The Meaning of Home

I just pre-ordered the new book, by Million Dollar Decorator, Jeffrey Alan Marks and I can hardly wait to have it in my hands!! The Meaning of Home is due out in a few days...

While we all await the arrival, I will share a few images the home JAM shares with his partner Ross Cassidy, via Domaine Home (LOVE that site, by the way!).

In the interview Domaine Home did with the two designers, one comment that struck me as funny, but spot on (perhaps because it would be something I would do...?) was Ross mentioning that...

 “Jeffrey likes to stack books for color, not content,” Ross Cassidy tells us of his fiancé. Cassidy teases: “Okay, you just happen to be reading four perfectly sea foam green and celadon books.”

Yes....? That could happen :) It happens in my house all the time!!! (revisit the first image)

What attracts me to their home are all the soothing colors; the sage greens, the lavender , the blues, the greys and all the natural textures! CAN NOT WAIT to study the book !!

Natasha

All images via Domaine Home

Purple, Plum, Lavender....

So, Yesterday I delivered two chairs to a client, re-purposed and re-upholstered, in purple linen.... I must admit, I was very hard to convince that purple was indeed the color to go with, but the client insisted, so.... PURPLE is was! (I will make sure to share a photo when the project is done)

Well, they came out SO WELL, and the client is super happy with them, in fact she now has me looking at purple in a whole new way! A while back I set up a LOVING PLUM Pinterest board, and I just revisited that board for inspiration, take a peek and let me know your love / hate relationship with this color.

Natasha

Image via cotedetexas

Come on in...

Today it's just a super pretty picture I will be sharing with you!

Wouldn't it be wonderful to come home to this? Not only the ivy clad structure, but the lavender, the stone work, the scalloped siding above the entrance, the hanging light fixture... Oh, and I am a sucker for candlelight, so the hurricanes in the windowsill are just perfect!!

Love to hear what you think?!
Natasha

Image via the Northern Light Blog on Pinterest

Dinner with Friends

This past week I was treated to a wonderful dinner with friends. One person made an appetizer, one a salad, one the entree and yet an other friend made the dessert. All in my honor (!) and we had a lovely evening, just us girls...

Today I received the new Veranda in the mail and dove right in. I just love the quiet time with a new glossy mag and a hot cup of tea!
My favorite feature is The Great Escape.... wow, is all I can say! The photography is wonderful, the interiors by Kathryn M. Ireland are so cool, the gardens of La Castellane in the south of France are amazing, and so is the food!! Check out this post to see more images from Summers in France.

This feature brought me right back to the other evening, the casual atmosphere amongst friends... We always say we "need to do this more often", these images inspire me to do just that! I will pick a date and invite everyone to my house for a super casual and yummy dinner...

Not much cooking, just wonderful wine, easy to prep finger foods, fresh flowers and good company! You should do the same :)
Make it about the evening, not so much about impressing everyone. Mix and match your serving pieces, ask everyone to bring something easy and just enjoy.

What do you say? Any casual entertaining tips? Any "must have" food selections?
If you would like a little Table Top inspiration, check out this Northern Light Blog board on Pinterest.

Natasha


All images by Mikkel Vang for Veranda Magazine

August is here!

August... Can you believe it?
I feel like the summer has passed me by... so much has been at stake, I have not had time to plan a vacation this year, and now it's already August....

I dream of beautiful Hydrangea bushes, of a summer day with no humidity in New England...

If you feel like treasure hunting, but can't make it to one of those famous French Brocante's, check out Dreamy Whites ...

This sweet online store has some really pretty items; lavender pillows, wire baskets, zinc watering cans and beautiful Cafe au Lait bowls, as the ones above, filled to the brim with the most beautiful pastel Hydrangeas.

My favorite was the green bowl (first image), unfortunately for me it has already been sold, but the blue one could be yours, just click here. The founder, Maria, also have a blog by the same name, check that out here, it will surely make you want to redecorate with a country/cottage-y flair!

Happy August everyone!

Natasha

All images via Dreamy Whites

Happy Birthday!

 

Happy Birthday Polly! 

Fandt lige denne utrolig flotte buket, laek maerke til de tre forskelling farver af syren, SMUKT! Haaber du bliver fejret paa god maner, stort knus fra os!!

Tillykke med foedselsdagen! (Happy Birthday wish to my mom)

Natasha

(& Mr. Wonderful)

Image via MSL

Pastel love

Yesterday I received the new Coastal Living magazine in the mail. Despite the bright and cheerful cover, this guest bedroom by designer Tim Clarke is what "had me at hello" :) !!

As a Northern Light reader, I am sure you are aware, that I do not often post pastel-y images, not really my thing.... BUT, I LOVE THIS ROOM!   - can't help it....

... and so I figured I would follow it up with an equally pretty powder room...

... and then there was this beautiful image of lavender fragrance and cleaning products, that has been in my file for a little while, now spring cleaning doesn't look so bad, huh?

Hope you have a wonderful day,

Natasha

Images #1 & #2 via Coastal Living, Image #3 unknown

Lavender

I very close friend of mine came to visit the other day, and she NEVER arrives empty handed. She brought with her this large, fragrant lavender plant. (Thank you M.E.!)
It looked so great in this corner, but it took me just under two weeks to kill it.......... yep, that's right, I totally over watered it..... Total bummer, but at least I got a picture ;)

Hope you have a wonderful day,

Natasha

Image NHH for Northern Light Blog