Simply Seleta

pretty white

A fun kitchen and a seriously organized + styled pantry.

 

Lovely vanity or quiet spot to write a note.

 

Relaxing headquarters.

[photos from here and here]

charm + seduction

What's up with me and white cottages?  Am I the only one who has this bug?  I can never resist staring when I see one.  Then I think of how much I would love one.  And I go into imagination overload and picture garden parties, champagne brunches on the porch, pretty dresses, art lessons with barefoot offspring painting with their wooden easels in the grass, and snipping lush hydrangeas to place in the perfect vase on a lovely antique foyer table. 

You see, my brain takes it to a whole new level.  Suddenly it's not just a cottage, but rather a vision of a perfect and happy life where children don't cry, phones don't ring and butterflies flutter nearby during long leisurely strolls under shady oak trees.  

Fantasy or delusion?  You decide.

They just don't make 'em like this down here at the beach.

Throw in a picket fence and you've got yourself a deal.  Or in my case, an obsession.

[photos courtesty country living and martha stewart living]

just pretty

It feels like forever since I've sat down and posted while at home.  Glad to be back! 

Let's jump right into business.  I'm currently feelin' the white so let's roll with that.  We had plenty of sun today and yesterday [after days and days of monsoon-like weather which nearly threw me into a blahs + blues tailspin] so now I feel alive and charged.  

I love daisies.  Are they hard to grow?  By hard I guess I'm asking if can they survive days on end without being watered?  I'm pretty bad about caring for plants.  Really really wish I had a green thumb.  Hmmm, maybe someday one of the offspring will bust a move and surprise me with an interest in gardening.  Then I could just be their assistant.  I dream of someday having an herb garden.  I have such admiration for people who can do that kind of thing.

Love love love this entryway.  I'm pretty sure that's Kelly Wearstler's fabric on the chairs.  Could eat it with a spoon.

Couldn't you deal with a chic little white workspace like this?  What a great spot to sit and sip coffee while writing a letter, paying bills, blogging, hiding from reality, anything really.

I've previously posted every other room in Dara Caponigro's home so I may as well toss in her bedroom to make it a complete set.  She's got serious style.  That headboard is something else.  A perfect ending to a pretty white day.

 

[All photos are from Domino.  I'm really missing their magazine in the worst way.]

divine...

Maybe it's the fact that I'm so incredibly tired that I'm currently drawn to images of relaxing and serene bedrooms.  

I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw this bedroom on poppytalk.  I love everything about it.  The soft textures, the interesting bird prints, the elegant simplicity, the natural light.  It's going down as one of my all-time favs.  Could someone please get a crane and just drop me into that wonderful bed?  With a few books and mags, please.  And a gourmet food basket.  No laptop, no cell phone, no tv. 

That would be perfection.

What's even better is that poppytalk did a whole "get the look" post on this bedroom giving you sources and ideas so it can be recreated on a budget.  Check it out right here.

After seeing this, I know I'll have sweet dreams.

[photo via poppytalk from Style at Home by Donna Griffith]

white inspiration...

A recent post by S.HOPtalk inspired me to pay closer attention to pretty storage in my kitchen. 

QUESTION

What's a creative way you store essentials in your kitchen?

pretty...

What a fresh way to start a Monday. 

Simple.

Graceful.

[photos courtesty of House Beautiful]

chic...

Tonight as I packed for a roadtrip, I scoured a few magazines for outfit ideas.  Do you ever do that?  I mostly get confused, make a huge mess and end up packing way too much.  But at least I try. 

While looking, I was reunited with a picture of one outfit I've always loved [from JCrack, above].  It's a perfect example of my theory that white is so very classic.  I love white oxfords.  I love pearls.  So this picture is heaven to me.  The fact that her hair is tussled and she's in cool kicks really completes the edginess of it all.  That contrast makes it so interesting.

I think to pull off designing with mostly white you just have to throw in some edge. 

So last night I was cruising the new March issue of Domino.  Is this the last issue?  [sniff sniff]  Among many other great features, this creamy room caught my attention.  Just like the white combo above, this room boasts its own quiet edge.  And that whole "faux" canopy thing is fab.  What a great project to do in a room where you want height and drama. 

To come full circle [and speaking of fierce style], I stumbled upon the home video tour of JCrew creative director, Jenna Lyons, produced by Domino.  You really must see it.  We've all read the article and have seen her home in the magazine, but hearing her give the tour is fascinating.  She shares so many interesting thoughts about bringing modern elements into a house while honoring its classic architecture.  Besides, Domino is shutting its doors, and this may be your last chance!  [sniff turning into sob] 

Just click right here to see the video tour.

Here's a peek of a little white in her home...check out that view.

[photo credits: jcrew and domino]

wordless wednesday...

 

[photos by jason loucas]

still lovin' white...

 

It's been a colorful week over here.  But I did miss my white a little.  Let's end our week with some delicious white goodness.  The laundry room above?  I would consider becoming a full time laundress just to have this room in my life.

Now switch gears to a cooler toned white.

This bathroom is beautiful in its symmetry and pure simplicity.  In that glorious tub, my bath would last one hour and a glass of wine long.

Here's a snug yet light and bright spot to curl up by the fire.  I want to be there right now.

There's so much wonderful color out there to embrace.  But I like to think of white as timeless.  And as classic a white oxford. 

Simple?  Yes.  Chic?  Of course.  Boring?  Never.

Even in the fashion world white is sometimes used to make a powerful statement.  Just ask Vera Wang.

Paired with the right accessories, white can be a compelling force in design.  But it's not an easy task.  And you don't see it often.  It's understood that any good designer appreciates all colors and can work with an array of color combinations.  However...I admire those designers who have the courage and skill to create that occasional all white palette. 

Just a few off the top of my head...

Victoria Hagan [her work is timeless, captivating and chic to say the least]

 

Ruthie Sommers [clearly I love this room as I've posted it at least three times now]

 

Windsor Smith [I know, I've probably posted this one too]

Tom Scheerer [he added sizzle with plenty of texture and pops of color in unexpected spots]

 
James Radin [I think we all remember this dining room].  Okay, so maybe this one's not ALL white but it's pretty close.  Love how he varied whites with creams, anchored the room with iron and dark wood and brought in a faded floral on the chairs.  Brilliant.

So there you have it, my humble ode to white.  It's certainly not right for everyone or all design situations, but such a breath of fresh air when used in the appropriate setting.  

THE QUESTION

Is there a place in your life you love white?

 

Thanks to Style + Grace I stumbled upon this elegant seaside room from Celerie Kemble.  The room was actually designed by Keithley Miller, a designer in Celerie Kemble's Palm Beach office.