Photo Credit: Ted Baker London
Need an inspiration pick-me-up? Here’s a collection of Summer Pinterest finds I created for 12th and Broad earlier this month. From exotic hotels in Panama to tulip fields in Holland, this collection will awaken your senses and have you planning multiple summer vacations. Enjoy!
Tatler UK Balloons by Luis Monteiro
Recently I stumbled upon a photoshoot by Tatler Magazine and photographer, Luis Monteiro. The composition and colors in these photos are quite stunning – they are the essence of summer bliss, European excursions and care-free fashion. I’m thinking oversize balloons is a must for my next party.
Alfred Coffee
Who is Alfred? Alfred is a delightful coffee shop in Melrose, California. The ultra-chic café is in a renovated 1925 ballroom-dance facility. The design of the space is warm, yet striking with its high-contrast colors of black, white and turquoise. This is where the cool kids go to be seen, and to find some serious inspiration.
American Trade Hotel – Panama
A collaboration of Ace Hotel and Commune Design, the American Trade Hotel is an elegant mixture of mid-century designs and classic styles of Panama. The hotel sits in the town’s main square Plaza Herrera, and looks as though it has been there for centuries. An incredible example of innovative design and historical preservation.
Park Residence – Palm Springs
Park Residence is a contemporary mid-century style home with a sexy exterior – black and white with bold notes of saffron yellow, and lush tropical plants. This home has curb appeal that likely has the whole neighborhood in envy.
Jalapeno Watermelon
“Fresh, sweet watermelon puree, lime juice, Triple Sec, and jalapeno-infused tequila make these Jalapeno Watermelon Margaritas super summery and delightful.” Yes please! This is going to be my go-to drink this summer. Spicy, sweet, refreshing and enough alcohol to forget your daily woes.
Lombardi House
One of my favorite event spaces that I follow on Instagram. A beautiful Victorian farmhouse in the heart of Hollywood, California. Oh the events that take place here! Each one more splendid than the last. An all-white space with simple industrial black fixtures, lots of windows and lovely architecture.
Iris Apfel
Who doesn’t love Iris? This woman has been charming the world for decades with her iconic style and care-free attitude. I adore all her crazy colors and patterns, but her tropical blue attire in the One Kings Lane feature, has me smitten. Her documentary, Iris, is currently playing at the Belcourt. Don’t miss it!
Mid-century Renovation – Portland
A brilliant 1950’s Portland home renovated to its original glory. Multiple windows and doors, allowing nature and the interior to be one unifying space. One of my favorite features of this home is the use of dark paint on the exterior. The dark color is a striking contrast to the natural elements surrounding the home, and showcases the architecture beautifully.
Tulip Fields – Holland
Bri Emery has been on a six week inspiration vacation in Europe. She’s scouring various cities for new ideas, products, designs and an overall refresh of the mind. One of my favorite photos thus far is the tulip fields in Holland. Follow her travels here.
Top 10 Green Plants for the Body and Soul
Norwegian blogger Marianne de Bourg, gives great tips on how indoor plants can help you have a healthier home. She provides 10 excellent plants that are both beautiful and beneficial to your health.
Taroudant Morocco – The Colors of A French Designers House
Layers of dusty pinks, blush, peachy-cream and vibrant shades of verdant green, all under one roof. This home pairs these colors in way that almost seems magical. An exotic mixture of Moroccan and French designs that is quite captivating.
Threefold Restaurant – Melbourne
A distinctively charming restaurant that emphasizes servery and fresh food in their design concept. The restaurant has a wonderful mixture of eat-in kitchen and high-style café, creating a warm and inviting environment. Simple, yet decadent – the perfect place to spend an entire afternoon.
How to Compost
I know what you are thinking. How can composting be inspiring? Pretty Handy Girl has a darling blog post on how and why you should compost. The post is so cute, you’ll likely forget that she is talking about garbage and worms.
DIY Vanilla Orange Mint Sugar Scrub
A delicious concoction of summer scents that remind creator, Ashley Rose, of a blissful day in Hawaii. Not only is the recipe divine, her photos are equally luscious. Excellent prop-styling that evokes summer in the tropics. I especially love the combination of the vivid orange, pinks and greens with the soft off-white sugar scrub.
Alys Beach Home by Dungan Nequette
Have you been to Alys Beach? If you haven’t, you are most definitely missing out. Located on the magnificent 30A of the gulf coast, Alys Beach is a gorgeous all-white planned community with stunning architecture and landscapes. One of my favorite homes in this area is the home designed by the talented Dungan Nequette. It’s breathtakingly beautiful with its grand Bermudan exterior and luxurious interior details. Click through the photos and be prepared to be wowed.
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Photo by William Helburn
Sometimes you need to stop, refresh your mind and start again. I often find myself ignoring all the signs of a much needed break. Instead of slowing down when I’m burned out, I tend to work harder. I often think “who has time to refresh?” Seriously, who has time? Somehow in my messed up brain, I’ve come to think that taking time for myself is a luxury not a necessity.
Obviously, my way of thinking is completely wrong (and if it’s not obvious, you should without a doubt continue reading). Not only is it wrong, it’s unhealthy and it’s counter-productive. If I burn out, I can’t give to my clients what they are paying me to do – to be an innovative, creative designer, excited about the challenge they set before me. When I get too close to the edge of burn out, my work becomes generic. Yes, I remain busy when my creative tank is low, but it’s a false sense of productivity. My work lacks inspiration, and I lose the ability to make quick and efficient decisions. In the long run, ignoring “myself” costs me a great deal.
