A Beach Getaway

Sister-in-law Laurie has rented a beachfront condo for the week, and invited Tim and I to join her for a few days. We'll be staying on a little island off the coast of Florida near Englewood, about halfway between Sarasota and Ft. Myers. This will really be getting away from it all, since you have to take a ferry over from the mainland. There is no shopping on the island, and just one restaurant. Wonder if we'll have wi-fi?

Click on any image for a larger view.

I don't think we'll be quite this secluded, but one can dream.
I'm taking along books, magazines, and plenty of mojito mixings.

My idea of a beach getaway ... is looking out the bedroom french doors, thrown wide-open to a view like this!

Sheer white curtains billowing in the ocean breeze, and mosquito netting draped over a bed ... this scene appeals to the romantic in me.

I spy a perfect spot for napping on a hot, lazy afternoon. All you need to add is a ceiling fan whirring gently overhead. This room looks like it could be in a treehouse on a tropical island, à la Swiss Family Robinson (hopefully sans pirates).

Hmmm, I wonder if our condo will have a bathroom with a view?

The owners of this beach house have gotten the decor right.
White denim slipcovers are superb for a soft hand, clean beachy look and ease of care. They wear like iron, and can be thrown in the washer and dryer and come out beautifully (no need even for ironing). The fabric is inexpensive as well.

Many of us dream of an outdoor shower.
This bathroom takes the idea a step further, and is completely outdoors ...

... with a gorgeous gilded-leg clawfoot tub, a separate shower, lots of tropical foliage and nothing but the big blue sky overhead.

For an evening on the beach, I love these sand excavations with votive candles set inside – they look so pretty and somewhat mysterious.

Enjoy your 4th of July weekend, and see you in a few days ....

Top image from Nuevo Estilo. (Thanks Carolina Eclectic!)
All others: Luxury Culture.
...........................................................................................................................................................................

Yves Gastou Decorates with Red, White & Blue

French antiques dealer Yves Gastou shows us all how to decorate with patriotic color. Just throw in one simple André Arbus rug, add a sprinkling of designer antiques, and voila ... instant fireworks!

The sculptural forms and soft colors of the neoclassical commode by Gio Ponti, coffee table by Jansen, and armchairs by Jean-Charles Moreux set the stage for the sophisticated heat provided by the red-white-and-blue rug, in the living room of Gastou's house in Biarritz. I love how the rug acts as a giant, abstract painting, and the large scale of the pattern pulls the room together.

Switch to his Paris apartment, and you can still find hits of blue and red/orange. It's quite ok to bring in a range of colors in your rooms, letting their dominance vary from room to room. The slender lines and glass top of the Arbus coffee table make it the perfect choice here - you really wouldn't want to hide much of that luscious rug. The rich purples in the Christian Liagre sofa are not a perfect match, but that doesn't seem to matter. I think the white pattern with dark outlines in the rug, along with the deep-blue and pale lavender accents in the room help change the way the colors are perceived.


Poolside – a little playfulness, in style and color, courtesy of a Mark Newson chair and what appears to be a pink rubber ball in a fabulous zinc urn. When your home is a charming, turreted mini-castle in Biarritz that verges on Disney-esque, I think you can get away with this approach. Perspective and a sleek landscape play into the stage-set.

Gastou's style shows that you can mix serious antiques with modern and colorful accents, and have fun with your home decor. But in order to successfully break the rules, you have to know them. And I think it takes real talent to make this work.

See more here. Photos by Ivan Terestchenko.
..........................................................................................................................................................................

Making Peace Personal

Instead of a peace button, I think I'll wear one of these great bracelets.

Max&Chloe Ettica Leather Peace Wrap Bracelet. I love the wrap style, and this would go with most everything (perhaps a pair of brown leather gladiator sandals).

Also from Max&Chloe, the Ettica Leather Peace Bracelet comes in your choice of 16 colors.
I'm partial to the white.


Max&Chloe Blu Bijoux Rock N Roll Peace Cuff, $22.
If you like cuffs, this one is cute with a little bit of cool.


What a nice way to provide a subtle, constant reminder of your personal vision for the world!
It is said that visualizing can make things happen ...
.............................................................................................................................................................................

Bringing Peace Home

A small, simple gesture – like incorporating peace signs in your everyday life – can have an effect on your own way of thinking, and that of those around you.

Jonathan Adler's Peace Pillow is available in magenta/brown or black/white. Or – you can choose from quite a few custom color swatches to match your decor.
...............................................................................................................................................................................

