Tuesday 28 January 2014

Architectural Digest February 2014 Highlights

 
Julianna aka The Good Wife has her home featured this month.
That show is probably going to cause a lot of disappointment for all those kids wanting to be lawyers thinking they are going to overturn death penalties in a week or so.
Remember LA Law? 
That show was a huge factor I went to law school!



This book looks like a great gift for someone or self 
for a gardening or history enthusiast.
Isn't it funny that with the invention of the kindle the publishing industry is upping their game with coffee table books?  
Quite a good silver lining IMHO.

Good thing showrooms like this aren't commonplace or people would get so swept away they would just buy the whole room!


Brunschwig & Fils have also revamped their showroom.
It seems that companies are perhaps catering for men 
who can't always see the end product? ;)


Sometimes you just need to see a product finished.
We can't always rely on Pinterest for everything right?

These were some of the objects that AD put on their shopping list. 
For us that is.
Chartreuse is the marmite of colors no?
But I love a statement chair.

I adore these vases as I love glassware.  
I am thinking to take a glass blowing course soon.



Canada is starting to make consistent entries in AD.
This home is located in Nova Scotia.


Is it me or does this home have a slightly nefarious vibe?

While modern beach houses are lovely 
it is very hard to be original in its format.

Nice. 
But nothing ground breaking or 
of any true merit to be in the pages of AD.
Yes, I know I can be tough...


But come on, you can't tell me that you haven't seen a 
white modern kitchen in a beach house before?


The decor itself leaves me a little flat.
It is houseplants displayed like that which give them a bad name.
The dining room sadly evokes a conference room at a 4 star hotel.
Also the tree growing in the center of the table 
might complicate where to put the turkey.

Context clue I picked up is the occupants of the house must party hard or be insomniacs because they have no blinds or curtains.

I adore a New England home especially a red brick one so 
I may be a bit biased on this house.
I painted my first living room in London as 
an attempt to simulate the sun.
But apparently yellow can cause irritation and arguments?

While I envy the storage for all your porcelain 
I have a funny feeling that one can gets lax and keeps buying wares and outgrows even storage such as this!
I like the decor philosophy of this house where they keep it simple but have texture and pattern on the floors.




I adore this Puritan with a bit of a flair style.


This is Julianna's New York home.
Don't know if you heard but apparently Vicente Wolf 
is a bit "difficult".

Streamlined kitchen.Tick.

Warm study with wood and taupe. Tick.

I don't know if Mr Wolf has a very distinct look though.
However, I like the not too overly "designed" look. 



Don't know why but these types of houses always reminds me of a dollhouse.  I would love the experience of living in one.

How stunning is that entrance?



Aren't these rooms so grown up though?
Might help me become mature.


I know this is only a style shoot but no coasters on 
that lovely table makes me nervous.

I am thinking of getting a connect the dots beginners quilting kit.  
A quilt just adds that homey je ne sais quoi.

I will be frank ( always try to be ) but I don't get this house.
It is such an odd mish mash.  
Kind of like a Restoration Hardware showroom.

It reminds me when I spent a lot of time in L.A. 
I would visit friends of friends' houses and they would ask what period their home was.
"So Naomi, do you think my house is Federal or Georgian?"
 This put me in such an awkward situation as
I always felt like saying, 
"Well considering your house was built in 1972 - 
perhaps it is a Nixonian?"

Never went through with it though.


That Pinocchio cracks me up!

The good thing about the iPad version of decor magazines is 
they have extra pics where they show two aspects to the same room like these two.


It's funny Beverly Hills - so easy to mock.
Okay maybe just the housewives.
Yet it actually is a lovely place.
Funny enough house prices there 
aren't as expensive as you might think.
Zone 3 Melbourne probably has as expensive homes as some houses in Beverly Hills.


Of course in LA, most homes have a "media" room.
Or as they call it - the office.

But the weather is always so balmy and much more temperate than in Australia so you end up spending a lot more time outside.

When I see pictures like this, 
I feel like entering the Green card lottery!

Have a lovely weekend!

75 comments:

  1. If you want to see how VW behaves, read the interview with him on new York Social Diary. He is SO rude to the interviewers.

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    1. Funny you mention that because that interview is the link I put! It must have been worse in real life...

