Edith Wharton Estate

I love these images from Edith Wharton's last remaining estate, the Mount, in Lenox, Massachusetts. According to a very interesting story on Slate, before she became a great novelist, Wharton published a decorating manual. The interiors of this lovely 42-room estate were restored to their early 20th century glory in the 1980s.

What I'm Stalking.... Visionaire: Touch

One of these days I'm finally going to suck it up and buy this fabulous edition of Visionaire (the thrice-yearly produced multi-format fashion and design publication) called Touch. Created in a limited-edition of 4400 copies,this 33rd edition of Visionaire was produced in collaboration with Fendi and commemorated the 2000/01 Fall fashion collections.

Designs by John Galliano, Alexander McQueen, Helmut Lang and Viktor & Rolf are rendered as 3-D illustrations, with flocking, foil stamping, and fur and feather applique. I am dying to frame the individual illustrations and hang them in a grid on a wall!

The edition is packaged in a gold mesh box and the illustrations
are wrapped in a Fendi pony-skin cache-col.

Spring Cocktail Dressing from Tory Burch

I've been a huge fan of Tory Burch's brand of Palm Beach chic since she debuted her line five years ago. I lucked out this weekend, scoring one of her printed silk shift dresses with bugle bead detailing from the Neiman Marcus outlet for a song. Here are some more good deals, from her website:

Almondine silk jacquard dress

Danira beaded cotton voile dress

Tory Tunic in Green Pineapple print

Danira beaded cotton voile dress in Navy Butterfly

Barbarella dress with paillettes

Office Redecoration Update

I am completing the finishing touches on my deliciously pink office. To fill up one wall, I covered a plain bulletin board in this vintage feather print fabric, found for only $3 at a Lancaster antique mall. Originally I thought I would use the fabric to make a sundress, but I like so much more hanging above my desk!

Peacock Pendant Lamp

Peacocks seem to be popping up everywhere, which I love! I found this light fixture in the sale section at Neiman Marcus's website. So cute for a bathroom or dressing room...

Shand Kydd Wallpaper

I am blown away by the selection of wallpapers from Shand Kydd. Colin and I came across their book at Lowe's of all places. They feature amazing patterns, with vibrant colors and many with shimmering metallic finishes, and all at truly bargain prices - $28 for a roll, and $56 for a bolt! The images below don't do them justice...

Shand Kydd wallpaper images from Wallpaperwholesaler.com

A Wedding in the Country

I love the idea of a wedding in a rustic setting decorated with exuberantly eclectic - yet inexpensive - floral arrangements and linens (this is for you, Gina!) Instead of the typical daisies and plaid prints though, why not take inspiration from this gorgeous event at The Met:

(from BizBash)

I would do long community tables with simple wood folding chairs and white tablecloths, and then sew runners out of floral print fabrics to place down the center of the table. Napkins could be mis-matched as well. For centerpieces, brightly painted metal pails do the trick:

(from ArtFool)

Or what about using clusters of tea tins and vegetable cans filled with wildflowers:

(from Dominomag.com)

(from Dominomag.com)

Vintage tea tins can be had for a song on eBay, and are often sold in lots, so you can collect them quickly!

Mason jars would also look great mixed into the tabletop arrangements - either holding flowers or pillar candles - and they are so inexpensive! And if you are going for a more neutral palette, how about fashioning some rustic containers from stained plywood scraps...

(from Artfool)

And here are so lovely images from James Abel Events, featuring a barn setting and a variety of blooms in a variety of containers, large and small.