House Beautiful

Tag Archive for 'betsy bracken'

Sunday Morning Musing, Fall Edition

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What up Campers?!  Steph here, laptop tapping from the teensie western outpost of Crested Butte, CO.  Otherwise known as the coziest little Hallmark-Hall-of-Fame-esque mountain town you’ve ever seen.  I’m assuming my normal Sunday morning routine – (coffee in hand, Norah Jones & pals jamming on the playlist, OD-ing on Pinterest with Gus under foot)… except instead of saltwater, it smells like Fall & firewood & heaven here, and there’s chilly, clean mountain air wafting in through the open windows.

Crested Butte | Covet Living

Crested Butte | Covet Living

Anyhooski – here’s the latest & greatest reel of my favorite things:

File under: Future Home Pipe Dreams.  The blue door, the white brick, the lantern, the ivy… it’s perfection.  {via}

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These vintage Mercury Glass gems from 1st Dibs have been on my wishlist since the beginning of time.

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Ahhhooooooooooooh a monogram, in coral + chartreuse = air blowing up my southern sensibility shorts.

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Shower door porn. {via}

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Vintage ladder kilim – Dash & Albert used to make a good ladder rug that’s been disco’d, so I really only see these in vintage form these days, but I love them.  They have detail and warmth and pattern without being too busy, and they’re perfect for layering.

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This tuxedo ruffler from J.Crew (currently 30% off, BTW) reminds me of Jayne’s wardrobe ca. 1985… and also makes me wanna wear it to work with a pencil skirt, or with beat-up jeans and booties to Sunday brunch.

tuxedo-ruffle-j-crew-covet-living

Vintage suzani lumbars I bumped into at Hollywood at Home a few weeks ago.  Stunning in person – the photo doesn’t do them justice.  But what I love about these is that you *kinda* just need 1 on (an otherwise simple) bed, and you have a showstopper.  Or they mix & mingle perfectly with other patterns.
Vintage Suzani Pillows, Hollywood at Home | Covet Living

The best $38 you’ll ever spend = on these leggings from Vici.  They come in a whole ROYGBIV rainbow of colors, and they’re SO FREAKING COMFORTABLE.  We’re talking elastic waistband status, people.  I repeat: ELASTIC WAISTBAND.  They’re so comfortable and flattering it’s stupid.  Did I mention they’re $38?  K.  I have them in this army green, and also in the black – which is more charcoal/faded black.  Also craving them in midnight blue & wine, but I’m trying to exercise a little restraint.

Piper Leggings, Vici | Covet Living Piper Leggings, Vici | Covet Living

Since she tapered off of blogging over at Nest Egg, I follow Nashville Designer Rachel Halvorson’s insta to keep up with her glorious work.  But lately, I stalk her account for these videos of her ADORABLE CHUBBY TODDLER, where they try to subtitle his slobbery, adorable gibberish. “A goosey who pooped got sick” = I DIE.  And, “THE SCHEWAGE!” – BAAAHhfhfdhahahhaa.  Watch this one and this one.  You’re welcome.

Graham subtitles Rachel Halvorson | Covet Living

Addis in Midnight/Pasha (Peter Dunham’s latest & greatest) blows my shorts up like you wouldn’t believe.  It is perfect.  Also comes in a cream and chocolate color way that looks very understated cowboy chic.

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Using it in my #modernharmhouse project in Ohio… my client wanted to inject a smidge of lilac/purple for something unexpected (it’s an otherwise muted/neutral palette), which made me jump for joy.  Finding this gem checked that box and tied the whole dang thing together.

Fabric Story | Modern Farmhouse Project | Covet Living

Said pattern is also current swathing the walls at Hollywood at Home in LA, and you’ve never seen anything cozier in your life than an entire room enveloped in that stuff.

Addis in Midnight/Pasha at Hollywood at Home | Covet Living

I would love to use these new sconces from Arteriors, anywhere.  I love that there’s a mix of material & texture (wicker + brass). Flanking an upholstered bed, they’d be money – perfectly layered & understated without being boring.

