Contemporary Tuscan-Style Kitchens

Tuscan kitchens always make me smile. They are  warm and inviting, open in plan and designed around a large communal table. And while Tuscan kitchens are often associated with old-world style and antique furniture, who says you can't update the concept to make it fresh and modern? Here are some kitchens with a contemporary twist on the classic Tuscan kitchen.

{ Coburn Architecture + Interiors }

{ Amoroso Design }

Thursday's Things

Weekly roundup of online finds. Enjoy, & Happy Thanksgiving!

{ Pretty + delicate bud vases from Etsy's cynthiavardhan, found here }

{ Fresh + modern pillows from Etsy's WillaSkyeHome, found here }

{ Funky crochet bangles from Etsy's Silvia66, found here }

{ Vintage 1960's dishware from Etsy's OBJX, found here }

...and this last one just makes me smile...

{ Awesome print from Etsy's tuttistudio, found here }

La Bonne Vie

I am leaving on the early train tomorrow, headed to Paris! I am so very excited, for so many reasons. Not only am I visiting an old friend whom I have not seen in forever, but I am dying to visit Paris again, after having spent only a brief but amazing afternoon there last summer. And while I am of course looking forward to the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Notre Dame photo ops, I am most excited about the food...and of course the flea markets!! Paris' flea markets have been around for centuries, and offer up the most delectable culinary and decorative delights. I cannot believe I will be there tomorrow, strolling the avenues and taking in the sites and tastes of Parisian street markets. These are, after all, just as much a part of the culture as the museums or monuments. Even more so, I would argue. Food helps define a culture, and it is well known that the French love their food!

To pay homage to French cooking and cuisine, I give you a photo that defines both. The French stove, specifically La Cornue CornuFe stove; admired by food enthusiasts and designers alike, this range ads beauty to any kitchen and legitimacy to any chef.

And when a kitchen is designed to fit such a beaut, the result is masterful...

eclectic kitchen design by portland interior designer Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

The Great Shape of California

In just one month, we will be home for Christmas. I cannot express in words how excited I am to hug my family and friends, kiss my nieces and nephew, and devour the delicious culinary indulgences that London has denied me (Mexican food, In n' Out burgers, Mexican food...) As my official countdown begins, and our calendar fills with dinner dates and planned shopping excursions, my heart flutters with excitement. It seems appropriate, then, that as I scoured etsy.com yesterday for Christmas gifts, I came across the most adorable cheese plate/cutting board I have ever seen. Okay, so I am a bit biased, but I do think the great shape of California translates perfectly to a serving board! I mean, just think how much more cheese can fit on California than, say, Virginia...

This beautiful Californian memento, along with many other wooden states, can be found at AHeirloom's Etsy shop. The heart can be placed anywhere you like, and mine would, of course, be placed over San Francisco - just is where I left it.

DecorBoard: Gilded Red & Aqua Living Room

It is a foggy and cold day here in London, and I am wishing I had a cozy and warm living room to snuggle into. Something like this would do just fine...

{ Published on Polivore }

Suppressing My Nesting

After three months, we are happily settled in London. Our furniture is neatly stored in a garage in California, and nothing but the clothing we own shipped over. The irony is not lost on me: I decide to start a blog about editing one's home at the exact same time I consciously edit EVERYTHING out of my own apartment. As I type, I am sitting in the living room of our pre-furnished London flat. While tastefully fitted, the flat is much too sparse, even for my taste. The walls are almost completely bare, the hardwood floors cold and naked. IKEA is the driving force behind the design, and my need to nest has been drastically suppressed.

While the reality of our short stay in London keeps me from creating the space I want to live in, a girl still needs to dream....

The green sofa + butterscotch ottoman combo makes my heart sing...

Oh, hello fuchsia poofs!

AMAZING use of monochromatic color...!

Is there anything else to say?! LOVE!

*Images courtesy of ELLE DECOR