House Beautiful

Tag Archive for 'wedding'

Saturday Morning Mishmash

sigh, saturday

Good MORNIN Sugarplums!!!  Happy Saturday!  You know what my favorite thing to do on a weekend morning is, so, I’ll tee it up while you refill your coffee…

first I drink the coffee | covet living

This antique poppy in coral from Spoonflower of all places is amazing.  And it’s a dead ringer for Raoul Textiles, but at a teeny fraction of the price.  Can you picture it as drapery panels or a big gorgeous roman shade in a kiddo’s room?  I can.  And I DIE.

antique poppy

My every (single) day, fave hairdo.

fave hairdo

This kitchen makes me so (so) happy.  Between the arched glass pantry door, the giant demijohn lamps on the console/island, and the dough bowl, it’s the warmest/fuzziest thing I ever did see.

kitchen warmth | covet living

And it makes me almost as happy as things like this.  Which is what my entire Instagram feed looks like.  Karrie asked me the other day what she needed to do to make sure I didn’t become a dog lady someday, and I was like, “Psssht – fat chance.”

golden retriever in lake | covet living

Cuz this is legit going down.  Sorry Karrie.

puppy class | covet living

One more.  I meaaaan…..

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Moving along.. the gorgeous paint color of this dresser totally inspired me to refinish my next piece of furniture in whatever that hazy grey-blue is.  I also just had my Modern Farmhouse client in Ohio do her playroom built-ins in it.

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Hello, Spring.

lilacs

What my life in Cali feels like…

straw hat

summer surf

life in cali

I got this yesterday from my buddy Mully.  Heavens, he’s so right.  We’re a long long way from Kansas Ohio and where we were 2 years ago, Campers.

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Speaking of that place that starts with an O, *this* is a solid reminder it took me a long time to realize and could’ve saved me a LOT of grief had I understood it sooner. But ye know – it’s a journey.

never argue

WHAT is this glorious print and can I put it on (anything/everything)??  …jk, it’s Persia Black on Taj Ecru from Quadrille and it’s to die.

persia in black

Take me back to there, svp. #tuscany

tuscany

What my someday dream home dreams are made of. brass and marble

Every now and again I appreciate a good crisp, white linen lampshade, but most of the time it puts me to sleep.  A super easy way to customize whatchoo got goin’ on and warm things up / introduce some color & texture to your space is to have your existing shades recovered in a favorite fabric.  Karrie & I are doing this in her dining room with her wee chandelier shades (prob doing a burlap)… Bunny Williams has this whole collection which is so cozy I can’t take it, but also so expensive I could never afford it:

Bunny Williams Home Shades

So thank heavens there are lovely Etsy sellers like this one who do custom shades in baller fabrics at a fraction of the cost.  Like these… which would be AMAZING on some crystal wall sconces:

Sconce Shades

Speaking of sconces… this is the most drool-worthy one I’ve eva seen.

favorite sconce ever | covet living

Love Loren Hope’s photog skills almost as much as her jewelry.  I’d like this blown up into a massive print to put in my dining room, thannnnksss guuuuuuuuurl.

waves and whitewater

This one is also amazing:

IMG_3311

My **FAAAAVORITE** white wine.  Not sure where its been all my life but if I was once lost, now I’m found.  My girlfriend Becky brought it over the other night for dinner.  Bonus: it’s $10.99 at Trader Joe’s.

pine ridge chenin blanc and viognier

Behold: the perfect jeans + white tee combo.

