Americana Summer Style

How to spend the long weekend in July..............

Relax on the porch!

Nibble!

Snuggle with your best friend!

Relax some more!

Nibble again.

Have a chat with your best friend.

Have a cool drink!

Set up the buffet table!

Dine!

Eat (a little) cake!

Have a swim!

Relax again!

Take time to smell the flowers!

Sleep tight!

Barclay Butera, Pottery Barn, BHG, Pinterest, Martha Stewart

Draped Tables

No, these draped tables are not your typical fabric draped tables...........they are made of wicker, wood and fiberglass and I've been noticing them frequently in decorating magazines lately.

I've really taken to them and am loving the whole trend.........I saw a dark green wicker draped dining table somewhere, some time ago (!) and now I can't find the image (but I will - eventually!) and I will add it to this post when I do............anyway, when I first saw that table I fell in love with it and now they seem to be trending everywhere!

What do you think of them?  

Enjoy!

Daniel Romualdez

Architectural Digest

Anne Pyne

Alberto Bazzani fibreglass draped table

Soane.co.uk

Soane.co.uk

Bunny Williams

Soane.co.uk

1st Dibs

One Kings Lane

Kelly Wearstler

1st Dibs

Tim Clarke

Pinterest

Ralph Lauren Roomsets

While browsing the net recently, I happened upon the site of mcowenandbanks.co.uk...........an interior design company based in East Sussex, UK.

Turns out Peter Banks does 'roomsets' for Ralph Lauren and it didn't take me long to fall in love with his warm, cosy, inviting English interiors.

The first two images below are among the first of many unforgettable images I saw in New York city on my last visit.  Yes, it was a 'roomset' at Ralph Lauren's Madison Avenue store and by the time I got to the top floor and walked into this room, I felt like I had been transported to the south of France.......and I was in love! How could I not be?  Can you imagine walking into a room like this and not 'feeling' the ambience...........oh yes, I felt it all right......like a bolt of lightning!  It certainly perked me up and really gave me a whole new awareness of 'interior design'.........it was an impeccably designed room......that is, I could have moved right in and felt at home immediately!

Hope you enjoy and as always, I appreciate your visits and look forward to your feedback!

Have a great day!

Above images Ralph Lauren, Madison Avenue, New York 2010

Ralph Lauren - Watch Hill 

I absolutely love this summery, coastal look!

A Ralph Lauren cottage bedroom.........love it!

Isn't this English interior dreamy?

Above 3 images, Peter Banks of McOwen and Banks for Ralph Lauren

English Mansion Roomsets

Peter Banks for Ralph Lauren

Country House Roomsets

Peter Banks for Ralph Lauren

North Atlantic Roomsets

Romantic Bedrooms of Mario Buatta

Before leaving Mario (at least for a little while), I thought I would share some of his romantic bedrooms.

As you will see, Mario's trademark details are canopy beds, coronas, benches at the foot of the bed and of course, his beloved chintz!

There's no doubt, he is the master of color, design and detail, and his ability to come up with original schemes seems limitless.  In an interview with New York Social Diary, Buatta mentioned that he never does a room plan - he simply produces these rooms outright - which means he is also a master of visualization!

I know I've shown some of these rooms before, but some comprise his lastest work and all are beautiful and always a pleasure to peruse........and perhaps even allow a woman to dream a little!

Enjoy!

The first Mario Buatta room I saw in a House Beautiful magazine.

Kips Bay Showhouse 1984

One of Buatta's hand painted canopy beds.

This room is beyond dreamy!

Chintz and gingham love!

This is such a cosy, inviting room!

Mariah Carey's New York bedroom.

TV cabinet at foot of bed and venetian mirrors above chests.

Love the animal art.

Hilary Geary's New York bedroom.

Windsong Too guest room.

Windsong Too guest room.

Architectural Digest