.what's your pleasure?

This simple bar makes me want a drink. Well, this bar and teenagers, but that is another story. It makes me feel relaxed and is nice eye candy. Do you have a bar in your house? Or do you find most people drink beer and wine?

Just curious?

.fall colors

I am getting taken in by all of the colors of Fall. Usually your expected rust and brown, this year the fashion world is running over into some other delicious hues as well.

What are your favorite colors to dress up in for Fall? And to dress your house in as well?

(images J. Crew and 100 Layer Cake)

.where do you think?

Is it behind a desk? Is it in your favorite chair? When cooking? Do you have a place dedicated to work...or do you roam from room to room thinking? Where does inspiration strike at home?

Spill it.

.i spy

As I browse through recent images I've saved on kitchens, it is clear to me that a trend is emerging....in my folder at least. Simple, clean lines, few upper cabinets and no fuss. But I seem to like many counter materials.

Do you have a favorite these days?

(images Head over Heels, Marcy Post, Jane Grier, Domino, Met. Home)

.yum

Ok, so feeling a bit stretched is making me a lot late. Last week, the lovely From the Right Bank to the Left Coast posed an interesting challenge called "What's your style in one picture?" One picture! Yikes, that is quite a challenge for me! I sifted through images I have saved online, looked through some magazines, the usual, but was a bit stuck when I stumbled on a room that really spoke to me right on her scrumptious blog!

There is so much said using very little in this room. Love the open space, love the light, adore the old table and grand beams with the shimmery, contemporary fixture and love the pop of color and design in an unexpected place. To me, it looks relaxed and refined at the same time.

Love it. And her wonderful blog. So, how would you describe your decor style in one WORD?

Tricky,huh? And fabulous does not count...

.this is not my kitchen

...but it could come close. A day with a design dilemma. Anyone dare to give two cents worth?

Ok. Good!

We found a home that we are considering renovating. See images three and four. Kitchen has many good points, great light, good space and nice stone countertops and backsplash in neutral colors. But the cabinets are a bit dated. I am an open kitchen gal and have not had upper cabinets for some time BUT, can I do it here? I am concerned as a feature of the kitchen is the backsplash right behind the stove goes about 12 to 15 inches higher than the rest of the backsplash.

Option one- Can I pull these babies off the wall(the cabinets!) and put my brackets for my shelves right where the lower backsplash stops and thus, with the shelves on the brackets, there is a consistent, straight line, sort of like in image one up top. Would this line end up making it look as if it all matches up to the highest point of the backsplash? Make sense?

or

Option two- Keep the cabinets and take the doors off. I am painting the entire set a light shade, sort of like in image two, so the brown is out, but just not sure if they should stay at all. I am keeping the pantry, but if I keep any others, I would probably take the doors off and mirror the inside.

Ick. Trying to describe this gave me a headache. Ok, so the question is not do I leave the cabinets brown. It is can I rid of this entire section? This is a good problem to have, but one that I would love some input from all you artsy/interior designer/architecture/tasteful/sane types.

Ok. Got my coffee. Thoughts, please. I so appreciate it.

.i'm hot

I am hot. It is in getting up to 95, 96 again today and it feels like a noose. Summer came two days ago, and while welcome, it is being a bit pushy. Even in the cool air conditioning, which I do not prefer, it feels like all of my furniture and fabric are trying to smother me. I need very simple, sparse places right now to let the cool breeze run through.

You? How you feeling about the Summer days?

(some images are from this is glamorous, if the lampshade fits)

An interesting mix

A great example of mixing unexpected textures and materials, artist Sarajo Frieden delights and inspires with his embroidery on paper collection.  It is hard to beat nature as the best place for combining elements that create interesting color and shape.

A Good Mix

I love to mix materials when designing a product, or anything for that matter. Burlap and cashmere, leather and gold, metal and paper.  I  find  this juxtaposition is also what makes most room design one's own. The unexpected.