Coming Together for Peace

This candle-light peace sign, in Budapest, 2006, is such a beautiful way to make a peaceful statement.

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." Jimi Hendrix
............................................................................................................................................................................

The Peace Sign

Yesterday was the first in a series of posts I'll be doing about peace. I can't stop thinking about what this world would be like without war, violence, hate, intolerance and the struggle for power and control of others.

Did you know that the British were marching with peace signs, guitars and babies in 1958?

Designed in 1958 for the British nuclear disarmament movement, the peace sign was brought to the US by a member of the Student Peace Movement, in the form of peace buttons. Thousands of those buttons were sold on college campuses, and it was soon adopted by the baby boomer anti-war protesters in the 60s.

Millions of people around the world, regardless of race or religious beliefs, have looked to the peace sign to unite them. It has become an enduring cultural icon ... It is probably the most commonly used non-religious symbol of hope in the world, instantly recognized anywhere as the universal sign for peace ... Although the world is currently filled with wars, the peace symbol is a reminder of how much people long for peace.*

*More information and photos here.
.............................................................................................................................................................................

Think Peace

The Imagine mosaic at Strawberry Fields, in Central Park, NYC.
...........................................................................................................................................................................

Image from Istockphoto.
...........................................................................................................................................................................

A Final Word on New York

Who could resist this beautiful storefront? We certainly could not, and took a hasty detour across the street to investigate! Stepping inside, we entered Michele Varian's charming shop, filled to the brim with her flat-out-gorgeous silk and velvet pillow collection, plus an intriguing selection of hand-crafted jewelry, home accessories, curiosities and found objects.

Inside, looking out onto Crosby Street.

Michele's solid velvet collection.

Her pillows are hand-made, with wonderful details and fabrics.

I am helping Michelle (my friend), decorate a guest room in her bungalow, and we decided to design the room around this pillow. The printed silk is accented with a solid purple velvet back, with purple side-tie detail. It is really beautiful to see. The salesperson was so nice and helpful, and had the pillow shipped to Michelle's house so we didn't have to carry it on the plane.

I lingered over this sea urchin box – it has great tactile appeal.

The nature-inspired Silver Jasmine Blossoms Ring is so delicate.

Finally, I just had to find out about the wallpaper on the outside of the building! Michele kindly offered that, "It has been up for a couple of years. Before hanging it, I sealed the gaps in the overhang above the doorway so that the paper only gets wet when the rain is slanted in that direction. So far it has held up very well. Mostly it gets dusty from all of the traffic."

The pattern Michele used is Neisha Crosland's Cactus Paisley. Here is a detail, in a different colorway.

More about Soho/Nolita:

Some pretty awnings and vivid orange doors at Tory Burch, with a little graffiti for accent.

The pale color scheme on this townhouse is perfection: soft blue-gray painted brick wall with cream shutters and trim, and little black & white striped awnings. The door is painted a slightly brighter blue-green than the wall. I can only imagine that the interiors of this home are as great as the exterior!

The door sports the shiniest hardware I've ever seen, and the centered European-style doorknob is quite over-sized, as is the door knocker.

The house numbers (on the metal plaque) are the same silver as the hardware. I love the architectural details around the doorway and the graceful black iron lantern.


Paula Rubenstein (exterior shown above) has a wonderful assortment of quirky and fabulous finds.
Another favorite: Hayden-Harnett. The leather cuffs, handbags and totes are made with outstanding materials and attention to detail. After having seen them up close in the Elizabeth Street shop, I snagged one last week on sale at ideeli! (Thanks, Annechovie!)
Sample sales, wherever you find them!
And another community garden ...

This garden is divided into plots, tended by several different people.

Roses, and more roses!

The huge red flowers towards the rear of this plot are peonies! I had no idea there were varieties like this!

Michelle has a knack for finding doggies everywhere! How adorable is that puppy?

When I'm traveling, I like to catch a movie, if there is an opportunity. I just love movies to begin with, and seeing a good one in a different city seems to make the experience more memorable. One afternoon we walked down to the IFC Center to take in the new French film with Juliette Binoche. The story slowly unfolds, and doesn't end with a conventional "happy ending," but is exceptionally well done – and I'm still thinking about it today. (One thing to look for: the behind-the-scenes quick peek at the Musée d'Orsay art storage and restoration rooms.) I loved this movie, just as much as I loved New York!





SUMMER HOURS: Movie Trailer

...........................................................................................................................................................................
Michele Varian photos by Michele Varian. All others by Topsy Turvy, from the iPhone.
...........................................................................................................................................................................