Day 12: Bouquets for under $50

I always try to do fresh flowers when entertaining or sometimes, just because.

A quick tip to make drugstore flowers look great - cut the stems! The shorter and closer to the rim, the “fuller” the arrangement will feel.

Some flowers for a friend’s recent (virtual) birthday celebrations

But once in a while it’s nice to splurge on a curated bouquet. Make a loved one feel extra special on a birthday or anniversary, give as a hostess gift, or a thoughtful way to congratulate a friend or colleague. A beautiful, carefully curated bouquet is always a good idea. And it will likely mean the world to them! (Trust me, it will :) Husbands take note, your wives will love you for this! :))

I recently came across The Bouqs and LOVE their modern bouquets. Too bad they weren’t on my radar earlier! They have some beautiful bouquets (roses, lilies, peonies, pink ginger etc)  for under $50 which is an amazing price for custom flowers. And they offer same day / next day delivery in most cities, including the Bay. I’ve rounded up a few below that are both seasonal and gorgeous - a visual treat + an idea for future gifting? :) have a look!

SUMMER LOVE - $49

Peach & yellow roses, mini calla lilies, eucalyptus stems.

Let the romance begin!

EXUBERANCE - $39

Pink, orange, purple, red & ivory roses

Bursting with JOY.

SPOTLIGHT - $49

Asiatic lilies

Break a leg!

FARMER’S CHOICE - $39

Grower’s choice of stems

A fresh surprise.

PROMENADE - $49

Orange loofahs, mini bananas & pink ginger

Super unique. Would be lovely in the fall.

Day 11: Chic ikats on Etsy

I love a pretty ikat in a room. Like here, they make for cool pillows in this bedroom designed by Anna Burke Interiors. Such a fresh palette too - apple green, whites, lilac, bold fuschia and rattan.

I was inspired by it & went on Etsy to look for ikats in softer, more feminine colors - lilacs, purples, blush, spring greens - and honestly, there’s many great fabrics out there! 

These would be great for custom pillows. Perfect for a nursery / big girl / teenager room. And there’s more where that came from - search for “ikat fabrics” on Etsy.

Mary Macdonald’s breakfast nook wallpapered in Quadrille’s Island Ikat.

A wall hanging above the bed. Source unknown (wish I knew who this was!)

A chic skirted table in textile designer Carolina Irving’s Paris apartment

Hand dyed ikat (Etsy)

Ikat dot pillow - similar (Furbish Studio)

Marrakesh ikat shams - so gorgeous! (Williams Sonoma)

Day 9: A throwback to SF Showcase

An event I look forward to every year is the SF Decorator’s Showcase - it’s a treat to see the best and brightest in the city create rooms that delight, excite and tell a story! You may recall my write ups from 2018 & 2017 here, here and here.

Today I’m sharing the master bath from last year’s Decorator showcase, designed by ABH Interiors - the room I was most drawn to.

What I loved about this space -

• The stunning “Paradise Lost” de Gournay wallpaper - the star of the room. Hand-painted and visceral, it felt like a beautiful story unfolding right before your eyes. Truly loved the magic of this wallpaper.

• I liked how it cocooned the bathtub. And the interaction between the window, tub & wallpaper. If you’re taking a soak here, you’d feel like you were nestled in a sanctuary, with a gentle breeze blowing right through that window

• Don’t miss the papered shutters & panels below them. Now that’s some PHENOMENAL detail.

• The floors too wove a story - the wood planks laid out in herringbone, accented with a painted border.

• The sconces (by Holly Hunt) and pendant (HEWN) had me at hello. So in love with these sconces! - you may not be able to tell from the pictures but they’ve got a cool shape to them. A semi-circle inspired by the crescent moon. The delicate hardware they hang from is stunning too. They looked so good in person.

• The antique (what looked like) oriental battleship paintings really stayed with me. Loved the detailing in each painting (shared a few posts ago) and the framing too.

• The head planter was such a fun detail to balance it all out.

Enjoy!

This photograph by Christopher Stark

Day 8: Travel x Interiors

Whilst we’re all homebodies at the moment and won’t be travelling anytime soon (the least of our problems), I’m sharing a mini Travel x Interiors roundup on the blog today. 3 cities. 3 simple ways to carry them into your home. Enjoy!

JaipuR, INDIA

Visit the Chavvi Nivas (Blue Room) at the City Palace in Jaipur - breathtaking!

Entertain guests with a table setting that includes these classic Mughal flower napkins

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Visit Cappadocia & watch the hot air balloons light up the Turkish sky

Add a cheerful suzani bench to light up your entry!

ATHENS, GREECE

Visit the Parthenon and spend a day taking in this piece of ancient history (built in 438 B.C)

Frame a collection of vintage coins for some custom-made art!

Day 7: Pretty playful

Just going to leave you with that today.

A beautiful, bright bathroom with Katie Ridder’s Peony wallpaper. Love the restraint here. And the pairing with the subway tile & grey mosaic floor tile. It all works harmoniously.