Over this past year, I have been on the course to fixing my method of self-care and how to keep my creative tank full at all times. I have found that the solution is quite simple – take more time for myself and invest in daily inspiration. Most people, including myself, take time for ourselves on the weekends and on our annual week-long vacation. The rest of the year, we ignore all personal needs. We work harder and forget that we need more, to do more. Instead of tending to our needs, our solution is to drink more caffeine, take more pharmaceuticals, eat junk food, buy more stuff we don’t need, and zone out on TV because we lack the energy to do much else. It’s an ugly cycle.
So what does daily inspiration look like? For me, it’s slowing down for about an hour each day, turning off my electronics, and experiencing something new that feeds my senses. Depending on my mood, I will envelope myself in nature, art, or books. The idea is to stop the noise, and refresh the mind. To find inspiration and come back to the work day with fresh eyes.
Lately, I have been delving into design books that emphasize inspiration. From fashion to home décor to food, they are all about stimulating the mind through gorgeous photography. Below are the top new (and a few older) books that have me on an inspiration high. The details, color and innovation are quite stunning. One hour in any of these books and you’ll get the punch of inspiration you were likely needing.
1. William Helburn: Seventh and Madison by Robert Lilly & Lois Allen Lilly
2. In Detail by Hans Blomquist
3. The Inspired Home: Nest of Creatives by Kim Ficaro & Todd Nickey
4. Kinfolk Volume 15: The Entrepreneur Issue by Kinfolk
5. Provence and The Cote D’ Azur by Janelle McCulloch
6. A Life Less Ordinary by Zoe Ellison & Alex Legendre 
7. Living in Style London by Geraldine Apponyi & Monika Apponyi 
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The Weekender, a stylish high-quality travel bag for weekend getaways. I love the look, style and ease of a weekender. There is something so luxurious about the over-sized travel bag. This single piece of luggage evokes romantic notions of last minute getaways, jet-setting to anywhere in the world, and forgetting you have any real responsibilities. Whether it’s a trip to the beach or a weekend in Paris, this darling bag is all you need when vacationing for a few days.
Here are a few Weekender Bags that I am dying to get my hands on:
1. Tall Weekender Bag – Boticca $514
Fine, yet durable German Leather lined with 100% cotton. Adjustable straps: Hand-held , Shoulder, and backpack. Interior pocket, brass hardware. Hand-constructed in Brooklyn, NY in small batches. Materials: leather body and straps, 100% cotton lining, brass hardware.
2. Savoy Weekender – Free People $228
The perfect weekender, made for fabulous getaways or local stays. Colorful woven jute body with leather accents. Zip top closure. Inside features one zip pocket and cotton lining. Top handles and one long adjustable strap for easy carrying.
3. Daphnee – Sole Society $64.95
Striped, roomy weekender bag crafted from soft canvas fabric with a removable long strap and top shoulder handles. Materials: Fabric and Vegan Leather.
4. Mason – Sole Society $79.95
Ultra-roomy, soft faux leather travel tote with a bottom shoe compartment, top handles, a removable crossbody strap and gold-toned hardware. Also includes metal feet and herringbone-print lining. Materials: Vegan Leather.
5. Geo Echo Weekender – Anthropologie $298
A beautiful mixture of cotton and leather in a black-white geometric pattern. Details: Cotton lining, removable cross-body strap, multiple pockets and zip closure.
6. Staycation Weekender – Free People $395
The perfect bag for the perfect getaway. Colorblock roomy cotton canvas weekender featuring leather trim and a zip top closure. Inside is lined with one slip pocket. Top handles and a removable and adjustable long strap. American made.
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Have friends or family coming into town? Want to get away for the weekend? Need to finish up that novel? How about that hit song you’ve been working on? Well, don’t head to the nearest hotel where generic is their middle name. Why not experience a beautifully curated home in one of Nashville’s hottest neighborhoods or countryside? Try a vacation home. And better yet, try a Nashville airbnb home.
If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not know about the wonders of airbnb.
Okay, now that we got that squared away, let’s move on to the good stuff. Nashville has never been shy on creativity and style. So it’s no surprise that the city is booming with chic, high style vacation rentals. These are not your parent’s vacation homes in the gulf of Florida. No, these are homes created by the cool kids, for the cool kids.
If you aren’t a musician, artist, collector or hipster, you’ll want to be by the time you finish your stay in one these homes. Designed with incredible attention to detail, each piece of décor handpicked and amenities that have you wanting for nothing. What you read in Vogue and GQ about our lovely city, you see in these well curated vacation homes.
My favorite Nashville airbnb just hit the market: 12 South Heart of Nashville. Designed by a very talented friend of mine, Samantha Oaks. There isn’t a single thing this woman can’t do! Fashion? Interior design? Business consulting? You name it, she does it. She has an incredible eye for design, and her latest project does not disappoint.
Located in the 12 South neighborhood, where you can walk to a plethora of bars, restaurants, cafes and local shops in a matter of minutes. This studio apartment is gorgeous! All the comforts of a boutique hotel with the feel of home. Modern, fresh, and luxurious. You’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into the spread of Domino magazine. Perfect place for 1-2 people.
Beautiful, right?! I can’t wait to book a weekend here just to experience all these goodies.
Want to see my other favorites? Head over to my Style Scout post on 12th & Broad.
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