Smitten Design

For the lovers...

2012-02-14T09:50:00.000-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day.

I recently listened to a wonderful sermon on marriage titled Beautiful Marriage: By design from May 23, 2010 [in case the link does not take you straight to it]. I recommend giving it your full attention and listening to the entirety of this sermon, but if you only have 9 minutes and you are a woman, you can start at minute 35 and listen to the end.

It's powerful, because our words and actions are powerful to the men in our lives. It's good for me to be reminded of this.

Happy Valentine's Day.
XoXo.

Window Treatments.

2012-02-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

I'm having this bad boy made for a client. Can't wait to show you the results,- it should be done next week.

Shower him with love...

2012-02-08T19:33:00.003-05:00

Baby Reid had his first party over the weekend. My friends hosted and pulled together quite a detailed and decked out shower, as you will see below.
My friends that hosted the party work 10-14 hour days. They somehow managed to paint letters, make the most insane fondant cookies and decor. I felt very loved and appreciated all the effort that went into this shower.

It's hard to post pictures when my cheeks are so big, but let's be real. I'm simply growing and growing...

Other pregnant friends in order of due date from left to right:

A rule worth following.

2012-02-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

Allow me to get share a design rule, that shall never be broken:

The length of your curtains must touch the floor.
The fabric can "kiss" the floor, it can "pool" around the floor, but they must never be inches off the floor.

I truly do not know why the standard size of curtains sold in stores are 84", we are setting up people for failure. I'm not big on rules but I have never seen curtains that are "capri length" that look good, see below.

While we are talking about curtain length, let's talk about where the rods can be hung to make the most impact.
Here is a helpful illustration below, hang them high!

I'm always scared to share opinions with people because I don't want to breed discontent with what people have, sometimes ignorance is bliss. I don't want my silly opinions and quirks to make people run out and spend lots of money. However, this is a rule worth following.
If your house does have high water curtains, you can remedy that pretty quickly by adding a contrasting banding to the bottom of your curtains:

Darby from Fly Through Our Window used this trick on existing curtains and I think we can agree it looks pretty darn good.

Sorry to sound so snobby, you'll probably never invite me to your home. But seriously, if you are in the market for curtains that will not be custom made, look for 96" and 108", you'll be happy you did and save money in the long run by not needing to replace them.

Do you have any design quirks? Please share...

Progress...

2012-01-23T08:07:00.003-05:00

We had a productive weekend. I have had this daunting list roaming around my head for the last couple of months

We finally started crossing off items this weekend, like the paneling (It's 60% percent done. Turns out our brick walls are next to impossible to drill through.)

I sewed 8 curtains panels. I am glad I didn't wait another day to tackle this project. It was so intense to bend over and squat up and down to cut the fabric. (They are 85% done, just need to pleat and hang them).

I'll be back with updates on his nursery in a couple of weeks. I hope you had a great, productive weekend as well.

Pregnancy Products

2012-01-13T10:50:00.000-05:00

I'll share my thoughts on pregnancy products and what I've really been enjoying so far. Here goes:

A. I attended a prenatal yoga class for the first time last night, and it was amazing. I regularly practice yoga and I must say there is a huge difference between going to a studio vs. doing a DVD in your home. Don't get me wrong, I have done several pregnancy yoga programs ON DEMAND during this pregnancy, but nothing compares to a classroom.

B. Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo. I thought that when you are pregnant, you glow, have thick hair and the best nails of your life. This hasn't been the case for me. A week ago the back of my head was so greasy (after my daily shampoo), I couldn't run my fingers through my hair. I was concerned I'd have to shave my head and start over, it was that bad. I went to my stylist and she gave me some of this shampoo to try... and she told me I was washing my hair wrong and that I'd have to wash it twice and focus on the back of the head instead of the top of my head. It's been a life saver.

C. The App for: What to expect when you're expecting. This app lets me read about what is happening to the baby and my body everyday. Apparently there is a movie coming out soon, can't wait:

D. So Delicious Almond Coconut Bars. I might have blogged about this one before. They are that good, they are portion controlled and they taste like a frozen almond joy.

E. The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy. This was loaned to me and I read it in two days. It's pretty humorous and a nice break from the scientific reading that the doctor gives you. This book addresses more of the questions you might have, but don't want to bring up with your friends that are not pregnant or maybe your doctor.

F. Fruit flavored water. It gets so boring drinking water all the time. I've been throwing anything in my glass to perk up the flavor.

Week 28.

2012-01-11T08:38:00.003-05:00

I can hardly believe I am in my third trimester.

How do I feel?

It's harder to move around. Once I am on the couch after work, it takes alot of effort to get off of it. This past month has been my favorite in pregnancy so far. Little Reid is growing every day and strangers are asking me when I am due, which I love. I have not had a random person rub my belly yet, but when it happens I have every intention to rub theirs in return.

Apparently he is almost full grown in length, he will just fatten up considerably before his arrival.

I feel him move all the time and I love the assurance of his movements. His kicks and jabs feel like an inside joke between us, I just feel bonded to this little one and I can't wait to meet him.

What do I crave?

Blackberries and strawberries. I think my skin is clearing up just a bit and I wonder if it's from the increase in antioxidants? I'm just glad they've been on sale because I go though pints of them. Coffee makes me gag, this is a new development in the last month and I don't miss it one bit.

What surprises me?

This is going by fast! I use every weekend morning to sleep in, even when I'm ready to wake up because I think this is the last time in my life I will be able to sleep on my own schedule. I also take my sweet time running errands because I think, this is my last time I'll be able to keep my own schedule.

Other tidbits?

How much more can my face grow in the next 12 weeks? I'm frightened!

Gingham everywhere!

2012-01-05T08:30:00.001-05:00

Little Reid is due in 13 weeks. I am slowly clearing out what will be his nursery and ordering and collecting the pieces that will go into his room.
One thing for sure, this kid is going to have gingham curtains. I ordered 24 yards online- sight unseen and untouched. I know I should go the sample route first, but the company sells by the bulk and how can you mess up gingham? Take a look:

This photo makes me really excited to have a boy.

Grand Harbour Island.

2012-01-04T08:00:00.004-05:00

Three weeks ago I attended a bachelorette party in the Bahamas, specifically Grand Harbor Island. My pictures will be inadequate because they cannot capture how much FUN we had.

It started with a private plane ride over to the island:

For the design oriented folks that read my blog, I'll start with pictures from a hotel worth making another trip for, The Landing. We ate dinner here one night. One of the hotel owners was also our host for the weekend. We stayed at his private home and I have never met a more hospitable person in my life. He gave us a tour of the hotel room and then took us to see the area of the hotel that was designed by THE Ralph Lauren and India Hicks.

Most rooms were painted white and given a very simple, clean palette so you could enjoy the views.

Now for some beauty from the island:

There were a lot of activities involving golf carts, games, dancing, fireworks and laughter. At times I left like I was on an episode of the Bachelor.

Merry Christmas.

2011-12-20T12:15:00.000-05:00

I have yet to send out a formal Christmas card. My holiday photos have always revolved around this guy. This year we gave him his present early, a 3 foot raw hide bone, peanut butter flavor. He's not sure what to do with it, but he loves it.

Week 24.

2011-12-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

It's a boy and he has a name.

R is for:

Reid Anthony Cortese.

How do I feel?
Great. I'm enjoying this second trimester. I had a wave of sickness over the weekend, but I think that was flu oriented and not pregnancy driven. I feel him move so much now and I love that Tony can feel him as well.

What do I crave?
Sweets. This week I've been making ice cream sandwiches from Publix Chocolate chip cookies. De-lish!
[I think my phone is dying. That funky red tint is not on purpose, that's what my camera does to images].

What surprises me?
How fast this is going. Only 4 months left. Lots to do on the checklist. It's strange to be so aware of time these days [ex. I am 24 weeks and 3 days, not missing a day on the big count down-o-meter]. I feel like I've been pregnant for a while now, but when I hear I'm almost in my third trimester, it makes me anxious.

What am I looking forward to?
Being home and with family and friends for Christmas. Taking almost 2 weeks off from work.

Other tidbits:

I am so grateful for Joanna Goddard's blog. She has an extensive registry list that I am finding very helpful. I even read all the comments below to see what other recommendations were made for registry items. That brought me to her Motherhood Mondays section, which I read in its entirety.
I had to close my office door while I read her sweet husbands recap of their birth story. Seriously, I know I am weepy in this pregnancy, but this is a great read.

