Simply Seleta

a roadtrip [part one]

Last week we headed out for a family road trip to Atlanta.  Can't wait to tell you about it.  But first things first.  Since so many of you expressed interest in my last post on packing [courtesy of Jennifer] I thought I'd do it again.  Except this time you get to look inside my suitcase. 

Feel free to stop yourself from falling over in excitement. 

Let's begin. 

Couldn't pack too much, and really didn't have the energy after packing up the kids.  So I kept it simple.  I have a bad habit of over packing, which is rather ridiculous for something as short as a weekend trip.  So I commited to changing that this time.  [sorry, didn't include the shoes in the pics]

for the drive to atlanta: comfy with color

scarf: clearance banana republic
boyfriend cardi: jcrack outlet

for the next day playing with and chasing offspring: practical with pattern

coat: currently on sale at jcrack outlet
white oxford: last year
 

for date night with husband: preppy vixen

freshwater pearls: vegas
scarf: jcrack outlet
boots and skirt: last year

for the l-o-n-g ride back home: sassy with sneaks

Running out the door I ditched the scarf and added a lightweight jacket since it was pouring down rain.  Yep, it's a cutie from Target.  If you like it, you can find it right here.  39 bucks.

What helped make the packing extra fun were some warm, buttered blueberry muffins made by husband. As you can see, a small thief was reaching for one before I could even snap the picture.

And in case you're wondering if I had any special helpers during this process, the answer is, "I most certainly did."

My assistants were...

One streaker.  You can see the suspect running toward the door.  Don't judge unless you have or have had a three year old.

 
One five year old who was petting a cat and patiently waiting at the top of the stairs.  

One upset cat who happened to be hissing at a puppy below.

And one happy puppy who was watching the naked person run back and forth.

Like I've said before, there's never a dull moment around here.

To be continued...

hi from alabama

Been on a business trip with husband.  We even took our little sweet pea along.

Before I begin, let me give a holla' to all the peeps in Fairhope, Alabama.  You have such a lovely town.  It dazzles the eye and charms the soul.

For the rest of you, I have to ask:  have you ever been to Fairhope?  It's a must visit on your travel itinerary.  If you love warm, dewy air, infectious southern hospitality and quaint little shops, this is your kind of place.  I'm barely scratching the surface here, there's also history, fine dining, culture and even jubilees.    

Little one and I stayed in our hotel room while papa bear knocked out several morning meetings.  It was such a nice, quiet break from the freneticism of our regular mornings at home.  We reconnected with husband at lunch and boy did we hit the jackpot.  Yummy sandwiches and a tasty peach gazpacho over at Andree's.  But the humdinger was their homemade bread pudding.  Yes, I know I just had a fit over the banana bread pudding in Boston, but Andree's held its own.  Maybe it was even better because it was smothered in a mouth watering glaze.  No one is paying me to say any of this, I'm just telling you that if you do visit, DO NOT miss your chance to scarf this one down.

As we finished our dessert, we asked our server what kind of bread they used because it was so delicious.  Her answer?  "It's really not bread, it's Krispy Kreme donuts that our milk man delivers to us every morning."  After I got past the whole Krispy Kreme thing (remember my obsession?), I thought, "there's still such a thing as a milk man?  how incredibly cool that they have one."

Here we are outside of Andree's.

 

But the rare chance to get some one on one and coo over your middle child doesn't come without gentle reminders.  As we were soaking her up, an email popped up from our precious babysitter that was titled, "they miss you!!!" 

And with those three words came this picture of two other little ones waiting for us back home...

 

I know they are smiling, but something about that picture made me sad.  Okay, I felt guilty.  Heartstrings officially tugged.

But it was a magical trip, even if it was only a couple of days.  Sometimes it's all that's needed to make a little girl feel special.  And what's better than going on a business trip with Daddy?  Getting to ride on his shoulders after he's all done with work.

 

P.S.  And yes, they ALL get their own day.

[Fairhope photos from here and here] 

boston [times two]

I thought it would be fun for my husband, Peter, and I to both share a few thoughts about Boston since we always have such a great time there together.  That's him above [kissing some crazy woman].  Even though we lost our camera on the trip, I'll try to scrounge up some pics from flickr and our pocket camera we carried along.  I guess you can say it's going to be a pretty long-winded post.  So sit back, grab a soft pillow [or stiff drink] and make yourself comfortable. 

Here we go...

