>

I Want To Dress Like You

{Note to self: must buy red leather belt.}

Blog crush alert! I am smitten with the personal style of Atlantic-Pacific blogger Blair, who goes by her initials BEE. Smitten. She's preppy with a twist and never shies away from color or costume jewelry — an inspiration to us all!
{If only every rainy day were so chic! Blair pairs a favorite BB Dakota dress with red Hunter wellies, reminding us that inclement weather is no excuse for dreary dressing!}
{How fabulous is her hair? I'm definitely coveting her J.Crew sweater and American Apparel clutch. I'm amazed at how she makes the mundane (grabbing a cup of coffee) magnificent (bouffant and sequins).}
{I want to steal everything about this look. Who knew a classic Ralph Lauren shirt could be so fun?}
{Red lips and a hot pink skirt definitely perk up a gray day. Her love of color is endlessly inspiring!}
{That's it — I'm tying grosgrain ribbon on everything I own.}

Any other personal style blogs I should waste all day swooning over know about?

A Rustic Retreat

{The inviting front porch of Trina and her family's country home.}

I've slowly been making my way through the blogs recommended in my reader survey last week and I am just blown away by how much beauty is out there! Thank you all for sharing your favorites. One of my happiest discoveries has been A Country Farmhouse, a lifestyle blog that chronicles the renovation of Trina and her husband's home as well as a few of her passions: "country life, antiques, old houses, and healthy living." I've never found myself pining for a country cottage so badly!

{The white walls and neutral furniture of the living room exude calm and serenity. What I wouldn't give to curl up by that fire!}
{In addition to having an eye for architecture and interior design, Trina is a brilliant photographer and stylist. I love this open display in their kitchen.}
{I love the contrast between the home's white walls and the couple's collection of antiques. The blank canvas gives the dark woods new life!}
{Have you ever seen a more darling setting for a dinner party? I adore the antique tablecloth and the hydrangeas spilling onto the porch.}
{Trina frequently shares pictures of farm-fresh flowers, styled into flawless little vignettes in her own home. The eye candy is endless!}
{There are just no words to describe that view.}

Steven Gambrel in Southampton

{Gambrel matches the door trim to the vaulted ceiling in elegant glossy black. The kelly green sofa and ottoman provide a welcome contrast to the moody palette. Don't you love the red trim on the lampshades and the Missoni fabric on the armchairs?}

I'm very intrigued by this Southampton home designed by New York interior designer Steven Gambrel. It's a far cry from the beachy palette of our summer home on Nantucket (blue, white, yellow) but that's exactly what piques my curiosity!

{I love the combination of gray and red-orange in this end of the room. The unexpected textual art is an interesting touch and one that I would love to recreate in one of my own projects.}
{The playful op-art floor tile picks up on the black subway tiles and white hood in this high-tech-meets-rustic kitchen. Notice the contrast between the modern open shelving and the worn farmhouse table — delightful!}
{Wood benches are an unlikely alternative to traditional dining chairs. They might not be very comfy but they definitely work from an aesthetic perspective! I love that the doors open up onto some sort of terrace. How great would it be to cook with the beachy breeze and fresh air so close?}

It's definitely not your average beach home but I love it just the same. How about you?

{P.S. I think I'm going to switch back to two posts a day. It would give me the time to write up a longer post like this one every now and then as opposed to short, one picture posts. What do you think?}