Placemat Play

Tried and true the placemat should have a spot at every table whether it's for a formal fete or just dinner with the family on a Tuesday night.  It's a delightful way to incorporate spunk into your tablescape and from a practical perspective it'll save your table from the patina of life...stains!  Here are a few of my favorites and hey, these make great hostess and housewarming gifts too so take note.

www.toryburch.com
Image from Tory Entertains

Song of the day is by Alabama Shakes, "Hold On" .  Happy Friday!!

xo
J

Nautical Linen Placemat from Anthropologie/$16

Sun Stripes Placemat from Anthropologie/$16



Woven Rhythms Placemat from Anthropologie/$7.95 (on sale!)



French Laundry Home "Yvette" Placemats and Napkins from Neiman Marcus/$70-80



John Robshaw "Archer" Placemats and "Caribe" Napkins from Neiman Marcus/$45-$100



Lulu DK for Matouk Soiree Table Linens from Neiman Marcus/$79-$99



"Patent Stud" Placemat from Neiman Marcus/$82

Bold Ikat Print Placemats Set of 4 from Williams Sonoma/$51.95

Hemstitched Linen Placemats Set of 4 from Williams Sonoma/$59.95

Yarn Dyed Multi Stripe Placemats Set of 4 from Williams Sonoma/$59.95

Galley Kitchen

Sometimes you have to make lemonade with the lemons you've got, especially when it comes to working with the layout of a space in your home.  Todd and I complain almost daily about the size, shape and design of our kitchen and the other night it occurred to us that rather then move walls and plumbing, it might just be easier to work with what we've got...the bones of a really FAB galley kitchen.  Here are some images we've saved that serve as motivators for a much improved, well designed galley. 

Song of the day is by Mariah Carey (oh yes I did), "Beautiful" . I have to say, I love this song, don't love the video though. In fact, I was just getting ready for the day...swaying along, doing a little jam to this song. You go Mariah!

xo
J

I become weak in the knees for factory windows and doors! OMG, love the light calling your eye down this galley.

I love the combination of sleek shelving and countertops with the rustic, warm wood floors.

My partner in crime Shannon designed this galley kitchen in her old beach house. The floor pattern is phenomenal, the counter tops exquisite and the lighting is divine. It is one of my all time favs.

The ceiling and appliances make this kitchen so lovely.  I'd probably swap out the countertops for something a bit lighter but it's laid out well. Omit rug.

I'd switch out this rug for a cool turquoise overdyed runner or a Madeline Weinrib fun print flatweave.  The cabinets, layout and window style/placement is superb.

Open and airy.  Notice the potted lemon tree? Love.

I love all of the windows and the French doors in this galley.  Light brightens up a narrow kitchen space tremendously so giving up some upper cabinets for windows pays off if you maximize space and organization in your lowers.

Reflective surfaces also creates an airy, bright space in an otherwise tight, small kitchen.

Images via search, "Galley Kitchens" on Pinterest.

So Long Lazy, Hello Lulu Lemon

How should I put it...I had a busy yet sedentary winter.  There was not a whole lot of working out happening in my schedule.  I could make a million excuses, all of which are valid.  But instead I have decided to start fresh this Spring.  I will eat better and exercise more!  Jody and I were surprised and slightly excited to find out that we had six free training sessions left from last year.  We never finished our package because our trainer went back to school full-time (Matt we miss you!).  It was the perfect chance to get our butts into gear!  It's never easy getting motivated to start over so I found myself surfing the net for inspirational workout gear.  Of course Lulu Lemon came to mind!!!  We have one in town and it seems as though most girls in town have a lulu outfit or two in their closet somewhere.  Here is my outfit of choice and some fun inspirational Ads to get even the laziest of the laziest going!  xoxo - S  Song of the day is "Stronger" by Kanye West

 

Resources:

1. Beach Runner Crop

2. No Limits Tank

 

Image via Hollywood Reporter

I love Reese's outfit!  I'm all about ALL black!

As far as I'm concerned these Ads are genius!!!  

They catch your attention and are clever and funny!

One of my biggest fears since I have a high waist line...the dreaded camel toe!

 Yeah...I'd run for that!