Arteriors Padma Wall Sconce | Covet Living

I see and get to design some pretty fancy kitchens these days, with bells & whistles out the wazoo… but at my core, I’m still just a sucker for the warmth of a sweet, simple kitchen with some patina. {via}

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Samesies.

coziest kitchen ever | covet living

I’d like to whip up these Pumpkin Beer Pretzels with Chipotle Queso in that kitchen tonight, and house them over a Netflix marathon.  If that doesn’t sound like the best Sunday ever, I dunno what does.  Signed, praisesweetbabyjesus my new jeggings have an elastic waistband.

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Loving this piece by John Zurier.

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Love / need / am coveting this leather satchel.

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Pretty palette for Fall – spesh on the tabletop.  Just layers of blues and layers of antique metals.

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If you’re in the market for new underroos, I’d recommend this over the shoulder boulder holder:

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I #cantstopwontstop with the blue & white tile.  These are my new faves:

{via}

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{ via BDG in San Diego }

blue and white tile, BDG | covet living

{via}

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{via}

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While we’re looking at things in pairs, I’d give my left nut to have my weave morph into something a little more mermaid-esque, comme ça…  WHO WAKES UP LIKE THAT?!

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Is that ever true.  I feel like that’s one of the most solid lessons I’ve learned in my 30’s.

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If EVER you find yourself with a cold this winter, do yourself a favor and grab about 5 of these.  One of them does more for me than the entire contents of my medicine cabinet.

best cold cure - pressed juice | covet living

I’ve been sweating Kiini brand suits for awhile, and I’m thinking about scooping the pink version up for a January trip to Mexico.

kiini | covet living

This is a custom fireplace via a fellow San Diego-based Designer.  Super into it… there are a few things going on: the tile on the hearth and surround, the floating (looks like a reclaimed) mantle, the curvy shape etc… but it still feels nice and simple to me.

custom fireplace, design squared | covet living

Just another all-time fave I was scouting a few weeks back at BDG tile – Tabarka’s Izmir – for one of the bathroom floors at #projectsantabarbarainvegas.

tabarka | covet living

Loving the mountains, but dag… do I love the saltwatery air and technicolor universe that is San Diego.

san diego | covet living

Love the kitchens with islands-as-big-as-my-house & all, but I love this homemade beaut just as well.  So easy to do with some reclaimed lumber, or an antique piece of furniture – just have a remnant of natural stone cut for the top and you’re golden.

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ASOS = my favorite place to shop for lingerie.  Love this set.

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Bastideaux textiles (through Nicky Rising) are my new favorites – especially for dude pads.  This one is Napili… aka happy baby pineapples.

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Using their Bogo in Midnight (pictured behind the wool stripe pillow – via DRC San Diego) for a downtown bachelor pad in San Diego.  MONEY. #clientbadassbachelor

Bastideaux Fabric, Covet Living Interiors | Covet Living

This gorgeous antique headboard appeals to my southern-rooted, Stevie B sensibilities.

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Fall fashion goals. {via}

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GOOD GOD IF YOU KNOW WHAT’S GOOD FOR YOU, MAKE GRILLED CHEESE + TOMATO SOUP FOR SUPPER TONIGHT.  Gobs of Grilled Cheese recipes here… my go to, howevuh, is Pacific Natural Foods’ Organic Creamy Tomato soup, + grilled cheese on fresh sourdough, with some RUHL good extra sharp cheddar, dipped in Bonne Maman’s strawberry jam.

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These dog bowls are about a jillion dollars at some highfalutin pet boutique in La Jolla, but I’d like someone to make them for me… *COUGH* Chris.

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I may or may not have just bought this for the future President of the United States… Gus.  Are you following him on Insta yet?  Cuz you should be. doggie-chambray-bowtie-covet-living

We just put these in my #modernfarmhouse project’s kitchen in Ohio, and they’re stunners.  One of my favorite lanterns ever…  look at the oxidized copper patina.  This pic I snapped from the Visual Comfort Vegas showroom a few weeks back.

Brantley Lantern, Visual Comfort | Covet Living

Snap from the Pom Pom Home booth at To Dine For in La Jolla a few weeks back.  All I ever needed was 2 of these at the foot of my bed, or on either side of my dining table.

wicker chair, pom pom home | covet living

I just wanna move in.  I want everything in here.

