the Potomac

So many of my very best memories are tied up with the river. It makes me happy to think it's just as magical to them....

 I think it's one of the things I missed most about DC when I lived elsewhere. When you're there, it's like being worlds away from the city and the busyness. Time stops.

I took these phone photos last summer after a terrible family tragedy involving my niece. We had her brothers, my nephews, for the day, and taking them to the river was a welcome relief from everything going on at home. We went in the early evening when the light is at its prime. Even the camera phone couldn't disguise how beautiful it was. Just looking at them makes me feel at ease.

 

 now that it's summer once again, I can't wait to spend more time there.

Summer Tables

I'm a big fan of simple and natural elements in general, but seeing them tied together on a summer table gives me the most wonderful kind of delight...

(coastal living via Lime in the Coconut)

 (Lonny)

Brad Ford's home featured in Lonny is one of my favorites to date, and I've poured over this tablescape shot more times than is probably healthy or acceptable for someone who complains about there not being enough hours in a day. However, it displays my very favorite design combination: wood, texture, greenery, textural white/neutrals, and earthy black. I think 99% of my inspiration pictures for my own home share the combo. Fresh and natural while still feeling grounded. 

(Southern Accents)

 Another favorite...with my favorite combination.

 

(Remodelista)

 Ok, so this one is technically a spring table. It's Gweneth Paltow's easter table, featured on Remodelista. Imagine how different it would look if you swapped out the table for one with less texture--not nearly as exciting or inviting.

Dining rooms and al fresco dining have been on my mind a lot lately since two of our summer projects are a dining patio and a new dining room table. Stay tuned....

SlowMama

Friends, today I'm making my debut at SlowMama, a newish blog that has been a long time in the making. It's one of the latest projects of the talented Zoe Saint-Paul whom I've admired ever since meeting her when I was in college. She has a serene but straight forward way about her, and her ideas for living a slower more meaningful life are very accessible even for this often harried mama. Unlike many bloggers with strong philosophies, Zoe seems more of a realist than an extremist, which I think comes across through the blog. It's not preachy, but its not too mushy either. In Zoe's words, slow living is about "doing every thing at the best pace and refusing to rush all the time. To “live Slow” is to simplify your life, and stay connected to what matters most." To that end, the blog is full of unpretentious, back to basics concepts, fun recipes, helpful mama product reviews, and insights on living more deliberately in our fast-paced world.

The concepts and ideals behind SlowMama are some of the same reasons that got me into blogging and design in the first place, and I'm excited to reflect on them more thoroughly on a regular basis with a great audience. I will be writing primarily about incorporating slow principles into home design with kids.

So go take a peek. The other contributors, Ann and M.C. are full of fabulous ideas and great insights.


Aside from SlowMama, there are a few other sweet new happenings around here too...

 baptisms

and smiling

 
possibly a few new chins

and lots of summertime wishes

Dream Room Breakdown

Have you ever come up with a brilliantly original idea just to realize that it's really not all that original? Happens to me all the time. Certain rooms that I find in magazines or online just nestle into my psyche and influence the way I put certain rooms together. Such is the case with the perfect room below, which you might remember from this post.

I love its simplicity, airiness, and mix of earthy, fresh, and vintage accents. It's casual and inviting but uncluttered and well-ordered. If I could be a room, this would be it.

Ok, back to the point on not being original. This room has been stashed away in my files for about a year, and just the other day I realized that many elements I have been accumulating and putting into an inspiration board for a room are almost all influenced by or overtly taken from this room.

See?

One of my favorite features in magazines and blogs are the "get the look" articles. I always learn about new sources, and get great ideas about putting my own rooms together. And I love being surprised by the stores represented especially ones that I've given up on or written off as not my style.

So, in case you're interested in my findings for the room above, here's the breakdown clockwise starting with the chalkboard crates: 

• Herb Boxes from Home Decorators 
• Surface Mounted Label Holder (Antique Brass Distressed) from Hardware Hut 
• Shane Powers Neolithic Vessels
• Rolling Storage From West Elm
• Paradise Black Dinnerware from Bed Bath and Beyond
• Market Basket From Brook Farm General Store
• Beach Comber Baskets from Pottery Barn
• Lever and Lumber Table from Anthropologie
• Relaxed Roman Shades From The Shade Store
• Tolix Classic French Cafe Chair from Graham & Greene
• Titan Pendant From Horne
• Fog Linen Napkins From Brookfarm General Store

And if you're interested in learning more about how to put together a room from an inspiration photo, you can check out my post for Apartment Therapy.

Happy weekend all! I'm hoping mine is full of some much needed sleep!

Image: vt wonen