This is where I get to say anything I feel like saying and you get to agree with me.
We will also share stories and chocolate if you have any.
Naps are also encouraged, if shopping is out of the question.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Cool Dreams on a Hot Day

It is so dreadfully hot here, and while it did cool off a tiny bit this morning with rain, it is now very humid. So I am trying to only look at pictures of places that are cool.
Cold even. I am looking at real estate online and imagining outside , there is too much snow , so I will throw another log on the fire and read some more. Pup is sleeping contentedly in front of the fire.
Or we are in New York State and I am sitting in an Adirondack chair with a cup of tea, looking out over one of the incredibly beautiful lakes... this one is Lake George.
Autumn in New York State is quite beautiful but from where I am sitting now, any season is good.

images. the Sagamore Hotel, BNPS UK, my files.


Friday, January 28, 2011

Day Dreaming

The heat continues and I am bored and boring. I can only talk about how hot it is. The dog can only talk about how short his walks are and the absence of most of his little dog friends in the parks, they are all on holiday.. lucky dogs.
Today we went to the cinema. Horrid movie. Left annoyed that we even sat through it.
I am making plans to go to the flea market and hopefully happen upon something that I didn't even know we needed ! at a flea market price. Yes, I do like to daydream.

Thanks to the wonderful Blogs I read, I am finding all the little things that will make my next home super .. I found that a fireplace in the kitchen is what I need. . along with the fireplace in the bathroom, bedroom and living room. I imagine my husband will be wondering who will be dealing with all that firewood. Maybe we will keep it down to the living room and kitchen.

Sunday I hope to do some shopping for me. . and for the apartment. And maybe something for the kitchen.. I want soup bowls that are very deep. I know they exist, I just have to find them and bring them home with me.

I am also spending some time these days, browsing real estate websites.
A change is in the air. It might not happen for a year or more but there will be a change.
I hope you will be here with me when it comes .. it should be fun. Everything should be fun!

My new favorite rooms .

canada house and homeimages: Canada House & Home, Mark Waldron, 1st Option

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

A New Online Magazine ..

I like the idea of a "Charmed Life" .. some of us have one, some of us wish we had one and some of us have no idea that we have one.
What exactly is a charmed life ?
I will save that pondering for another day and just share this online magazine I discovered. Enjoy ! Charmed, I am sure ~


" LAUNCHED IN JANUARY 2011, MATCHBOOK IS AN ONLINE LIFESTYLE PUBLICATION CELEBRATING classics - shaken and stirred.
OUR MONTHLY ISSUES COVER PAST AND PRESENT FASHION, DECOR, THE ARTS, TRAVEL AND CULTURE. BRIMMING WITH INTRIGUING INTERVIEWS, STATELY HOMES, CAPTIVATING MEMOIRS AND SWOON-WORTHY FASHION SPREADS, MATCHBOOK SEEKS TO INSPIRE WOMEN AROUND THE GLOBE TO DESIGN A LIFE THEY ADORE.
From lipstick to letterpress, gelato to grosgrain, and Paris to Peru, consider us your field guide to a charmed life."

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

House of Fifty


House Of Fifty

"Ideas for Inspired Living " ..
Coming in May ! I can't wait. You can subscribe now if you wish. I need more inspiration these days..

I walk around the house and think I need something on this wall, or what kind of rug will work here besides an Oriental, or would a wall of bookcases work or should I just put in shelves somewhere .. I need an expert now and then. . or at least ideas. A new source of inspiration will help, I think .

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Dreaming .. A Cottage in the Country

Ever since my first trip to London, so many years ago, I have dreamt of living in a Mews. I would live in another sort of home if we were to live in London, but a Mews would be my dream.
But every time I think about moving again, from an apartment in a big city, my thoughts drift towards houses, cottages, little homes where there are lots of big trees and views. Gardens and sky to see from the windows.
A fireplace is a priority. No winter in the Northeast is bearable without a fireplace. The bigger the better. Actually, a fireplace in a home Anywhere is good.
A stone house on a country road ?
Or on a hill, overlooking ones own lake, with gardens and privacy and definitely no taxis honking outside and probably never a traffic jam outside.. unless there are geese on the lake .
A house with a view. Sky is good, trees are good, as far as you can see is a dream.
A cottage is all we need, The Husband, Pup and I. With lavender lining the walk to the door.
I am pretty sure that unless a perfect flat in London becomes available or a lovely small place in Paris pops up, New York State will have have something that we can all agree on. I have to remember to ask Pup if he wants his own room or not. Somehow I think it will be Not ..


images courtesy of The New York Times

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Mmmm .. Cookies!

Mmmmm I know how this pup feels ...
we have just returned from a favorite French bakery, with bags of bread, brioche and sweets.