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Dying to use this gorgeous tile somewhere… via a trip to Country Floors in LA this past Spring.

tile, country floors | covet living

Lorna Luxe’s Instagram is on point for perfectly layered neutrals.  Also, I stalked the bra in this first shot, and thru some quick stalking I hath discovered a stellar new source for underthings.

via lorna lux insta | covet living

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Log this under one-of-my-favorite-patterns-ever: Peter Fasano’s Hillevi in Buff.

peter fasano hillevi in buff | covet living

This shade of blue.  On everything – cabinetry, millwork, furniture – anything.

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Loving the artwork of Ines Longevial – discovered via Krista from Cloth & Kind’s Pinterest.  They have superb taste.

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Susan Connor = another new textile muse I can’t get enough of.

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New and delightfully whimsical Keaton lamp, from Visual Comfort.  I have an antique lamp almost just like this, packed away somewhere in a basement in North Carolina. Sniff.

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I need a new business card holder-thingy *COUGH* please Santa.
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How precious would Coeur in Olive from Les Indiennes be in a little girl’s room?

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I may’ve posted this pendant (or one like it) 99x, but here’s to #100.  LOVE.

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I love a mosaic tile backsplash that looks like artwork just about as much as I love a classic subway tile backsplash, but you know what’s really growing on me?  Running your countertop up the backsplash as well.  These campers took it a step further and integrated the sink as well.  But it’s such a clean, simple, gorgeous look – and probably uber easy to clean.  My home skillet Betsy of Bixby & Ball did it in her kitchen, and it’s stunning.  PS: love the open shelf they popped in here, too.

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Get in my office.  Kthanksbye. {via} lucite-and-brass-bar-cart-covet-living

Obsessed with this oh-so-simple but chic entry.  Those tall baskets could hide a multitude of evils (toys for all my friends who are parental units) and the curved glass or lucite console hasn’t gotten old for me yet.

entry

Behold.  The most perfectly indiscernible blue-grey paint color, ever… with the faintest hint of lavender.  My last 2 bedrooms have been this color. wisp-of-smoke

Last but not least, you just can’t beat pretty hardware.  These hex pulls are from Rejuvenation and they’re $11 each… done.

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I lied.  This needs to go last.  Maybe a good thing to do before the week starts over tomorrow?

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Have a great Sunday!!!!

xoxo,

Steph's Scanned Signature

Currently Loving…

You guys know this drill… it’s that time of the month (no, not that one) where over coffee & with Gus underfoot, I unload all the design // fashion // life inspo goodness from my phone onto our little blog.  There’s great stuff in here, but it’s organized in an obnoxiously overstuffed Nordstrom Rack-rack fashion (sahhhhreee)… meaning yoooou lucky little ducks (!)  Yer gonna have to pick through all of it to get to the goods 🙂  You can turn on Karrie’s latest & greatest Spotify mix and grab yourself a cup of coffee before you get rollin.  Here she blows:

Tee up the U-Haul.  I’m moving in immediately.  LOOK AT THE SHAKES, and the copper gutters, and the blue shutters which are the most perfect shade of not-navy-but-not-marine-blue I’ve ever seen.

front window and shutters

front window, shutters and replacing gutters

Same goes with this.  What in the..

dream house

This tile slays me to no end.  I’m sort of confused about the rotating mamas in these pics (next thing you know, there’ll be a pic of me giving Gus a bath in that tub floating around Pinterest), but I’m obsessed and can’t pin down the source.  It’s some kinda encaustic tile… any ideas?

this tile that tile again

encaustic tile

WHAT IS IT????  Is this it?  I pulled this from the archives of my phone from the last time I was at Ann Sacks:

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And this one (similar but clearly a different breed) from Amiel’s desk at Country Floors (WHAT UP HOLMES??!)… love him.

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The best upholstered bed EVA, on the cheap, courtesy of Tar-jay.  We just put this in Karrie’s master at Casa CL.  Normally, buying things like upholstered furniture from Target would give me the scaries, but this proved to be an amazing score.  We did it in Linen Talc.