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Loving this print from Scalamandre… Bali in Roses & Moss.

scalamandre fabric

Mani goals… WHAT IS THIS AMAZING COLOR??

best nail color

Dallas Shaw’s Insta, which is a sea of dreamy pink eye candy.

dallas shaw instagram

Clayton Sconces by AERIN for Circa Lighting.  #nomnomnom

Clayton Wall Sconce

So sweating Gigi Hadid’s style these days.

gigi hadid malibu tee

Please, get in my (beach) house now.

rug love

I’ll take a coupla you, too.

bella cane stool

Who knows when or if I’ll ever find someone I’d like to marry, but when/if I do, I’d like to wear THIS gown by Liz Martinez… GASP.  That is the most stunning wedding gown I’ve ever seen.

best wedding dress ever

On that tangent… it’s funny how your priorities shift as you get older.  Every girl’s got a dream about what she wants her wedding to be like, and I’m sure if you’d asked me 10 years ago, it would’ve been a REAL big to-do / fuss.  And now, I’m like, howsabout just give me the most amazing person (ever), maybe a simple but beautiful antique ring from Tadema Gallery down there (or just a simple pavé band), a handfulla good friends and family, a beach and a taco truck, and I’m cool.

ring

Kenil in Indigo Textile from Penny Morrison.  You could use it for pillows or upholstery, or you could just frame it b/c it’s so beautiful.

kenil in indigo | penny morrison

I DIED yesterday over this stunning tile design, via my dear friend and fellow designer, Cory McCrummen.

tile cory mccrummen design | covet living

The perfect weekend outfit.

weekend uniform | covet living

Just about the only philosophy you’ll ever need…

joy in the ordinary

The most perfect candle scent, ever that I picked up from Pigment as a Christmas gift for my girl Caitlin, but haven’t been able to find since.  Pomegranate Citrus by Capri Blue.

capri blue pomengranate citrus

a) I need these immediately, b) somewherelately is a great follow.

steve madden pumps

I ran across TONS of amazing hardware when I was scouring the universe for Karrie & Tim’s house… these pulls are so unique and would be amazing on an island, or on a refinished dresser:

cast brass pulls

I need this jumpsuit, stat.

white jumpsuit

I’d also take a handfulla these to hang down a long hallway. #perfection… and #bonus – they’re under $200 each at Wayfair.

Wayfair Hayden Pendant

Hello, lover.

Picture 14079

Picture 14079

Take me to there.

somewhere lately pool

AND I’m off to make breakfast.  This is a go-to: sautéed spinach (set aside), then roasted tomatoes, then scramble eggs + a handfulla feta + cilantro, then toss the veggie mix back in, then top with fresh avocado.

steph's go-to break

Have a great weekend, you little love nuggets!!

xo,

Steph's Scanned Signature

Sunday Mishmash of Goodness

Sunday Morning | Covet Living

Gooooood MMMMORNING (!)  This post is not about The Bachelor, nor is it another Gone With The Wind-esque run-down of what’s popping over at Casa Covet Living.  Lately, I’ve been looking at an AutoCAD / Cabinet Vision screen and reading plumbing fixture & wood flooring reviews with a fervor that I think may’ve begun to make my eyes start crossing inward.  And sidebar – lemme tell you – I honest-to-goodness LOVE doing all of those things, and feel REALLY grateful to be doing them for a living (which is still such a funny and amazing concept to me), but it’s also been a minute since I free-balled it and did my absolute favorite thing… and that, my friends, is fiddling the morning away on Pinterest – while the coffee maker gurgles in the background and bacon cooks and Gus lays at my feet.  Which is what is happening right now (except the bacon is pappardelle), and it’s heaven I tell ya.  And it’s good for my soul – in the same way planting potted herbs and using my power sander and riding a beach cruiser and smelling saltwater and painting and spending the day at a flea market is.  So you can tee up my favorite Sunday morning mix if you wanna…

Sunday Morning Mix | Covet Living

…and then, hey.  Feel free to fiddle faddle with me – here are the things that make me REAL happy, and the things currently tickling my proverbial pickle these days:

Is it Spring yet?

peonies | covet living

This Easter-egg-amazing crochet ditty from Kiini

crochet boho bikini | covet living

Love me some Aloha.

aloha collection | covet living

PS: Get 20% off sitewide today with the code SPRINGDREAMIN.

This situation, which is a sultry version of my every-day wardrobe.

White and Denim | Covet LIving

This stunner, which – at this point if I ever wanna get married – I would probably wear.  On a warm saunty beach.  With a taco stand as a caterer.

