One of the design elements I incorporated into building our home was the use of salvaged wood. The warmth and character it can give new construction was the main reason I chose the material. By using it sparingly in several rooms I was able to achieve the clean modern farmhouse aesthetic I was going for. It unified the home design by creating a cohesive element throughout the spaces.

For the master bathroom my vision was to have simple lines and an overall light & airy atmosphere. I designed a floating vanity made with salvaged scaffolding planks and marble counters to fit inside a recessed wall. You can see a before photo of the area in this post. Because salvaged wood can vary extensively, we had to go through each and every board in order to find enough that would work seamlessly together. This was especially important since your eye is drawn down the entire line of the vanity when you walk into the room.

Hello! I wanted to pass along one of my favorite purchases this year, a handcrafted leather tote made by local LA based leather works company 1.61 Softgoods. Seriously. Obsessed with it. The quality is impeccable. The simplicity and attention to detail are what caught my eye. It's handcrafted from a single piece of leather with modern solid brass handles, cleats, and rivets.

This summer I've made a deliberate effort to spend more time reading. Or I should say, reading works outside my normal realm of non-fiction and business/finance books. I've never been one to "let go" and loose myself in the thrill of a fiction novel. I think it's the sensible realist in me always thinking in the back of my mind..."this would never happen in real life". But this year I made a vow to break out of my shell and try some new material and I have to say it's been quite liberating to embrace the art of storytelling. I thought I'd share a few of my finds and hope that you'll leave a comment with some of your recommendations. Please excuse the wide variety here...as I say, fiction is mostly unchartered territory and I'm still learning what appeals to me and for that, I've included a few non-fiction and design related books to even things out.

Our daughter recently graduated from college and we celebrated with a champagne brunch for family and friends and a surprise trip to Brooklyn. She's always wanted to visit NY and it was the perfect Mother/Daughter getaway...lots of shopping, eating and sight-seeing. Here are some highlights from our trip in case you're planning a future visit of your own!

It's hot over here. I'm guessing the temps are high in your neck of the woods as well. Summer has arrived in all her glory and no one in America wants to fire up their stove for fear of adding even a single degree fahrenheit to their kitchen. That's where this salad comes in...just slice cucumbers, add dressing, and keep chilled until you're ready to serve. It's great with steamed rice, pot stickers or grilled barbecue chicken. You could also add it to a Bahn Mi type sandwich with rotisserie chicken and shredded carrots on a baguette. It keeps well and transports easily for picnics and impromptu beach trips. Stay cool my friends! Hope you give this one a try!

So, I was a bit surprised to find that my last post was in January. Why is time flying by at lightning speed? Goodness.

I won't bore you with details of a busy life because I for one, know we all have them. I have a few more weeks of travel for styling projects and then some much needed time at home. There are grand plans to "get things done" as they say. Around the house things like finishing a few window treatments, adding to the still sparse furnishings, building planters for the front porch, and whatever else can be checked off the list. There are also reasons to celebrate...graduations, birthdays and such. Those days that make life extra special.