Old & New

I love the combination of contemporary furniture and older architecture. And I appreciate when a homeowner can artfully combine vintage items with pieces made today. Perhaps that's why I was taken with this restored Victorian, featured on Living Etc. Clean lines mix with interesting details. Have a look:

Photos from here.

White Out

After a very full and hectic week, it's quite nice to be forced to stay in this weekend. A big storm rolled through, canceling plans and keeping everyone in their homes. Outside, a thick blanket of snow is making everything brilliantly bright, and inside we're staying warm and not doing much at all.

The bright outdoor light brought to mind this fantastic Victorian, featured in Living Etc. White materials and simple-lined furniture seem the perfect counterparts to all the natural light this home gets. It's just lovely.

Photos from here.

Gray Areas

It's been a wonderful, long holiday weekend. I got to spend time with family, do a little shopping with my mom and relax at home with my husband and our dog. We had a perfect Friday night listening to holiday music and putting up our Christmas tree.

We made a few tweaks to our living room, too, replacing bright paintings with two prints from our London trip and bringing out a white faux fur pillow and cream afghan my grandma knitted. I also swapped out the yellow covers of our big floor pillows for fuzzier, more wintry ones. And I'm contemplating ordering a gray cover for our blue sofa, which is looking a little faded nowadays.

I'm hoping for a cozy, sophisticated feel, and these gray and white living rooms, featured on Living Etc., are providing pretty inspiration.

Photos from here.

Calm and Cool

I'd love to live in a loft. I like the idea of infusing a sense of home into a more industrial-style space. If I ever had the opportunity, perhaps I'd decorate like this Melbourne warehouse, featured in Living Etc. I love the dashes of black against the white backdrops, the crisp yet calm design, the graphic prints and patterns. So cool.

Photos from here.

Dark and Stormy

Maybe it's this onset of thunderstorms and the way the sky has remained dark all day, but I am feeling completely drawn to this moody London home on Living Etc. Something about the light of the place and its sumptuous textures makes me want to hole up there for a few days. 

Photos from here.

Calm and Cool

I came across this minimalist South African home on Living Etc. today and I think it's just fantastic. I like the clean aesthetic, cool hues and the abundance of concrete. And of course those dogs are great! Check it out:

Photos from here.

Cali Cool

Whether it's interior design, fashion, art or pretty much anything creative, I appreciate a variety of styles. However, my eye is always drawn to clean lines and simple designs.

So this amazing Los Angeles home jumped out at me on LivingEtc. What's more, it's eco-friendly and is made up of natural woods, soothing colors and lots of light.

Consider these photos a visual retreat for a few minutes:

What a cool, angular exterior. And I like how the reflective glass planes are echoed in the pool.

The tidy couch, bold purple chair, cool-hued wall tiles -- love it, love it, love it!

Doesn't a room like this make you breathe a little easier?

You gotta love a sunny bedroom.

Photos from here.

Getaway, Indeed

I have a serious case of wanderlust. I am positively itching to go somewhere, anywhere!

This happens to me throughout the year. Fortunately, I have a family that's passionate about traveling. Unfortunately, everyone has been so busy and the economy has been so cruddy that we don't have any getaways planned.

Therefore, I'm loving (and torturing myself with) this absolutely stunning St. Barts vacation home featured on LivingEtc.

Would you look at this view? Gorgeous!

I love the mix of dark wood and the lighter natural materials in the shades and baskets.

What a simple yet utterly romantic bedroom.

If I were here, I truly don't think I could leave ... well, except for another trip maybe!

Photos from here.