I also think this necklace or this ring makes for a sweet push present.

The Great Debate.

2011-12-14T14:15:00.000-05:00

I have visions for this little nursery. I am struggling right now to determine what feature I want to add to the walls. I prefer texture in a room rather than a great fabric or rug, and I am loving some many different ideas at the same time. How do I pick between wainscoting + adding grasscloth wallpaper, or horizontal planking, or a painted ceilings or 1" x 1" horizontal moldings????
How's a girl to decide [answer: budget!]

Images found on pinterest

Santo Domingo.

2011-12-12T10:10:00.000-05:00

I am a little behind on posting. Over Thanksgiving, my family went to Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic to celebrate my grandmother's (Nanu) 85th birthday. She probably wouldn't like me publicizing her age, but she doesn't use the computer, so I'm safe.
Here are some highlights of the trip:

The hotel set up a surprise party for her and got her age wrong.

I quickly corrected it and shimmied some flower petals off to reflect 85.

One afternoon we took an excursion from the hotel to the historic part of the city. Historic parts are always my favorite.

I felt like I was back in Italy with this church

I told my husband if we ever get really rich, I wanted that Land Rover. He assured me if we ever get rich, we will never buy that car and we will always find better things to do with our money. He keeps me humble folks.

Smitten Sale Recap + Upcoming items for Sale.

2011-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi friends, I wanted to share a few pictures from the big sale last Thursday. I was so thrilled with the turnout. This was my first time hosting a sale and I had a dream [nightmare] that no one would show up and all my efforts would be a big waste. Luckily, that wasn't the case and friends came and shopped. There were even new friends [blog readers] that stopped by to shop. My mom gave me a hard time for posting my address on the world wide web, but I explained to her that home design blog readers are generally a harmless breed.

I worked up until the last minute and there are some details that I wanted to fluff, but here are some pictures I took before and after the sale. I was too busy chatting to be behind a camera.

I will be posting some of the items that did not sell via Big Cartel. Check back this week to see what's still available.

I would be a total ingrate if I did not take the chance to thank my family and friends that helped me pull this off. So here is my heartfelt thanks, that feels beyond inadequate... Dad, Mom, Nanu + Dale; Tony; Ryan; Eric; Diane + Meemsly; Judi; Teri; Jordan and Jen, I love you all. Thank you.

Items. For. Sale.

2011-11-29T09:03:00.001-05:00

{In case you've missed it, I'm having a sale on Thursday}

Up for grabs, BREAD BOWLS.

I don't really want to part with these. I have nearly named them and they have been kept in the house instead of storing them in the garage with the other items for sale.

What's so great about them? Well take a look at their versatility.

Display your fresh fruit: Grow some fresh grass as a centerpiece. Take a look at that price, you'll brag to your husband of how much money you saved at my sale! Photograph your newborn bebe.Or give your crayons a beautiful place to reside.

That's it, I don't know if they are still for sale. These pictures make me want to hoard them.

Thankful.

2011-11-24T08:00:00.003-05:00

2011 has panned out to be one incredible year. I sometimes feel the need to pinch myself to wake up from this dreamy life I live.

In the spirit of thanks, let me share what gives me joy (in no particular order):

A little baby boy on the way.

An incredible trip to Italy with Tony. [I am ready to go back]

Friends that are also pregnant right now. It's good to make phone calls and talk about the awkwardness of pregnancy; and to be reassured what's going on is my new normal.

F-A-M-I-L-Y.

A job that I enjoy, and the perk of being able to travel to awesome places from time to time [1/2/3].

My dad and brother that traveled to paint and polish our garage [more photos to come].

Health.

This spoiled dog.
An upcoming wedding and surrounding events that promise to be a blast.

Our house to entertain in, watch bachelor {ette, pad} nonsense, host fellowship groups, etc...

My discovery of Tomatoland

A church we love.

Buble's Holiday CD which I have been listening to for five weeks now. This might explain why my post sounds like it should be a New Years Eve post instead of a Thanksgiving post.

A king size bed.A supportive husband.

Our friend and neighbor, Eric, that lets me borrow his tools, a lot.

What are you thankful for?

Items. For. Sale.

2011-11-23T08:00:00.001-05:00

Have you seen the Better Homes and Gardens Christmas edition? I've browsed it a couple of times as I've been waiting in check out lines and to my delight, I see that I have a couple of chairs for sale that are quite similar to what is featured in their mag.
Those chairs are on the popular blog, The Lettered Cottage.

See you Dec 1st!

Items. For. Sale.

2011-11-22T08:00:00.003-05:00

If you don't love this table, I don't know if we can be friends. I have something pretty darn similar at a fraction of the cost for sale [on Dec 1st at 4:30 pm- close, remember?].

See. You. There.

Items. For. Sale.

2011-11-21T08:00:00.001-05:00

Just some teasers for you. Remember to save the date for the Smitten Sale [it's in my garage, but please don't confuse this with a garage sale]. Dec 1st, 4:30pm- till it sells out.

One of my favorite items for sale is a cowhide rug. I know if you've opened a design magazine in the past two years, you've seen the cowhides everywhere. They aren't for hunters + rednecks anymore. You would almost think if you didn't have one of these rugs in your house you would be as offensive as a girl who does not tuck her jeans into her boots. That was uncalled for. I don't have one in my house but if it doesn't sell, I have a little boy's room that needs one.

This colorway below is similar to what I am selling, except mine in branded and it's uniquely awesome. I think RL would be proud of your purchase.

Save. The. Date.

2011-11-17T14:00:00.001-05:00

That's right friends, I'm having a sale and you're all invited. I've been collecting some one-of-a-kind pieces and can't wait to share them with you all.

[Tables, chairs, mirrors, rugs, Christmas stocking and tree skirts, bowls, bar carts and other household goods]

Another perk, proceeds of the sale will go to buying Christmas gifts for children with Tree House. [like it here, read more about this fantastic organization here]

Bring your friends, I hope to see you at my house.

Week 20.

2011-11-15T09:15:00.000-05:00

This pregnancy is flying by. My friend Emily is doing a pretty darn good job at documenting her weeks. I am going to be a copy cat and update this every 4 weeks.

How do I feel?

I am thankful, I have felt pretty good this pregnancy. My main symptom is fatigue (and acne like a teenager), but I know it could be worse. Well, I am a bit more hormonal than I am used to (impatient, prone to tears and stress) and other symptoms that I will withhold from the blog.
What do I crave?

For the first 17 weeks, carbs. Pizza, pasta with plain sauce, croissants, bagels, buffalo chicken and blackberries (not together). I finally feel like I can control my diet again and veggies sound really great again.
What surprises me?

For the most part, I haven't felt pregnant. This past week, there is a definite bump and I am beginning to feel faint kicks and the baby moving. I am at the half way mark and I'm starting to feel behind already. (No registry, no daycare plans, no reading on my part on sleeping methods). I am planning to get on the ball in the New Year.
What am I looking forward to?
This week we find out if this baby is a boy or a girl. I certainly have a feeling, so we'll see if this mother's intuition really exists.

Happenings in ATL.

2011-11-07T08:45:00.000-05:00

When you are going out of town, do you check estatesales.net? I am not going out of town this next weekend, but this auction in Atlanta makes me want to hop in the car and go to Atlanta. (But, we have ten, yes ten, friends staying with us this weekend so it's not an option).

Someone should bid on this wheat grass table, for their own home or mine.

Kinda reminds me of Lauren Gold's table featured in Lonny this past July.

I recently came across the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles app on itunes. I love that magazine, because I love that city. Anyway, here are my favorite two images from their latest issue:

Have a productive Monday.

Products that make you want to have kids...

2011-11-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

We're 14 days away from finding out the gender of this little one. (Hopefully the legs will be open this time).

If the baby is a girl, she needs these boots with the fur from Restoration hardware.

While we're at it, let's look at more Restoration Hardware for the itty bitty's:

Again, this post is not sponsored by RH, but I'd be willing to cut a deal with them to promote their products.

Have a great weekend.

Just so you know...

2011-11-03T11:30:00.001-04:00

World Market is killing it these days.

I was very close to walking out of the store with this settee (just add nailhead trim and a lumbar pillow). The only thing that stopped me was the image I had of my husband rolling his eyes, which I can picture so vividly.

