it's been a very hectic few weeks, and the upcoming weeks are proving to be just about the same, so i'm slipping away for a quick couple of days. a mini holiday to laguna beach, california - a really beautiful surf town just a few hours south of los angeles. i'm only taking books, bathing suit, a beach towel, and some sunscreen. okay, maybe a sun dress and some flip flops. if you've got any recommendations for me on what to see, read, eat or shop, i'm all ears. but i'm planning on keeping it pretty low key - staying poolside with my book at a cute boutique hotel which i will be reporting back on soon, and most likely sharing on instagram. have a great weekend, everyone! xo victoria
Toby Hemingway fondly remembers the large trucks that drove for the barbershop distribution company Hemingway & Pickett, that his great, great Grandfather began in 1888, and which remained in the family for three generations in Melbourne, Australia. In 2011, Toby revived the name and opened shop in Silver Lake selling well made, well designed, hand picked goods from Los Angeles, Australia and beyond. Hemingway & Pickett now finds its new home among good company on Echo Park Avenue and offers a refreshingly unique twist to the general store scene in L.A. curating with the goal to “improve and enlighten anyone's life at home” with a touch more masculinity and quirk. And while you're out, stop by their menswear shop, Hemingway & Sons on Silver Lake Boulevard.
when it comes to styling, i'm really drawn to light and bright. which in this case is a great white 'base' if you will - whether it be white walls, floors or both paired with some whimsical bright pops of color - pillows, artwork, rugs or even a bunch of colorful flowers can really do a lot for a room without a lot of fuss or expense. hang a rug on a wall, or turn an old unloved piece of furniture into a bold statement piece by adding a bright coat of paint. or simply add a great piece of art! super simple additions can turn a blah room into boom!
isn't this just the coziest cottage? featured on mi casa, it's chock full of a mix and unmatched bunch of vintage treasures but in the light, bright and very serene setting it doesn't feel cluttered or overwhelming. it's mid-century modern meets victorian - a unique pairing that surprisingly works quite well!
it's been record high temps for L.A. in june these past two weeks, and wouldn't you know it but my AC decides to go kaput on me. lucy's panting on the floor and i'm working practically naked whilst positioned directly in front of the fan. ugh. 108 temperatures last monday sent me in search of cool, calm and collected decor looks to ease my sweaty pain. all these spaces seem to bring down the heat whilst still looking good - cool vibes for warm summer days is what we need - lots of rattan, ikat and Moroccan prints -and neutrals for keeping the room in a calming comfort zone that is much needed right now. let's chill, shall we?
every time i see one of these uniquely shaped mirrors i'm suddenly stopped dead in my tracks. there's just something so striking, and so feminine about the curve and shape of their pretty brass frames. i did a bit of research on them and i believe they are called an F.A.33 mirror, originally designed by the legendary designer Gio Ponti in 1933 for prominent lamp and glass manufacturer FontanaArte. i'm not certain, but i think they were then made popular throughout the 1940-50's because the mirrors i keep finding online are labeled as 'mid-century modern 1950's italian designed' mirror. i've also been seeing some similar, modern ones with a sleek, radius round corners, and those are quite lovely, too. i think the vintage version may be quite rare, because they are also quite pricey, so i'm going to keep my flea market eyes peeled for one of these pretties - i'd just love to own something so classically beautiful.
pretty in pink framed mirror from 1st dibs; this one from Lamp and Co. on etsy is tempting me; and a couple beautiful 1950's vintage mirrors from the apartment.
this is what we all do while, you know - we're waiting in line at the DMV, when we can't fall asleep (so guilty of this one!), waiting on the barista to serve up that latte - whenever and where ever we go we check our instagram feed for brilliance from those we follow. maybe excessively so. they might give us a good laugh or maybe they blow our minds with color and composition, but no matter what, they inspire us to get double-tapping our likes, our loves. here's what inspired me to double-tap this week, and a few folks you might like to follow if you don't already. warning: sometimes i like these as much for the clever or sentimental captions and the ideas they inspire, as i do the photos.
composition: from her summer snaps ~ @denisebovee.