Seleta:  Boston is sooooo beautiful.  One of our favorite areas to walk around is Beacon Hill. I took many shots of jaw-dropping doors, entryways, unexpected paths and window boxes bursting with flowers.  One could spend hours looking at all of the intricate beauty of those things.  

Peter:  Always love walking Beacon Hill together.  Love the history of the area.  Was in awe of standing in John Hancock's front yard imagining his thoughts preparing to sign the Declaration of Independence.  Living here for a summer would be a dream.

Seleta:  By the time we walked up the top of Beacon hill, we had already picked out [in our dreams] what kind of house we would buy up there for our brood.  But then we both realized we were wimpy southerners with very thin blood...those winters would not be easy.  So for now we'll stay right here in the south and visit Boston in the warm months.

Peter:  However, renting a Beacon Hill or Cambridge home for a summer would not be out of the realm of possibilities.  Did you know that Beacon Hill was named after a beacon set on the hill and similar hills in Elizabethan England to warn of invasions of the Spanish Armada or of invaders.  Looking at the North Church you can imagine Paul Revere waiting for the signal to begin his ride.  Passing Benjamin Franklin's tombstone gives one pause to think of the creativity and effectiveness of his life and inventions and his reluctant but prominent statemanship.  Even the early history is abundant here.  Almost every other name of a town or Island or river came from an Indian tribe.  Remember Indians at the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth.  The state is named for an Indian village.  Chappaquidick Island was names by Indians.  More modern names came from the early settlers trying to recreate old England in NEW England.   More recently John Kennedy gave his land campaign speech for the presidency in Faneuil Hall....where George Washington once held court.

Seleta:  snoring....

Seleta:  When I visit cities which possess so much history and charm such as Boston, I can't help but close my eyes and picture what it would have looked like 300 years ago.  I can almost hear the clipping of horse hooves against the cobblestones on a chilly October day.  And hear the echo of children running and playing along the streets together while mothers fuss at them to come inside or they'll catch their death in the cold.  

Peter:  Our children?

Seleta:  I wonder why most cities weren't designed to be as classic and pedestrian friendly as Boston.  I realize many Southern cities such as Atlanta, lost all of their buildings in the civil war, but few maintained the charm of Boston as they were redesigned.  

Peter:  Atlanta was planned to be traveled by car and now it's gridlocked.

Seleta:  Love all of the pretty doors with their brass hardware and thick, shiny paint.

Peter:  She loves classic design - can't get more classic than a federalist neighborhood in a City founded in the early 1600s.

Seleta:  Boston is classic in every sense.  Just look at it here circa 1954.  At that point it was still 324 years old!

Peter:   Even then it was inundated with an overabundance of dress shops.

Very little  has changed.  Just styles and prices.

Seleta:  When strolling around, we loved seeing a bike used to deliver these freshly-baked pizzas.  It was hard to walk past this pizza place and not stop in for a bite.  

Peter:   Brian take note....new idea for Pizza by the Sea!

Seleta:  Did someone say shopping?

Peter:  I hope not.

Seleta:  Every trip I love to visit this store and this one too.  I know, so cliche.  But we don't have them down in our neck of the woods.  But I also enjoy popping into Barbour, a European clothing company that dates all the way back to the 1930's.  I'm always excited to see what they have.  I know their store didn't make Erin's list, but their styles are so unique compared to what we see down here.  And I always score one of their spring jackets on sale 50% off.  Their spring jackets are perfect coats for our beach winters. 

Look at these fly pics from their website.  So Euro-preppy. 

 

 

Seleta:  Oh and this last pic below...don't necessarily dig the outfit, but do love that wall.  How about you, sweetheart?

Peter:  Snoring...

Seleta:  All in all Boston is a great city to visit for a variety of reasons.  The history, the beauty, the amazing food and shopping.

Peter:  And the company, of course.

the end

boston's best

The trip was wonderful, it really couldn't have been more perfect.  We went to Boston, a place that just the two of us traditionally visit every summer.  For more than 15 years, my husband has attended a lecture given by one of his mentors.  So for him to finally make it after missing it two years in a row was quite rewarding to say the least.

If you're wondering why I'm opening with a pic of just me, please know this wasn't at all my plan.  It's the closest I've got to me and husband.  I had lots more of Boston to share with you...but sadly I lost our good camera on the plane [along with about 200 pictures from the trip].  We didn't realize we left our camera on the plane from Boston to Atlanta until we landed in Florida on our second leg and the Boston plane was long gone.  After endless hours on the phone haggling with Delta, still no evidence of our camera.  I feel so naked without my canon rebel, we've had it for years.  It was practically a member of the family.  Now all I have left is a tiny digital.  I'd like to pause for a moment of silence. 

