Lay off meeeee!

What's new in the world?

Let's see....

I'm doing a cleanse.  This one.  I've always wanted to try one, but they always seemed a tad shady.  This one's total nutrition, and I've seen people I actually know have amazing results.  So, I'm in.  I started it on Saturday.  The first two days are pre-cleanse days where you whittle down your food intake, drink high-nutrient shakes, and practically float away on all the water you're supposed to consume.  Then comes two real-deal cleanse days.  As in no food.

That starts today.

What's also today?

My Baby Girl's 2nd Birthday.

 

So, these are sittin' around for later today....

...and I haven't. Touched. One.

Didn't even lick a beater.

Ben told me I'm a Masochist.

All I can think of....

...and maybe the goodness of this...

Source: google.com via Alison on Pinterest

Cleansfully yours,

ag

Craving: Mineral Linen

A loooong time ago, when I first saw this image of a beach home designed by Tom Scheerer, I thought it was one of the prettiest rooms I'd seen. Just for the record, if I had a Design Lover, Tom would be it.

But, upon new review, I realize one of the items I'm most drawn to is that sofa. It appears to be a delicate, ice blue linen. I'm dying to cover something in this fresh, classic fabric. Kasler's linen fabric from Ballard looks lovely, and the price is do-able.

...although the blush colorway gives mineral a really good run for its money.

I can see how pastel linen might make you think you'd be pigeonholed into a certain design scheme, i.e. "beachy."

hb

...but when there's looks like this, I beg to differ...

Tufted tuxedo, be still, heart!

Craving: A Suh-WEET Sofa

Yesterday, my husband said to me, "this room would look a lot better without this [kids'] table in it." To which I replied, "this room would look a lot better if we didn't have that puke couch."
The sofa I speak of is a putty-colored, "ultrasuede" unit I bought eons ago for my apartment. Considering its department store, bargain price, I should be grateful it has held up to all these years of abuse, and I am, but I'm also well beyond the point of craving something just a tad more stylish. Something say....like zeeesh

Vibrant = the perfect anecdote to our putty blahness

Small but elegant. Well, I can dream, can't I?

Tête à tête, anyone? (yeah, now I'm really dreamin')

Pure white and tufted. I must be out of my mind, but it's sooooo glorious!

Hey, Sofia! Get out of my gray English roll-arm!

Jenna's sofa. Seen it a million times - never get tired of it.

Well, hey there, YOU. Yeah, YOU, formal sofa with an "I'm still comfy" vibe. In the words of Prince, "I wanna be yo luvah." Ditto for the giant, framed suzanis. Another thing I still revere.

Squishy, linen slips - the ultimate in casual comfort.

Oh the choices...good thing I probably won't have to worry about making one anytime soon.
sources: simply grove, thirteen and south, decorpad, flickr

Craving: Gold Accents

I don't know if it's the upcoming season of Autumn, and all the intrinsic references to warm colors, but I'm seriously craving Gold. Specifically, the metallic. After several years of being in the "un-cool" kids club of design, gold has made a comeback. We're seeing it from the subtle beauty that is worn, unlacquered brass, to the bright-blingy bling bling that designers like Wearstler use as signature.
I'm all aboard this choo-choo train. I like that gold can up the glamour quotient of an already pretty room.

The gilded accents on the furniture make this room feel like a jewel box.

jan showers

The golden inside of the lampshade adds just the right amount of luxury

But, I also admire how gold can keep a rustic or worn interior from feeling drab. Since gold is a neutral, it's also amazingly versatile across the color board.
Like all things metallic, though, it's best to let one or two items shine, or you'll end up with something like this:

On the subtle end of the spectrum there's natural brass - especially appealing in the kitchen and bath.
I spy some faucet love in this wondey-ful kitchen.

What about a never-out-of-reach towel bar post-dishwashing. Form AND function, peeps - it's a good thing! (copyright, Martha)

morning T

Taking clever to a whole new level - Brass pipe fittings-cum-cabinet-pulls

urban grace interiors

If you've got a bath overhaul in the works, don't disparage the old-world warmth brass hardware can bring. I'm talking something like this

Not, I repeat, NOT this:

Stepping it up a notch to full-on gold. To me, this is touch-of-gold perfectly executed.

splendid willow

Unexpected and bold. Love 'em.

tambien

Sometimes, the gold craving can get you into way out-of-budget areas, like these gilded pink quartz bookends by Eduardo Garza. However, did you see how these gals did their own version?

eduardo garza

And speaking of budget busters - this headboard from 1st Dibs. Good thing it was sold; the price would've made my eyeballs pop out. This is a gold "fix" on 'roids.

1st dibs

Watch out, Casa Giese! I've got some liquid gold, and I'm not afraid to use it!
To Be Continued...

Craving: Lovely Loft Living

I've always had a craving for loft living. High ceilings, exposed elements like brick and ductwork, keen architectural details, and lots and lots of natural light. Somehow, I just imagine that living in a loft just makes you more hip, by default.
Naturally, the best spaces are those that have been carefully preserved and restored, but sometimes even new construction does a fine job of creating that casual-yet-sophisticated vibe loft-lovers swear by.

See what I mean? LOOK at that brick, that limestone fireplace, the height of that ceiling! Would I want the energy bill? No, but I could certainly handle a week's getaway here.

Nice detail in the column...

Often, "loft" connotes a large space, but, I'm of the thought that rather, it's a state of living. Metal spiral staircase = love.

I can't even tell you how happy I would be to have my morning cup and blog fix in this space.

Note: gorgeous bed, interesting side chair, erotic art. Loft state-of-mind.

Don't rain on my parade loft wanna-be space. Still, the light is sublime.

Craving: Hearty Salads

One of my favorite salads is mixed greens, cranberries, walnuts, and blue cheese, so I was immediately drawn to Ina's feature recipe in this month's House Beautiful: A Cape Cod Chopped Salad.

My senses never fail me when it comes to craving comfort foods at this time of the year, and a hearty salad ranks right up there on the "must-make" list for Fall. Ina's addition of Granny Smith apples and bacon, plus a dressing made with fresh orange zest quickly piqued my tastebuds. This salad is easily a one-course meal.

The dressing calls for maple syrup, which I didn't have on hand. Instead, I substituted local honey, and it worked fine. I also cut back on the olive oil, as I don't care for an overly-oily dressing.

My pic doesn't do it near enough justice. As for The Contessa's salad recipe: (as always) two thumbs up!

Craving: Greenery

One of the things I'll never accustom to living with in South America is the reversed seasons. As everyone in The States is welcoming Indian Summer, here, we're winding up Winter, also known as the dry season. It hasn't rained since May, and everything from plant life to cars has taken on the distinctive hue of the red earth - desperately dry and parched.
Although Fall is certainly my favorite North American season, I'm so ready to see life in the form of greenery that will hopefully grace us soon, with the freshness of that first rain. Until then, I'm all about bringing green into the house - the bigger and more tropical, the better!

We recently purchased a tallish tropical - something between a bird of paradise and a banana tree - and it instantly elevated the room.

Despite being the design "It" plant, I still love and certainly crave a fiddle leaf ficus - they just have such presence!

mfamb

Not that a smaller plant can't have the same effect - so long as there's proper placement. Note the table serving as plant stand in Ellen Pompeo's casa.

cocozy

Even a large sprig can work wonders to bring a natural freshness indoors. If you have good light in your banheiro, try using a tropical - typically, the humidity will serve it very well.

jessica helgerson

Aaaah....already breathing a little better!