His bedding and textiles are gorgeous. And they’re on sale so run..
Click here to sign up free and fast if you aren’t already a Gilt member..
Hurry! John Robshaw on sale at Gilt!
Don’t miss this post – the gorgeous doors of Segovia, Spain
For my frequent readers, you’ll know that my boyfriend is living in Spain this year, where he’s teaching English, and in turn, perfecting his Spanish. He lives in Segovia, which I visited in October and January, and the historic part of the town is beautiful as a fairy tale.
I immediately took to the charming, personal, and beautifully antiquated architecture. You might remember the post I did back in December about antique Spanish doors. Well, I thought it’d be fun to show you the real thing (some are old, some look old, and some are new). Enjoy!
Gorgeous, no?!
All photos by Ashley White ©2010
2 very different, but beautiful houses. Which do you prefer?
Incase you haven’t noticed, I’ve been loving Country Living Mag. lately. Don’t be fooled, it’s not all chintzy florals and rooster collections, they have a great grasp on what it means as a lifestyle. It can be modern, retro, or casual, and it’s not your grandma’s “country.” Anyway, in their Feb. issues they featured two houses, both very different, and both worth sharing.
House 1 – simple with a Scandinavian design smarts
I like the home office/sewing room in the photo above.
Home 2 showcases great antique finds – some splurges, some bargains.
Don’t worry, the zebra skin is faux.
So, which home is more you!?
images via Country Living Feb. 2010
Super cute and chic French finds…
I discovered this online boutique, French Freak, via House Beautiful. I’m sure you’ll find something you love, and the prices won’t make you wince either. I think this stuff is adorable!
This Eiffel Tower blind was what caught my attention when I saw it in House Beautiful
They have so many of those adorable bamboo mats with the old advertisements on them – so if you don’t see one you like here check on their site.
Cute, huh?!?
Check out the goodies I made for mom’s bday
My mom’s birthday was last Monday and I decided to go out on a limb and try cooking. While I’m a tremendous fan of food, it’s the making of it that alludes me. I thought I’d share my results, as I’m always proud when I manage to make something edible. The best part is that we had all of the ingredients already!
For dinner I made vegetarian tacos – instead of ground beef, I substituted lentils – packed with protein, fiber, and other delicious goodness.
The original green lentil tacos recipe
For dessert I decided to try and make a lemon meringue pie, since I can’t remember the last time we had one. It’s far from beautiful, as I haven’t made meringue since I was probably 12, but it was delicious. Also, I cut the sugar in half from what the recipe below says.
mmmm…
The original lemon meringue recipe.
Brighten up your Monday – favorite images from my favorite blogs
Today is just a blah Monday and the weather outside is far from inspiring. I thought I’d do another installment of “Favorite Images from my Favorite Blogs.” I started this feature because I realized that as a blogger, I rarely had the time to peruse the blogs that inspired me to start blogging, or that I’d discovered while blogging. I hope you enjoy and that it ads a little brightness if it’s gloomy where you are like it is here…
(blogs featured in no particular order)
Gotta love Swedish style
This bit of heaven on earth is Lake Como, Italy
Images above from the lovely, La Dolce Vita
I want a kitchen that gets such great light – maybe it would help me wake up in the mornings
Great sconces on either side of the bed…
The three above images are from the inspiring, Cococozy.
Take a look at the room above again. It doesn’t jump out at you at first but I think that’s why it’s so great. This room is so serene and calm. Personally I find it very hard to feel relaxed, or focus and get any work done, if a room is cluttered. I feel like in this room I could either completely clear my mind, and/or really focus on the task at hand. Beautiful.
These images from the amazing 79 Ideas
Awesome furniture sale at Rue La La – great rugs!
Rue La La doesn’t often have furniture/home decor sales, so I thought I had to share this one with you, as it has some good steals in it. The sale features Safavieh furnishing, and best of all, some really glam rugs. If you like what you see – click on the following link to log in to Rue La La, or if you aren’t a member , sign up for free and get great discounts. Stuff sells out fast!
Click here to shop – http://www.ruelala.com/invite/decorology
I love this blue rug – reminds me of the rugs in Morocco. The rug prices vary, this one, at 3’9″ by 5’9″, is $129
The settee’s on sale for $1,499
This set of tables is $139
Check out this gorgeous vintage tablescape…
In Nesting Newbies, a shiny new online mag – lifestyle, food, entertaining, decor, etc. – they featured interior designer Jennifer Rowland Clapp and the magic she whipped up in the form of this gorgeous dining room. She shows – and tells- how to take the chintzy stuff you probably already have in your basement and turn it to a modern, glam set up. First – lets get your attention…
pretty right?
Jennifer’s favorite shopping resource is Etsy, and one of her tips is that “contrast is key, and her rules for achieving it: ‘reuse, repurpose, and have fun- balance, clean, modern pieces with ornate, vintage items; and don’t overload the table’.”
What I love about this look is that your stuff doesn’t need to match – in fact, it is the variety which creates a modern spin on the look.
Like what you see? There’s tons more in their online 2010 issue. Go to the Nesting Newbies site to see it! The beautiful photos are by Natalie Wi, Allure West Studios
Morocco Series: A tour of my favorite Moroccan guest house
In between hostel stays, Chris and I treated ourselves to a night in the Riad Lalla Mogador, in the city Essaouira. It’s actually priced really reasonably and just feels like a treat!
*please be patient during photo upload – I’ve specially uploaded higher-res images so you guys get extra detail! 🙂
Our room was very authentic and the furnishings reflected the craft/artisan trade that flourishes in Essaouira
Outside our room
Traditional Moroccan homes have no roof in the center, and an open courtyard area in the middle.
The second floor halls
Looking up from the second floor
Plenty of nooks to relax
You take your brunch on the roof, which has some great views – see the beach in the back?
See lots more gorgeous photos at their site, http://www.riadlalla-essaouira.com/
*All photos taken by my boyfriend, Chris
** I am by no means an expert and after 7 days of running around Morocco please feel free to correct me if any information I give in the Morocco Series is incorrect!
A really simple, gorgeous way to decorate for Spring
I know …Spring? Who am I kidding? It’s snowing outside right now as I’m typing. Maybe one day Spring will come, and when it does, you should try this really cute idea. It’s from Southern Living Feb. 2010, which revamped their look a few months ago, and I’m really liking all the issues so far!
These two photos are so pretty. If you have woods or trees on your property you could even create your own bouquets.
Click on the image above for a larger version with the names of the flowers. From top left: star magnolia, saucer magnolia, yoshino flowering cherry, flowering quince, forsythia, and eastern redbud (You can get these giant glass vases at vivaterra)
Click on each image above for a larger version of the instructions
This is a good idea- use strands of grapevine to support the stems. I like the look
Images via Southern Living Feb. 2010