Now on to the good stuff. 

One of the highlights of our trip was meeting Erin of Elements of Style and her adorable husband, Andrew.  They recommended we hook up at an amazing place called Beehive.  Beehive is a swanky restaurant and bar that everyone should have the pleasure of visiting.  The ambiance is perfect for kicking back, catching up with friends and enjoying a tasty cocktail.  The music is great.  I should have known that when someone like Erin suggests a spot to meet, it's going to have serious style. 

Once we met, it took me less than three seconds to feel completely at home just hangin' with these two.  Andrew is wonderful.  Erin is such a warm person and naturally radiates charisma and charm.  **But I was secretly wondering if she was ever a runway model before starting her career in design.  The girl is flawless.

We had a great time and can't wait to see them again. 

 

**"Exhibit A" to prove my point about the runway model thing.  If she comes to visit at the beach, I will not be brave enough to stand next to those long legs while in my swimsuit.  Ha!

When I made my way to the bathroom, Erin told me I may want a snapshot of the inside...I saw what she meant.  It's pretty cool in there.  Forget the fact that I looked like a freak taking a pic of a public restroom.

 

Love that old brick.  The mirror combo is very Anthro.  And the sink?  Would love a version of this bad boy in one of our kid's bathrooms.

After drinks, Erin and Andrew tipped us off to where husband and I could go for a nice quiet dinner [since this would be our last one without offspring for months].  Metropolis is where it's at!  We found ourselves snug in a booth while appreciating another fine dining experience in the city.

Oh. My. Gosh.  Everything was lick-your-plate good.  If you ever make it over there, you must try the banana bread pudding.  We ordered one to share, but I made a complete pig out of myself.  Sorry to my sweet husband who only got in about two and a half bites.

I have to say it's pretty exciting to meet someone in the blog world whom you've emailed for months and then finally get a chance to meet face to face.  It adds an element of adventure to life.  Or in our case, an element of style.  Now we have friends in Boston whenever we come up to visit.  Makes Boston that much better. 

If you would like more tips on the dining, shopping and best digs in Boston, check out Erin's fabulous post all about it [click right here].

blogging from where?

It's a fab friday over here.  For the first time, I'm blogging while 10,000 feet up in the air.  I know it's silly, but I just had to try blogging on a plane.  When I saw the wi-fi sign on the plane as we boarded, I thought, "why not?!"  To make it even more fun, Delta upgraded us to first class after a long delay on our first flight which caused us to miss our connecting flight.  We didn't ask for that but certainly didn't argue when they did it.  What Delta doesn't know is that even sitting on a plane stuck for 45 minutes on a runway is a treat for this diva and her dashing beau.  No cooking, cleaning, laundry, or any other boring domestic duties.  Just peace and quite.  And now fancy digs on another flight.

Hmmm, maybe someday someone will pay me to travel and report on all of the great things about the trip.  Travel channel are you listening? 

On a random note, I always chuckle whenever I take a long plane ride.  Looking around the plane seeing what everyone is up to is totally entertaining.  To be honest, it reminds me a lot of preschool.  Think about it, everyone is in their seats, waiting for their snack and working on their own projects.  Some are reading, some are playing on their computer, some are working and some are even falling asleep.  Just like preschool.  Currently the woman to my left is hysterically laughing at a Chris Rock video she's watching.  Not just giggling a little here and there, but perpetually belly laughing with only a few breaths in between.  At first it was cute how tickled she was, but now it's getting interesting.  I wish you could hear how loud she is.  How rude and scandalous funny that I am currently blogging about her and she has no idea.  I must not be alone because my husband just reached in his briefcase and pulled out a pair of earplugs.  Did I ever mention that I travel with James Bond?  He always surprises me with what he has on hand. 

It's going to be a fun weekend.  This is a cherished traditional trip for me and the man.  We weren't able to do it last year or the year before, so now we've resumed and we're so excited!  I'll give you the scoop when we return.

Happy fab friday, friends!

P.S. They just served lunch on the flight [didn't know they still did that?] and with it came a yummy brownie made by Dancing Deer Baking company.  Best packaged brownie I've ever put in my mouth!  What a great gift idea.  Look, even their packaging is cool.