Burlap lampshades in an assortment of colors and sizes:

Good stocking stuffers for the men in your life:

Nice centerpieces for holiday entertaining:

A metal side table for a lamp or books:

This post was not sponsored by World Market, but if they would send me that settee, I'd gladly post more :)

Stunning Settees/Guest Blogger.

2011-10-27T08:01:00.006-04:00

Hi friends, we have a guest blogger here on Smitten today: Susi from Design Shuffle (a community where design enthusiasts and professionals can showcase their design projects and share inspiration while networking).

Without further adieu, let's look at some stunning settees through Susi's eyes:

I'm excited to be sharing some stunning settees and decorating ideas with Smitten Design readers. The settee is a versatile seating option with gorgeous classic lines that can work in a number of rooms, including the dining room, entry hall, bedroom, library and living room. Enjoy!

Eclectic Revisited (via)

A classic white painted French settee in the Louis XV style looks gorgeous upholstered in a bold blue and white stripe. Mixing modern fabrics with traditional lines makes the settee feel contemporary and fresh.

Jayson Home (via)

Taking an antique settee and reupholstering it with a trendy fabric, like a suzani or ikat, breathes new life into an outdated piece. While settees with straight backs are not the most comfortable, they are perfect in an entry hall.

Anthropologie (via)

The Louisa settee from Anthropologie has French style paired with pop blue upholstery inspired by Vera. Love the juxtaposition between the two disparate styles.

Style at Home (via)

Looking for innovative eat-in kitchen design ideas? Well, here you go. Love the wingback feeling of this settee. The wings create a nice nook for lounging with the paper or chatting over a long meal.

Bungalow Blue Interiors (via)

A camel back settee, a typical American antique, looks fantastic in graphic yellow and white upholstery. A single long cushion keeps the lines clean and the focus on pattern and form.

Porch Light Interiors (via)

Button tufting feels modern on this settee with exquisite lines. Love the pattern created by the tufting. This piece has an Art Deco feel.

West Elm (via)

A settee makes for great seating for a rectangular or square table. Just check the seat height to make sure it works with the table.

The Happy Clipper (via)

This sunny settee embodies many of the design elements that make a stunning settee: great upholstery; traditional form; attention to details. Would look great in an interior design for the dining room or greeting visitors in the foyer.
This blog post is from Design Shuffle, where you can get inspiration from lots of talented interior designs from New York interior designers, Los Angeles interior designers, and more, check out the latest at Design Shuffle.

Thanks Susi, I now want a settee in evey room of my house.

Chicago, Chicago!

2011-10-25T15:00:00.000-04:00

I was in Chicago last week for work. With my phone in hand, I snapped away at pretty things. See below:

After seeing these planters, I went out and bought mums for our window box:

I'm one of those taxpayers that is grateful when money is spent on city beautification.

I trudged through the wind and rain to visit Jayson Home and Garden. I've seen their products and advertisements all over the blogs and had to see the store for myself. So glad I made the trip, I am loving everything made from hides these days:

I also visited a couple of floors in the Merchandise Mart: [Wendy, if you are reading this, how great would this wall mounted faucet look as the new ladies/mens room for 7 Rivers?]

Why didn't I think of adding this dog food compartment when we renovated our kitchen?

Perhaps the most beautiful room divider:

I visited my favorite store, the flagship Ralph Lauren store. My first experience in this store almost a spiritual experience. My heart fluttered, I got teary eyed and I was ready to plant myself in the store and never leave - just forward my mail to the 4th floor and give me an oil portrait of my dog, Buster. This trip did not disappoint, but it wasn't as impactful. Still, it's a beauty and worth sharing.

I then moved on to Anthropologie next door. I think these leather details would be a nice addition on my kitchen barstools:

I also bought six rolls of this wallpaper in case we are having a little girl. There are flowers and critters and every color pastel that would lend to a very pretty nursery. If it's a boy, I'll sell them to you. (BTW, I was hoping we would know the gender of the baby, but the ultrasound showed us a baby that was sitting indian-style and would not budge, I should know in three weeks!)

For a baby girl.

2011-10-19T08:45:00.000-04:00

So I lied when I said I would post this over 2 weeks ago. If I could really have it my way, I would add a crib and an upholstered rocker into the room below. (This photo is from the lobby of the Montgomery McAlpine/Tankersley office that I toured in February.) I can easily imagine a little girl delighted to roll around on that unbelievably soft rug and stare at herself in an over-sized antique mirror with a glitzy chandelier...
It certainly is not a traditional nursery, but that's the beauty of blogs, I can dream.

If it's a girl, I would like to mix in blue with pink or coral. I enjoy pink, but I've never been an all- out, unabashed lover of pink. I'm just not that girly and I think blue will jive with the rest of my house. I do love a stripe silk curtain, and since we have four windows in the nursery, I will have to make 8 curtain panels. I still love the KWID flamestitch pattern (as seen on the pillows). How cute are those two kids? I had to throw them in there.

Nursery Images.

2011-10-12T10:30:00.001-04:00

Here are some random nursery images I've been collecting. I hope to post the little girls room this week but, we shall see. In the meantime, enjoy the following:

For a baby boy.

2011-10-07T09:30:00.000-04:00

My little peanut has been on my mind, especially where the little one will lay his head. It's a matter of days (24) until we find out what we're having, but who's counting? I feel like it's a little boy, but I had a dream it was a girl and some friends are making the same girl predication. If it's a little guy, I want this nursery to be inspired by Ralph Lauren.

I desperately want to add grasscloth to the bedroom walls. He will need a rug, a daybed, a rocker, a crib, maybe a full length mirror, some stripes and ticking and some leather in the mix.

I hope to be back Monday with a little girls room.

Free style.

2011-09-29T08:30:00.000-04:00

I am really drawn to loose, hand drawn and free-styled prints these days.
Schumacher's Katsugi has been a beloved print of mine for quite sometime (in blue):

In case you missed this, Elle Decor and Alaina from Live Creating Yourself, featured artist Payton Turner. She creates "wallpaper" from stickers.
It's incredible, she's twenty five and I just love when young people do awesome things.

I'm thinking of hiring an art student at FSU to make awesome things in the soon to be nursery. Yes folks, that's where this blog is headed. Nursery overload, in a hopefully refreshing and inspiring kind of way.

The New Project.

2011-09-27T14:20:00.000-04:00

Dare I say, it's the best project to date?!?!

I'm pregnant.

Due at the beginning of April.

It's been a wild and exciting couple of months already as we've been wrapping our minds about our coming arrival. I'd love your prayers.

And yes, I am feeling the hormones of being pregnant. This commercial made me a little weepy and I asked Tony to do this for our little one.

Around Here.

2011-09-22T09:44:00.001-04:00

Life has been busy folks, very busy. I wanted to share a few random notes from my life.

This sweater came in the mail today. I am ready for the temperature to drop so I can make it my fall uniform. The neck makes me feel like Rachel Zoe on a shoestring budget.

My mexican sage is in full bloom and it excites me when I pull into our driveway and see the pretty purples.

Are you watching Picker Sisters on Lifetime? I've only seen one episode, and if you are a blog reader, I'd wadger you would like this show. These girls travel the US in (short shorts and boots) a big Tahoe with a trailer and dig through people's trash piles/ salvage yards, and refurbish items into new pieces. They then sell the found items in their store in LA. It's pretty fun, and it makes me want to rent a trailer (with a best friend) and do the same. It's on demand if you've missed episodes like I have.

I have a great project I'll share with you next week.

What are you reading, eating, watching that I should know about? Do share!

Dining Room Pleats

2011-09-15T08:49:00.004-04:00

Remember when I said I had a pleat project coming up? I finally completed it last weekend and wanted to share the results.

I bought my dining room parson's chairs for a steal a few years ago. They are so comfortable and I like providing my guests a cushy chair to sit in. I was not wild about the metal design or the fabric that came on the chair, so I found these slipcovers to conceal the original fabric. The metal design still peeked out at the bottom of the slipcover, and bothered me, so I went about making box pleats to cover the metal.

I'm not so sure I'd recommend this DIY project, unless you are a very patient person. I cannot emphasize how laborious it was to cut the 12 yards of fabric into 7" strips, then measure and iron the pleats every three inches. The sewing was the easy part. By the time I did three, I was thinking: "I will glady pay a seamstress five time more than I spent so I can make this stop!"

Alas, they are done and I'm thrilled with the result, and I will not be touching an iron for several months!

