Color Story: Navy Blue
After donating my leather pumps, a chic little handbag and a stylish suit in this color, several years ago, this shade suddenly seems fresh again. I’m talking about the color navy blue. The one dress I bought on my recent trip to Paris was, you guessed it, a chic shade of navy blue. It felt so right for Paris and for fall in California.
After donating my leather pumps, a chic little handbag and a stylish suit in this color, several years ago, this shade suddenly seems fresh again. I'm talking about the color navy blue. The one dress I bought on my recent trip to Paris was, you guessed it, a chic shade of navy blue. It felt so right for Paris and for fall in California.
While traveling in Riviera Maya a year ago, I noticed that the accent woodwork and ceiling beams in our suite were painted a rich navy blue. It had the same bold impact as black, but the blue tones brought a lighter feel yet added some richness to the space. I thought it was a brilliant choice for the woodwork at this beachfront resort, Zoetry Paraiso del la Bonita. I was thrilled to meet the architect, a part-time resident at the resort, during our visit. I recently encouraged a design client to consider navy blue for her woodwork in need of some design inspiration.
These are a few of my collected images of navy blue on Pinterest and I find I'm liking the shade equally well for fashion and for decor.
I wondered if Pantone agreed with me about the suspected resurgence of navy blue. I discovered there is a shade of deep blue, Snorkel Blue, projected to be an "It" color for 2016. It pairs well with a number of shades as seen here. I'm especially liking navy blue with shades of copper and gold this season. Navy and white are purely a classic color combination.
Find more color inspiration on my Pinterest board Color Story: Navy Blue
Are you a fan of navy blue?
What shades of color are capturing your attention this season?
How to Make a Limoncello Spritzer - A Taste of Positano
One of my favorite discoveries of the liquid kind, on our trip to Italy, was the Limoncello spritzer. Scott and I typically store a bottle of the velvety-sweet lemon liquor, Limoncello, in the freezer for the occasional after dinner ‘digestivo’. In Positano in July, we were introduced to a lighter, more fizzy version of this bold citrus taste. It also happens to be the easiest cocktail recipe I’ve ever made.
Limoncello Spritzer
One of my favorite discoveries of the liquid kind, on our trip to Italy, was the Limoncello spritzer. Scott and I typically store a bottle of the velvety-sweet lemon liquor, Limoncello, in the freezer for the occasional after dinner 'digestivo'. In Positano in July, we were introduced to a lighter, more fizzy version of this bold citrus taste. It also happens to be the easiest cocktail recipe I've ever made.
Lemons, steeped in history, are a staple of life in Amalfi Coast and are used to brighten the flavors of many flavor-filled dishes and luscious cocktails. You will see quaint storefronts selling all things lemon-flavored from soaps, fragrances, skin care, candles, remedies to sweets, liqueurs and just about anything you can dream up for a lemon.
This is my simple recipe for the limoncello spritzer, as shared by a handsome waiter, in Positano.
Limoncello Spritzer Recipe
Limoncello
Seltzer Water
Lemon Slices
Ice
Frosted Glasses
Place equal parts limoncello and seltzer water in a shaker (or pitcher). Add ice and shake/stir to blend the flavors. Pour into a frosted glass and garnish with a lemon slice. Enjoy this taste of Positano in a glass!
*Seltzer may be replaced with prosecco for an extra bit of sweetness and fizz.
Read this to learn more about the amazing lemons of the Amalfi Coast. Long live the lemon!!
For more on our travels to Italy.
Salute!
Creating a Cozy Space at Home
I was recently asked about my must-haves for creating a cozy, relaxing space. If I had to focus on one starting point to create a cozy space, I would say alwaysstart in your bedroom. Let's get down to basics and focus on the most important element, the bed. We spend a large portion of each 24 hour period in our beds, sleeping, relaxing, reading, dreaming, napping and connecting. It's an important space to invest in layers of high quality luxurious sheeting, comforters, blankets, throws, pillows, and comfy details. I'm all about layering and a feeling of luxury in the bedroom.
The great 'pillow' debate lives on in our house. Scott bemusedly wonders, "Why do we have so many pillows?", but I can't live without them. I have pillows for comfy support, for creating just the right angle when I want to read or type on my iPad, and decorative pillows for a little style. My Savvy Sleepers satin pillow case (see the silky number above?), is a must-have for the anti-aging and smooth morning hair benefits. I'm addicted to mine (and buy in bulk for gifts)! I am also super excited to be carrying Savvy Sleepers in my Stylemindchic Boutique (online).
