You can never have too many drawers, can you? I love this bank of drawers at the end of a kitchen island so much better than the usual bookcase for cookbooks. This would be so much more useful. Everything else in the room is pretty wonderful too. via

Another Repurposed Door in the Garden

Doyle Herman Design Associates via Henhurst Interiors. I like this one too.

Lullaby in Ragtime by Harry Nilsson

I wish I had this song on a continuous loop so I could play it to myself every night to sing me to sleep. It is hauntingly beautiful. Click HERE if you can't see the embedded video. Goodnight.

Fabulous Seahorse Door Handle

This is truly a work of art, isn't it? I never would have thought of using a seahorse motif if I were designing a door handle but I think it's perfect! The backplate looks like a scallop shell. Found on a Castle door in Death Valley

Which DO is for you?

I'll go with Frank too. :-) via

Prairie Home Companion Floor Mat

I photographed this floor mat at the bottom of the basement stairs a while ago at an open house. I blocked out the owners' name. It was probably one of those promotional bonuses for contributing to NPR. Sometimes I sometimes listen to a little bit of Garrison Keillor on Prairie Home Companion when it begins on Saturday nights before I turn off the radio and switch to the television.

I thought this might be a good thing to stencil for DIY Christmas gifts or housewarming presents. All you would have to do is fill in the family name after you get the original pattern made. You could also make something to frame on your printer as well. What are you doing with all of those fonts anyway? This would be a good project to use some of them, wouldn't it? Have fun.

Big Mowing Today

I got an early start this afternoon and mowed on an overcast Saturday. It was perfect. Not too hot either. I got it done except for the trimming. That's for another day. my iphone photo

Wonderful Home

I know everyone is going to love this beautiful white house with the gable-end entrance as much as I do! Isn't it great? I love the stark white on white with the gray doors. Can you believe this is the last weekend in August? Enjoy it to the fullest. via 

Family Portrait with House

Isn't this a clever idea? I think the timbered house is spectacular and I'm sure this lovely family enjoys it to the fullest! via

Laundry Day in Rome

I love this shot of laundry hanging outside against the ivy in Rome, Italy. There is nothing like the smell of clothes that were dried outside in the sunshine. Having greenery behind is a super bonus! via

Mad Dog Eats Shakespeare

How's this for revenge? Don't you love his guilty expression? via

Repurposed Door as Garden Gate

This is such a clever idea, isn't it? This would be a neat DIY project that is out of the ordinary. I like this entrance into a secret garden! Have a great weekend. via

Grand Central Station - Vintage Photo

I've heard so many commentaries about how the light used to stream inside Grand Central Station but does no longer because of the tall buildings surrounding it. This vintage photo is probably circa 1930s. Isn't it beautiful? via

Bluebird's Bird's-Eye View

I love this picture in a picture with the landscape reflected in the glass of an abandoned dwelling. via

Origins of The Grinning Cheshire Cat

I read all of the possibilities here. I'm going with this one. The carving at St. Wilfrid's Church:
In the Cheshire village of Grappenhall, there’s a church that has stood since the 12th century, where Lewis Carroll’s father, a vicar, used to preach and the young Carroll often visited. A carving of a grinning cat peeks out from above the church’s main entrance. One assumes the adornment would have left a deep impression on the little boy’s imagination.
Thanks Catster...that was an interesting article.

Drayton Hall Circa 1738 - Charleston SC

I didn't visit Drayton Hall the one and only time I was in Charleston. I must go and see this wonderful place. The 360° online tour is wonderful -- take it here. It really makes you feel as if you are there.

first image

Monarch Butterfly

I don't even remember taking this photo but it is on my camera roll and I didn't loan my iPhone to anyone. Maybe it was outside my office. Anyway---here it is.

The Big Three

1. Fabulous Architect 2. Talented Builder
3. Wonderful Interior Designer and Owner

via

South Side Sportsmen's Club Long Island

Main House - Photo by Howie Guja
Read more about the history here.

A Truly Rich Man with Children

I know a family with a father like this. Do you? via

Porch Alcove with Roses

I would like this at my house. A little alcove on a porch so I could be inside and outside at the same time. I would especially love being out there with a book and a camera on a rainy day. via

Prairie Mallow

Sidalcea malviflora. Malvaceae Family. These 2- to 4-foot-tall perennials bear showy spikes of 2-inch-wide blooms in shades from pale pink to bright rosy purple. Also called miniature hollyhock.

photo

Beautiful Globes

I have a real love for antique globes. These look like balloons. via + via

Abandoned Cottage By The Sea

I see new boards so hopefully someone is trying to save this beauty by the sea. via

Best Infinity Pool Ever

This must have been quite a challenge to build but isn't it wonderful? I hope nobody floats over the edge.  via

Bathroom Vanity with Many Drawers

I love this clever use of a chest with 9 drawers as a double vanity. I found this photo on my PC up on the third floor and I don't know the source. It's something I've been saving for a long time and it's perfect for posting since we all are loving lots of drawers lately. 

The Blew Linnet - Mark Catesby

An antiquarian print from my flat files. I'm not sure if this is still in there or if I sold it and I'm too lazy to look. I just love the spelling of the word blue (blew), don't you? A hand-colored folio engraving from 'The Natural History of Carolina, Florida, and the Bahama Islands' Published in London 1731-43
I digitally cropped the photo at the plate line so the huge margins wouldn't interfere with your being able to see the image of the bird and plant clearly. This is a very high quality hand-colored reproduction. my photo

Life's Little Instruction Book | Volume II | Pages 54 and 55

 

 

More excellent fatherly advice that has stood the test of time.

Spotless Kitchen

I have marble countertops in my kitchen and they don't look like this. Did they ever? Maybe for the first day and thereafter they showed every water spot and more. Their real enemy is lemon juice. You don't want to know what that does to marble. The acid etches it!! Luckily over time the patina evens out if you use your kitchen a lot. I love the way this 'virgin' kitchen looks. I never sealed my countertops and my marble was honed. I've read lots of articles that say even the sealing doesn't help. I just tell myself mine is a 1920s kitchen. Would I use marble again? I'm not sure. Have you had a similar experience? photo

This is my kitchen counter snapped with my iPhone just a few minutes ago. The light from the window over the sink highlights many of my spots and the overhead spotlight is shining on the lemon juice spots that are etched in the marble on the edge over the dishwasher. See what I mean? Overhead reflections really show up the spots. That's why I almost never turn on my under the counter lights.

This has got to be the most beautiful brass door hardware I have ever seen. One can only imagine how lovely the padlock must be. I wonder if the lock on the inside is similar? via

A Balancing Act

I love this painting by ©Kevin Sloan and its title: 'The Tedium of Protocol'. View full-size image here -- you must then click on the thumbnail.

Life really is a balancing act, isn't it?

I'm off to an early appointment. I love this running rabbit pillow from Helkart Design. See you later. via