Moda Operandi Alexis Dress | Covet Living

…or this:

simple sequin dress | covet living

Speaking of marriage and tacos, have you seen this?  Truer words have really never been spoken.

Screen Shot 2016-02-28 at 5.54.46 AM

I love this Gigi Stoll photograph so much it hurts.

www.gigistoll.com

www.gigistoll.com

Could I please get two claps for my big man GusGus for President?  I’ve never seen him not chase and/or have an absolute melt down when faced with a cat.  My friend Kristine graciously took (amazing) care of him while I was in Hawaii, and sent me this one day.  I was all kinds of jaw-on-floor for at least an hour.

bus

This striped blue fabric makes me weak at the knees in an English country house / It’s Complicated sort of way…

fermoie stripe | covet living

And while we’re in a blue period, so does this custom ottoman from Brooke Wagner Design.  She’s a designer out of Newport Beach, and I lovelovelove her work.

Ottoman by Brooke Wagner Design | Covet Living

That goes for these perfect blue and white pots from Bixby & Ball I saw last week at the John Robshaw event (remember when I diddled in my drawers when he kissed me on the cheek?  Then patted him on the arm LIKE AN A$$ HOLE and said, “Good job buddy.  Keep it up!”  Cuz I do.)

Perfect Blue & White Pots | Bixby & Ball | Covet Living

Last blue and white thing: I need this.

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Today, I’m delighted to be hibernating and working on my own business and I haven’t thought too much about it as of late… maybe I should, ‘fore my ovaries look like something from the Walking Dead… but someday, maybe this’ll be nice to have again.

love | covet living

The perfect weekend outfit..

sunday outfit | covet living

I wanna make luscious drapery panels out of this Zak + Fox “Sauvage in Raffia” situation REAL BAD.

zak and fox raffia | covet living

This goofy outtake is the only pic I have of it, but how gorgeous is the fresh jade lei Hope’s mama made??  PS have you guys ever smelled pua keni keni??  It’s this little flower that grows on a bush, and it is the most delicious thing these nostrils have ever encountered.  If somebody makes a pua keni keni candle, I’m buying stock.

jade lai

Um.  Schumacher took one of their most gorgeous wallpaper patterns (Feather Bloom) and came out with a buncha new color ways, including Fuschia.  Could you die?

feather bloom in fuschia | covet living | 5006076

My homegirl Priscilla Presley aka Adrienne showed me this last week and I basically did.

Schumacher wallcovering

I dig this bathroom – in all its rustic + unpolished brass glory.

rustic glam bath | covet living

I saw these at Country Floors last week.  They’re brand new and they SO PRETTY IN PERSON.

country floors | covet living

This tile is not new but it’s also not ugly, AT all.

country floors | covet living

This makes me so happy.

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So does this oyster chandelier from Lowcountry Originals, which I fawn over every time I see it at market.  I’ll take one for my beach house.  Thanks.

lowcountry originals lighting | covet living

Where was this number when I was packing for Hawaii?  Remind me to blog about that untouched fairy wonderland soon.  Or you can just scroll my insta feed from 2 weeks ago and you’ll get the idea.

Mikoh Belize Bikini | Covet Living

Speaking of suits, this Samudra situation is the best one-piece I’ve ever seen, and the colors are beautiful in person.  I have Easter Egg fever – can you tell?

samudra-splash

samudra-makena-palm-makena-palm-one-piece-makena-palm-product-1-028020813-normal

As things that aren’t ugly go, there’s also this:

white one piece | covet living

PS: I’m eating leftover Lupi for breakfast right now, and it is nothing short of amazing. #pms

pappardelle with lamb rage | covet living

Sigh.  Nostalgia.  This looks like the field behind my house as a kid.

nostalgia | covet living

Since I am currently on the custom cabinetry side of design, I notice gorgeous details – like the molding on these doors – more than I used to:

cabinet door molding | covet living

Love how these folks used a repurposed shop counter as a kitchen island:

reclaimed shop counter as island | covet living

Love an unexpected color-combo – like neon + beige.  Maybe I’d cut the sleeves off this guy though – or make it cap sleeved but backless.  Cuz, you know, I’m not a pilgrim.  As is evidenced by my affinity in recent years for crop tops, which I know my parents love.

