friday faves: 9.2.11

ohhh my sweet friday faves feature, i have such a love/hate affair with you!  really, i LOVE these posts!  i love to highlight some of my fave things i've seen over the past week (or even longer) without putting together a "full post."  i love starting the weekend with some beautiful, inspiring images.  i love spreading the word about giveaways!  love, love.  so what is the "hate" bit?  i hate how i have not had the time or energy to do this feature regularly.  i hate how sometimes i even dread writing a post because it usually takes me significantly longer as i am such a perfectionist.  i hate how terrible i have been the past couple months at regular friday faves posts.  UGH.

so i've decided to take some of the pressure off myself.  i've been pretty good at consistency with the wedding wednesday feature so i guess i can be a little more lax with friday faves.  right?!  let's hope so.  i'll post when the inspiration strikes and schedule permits.  and hopefully you will enjoy what i share!  and without further ado, a few faves from the last few days of august ::

design/decor

comfy-cozy attic nook

want.this.space.  i want the chandelier, the white chest, the location -- the whole nook.  and we all know how i feel about nooks!  {via belle vivre}

fashion

a mint & rose outfit

as put together by lana over at lanalou style.  want it all... especially that dress!

etc

oscar de la renta ad campaign

came across this ad on one of my fave catch-all blogs, a spot of whimsy, and fell in love.  i have a little experience doing ad/marketing campaigns and understand how important an ad can be.  all you have is a picture.  one image and some text to show your brand and product.  but ODLR knocked it out of the ballpark with this ad for their new campaign.  i mean, who doesn't want to be an oscar's girl?!

personalized embosser for books

do i really need to explain why this is so stinkin' incredible?!  i'm pretty sure i need it...

{found on be merry, kate}

enjoy your labor day weekend!

xx, kait

p.s.  i'm actually at the lake right now on a full four day weekend of relaxation and fun so this post was written yesterday and scheduled for today.  i hate doing this and only do it once in a blue moon.  forgive me?

friday faves: 7.8.11

back to friday faves, my lovely readers!  and oh boy do i have some good ones this week!

design/decor

chic nook

this lil nook by designer melanie coddington is my idea of perfection - classy, simple, feminine, relaxing.  i could absolutely see myself curling up here and reading the day away...

 found on design*sponge

kitchen window nook

more nooks!  clearly i'm obsessed :)

that green color, the cream everything else, and that thick cushion that looks oh-so-comfy.  want.

from my home ideas

fashion

elle fanning in marc jacobs

the girl can pull off couture like no other youngin' and i just love her retro-pretty style.  plus she's just so pretty! {think if i compliment her enough she'll let me borrow this gorgeous dress?!  hey, worth a try!}

picture from getty images, via

SJP channels her animal side in D&G

at the 25th anniversary of "annie" where she presented an award

not always the biggest animal print fan, but when it's done right it's amazing.  and if anyone can "do it right," it's the superstar-fashionista sarah jessica parker herself!

{sorry, best pic i could find.  from rcfa}

p.s. the gown helen mirren wore a few months back was also animal print and also dolce + gabbana - they must be on a roll!

etc

le petit prince journals

all-time fave book in journal form = love

{you can buy it for me - and make my day!! - here}

i want to be a monkey

if i could be any animal, i'd be a monkey.  i would climb trees and enjoy still having fingers and show love by cleaning my friends... and hug little girls like this.  and be happy :)

i mean really, who wouldn't want to be a monkey?!

found on best week ever blog but first posted on cute overload
**correction: this is a sloth not a monkey!  but i would still be a monkey.  and i would still hug little girls and it would still probably be just as cute as this.

giveaways

i'm back to spreading the word about some GREAT giveaways in the bloggy world - whoo hoo!  here's a few ending soon soon soon, so get on it!

preppy personalized platters

 

by dani notes, selection found here.  the always fabulous kiki's list is offering up this giveaway.  if i were lucky enough to win, i would choose the prettypretty platter pictured above.  then again, i would be just as happy if one of my sweet readers one so head on over to enter for yourself :)

fabulous flower accessories

wild & precious always highlights the cutest things!  this time it is the etsy shop the lovely poppy, who makes truly lovely headbands and necklaces and other cute accessories with bright and pretty flower accents.  i definitely encourage you to check out this etsy site and to go to wild & precious to enter for the $20 gift certificate!