Lulu Lemon

Mother's Day Vignettes

I've blogged about vignettes before, I have a soft spot for well styled, little areas that call attention to the details, collectibles and special items that make a space feel like home.  I believe it's these spots that make a room or nook uniquely yours and I also feel, no vignette is complete without fresh flowers.  Truth be told, I feel no home should be without some green whether it's fresh flowers, preserved (or fresh) boxwoods, elephant ears, a lemon tree, an orchid, etc, etc.  Green brings life to a home and also keeps it smelling clean, filtering toxins from the air.  Here are my favorite vignettes at the moment in my own home.  Thanks to Mother's Day, I had plenty of gorgeous blooms to style with.

Song of the day is by Billy Joel, "The Downeaster Alexa" . It's a tune that makes me think of my Westhampton summers and makes me feel so at peace.  Billy Joel is a God!!

xo
J

I've wanted to hang one of Todd's surf boards on our wall for years but unfortunately he uses them too frequently to make it worth while.  Thanks to my brother in-law Miles, I finally got my hands on a retired board which fits nicely in our living space.  Finding pieces that represent your lifestyle in an authentic way, creates a meaningful design scheme. 

My bedside table is one of the most treasured spaces in my home.  I always need soft fragrance, fresh flowers and images of my children, to sleep soundly.  NO clutter.
Jo Malone's "English Pear & Freesia" candle and Nature's Essence's "Lemongrass & Aloe" candle combine to make the most divine, barely-there, fresh scent. 

I am a complete sucker for Lilacs, Peonies and Freesia. All three of these flowers are in my house right now and it makes me happy to the core.

Oh Great Gatsby

"The Great Gatsby" is not only a classic story, but a twisted plot of so many themes: deceit, love, Wall Street greed, ostentatious wealth, prohibition, and the stylish parties and fashion of the roaring twenties.  This was by far my favorite novel in high school English lit because F. Scott Fitzgerald created such a painterly picture for his readers while leaving room for your imagination to run wild.  When a girlfriend of mine invited me to go see the movie over the weekend I was beyond excited!  Girls day, popcorn and Leonardo...who could ask for more?!?  I had already watched the Trailer at least 5 times and was really hoping it wouldn't disappoint me as so many reinterpretations of novels have.  But...I have to say the movie brought everything to life.  The acting was superb, the set design was impeccable and the parties and wardrobe were so spectacular that I could almost imagine myself at Gatsby's exquisite parties. Bravo Baz Luhrmann! 
Here's a sneak peek of the Trailer for "The Great Gatsby".  It surely will not disappoint you.  xoxo - S

Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan

Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby

Jay Gatsby's Estate 

The Gatsby Foyer

Gatsby's Master Bedroom

One of Gatsby's parties poolside

Gatsby's guesthouse and home to Nick Carraway

Daisy and Tom Buchanan's Residence

Images via Warner Bros

Faux Bamboo Redo

I have a slight obsession with faux bamboo.  I also love a good project, re-doing furniture being one of them.  So when my expert budget-shopping Aunt found me a faux bamboo desk on the side of the road in Florida, I was beyond thrilled!  My uncle thought she was crazy for schlepping a tattered old desk 1,200 miles home to me, but little did he know that it was like I had discovered a million gifts under the Christmas tree.  For starters, I was in desperate need of a desk, and it happened to be very similar to the one I wanted.  Yay...let the project begin!!!  xoxo - S   
Song of the Day is "Cheers (Drink To That)", Rihanna

The Desk I Wanted....

 

Circa Who

The Desk My Aunt Found for FREE...

The Desk after I fixed it up, 

painted it, and put new hardware on it...

 I do have the bottom drawer but it needs a new drawer front made for it

so for the time being I took Jody's genius advice and put a lucite tray with

magazines and stationary in the empty space.  It's pretty and functional!

God I love my new desk!!!

 TA DA....

I already happened to have the Format lucite try from CB2, 

but these customizable trays are really fun too!!!

Iomoi Trays

 

 

 

Iomoi Stationary

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher Spitzmiller

There are names and then there are NAMES...Christopher Spitzmiller is the lamp God.  He's all A team and the pieces he creates are brilliant in color and extraordinary in craftsmanship.  Once you see these lamps in person you'll recognize the difference between Christopher Spitzmiller originals and the various renditions out there in the market. Sometimes it's just nice to aim for best of and for those of you non-traditionalists, the "Aurora Double Gourd" yields a bit of edge.

Song of the day is by Gorillaz, "19-2000" (Soulchild Remix) .

xo
J

 

 

 

 

 

Images via Google & Pinterest search: "Christopher Spitzmiller Lamps"