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  2. I used to watch LA Law when I was in law school. Sadly, I found working as a lawyer to be nothing like the program.

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    1. Me too! That's why I stopped. If it were like la law or the good wife I would be back in!

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  3. I work at a law firm and every articling student (or "student-at-law") thinks practicing law or being a criminal lawyer is just like how it is portrayed on TV - high drama (well, yes there can be -- if you are super close to not making a deadline)....the fancy house, car, unlimited bank account.......

    Nope. Not for awhile.

    Sometimes there will be the high-profile case, but not usually. You'll be someone's "assistant" for awhile and do all the crap jobs/long hours until you prove yourself, get your own clients and start billing regularly and consistently.

    The real money is in real estate (commercial) and corporate law. Sometimes very boring, but very lucrative.

    ANYWAY - I love that Federal mirror! Hubs and I found one on eBay and it's fabulous. I love NYSD, I must go read that interview now.

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  4. Yes you are right the notion of the profession is all so distorted. Salaries when broken down to 18 hour dys and weekends don't actually work out a lot per hour either! But I think that is partly the reason why there are so many who quit...
    But yes I love that mirror too but it is hard not to right?

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  5. I want to redecorate, but not with VW! Great pictures. Wouldn't all that porcelain on open shelves get very dusty? Not my look at all. Does Juliana not age??

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    1. Yes VW might be hard to work with but mind you I suppose when you are the "boss" maybe he behaves better? Yes you are thinking ahead - i was mentally arranging my things on those shelves! Yes that girl looks better and better as she gets older!

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  6. That's some Nova Scotia house! We're going out to the north shore of Nova Scotia this summer to look at some property on the ocean, but I can guarantee you we'll be building a beach shack not a James Bond movie set.
    Love the dining room in that Washington house. Love the whole house actually! Thanks Naomi these posts are a treat.

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    1. Dani - please please take loads of pics when you go on the house hunt!! I looooovee stuff like that. I watch all those shows - we don't get HGTV but I loved their international house hunters show so much. A beach shack might suit the local scenery better though. Yes - save your money on AD bc I have a subscription ok? :)

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    2. tunnelbear.com. you can watch US TV shows via this service. it masks your IP address.

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    3. Meg - last time I tried it for some reason I did get some access but there was a block so I may need to try again! thanks for the tip though!

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  7. I had no idea you went to law school! I never watched all those law dramas on TV, so I never had any illusions about it when I started working in the legal industry.

    That house in LA is fantastic!! It is very reminiscent of the Kaufmann house in Palm Springs, designed by Richard Neutra. (I only remember this detail as the house was featured in one of my favourite J. Crew catalogs of all time!!). The trees planted directly under the eaves of the roof are a very interesting feature.

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    1. Yes and worked on two different cases before I resigned. One class action lawsuit and one boring corporate case to see different sides. While I don't day dream about LA once you are there time does fly. It is also one of the few places where I think that architecture suits the locale so well!

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  8. Law school is tough! Good for you for surviving the academics. I wouldn't have been able to do it!

    Wow, beautiful homes! My favorite is the Washington DC home. Stunning entrance and I liked your Nixonion comment;) The "stream lined" kitchen is beautiful and I like all the wood detail in the living/family room.

    Gorgeous vases and you should definitely take the glass blowing glass!

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    1. I was a professional student for awhile so it was either that or get a proper job!! The DC home is amazing and I love that American style so much. To recreate that here ironically wouldn't suit. But yes - I am looking up times and courses now for an absolute beginner like me!

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  9. My daughter might have studied law for just that reason too!!!! I'm sorry - but that beach house is just awful... yes awful!! It has no soul.... it would be excruciating waking up in those bedrooms... being blinded by the sun .... The New England home is sublime .... and yes - I am a traditionalist but it just wraps it's arms around one .... Am in the process of trying to plan a trip to those parts ... will definitely bookmark this one!! Thank you Naomi xx

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    1. i recently watched the good wife over the holidays and i thought how dynamic they make the law feel. It was funny though bc the character wins so many cases and overturns a death penalty but her boss is like - well we will think about a raise. IRL - you would just be working on appeals for years!! I adore New England. You are going to go crazy staying at the cutest B&B's. It is like the best of England with amazing weather. I have a funny feeling you might end up buying a place there Jenny! xx