Seasons.

2011-09-09T09:45:00.000-04:00

Over the last several days our weather has dropped 15 degrees and I swear I am a new woman. I am so happy to live in Tallahassee when the seasons change. My windows are open, we're eating our meals on our porch and taking Buster on long walks again. It's amazing how the change in the weather rejuvenates my outlook on life.

I am pretty dramatic and prone to call whatever stage I'm entering my favorite, and then a few months later wish it away! I love the first crisp in air in the fall and I love the warmth on my skin in the spring. I usually dread the shorter days, but I am looking forward to the sun setting earlier and having fires in our house again...probably because I've been so tired lately.

I'm contemplating making marshmallows this year. This is one food group I could totally avoid, but the homemade marshmallows look irresistible.

I''m also ready to put my boots back on.

I tried to wear a scarf today, but I kept taking it on and off, it's not quite cool enough.

Are you the same? What excites you about the fall?

Celebrations.

2011-09-06T09:31:00.003-04:00

I had a birthday this past weekend. The overall theme of the weekend seemed to center around food. I'll spare you the details of my many meals, mainly because it's embarrassing to share! I also felt very spoiled and loved, which can be two very good emotions.

I made these no yeast required cinnamon buns on Sunday morning. They were divine.

There are lots of events/celebrations coming up in the next few months, more going away parties (which will be a time of celebration and mourning), bridal showers, birthday parties, football games which bring friends to town, etc...
Thank God for pinterest, the purveyor of event ideas and recipes. I am dying to recreate this:

I think my dining room table needs a floor length skirt for these occasions.

Or maybe a short ruffle for a casual party

All images on Pinterest

Misc.

2011-08-31T10:15:00.000-04:00

It's getting harder and harder to blog these days. I am busy, but I don't think that's a legit excuse, who's not busy these days?

I started school on Monday, hooray!

Do you ever play the game: if I won the lottery, what would I do with my money?
Sometimes I daydream about it (even though I don't play. I think they should make ticket purchasing online an option, then I'd play). If I won, I'd like to be really generous and smart with it. I'd continue to live like we do, with a few exceptions. I'd buy this stove:

And these pendants:

And I'd book a trip to Greece.

Then I would research on what I really want to do...

Maybe I just want to make a lot of babies for a while

I would have to make my money work for me, and I'd open a beautiful barn to rent out for parties

I'd probably get into the business of restoring homes

Giving style to dilapidated houses sounds like a dream

Let's bring myself back to reality:

What would you do with a bundle of money?
All photos on pinterest

Outdoor Dreaming.

2011-08-25T10:30:00.000-04:00

I picked up the book, The Southern Living Garden Book, from the library earlier this summer and wanted to share my two favorite gardens.
Suzanne Hudson is a designer in Georgia. She salvaged windows and created a little outdoor sanctuary.

The second was garden designer, Jon Carloftis's garden gate. This acts as a privacy fence for his back yard. It is constructed from a galvanized horse trough and an old piano dolly.
I showed Tony this clever invention and he just looked at me and said no way with his eyes.

While I'm on outdoor rooms, I'll share a few extra features I love. Jamie Durie, if you ever need a backyard to crash, please come to mine and add these features:

An ivy covered wall with killer lanterns and an over sized mirror

A quirky pool or tub.

A fireplace.

A lush walkway.

Or, you can keep it real simple and go for a pool with striped lounge chairs.

Welcome to my outdoor dreaming, what do your outdoor dreams consist of?

DIY Shellac

2011-08-24T08:30:00.000-04:00

I am recently obsessed with shellac-ing my nails. Are you all on board with fool proof manicure system that lasts for at least two weeks? In not, you should get on board, it's so revolutionary I don't know why anyone would get a regular-old-manicure anymore. I've been looking into the system. They are pretty affordable. By the time you pay for two manicures, you could buy yourself the whole kit.
I'm tempted to spend some upcoming birthday dollars on this system.

I carefully watched the nail technician apply my manicure. All she did was one base coat, two coats of polish and a top coat (with time for each hand to dry in the UV machine).
Should I DIY it? You can come over and I'll paint your nails too and ask "square or round"?

TGIF

2011-08-19T11:04:00.003-04:00

I'm really happy it's Friday. I have been exhausted and need a weekend.

I'm going to make something like this for dinner:

This is the most adorable little basket of goodies. Have you seen Bridesmaids? It's hysterical, I saw it twice and want to own it. My husband tells me I'd would be like the big girl that takes nine puppies as the shower favor.

I hope you have a nice weekend.
Pictures via Pinterest

Pleats!

2011-08-16T08:52:00.003-04:00

I love a good box pleat. My style is pretty much texture over pattern and this dollop of detail makes me smile.

I've been working on a project I hope to post soon that is full of box pleats.

All images through none other than Pinterest.

Invites.

2011-08-11T08:30:00.001-04:00

Let's talk about invitations. They set the tone. They give you the overall vibe of the wedding. I have seen some stunners. As wonderful as it is to open a custom, letter-pressed and heavy card stocked invite, I inevitably think what am I going to do with this? And I throw them away. Sad, but true.

Now if life was one big blog post, I would letter press and detail orient the heck out of the invite like the following:

If letter pressing isn't in the budget, thick card stock is a nice alternative, and details like the stripes on the envelop are a nice touch:

If you have endless time and volunteers one hand, you can make envelops from doilies:

What are your thoughts? Spend. Splurge. Toss-after-reading. Add it to your scrapbook?

All images on pinterest

Wedding Lighting.

2011-08-08T09:48:00.007-04:00

My friend Jovanna is getting married this January. The wedding is in south Florida and the reception will take place outside. I promised her I would round up some images and help her with the planning of her wedding. This week I will dedicate Smitten Design to wedding blogging.

First up, outdoor lighting. We share the same opinion that lighting makes more of an impact than flowers. See below.

Any advice on where we can rent chandeliers (I am just assuming the role of self appointed wedding planner this week)? It's hard to locate a vendor. I am thinking of starting a career in wedding supplies, like Duchess Kate Middleton's mum!

Deal!

2011-08-04T17:38:00.001-04:00

This is the best deal I've seen in a while. Thank you Pinterest!

Back to School.

2011-08-03T08:00:00.000-04:00

Great news, I'm going to Grad School for Interior Design this fall (part time)!!!! It has taken me a long time to decide to go back to school, as I have debated whether I really need school vs. can't I just develop my eye for design and bypass school? Now it seemed like a no brainer: My work will pay and while we live in Tallahassee I might as well study what I know I already love.

Do students wear backpacks still? I used to love a good backpack and below are some options I available on etsy.

(Photo 1, 2, 3)

Zara Home.

2011-08-01T16:23:00.004-04:00

When we were in Italy earlier this summer, we stumbled upon Zara Home in Rome. I am hoping like so many great European stores, this one makes its way over to the states in the near future. Although not on their site, they had these adorable, individual glass cupcakes stands with cloches (like these) that were around $8 a piece. They were entirely impractical to buy, but I still think of them.

These are reusable linen napkins, up to five washes.

What stores do you long to see in your city? I would like to add a big fat Trader Joe's to Tallahassee.

Can I Move In?

2011-07-27T09:23:00.004-04:00

In my mind, everything Restoration Hardware does is perfect. That is one store I walk in and I am ready to move in (and Bungalow Classic in West Atlanta and Ralph Lauren on Magnificent Mile in Chicago and Ralph Lauren on Madison Ave in NYC). Restoration Hardware just opened two new stores and please check out their goodness below.

This is in West Hollywood, and I hope they utilize their outdoor space to host parties.

They opened a Baby & Child store in Corte Madera, CA as well. Looking through these photos makes me wonder, how can I quadruple my salary to furnish my home with this stuff?

Good Eye.

2011-07-26T11:22:00.002-04:00

Balsamic Rosemary Carrots: I made them last night and they were delish. I will be repeating this recipe in the near future.

What have you been grilling this summer? Please share!

Celebrations and Road Trips.

2011-07-25T11:00:00.000-04:00

I'm afraid my blog posts on Smitten Design may be misleading. As I look back, it seems the majority of my posts have been vacation and party pictures. I do work, but I don't think anyone wants to hear about excel spreadsheets or gift proposals.
A few weeks ago, we took a little road trip to celebrate our 4 yr anniversary, our friends 50th birthday and a visit to see my grandmother, Nanu.