have a lovely lovely weekend!

i'll be spending it with my lovely friends downtown checking out a blues club i've never been to, then off to waverly island soaking up the sun.  oh, and then sunday at the office.  can't ever totally get away from my workaholic ways!

xx, kait

 

to do: anthro ruffle lampshade

this just may be one of the best "recreate-an-overpriced-anthropologie-item" posts i've come across - for realzies.  inexpensive, seemingly easy, and a fantastic outcome. 

~ the $88 inspiration ~

cute.  very cute.  but $88??  nuh-uh, not for the crafty folk!

~ the handmade (a.k.a. cheap) versions ~

 the original, made by terra over @ mama says sew

 the one i discovered on just a girl

for once, i actually do think i can make this as well as these seasoned crafty professionals!!  of course, as with the rest of my ideas, not even a small DIY project can be fit into my life.  sigh.

but wait!

that's why i have this blog!  to keep track of all my ideas for the day i can get around to it.  the day when i have space for adorable bedside lamps, the day when i can cut strip after strip of burlap.  but anyways...

go to either of these sites for pretty easy-peasy instructions and make yourself a crazy cute ruffle lampshade!  but if you do, don't forget to post pictures and then come back here to leave a link for me to see your handiwork!

~ happy crafting ~

 

reblog: bear hill interiors

... from the always inspirational house of turquoise.

kevin walsh of bear hill interiors designed a simply beautiful home that was featured in At Home in Arkansas.  here are my fave 2 rooms :

living room:

use of colors in this room = lovely.  end of story.  ok not quite... i'd also like to add that i seriously love those pillow covers & wish i knew where i could find them for myself!

dining room:

 once again - colors are soo beautiful against the mostly white/wood of the room.  the table is also beyond perfect & the chandelier oh so fun.

i'm also now the newest follower of bear hill interiors blog & have a feeling it will be the featured in many more posts to come!

link love: 12.12.10

design/decor

crazy cool mirror by Tom Faulkner [via]; creatively displaying beautiful shopping bags [via]

kate spade on 5th ave in nyc =  awesomeness. [via]

1. the happy chair! see it's transformation here 
2. such an awesome lamp.  wish i knew where to find it! [image found here]

what a creative way to have woodsy christmas decor! [via]

 seriously beautiful fabric by rapture and wright [via]

fashion

from a couple weeks ago, but still worth sharing -- raquel sanchez silva in oscar de la renta.  dreamy.

want want want these chanel tweed boots that blake seems to also love! [image via]

photography

doesn't this pic make you want to run to the nearest coffee shop?! [via; see much more here]

my love of windows in photos grows. by M Photography [see the whole pretty wedding here]

etc.

perhaps the sweetest vows.  "strongly & fiercly [sic] love you to the end." sigh.

check out the whole 1920's-inspired wedding here. [trust me - it's crazy cute...& fun...& soo romantic!]

in love with uma thurman in this picture. [via]

also in love with zooey deschanel. but that's always. [image via]

 note to self: follow these instructions.  [via]

too funny & so try!  i think my fave is the "disappointment" - it makes me think of "500 days of summer".... anyone else know what scene i'm talking about? [via]

jonathan adler designed barbie?! hells to the yeah.

design: chic & sleek dining room

there's just something about this image that draws me into the design...

LOVE:

-the simplicity of design. i'm one to over design, over decorate, but this dining room's sophistication lays in its simplicity. lovely.

- simple black chairs. perfect.

- black & white with pop of pink. a personal fave color combo.

- shades of pink in flowers. just adds something extra.

- sliver of pink chair in corner -- makes me want to see more & i know i would loove the "more"

- silver vases on top of cabinet. pop!