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  10. Everyone our age wanted to study law because of LA law! (except me - I never wanted to be a lawyer. was committed to the idea of Architecture from the age of about 9).
    Agree with Jenny above about the beach house - they're a dime a dozen in Australia like that (white, big, shiny minimalist, lots of windows). I have very conflicted feelings over AD... when it's good, it's very very good and when it's bad it's horrid. I actually got the latest AD yesterday, but haven't opened it yet. Shall have a quick read tonight given that you've now managed to edit down for me what is worth reading! xx

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    1. Oh, nearly forgot - your Nixonian comment made me laugh. I once saw a real estate advertisement here in Adelaide which described a house as "Elizabethan". It was a fairly ordinary 1950's house of no particular architectural style. So it was correct, because Elizabeth 2 was the queen, but my goodness did I laugh! x

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    2. Tell me about it - LA Law has a lot to answer for!! The Good Wife will cause a spike of law school applications in 10 years. Yes AD is really inconsistent. Funny enough I think they should get an editor who isn't so decor and magazine oriented if that makes any sense. I feel they should get an architect to come with a fresh eye and pick houses that challenge design but editor of house beautiful goes to elle decor that moves to AD etc so it sort of blends into one...But I can't get over "Elizabethan"! How hilarious!!! xx

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  11. Julianna M is divine. As is Julianne Moore.
    That blue room makes me feel a bit dizzy.
    I find myself gravitating to the Beverly Hills homes there- I am a woman of simple tastes.
    Thanks for sorting that out for me x

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    1. I see a pattern - you are a skin girl aren't you? Me too - I love great skin too. I think it exudes health which one of the original and classic attributes of primal beauty. x

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  12. I should read AD more often! Really nice products in this magazine!
    xoxo

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    1. I think France has their own edition too Gloria! xx

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  13. Haven't looked at an AD in years. My favorite was the damn showroom.

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    1. hehe - nothing wrong with that - i call that style neo American as it is a mish mash of so many things. Still love ya BB!

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    2. I loved it too BB.

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  14. I used to enjoy mags, but now they're all the same, as you say Naomi, they just swap editors.

    If I ruled the world...every cushion munger doing this god awful gynaecologists waiting room look would be turned into a goldfish. And as for the pillow stackers, they'd be off to do a bit of stacking in Costco where they belong.

    Wouldn't it be lovely to see homes that hadn't been 'done'! Homes that had personality, not just bought collections of piled up books and tat, but really loved passed down through the family sort of stuff.

    The thing that's missing now, and Naomi pointed out, is personality. And by personality I don't mean some celeb who asked some cushion munger to arrange some rented chairs round a book covered pouf! Ouff!

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    1. You make me laugh!! So true. I do love World of Interiors but then not everyone can recreate a neglected castle in the Iron block look. I do think they need new blood. But I am still so addicted to mags that I can't help but buy it - I need to know what the "establishment" are doing. But I think that is why I adore blogs because I find them so much more helpful and fun to look at. You need to start something Curator!!

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    2. Cushion mongers and pillow stackers - that's hilarious, I know, what are the multiple stacked cushions all about?

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    3. Blogs can be very enlightening for sure. Just yesterday I read a blogger ask her readers what they found stimulating creatively. The answers blew my mind...beauty and colour...WHIT! (As Tabs would say). Just as well I didn't comment on that one.

      Yes, were all different, but I don't think many people look further than their nose end.
      Stimulation not stagnation. Where does creativity come from? An enquiring mind.

      Maybe I'll start up adlib.co again, or even something new.

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    4. Curator - I know you must be busy but even if it is just once in a while - I really do with you would start again. I do think as we get older we can't help but get in our own little world even if we try and branch out. I thought I knew lots of different types of folks but blogging made me realize that I still haven't been exposed to certain things!

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  15. Muchos wonders of delight! The chair won't pin for me, I want it and that showroom made me say phwoar!

    I loved LA Law.

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    1. i will pin it for you! Those showrooms seem so obvious so am surprised it hasn't been properly done before.

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  16. I have always loved Mariette H. G.'s work. Those are grownup rooms.

