Board to Tears

House Beautiful

Recently I have been obsessing about fineline tongue and groove boards on interior walls. And more specifically, tongue and groove boards mounted horizontally.  In my opinion, there is something both extremely traditional and modern about this interior architectural feature.

House Beautiful

Without any bright colored paint, instant interest is added to these walls! 

House Beautiful

 They also make rooms appear larger, as seen is this hallway. 

House Beautiful

One part rustic and one part modern, I love these tongue and groove boards! 

For the Love of Orange

What is it about fall and the color orange? I love orange all year round for the great hit of color that it can add to any space, however, in the fall I am especially keen on it.  I think it has something to do with the changing leaves, pumpkins, and the desire to shed the corals and the salmons of summer for something a little edgier. 

First thing a girl always thinks about when talking about a good color orange ... Hermes gift boxes.  I'm not exactly sure whether that is because the gifts that come in these boxes are so fabulous, or whether the orange color of the box is really the chicest orange.  In any case, the chicken or the egg syndrome. Whenever I hear someone describing something they purchased that was orange or something orange that they are planning on wearing, it always seems that they try to justify it by describing it as "Hermes Orange." No need to justify, orange is ahhmazing. 

Martha Stewart

Ahh pumpkins. It really brings back memories doesn't it? Although I absolutely love an orange pumpkin (obviously)--check out what Eddie Ross did to the pumpkins in his table setting for Lonny. 

Lonny

Instead of simply using predictable pink in her daughters' bedroom, interior decorator Palmer Weiss jazzes it up with orange headboards. 

Apartment Therapy

Why not paint the floor orange? Terrific idea. You lacquered lifers know how I am a sucker for a good lacquer job. 

Pure Patina

In the office of my friend, and Charlotte-based interior decorator Kristen Cone, she used orange as a contrast against her industrial bookshelves and gray walls. Check out more photos on her blog here! 

Time to add some orange into your life, don't you think? JCrew sail bag, $198.

Urban Outfitters Velvet Pintuck Pillow, $32. 

And for the "Cheap and Chic of the Week," Urban Outfitters 2x3 rag rug, $14. 

Transitions

This year, the beginning of fall has me thinking about the beginning of summer, and the similarities between them. I took these pictures on the beach in mid-May, before Memorial Day and the official beginning of summer. The Beach was empty, and I was wearing a sweatshirt. On a sunny fall day like today, I'm sure the feeling wouldn't be much different. However, now instead of being on the beach in Long Island, I'm back at school in Philadelphia ... and that's why these pictures fill me with a sense of longing for the summer that went by so fast ... 

I'll be back later today with a decor related post, I promise! I just wanted to share these pictures (and my mood) with you all. xo 

Clean Crisp White

Since I got back to Philadelphia this fall I have been feeling as though my life is extremely cluttered. You all know I love my little apartment, but trying to keep it neat with all of my things in their places is harder than you can imagine. I am fantasizing about clean, sleek spaces where everything is in its place and there is absolutely no clutter. I want to cast off all of my decorative objets and feel as though I have absolutely nothing weighing me down! (only for a day or so though ... you know how I love a good objet)

Elle Decor

Ralph and Ricky Lauren's apartment over looking the Reservoir in Central Park. For the man who loves to fill his stores with things ... he is pretty simple here in NYC. 

Elle Decor

Their kitchen ... no clutter. Isn't it heavenly. So strange since modern kitchen is typically not my style! 

Marie Claire Maison

I absolutely love the simple hits of green with their potted plants--the bare floor and the white slipcovers are tres chic!

Dwell Magazine

This architect designed her apartment with storage in mind ... an avid sailor, she treated this project like a ship, where everything has its place. 

Marie Claire Maison

Marie Claire Maison

Check out that view. The room's white interior allows it to simply melt away, and one's eyes are drawn straight out the windows. 

Darryl Carter

One of the things that I love about Darryl Carter is his ability to mix modern minimalism with historic architecture and great antiques.  The fireplace is so modern, and yet the house is an old farmhouse. Antique doesn't always have to mean clutter ... clutter is simply victorian. 

Darryl Carter

I wish my bathroom were this neat. 

Whilst I am in graduate school, I don't see the clutter subsiding. What with text books and notebooks, calendars and post it notes, my life these days is essentially a massive paper trail. So for now I will simply light a Votivo Clean Crisp White candle, WWB's favorite, and close my eyes and envision myself in a minimalist, clutter free, and chic apartment. 

"I Love Your Funny Face ..."

"Your sunny funny face." And I absolutely adore Audrey Hepburn, and Funny Face in particular. If you haven't seen it, I hope you are adding it to your Netflix queue this instant. This month, Vanity Fair has recreated some of the iconic scenes from Funny Face with present day haute couture.  Just seeing those pictures makes me want to pop in the dvd (of course I own it) and curl up with a glass of sauv. When one is feeling a bit down, Funny Face has just the right formula to cheer you up--singing, dancing, Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn, & Paris! 

One of my all time favorite wedding dresses. 

And I forgot to mention couture! Audrey in Givenchy Haute Couture coming down the steps of the Louvre in front of the winged victory ... now if that doesn't make you smile ... 

Oh How the Time Flies ...

I know, I know ... you were probably all worried sick about me when you didn't hear from me for four months. And then that worry probably turned to anger ... or at least that is the sense I am getting from a few dedicated readers. I am sorry that Lacquered Life took a loooong hiatus over the summer ... there was the required internship in New York, and then September came and it took me a while to settle back in here in Philadelphia. Oh how I miss New York--and oh how I miss all of you who read this blog of mine and who indulge me by commenting once and a while. So I am back. I guarantee you there will be tardiness throughout this year as I attempt to plough through my thesis ... but I need this blog ... I need all of you.   So for today I have some pictures of my summer job ... eye candy for preservationists, antiquarians, or simply lovers of old buildings. 

My summer at New York City Hall ... 

So you see? I wasn't abandoning you for no good reason! Over the next few days, I will post more photos (and anecdotes) of my summer doing a survey of NY City Hall, and then get back to the business of leading a Lacquered Life! Thanks to all my Lacquered Lifers who are sticking by me, I know how frustrating it is when your favorite bloggers desert you. 

xoxo