Day 801's great post

I love a well-designed table top (or bookshelf, or mantle).


When it's just right, it looks effortless. But I have decided it's definitely not without effort.


Which is why I was so pleased to see that Lauren of Pure Style Home is sharing some of her tips today. Thanks, Lauren!

Photos: Anne Coyle, Eddie Ross, James Swan

Day 797's pretty

Hope your long weekend is a delightful as this!

Happy Weekend!

Day 796: less is more

Proof that sometimes less is much, much more.








See more from Domestic Architecture.

Day 795's favorite from the archives

This is one of my top 5 favorite pages ever published in Cottage Living. I just love everything about it!


The wallpaper is especially delightful (Brockhampton Star by Farrow & Ball). But paired with the sconces, the mirror, the chair, and the chest is perfect. Lucky for us, I managed to save the source info, even though I tossed the rest of the magazine in a cleaning frenzy (silly me thought they'd live forever!). Other noteable things in the photo: Trim and ceiling paint is Antique White by Pratt & Lambert; rug is from HomeGoods (looks like mine!); shades by Smith + Noble; curtains and hardware by The Shade Store; basket is from Frontera Iron, a local iron shop.

Day 794: Happy September

House Beautiful

For some reason, I never feel quite right wearing black during the spring and early summer.


But now that we're officially in late summer, I love it with my white jeans.

Elle Decor

With just a little bit of color (muted or bright), black and white feels just right on this first day of September, don't you think?

Day 793: pretty photos and a winner

Congratulations to our Diptyque candle giveaway winner, Vanessa! Who I see -- after a quick peek at her blog -- is a fellow Auburn grad, fitting since Auburn football begins this week (and will take over our lives, as it does every fall).


War Eagle, and congratulations Vanessa. And a big, big thank you to everyone who entered.

Aren't these photos (from Town and Country magazine) delightful? I can't stop staring, and find something new each time I look.

Day 790's pretty

It's official, I've entered that confusing time when I'm kind of over one season and ready for the next. And despite the cool (wonderful!) weather we've had and that is forcasted, I've lived in the deep South long enough to know that summer is in no way over, despite my desire to wear a sweater and buy a pair of leather boots. So, I'll try to do something summer-y this weekend. After all, football season will officially take over our household very soon.

Happy Weekend!

PS, I'm obsessed with this picture!

Day 789's advice for burning candles

When my friend Rodney, owner of Revival, sent the information on the wonderful Diptyque candle for the giveaway, he also including some advice for burning candles. Since many of you have commented that you like to burn candles in your home, I thought I'd share:

"REVIVAL learned from DIPTYQUE that a each candle burn should allow the wax top to liquefy completely to the glass -- thus "training" the candle to burn completely with no wasted essential oil-laden wax clinging to the walls.

Also, trimming the wick every time the candles is lit really is very important; a short wick makes for a shorter flame, thus allowing a slower burn, a more-smokeless flame and the longest life! This works for ALL candles, but DIPTYQUE is especially adamant about maximizing performance for the investment.

DIPTYQUE candles "throw" (the parlance of the business) their fragrances very well -- so the candle need only burn to the outer edge, then be extinguished. It is wasteful if the candle burns non-stop once the fragrance is "thrown" into the air already."

I am a stickler for wick-trimming, but will definitely burn a candle for hours at a time. Might have to try that last one out on some of my "good" candles and see how it works.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Day 788's giveaway!

This giveaway has closed, thank you for your interest!

We're very excited to announce a giveaway with Revival Uncommon Goods, a wonderful shop in Chattanooga we first visited in April.


Maybe you have seen a Diptyque candle on the pages of your favorite magazine? Or read about a certain discerning celebrity who insists that her dressing rooms be outfitted exclusively with Diptyque? Or that Parisian designer John Galliano chose Diptyque as the company to create his signature scent "marrying marrying myrrhe and firewood scents."

One hundred percent natural essential oils are mixed with wax and hand-poured to create the lush candles with braided-cotton wicks. Diptyque is Revival's most sought-after fragrance collection -- they even spray all of their gifts and packages with Diptyque's parfum d’ambiance -- and today they are offering a special-edition green-fig scented candle to one of you, our lovely readers.

To enter, leave a comment on this post (if you do not have a blog, please leave an e-mail address) by 9pm Eastern time on Friday, August 28, 2009.

Good luck, and a big thank you to Rodney at Revival for a lovely giveaway!

Day 787's random thought

Did your mom ever ask you if you were raised in barn?


If it were one of these barns, would that be such a bad thing?


I think I could be very happy in a barn. A pretty one, of course.


The next best thing would be a set of barn doors someplace unexpected. Like an office (like Erika's, above).


I might not even insist that they be old. This one (from Sunset), is new and is quite good-looking.


Speaking of barns, my dad has some lumber from a barn* that was torn down on a farm near his. I can tell he's saving it for the perfect project, but I'm trying to convince him that I need just one log to make a table like this one (spotted on the Pieces blog). I think I've mentioned this before.

*This barn was supposedly the last place Jesse James was seen in Tennessee. According to the tale, he bought the owner's two best horses. Is it just me, or would it be cool to sort of eat dinner with a legendary outlaw?! Or maybe I've just seen a few too many cowboy movies ...