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my bookshelves, restyled

One of the benefits of the occasional bout of insomnia is all the things I get accomplished around the house in the middle of the night/wee hours of the morning. To say I am unbearable without a good night’s sleep is the understatement of the century, but when I see all the work I get…

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mix + match

If you haven’t seen Trad Home’s Spring issue yet, mosey on over and check it out asap!  While the entire issue is chock full of loveliness, it’s the colorful Cape Cod-style California bungalow designer Taylor Borsari transformed that really stands out for me. Borsari mixes contrasting textures, pattern, beautiful wallcoverings and a liberal use of…

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easy, breezy

I’ve seen the living room shots of this house floating around the internet for a while now, but it wasn’t until I started digging that I got to see the entire home and it’s a stunner!  Turns out, this historic home is in East Hampton, New York, and was a complete renovation, courtesy of New…

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summer-inspired table setting

I’ve had this table setting from the home of designer and blogger extraordinaire Mark D. Sikes in my inspiration folder ever since I posted his home tour months ago.  When it comes to setting a summer table, there is no color combination more classic than blue and white – mixed with a little texture, some…

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diy: ombre, hand stamped favor tags

When my printer bit the dust days before a baby shower I was co-hosting back in February, I had to improvise real fast in order to get the gift tags for guest favors done.  They turned out to be a hit, and since I’m decorating for a friend’s shower this weekend and am once again…

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shingle style elegance

I’m working on a very exciting new project in Wrightsville Beach, so lately, I’ve had a lot of beach houses, beach cottages and beach house inspiration on the brain!  This summer cottage by architect John B. Murray stopped me dead in my tracks – if you’re an habitual reader of my blog, you know I have a…

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coastal modern in montauk

I’m not usually one to fawn over super sparse, uber modern spaces (I like to fill up each and every crevice of my home with my “stuff”) but I am OBSESSED with this Montauk lake house!  A main house, a three-bedroom guest house, a BARN, and a 50-foot lap pool, situated amongst some of the…

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memorial day bash must-haves

Memorial Day weekend is finally here!  The weather is beautiful, the pool is open, the fridge and pantry are stocked…the Stivers’ are ready to burn it down over the three-day!  Whether you’re hosting a barbeque, attending a party or just relaxing over the long weekend, here are a few essentials that will come in handy…

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surf’s up

My hubby learned how to surf while stationed in Hawaii his first four years in the Marine Corps, so I was thrilled to have such a great teacher to show me how to navigate through the three or sometimes four-foot waves off the coast of North Carolina where we lived for eight years (and subsequently…

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get the look: hamptons guest house

Great things come in small packages and this Hamptons pool house-turned-guest house/couple’s retreat is a fabulous example.  I’ve loved this little slice of heaven, which was actually part of Traditional Home’s 2009 Showhouse, since it was first published…I still have the dog eared issue amongst my hoard of magazines! Comfy, oversize furnishings, a blue, gold…

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glossy black front doors – anything but boring

Picking paint colors, furniture, accessories, art for OTHER people is what I do best.  But when it comes to making sometimes even the smallest design decision for myself, forget about it…..I will go back and forth over making a final choice on most anything when it comes to my own home.  Take, for example, my…

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scalloped

After eyeballing this black scalloped number for a while, I started to realize how drawn I am to all the subtle scalloped detailing in interiors, as well.  Scalloped edging on skirts, shorts, dresses, even swimwear is a fun, whimsical way to add a feminine touch to your wardrobe, but the same subtle detail on curtains,…