neon and beige | covet living

I’d like to have that.  For breakfast. #pms

short ribs | covet living

Walker Zanger wonder.

walker zanger tile

Exhale.

pier | covet living

This Bolivian blanket is gorgeous.  These aren’t cheap, but man they’re stunnahs, and you can use them in oodles of noodles of ways… as a rug, thrown over a headboard… as upholstery for your dining chairs… or at the foot of the bed – à la Karrie’s guest room.

bolivian blanket | covet living

Um.  I saw this and then read it 7x, because it is as true a phenomenon as I’ve ever seen when it comes to SO MANY of my close friends’ relationships I know about, and my own relationship from a few years ago.  I don’t know if it’s a Peter Pan situation or what… but maybe not, because it applies in some of my 50-something friends’ relationships too.  And loving someone like that is so, so ****ing rare that it is truly the saddest thing in the world to let go of when the other person can’t get it together… but whoever wrote that is right – about the you must leave part & all.

walk away | peter pan quote | covet living

This chunky, nubby Boho coverlet.  Please get in my beach house.

boho coverlet | covet living

I am so about to paint my bathroom this dreamy, salmon-y dreamsicle color.  Don’t tell my landlord.

Coral Gables Benjamin Moore 2010-40 | Covet Living

My favorite print from Spoonflower.  Looks like Eskayel, but sans the price tag.  I just ordered this sample and it’s even more gorgeous in person.

Screen Shot 2016-02-28 at 6.28.10 AM

Love these antique pendants from Ann Morris, cuz seeing the SAAAAAAME usual suspects of lighting gets real snoozy real fast.

Antique Pendant Ann Morris Antiques | Covet Living

And this Scottish lantern.  It’s a cool $5k, but hey.  Great for inspo.  (*COUGH* – you can also have things like this custom-made, which is not inexpensive but not as $$ as you’d think)

Scottish Lantern | Ann Morris | Covet Living

Speaking of knocking things off… y’all know from this post that Sally King Benedict (former fellow Charleston-ite) is my favorite artist, ever.  And then she shared the Dream Beach House thing I put together on her Insta and I nearly shat myself.

Stephanie Ballard Covet Living | Sally King Benedict

ANYHOW, the ditty below which popped up in her Insta-feed recently is one of the most gorgeous paintings of hers I’ve ever seen… but she’s become SO POPULAR in recent years and her pieces are now so valuable that there’s no way in hockey sticks I’ll be able to afford one – at least not for the foreseeable future.  And so my right hand woman Karrie is painting me something similar.  I accidentally saw it hiding in the guest room when I was there last weekend and it was already so beautiful I almost died.  I cannot wait till it’s done.

sally king benedict | covet living

Love this dreamy exterior.  We’re using it as inspo on my Modern Farmhouse project in Ohio.

beatiful exterior | covet living

This is goofy and I love it.

ruffle off shoulder bikini | covet living

On a more covered up note, this I love so much it hurts.  It speaks to my I would’ve also loved being born in the 1940’s sensibilities.

off the shoulder | covet living

This pillow slays me.  I don’t know what’s so different about it than alllll the batik and mud cloth situations I’ve seen 9 trillion times, but something is.  I think I might buy it for myself for my birthday, like the slut that I am.  Nothing haunts you like the things you love and didn’t buy… or so they say.

chairish blue pillow | covet living

Preach sistah.

life is tough | covet living

Je love.  And je don’t know why je love things like that and then je wear sweatpants in real life, but c’est la vie.

black feather skirt | covet living

Anyway – it’s Sunday before 7am so imma go hike with Gus then take my pasta-from-last-night-filled buddha to the beach, then watch the Oscars.  Which makes me feel like this.

freedom | covet living

Sees yous latas!

Steph's Scanned Signature