my trip to LA last week left me desperate to get back to the beach and sunny weather. for me, beachy themes tend to run to two extremes: cool, mediterranean blues and rich warm tones. if ac and i ever win the lottery and end up with a beach home somewhere i’d love to play with both color stories and create a beach environment that’s cool and relaxing and then one that embraces the summer heat and goes spicy and bold. so today i’m feeling products that work for either theme….

[image above, clockwise from top left: quixotic reverie rug $78+, gold shell earrings $800 (yikes), epice scarf $35 (my summer essential), vintage metal pendant $1750 (for hanging in my dream cabana), thomas paul sea life coaster $14, 1900s stick pin $40 (for pinning a sarong), hable bag $40 (for carrying sunscreen, via joy)]

[image above, clockwise from top left: makossa stool $498, 1880s turquoise ring $235, hable toiletry bag $45 (via joy), virginia johnson summer bag $173, thomas paul sea life coaster $14, sculptural gate $1550 (oh, to lounge behind this by your seaside pool), woven plastic basket $4]

this morning ac and i are waking up in sunny savannah, georgia. the air is thick with the smell of flowers and i couldn’t be happier to be in one of my favorite cities picking out a place to get married. so today i’m dedicating this particular installment of ‘things i’m loving‘ to savannah. the city is full of history and beautiful architectural detailing so today i’m feeling all things antique- in soft colors like eggshell and moss. i’ll be back with new sneak peeks at 12!

[image above, clockwise from top left: vintage scalloped chairs at pieces, bonnat chocolate eggs $25 (delicious!), judy ross pillow $190, vintage marble table $1100, axel lamp $495, 1870’s cameo earrings $395, don carney framed drawing, antique english server at pieces]

[image above, clockwise from top left: spindle wingback chair $1,874, temple candlesticks $135+, zebra leaf wallpaper $198, othello lily cuff $320, owl tape measurer $98, industrial book shelf $599+, oyster box $82, darcy dining chair $298, ardenne headboard $794+, egg coasters $28 each]

this morning i’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about naturals- materials, colorways and themes. between trying to design a banner/signage for the design*sponge collective at the brooklyn flea (i think i’m going with white calligraphy on top of brown kraft paper) and oggling the cork-themed website for local 11 ten (who i’d love to cater our wedding if we get married in savannah), i’ve got natural colors and materials on the brain. so today’s installment of things i’m loving is a collection of natural materials like straw, cork, wood and caning. sources for each piece are below.

[image above, clockwise from top left: 1890’s malachite clover brooch $295, baja tote $40, natural vintage notebook $7, magnetic cork pin cushion $10, lisa dejohn vines notebook $11.75, marimekko coin purse $15, magno wooden radio $250, vintage vanity stool $149, vintage caned benches by baker at 1stdibs, braided belt $10]

my desktop wish list is all over the place this week, ranging from earthy wooden pieces to boldly painted moroccan style tables. i blame the weird smell that’s in our apartment right now. i’ve checked every darn inch of the house but can’t find the culprit. i’m convinced a tiny mouse (which i hope isn’t actually true) has died somewhere in the wall and i’ll never be ever to shake the creepy smell. so i’m blaming the smell for my frazzled sense of style this week. hopefully next week my selections will be a bit more together. in the meantime, here are some of my desktop wish-list favorites from this week and last.

[image above, clockwise from top left: apple green bar cart $650, missoni ‘jody’ towels $20-$118, cast iron wave bowl $62, green gold claw earrings by lauren wolf, almidi end table $625, funghi lamps $560+, steelwood chair $530, wood jewel cluster ring $110, riki desk clock $120, brickhouse soap $9]

[image above, left to right: warhol ‘basket of flowers’ framed print $200, staach stool $130-$210, red crocheted computer sleeve $96, almidi star table $1625]

[image above, clockwise from top left: double walled bottle $99, crystal napkin ring $60, glass segment necklace by vera wang $975, vintage mirrored table at pieces inc, eames house bird for vitra $195, set of 10 low trunk tables $1750, panama shopper $76 (via oh joy), garland table lamp $165, driftwood lamp at pieces inc, nautilus ring by lauren wolf]

after nearly a week and a half of being sick as a dog i think i’m finally starting to feel better today. and in honor of clearing out my desktop (and my stuffy sinuses) i thought i’d share some things i’ve been loving (from the couch with tissues) the past week or so. as usual, it’s a mix of high and low but this week instead of florals or yellow & black, i’m feeling dark browns, oranges and a dash of equestrian chic. i love horse-related imagery- it always reminds me of my favorite mollie dash bracelet that has a little faux horse bit as part of the chain.

[stay tuned for the 2008 d*s diy contest announcement this afternoon!]

[image above, clockwise from top left: virginia johnson posey fabric ($45 yd), lucia nenickova purse wallet $330, jonathan adler horse tray $125, figaro ring $1500 (dream on, grace), lucky horseshoe $8, caned leather bench from orange, horn servers $36, polished brass stools from orange, shweshwe cup and saucer $28, organic flower ceiling light, fossil knob $8]

[image above, clockwise from top left: mastercraft dresser from orange, gio ponti desk chairs, shanghai vases $96+, 1880s shovel brooch $60, napoleon sideboard $1995, hydra pitcher $98, philippe dining table $1995, carl aubock leather magazine holder (how handsome is this?), 1900s steel crescent brooch $65]

[image above, clockwise from top left: sea blossom knob, scallop $12, staffordshire salt and pepper shakers $12, abacus dining chair $495, blue striped romper $65 (all my friends are having babies, can you blame me?), napkin notebook $6.50, arrow button by alexa at little otsu $5]

i’m feeling a little split-personality this morning. i’m finding myself drawn to both yellow and black (together, but not in a bumble bee way) and woodsy cabin chic (or things that are dark brown and plaid). this probably explains why my house never feels finished- by the time i’ve finished one look i’ve always mentally moved on to another. so for the time being, here are some of my favorites in both styles.

[image above, clockwise from top left: black and white droplet mug $10.95 (via door sixteen), niche modern lighting, ficucia magnetic vases and candleholders $180, mercer sunglass case $78, 1900’s sterling dove motif hair comb $80, string 10 light $99, round yellow basket $85, ipanema clutch wallet $158 (via joy)]

[image above, clockwise from top left: million rings floor mirror $348, great brown owl tray $175, 1890s sword brooch $80, tartan coin purse $28, solomon placemats $48 (ok, not woodsy but i love them), woods vase by john derian $725, vanilla orchid teapot $48, new woodgrain pieces from three by three seattle]

i’m feeling especially girly today so i thought i’d do a roundup of my favorite feminine peices that are holding court in my wishlist folder. from floral knobs to ornate beds, i’m feeling all things flirty and lady-like. including this feel font at veer. stay tuned at 12 and 1:30 for today’s DIY projects. see you in a bit!

[image above, clockwise from top left: lime green highback chair from pieces, zinnia sketch napkin in ochre $24, five arm italian chandelier at 1stdibs, little raindrop necklace $294, sea blossom knob $10, watercolor switchplate $32, camp hickory spool table, rafia clutch $385]

[image above, clockwise from top left: six-of-one egg caddy $16, bamboo trellis mirror at peices, grassland coasters $8, yellow petal chandelier at pieces, gold-plated ice tea spoon $3.95, pair of vintage pink and purple lampshades at jennifer delonge $200, giovanni ferrabini wrought iron daybed (how wonderfully over-the-top is this?) at 1stdibs]