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    1. You are right - she does make you enter a room with good posture!

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  17. Your comment about Nixonian is hilarious!

    I really love the Hudson Valley house (though NY is not New England!). I used to live in NYC and my old boss had a house in the Hudson Valley in a very similar style to the one featured (though smaller). I stayed there for a weekend and it was lovely. The photo with the pantry on one side and the bar on the other makes me think of a shot from that Robert Altman film, Short Cuts.

    LA is truly tempting. I was there over Christmas and the sun is delicious.

    p.s. I received my dog! Thank you! I got him when I got back from my vacation :)
    p.p.s. I sent you a message on instagram that I don't think you've seen - you should be able to get it if you click on the inbox on the top right corner of the home screen.

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    1. Hi Abby - I just pm'd you on instagram - if yo udidnt tell me you would have thought I was ignoring you! Still a newbie so thanks for understanding and so glad you got the doggie :)

      Oh you don't think upstate new york doesn't just cut it? Interesting bc I though it just made the cut! Yes Cali is tempting indeed. But I think I would turn into a bimbo if I lived there because everything is just so easy! :)

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    2. I knew you hadn't seen it because your picture didn't have a little check on it - they tell you everything now!

      New England is CT, Mass, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, and NH. New York is a world unto itself and has a whole bunch of strange divisions - "upstate" is just above NYC and is not all that "up" considering how much more state there is above it! Then there is Western New York, and the North Country, and then there is downstate too!

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    3. You know what - I think I must have taken a Manhattanite's view of what New England is bc when I lived in the city I went upstate to someone's house for the weekend and everyone at work was like - oh i dont like new england so I thought it was new england!! I never heard of downstate actually - isn't that NY city? hehe

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    4. It's the city plus Long Island, I think. SUNY Downstate is in Brooklyn.

      New Yorkers only talk about "upstate" and "downstate" but anyone from another part of the state has a slightly more accurate sense of its geography!

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  18. Just found your blog a short while ago and am really enjoying reading it. I laughed at your comment about the Nova Scotia house looking slightly nefarious - it really does! My favourites are the Hudson Valley and DC houses.

    I have never seen The Good Wife - must remedy that. I also never watched LA Law - I'm beginning to think I missed out!

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    1. What a pretty name Janesettia! Glad you agree - it kind of looks like some lone evil ex dictator's beach house. I would have the DC as my city home and the red house as my country pad too! Are you serious you haven't watched LA Law nor Good wife? You just have to watch a few episodes of LA Law - it is the epitomy of the 80's. MInd you, I don't know where you are from but the Good wife is a big hit in America whereas in Europe it isn't very big. But thank you very much for your lovely comment.

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  19. a white modern kitchen in a beach house? shock, horror, stop the press!!

    always enjoy visiting for a dose of witty sarcasm….love it!

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    1. Right?? I better stop or might get banned a block from Conde Nast...

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  20. Lovely recap. The beach house looks like Iron Man's pad; I much prefer traditional.

    I became a banker because of that CanCon show Traders so who am I to judge...

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    1. You are right! Very iron man! That is funny how we all chose career paths eh?

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  21. That's just crual. I want an appartment with the view on the ocean too !
    http://www.melolimparfaite.com

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  22. Naomi, Great recap. Agree totally about the white house. Yawn and those houseplants look terrible like plastic or something...I also like the older homes on this issue. Funny about Beverly Hills, it is not that expensive. The celebrity real estate news used to be in the weekend paper here. We used to joke- do we want to buy the dump around the corner or a 5 bedroom with a guest house in BH for the same price? Truly crazy real estate prices here in Silicon Valley area. xx Kim
    p.s. Loved the marmite comment!

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    1. Isn't branding funny tho? Bc so true Silicon Valley is like New York London so people get the shock of their lives when looking at prices. I wanted to get a cute cottage in Carmel thinking it was far so might be cheap. Was I wrong!! Yes one of my friends and I tease each other about chartreuse! Xx

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  23. Ps know Carmel isn't in Silicon Valley but was just comparing how crazy prices must be in svalley when even Carmel is so dear...

