Friday, 24 June 2011

I Found a Home!

I want to again thank everyone who crossed their fingers and prayed for me to find an apartment.  After dealing with shady brokers and walking up more flights of stairs than I care to remember, I am happy to say that I found a home!  It's on the top floor of a co-op elevator building with south facing windows and laundry in the basement.  Woo hoo!  Bad news is that I can't move in until July 11th so my stuff will be headed to storage while I visit my family and camp out with my friends. 

One reader asked why I was moving and I was beginning to wonder why I was moving myself.  My current apartment got to be very expensive for its size and location plus after five years, I thought it was time for a change.  Of course, my apartment began to look more like a mansion compared to some of the places I saw this week. I'm still excited to move though.  We New Yorkers tend to squirrel away stuff under the bed in the back of the closet and I'm looking forward to cleaning house and getting organized.  I'm also excited for a change of scenery.  When you walk the same path everyday, you stop seeing things.  I've read that you should change the route you walk everyday so you stretch your brain and become more mindful.  I'm hoping that a move to a new area will do the same. 

And most importantly, there is the redecorating!  I'm definitely looking forward to sharing my new apartment with you all and hopefully it will help make up for my lack of posts this week.  I really appreciate your support, encouragement and patience and promise to get back to our regular posting schedule tomorrow.  In the meantime, anyone want to help me pack?

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Chic Reads: The House in France

The sad truth is that with everything going on right now, I don't have time to read a book.  When I do, I plan to pick up The House in France by Gully Wells.  I read an excerpt in the June 2011 issue of Vogue and was hooked.  As you might have guessed from the title, it is a memoir of the author's summers spent in Provence which after yesterday's post, seems like a perfect follow up.  The entire story doesn't take place in France though.  Gully Wells grew up in London and also lived and worked in New York.  By the sounds of it, she led a pretty swanky life and we could use some swanky after this week.

I want to thank everyone for all their kind comments and emails regarding my apartment search.  I really appreciate all the finger crossing and praying on my behalf!  It's such an arduous process but I saw a place this morning that I absolutely loved and am hoping will be mine!  A little more finger crossing please!

Tuesday, 21 June 2011

Pretty in Provence

All I can think about besides moving is that I can't wait to take a vacation after it's over.  A "sit around and read a book all day" type of vacation that is actually relaxing.  I wish I knew Atlanta based designer Ginny Magher because I am completely in love with her 18th-century farmhouse, Le Mas de Baraquet, in Provence, France, and would beg her to let me stay there  I came across it in an old issue of UK House & Garden magazine that I was cleaning out in preparation for moving.  I'm glad I flipped through it before throwing it away because what really grabbed my attention were the gardens designed by Dominque Lafourcade.  If you really want to be impressed, check out this blog post about the before and after of gardens and interior shots of the house.  Dominique's husband, Bruno Lafourcade, and son, Alexandre, who are both architects restored the farmhouse as well. When I buy a farm in Provence, I'm definitely hiring everyone involved to help me too! 























Monday, 20 June 2011

Chic Needs Sleep

I want to apologize for not posting early on Monday as usual.  I was out looking at apartments...for five hours.  I haven't had to go through this process for over five years and I am ready to keel over from exhaustion.  I did not find my dream home today but I have hope for one of the places I am seeing tomorrow.  As much as I dread moving, I am excited to redecorate.  I saved the photo above as a concept for my desk area.  (I lost the credit so please let me know if you know where it originated.)  I have a similar French chair also upholstered in blue velvet and definitely need to find a rolling tiered table for my printer.  Needless to say, I also love the gallery wall.  I have a lot of art but may have to troll the flea market for more to create a composition that large.  I think the shopping and decorating is the only thing getting me through this ordeal.  Keep your fingers crossed that I find a place soon!

Sunday, 19 June 2011

Hot Wheels

In honor of Father's Day, I'm posting something that I know all men and actually a lot of women would love to receive.  Enjoy!



Slim Aarons

Aerin Lauder via Vogue Living



Hamptons Cottages & Gardens




Photo by Douglas Friedman



Elle Decor

Photo by Douglas Friedman










Absolutely Beautiful Things