Click here to visit their site.

the weekend {part II}

[mimosas are yummy]

Okay, so you want more.  I've got a little, but not a lot.  I was a bad photographer during our stay with Eddie and Jaithan because I really just spent time soaking them up and not taking as many pics as I could have.  Besides, how Magoo would I have been if I were constantly taking snapshots?  

After our flea excursion we hit an amazing restaurant downtown around 20th and 5th [the name escapes me at the moment] and thawed out from the cold.  Best Pomegranate margarita I've ever had.  After full tummies, we headed back to the farm.

Eddie got busy cranking out quiches in the kitchen in prep for a party he was hosting at their place the next morning.  Jaithan and I bonded over our computers. 

[Interesting sidenote:  notice the tulips in the picture below are slightly longer than they were in the arrangement the day before?  Eddie told me that tulips continue to grow even after they are snipped. Crazy, huh?]

For me, this night was one of the highlights of our trip.  Mainly because we were all doing what we loved, the house was cozy and the fires were roaring.  Eddie was having his own Donna Reed moment, Jaithan and I were cracking out on our computers and...

Peter was very "Father Knows Best" as he sat next to the fire and sipped his herbal tea.

Eddie was a maniac in the kitchen.  He was effortlessly cooking and styling for the party [and loving every minute].  I blinked my eyes and suddenly there was a row of eight different quiches perfectly aligned on the kitchen counter.  I should have been paying attention to his culinary wisdom and creativity so I could be a better wife and mother and finally achieve domestic bliss, but was having way too much fun with Jaithan on my computer [he happens to be a computer genius].  Eddie prepared many other goodies for the party, but he's far more qualified to talk about it than moi.  I'm certain you'll see a brilliant post on it soon.

The next day was such fun.  We were able to meet many of Eddie and Jaithan's good friends who were all lovely.  I was thrilled that Patricia of PvE was able to join in the fun!  Here are the three of us.

Patricia surprised me with a beautiful white dish from the Paris Flea Market in New York.  I was blown away by her kindness.  The angel next to us is her sweet daughter.  

Here's a sight you never see - Eddie holding a baby!  This precious little one belonged to a sweet couple who are two of Eddie's friends at the party.  It's their first baby, and I have to say, he was the happiest little guy.  Laughed and smiled the whole time.  And Eddie was quite a natural...

After a while, we made our way out to the freezing cold and fed the ponies by the barn.  It was at this point that I had a huge lump in my throat and felt tremendous mom-guilt that I was not with my offspring.  My oldest daughter is a horse freak and I felt like I was cheating on her by even being out near the ponies without her.  Somehow seeing the other little ones with their parents made Peter and I really miss our brood.

 

All in all the party was amazing.  The guests were delightful.  Eddie was in his element and the perfect host. 

The next morning offered more of Eddie's yummy cooking.  I'm amazed at how he just whips things up out of nowhere.  That really is a talent.  Did I mention I gained weight on this trip?  Yesterday my button literally popped off my favorite pair of pants when I bent down to help my child.  Fabulous.

After breakfast it was time to head to the airport.  We stopped in to grab some coffee for the road in the adorable coffee shop nearby.  I love how every place in their town is so charming and rich with  history.  I can never get enough of creaky floors, classic molding, and that perfect homey smell when you walk inside. 

 

I took a few snapshots of our surroundings as we drove back to the airport.  It's not even half of all of the pretty things I saw but it's a few...

 

 

 

Below is the famous Harney & Son tea house where gourmet teas are made right there in Millerton.  Check 'em out right here.  I was crushing over their sign.  Love those colors.  I wish I had a better shot, but that's the best I could do out the back of a car window.

Below is The Moviehouse, an adorable local theater showing several movies each week.  We had intentions of all going to a movie one night, but were too wiped from our day in the city. 

 

I love clock towers.  We have one in our current 'hood, but it's only about 5 years old.  This one must be at least 150. 

This picture is crooked, but I still love the character of the house.  It's the third story window and arched shutters that made my heart jump. 

 

So there's our weekend.  Eddie and Jaithan are the kind of guys I could hang with for hours and hours and never tire of their company.  They were so generous to have my husband and I out to their abode and take time out of their insane schedules to visit and play.  I still don't think they will ever understand how much of a break they gave two tired parents.  I cannot thank them enough, it was a priceless gift!

Next time it's our place at the beach, guys. 

The End.

the weekend {part I}

The weekend with Eddie and Jaithan was amazing.  They really are the consummate hosts.  It was an ideal vacay, filled with the perfect mix of laughter, scrumptious food, shopping and lots and lots of pretty, Eddie's trademark.  