We started at St. Simons Island in Georgia. This is low country at it's finest. It feels very much like South Carolina.

We stayed at the Village Inn and Suites. This hotel has been featured in Southern Living and Coastal Living a few times. It was completely charming and I highly recommend it.

We then went to Waynesboro, GA to celebrate our friend Merv's 50th birthday.

We then headed to the mountains in Highlands, NC. Tony tells me I am too young to turn into a snow bird, but every summer I try to convince him we need to take different jobs where we can live in Chicago or NC for 4 months instead of Florida. Nanu, has a place in a picturesque golf community. As a kid, I spent many summers with my grandparents here. I love returning and wish we could have stayed longer.

We did some hiking as well.

We ate at a new rooftop terrace at Old Edwards Inn:

We had a blast and I was so thankful for the brief trip to celebrate.
Have you taken a vacation this summer?

Visual.

2011-07-21T17:00:00.001-04:00

I am a very visual learner. If I read it, I remember it longer. If I see it done, I understand how it's done. These animated images help my simple mind.

All via Pinterest

Par-tay!

2011-07-15T07:54:00.003-04:00

From the moment I received my invite, I knew this birthday party was going to be full of style. My friend's daughter turned one and we celebrated with art + origami projects and a delicious brunch.

For more details and images visit Little Household.

Celebration.

2011-07-14T09:11:00.002-04:00

My husband woke me up this morning and said, "Four years ago all your dreams came true, happy anniversary."

He was right. Here's to many more years together.

The Details.

2011-07-12T11:00:00.000-04:00

I do not care how many bloggers have covered the latest issue of Lonny, I'm joining the party a few days late.

This latest issue was just plain inspiring.

I'll share a few things I loved. First up, the co-founder and VP of Waterworks shared the Easton Faucet that reminded me of a task lamp from Target I've been eyeing, but I do not need. The mix of metal and wood seems like a product Ralph Lauren would endorse, and I love all things RL.

I also loved the hotel, La Mamounia, in Morocco and added that hotel on my rolling list of things to see...

I enjoyed seeing Adam Straus's LA home. Lately this masculine, glamour is really speaking to me. Please note the antiqued mirrors with frames mounted on top of the mirror. It's incredible.

Next up, Ruthie Sommers. Her home renovation was amazing and I loved the outdoor space, but more than that, I loved her quote about design: "I don't try to work toward an end point or the perfect home. I am old enough to know this day is all we have, and I just want to enjoy that."

She could have given a quote about her work, but instead she is intentional on sharing her overall outlook on life instead of her work. Ruthie seems to understands that design is a luxury but it needs to be practical. She is so refreshing and this reminds me of a quote I posted earlier on Smitten Design. (I wish she was on Million Dollar Decorators)

Lonny also featured another insane hotel design by Michele Bonan in Germany that I previously blogged about here.

He transformed a yacht into the hotels restaurant. Do you see he added a bookcase and a fireplace in there? This man knows how to create atmosphere.

Other random news, I spied cowhide rugs on 16 pages in this issue. That makes me happy. Did anything stand out to you in this issue?

Happy Weekend.

2011-07-08T11:22:00.004-04:00

There is nothing better than a four day work week! (Maybe a three day, or any descending number for that matter.) If you are playing outside, doing a project inside or just relaxing, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

My Favorite from Pinterest this week:

"How women and men see color"

Designer's Portfolio.

2011-07-07T11:24:00.006-04:00

Elizabeth Dinkel Design. I saw her portfolio. I loved her portfolio.

Someday, I too will have a kickass portfolio.

Hyde Park.

2011-07-05T11:20:00.000-04:00

For the 4th, we went to visit with long time friends in South Tampa. Our husbands played all weekend- they had a doubles tennis tournament on Saturday and rounds of golf on Sunday and Monday. They were in their competitive heaven.
Tiffany and I didn't stop either: we did the hardest power yoga class ever (After that class I now believe the skinny, ripped people that say they only do yoga as their workout). We ate great food, we went to a spa, went to the nicest movie theatre I've ever did see and we biked around South Tampa.

I have been a Florida resident my entire life, and we have a really beautiful state, but sometimes this state feels more developed and less historic. I am a sucker for historic neighborhoods and architecture. The streets of South Tampa, specifically Hyde Park, make you feel like you are no longer in Florida. Below are some homes that I shot while we went for a bike ride. This area looks like you are transported to the set of Father of the Bride.

We biked over to Davis Island to see more neighborhoods.

This is Derek Jeter's home when he lives in Tampa for spring training.

If you feel like being a paparazzi, here are your coordinates.

Are there other pockets of Florida like this? Do share.

Projects.

2011-06-28T09:35:00.003-04:00

I had a very productive weekend. For months, I've had odds and ends waiting around the house for some undivided attention, and I tackled them.
First up, our stairway gallery wall. I wanted to add more frames to create a more dramatic look. I typically eye ball where my nails should go and hammer away, but I decided to be professional about this. I measured my walls, laid out painters paper, and slowly added each frame to be in the best position. I then traced the frames, hung the painters paper on the wall and mounted the frames. Each time I walk pass the wall, I smile with satisfaction.

I also decoupaged another plate to match my existing plate in our guest bathroom.(First one seen here) I went to the architecture section in the public library; a very scary place in downtown Tallahassee, I recommend taking another person. I picked out a book full of illustrations and decoupaged away!

Now a question, any tips on keeping an orchid alive? I submerged her in water and let her drain. She is sitting in my east-facing kitchen window, but she's not doing so hot. What fertilizer should I feed her? Help!

House Tour and a Bonus

2011-06-24T09:20:00.000-04:00

Let me share a home with you that I adore:

The laundry room is my favorite room in the house. Doesn't it make you want to call in sick and organize your space?

This vacuum feature is also a favorite of mine. I wish we had this because the dust pan is so cumbersome!

There's the home tour, here's the bonus, it's for sale. It is in Tallahassee (Southwood) and it belongs to my friends, the Little's. Their move is the definition of bitter-sweet. Not in the tacky way your boss sends out an email when you decide to leave the company, but a heart felt, I-am-really-sad-to-lose-sharing-the-random-everyday-life-details and stories with my friend. I am also equally excited for their new life in Colorado. Let's help them get it sold. For more information and photos click here. To schedule a visit, contact Barry Bevis at 850.491.3900

When asked if she would sell this home furnished, Jen replied "Make me an offer." So that's on the table if you really want a turn key home.

Hotel Designers/New Blog.

2011-06-23T11:30:00.000-04:00

I've been big into hotel design recently. I blame it on travel and watching Million Dollar Decorators, but they seem like very intense/rewarding projects.
I just received an email that highlights the work of Lisa Holt, a designer with DLS hotels. Her work on Hotel Yountville in California was recently featured on Conte Nast hot list 2011.
Then I discovered her blog and learned she is currently working on turning a church built in the 1800's into a private residential home.

the church reno:

What blogs, pinterest, projects are you following? I need some good recommendations.

The Finale, Venice.

2011-06-21T10:15:00.000-04:00

It's time to wrap up my ultra inspiring vacation recap. Our last stop on our Italian vacation was for 2 nights in Venice. It took a 12 hour train ride, instead of 5 to get there from Cinque Terre because the train union was on strike. We were stranded in Cinque Terre for 4 hours, but there are worse places to be stuck. This was our view from the train platform.

Here are some snap shots of Venice from the water taxi ride to our hotel:

The marble in St. Marks was unbelievable. It looked like woven fabric. The gold mosaic ceiling was beyond impressive. I wish I could be there when these structures were being built.
We had to take a break from the crowds, so we crossed the grand canal and visited the church, San Giorgio Maggiore, with a bell tower view of the main island.

We saw a hedge maze being planted.

And that concludes our trip. We were so grateful to be able to go and spend this time together, being captivated by the beauty of Italy. Italy will hold a magical place in our marriage. I would recommend saving your pennies to go, travel anywhere. If you have questions about our trip please don't hesitate to email me. If you have recommendations, please don't hold out on me either! I hope you enjoyed the recap.
Ciao!

Weekend Plans.

2011-06-17T12:19:00.004-04:00

Looking for something to do this weekend? Studio b is hosting blogger, Natalie Walton of Daily Imprint, for a workshop. I wish I could attend and would love to hear a recap if anyone is going.

La Mala.

