simple pleasures

have a beautiful weekend

xoox

catherine

image found: here

summer whites inspired by...

Here are a few inspirational images for adding some fresh summer whites to your closet.  A few items that I will be searching for will be a lace top, white denim pencil skirt, creamy silk tank, and floaty white maxi dress.  Of course all worn in the real world with flat sandals.  Perhaps on a night out I'll bust out the wedges with the white skirt and tank top.  

Images 1, 2 and 3 are  my starting points...  

1.

I love the loose fit of this top and the hair is breezy light....

for an affordable alternative I love Madewell... 

2.

 This outfit is cool, confident and simple. 

a splurge...  3.1 Phillip Lim

and a great deal from Blank Denim on shopbop

3.

This is one of my favorite images/shoots of all time... 

Dree Hemingway for Numero Magazine #121 last spring 

by Sofia Sanchez & Mauro Mongiello

I will do a BCBG version with no sleeves for the FLA weather

and will take it to Harbour Island and walk in the water. Just 'cause.

Here are a few sandals to boot (getting a little punchy sorry)...

the Cyrus from K. Jacques on shopbop

the Beach Babe from Rebecca Minkoff on shopbop

and my current sandal obsession...the Dolce Vita Archer.  

I hope you have enjoyed the 'inspiration image' shopping trip.  We'll do it again soon! 

inspirational images found:  1 // 2 // 3 

little luxuries

Yesterday's post got me thinking about the lost art of actually sitting at a dressing table and, well, dressing.  Taking the luxury of time to think about your day and what mood you might be in.  Pretty and girly? Tomboy chic? Beachy boho?  Gamine?

Reality:  You have 5 minutes to get ready - pick up whatever is in your path, put it on and run.  Kids up at 5:45 (really?), breakfast, lunch-making, school drop offs,  oh, and maybe a shower?  

The little mirrored tray that you saw in yesterday's post is a place for me to take a second to focus on my favorite things. The tray itself is a favorite thing. My parents gave it to me - a treasure from an antique shop in Scotland.  It has meaning, its pretty, and it makes all my mornings just a bit more ....well, luxurious.  

Next time you walk by a little antique shop 

think about stopping in and finding a little something for your special goodies. 

These are the simple pleasures that add up to making a life of (your) style.

images found: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

delicate

As much as I have an obsession with chunky arm candy right now, my eye immediately went to these beautiful images below while tumbling (check out 'a picture a day' page above).  One of the tumblr tags led me to a very talented jewelry designer in LA, Gabriela Artigas.  The images below are from her collection and they are so beautiful.  

I think the balance of chunky arm stuff and delicate finger pretties is just right.  Big watch, statement bracelets and delicate little rings.  I am loving Gabriela's style and these images express it perfectly.  The unexpected petiteness of these rings with a giant chunk of a watch is ..... 

...what I would like to add to my little tray above. 

I am now in ' pretty little ring mode' thanks to Gabriela Artigas. 

images 1...4  found: here

image 5: moi

tumblr trail: here

simple pleasures

have a beautiful weekend

image found: here

xoox

catherine

the bu

I had a dream last night that I was in an elevator in LA and someone offered me a job at an ad agency.  I have had LA on the brain lately and I'm not sure why.  Having lived there for 10 years working in advertising the dream wasn't too far fetched.  And I do have a soft spot for LA.  The sun, the quality of light, the vibe, the art and laid back lifestyle is a plus.  The rest of it you work around like the traffic and Real Housewives crowd.

This morning with my coffee I clicked through the new issue of Lonny magazine and this Malibu house is the standout for me. Beautiful light, eclectic interiors all based on a palette of white is just right in my book.  Patrick Cline captures the essence of this retreat in these light filled images.

Someone asked me once while standing in canvas, "Catherine are you really this beige?"  and the answer is yes!  In fact, my answer was "give me a house on the beach in Malibu with a white interior and I'd be a happy girl".

Well, here it is:

 Ahhhhhhhh....

stay tuned to see if I accept that job in my dreams tonight...

totally random: soak

Every time I see Keri Russell's brownstone from Elle magazine I take a deep breath.  It is so beautifully done, so serene and has just the right amount of tone, texture and whimsy for me.  

The palette is simple, soothing and creamy. When searching for bathtub images the other day I found her bathroom and yet again looked at all of the images from that Elle article.  It never gets old for me. 

Here is her bathroom...  it is elegant and dreamy. 

Here are a more stand-alone tubs that create a cozy vignette for soaking

Brooke Giannetti's bathtub in a window - 

it makes you feel like you are bathing in a tree house

the high ceilings, whitewashed floors 

and giant windows make me take a deep breath

a masculine take on a girly past time

this is dreamy - have a hot bath, tumble into bed

this feels like a giant manor house 

in the middle of a gorgeous farm

I love the zen-meets-city-view vibe of this one

And here are the fantasy tubs... saved these three for last and they speak for themselves

ocean

city

woods

Mr. K and I have it in our DNA to someday build a house. 

These images will get tucked into the 'someday house' file...

...which is rather large I might add...

images found:  1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10

montage monday

Happy Monday friends... just got back from the beach and still feeling the warm glow. Here are a few images to share the beachy vibe...

images found

clockwise l to r:  1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // center

simple pleasures

have a beautiful weekend

found: here


xoox
catherine

nice buns

In the never-ending quest for the perfect 'messy bun' I thought I would collect a few ideas and share.
Inspiration for summer ...

images clockwise from upper left found: 

1// 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // center

Sometimes when you try too hard it doesn't work.  

I'm going to try not to try and see how I do!   

mirror mirror

We have quite a few large floor mirrors in the store and it got me thinking... would this work in our house?  Would it work in yours?   Big fabulous statement I think.  The light that bounces around from a nice big mirror during the day is a welcome addition to any home.  The evening's soft light also loves a good mirror.  Light a few candles and create a mood.

Here are a few from canvas interiors... and a few other ideas below.  I am curious about trying one in our living room.

canvas interiors

canvas interiors

canvas interiors

And some inspiring design ideas from around the web waves...

traditional lines of the mirror sit nicely in a sleek bathroom

a little romance in the bedroom

a large statement in a cozy space

I love how this one beckons you to enter

a beautiful spot to get dressed

After looking at these images,  I am now on the hunt to find a big white or gold one just to add a little sparkle to the store floor.

And perhaps our living room.   

a little ps on the canvas interiors website:  
Many have asked where and when and the answer is soon!  We had a great photo shoot at the store this week and are editing images for the website. We are almost there... we are excited to get it up and running!  Stay tuned...

images found:  1, 2 & 3 moi // 4 // 5  // 6 // 7 & 8