Want to know my Five for Fall? Come see my favorite tips for fall entertaining on the wonderful blog Party Resources! I was so honored to be asked and it was so much fun to put together.

What is your favorite go-to trick for autumn entertaining?

Happy Saturday!

XOXO

Gritty Beach

When my younger brother got a new apartment in Venice Beach, California he asked for my help decorating it. His requested style: Gritty Beach! I love that he came up with this name and am having so much fun helping him. In pulling together inspiration, I fell in love with this amazing beach house in Tewantin, Australia. It is so casual and chic and yes just a bit old and gritty! I love the collected feel of the home, and it seems like the perfect place to relax with friends. Totally cool and California, right?!

So, what do you think is gritty beach a new hot trend? 

Happy Friday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

{via}

XOXO 

Daydreaming: Boulevard Magenta

About this time one year ago, I moved to the small French town of Fontainebleau for a few months with my husband {he was finishing up his international MBA there} I adored our time there and especially the tiny but oh so charming little carriage house we rented. I love seeing real, un-styled homes {as well as those glossy magazine types!} so wanted to share a few snapshots of our French home. I hope we get to go back sometime soon!

Even the house key was beautiful and antique

Our little home on Boulevard Magenta was built as a carriage house and stable for the main house in front

Our warm little kitchen. I only wish I had snapped a photo of the high ceilings, they were vaulted red brick!

I loved this burgundy rope they had fashioned as the stair rail

The living space, those ticking stripe curtains in front of the french doors were so pretty 

The compact but cozy bedroom - my husband could not stand up fully but I did not care . . . the old ceiling beams were amazing! The owners had installed wall to wall sisal which was a nice modern touch

Even the potting shed / dog house next to our little cottage was so French and chic

The main house, our little carriage house is back to the left. The owner had an amazing chocolate and pastry shop in town - Frederic Cassel, which we visited often {yum}. I loved passing this stately house each day!

The Chateau at Fontainebleau - just a few steps from our little house. As it's located a good bit outside Paris, it was spared from the looting of the French Revolution and remains in wonderful condition. It was a favorite vacation home of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette and was also well loved by Napoleon and Josephine who did much restration work here in the 19th century {In fact, Napoleon abdicated from these very curved staircases!}

I used to take daily jogs or long walks in the chateau gardens - so lovely! 

The view from our bedroom window of the garden under snow

Lastly, here are some more photos I snapped of the chateau gardens with beautiful fall colors! As you can see, we were terribly spoiled. 
Thank you for indulging my day dreaming. Le sigh!!

XOXO

Daily Details 11.9

I say the beauty is in the details. . .  and there is something about this breakfast nook that is just so inviting and cozy! I love the mixed antique chairs, the glossy white pendant and the throw pillows propped up on the chair. 

The perfect place to have coffee and read the paper, hmmm, wonderful! 

{via} 

Tuesday's Tip: Bare it All

I recently have been so drawn to bare floors! As a designer, the carpet or area rug is usually the first place you start when you create a space, but what about forgoing it altogether? I thought at first it might be cold or barren but when done right - I think the lack of a floor covering is so breezy and chic! 

 3 tips to make this look work at home:

{1} Be sure the room has plenty of other textiles, fabrics, or upholstery - this will soften the look

{2} Don't worry if your floors are not perfect - if they have patina and and you love them, then go for it 

{3}  Fill the space with extra visual interest and texture from art and accessories - this will create a lovely contrast with the bare floors below!

Kind of freeing right!? If this look is not totally for you, a great solution is to add a few small vintage throw rugs or sheepskins just where you need them most! 

{images via 1. 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 - 9}

XOXO

Fall Color Combo: Lime + Purple

I love bold and surprising color combos. A while back I posted this beautifully bright dining room by Katie Ridder and I was just crazy for the lively color pairing of lime green and purple. It is so energetic and perfect for autumn too! The key is to be sure to add accents in black or deep brown to ground the space and also to mix varying tones of purple in the space {think not too matchy!} 

What do you think of this daring color contrast . . . too much or just right?

It's also such a lovely color palette for floral arrangements and beautiful for entertaining. Hmmm, might just be perfect for my Thanksgiving dinner party here in Singapore . . .

{Images via 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 . 8}

XOXO

Daily Details 11.3

They say the devil in in the details? Well, I think that so much of the true beauty of design and of life is actually in the small details! So, I thought it would be fun to share an detail of inspiration each day. Not a whole home or even a whole room, just a beautiful detail!

I love this office detail, the luxe tufted indigo chair, organic fig branches, messy but creative bulletin board, event he gold coffee cup - perfection! 

What is your favorite detail?