Found It!

I began considering wallpaper for my dining room more than 2 years ago. Happily, the search has ended (!) with this modern translation of an historical chinoiserie pattern. 

With a few reliable service providers, this could all be transformed by the end of September (fingers crossed).

Denim & Supply

After registering for a Fall mystery writing class with Gotham, I thought the time might be right for a little online school shopping. Enter Ralph Lauren and this amazing beacon blanket sweater from his newest line - Denim & Supply. Perfect to wear with last year's J. Crew suede fringe booties, old Levi's & my collection of vintage Native American turquoise.

Zing. It's mine.

Book It

Fall always marks the arrival of fabulous new releases -- the impending holiday season seems to get everyone refocused on upping the lifestyle ante & making sure their own homes are looking amazing. Here are a few I'm currently reading or impatiently awaiting...

What about you?

Media Maven

A bedroom in the back of my house is being requisitioned for the big screen. A small flat screen will tuck into a cabinet next to the fireplace to allow simultaneous fall football + crackling fire viewing in the living room. But primary Netflix streaming/Real Housewives following will occur in the new media room, where I'm currently focusing all remodelista activities (heavily influenced by The Novogratz). The room's existing white walls & shutters, and ebony hardwoods, will be the foundation.

The motivation behind the vivid color scheme is this large scale photograph -- a total impulse buy during my first trip to Charleston, South Carolina in 2006 (1st in the artist's original series of 25).

This hot pink canvas will upholster a Charlotte sectional

Greek key Trina Turk cocktail napkins will probably be most often found on this lucite waterfall table

1 turquoise + 1 lime pouf will provide surfaces for sitting or foot-resting

Everything will perch atop this candy-striped rug

India gets a new Fatboy dog bed

And a pair of 1960's wrought iron patio tables providing cocktail perches on either side of the Charlotte, will be topped with fabulous vintage chrome yellow lamps (a recent ebay find) with some big white drum shades.

Remodel, Interrupted

In early 2006, I bought an 'as-is' 1920's colonial in Charlotte, North Carolina with great enthusiasm and a strong desire to make it my own. By late 2006, I was completely over plumber rip-offs, electrician no-shows, cabinetmaker flake-outs, plaster dust, dicey handymen, paint disasters, and plain old shoddy work. Starting a new job in a new city, while at the same time acting as my own general contractor, was too much. I threw my hands up, said 'enough', and left large pieces of my house incomplete (see Kitchen & Mudroom, below).

Fortunately, 8 months in London living in hotels and an antiseptic corporate apartment had a reinvigorating effect. Since returning, my house has been a proper hive of activity. I've purchased wallpaper & fabrics & rugs, sent furniture to be reupholstered, hired a painter, and -- after 5 years with a gaping hole above the range -- installed a hood.

It may not seem like much to you, but to me it feels like a pretty good start.

India

It's been forever, I know. But when wrapping up an international finance project, going on extended holiday, packing up & moving countries, starting a new job, and getting a house back in order, time does fly. So here's what's new -- meet India (more formally, Thimble Farm's India Ink, daughter of Shadylake's Southern Dixie Buddy & Flint River's Georgia), my 11 week old black Lab. She likes long walks, the UPS man, small rocks, and electrical cords.

She dislikes nap time.

Hint #3

Wimbledon

Amazing day @ Wimbledon yesterday with London rain stopping long enough to keep the roof open the entire day. Drank Pimm's {on tap, fabulous} both in the garden and in the stadium under sunny skies while watching Wozniacki (1), Federer (3) and Djokovic (2) all move through to the 4th. Saw many carrying camping kit throughout {tents, etc.} -- evidence of a long day and an early queue. That's dedication to sport. Not me. I was in good seats just outside the reach of the blazing sun right next to the Royal Box. Where there were no sightings of a Duchess. Damn.

Lobster Roll Pop-up Shop

 

This weekend at Luna & Curious, an amazing boutique tucked into one of the many nooks & crannies surrounding Shoreditch High Street, you can have your lobster roll & eat it too. {See the July UK Elle Decoration spread below for more detail on this fabulous area...}

 

Hint #2

What's New?

I'm returning to the U.S. on 4th of July week-end with something new. Here's a little hint.

Can you possibly guess?

Selfridges & Anya Hindmarch Bespoke

While I love things, I'm not partial to shopping. But there is one retail establishment where I've been known to spend an entire Sunday afternoon. And I think a few others must too, since it's impossible to shake a stick in London without hitting one of its carrier bags...

Selfridges is famous for many things, but what I love most are its incredible pop-up shops -- like the current installation of Anya Hindmarch Bespoke. The tiny space reminds me of a posh 1940's cobbler dropped smack in the midst of Balenciaga & Prada. The staff {shout out to Karen, you will be missed!} is amazing and -- if you love the classics -- the selection is heavenly. Anya's archetypical styles are custom crafted of fine skins {lizard, box calf, croc} in beautiful colors, with endless options for personalization in block type or your own handwriting.

Although we agonized over size & color & style for ages {taking a break in the middle of the decision-making process for a pomegranate bellini @ Hix}, my cousin and I finally settled on twin Ebury handbags -- hers in a rich tan French box calf, mine in deep chocolate -- with a handwritten inscription embossed within to memorialize our time together in London. 

While Anya's Selfridges pop-up won't last forever, her Bespoke Shop in Pont Street, Belgravia will {I hope} remain for the ages.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Amazing weather at this year's sell-out show on the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (which has hosted the show since 1913) ensured a crazy crowd, and crowded it was.  My cousin and I were there in the afternoon, and the gardens were fabulous (if a bit wilted from the heat). We wove our way around the grounds until just before closing, and then headed over to the Bluebird Cafe for dinner. A wonderful day all 'round...