The Next Wave in House Beautiful: Margaret Kirkland Interiors

Morning y'all! Thanks for all your sweet comments on my guest post at The Enchanted Home yesterday, and a special thank you to Tina for having me and saying all of those super nice things  (your $100 is in the mail).  Also, Hellooo to my new readers who came over from The Enchanted Home.

Have y'all seen the November issue of House Beautiful? It's real gewd.  In fact, it's so good that The Suze pretty much ripped out every page in the issue.  This is her way of dealing with her magazine hoarding problem.  Rather than keep an entire issue, she tears out the page she likes, stuffs it in her handbag where it will then be placed in a file folder to be placed in a basket that someone other than herself carts up and down the stairs (that basket can get heavy y'all).  It works because it keeps her stuff contained to a basket, but it doesn't work when the entire issue is great.  Obviously, she didn't realize the entire issue was great until she got to the end and realized she'd torn out every page.  Silly Mama!

Anyway, one of these ripped and dog-eared pages looked something like this:

We were like, "ooooohhhh pretty! I want all of those things and that birdcage."  I was surprised to see it was done by such a young designer, Margaret Kirkland of Margaret Kirkland Interiors.  Actually, I have no idea how old she is, but she looks young so I'm just guessing here.  It's no secret that my taste is veering in a more traditional direction.  It's more about separating what I like from what I want to live with.  I like lots of things I could never live with, if that makes any sense.  So it's fun to see someone who looks to be around my age doing traditional and pretty interiors. 

Here's some more pretties from her web site:

I've said previously that I can't live with much red in my house, but those lanterns could come live with me any day.  I love the floral nooks with the pistachio painted moulding and the black and gold sconces.  It's such a mix of styles but looks so inviting! 

Here's a better image of the one from House Beautiful.  This garden room is huge, but she did such an amazing job of making it feel cozy.  I love all of the seating and that birdcage.  I need a birdcage somewhere in my abode. 

Love this entry! The wallpaper, the giant botanicals, the bench.  It's so bright and pretty.

And, of course, a bedroom (I can't not include a bedroom).  I love the white walls and the soft color palette.  Something about pleated lamp shades makes me happy.  It's a little detail that I always appreciate.  Does anyone know where I can get pleated lamp shades that aren't $500?

I like her style a lot.  This is one lady I'll be setting up a Google Alert for.  Just kidding that's totally creepy.  But I will be sure to look for more of her spaces in the glossies!

To see more visit Margaret Kirkland Interiors (you'll be glad ya did)

Merry Christmas to Meeee!

Love, 

House Beautiful 

and, specifically, Mark D. Sikes and his fresh, chic home (with lots of blue and white porcelain shmattered about).  Makes me real happy.  I'm guessing many of y'all have already seen it, but I just couldn't do another post without addressing how happy the cover of House Beautiful is making me (although next year I would like to request more holiday in the December issue).  

His house is soo close to everything I want my house to be someday - white walls, lots of chairs, blue & white porcelain everywhere you look, Gracie Chinoiserie wallpaper, white kitchen with marble countertops, blue & white Portuguese tile powder room, wrought-iron stair railings.

It's goood y'all: 

I know, right? Go get the issue if you want more.  There's lots more.

This is not Mark D. Sikes, but it was in House Beautiful and I like it, too.

Maine Design 

 And we need a little Christmas ...

This would be a nice gift for a blue & white lover: 

Linen Tissue Box Cover

 And, finally, I like this rug.

That's all! I'm going to be working on Edward's playroom today!!  It's almost finished and I can't wait to show it to y'all.  

Local Lake House Love

Morning y'all! You all know I love a lake house almost as much as a beach house.  If I had to choose between having one or the other I would actually choose to own a lake house (see my dream lake house post) because that is what is more accessible to those of us in the land locked midwest (sigh). I was beyond delighted to see September's House Beautiful included this house, which is only about twenty minutes from us on Lake Lotawana!

Notice the Shatto milk* in the corner! More on that in a minute. 

My favorite things about this house are the periwinkle blue windows and shutters (Benjamin Moore's Swiss Blue) and, of course, that kitchen with the floor-to-ceiling Delft blue tile and pistachio-stained cabinets (Benjamin Moore's Everglades).  I probably would have painted all of the wood, but that's just my thing.  Some people prefer the warmth and coziness of the dark wood.  I'm a cool, crisp white girl myself.  Thanks House Beautiful for remembering the Midwest! Y'all go get you a copy stat.  It's a good issue! 

*Now for my little aside: Shatto Milk is the best. milk. ever.  Seriously y'all, I'm not even a milk drinker, but this is all we buy.  It's from a local farm located just north of Kansas City and comes in these cute glass bottles that you return to the grocery store when you are finished.  They also sell these adorable milk glasses on their website that I need to order. 

The Suze loves milk (she can drink it like water) and she declared it the best milk she ever tasted.  You can only buy it at select stores in Missouri and Kansas so if you are ever this way, make it a priority to pick some up.

Have a lovely day y'all! 

A Refreshing, Traditional Southampton Home

While browsing the internet yesterday, looking for banquette inspiration, I came across this lovely, traditional Southampton home in House Beautiful.  This cozy family home was designed by Markham Roberts, and while the blue and white initially caught my eye, it's the traditional but fresh style that kept my attention.  Lately, I've been so overwhelmed with the contemporary bright colors and bold patterns that I'm finding myself seeking out the opposite.  I think this is a great example of how to take classical elements and make them fresh.

I love the green tufted chaises next to the fireplace 

The sisal rugs and mirror are hand stenciled.  I also love that built-in bookcase is lifted off the ground, which keeps the hallway from feeling cramped,

I love the fresh look of the fern prints and the wide-planked wood floors.  (Trivia: The Suze had a fern print couch when we were little.  It will be making an appearance here soon) 

Another  cozy banquette 

The little girl's room is very traditional with an adorable 19th century child's slipper chair 

My kind of master bedroom in blue and white. 

Guest bedroom - I love the upholstered chair with the contrasting dark buttons and piping and ruffled skirt

Another cozy banquette on the sunporch, the perfect place for me to take a nap.  I love the shades , too.

For more of this lovely home and the accompanying article in House Beautiful, click here.