2011-06-16T08:29:00.000-04:00

In Vernazza, Cinque Terre, we stayed in a 4 room hotel called La Mala. Let it roll off your tongue, La Mahhhh Laaaaahhh!

Whenever I will need to think of "a happy place" I will put myself back here.

It was very simple in design. All white walls, ceilings, sheer linen treatments, marble bathroom with a large shower. The big feature was the location and the view. We stayed in room 31, slept with the windows open and inhaled the fresh mountain air. I know we were over the sea, but somehow it smelled like the North Carolina mountains more than salt.

Our morning cappuccinos came with art, which was a delightful way to start the day:

Here's a view of the hotel from the water- just like we were floating in the air.

Cinque Terre.

2011-06-13T08:57:00.003-04:00

Cinque Terre was undoubtedly our favorite part of Italy. Cinque Terre consists of 5 villages in the Italian Riviera. We stayed in Vernazza and I will have more tomorrow on our accommodations.

We had a delicious dinner at sunset, right here:

There are hiking trails connecting the 5 villages. It takes around 4 hours without stopping in each village. This was a highlight of our trip. I took over 200 photos, but I have narrowed down my favorites. We started from Vernazza, hiked 3 villages, took a boat ride back to the first village, Montorosso, and then hiked back to Vernazza.

Some parts of the trail were very strenuous and required water breaks, others were flat and quite enjoyable. We saw women over 80 years old on this hike, and I was equally inspired and concerned for them.

We bought focaccio slices for lunch. Cinque Terre is famous for their pesto, which was delicious and without a fishy taste that sometimes accompanies pesto.

We went swimming and read books here for an hour while we waited for the boat. Ah, I want to go back already...

Views from the boat of each village.
Riomaggiore:

Manarola:

Corniglia:

Vernazza:

View of our the restaurant we had our dinner from the boat:

Monterosso al Mare:

The main church in Montorosso

Back to Vernazza:

And a fancy dessert to celebrate our hike:

J.K. Place

2011-06-10T09:45:00.001-04:00

While we were in Florence, I insisted we visit the J.K. Place. Erika covered it last year and Lonny featured it as well. I needed to see the goodness for myself. We went in the morning and ordered espressos and acted like we were guests of the hotel. I think it worked because when we asked for the check the server said, "No, I offered you a beverage". We did what anyone with high integrity does, we left quickly before anyone could catch on.

I am inspired to frame architectural images and use lanterns in my home. I love the wing back slipcovered chairs. The hotel was designed by Michele Bonan. I dug through Michele's portfolio to see what else he has designed, and I think his work is the definition of transitional design. His spaces are traditional in nature, but he adds a simplistic crispness through his accessories. The result is, I want all of this in my home.

Michele does very unassuming entries. You aren't sure if you are walking into a private residence or a hotel, as seen below.

Florence.

2011-06-08T13:00:00.000-04:00

Our vacation continues...are you bored of my Italian photos? Too bad, we're only half way through.
Florence was wonderful. It was much smaller than I imagined, and we ran into the same couples, several times in our short 3 day stay. We did not see the Jersey Shore, even though they were filming in Florence. We saw a lot of students there - from elementary through college. There were many art students drawing and painting the Ponte Vecchio, the David or the skyline of Florence into their sketch books. It was so fun to look over their shoulder while they were working, and I wish I would have offered some euros for their work.
We visited the market, bought some leather, ate gelato, toured the Boboli Gardens and studied the churches. The churches in Florence are much different than the ones in Rome. Florence has learned the beauty of restraint.

The Central Market:

The San Lorenzo, behind the central market, was one of my favorite churches (that conveniently forbade you to take photos interior photos here).

Although, I tried to time my cough and shutter at the same time to snap a couple of photos.

Santa Croce was Tony's favorite church due to it's side chapels and courtyards. It was terribly impressive.

Even the rafters were delicately painted. These Italians did not miss a beat.

The Ponte Vecchio

A wild chandelier in the Pitti Palace

The Boboli Gardens inspired me to develop a green thumb.

This ceiling is a painting. It's easier to decipher in the photo, but in person it's much harder to spot.

I found a website, an American in Italy, before we left. This woman packed her bags and moved to Florence. We went through her list of recommendations and she suggested a rooftop cafe on top of the department store, the Rinascente. It had great views of the square the skyline.

We crossed the arno and hiked to the Piazza Michelangelo, I'd say this is a must do to enjoy the best views of the city, it's away from the crowds and there's a breeze. (**I wish we would have packed a picnic for this little hike. There is plenty of shaded green space, next time)

Lastly, we had our best meal at Trattoria dei 13 Gobbi (Thanks for the rec, Katie). I had the rigatoni pasta, Tony had the pasta carbonara, we split the steak with rosemary and as stuffed as we were, we split the strawberry cheesecake. I do not even consider myself a cheesecake lover, but it was so great we went back a second night for a slice.

Wine, Wine Wine.

2011-06-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Just outside of Montalcino, there are 150 wineries. We were given the recommendation to tour Caparzo. It was almost too beautiful to describe. I wish I owned several different camera lenses on this trip to capture what I was seeing and deliver it to you in a glorious fashion, but you really have to see and experience it for yourself. I also wish I could bottle up the smell of Tuscany and spray it in every room of my house. It's fresh hilly air with no humidity, mixed with whiffs of rosemary. It's heavenly. Cypress tress line the entrance to Caparzo.

This is a view from the inside of the wine tasting room.

The wine from Carparzo was in the movie Letters to Juliet, which I now have to watch.

I now want cypress trees to border my yard and I would like to plant my rosemary in the ground instead of limiting it's growth to the small pot I've kept it in for the last two years. Those are attainable goals. I'm not asking for a vineyard here cause because that would equal full time work.

If we have the opportunity to go back to Italy, I would make my base in Tuscany and visit more wineries.

Montalcino.

2011-06-06T10:08:00.003-04:00

After spending three nights in Rome, we rented a Fiat Panda and drove to Montalcino, a fortressed city in Tuscany. This stop was one of our favorites of the vacation. The city is very quaint, it makes you feel like you are a spectator while the locals are hard at work. The main attraction is the wine, so out of the 20 shops in this town, 15 or more carried solely wine. Two tips if you are planning a trip to Italy: 1. Rent a car with GPS (this was just plain helpful) 2. Stay for more than one night in Tuscany.

the city from the back

My favorite shop was a combination of wine, candles and fabric. I bought a meter of white and grey 100% linen striped fabric. I'll be back later to show you a project with my fabric.

Rome, 2nd Installation.

2011-06-03T10:00:00.001-04:00

We did the "must sees and dos of Rome". The Colosseum, the Forum, the Vatican, St. Peter's, (with the extra climb up the cupola for a birds eye view of the city), the Piazza Navona, Jewish Ghetto, Campo de Fiori, the Spanish Steps, the Borghese Gardens and we ran in and out of every open church. Here are some photos of those sites. Rome was in full bloom- each window box was dripping with vines and budding with flowers. They were showing off for my visit.

Rome, 1st Installation.

2011-06-01T09:30:00.000-04:00

Hi friends, I am a bit intimidated to recap our trip to Italy. I had ambitious plans to lock myself in the house during Memorial Day weekend and edit all of my photos to make a blurb coffee table book, but it remains on my to do list.

Since eating is one of my favorite things in life, let me share a few Rome dining recommendations. On our walk from the train station to our hotel, we passed a modern/French decor inspired restaurant. I mentally noted the location, but thought we're in Italy, let's just eat at the mom and pop, red-checkered-table-cloth-with-garlic-cloves-hanging-from-the-ceiling restaurant. BUT atmosphere is almost as important to me as flavor and I would be pleased if they just served me wine and bread! Take a look...

The food wasn't too shabby either
Before our trip, I emailed an Art History professor who has been traveling back and forth to Italy for 20+ years. I asked him for dining recommendations that I will gladly share if you are planning an upcoming trip. Read below.

The sights are endless, as you know. There is a saying among the Romans, even a lifetime is not enough (to see everything). Since you have the Vatican covered (the Museums, then Saint Peter's) you'll need some antiquities to balance things out. the Pantheon, Colosseum, and if you have time, the Roman Forum and Palatine hill. (Bring a hat since the sun can be very strong.) Both the Piazza Navona and nearby the Piazza of the Pantheon are good places to sit and get some refreshment. If you are interested in Baroque churches and decoration, there is a very nice one in Piazza Navona (Sant'Agnese) and both Sant'Ignazio (near the Pantheon) and the Gesù (see below) are not to be missed for their illusionistic painted ceilings. Bernini's Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is a bit out of the way in the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria (not far from the train station). Then there's shopping. Make a point of going to the Spanish Steps and roam around the nearby streets, including the Via Condotti (shopping heaven).

