break time

hello friends.

please pardon me for a few days

while i take a little break to get some stuff done around
the house and spend some time with my family.

image

i will be back next monday!

what i am loving now

a few pretty things that have me dreaming...

i am so digging the vintage/industrial vibe of this entire collection.

where, oh WHERE can i put this rug??

these would keep my kids entertained for hours!

i love simple, white dinner wear, and this "caterers" set  is a great way to get a lot of bang for your buck.

the colors in this shower curtain would jazz up any bathroom.

i've seen a lot of chevron pillows, but the texture on this pillow from lands end is hard to beat.

these coasters are so cute that it makes me wish that someone...ANYONE in my house used coasters.

if this marquee letter wasn't so expensive, i would totally 

buy one for my little mans room.

i am thinking about swapping out my "real" purse for 

this canvas cutie for the summer.

and last but not least...i need a house so i can build a

pergola, so i can hang these lanterns from 

that pergola on my house.

remembering:whidbey island

every year, my husband and i get away for our anniversary.

two years ago, we went to whidbey island and seattle.

while on whidbey island, we stayed at the inn at langely.

at one time, i believe it was a standard "motel" style lodge, 

but it has undergone a major renovation.

inside that "bridge" is the hotels restaurant.

the office is below it and the the right.

the exterior has a definite craftsman vibe, with shingles and low roof pitches and interesting architectural details.

we had a room on the third floor...

inside, the rooms are clean and simple and cozy.

the fireplace and down comforters were special touches

we really appreciated.

but, this is the MAIN reason 

to book a room here.

the views are insanely beautiful...

we were there in august, and the air was crisp

and refreshing....the perfect getaway from the hot summer heat!

the restaurant, under the guidance of chef matt costello 

is NOT to be missed. we booked a package that included dinner

and breakfast. it was wonderful to have a 30 step

"commute" to a 5* dining experience.

most of the cuisine is local...and not just from around washington...

i mean actually grown and harvested ON whidbey island.  

the menu is fixed...meaning everyone in the room eats the same  meal.

at first i was a little scared...there were some things on 

the menu that i normally wouldn't order.

but the meal was INCREDIBLE. 

hands down, one of the best meals of my life.

this was the view from our table.

the gourmet breakfast the next morning was amazing.

we ate and talked and looked out at the gardens.

and then we took a stroll on the beach.

the colors of the rocks, 

the seaweed 

and the driftwood are all so beautiful and inspiring.

i would love to have this photo framed and hang it somewhere in my house.

the town of langely has a laid back, upscale feel to it.

the architecture is lovely, and the flowers and vegetation

are all so pretty.

we walked around and shopped a little.

love the arbor ad the wisteria!

and then, reluctanly, we  got back on the ferry and headed to seattle.

it was a really fantastic weekend. kinda wishing i was there right now!

affordable find: iron side table

i usually don't post two "affordable finds" in one week,

but i received an e-mail from overstock this morning notifying 

me that a table that i have been 

drooling over is back in stock:

brass plated iron side table

$166.99

compare that to....

iron side table

$599

(*and i promise this one isn't out of stock...yet!)

overstock also has some other amazing tables:

hexagonal side table

square side table

happy shopping!

wallpapered ceilings

i recently finished working on an e-design dining room. 

(i will post the idea board sometime soon)

one of the details that will help to bring the room to life 

is the wallpaper that will be going on the ceiling. 

i have always loved wallpaper on ceilings.

wallpaper can be a big commitment...both design AND money wise.

but introducing wallpaper on the ceiling is a great way 

to get the pattern and drama

of wallpaper without the cost of installing it on 4 walls.

here are some fabulous rooms with wallpaper on the ceiling:

(lonny)

(apartment therapy)

(caldwell flake)

(apartment therapy)

(caldwell flake)

oh, and here is a peek at the wallpaper that 

will be going on the ceiling of the e-design dining room: