Iconic Style: Jane Birkin

Lately, when it comes to style, I've been all about the sixties and seventies! The boho look is everywhere, and since I live in an environment where that look totally works, I do indulge in the bell sleeve, bell bottom, Stevie Nicks look from time to time. Since my personal style still tends toward the more classic, I love Jane Birkin's style which seems to marry the whole boho thing with clean and simple lines and little to no pattern. I also love that a woman with a very expensive and very famous handbag named for her spent most of her time carrying her belongings in a basket. How is that for irony? And, a sense of irony is a key component in much great style!

 Here, a classic French Girl look: loose top knot, perfect fitting white t-shirt, and tattered denim

 Often, the bohemian look feels so summery. Here is a perfect autumn look: over-the-knee black boots with jeans and a black pull over.

A great way to take your cut-off shorts into the cooler temps or if you're not quite prepared to bare your legs all that much. A pair of opaque tights and mary janes finish off what would be an ultra casual look, and upgrade it for brunch or Saturday shopping. The girls in Paris are still working this look; I've seen it all over!

1, French Market Basket  // 2. Patch Pocket Flare Jeans  //3. Over-the-knee suede boots  //

4. Suede Belt  // 5. Peasant Blouse  // 6. Mary Janes  // 7. Bell Sleeve Mini Dress

My Favourites: Brass Sconces

 Brass is huge right now! I personally love the richness of brass, and I'm so glad that it's made a comeback. Gone are those awful builder grade light fixtures of the 80s replaced by some really great modern and timeless fixtures. Here are a few of my favourites:

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Golden Globes 2016: Best Dressed

Happy Birthday, Elsie

Elsie de Wolfe

1865-1950

Happy Birthday, Diana

Diana, Princess of Wales

1961-1996

Well Spoken: Oscar Wilde

When good Americans die, they go to Paris.

-Oscar Wilde

The Daybed

I have always loved this image of Lou Lou de la Falaise's home in Paris, and how luxurious her daybed looks in the living room.

This got me thinking about how I once knew a woman who lived such a luxurious life that she kept a daybed in every room of her 11,000 square foot home just in case she felt a nap coming on. I'm not sure how productive she was, but she was certainly well-rested! 

One of the things I love about using a daybed is that it's a way to get some more seating in your space without the expense of an upholstered sofa. Daybeds are often quite a bit less expensive than upholstered furniture, and give you the same if not more seating. 

You can use a daybed in your space whether your style is:

Bohemian

California Casual

Ojai Ranch House designed by Kathryn Ireland

Parisian Chic

Moody and Masculine

Classic French 

Sophisticated and Simple

Rustic Modern

Where I really love a daybed is on a terrace, veranda or patio...

Kathryn Ireland's home in France

Here are a few of my picks...from the economical to the extravagant...

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all images via

Wishlist for Wednesday

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April Reading List

Here's what is on my bedside table these days:

Novel Interiors

When Lisa Borgnes Giramonti who writes one of my favorite blogs A Bloomsbury Life recently released a book of interiors inspired by great works of literature, I knew I had to have it. Let me just say--it does not disappoint! I've been pouring through this book over and over again. 

Lean In

I was hesitant to start this book since I don't work in corporate America, and I had heard that she doesn't write anything about entrepreneurial women.  One critic wrote something to the effect of, "She writes about how to be a woman working for people like Mark Zuckerberg, not how to be the next Mark Zuckerberg." I figured that at just around 200 pages, there might be some insight to glean, and it would be a relatively quick read. Sheryl Sandberg and I are exactly the same age, and I'm finding I can relate to much of what she writes about in the book. I don't have daughters, but you can bet that if I did...I would not only be reading this book, I'd be giving it to my daughters to read as well.

Big Little Lies

Liane Moriarty is one of favorite contemporary authors. She is laugh-out loud, "spit out your wine" hysterical. Having read most of her previous books, I was ready to dive into this one about murder at an exclusive primary school among "tiger mums". It's hilarious the similarities I find among my own circle to the mums she writes about in Sydney. Love her!

DK Scotland // Insight Guides Iceland

Planning a very fun family trip with some friends to Iceland and Scotland this summer so I'm trying to read up all I can on both countries. I love the DK guides; they are my absolute favorites! They don't offer one for Iceland so I found this one that Isight publishes. I'm one of those people who just must have pictures in her travel guides. How can you just read about the sights?? It baffles me! 

Do tell...what are you reading these days?

Friday Favorites: Coffee Tables

The coffee table is an opportunity to have some fun in a room. It's often one of the last pieces I'll choose when designing a space so that I can let the rest of the room design dictate what the table will be. Is it a touch of the modern that the room needs? Does the table need to be visually "light"? Maybe there should be a pair of smaller tables so they can be moved easily for entertaining?  Here are a few of my favorite coffee tables these days...

Love this with its blend of contemporary lines and traditional finish. The reflection of the mirror will brighten up a space without feeling slick. Find it at Wisteria.

I've always loved a waterfall table. I'm leaning toward this in my own living room. It doesn't take up a lot of visual weight, and adds a bit of the contemporary in a more traditional space. Also from Wisteria. (Less expensive lucite version here)

Again a bold mix of contemporary lines, and the gilt and glamour of the gold leaf. I am quickly falling in love with this table. I love a greek key element, and this table from World's Away doesn't have the typical greek key which can sometime get to be a bit much, but just a nod in that direction. 

If you're looking for a bit of gilt and glam, but want the lines of a mid-century modern piece...this is your cocktail table. I am not a fan of those 50s kidney shape retro coffee tables, but I love how this one is a bit of a nod to that "atomic era" without being kitschy. From Crate and Barrel.

For all glitz and glamour, this one is a beauty with it's empire touches. Can't you just see it in Josephine Bonaparte's sitting room. I sure can, and maybe in my own living room, too. From Currey and Co.

Another glamour piece from Currey and Co. with its stately legs, and stone top. This would be so perfect in a monochromatic space of neutrals and creams. 

I've always love anything Saarinen designed! Truly one of my icons of mid-century design. This gorgeous tulip table from Design Within Reach would be the perfect contemporary accent to an eclectic space. 

A totally fun piece from Jonathon Adler! I would use this table in a totally over-the-top room with bright colours, and traditional lines. I see greek key patterns, and Jonathon Adler pillows on a cerulean blue sofa with this table. How Fun!! Great for a family room, or even a teenager's space.

A copy of a great mid-century Platner design at a fraction of the price. Absolutely love the versatility of this piece. It would, of course, be right at home in a completely modern room, but also bring a certain personality to wider range of design styles. From Worlds Away.

The Rubik table from Design Within Reach has always been one of my favorites! Sometimes you just need a little carrera marble in your life, and here's a great way to bring it into your room. CB2 has a much less expensive version that I'd use in a heartbeat, too.

One thing I love is modern and organic all in the same piece. This table from Teracea could go so many different directions...cabin in Sun Valley, modern LA bungalow, farmhouse in Vermont! Teracea is one of my favorite companies! Their pieces are handcrafted in Mexico, and I've used them in many projects. 

 They're not all modern  over at Teracea. They are one of the very best at traditional and beautifully handcrafted pieces as well. This gorgeous table measures in at 59" x 39" and would make a perfect statement piece in between two lush and deep sofas.