london calling

my dears, can you believe it's the last day of april? my time in europe is winding down just as the weather is warming up, so you can bet i'll be making the most of it! i'm off to london this weekend for michael's birthday (he's turning 21 — this is big!). it will be fun to see him and a few friends before they head back to the states. here's a little weekend wardrobe inspiration for me and for you...

{fashion gone rogue via dress, design & decor}

how about an effortlessly chic headwrap and a classic cardigan for traveling? (somebody please teach me how to do this without looking sloppy — i could just go incognito until my curly hair grows out!)

{via we heart it}

simple but chic layers for traipsing around the city on saturday, though i think it's still pants weather in london (i should check that out...).

{woodford & co. via delight by design}

something a little sexy and sparkly for the birthday festivities...

{corrie bond for marie claire}
...and some pretty little things to lounge around in come sunday.

what are you up to this weekend, my loves?

my dears, can you believe it's the last day of april? my time in europe is winding down just as the weather is warming up, so you can bet i'll be making the most of it! i'm off to london this weekend for michael's birthday (he's turning 21 — this is big!). it will be fun to see him and a few friends before they head back to the states. here's a little weekend wardrobe inspiration for me and for you...

{fashion gone rogue via dress, design & decor}

how about an effortlessly chic headwrap and a classic cardigan for traveling? (somebody please teach me how to do this without looking sloppy — i could just go incognito until my curly hair grows out!)

{via we heart it}

simple but chic layers for traipsing around the city on saturday, though i think it's still pants weather in london (i should check that out...).

{woodford & co. via delight by design}

something a little sexy and sparkly for the birthday festivities...

{corrie bond for marie claire}
...and some pretty little things to lounge around in come sunday.

what are you up to this weekend, my loves?

desk du jour {is bigger better?}

the talented mother/daughter team at good bones, great pieces recently raised an interesting topic that i've been mulling over for a little while. they say here that the widespread use of laptop computers has eliminated the need for such "hulking" desks, which we now seek to replace with sleeker pieces that could be put to use in a number of different rooms. does this ring true for some of you?

personally, i love having space to spread out my textbooks and whatever project i'm tackling at the moment. while suzanne and lauren picked out some truly gorgeous pieces, i have to ask: where would you put your stuff? a desk with no drawers might look stylish, but where do you put your school supplies? similarly, a desk that could do double duty as a console table is definitely more versatile, but where would you place your printer?

{the desk of malene birger via full house)

it also makes me think of jen of made by girl's home office, featured here, where she pushed together two parsons desks. might that be the perfect compromise between a desire for less bulky pieces and the opposing need for extra space? i love the big wide desk in the space above and the fact that it could even be shared by two people. as an aside, i also like the idea of propping frames on shelves instead of hanging them directly onto the wall. what are your thoughts on this space and what seems to be a new trend in workspaces?

the talented mother/daughter team at good bones, great pieces recently raised an interesting topic that i've been mulling over for a little while. they say here that the widespread use of laptop computers has eliminated the need for such "hulking" desks, which we now seek to replace with sleeker pieces that could be put to use in a number of different rooms. does this ring true for some of you?

personally, i love having space to spread out my textbooks and whatever project i'm tackling at the moment. while suzanne and lauren picked out some truly gorgeous pieces, i have to ask: where would you put your stuff? a desk with no drawers might look stylish, but where do you put your school supplies? similarly, a desk that could do double duty as a console table is definitely more versatile, but where would you place your printer?

{the desk of malene birger via full house)

it also makes me think of jen of made by girl's home office, featured here, where she pushed together two parsons desks. might that be the perfect compromise between a desire for less bulky pieces and the opposing need for extra space? i love the big wide desk in the space above and the fact that it could even be shared by two people. as an aside, i also like the idea of propping frames on shelves instead of hanging them directly onto the wall. what are your thoughts on this space and what seems to be a new trend in workspaces?

a time for picnics and porches

how is the weather where you are? we're having wonderful weather in france and it makes me all the happier to be back. i've already had two picnics in the jardin des prébendes and on a park bench along the loire... spring has officially sprung! why not celebrate le beau temps with a handful of my favorite outdoor spaces?

{leibowitz and mclachlan}

the outdoor room is definitely an up-and-comer when it comes to design trends. with the newly widespread availability of indoor/outdoor fabrics like sunbrella, why on earth shouldn't we live outdoors?

{skona hem via splendid willow}

i spotted this space yesterday on one of my new favorite blogs (and the newest addition to my blogroll!) and had to repost. how sublime is the wicker furniture paired with the pink-and-white striped pillows?

{roman and williams via desire to inspire}

the exposed beam ceiling and trellised everything need no further explanation.

{elizabeth dinkel}

i don't think you could lure me back into the house! this outdoor room has everything one could ever need: a fireplace for roasting marshmallows, a dining room for family barbecues, even a lime green garden stool that i spy with my little eye...

{michael graydon}

doesn't this time of year make you want to throw a party? i'd love to model my birthday party after the color palette of this lovely outdoor table setting.

{lonny}

perhaps i'll include some hanging paper lanterns à la this beauty, though truthfully i've been eyeing these babies forever:

{pretty in pink poms by party poms, $30 for seven}

{via style me pretty}

though this table setting is also calling my name...

{via bleubird vintage}

either way there's nothing that being outdoors this time of year can't solve. i hope you're enjoying the lovely weather! p.s. if you've built anything like this:

{via ada and darcy}

...i would like an invitation as soon as possible.

p.p.s. i've been feverishly uploading photographs from our whirlwind spring travels and would love for you to head over to my travel blog, mackenzie en france, to check them out if you're interested. so far i've gotten through venice, florence, and rome — next stop, greece!

how is the weather where you are? we're having wonderful weather in france and it makes me all the happier to be back. i've already had two picnics in the jardin des prébendes and on a park bench along the loire... spring has officially sprung! why not celebrate le beau temps with a handful of my favorite outdoor spaces?

{leibowitz and mclachlan}

the outdoor room is definitely an up-and-comer when it comes to design trends. with the newly widespread availability of indoor/outdoor fabrics like sunbrella, why on earth shouldn't we live outdoors?

{skona hem via splendid willow}

i spotted this space yesterday on one of my new favorite blogs (and the newest addition to my blogroll!) and had to repost. how sublime is the wicker furniture paired with the pink-and-white striped pillows?

{roman and williams via desire to inspire}

the exposed beam ceiling and trellised everything need no further explanation.

{elizabeth dinkel}

i don't think you could lure me back into the house! this outdoor room has everything one could ever need: a fireplace for roasting marshmallows, a dining room for family barbecues, even a lime green garden stool that i spy with my little eye...

{michael graydon}

doesn't this time of year make you want to throw a party? i'd love to model my birthday party after the color palette of this lovely outdoor table setting.

{lonny}

perhaps i'll include some hanging paper lanterns à la this beauty, though truthfully i've been eyeing these babies forever:

{pretty in pink poms by party poms, $30 for seven}

{via style me pretty}

though this table setting is also calling my name...

{via bleubird vintage}

either way there's nothing that being outdoors this time of year can't solve. i hope you're enjoying the lovely weather! p.s. if you've built anything like this:

{via ada and darcy}

...i would like an invitation as soon as possible.

p.p.s. i've been feverishly uploading photographs from our whirlwind spring travels and would love for you to head over to my travel blog, mackenzie en france, to check them out if you're interested. so far i've gotten through venice, florence, and rome — next stop, greece!