Weekend Wishes

Wishing you a very, very, very PINK weekend!

Sweet Figs

40 figs, small, collected at the crack of dawn.
1,5kg sugar
3-4 teacups water
the white flesh of 40 almonds
the juice of half a lemon
40 cloves

Peel and make a hole to the nice round bottom. Remove the seeds that pop out. Pierce with a fork in a couple of places. Boil for c.10min. You don't want them soft. Get rid of the water. Rinse. Get rid of the water again. Add the almond and shut with the clove. Make a syrup and let it boil slowly for 15min. Remove the froth. Let it sit in the syrup all night. Next morning boil again till syrup makes a lovely floss when you lift the *wooden* spoon. Then add the lemon juice. Store and enjoy summer in the heart of winter.

Cath Kidston in Vogue

The Queen of Roses has found her way to the pages of British Vogue. She deserves every page and line of it. I love Vogue, I've read it since I was a baby, and this spread just shows how forward Vogue is, acknowledging not just the jazzy designers, but also one of those, the one, to be exact, who offers handfuls of beauty and enjoyment to the everyday lives of thousands of real life women (and men) around the world. Pride of place to Stanley. I think she'd do that herself!
A lesson to being eclectic; classic, country and modern.
The dining room/library is my favorite room of her house. Warm and serene, and inviting.

God save the Queen of all things beautiful, tender, cheerful and cozy.

Happy 15th anniversary, dear Cath, and many, many more to come!

Paula Navone's House in the Aegean.

Paola Navone is undoubtably one of the most productive and influential designers of our times.She is known for her clean, inventive, natural and somewhat quirky approach to design.
Navone graduated in 1973 in architecture from the Turin Politecnico. Between 1970 and 1980 worked alongside Alessandro Mendini, Ettore Sottsass Jr. and Andrea Branzi in the Alchimia group, the most progressive set on the Italian design scene, developing a highly productive and stimulating avant-garde stance which gained her, in 1983, the prestigious Osaka International Design Award, bestowed for the first time that year.
Born in Turin, she later moved to Milan, although she is first and foremost a citizen of the world: driven by her extreme interest in the most widely differing cultures – particularly oriental ones – she travels a great deal, bowing to a natural inclination to cross boundaries, and not only geographical ones. In her long and many-sided career she has switched easily between the roles of architect, designer, art director, interior designer, critic, teacher and organiser of exhibitions and events, both independently and for select clients, including Armani Casa, Knoll International, Alessi, Piazza Sempione, Driade, Roche Bobois and Swarovski being only some examples. She has handled art direction at Gervasoni where the photos above come from, since 1998, in addition to designing most of the collections personally.

In this post I am showing you pictures of her personal summer heaven somewhere in the Aegean. Her ininitable style can be seen from the entrance of her home, where she displays a utilitarian piece made by herself out of pottery and planks painted white.

As is shown in Navone's work, she loves organic forms that link man to nature.

Navone has used the local painted floor technique in a tongue in cheek way both inside and outside her home to a stunning effect, showing that style is anything but a matter of money.







Earthy and breezy. Natural, young and clean, fresh like the air of the Aegean, warm like the Greek sun. A lovely home pour se resourcer.

Happy Weekend

Sweet, elegant and lightheaded. Thank you, Sweet Paul.

Happy Weekend

Thinking of cozy winter nights, family, and a clean, clutter-free house.
Have a dreamy weekend.

(Pictured is Oprah's den).

Mykonos chic

Following the series of Greek Summer houses, I am showing you today the house of the Karageorgiou family on the island of Mykonos. Theirs is an old furniture making family, with two young daughters now stearing the ship into the 21st century.

White and red, with lots of earthy colors give this home a sense of serenity and balance, without compromising on visual interest.




(All images Life and Style, Greece)

Not only on Mamma Mia!

And just when you thought that this kind of stuff only happens in the movies...






The Tsavliris (of the shipping-salvage family) -Saracini wedding on the island of Folegandros,where gathered guests from across the globe for an unforgetable three day wedding. May they live long and happy.

(All photos Life and Style magazine, Greece)

Enjoy the weekend

Thank you for stopping by my place this week. Enjoy the weekend.

Taking Sides

Republican or Democrat, there is surely a chic way of showing your preference, or just enjoy a nice neck wrap in the Autumn.



Both from Echo Design at $25 each.

Prayer Request

I have read today of the sad news of the terrible accident that involved Stephanie Nielson of nieniedialogues. Her excellent taste, Christian life and vegetarian adventures were/are an inspiration to many.
Some of you may have seen your lovely house, an ode to simplicity and good taste, featured in Cookie magazine.



On Saturday, August 16, 2008, Stephanie Nielson was in a plane crash with her husband, Christian Nielson, and his flight instructor, Doug Kinneard, near St. Johns, Arizona. Doug Kinneard passed away soon after arriving at the Maricopa County Hospital.

Stephanie & Christian both remain in critical condition at Maricopa Burn Center. Christian has sustained burns on over 30% of his body, and Stephanie has sustained burns on over 80% of her body.

The couple has four small children between the ages of 2 and 6 years old.

Prayers and donations are kindly requested. Click on the button to read more and offer both. Thank you.

Notebook tutorial

That sweet new find of mine, Linnea Paulina, has this tutorial for personalising a notebook using a paper bag and other bits and bobs. Lovely diary, or dream book for la rentree!
Looks fun, I think we'll give it a try!

Tribute to YSL

A star travelled back the stars. A small tribute to YSL through images of his house in Dauville.
Lavish color and pattern, rich Moroccan inspiration, the fruit of his collaboration with acclaimed French designer Jacques Grange.
Exquisite style in everything...
inside and out.
Hints of his native North Africa everywhere,
distilled and beautifully combined with the equally bright Central European colors,
down to the everyday details.
Imaginative and daring, colorful and inspired. And True. Heaven will certainly be home.

(All photos Life and Style)