Once we arrived in New York I completely relaxed and forgot all about our exhausting last five weeks.  Except for the fact that when our plane's wheels touches the ground it came to a sudden hault.  Suddenly the pilot announced over the intercom that we lost our steering and the plane had to be towed in the rest of the way. Ha!

We made our way back with Eddie to the farmhouse, greeted Jaithan at the door and the fun began.  I have to admit, the second I walked in the front door I almost fell out of my tree.  You cannot imagine the beautiful table setting that greeted us.  Well, knowing Eddie, you probably can.  White on white palette, candles, dinner in the oven and a fresh flower arrangement to die for. 

Here's a peek.

I know, you're not surprised.  What's so inspiring is that the whole set-up, although incredibly chic, was affordable and all found at flea markets.  The flowers were a grouping Eddie put together from the grocery store!  The one thing I noticed about Eddie is he really practices what he preaches in his own home and works with inexpensive yet classic items that offer high style.  The end result is quite stunning.  

Here's a shot of the guys as we started our delicious meal.  That's Peter, my husband, in the middle.  The meal had him in hog heaven.  I'll let Eddie tell you about what he made for us.  Hint: it involves  monogrammed food.  You won't believe it.  [I also found it hilarious when all of a sudden Eddie busted out a blow torch when preparing the final touches on our dessert.  He uses a blow torch in a far more appropriate way than I.  The last use I had for one was this.]

After a long day of travel and a wonderful meal, settling-in to our pretty guest room was such a treat.

Lucky for me, this beautiful secretary was in our guest room, a sentimental reminder of how Eddie and I first met.  Simple touches like pretty white flowers on our nightstand, gorgeous white bedding and the sound of birds outside made our room so perfect.  You could also see the nearby sheep and horses.  I always say it's the simple things that matter the most. 

One of the most charming parts of this sweet room was sleeping with the window open.  Yes, it was about 18 degrees after sunset, but the breeze was perfect after we were bundled in the soft linens.  Remember the T.J. Maxx sheets Eddie referenced right here?  I slept on them and they were as soft as butter.  Go get some now! 

We loved hearing the running stream in the evening and all the different birds outside the window in the morning.  The last time songbirds woke me up from a relaxing night's sleep?  Maybe never [offspring always beat them to the punch at our house]. 

Here was our view from the bedroom.

The next day we woke up to a soft boiled eggs, toast points and french pressed coffee. Below is my husband feasting again.  Can someone please tell Eddie to write a book on how to be the perfect hostess?!?  He needs to be sent in to train the Ritz staff on how to keep a guest blissful.

Funny, even though all of his table settings always look so pretty and perfect, you must know that our meals were never stuffy or formal.  But they were always relaxed and fun.  Another talent Eddie has for expressing that famous "classic style with a twist."

Next it was off to the city to go flea.  I was quite excited about that.  Eddie had a New York Daily News reporter with him who was writing a story on his flea market shopping.  We were also joined by a few of Eddie and Jaithan's cool friends.  It was great meeting everyone and watching Eddie do his magic.  I've actually never seen someone who's so efficient and equally fast at finding gorgeous things at a flea market.  He's like an organized design tornado; there's no slowing him down and he gets right to the goods.

Here's part of our gang that day.  [my sweet husband really hung in there, we joked that he probably probably would have been happier if we had just dropped him off at The Intrepid's aircraft collection so he could have had more fun]

 

During the shopping, Eddie found me a gorgeous set of silver tongs made by Sheffield.

I LOVED them.  And guess what?  When we got back home, it turned out he had the exact pair.  Same maker and all.  What are the odds?  So I guess that makes us official silver tong wondertwins. 

Here's a lovely shot of them taken by Eddie.  

 

I'll post a little more tomorrow.  I really must catch my breath.  All in all I have to tell you that the highlight of our trip was just getting to hang with great friends and chill.  

Not to break your heart, but I will tell you that Eddie Ross is everything wonderful you might imagine.  Down-to-earth, caring, fun, extremely giving, hilarious, a perfect dash of naughty and the ultimate shopping bff.  So if you ever get a chance to go on one of his shopping trips...do it!!! 

hi from new york...

 

This weekend was filled with loads of laughs, endless delicious meals and plenty of Eddie's signature style.  He and Jaithan are the perfect hosts and inspiring on so many levels.  This was a dream vacay.  I really won't be able to thank them enough.

Can't wait to tell you all about it.

