floral rugs in particular have got my heart doing little pitter-patters...a little pile of these images has been gathering on my home screen, and so I thought I'd see if any of you are feeling the love with me...

Yummy. So. Although I'm technically not supposed to buy anything for the new place until after we've moved, something along these lines may arrive a wee bit early - can't blame a girl for being organized, can you?!

image sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

see anything that tickles your fancy? Too granny or are floral rugs poised far a huge comeback? 

Please share a yay or a nay...

yea or nay: chintz

for anyone who remembers the eighties, chintz may be a dirty word. I remember wearing a Laura Ashley dress and pearls as my sister's maid of honour, and my mother fretting because my hair was black, and half shaved, and I refused to remove my nose ring :) It was a moment. I despised the sweetness of those oversized florals back then, and never thought there would be a day where I would be embracing them. But lately, in clean hues, when used with restraint, a floral chintz is looking rather fresh. It started a few month's back, with Anna Spiro's pink curtains, (shown below), then  I saw a fabulous post last week over at I Suwannee featuring Carleton Varney, and began wandering around the house, looking for a spot to tuck some in!

If you'd like to bask in this vibe, a room wrapped in large florals is a brave leap into pattern and colour. Love the idea of using this as an alternative to tile for a backsplash in the kitchen - so pretty!

Not quite ready for wallpaper? Curtains require less of a commitment....

and pillows are simpler again.

(these aren't all chintz, exactly, but you get the idea :)

A patterned chair is a perfect exclamation point to a space.

and if a chair isn't quite enough, then perhaps something larger?

Small bits of chintz can be layered in with smaller pieces.....fabric on a frame? Do that all the time!

Although this is a little over-the-top, I do like the idea of an upholstered/wallpapered lack table...hmmm...

I think the key is to to avoid pairing chintz with country/shabby anything, because it is already such a "sweet" look.  It's the juxtaposition of chintz against clean lined-furnishings and hard surfaces such as mirror, metal and glass that make it modern. 

What do you think of chintz? Could you see any of this in your own space?

photo links:  tile  settee blue rug  ZsaZsa Bellagio  YSL living HamptonsShowhouseGreen wallpaper  porcelain dish  retro layers   yellow sofa  House Beautiful  Albert Hadley  gallery wall  canvas  curtains&lantern  white sofa pillows  Blue curtains  white&gold settee blue pillows  retro chair  floral chair  brown floral chair  black floral chair Cush and Nooks  dining  fabric tablecloth 

A Simple Way to Bring Your Favourite Art Home

Way back I did a post about Kathe Fraga.

She is a wonderfully talented painter who "lives and paints in a 100-year-old stone house by the sea"

and creates beautifully rich Chinoiserie panels that resemble aged frescos -

 they are layered with vibrant color.

Well, although an original won't be in the budget anytime soon, 

I have just ordered a set of her greeting cards

and am going to frame them for the green room.

Aren't they pretty? I've never been much of a floral girl, but the color is so lush, I adore these.

A large grouping will have some of the effect of a large painting..

can't wait for them to arrive!

If you'd like a set, visit here.

To read more about Kathe, visit her blog - 

she is a rather creative writer, 

and her posts always add a bit of happy to my day.

til next time..

Dawn LeBlanc: Unmasking Beauty through Photography

I'm not really even sure how to describe these images.

A bit speechless - which is very unusual for me :)

My Aunt used to press flowers and make her own stationary.

Every occasion a handmade card would come in the mail, 

the beauty of the most common flowers and foilage was exposed there... 

 forever preserved within.

I cherished them, tucking those bits of paper away...

Thats what these images remind me of.

Photographer Dawn LeBlanc is documenting nature's exquisite radiance for all of us - 

a reminder that we don't always have to create new visual treats,

 we just have to be mindful of the ones we are overlooking.

Lizanthus in Space

Broken

The Sprite

Dahlietta in White

Leaves I - this was the image that led me to Dawn's work..

and finally.. Red Sunflower, can't you feel it's pride in a job well done?

Stunning. Open-mouthed gaping.. so wonderful.

Tomorrow the extended family arrives for a beach day and overnight visit - 

catch you on the flipside :)

til next time...

Are You Ready To Embrace Florals?

What a spectacular weekend!

The sun shone, and we spent more time outdoors than in...

Hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did.

With spring in the air, the urge to freshen up the indoors is always next.

I've never been one to fill my home with florals, but lately I find myself embracing them more and more...

These are some easy ways to bring in a little spring without a huge commitment.

Feels like a garden party...

Anthropologie curtains and tablecloth

Classic Indigo shines when it looks like linen and pairs with gold..

Ralph Lauren China

Chris Chun creates the most exquisite fabrics and paintings

Make your own textiles with this La Garoupe fabric from Ralph Lauren:

Or seek out vintage prints for a one-of-a-kind look...

Via Flikr Amy Honey and Some Art Fabric 

Who doesn't love Kathryn M Ireland's brilliant collection? And I adore that artwork...

Some fresh pillows invite restful afternoons..

A playful way to repurpose an old chair..

These delicate curtains are made from scarves..

Lets not forget the walls - sweet flowers..

This fabulous Anna French wallpaper can be used for smaller projects to add a bit of punch..

Or are you really ready to go for it? 

 After so many years of white walls reigning supreme, some of us are going all out, with really wonderful results..

Smells lovely :)

til next time...