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neutral territory

i think it's only appropriate to preface our weekend trip to switzerland with a few of my favorite neutral spaces. i am quite certain that our whirlwind trip, which is to include hang gliding in the swiss alps, will be anything but neutral, but it seems only fair to honor the country's historically unbiased stance with a hearty helping of simple and pretty.
rug: good. chairs: great. worn metal table (look close!): sheer brilliance.
i spy with my little eye... one of my favorite materials, lucite.
i love the range of seating options here: leather wingback, white sofas, modern occasional chair. the antler chandelier is a perfect finishing touch and i love the wire pendants too. wow, is there anything i don't love about his portfolio?
{above three rooms, gunkelman flesher via desire to inspire}
i'm not sure what that little wooden cubby is for but, thanks to the exposed brick and the cool light fixture, i think we can agree to let it slide.
i would love to cozy up with a good book on one of these chaises longues.
pendant lamps for freeing up space on your bedside table = genius.
i love the hexagonal floor tiles in this otherwise ordinary bathroom.

like the gallery walls, like the hat on the bust, like the funky silhouette of the chairs, like it all.

white walls, dark floors, and a whole lot of pretty in between.

before we leave, i wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your lovely comments and emails this week. your creativity and kindness never cease to amaze me. i'll be catching up on my blog reading when i return from my weekend away so i'll be returning the favor soon enough! thank you again and have yourselves a fantastic weekend!

bicycle rides and desk du jour

my brother, grayson, and i just got back from a 26 mile bike ride from tours to villandry! those who have been reading for a while may remember how tough this ride was for me the first time around (read about it here and here) — but this time we one-upped ourselves by making it there and back! that's 42 kilometers, ladies and gents.
i didn't want to leave you hanging, though, so i thought i'd include this handsome space for your viewing pleasure. i don't know that it's exactly what you'd call a desk but there's a chair and books and lots of pretty, so why not?
seriously, how good are those black floors and that yellow chair? i hope you are all having a wonderful week — the weekend is just around the corner!

dinner party

my brother, grayson, arrives in tours today and my host mom is busy preparing a big family dinner. there are few things i love more than a lively family gathering and i really can't wait to have him here and show him where i've been living for the last few months. in anticipation of his arrival and our evening soirée, here are a smattering of my favorite dining rooms. they're all a bit different but there's something in each of them that speaks to me. my style is constantly changing!
that turquoise chandelier is perfection, isn't it? it's like jewelry for the home. i wonder if that's a DIY project in the making... anyone? those striped floors are gorgeous too.
i love the combination of natural wood, fresh white, and primary yellow in this space. the unexpected juxtaposition of organic elements and modern furniture is so clever.

everyone has her own opinion about stores like pottery barn, renovation hardware, etc., but i find some of their spaces truly inspiring. i love the curves of these chairs and i think i stand to learn a thing or two from their styling.
i love the round dark table, modern seating, and industrial light fixture. and don't even get me started on the floor-to-ceiling windows!
i'm quite certain this is the same space spruced up for a magazine feature. wow, what a bouquet of yellow flowers can do!

an unconventional seating arrangement, gorgeous madeline weinrib rug, gallery-like walls, and glass light fixture... what's not to love?
one of my favorite interior designers jazzes up a traditional dining room with architectural detailing, splashy lampshades, and a fun silver star. check out the rest of his portfolio if you have a moment — you won't regret it.

what is your favorite of these spaces? i love them all for very different reasons. sometimes it annoys me that my tastes are all over the place but other days i just embrace it. could you describe your style in just a few words or do you feel like yours is constantly evolving too?