Here are some restaurants you will find interesting. I have also noted their general locations in terms of nearby monuments. I hope this helps.

Vecchia Roma
Piazza Campitelli
Telephone:06.6864604
This is in the historic Jewish Ghetto in the same piazza as the Baroque church of Santa Maria in Campitelli (very nice). You can sit outside under umbrellas and the food is very good, pricey though depending on what you order.
Nino
Via Borgognona, 11
Telephone: 06.6795676
I think they are closed on Sunday; very good Tuscan food; only indoors
Near the Spanish Steps and the Via Condotti where you will find Prada, Bulgari, etc.
Ristorante Archimede
Piazza Caprettari, 63
Telephone: 06.6861616
Near the Pantehon; sit outdoors
I don't know which day they are closed, if any
Pierluigi
Piazza dei Ricci
Telephone:06.6861302
sit outdoors

For lunch you might want to explore the joys of Neapolitan pizza at
Rosso Pomodoro
Largo di Torre Argentina, 1 located in an area with lots of ancient ruins, not far from the Pantehon. (The main street that passes the Largo Argentina leads in one direction to the Vatican and in the other to Piazza Venezia. The big church you see in that direction from Largo Argentina is the Gesù. At Piazza Venezia you see the monument to united Italy, dedicated to the first king, Victor Emmanuel (called by the Romans the Wedding Cake) and behind it the historical Capitoline hill on Michelangelo's design and with two museums full of antiquities. From Piazza Venezia the Via del Corso branches out in one direction (north) and in the other the broad road leading to the Colosseum, skirting the Wedding Cake to the left.

Another lunch place which is very cute and inexpensive (12 Euro fixed price for lunch, but for dinner the prices are normal). I think they are closed on Sunday.
La TavernettaVia degli Spagnoli, 48
Telephone: 06.68192591
This place is tucked away on a quiet street not far from the Pantheon. With your back to the Pantheon walk into the next piazza with the Church of the Maddalena (very elaborate late Baroque facade and decoration on the inside); continue past the piazza and turn left on the Via delle Coppelle, then second right. You will pass two restaurants as you enter another piazza (they are popular and you may want to stop there), but the Via degli Spagnoli is straight ahead.

From his list of recommendations, we ate lunch at Rosso Pomodoro. At the end of our trip we decided it was our favorite pizza and caprese salad (I ordered this salad about 12 times during our 13 day trip because mozzarella actually has flavor in Italia. If you're curious, I gained 4 pounds on this trip)

I hope this post is helpful. If you have Rome recommendations, share below. Who knows when we'll be going back!

Come and knock on our door...

2011-05-27T09:00:00.004-04:00

The doors and hardware in Italy are remarkable. I was always lagging a few steps behind Tony as I would snap pictures of them. I would have loved to bring home any ole door as a souvenir, but instead I bought ideas {+ wine, a wallet, a skirt and fabric.}

The first two days felt like sensory overload, and then I realized every street has beautiful doors on display, and my photos slowly diminished. Please enjoy the longest post in Smitten history.

Allow me to zoom in on the hardware from the Pantheon

Must zoom in on these locks

Do you have a favorite?

We didn't come to Europe to save money.

2011-05-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

We are home. 13 days went by too quickly and I will share the highlights of our Italian excursion over the next few weeks. Let's start with the hotel accommodations in Rome. I am lucky that my husband has a knack for planning, selecting great itineraries, reading maps and generally great knowledge of history, i.e he reads it in Rick Steves and then regurgitates the most interesting parts to me while I am photographing what we see.

I started sending him links for hotels, but when he saw they were only a knotch above hostels- he took over. He quoted, and I liked to use this over and over during our trip, " We didn't come to Europe to save money." That became our motto.

First stop, Hotel Cortina. We rented the apartments, not the hotel room. You have to stay at least 3 nights to rent, and this place was a welcoming retreat to come home to after a busy sight seeing day. The apartments were recently renovated, had 12' tall ceilings with cake-like crown molding, a king size bed, a guest suite, a kitchenette, a balcony with jasmine in full bloom and a personal mini laptop with wireless.

A nice kitchenette we primarily used to uncork wine.

Breakfast was included with the stay, complete with a wonderful barista making us cappuccinos. The worst part of returning home was getting out of bed with the knowledge that had to make my own coffee.

We have a Winner!!

2011-05-10T09:48:00.000-04:00

Congrats to Heather for winning the Ramsign giveaway. Thank you to all who entered and for sharing your mothers day gift ideas.

In other news, que the music: all my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...We leave tomorrow for Italia. I should have scheduled guest bloggers, but that would require much more focus and energy than I have. I promise to make up for it with pictures and details of our travels when we return.
This view below is from our balcony where we will stay in Cinque Terre.
Here is the Montorosso Beach in Cinque Terre. I am a coastal girl at heart and looking forward to this leg of our trip the most.
Any last minute recommendations are welcomed. We are going to Rome, Florence, Montalcino, Cinque Terre and Venice.

Ciao!

New York Juant.

2011-05-06T09:15:00.000-04:00

I was back in New York this week with work and I wanted to share some highlights.

Everything is in full bloom. The older I get, the more I notice and appreciate these things.

These peonies were simply for sale on a corner. I was tempted to buy them for my hotel room but that would be a little excessive.

My tour guides took me to new places such as the boat basin, corner flea markets and olde good things, an antique store. Susanna, the blond, writes A Fork in New York where she gives great recommendations where you should eat while traveling or living in New York, Miami, Canada or LA.
Angela, dark redish hair sans bump-it writes Take Comfort in the Choas. She's changing lives one kid at a time in the lower east side. They both are co-founders of 100cameras.

A bar I really loved was the Campbell Apartment in Grand Central. It was a former office turned into a bar.

We walked on the High Line, a park built on a section of the former elevated freight railroad. I swear New Yorkers are so innovative because they have to be. When all else fails, build up! It was a clever way to see the city on the lower west side.

Don't forget to enter to win a customized sign from Ramsign. Entry closes tonight at 9. Have a great weekend.

Ramsign Giveaway!!!

2011-05-02T08:30:00.000-04:00

I am delighted to start this week off with a fabulous giveaway that I myself want to enter. It is an address plaque from Ramsign, a company from Denmark that might be the geographically furthest Smitten reader!

Ramsign offers real, old fashioned, hand stenciled signs, featuring original design, thick and glossy enamel and a 30 year warranty. There are numerous fonts, styles and sizes you can choose from.

Here are the details: the winner can choose one house number sign. There are signs available from 1 digit up to 5 with 5 different styles. Entries will be open until Friday, May 6th at 9pm.

You can have up to three entries by:
1.) Leaving a comment telling me your favorite mother's day gift you have received or given
2.) Like Smitten Design on Facebook. (If you already like it, thank you. Go ahead and enter yourself again in the comment section again)
3. Tweet, Facebook or link this giveaway and you can have another entry.

Good luck and thank you Ramsign for your giveaway.

Are blogs becoming obsolete?

2011-04-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry for being a terrible blogger. Pinterest is sucking up any extra creative time I have in the day, and it makes me toy with the thought of abandoning the blog. If you are not a pinterest member, do yourself a favor and sign up.

What is pinterest you ask? It's your own online bulletin board, divided into categories that stores your images and the link where you found the image. I have several boards going: travel, food, outdoor tubs, events, etc...You can organize the hell out of your life through it. If you are OCD about purging your desktop and bookmarks, you will love this.

And to add another layer: you can follow people and see what their pinning. You can discover new blogs, new websites, and you realize there are so many like-minded, creative, into-the-details-and-wanting-to-make-ordinary-everyday-moments-special people just like you.

Here are some snippets I've pinned.

You can follow my boards here.

Have a wonderful weekend and stay tuned to olde Smitten, there's a fun giveaway next week.

New Hobby.

2011-04-26T14:00:00.000-04:00

My coworker used to work for John Derian, and when she invited me over to decoupage I knew exactly what I wanted to make.

I bought a book titled: American Cities, Historic Maps and Views, which is loaded with beautiful images. I've had every intention of using these maps for the last two years and was excited to display them in my house.