Skyline Upholstered

All I ever wanted to wear, all summa long.

spaghetti strap

Major truth.  And majorly scary.  But chances are, majorly worth it.  Can’t think of a time I’ve ever shut my eyes and taken a leap when I’ve regretted it.  Something good always comes.

scary to jump

I lied.  I’d like to wear this on Saturday nights.  To a tea party.  In Neverneverland.

roksanda

Please take me to there and tee me up a latté.

makes me so happy

There are trends out there that – albeit beautiful – have been did more times than Debbie Does Dallas… Moroccan rugs (I have one – guilty!), batik pillows (I love them but I seriously can’t see another one) and the like.  But you know what I’m not sick of yet?  African sea glass beads.  I ran into oodles of noodles of these at the Pasadena Flea Market a few weeks ago, and I wasn’t one bit mad.  I want these lilac bad boys to hang over my big fat gold lamp base.

african purple and sea glass beads

Just a super unique ceramic lamp via Mark D. Sikes, who does no wrong, ever.

lamp mark d sikes

It doesn’t matter how many times Pinterest goes: “Psst!  You’ve already pinned this pin!”  I always repin it anyway b/c that’s how much I love this kitchen.

kitchen

Snug as a damn bug in a rug, I love him so much it hurts.

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Something to remember.  In a sea of Instagram chicks who are legit stunning and a dating pool that’s like The Hunger Games, it is NOT hard to feel like you wanna airbrush your whole self, and maybe your life.  But, mmmmaybe don’t.  My best friend from college told me the other day that I was cute, but that that was the absolute dumbest thing about me (meaning, I have way better qualities that have nothing to do with that).  Maybe the nicest semi-backhanded compliment ever, and twas a good reminder to be yourself and be kind, and that that’s all that really matters in the end.

good heart

Those chairs.  I die.

chairs

As cement tiles go, there are a few patterns that are REAL played out.  This isn’t one of ’em.  I would think seriously about installing this vertically, maybe behind a bar.  With floating shelves over it.  And an unlacquered brass faucet.  OMG, I just let out a little pee.

cement tile shop

Only the best outfit I’ve ever seen.

best outfit ever

Another good reminder.  It’s not easy to do, but not one bad thing has ever happened when I’ve done this.

don't be in a rush

These might weigh more than me and split my earlobes, but I think they’re worth it.

moda operandi earrings

Love this Robert Allen fabric, posted up here for $13/yard.  RUN.  Now.

robert allen fabric

I need some purple mascara in my rotation, stat.

purple mascara

Probably some of this too.  You know I love my Burt’s Bee’s in Wink, but in pics it makes me look washed out.  Like my lips blend in with mah FACE.  This might not have a much different effect, but it’s worth a shot.

perfect lipstick

Please let my backyard magically transform into this.

patio haven

Painting your trim & baseboards isn’t for the faint of heart, but I do love how this turned out.

paint the trim

A kermit-tipped mani also isn’t for the faint of heart, but I’d take it for a spin.

nail ideas

OMG, I die every time I see this.  Karrie affectionately refers to me as “Wabbit.”  If I ever procreate, I’m dressing my kid in this Peter Cottontail get-up.

my kid

Love the mustard off-the-shoulder number.

mustard off shoulder

HOPERS – can we do this for our next Boho Yard Party??!

boho camp

I snapped this lamp up from a yard sale down the street from Karrie’s new house. Fun Fact: the lady who owned it was Lionel Richie’s old assistant, and it came from his house.  It’s about four parts hideous and one part amazing.

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The pendant lights – I CANNOT EVEN.  I get a tickle in my shorts when I spy lighting I haven’t seen before (because when you have to source for clients all the time, you get sick of seeing the saaaaaaaaame thing 900x).  These two-toners are money in the bank.

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My new favorite textile line / designer.  Hey girl heeeeeeeey.

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You know I can’t stay away from anything white, white or beige with a funky texture. Love this guy.  By way of my home slices at DRC San Diego.

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Can. She. Ever. Do. Wrong.

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Get in my house.

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Get on my ear lobes.

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Literally looks like what my life in So Cal feels like.

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I do miss Charleston.  I always thought I’d move back there someday… never say never, but for now, I’m great OD-ing on nostalgia a little every time I see a pic like this of downtown.

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Processed with VSCO with e2 preset

Snapped these up a few weeks ago at the Rose Bowl Flea Market for Karrie’s master bedroom.  They’re enormous and so lovely in person.

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Shouldacouldahwouldah snapped up these vintage lamps, too.

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This girl had her flea marketing outfit on point.  I won’t even bother showing you what mine looked like that day, which was a cross between soccer mom function + Fraggle Rock.  But for reals.  It’s like, 110 degrees out there.