This is a fun post from Dale of Savvy Spice blog, creator of Savvy Sleepers, and she's wearing a Stylemindchic Boutique bracelet- it's so pretty on her.
Back to cozy comfort. My first high quality purchase of a sheet set was the gold standard Frette brand, while traveling in Italy. Luxury linens make such a difference in quality of comfort and sleep. And let's face it, even with sleep issues, like many of us have, comfy sheets help us feel pampered (as we toss and turn). My Frette sheets are still luxurious,12 years later, but I've never wanted to spend the money to invest in another set. Recently, I've been pleased to discover a newer brand, stateside, that rivals the luxury of European linens, with more reasonable price points. Parachute was developed by Ariel Kaye from California. Her experience with European linens was similar to mine. "Years ago while traveling through Italy, I found myself in a picturesque hotel on the Amalfi coast. After a long day, I got to my room ready to unwind. I pulled back the duvet, arranged the pillows to my liking, crawled into bed...and found perfection that I didn’t know existed. Those sumptuous sheets were softer than anything I had ever experienced." This young entrepreneur from Los Angeles started her own line of luxury bedding, with more accessible prices, when she saw the need. The company also gives back, which is a plus.
See more luxury at the Parachute website.
Beautiful linen sets
Along with my linens, pillows, and a faux fur throw blanket, layered to create a nest of a bed, I add lightly scented candles, a fragrance reed diffuser, and a linen spray to add a freshness to the sheets, to my bedside table. My current favorite is here from London.
I love to add elements that have meaning, like the framed mirror that hung in our family cottage at Lake Tahoe for years, and the gilded dish my mother brought me from her honeymoon in Europe last year.
Scott and I purchased this chandelier at the Clignancourt Flea Market in Paris, during that same trip when we bought the Frette linens. Another element of cozy comfort for me is mood lighting. I love a chandelier, candlelight, and lights on dimmers, to set a mood in the bedroom. By the way, not every element has to be expensive. The wallpaper in our room is from Lowes, the European Square Pillowcases & curtain panels are West Elm and the chair was on a major sale at TJMaxx.
I appreciate little details like framed photos, sentimental items and, of course, fresh flowers.
Color Story: Coral Crush
I'm seeing shades of coral everywhere this season and I'm especially noticing how well it pairs with
shades of blue-from navy to turquoise.
I'm seeing shades of coral everywhere this season and I'm especially noticing how well it pairs with
shades of blue-from navy to turquoise.
This navy trellis wallpaper is super chic playing off the coral ikat.
Coral seems to play well at the cafes in Paris
Coral pairs beautifully with shades of mint
and turquoise
I needed a colorful start to our new week and coral did the trick.
Do you wear corals?
What are your favorite shades this season?
Al Fresco Life and Living Outside
Al Fresco Life
The al fresco lifestyle is all about taking life outside. It's finally spring (joy!) and that means we are gearing up for the season of throwing open our windows, carrying our movable feasts to dine alfresco, the alluring possibility of lazy afternoon naps on the patio and warm evenings under the stars is on the horizon.
In Italian alfresco means "in the cool". Love that!
It may be a fresh, sleek space with natural elements
or a classic, luxurious elegance with warm wood tones and a roaring fire.
There are elements of each photo that appeal to me. I've done outdoor living spaces of different styles over the years~from South of France to Cottage Garden to a sleeker, more modern version in our current space. We are working on an update and I will share more on that soon (yep-a do it yourself project-more honestly a do it 'himself' project).
No matter what my style of outdoor living space becomes I do have some essentials:
*Candles are a must to create an ambiance in my outdoor spaces.
*The sound of water~ a water feature, water fall or even a tabletop fountain~ creates a relaxing mood
*Fragrant plants (citrus, night blooming jasmine, tuberoses are all lovely)
*A throw blanket to ward off an evening chill
*A pot of herbs to pick for grilling or adding to alfresco dishes
*I love to add a curtain to a deck or patio space to soften the look-even in sleeker styles
*A fire element. Yes, to candles and the next step would be a flickering fire bowl or fireplace to set the mood.
What is your favorite style of outdoor living? Do you spend time zhushing up your space to get it ready for the season? Any tips?
What are your must-haves?
Here's to our upcoming al fresco season~are you like me? Can hardly wait!
