Monday Morning Happy

Well as you can see from the time of this post it's not exactly Monday morning but I still wanted to send out a hello and ask how your weekend was! Did you do any fun home projects over the last few days?

Just before watching the Super Bowl with the boys I had some down time to catch up on my magazines and at the very top of my pile was my brand new Living Etc! Remember how over the moon I was on my birthday weekend when I won the subscription contest over at Bright Bazaar? Well you can imagine how excited I was when the magazine actually arrived in the mail, the neighbors didn't actually come out of their house from my screams but the mailman did give me a strange glance. Doesn't everyone yell when they get a magazine in the mail? No? Well they should!

This image from Living Etc has been pinned up on my inspiration board all winter. It's to remind me there are some great things about these chilly, gray days...fireplaces and gorgeous bed covers!
Thank you Will and Living Etc for making my weekend just a weee bit brighter!

My Weekend of House Envy!

What an amazing weekend I just had!! It was a belated birthday celebration which started with tickets to see "WICKED" at the Boston Opera House. I have no words, this space is just incredible. In the last 10 years it was restored back to its original glory and let me just say as amazing as the show was I was enthralled by the details of this "house"! Walking out I said to Vog how lucky we are to live in a city with such rich history, they just can't afford to build places like this nowadays!

Inside the Boston Opera House! Can you believe the size of those chandeliers and marble columns? So glamorous! The combination of Italian and French styles is stunning!

Saturday was the epitome of the perfect New England Fall day so we decided to head out for a little adventure not really knowing where we would end up. Above is the mansion at Elm Bank, it was AMAZING. Most people would see a beaten down house but I saw it's potential and felt like I was thrown into a Pride and Prejudice novel. It was boarded up but peaking through the windows I could see fireplaces in every room, chevron floors and tin tiled ceilings. You know I wanted to win the lottery, move in and bring it back to it's glory days! Ahh a dream!

The mansion is situated with the Horticultural Society of Boston and the grounds were gorgeously manicured with so many flowers and plants! The "Goddess" Statues were brought to the property from their former home in downtown Boston. I can't really express how magnificent they were in person...they were HUGE!

Than if that was not enough interior design inspiration I came home to an email from the sweet Will of Bright Bazaar announcing I had won his blog contest! Well let me just say I was doing the happy girl dance all over the house!! Seriously people, I WON THE LIVING ETC MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION! For a girl that never wins anything and is a lover of magazines, this is the best type of win! Thanks Will & Living Etc, you made my birthday even more special!

To view more photos of my weekend click here!

A Lesson in a "pop" of color for your house!

Over the weekend I was browsing through Living Etc online and came across a fantastic London Home - The Fulham House. Anything with London in the title always catches my eye as I am constantly trying to capture the feeling of when I lived there. When I started this house tour I realized quickly it was not like any other London flat (which are usually fairly small) this one had been expanded and with so many fun, quirky details that I just had to share. The way the muted palette incorporates small "pops" of bright color is a perfect example in how it can be done seamlessly. Take a peek inside with me!

Mirrors flank the fireplace giving the space much need depth. The Peacock Rug gives a shot of movement and energetic color to the room!

An amazing addition of a full glass doorway leads to the outdoor eating area! The Eames like chairs in a deep turquoise are a wonderful mix with stark white and warm wood.

The LaMaison Bed makes such a statement with it's soft Parisian white lines, than POW! The striking yellow headboard begs for attention!

Notice how the bathroom is void of any big pops of color? Pure relaxation!

Immediately I fell in love with this wallpaper in the lower "WC"! What an accent!

It's all in the details and I particularly adore this glass finial on the banister. Such a wonderful welcome detail.

GORGEOUS! This curved sofa with a suzani printed accent fabric is just amazing!

Hope you enjoyed this tour of the Fulham House!
Check back later today as I will post my "Blog It Forward" for sfgirlbybay series!

(images from Living Etc/designer Turner Pocock)

Wall Decor Impact

I just came across this picture on Living Etc. and needed to share! Mostly for the wall decor on the far wall, how striking is that? I love when you walk into a room and are hit by an image which than dictates the rest of the space! It's simple but makes such a statement. She looks like she has a great attitude and is quite stylish. Of course the large floor to ceiling windows in this loft only add to the impact.