Magical Metallics

It's amazing the magic a little metal can create... 

A glimmer of gold... Framing a view... Lines like drawings structuring a room... Shimmering patterns upon a wall... 

The possibilities are endless.

{image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

Happy Weekend

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend. Ours has been pretty relaxed... Baking cookies, humming along to Nina Simone in the kitchen, a beautiful drive through the hills to a favorite town, a visit to a pop-up market... Wishing it could last a little longer....

By the way, the chai banana bread, pictured below (see link for recipe) is SO good! I made it a couple of weekends ago. Let me tell you, the recipe is a keeper. I love chai lattes and I love anything drizzled in a sugary glaze. This bread (or cake, really--I mean, it has frosting, so it must be cake, right?) is wonderful. Try it the next time you've got a few overripe bananas sitting around.

 chai banana bread

{image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}

An Elegant Ohio Farmhouse

Being from Ohio, I just had to take a look at this beautiful, cozy farmhouse in my home state. Its lovely mix of antiques, comfortable fabrics and furnishings, and eccentric collections drew me in, when I saw it. Blessed with a peaceful rural setting, this home is jam-packed with charm. The garden is delightful, too. Owners Greg and Page Price have filled their home with such personality. I love the attention to detail everywhere you look. The couple makes sure their home is a pleasure for their guests--of both the two-legged and four-legged variety. They have even created a "dormitory" bedroom in the attic, for those late-night get-togethers, when friends just don't want to leave the party.

{all images via Country Living}

A dozen gorgeous rooms

Sunny, fresh, cozy rooms... that's what I'm in the mood for right now. It must the midsummer vibe going on here. I just realized that almost all of these rooms are white. What can I say? I always love a chic white room. Like an art gallery, they showcase the beauty of each piece in the space.

Hope you enjoy them, too.

{image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12}

A Beautiful & Inspiring 1729 Yorkshire Farmhouse

Rachelle Blondel has filled her family's beautiful 1729 Yorkshire farmhouse with lucky second-hand finds and handmade touches. The Blondel family has the good fortune of having a lifetime lease on a parcel of land, as part of a village estate. Their wonderful, rambling farmhouse seems to be full of life and creativity, yet incredibly relaxed. Chickens, pigs, four cats, a dog, and Maud the Caravan share life on the farm with Rachelle, her husband Keith, and their three children, Tom, Jake, and Violet. Rachelle's mantra "live simply - tread gently" is reflected in her home's quiet mood and in her book Forgotten Ways for Modern Days.

Seeing this delightfully quirky family home, and reading Rachelle's blog dock & nettle, has left quite an impression on me. I love how real this home is--not overly styled or straight-out-of-the-box in design. The beauty of hand-crafted details and treasures collected over time create unique, richly layered visual pleasures, and a serene atmosphere. I can imagine many happy family moments being shared in this lovely home.

Rachelle Blondel

Stanley the dog in the lounge

 Rachelle's own ceramic spoon

 kitchen shelves made from old drawers turned on their sides

Rachelle repainted the Ikea kitchen island

 mismatched kitchen cupboard handles from anthropologie

 Rachelle revamped this wardrobe from Ikea

the serene master bedroom

 Rachelle's studio, where she sews, knits, creates ceramics, and does various other projects

 Violet's bedroom

Maud the Caravan

 Rachelle has been in the process of remodelling Maud the Caravan to be a play space for daughter Violet. I would love to spend some lovely idle hours relaxing in this charmingly eclectic haven!

Rachelle made the gorgeous floral bedding and curtains for the caravan

Just look at that crazy patchwork ceiling! Rachelle is amazing.

{all images via apartment therapy}