- intricate chandelier.  duh!

via

design: lavender accent dining room

...with that same pink blossom chandelier with swarovski crystals that i was obsessed with in gwenyth paltrow's beach house dining room...

love:

- comfy chairs/benches 

- deep wood dining table & floor

- huuuuuge windows...

-....with lovely lavender curtains

- beautiful purple flowers tying it all together

and the chandelier.  the breathtaking chandelier.

in case you forgot, here it is:

i'm still madly in love with it.

love this dining room & love this chandelier.

image from decor pad [via]

link love 11.5.10

design/decor
- are you a swinger? some great use of swings in design
- lots of chandelier love [i also included an image from this post here]
- i loooove this before & after living room 
- a cool new way to do gallery walls without ruining the walls with nails [too late for me, but maybe it can help you!]
- some beautiful rooms with stone walls

fashion
- beautiful pink pieces by christian dior cruise 2k11
- lovely lace ~ featuring the valentino dress i'm soo obsessed with
- 5 trends we wish would disappear -- i completely agree with all 5.  do you?
- love these 10 Styling Tips For the Newly Single Girl, Inspired by Blake Lively my fave advice is to go all out, be bold, wear ruffles. however, not a fan of the harem pants. [see previously listed article]
- more incredible fashion advice: how to dress like emma stone. such a fashion icon of mine when it comes to casual style.
- keira knightley's style transformation - thank goodness she traded in belly shirts for chanel!

photography
- a tribute to dogs in fashion photography
- incredibly cool photography series

etc.
- i love messy buns
- so apparently everyone & their dog dressed up as either lady gaga or snookie this past halloween, except for yours truly, thank you very much.  oh, & except for ellen degeneres.  sort of.  check out her twist on the ubiquitous snookie costume trend.

happy friday!

-kait-

design: dining room love

a dining room i could definitely see as my own:

why:

- white, white, white [but somehow without being overwhelming]

- beautiful blue color of the chairs

- huuuuge mirror with incredible white molding frame -- i wouldn't necessarily want to watch myself eat, but this massive mirror just captures my heart

- huge window

- chandelier!!  i mean, really - are you surprised that i love this crystal & intricate chandelier?!

yeah, i love it~~

from decor pad [via] 

design: lovely white living room

love:

- white nearly everything... then pop of pale pink color.  perfect.

- candelabras [see in mirror!]

- ridiculously ornate & incredible chandelier

...but mostly...

how symmetrical the room is.  seriously, check out that incredible symmetry.  it's to die for.

sigh.

via decorpad

[first found on kim myles]

decor: coolest purple chandelier

ever.

i think i need this in my bedroom.  now.

photo from the floral lab

via

design: red & blue dining room

love:

-huge windows...

-...with luxe looking deep grey curtains

- dark wood floors

- curved shape of room

- incredibly cool lighting [is this coral or tree inspired??  i see tree, but the color is more reminiscent of sea coral... just wondering your thoughts.]

** mix of sky blue & bright red/almost reddish orange.  looove. **

 elle decor via the desk of annie 

design: blue bathroom - pt. 2

love:

- blue walls for a bathroom, evoking thoughts of the sea

- ridiculously cool hanging light fixture

- white claw tub

- bend next to tub, for candles & books

- windows, windows, windows

i want this to be my relaxing escape of a bathroom.

it would be also be a lovely master bath next to this bedroom.

sigh.

* see blue bathroom - pt. 1 *

[in an ideal world, i would combine these two bathrooms for the perfect, most relaxing blue bathroom ever]

design by weldon owen inc

image via simply seleta

design: dining room lighting

so even though i'm partial to chandelier lighting [everywhere!], here are a couple other cool overhead lighting options for over a dining room table...

from veranda [via creamy life]

photographed by susan gilmore [via desire to inspire]

and a couple completely quirky light orbs:

 

both images from life in the semi fab lame

...of course, i don't currently have a traditional dining room table of my own, but these examples are sure fun to look at!

decor: outdoor elegance

it's incredible what one piece of lighting can do to a space.  lovely.  now i want to hang a super elegant chandelier outside in my tiny backyard!

via pinterest 

first found on bright, bold & beautiful & style me pretty