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New favorite nail color that’s (are you sitting down for this?) not Essie Adore-A-Ball, but a still-neutral perfect for summer peach… (Cuccio’s “Life’s a Peach”).

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Dangerously close to trying to put this into a kid’s bath in a Vegas remodel I’m doing, for the coolest client EVER with Anthro-Refined-Boho taste.  I’ve seen a similar pattern at Ann Sacks (see below), but love the green in this one that Jessica Risko Smith mocked up.  Kudos, GF.

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Let’s go on a tile tangent, shall we?  I have no idea where I’d put this, but Sonoma Tilemakers’ colors and materials literally knock me down with a feather, every time.

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GASP.  I hate to go so bananas about brass but man.  Insert brass + some bleached wood and you’ve got a party.

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Kelly Nutt is another designer with a dreamy Insta.  Follow her for sho.

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Kelly Wearstler for Ann Sacks.  #nomnomnom

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Love the cute baby hex tile almost as much as I love that chick’s shoes.

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TRUER WORDS HAVE NEVER BEEN SPOKEN.  The struggle is real, people.

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LOVE.

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Kantha pillows I snagged from the flea market for Karrie’s nook.

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I forgot this is THE BEST CHEESE EVER until I ate the entire display at the market across from Casa CL a few weekends ago.  Whoops.

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Good fillers for accessorizing beachy bookshelves.

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Kate Marker is a good insta follow.  I always end up loving what she posts, like this little ditty.

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A burl wood bar + that tile?  Yah.

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Kelly Nutt for the win.

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Je voudrais, via DRC San Diego.

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Je voudrais aussi.  And aussi via DRC.  I’m a franglais poet for realz.  In a wee wallpapered closet or powder bath??  C’MAHHHN.

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What is this glorious tape/trim that costs more than my left nut?  Love.  Down the lead edge of some drapery panel done in a small contrasting print?  Done.

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Another case for open shelving.  As if we ever needed more.

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Super cute and a bit Les Indiennes, sans le price tag.  OMG j’am on a roll.

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This dining room is everything.  It’s not even totally my style but I can’t help myself.

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My girl Betsy at Bixby doin’ it right!!  This marble-topped pedestal table is perfection.

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Via the most perfect(ly snooty) lighting shop on Melrose that makes me feel like a kid from the other side of the tracks every time I go in, cuz nobody will EVER talk to me. It’s like the Julia Roberts / Pretty Woman scene where the ladies who work there are like: “That wouldn’t fit you… it’s VERY EXPENSIVE.”  I care not one flip.  Look how amazing their lighting is.

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Like trying to choose a favorite star in the sky.

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Shouldahcouldahwouldah bought these from the Arteriors on Melrose when they were on super clearance.  But, I bought Gusgus diapers instead.

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Uh, I’d like to take a nap there please.

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Always a great reminder, ‘spesh when you’re not sure what’s what.

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Love, love love for summer.

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I popped into this boutique on the Jersey Shore a few years ago during a work trip, and their buyers have cherry picked the most amazing batch of clothing & accessories, ever.  Thank GYAH you can buy stuff off their insta.  And this sweater makes me ALL KINDS OF STOKED for Fall.

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If you aren’t following my friend Erika Gervin of South Harlow Interiors on Instagram and in real life, you’re missing out.  She’s one of those people you meet and instantly love… last summer, I was at a girls (or, I guess we’re ladies – whatever) networking thing (that culminated in a Magic Mike II viewing), but the point is, I was talking to her in line for popcorn, and she had just left her super big girl marketing job to branch out on her own in design.  She had no formal training, just major talent and major confidence in herself.  I started reading through my mental laundry list of why it would be so scary for me to branch out on my own and she goes: “GURL.  Just do it.  If I can do it you can do it!”  And I tell you.  When I was about to jump off the little cliff and go out on my own, what she had said to me 6 months before was ringing in my ears.  Anyhow.  She bought this rug for herself and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything so perfect, or ever seen anything like it again.  See?  Girl’s got great taste.

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The sweet Gus-cousin who took a nap on my feet last week on the street in Crested Butte.  Look at those eyes (!)

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That’s all I got!  Happy Sunday to you sweetie pies.

xoxo,

Steph's Scanned Signature