Beautiful Houses and Best Friends!

Happy Sunday everyone .... I would love to show you this magnificent Victorian Pool House created by the talented firm of John Malick & Associates Architects, based in the San Francisco Bay Area .... breathtaking!

The firm is reknowned for their ability to create works of art that specialize in classical design .... they draw from numerous historical styles and this work is very reminicent of late Victorian architecture with its hint at the Gothic revival .... fretwork, towers, collars and so much more ....

Now if I owned this stunning poolhouse I would definitley be serving one of these little cocktails ..... yum ...

I so love this tower ... 

and then you may care for a little "rose petal and prosecco punch" perhaps ......

look at this incredible staircase  ... the ballustrading is very Victorian and the single skin walls showing studs and boards ... love the painted floor ..

just beautiful ... perfect symmetry with the fretwork and showing the pitched roof with exposed beams ....

This post is perfect for all our friends in the Northern Hemisphere who are just starting to enjoy their summer .... get ready to have fun and enjoy this wonderful season!

I am seeing croquet on the lawns later .... 

perhaps with a little "raspberry and basil mule" ... love playing croquet ... we used to play when we lived in England when Alex was a little boy and it was so much fun ... very competitive though!!

those who don't fancy an outdoor sport might be pursuaded to have a game of billiards ... ahhh yes!

internal staircase with a twist!

I have been so busy, like everyone, so yesterday (Saturday) I said to Andrew, who has been doing a lot of call lately, that we should go to the beach and take Georgiana and her friend, Isabella.  We went to the coast just overnight and had a beautiful dinner but before that we walked on the beach as the sun was setting and it was so beautiful and peaceful ... the sound of the waves was so relaxing... I took this picture above of Farnborough beach as I thought it was so pure looking ... no one else in sight ... we walked and walked and splashed and collected shells ...

how cute is this .... best friends ... our autumn is well under way but we are lucky to still have this day ....

so dance on the beach no matter what the season and be in awe of such beauty!!!!  

best wishes always

xxxx

Images ~ www.jmalick.com

www.donnahay.com

www.pinterest

www.palmbeachentertainning.com

"Rosecliff" ~ Ralph Lauren

I love the Rosecliff collection by Ralph Lauren ..... perfect for a lovely Wednesday morning ....

really wish I could be sitting here for breakfast ....

perfect table settings with the silver and blue china ....

I always find the Ralph Lauren collections to be so elegant and timeless ... 

lovely Louis chair ...

crisp white sheets with ruffles and lots of pillows ..... heaven 

and on a terribly sad note .... all my thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the horrendous Boston bombings ... and also to all my American friends ...  here in Australia we are united with you all at this tragic time ... stay safe ...

best wishes always

xxx

Drum Roll Please ~ "The Unveiling of my new Blog Look by Shari at Little Blue Deer!"

You are invited to help me celebrate so please play the music and enjoy!

There must always be champagne especially pink .....

Put on your prettiest dress .......

and highest of heels .....

and let the balloons fly high ....

I have been blogging since about 2009 ...... and I have always wanted to make it a special time ... a time to meet like-minded souls all over the world ..... the thing is we girls in particular yearn for that connection .... (quick have a sip of champagne and a bite of one of these delicate morsels) .... now where was I ... oh yes I love finding people who love what I love, who get what it is like to go weak at the knees when seeing buckets full of roses or gorgeous antiques .... how we feel in awe when walking through historical sites and wonder what has gone before ...... how excited we get when you see a delicate colour or a beautiful fabric ... and think how talented is the creator ..... a love of beauty in this world is a good thing! ...... In the movie Dead Poet's Society .... Oh Captain My Captain said "and medicine, law, business engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."    

Shari at Little Blue Deer has helped me take my blog to the next level and I cannot tell you all how talented and patient she has been..... I knew what I wanted (sort of) but loved so many things.  I gave Shari a list of what I love like crowns, pink and gold, chandeliers, Laduree and said that I wanted a blog that was reflective of me, my loves and my work. She created the gorgeous toile header and the cutest pink buttons ever (ok yes another sip and perhaps one with a strawberry in next time ..... I love strawberries and rose petals in champagne ... don't you!)  Shari was truly amazing to work with and I am so thankful and grateful to her .... 

These are some of Shari's other gorgeous designs .....

"Michael Devine"

Tina's beautiful and elegant "The Enchanted Home"

and "My Blue Whimsy" just to name a few of the beautiful pieces in her extensive portfolio!  Go visit Shari at www.littlebluedeer.com

.......... she will create your dream!

I hope you are enjoying the music and you must try one of these delectable Charbonnel et Walker champagne truffles ..... This is one of the images that inspired me and Shari captured it perfectly!!!

.....now let me offer you another glass of champagne and perhaps a macaron.....

ahhh here are the rose petals ..... 

and this stunning confection .... I am sure Paris Pastry could whip one of these up .... look at the gold leaf .... I know I don't think I could cut it either .....

so we could wander at leisure outside to sit at our party table and talk and laugh and share until the sun goes down ..... then as the night creeps in we can celebrate with ...... fireworks!!!!!! Thank-you Shari so much and thank-you dear friends who make it so much fun to share the world's beauty!!!!!  Press play and let's party!!!

Oh but before we go outside check that your shoes are looking their best as there will be dancing .... and hopefully Anita will be able to play her gorgeous harp after we have danced to Katy Perry ....... ignite the light and let it shine ... 

  we can stay here and have coffee and croissants in the morning watching the sun come up!!!

my best wishes always 

M.A. the 2nd 

xxxxx

images ~ www.pinterest.com

www.youtube.com

www.littlebluedeer.com

Happy Monday everyone!  I thought for the first day of the week I would just share with you the new Manuel Canovas collection ... I have just ordered it for the studio and can't wait to use it ... 

I really fell in love with the textures and strong colours in purple, lavender and lilac .... 

This French design house so know how to produce and design textiles and their promotional imagery is always stunning ....

I also found this interior of a restaurant but can't find where it is from .... does anyone know?  Love those doorman style chairs .... so elegant and tufting on the bench seating ... 

This is my little canape that I upholstered in Manuel Canovas last year in the toile collection ... I used studding and think it works well .... 

Now I know it is a bit early to think of sweet dreams but isn't this bed divine!  It is upholstered in a selection of Designers Guild and really suits the French Corbeille style.  The white is a perfect backdrop for these elegant fabrics ... particularly the cut velvet ....  

This for a little girls's room is so fun and fresh .... I really like the idea of mixing up the fabrics too and the painted floor ... 

I am more of a white bedlinen person but this does look magnificent .... what do you prefer ..... 

ok so now everyone is yawning and tired so go and make a lovely cup of tea or perhaps a hot chocolate, grab your favourite Charbonnel et Walker chocolates and head to dream land!!!!  Have a wonderful week and I will be back with some projects I have been working on recently!  Oh I have also finally joined pinterest, instagram and twitter!!!! 

 best wishes xxxx

PS totally addicted to Pinterest ~ so much fun!