Today husband and I will be traveling back to the beach.  There are four little offspring who are desperate to see their parents...

entirely giddy...

 

[cue harp music and scene of a green field with rolling hills]

Once upon a time, in blogland, a blogging girl met a fab designer, master florist and stylist all wrapped up in one.  She saw some of his work and went a little crazy.  She loved it.  So she sent him an email.  They instantly became friends.  They shopped a little, laughed a lot and talked nonstop about design.  But he was in a faraway city.  And she lived at the beach.  One day, he packed up his chic apartment and moved to an amazing farmhouse. 

And it was time to go visit!

**********

You guessed it, I'm hoppin' on a plane {husband in tow} and heading to New York to see Eddie Ross and his fab partner, Jaithan.  I'm so excited to see them both.  Om, let's try that again, I"m THRILLED!!!  My husband's excited too.  But in a different kind of way.  Bless his heart, my husband lives in the legal and commercial development world with his job and is so unaware of Eddie's whole style-genius-thing he's got going on.  He just thinks Eddie and Jaithan are super cool guys and is looking forward to hangin' with them.  [truth be known, I also think he's pretty anxious to taste some of Eddie's yummy cooking] 

To warm-up husband up for our trip, I showed him a few you-tube clips from Auntie Mame, Eddie's favorite movie that we have yet to see, and tested his design endurance by having him match fabric swatches in 30 second drills.  Then I gave him a pop quiz on proper table setting and styling.  Okay, so I'm totally kidding.  Almost.

I promise I wasn't holding out on you by not mentioning the trip until now.  Life has just been crazy busy and I can barely keep up.  But I can assure you I will learn lots from our dear sweet friend and have an extra good time.  I'll eat my stylized vegetables and shop plenty at the best fleas around. 

So can you pardon a tired little blogger who needs to pack up and get ready for a fun vacay?  We leave on Fab Friday.  And I feel like I haven't a thing to wear.  And since you brought up wardrobe, I really want to dress like a New Yorker, you know, kind of blend.  But I fear my efforts will leave me looking like some weird version of Pat Benatar [sorry, Pat] or even worse, the female villian Ursa, from the movie, Superman II.  That's her on the far left.

I'll try to sneak in a post during our trip at some point, but will be back in action next week.  Don't you know there will be lots to chat about!!!

I leave you with an illustration created by my precious 7-year-old.  It's her artistic interpretation of Eddie and me shopping at a flea market.  When she first saw Eddie's picture she said, "Mommy, he's fancy!"  Before our trip, she was all about drawing a picture of him.  I love how she tried to give him a bowtie and vest and focused on creating a table of his prized silver and goodies.  Such details.  Yes, the offspring know all about Eddie.

inspired to pieces...

Last week husband and I squeezed in a mini-date trip to Atlanta since he had to knock out some business in the city.  The trip was a fast, furious and fun 48 hours.  Whenever we can escape anywhere alone without having to feed, carpool, dress, chase, wipe or clean-up after our small fries, it's such a delightful break.  So we maximized every minute. 

I was able to sneak in a visit to Pieces in Buckhead for some serious jaw-dropping design and inspiration.  Could have stayed for hours.  Especially after meeting associate Anna, who couldn't have been any nicer.  She let me take pictures to share with you.  Thanks, Anna!  And thanks to Lee Kleinhelter bringing a store into the design world that shares such a magnificent dose of design goodness.  You can visit their site right here.

Loved the store's all-white palette accented with pops of color.  Each furniture grouping is color organized in a way that dazzles the eye.  And everywhere you turn there's the perfect mix of elegant with dashes of the unexpected.  So you end up doing the whole stop-and-stare thing....a lot.

Apparently store owner, Lee Kleinhelter, adores white.  Here's what she said in a great interview last spring over at decor8:

"White is my most favorite color.
I love to live in it and wear it!
I think it’s clean and simple."

~Lee Kleinhelter

I couldn't agree more.  Nor could I tear myself away from her green groupings. 

Loved this light.

 

I'll be the first to admit that I was a little starstruck when I saw "the famous" console...it's breathtaking in person.

Here's a better shot from their site.

Remember originally seeing it here? 

Lee's last two homes have each been featured in Cottage Living.  The first feature [above] was in 2006.  The second was in the November/December issue of 2008.  I'm sure we can all agree that both were stunning.

It was hard to leave such an effortlessly chic store.  But I have high hopes of returning again and again.  After all, one can never have too much inspiration in life.

[last image courtesy of Stylecourt]