Here are a few images from the book:

I selected a crest as my main image.

Then I added parts of Central Park around the border. When it was all said and done, I painted the edges gold, signed the back and numbered it 1.

I have a ways to go until I'm with the caliber of ol' Johnny Boy, but I anticipate I'll spend more time with this craft.

Do you decoupage? I hardly know what I'm doing, but if you're interested I'll teach you how.

Fabric and Song Sharing.

2011-04-22T10:32:00.004-04:00

My best friend just had her kitchen renovated. She worked with a whole team of professionals from Storetech + Co in Delray Beach, FL. She entertained my ideas and included me in the decision-making process. I really only affirmed the great decisions she was already making.

The before:

The after:

She forwarded me a link to custom roman shades on etsy and I fell for the lobsters ( now available at Chrysalis in Tallahassee, and I am wondering where I can put this fabric in my house).

I still love the fioretto fabric that is in my sunroom.

She did not end up buying either because she wanted more color, so I sewed her two panels for her kitchen window in the Robert Allen ikat fabric. I forgot to take a picture, but I'll post an after when they are hung.

I wanted to share a song with you that has been stuck in my head for 2 months and its so timely with the Easter weekend. If I was in charge of worship music I would play this and get it stuck in everyone's head and heart.

Memorable.

2011-04-21T08:15:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't a street lined with these be memorable? Before you go and think it's not functional, there can be additional sources as well.

Spotted on Bippity Boppity Boo via Melody

Let's talk about Ryan.

2011-04-20T11:08:00.001-04:00

Last week's launch of Trad Living was stunning. Now, I've had the fun of researching some of the designers that caught my eye. One of those designers is Ryan Korban. He is new to me, but obviously not new to the design world. He is 26, "untrained in design" (which automatically makes me like him more), and his clients include: James Franco, Alexander Wang and other NY socialites I am not familiar with down here in Tallahassee. His spaces are so moody, sexy and textured. He's got flair.

Here's a peak into James Franco's home

Photos from Ryan's store, Edon Manor

More portfolio pics...

More photos of Ryan over at the Selby or simply google him to learn more.

Freebie.

2011-04-18T14:20:00.000-04:00

Let's discuss a great business idea. I'm giving you this one for free.

I often wish I enjoyed food preparation more because I have some great restaurant ideas for the city of Tallahassee. When I go out to eat, I have a sixth sense for ambiance. If the food is to- die-for and the price is moderate, I care less about the setting. Conversely, if the food is expensive and the atmosphere is lacking, I could care less how good the meal was, I will walk away from it thinking "the lights should have been lower, there should be more booths, etc..."

On the corner of Monroe and Tennessee street there is a BP gas station for sale. There are large, operable doors that can open wide for the beautiful spring/fall days we have in Tally. There is a decent sized parking lot, it is convenient to FSU, and walking distance from the downtown businesses. Folks, this is a goldmine waiting to happen.

I think a Taqueria del Sol franchise should take over this place. Taqueria del Sol is a one of a kind restaurant that combines the quality of fine dining ingredients with fast-casual prices, and offers authentic Southwestern selections as well as a variety of Southern-inspired menu choices.

It's divine. Every time I'm in Atlanta I detour to grab a couple of tacos, guacamole and a margarita. It's fast, cheap, there is a great atmosphere and there is typically a line out-the-door.

Wall Street Journal said gas station taquerias are the latest and greatest, kind of like the dozens of self serve yogurt establishments that have invaded our city.

Now Tallahasseeans, let's find an ambitious manager to run this restaurant. I'll give you my unsolicited atmosphere advice.

TRAD Home Review

2011-04-13T11:25:00.001-04:00

There's a new online mag. It's the love child of Lonny and Traditional Living called TRAD Home. This first issue featured 20 designers to keep an eye on. As soon as it was announced that Erika Powell from Urban Grace would be featured, I've been eager to read the magazine. {She's a favorite of mine}

This issue is 347 pages long. Last night my husband complained that I wasn't paying attention to him and I think I bitterly said something like: how does it feel? this is how I feel every time the baseball, basketball, {insert any sports team here} is on. I'm very mature.
Anyways, I'm sure I'll come back and read/scrutinize the details more carefully, but let me share the initial features that caught my eye. (In order of the magazine)

Jeff Andrew's kitchen chandeliers. I do not know if this is a new house, but these fixtures make the home feel like it has some history, and I love when people pull that off.

I love the woven chandeliers in the kids play room. I really love anything oversized.

Jolene Ballard and Amanda Malson used outdoor black and white stripe curtains that I think could sass up our screened-in porch.

The women at Bonesteel Trout Hall had items I mentally earmarked as: "I can make that". I'm looking at the image on the left- the upholstered headboard with the large nailheads running vertical, and the mixed material side table.

Tilton Fenwick had her peacock logo used as custom wallpaper and what's not to love about it? You might also love the spindle bed, ikat pillows and coral lamps, I sure do.

Tom Delvan. I can't wait to dig into this guys profile. His space reminded me of Ralph Lauren. There is a lot of integrity in the material and a glamorous/masculine finish. The window hardware, aka a cremone bolt, behind him is to die for.

I have yet to meet a ladder I have not liked...

I also loved the mixed finishes on the pendants and of course the barstools in this kitchen by Gold and Adler

I have also never met chicken wire or a nailhead that I did not like.

With temperatures rising and humidity already setting in, this pool makes me cool down just looking at it. Great job Jamie Herzlinger.

I really could live in the space featured by Ryan Korban. It's simple, there is great texture and well edited pieces in the home.

That bed looks beyond inviting...

Ron Marvin had an incredible mix of textures, colors and light fixtures in this home.

I just convinced my friends husband to buy a large arched mirror, similar to what Amy Morris used in the bottom right corner. I, of course, knew it was a great purchase and I think they will agree.

Next up, Erika Powell. This is a "beach home" with sophistication beyond belief.

My favorite detail was the bar. Check out the antiqued mirror on the diagonal. It looks like it's been around for quite sometime. Not to mention the bar itself is a stunning piece.

4 pendants and 2 islands, love it!

Another mental note with the headboard/bedskirt combo in the picture on the right.

Tie Dye is back folks. {This deserves a separate post}. Just pay attention to it. I love these chairs Lisa Sternfeld used. It's the rooms show stopper.

I want to go shopping with Kim Winkler. You can tell this woman has great sources, it's evident in the little details of this home.

This bathroom reminded me a bit of mine.

Are you still reading this? You probably should have gone and read it for yourself at this point.
Michelle Adams, keep up the excellent work. I can't believe you give us access to this design for free! Thank you for inspiring us and delivering design we aspire to achieve. Thank you also for putting your images in a user friendly "save image as" format. You're number one in my book.

My senses are overwhelmed. This makes me want to turn in my two weeks notice and beg for design clients. Did you feel the same?

Moving Sucks!

2011-04-12T08:00:00.002-04:00

After 3.5 years of having family as next door neighbors, my sister and brother-in-law are moving to Texas. They will be missed. We spend a lot of time together: watching crappy reality tv, taking our dogs on walks around the neighborhood, carpooling to church and going out to lunch every Sunday. It's been beyond convenient to have a handyman next door and to have access to another pantry when you do not want to run another errand. More than convenience, we're going to miss having our friends so close. We threw them a front-yard-going-away-party. The only request Bibb gave us was: Please do not let people share memories and make it lame.

(Best peanut butter and chocolate cupcakes. I will post recipe soon)

The camera died quickly. We had a great night of bocce ball, cornhole, lots of food friends and fun.

More pictures over at Carolyn's blog, Life Through a Lens.

Random + Tobacco Baskets

2011-04-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

Hello, Friday. I welcome you with open arms. I'm in an inspiration funk. I'm so bored with blogs and pinterest and all media that is on a computer screen. The most inspiring thing I've seen recently is old episodes of Modern Family or Curb your Enthusiasm.

Enough whining. I want to share: I have an elephant in my fireplace and I love his unexpected home.

Second, girl scout samoas ice cream. I was not able to catch the actual cookies this year, and the ice cream is a delicious indulgence.

Now, what are your feelings on tobacco baskets? I bought one for a friend that needed help with their bare walls. Their budget was pretty much spent and I found a steal-of-a-deal. They didn't know what to make of it. The husband thought it needed to go out with the trash! I said it needed to hang above the mantel.

via Shopping Candy