Sunday, January 16, 2011

A Cottage ? A Gite ? A Flat ?

Would you like this to be your front door ? With twin swings on the porch ? I would. I want this house. It is tiny, it has a big yard, gardens and is in a lovely town . A perfect little house for two people and a dog.
My apartment is a perfect apartment for two people and a dog also. But the city life is wearing on me and I find myself browsing real estate websites, for houses that are in small towns with trees, lots of trees. Probably a lot of snow in the winter, but a lovely house with a fireplace makes up for a lot. Summers, gardens, flea markets and farmers markets and outdoor concerts, it all is very appealing to me today.
Especially the part about everything being in English.
I am not sure if it would be as perfect if it were in French, but I probably would not mind trying it .

A flat in Paris would be nice but I have this thing lately for gardens and fresh air. As long as I can take a train in to Paris, how bad would that be ?
I think it is time to have a talk with The Husband. Pup says he can be packed in 15 minutes .

Friday, January 14, 2011

Oh For the Country Life !

I am having serious longings to live in the "Country" .. I have not decided which country this country will be in , but I do know that living in an apartment, no matter how nice, is not satisfying me these days. I want to have coffee or drinks or lunch or anything ! out on the terrace ..
I want my kitchen to be rustic/sophisticated/homey. I am tired of cupboards, I want Pantries and shelves with pretty dishes and cups.
I can put out my collections of antique Tins and my great-grandmothers china tea cups.
I like the window and the view even better. I want to fall asleep to the sounds of crickets and maybe a breeze in a tree, that is all. I want to wake up to sunshine or even clouds, but no loud noises, no cars honking, no sirens, just a bird maybe.

I want to walk in from a busy day and put my things on the table or chest by the door, run upstairs and change or walk on in to the kitchen and put on the tea kettle.

I think I must have a beam or two in my country home. I am not 100% sold on the black and white floor but I do know I love the beam and French doors. I have an apartment full of french doors, they are wonderful, I will bring them with me. Well, I will have them in the country house also. (I can see the look on my husbands face, when I say, we have to take the French doors with us ... as he surreptitiously calls the psychiatrist .

And the bathroom, I would like a fireplace in the bathroom but I won't make it a deal-breaker. But I do need a deep soaking tub.
A large window looking out over the gardens would work too.
And the living room, cozy, dog friendly and inviting.
I don't think this is too much to ask for ! Do you ?

Saturday, January 8, 2011

In My Dreams



In my dreams I live in Paris and have a glamorous job.I work for a Fashion Magazine, I see all the Fabulous People, Clothes and go to all the Fabulous Places.
In my dreams this never gets tiresome or boring and I never want to just stay home one night and eat pasta and watch television.
When Carinne Roitfeld announced that she was stepping down as Editor of Vogue, I was sad, surprised and curious, who could fill that empty space ? She has been amazing for so long !

Ladies and gentlemen, the new Editor of French Vogue, Emmanuelle Alt.
I can't wait to see how Vogue changes !
( in my opinion, the US Vogue editor could use changing too .. that woman is so boring and predictable it is sad)

Saturday, January 1, 2011

My French Home in Argentina


We live in a 100 year old, former Mansion, converted into apartments . Two to a floor, with the original elevator going up the middle of the building, with white marble stairs climbing around the elevator.
It is French inspired, with very high ceilings , plenty of moldings and trim everywhere. Of course, we had to put in chandeliers for lighting in every room, we kept as much of the furnishings and renovations true to the antique look of the rooms.
So we have natural wood floors, polished and shiny and full of character and there are only two squeaky spots in the entire apartment!
The walls are all painted a warm soft butter yellow and all the trim is pure white, high gloss.
But it lacks something. I have antiques, I have nice antique rugs, paintings, but it doesn't look the way I want it to.
So I am turning to Marie Claire as well as my Paris Interiors and Provence Interiors to give me ideas.

Should I just hang gold framed mirrors in the living room ..... everywhere ?
I have considered putting in a mantle and faking a fireplace, with candles. Would that work ? It won't keep us warm but it looks so good.
I have soft serene colors in my bedroom, perhaps making everything white and adding one strong color will be more interesting ? Or just cold ..
Or just add another fake fireplace and more pillows. I think I should mirror the wall that faces the bed, the better to scare us each morning upon waking and sitting up in bed, facing the mirrors.
So many ideas, so many possibilities.
And then there is the idea of making everything ultra modern and "Soho Hotel Chic" , with everything white and bare floors... no, forget that, the dog would hate it.
What do you think ?
Boho with pillows and colors and mirrors everywhere or quiet and serene and mirrors everywhere ?
Or just as French atelier as I can get ?
The dog refuses to commit to any one idea.