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    1. Yes the prices are horrifying. I walked down my old block in SF and all the cars parked on the street are much nicer now. I'm sure they are all paying way more for the same crumbling, rotting, apartments!

      I have friends who have been house hunting with a sizable but not extravagant budget for years now. They cannot find anything.

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  24. HILARIOUS re your Nixonian comment on LA houses. Do not get me started on LA houses, there will be a rant (and I feel this is my perfect right as a born-in-California gal). Oh I do hope you will review the latest American Vogue, I just got my copy a few days ago and I can already imagine what you are thinking just looking at it. Also, I see there is an exhibit on Isabella Blow's fashion collection in London. Won't you be my eyes and go see it for me and review it here? It will probably be about 99% early Alexander McQueen pieces! Tell them you need a press pass so you can take your own pictures! XO, Jill

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    1. The thing is some of these people were the type who one would assume would know better. But it was very funny. I will go and get the copy and do a review of if it for you Jill! and yes I will go to the exhibition and see if I can get a press pass - wish me luck! xx

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  25. Well I must say that beach house leaves me the complete opposite to flat - it makes me want to do the Euro lottery. You are very meticulous to detail, spotting things that most people's naked eye wouldn't - the absence of coasters a case in point ha ha and eeek I do like the positioning of those plants. I guess you wouldnt recommend interior design as a career change for me. Talking about careers, i too wanted to be a lawyer having watched LA Law - at least you followed through with it. After watching the last series of Suits, I had a little regret that I didn't follow through with it - I might have been a little closer to getting that beach house and putting a board room table in my dining room hee hee xx

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    1. I heard Suits is good but will get into once I have a moment but I hope you get a beach house with a walk in closet with a view to the beach Colleen! xx

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  26. Nixonian? Bushian? Clintonian? Have you started a new trend? You mention LA Law and The Good Wife ...what about Boston Legal? Do you think that show made would-be lawyers opt for another career choice? By the way, I loved Boston Legal.

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    1. Funny enough I stopped a lot of legal drama after LA Law because I knew the impact but I heard that was a good one too. and yes I really do think it has an impact - applications for pilots shot up exponentially after the movie Top Gun!

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  27. LA Law is totally the reason I did a law degree - or was it that movie about that grumpy law lecturer (which actually I just saw again after a million years and was actually terrrible). Huge fan here of chartreuse, we have it all through the house, think of it nature's neutral

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    1. LA law should have gotten a cut in law school fees! I think my like and distaste of the color is completely one of mood. Sometimes I wants all my curtains in that color and sometimes I dont' even want to see a picture of Nicole kidman's dress at the Oscars in the 90's. Moody color it is.

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    2. I totally dress like my house, and always lean towards the chartreuse rather than limes

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    3. Yes kind of has a muckiness to it that adds a different dimension

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  28. You are absolutely right about the appearance of all these coffee table books and the Le Nôtre one definitely appeals to me. As for chartreuse, I'm a fan especially with neutrals such as beige or stone. Julianna's streamlined kitchen with a pop of colour here and there is wonderful.

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    1. @miss b - i like beige too and I think it is underrated. I think coffee table books now have to be better to compete with the kindle so I am happy that the evolution of publication is taking a turn for the better.

      @Melo - I wouldn't kick a beach house out of bed having said my critique though! :)

      @Bmore Bungalow - Yes those curtains are and I think they would cost a fortune!

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  29. I really like the beach house though ;)
    http://www.melolimparfaite.com/

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  30. Those blue and white curtains are AMAZING!

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  31. Agree about the Nova Scotia house but Im not overwhelmed by the Marguiles one either ..so neutral .

    Now the one with the French Wallpaper hallway though not a fan of those looped curtains but I'd probably get used to them for that hall and dining room

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    1. The Marguiles one is quintessential New York home isn't it? I wouldn't have thought it would cost so much to decorate in that style but then I can be an opinionated so and so. Looped curtains are a tough one but considering the cost of making them and hanging them at this point I just make do - I am going to hang my auction find in the living room so we shall see how that goes!

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  32. Naomi-what fun to see the whole mag in your view. I agree-there are so gorgeous spots in S. Cal and even B.H. The climate is so ideal. 'Context Clue' sounds like you are right on with that one!
    xx

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Thank you for dropping by!