Friday on the Sofa

Totally jetlagged and only capable of hanging around this sofa, my favourite piece of furniture.

Domino Paper: Antoinette Poisson

Hunting for new paper? Try a French wallpaper design and restoration firm. Antoinette Poisson.

A Cozy Bathroom

Some days I am tired and I don't want a bed. I want a roll top tub and a steaming hot cup of herbal tea. Any of these bathrooms above would do the job.

I know a lot of people love spa bathrooms but I honestly prefer something more cozy, country and warm. Plus I love clutter. These bathrooms, above, look cluttered in the nicest way possible. A big area rug, a potted plant, some pictures on the wall, a chair with a stack of towels on it, a basket, a big jar with Epsom salt or a homemade coffee- brown sugar-cocao fat scrub, curtains or drapes at the window, four or five candles on candle stands of different heights, and more than one mirror to soak in one's vanity-- all things that can cozy up a space that can easily be too disinfected.

Bahamian Artist: Lavar Munroe

 

"My objective is to map my matriculation through various spheres within society whereby I tell a story of success through tracing a journey that begins in an impoverished state, both mentally and physically, ending in a place of enrichment."

 

In Lavar Munroe's work you can find the mundane (paint) to the bizarre (a three year old sandwich). I recently saw some of his pieces at a private collector's home. I am drawn to it but I am not sure I love it enough to want it in my home. What am saying is: I am worried about the cockroaches. But art is subjective, so do you love it?

Summer is a State of Mind

 

Frost bite be damned! I know my friends and family on the East Coast of the United States have been buried under ice since Saturday. And I know I am headed back to rain, cold, sniffles, gray and maybe ice in Brussels this week. But I am bending my mind and making like it's summer. Starting with this summery needle and thread lace dress from ASOS.

 

When  I went to college in New York City I attended with some Asian women who used to go out partying swaddled in a puffer jacket, skinny jeans and stiletto boots. Totally appropriate winter wear when there was no ice on the ground. But as soon as they got in the club they would remove the puffer jackets and BOOOM!!! They were wearing the tiniest spaghetti strap dresses made out of the thinnest and finest fabric. Those dresses were worn over jeans too. It always blew the minds of the guys in the club to see so much bare skin and chest in the winter. It always blew my mind that those women were such savvy dressers. I could never pull off a dress worn over jeans pants.

 

 

 

Those Asian women had edgy flair. And those college days make me yearn for a summer dress I could wear in the winter. Sort of my middle finger to the messy late start to winter. Where was the snow at Christmas when you needed it? 

 

Plus it wouldn't hurt to steal off to the ABC Islands either. In case you want to wear the dress with an appropriate pair of winter shoes, check out over the knee boots at Public Desire. If you're feeling the winter blues, then take advantage of this post and  you're welcome.

If you feel inclined you can read another travel post here; or another post about me here.

Winter Blues

 

I don't think it's fair for me to have winter fatigue because I have been in sunny Florida for almost two months now. But the thing is I am going home to Brussels soon and it's gonna be all gray skies, drizzle, more gray skies. And worrying about whether there are terrorists hiding in my neighbourhood. For. Real. So I am looking for ways to cheer up my little front yard with colour. So maybe some colourful perennials, some hellebores mixed in with some greens and some statement pots of differing heights with uniform colours. Barring the plants, the picture above from Mary Mcdonald's home is a good inspiration. 

Back to the 90s

This Dolce and Gabbana image, above, brought me to this post. I found myself wondering how ridiculous I would look if I went out with my girls to dinner on a Saturday night rocking my silver high heel Mary Jane pumps that I'd bought from JCrew years ago together with knee high socks and a pleated chiffon skirt and shag sweater. Are you laughing at me for thinking I can pull that off? Because I swear I am cackling loudly even as I inventory my wardrobe for a pair of socks to match the JCREW silver Mary Janes.

 

People: are we doing this? Are we ready to go back to the 90s? Are your legs in good enough condition to rock some skater skirt, high-heel Mary Janes and over the knee socks? Are we doing clueless? I thought we retired the black velvet choker. I mean, I really want to venture back into the 90s (my legs were amazing back then and I swear to God I was taller back then), but I am not sure if I have enough lip liner and I am not sure where to buy a crimping iron for my hair.

Swimsuit and Lingerie: Eres

I am not at all about Valentine's Day. I won't depress or disturb you with the details. But, it will suffice when I say that major cynicism may come your way around the 14th of next month. But  I am definitely for its spoils. When Frederick's of Hollywood won't do (and it mustn't at a time like Valentine's Day) maybe you can try Eres.

Back to Work

Here's hoping that these pictures of work spaces can put me in the mood to work. See more interior inspiration posts here.

Soft Comfort and Mid Century Modern

On the stark side but it still manages to look comfortable. Sometimes I have trouble picturing how mid century modern furnishings or how those with stark lines could still yield a warm, soft space. This bedroom from Nuevo Estilo could possibly be the guide.

Some Good Reads

It's lovely inspiration when someone's dream comes true. This is absolutely an ideal dream house for  a family?

Julian Fellowes, of Downton Abbey fame and Dominick Dunne, whose Connecticut home I covered before, are favourite go to reads. They make snobbery laughable and palatable. In fact I think of Julian as the British version of Dominick.

Who's into loafers?

The inventor of androgynous style is no longer with us. Rest in peace, David Bowie.

Have a lovely weekend.

Cool Weather Wear

A bit of cold weather inspiration.

The Walker

Gentle, well-heeled, exquisite manners, dapper, unthreatening and intuitive. I suppose this is what it would take to be one of the "go to" gay society gentlemen who high society ladies call upon to escort them about town when their husbands would rather not. I hope you watch the movie. I particularly loved how Woody Harrelson's Carter Page III  demonstrated just how good manners can be used to great effect---and to save a conversation from deteriorating into something that could scar, offend, ruin a tenuous connection.

 But anyway, I came here today because The Walker made me want to play dress up like Kristen Scott Thomas. Such an elegant lady, not a trace of "Britishism" to be found. She's all French now I think.

If you are interested you can read another similar blog post here.