I wish I was invited to participate in a lifesize candyland game…

Dear Mick,

I know you’ve been busy all week. I know we’ve had a total of 30 minutes to talk this week.  I know you miss me like I miss you. Thanks for the treat last night. It made my day. Let’s catch up soon.

Mwah

This picture from Elle makes me calm…I’ve been going all day today.

• Picked out pendant lights and sconces for client.
• Got a steal-of-a-deal at Design Company Fabrics…their “step down” sale is finishing up. $2 for 13 yards of fabric…my client will be so happy.
• Rushed home and had a great meeting.
• Now time to take a breather and check my email.

You all are wonderful. Thanks for reading. That’s all I wanted to say.

While in Barcelona my sisters and I decided to go on a quick shopping trip to the nearby mall.  We were a little sick of the touristy street shopping, and wanted to find clothing that the native Spaniards would wear. In all the hustle of the mall, a boutique called “Nice Things” caught our eye.  Probably because it was in English; but also because of great designs they had in their store…price weren’t bad either.  Yes, while looking for authentic Spanish design we gravitated toward an English titled store.  We’re Americans, what can I say?

Between my two-word-vocabulary Spanish and the store clerk’s much-better-than-my-second-language English, there was a miscommunication.  I thought that Nice Things Website allowed us to go shopping.  Unfortunately all you can do is look at their pretty fall collection.  Luckily I was able to walk away with a classic, black, pleated skirt.  However, I do regret not buying a purse. sigh.

I should have ridden around Rome on a Vespa with this fancy helmet. Photogapher Fulvio Bonavia does some fantastic work with flowers and fruit.

One word: Danger. I’m the biggest rug snob ever. Ask my clients.  Rugs are such a big part of the design of the room; they what your kids roll around on, what your toes feel when you get out of bed. Rugs are the epitome of the design phrase “form and function.”  I always have the hardest time finding a rug that suits all the design needs as well as functional needs of a space.  I was just informed that Amy Butler has come out with a line of rugs.  Wool, hand-tufted, intersting patterns (so it doesn’t show resistance and dirt) are all characteristics I look for in a rug.  Heaven help me, I need to know how much these are.  Hurry Amy, make these available for designers. Please.

I like the work of graphic designer Mark Giglio.  I never knew there were so many possibilities for the use of wood.

Two things I love about the new collection from DecorMaison:

• the new collection
• the new add campaign

Taking a cross section of a camper and placing it in the environment the wallpaper was inspired from is so clever. I love it.

Woodsy, charming, quaint, romantic…what a lovely wedding. I came across this blog and fell in love with the way this couple planned their wedding day. The vintage phonograph is my favorite.

Here’s a little teaser on a project I’ve been working on. I’ll post more pics on Monday. Until then, enjoy one of our last weekends of summer.

Lately we’ve been having some odd late-night chats. And sometimes we get really deep with our conversations. For instance, last night we were talking about how Robert Pattinson and Kristen Steward are dating in real life. Although I believe it’s just a publicity act.  I later explain that the Twilight saga story is a love triangle with Jacob.  He then concludes our deep Twilight conversation buy saying how we should call up Jacob so he can get involved with Robert and Kristen’s true love.

No, we did not go to Morocco. But this couple is spending their honeymoon in Morocco. Yeah, kind of crazy, but pretty adventuresome.  Which describes them perfectly. I’ve been reading their tweets and thought I’d post a little about the Moroccan style. Which is no doubt a high trend in home décor world. The trend today is bright, rich, jewel colors with a lot of intricate details. However, these pictures are what true Moroccan style is like: simple, elegant, relaxing, beautiful, and yet modern at the same time. Enjoy these beautiful pictures from this resort.

Can you tell I can’t get enough? I realized I didn’t post anything from our boat tour. Enjoy. The big, hairy, Italian man with a pot-belley was our captain,fisherman, and griller.  His wife was the chef. They’re awesome.

After doing a week of heavy touring, we decided we needed a little r&r.  So we decided to head out to the coastal region of Liguria to spend a day on the Itialian Riviera.  In order to properly see all villages, we decided to take a little day cruise.

• boat ride.
• fresh catch-of-the day lunch (one of the best meals all trip).
• fighting six-foot waves.
• Mick getting stung by a jellyfish. Me quickly getting out of the water.
• Angelo our captain and cook.
• Via Dell’Amore (Lovers Walk) at sunset.
• Mick surprising me with an engraved lock. Throwing the key into the ocean.
• Gelato
• Coming back to our village to end the night with a dance party (I felt like we were in Mamma Mia). Big highlight of our trip as well.

Just a beuatiful room designed by Thomas Pheasant. I wish Mick liked neutrals.  I love them.  The soft colors in this room make is so soothing.

While it may not have the Coliseum or Eiffel Tower; I learned Spain is a very underappreciated country. Spain’s history is intriguing, the weather is ideal, the architecture amazing, and the scenery is perfectly picturesque. And after visiting seven cities, I’ve grown to really love Spain.

• Retiro Park
• Valley of the Fallen
• Prada
• Roman Aqueducts
• Kabobs
• Seville
• Alcazars, Palaces, Cathedrals
• El Greco
• Kabobs
• Authentic flamenco dancing in caves
• Alcazars, Palaces, Cathedrals
• Street Shopping
• Moorish Influence. Everywhere.
• Barcelona
• Gaudi
• Kabobs…they’re really good. And cheap.

I know I’ve mentioned his blog before.  But I love this picture. The rope is awesome.

I’m quickly losing patience with this travel log, so I’ve decided to highlight by country instead of city.  After a week in Italy we met up with my family in Madrid, Spain.  My little brother had just finished serving a two-year LDS mission in Madrid.  So this year’s reunion was to take place in Spain.

The entire group minus my mother–the photographer.  The group included all my brothers and sisters with their spouses except my brother-in-law Dave.  Who we all missed.  Medical residents don’t get any time off.  This was at the gardens in the Summer Palace at the Alhambra.  We also happened to spend a night here.     It. was. beautiful.

In Seville at the Alcazar.  Again, absolutely beautiful gardens.  A lot of the historical buildings in Spain were originally built by the Moors.  As you can see in the building behind us, there is a lot of Moorish influence.  More Moorish influence:

This is the tomb where Christopher Columbus is buried.  Pretty Cool.

The Sagrada Familia built by Gaudi.  The construction of this Cathedral started in 1882, and isn’t planned to be finished until 2026.  That’s a total of 144 years of construction…with modern day technology and resources.  Pretty unbelievable.

Taking in the city view of Barcelona.  Love the metropolitan city with the Mediterranean in the back.

I think these glicees are appropriate as nice little reminders of the places we visited. By the talented Lori Portka.

Dance with me in Italy

Dance with me in Madird

Hold so dear.

Fun sayings found at this blog.