the pearly gates

do you remember when i talked about heaven a few weeks back?  well, i found the rest of my paradise and it only gets better. 

again, all it needs is me.  it's only a matter of time before i drive up to where the connecticut river meets long island sound and move in.

a little slice of heaven

finally kicked off a bit of spring cleaning this past weekend and thumbed through stacks of old magazines.  best tearout of the batch below.  my heaven will look like this someday.

(pulled from a martha stewart living)

need a roommate?

i want to be dropped into this home and play house. can't you see me living here?  great inspriation for the dreamhome someday.

(photo credits - styleathome.com)

i'm moving...

...into this living room.  it's perfection in my eyes.

built-in bookcases

lanterns

serene white at its finest

visually catching art on mantle

natural light

stone fireplace

neutral matching sofas with one-off, mixmatched pillows

peekabo windows

all it needs is ME.

adding it to my style files.  someday.

(photo credit - flickr.com)

chalk it up

again, not a new idea but a great idea.  one day, i will have my very own home.  and when i own my very own home, i will have the freedom to paint it, texturize it, wallpaper it, spackle it, blackboard it!  mark my words, i will have blackboard-esque wall in the dreamhouse.  and it will be scribbled on with cute things like -

"welcome to my little home, dear friend."
"please, please, please. stay awhile."
"home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to.”
"you are the cream in my coffee."
"mi casa es su casa."
"life's a voyage that's homeward bound."
"a meal without wine is like a day without sunshine."
"me loves you. and you. and you."

so, here's what sparked the inspiration -

for now - my large, leaning chalkboard will have to do (still up there as one of my most favorite gifts ever).  surprises are the best.

(photo credits - annporter.files.wordpress.com, apartmenttherapy.com, hgtv.ca, nattymichelle.blogspot.com, style-files.com)

ready to rsvp...

i've been waiting for miss martha herself to invite me to her house (i mean houses), for some time now. but it seems my invitation keeps getting lost in the mail. little does she know, i discovered these images and have made myself right at home in both maine and connecticut.

instant gratification for now. much appreciated inspiration for later.

one day, she will come to her senses and have me over for that cup of tea and charming conversation.




(photo credits - marthastewart.com, themarthablog.com)

brooklyn brownstone bliss

a few months prior to its final curtain, domino featured a house tour of jenna lyons' brooklyn brownstone in their november 2008 edition. i remember coming across it very vividly. i was walking down seventh avenue last fall when i spotted jenna sitting pretty on the cover of that very glossy edition. i had to have it at that moment and immediately chose not to wait for my very own copy to arrive in the mail. on my stroll home, i flipped through the pages and sighed and hearted and marveled over the lyons' home sweet home. you gotta figure the girl behind j.crew's consummate creativity would have one sweet abode. then again today, i spotted her casa at Livingetc too.

the vibe i get from their home is lived in but low maintenance. i adore the contrast of natural home-i-ness and subtle touches of glamour. my favorite piece of advice offered up by mrs. lyons - never let your home be 'finished' but rather, constantly evolving. i love that.

picturesque park slope

mr. and mrs. lyons ready and waiting to greet you at the door.

look what those yellow chairs do for the living room. instant POP.

great shot of living room into dining room...i would really like to be invited over.

mix and match that really works

that's it...my future dining room shall have a fireplace and a child's vintage car too

oh hey jenna. nice to see you're waiting for me in the kitchen. charcoal cabinetry, white counter tops, chrome appliances...my color combo heaven

the kitchen and sunshine pour into their delicious sunroom.

all this room is missing is me.

bed and bath brilliance - blackboard paint, white linens, tapestry area rugs, espresso wood floors, and a cozy fireplace.

can you imagine having this closet? more importantly, can you imagine having everything in this closet?

and lil beckett's room...the ceiling is so whimsical and charming. easily my favorite room in the house because the lyons abandoned traditional bubblegum pink and baby boy blue. who would've thought?

and a backyard in new york city?? lucky ducks

(photo credits - aphrochic.blogspot.com, fermliving.blogspot.com, frivoler.files.wordpress.com, habituallychic.blogspot.com, livingetc.com, newlyweddiaries.blogspot.com, timelesstreasuress.com)