Delightful Daily: Blue Breakfast

Susan Hable Smith

Houzz Picks: Finishing Touches to a Summer Cottage

Summer is almost here and for a lucky few, that means driving up to the cottage on weekends and indulging in a slower and more indulgent lifestyle: one that involves alfresco get togethers, tennis matches, swimming in the nearby lake, long walks, late mornings and indulgent naps. This lifestyle is best achieved in a relaxed, casual but comfortable environment, that of the summer cottage. Even if you don't own or rent a cottage, you can infuse a few of these decorating tricks in your city dwelling and re-create the cottage feel in the city.

I personally use the time spent at my parent's country house to completely wipe the slate clean and recharge. I make a point of unplugging completely and enjoy the smaller joys in life. Those that come from a well prepared lunch, an indulgent nap, a breath of really fresh air, a backgammon victory or a well-played tennis match.

I love going to the country house, but I must say I can't wait to have my own cottage to decorate and lounge in. Until I do, I can always add a few laid-back accents to my home to make it feel like I'm in the country... Sort of.

And because I want to live vicariously through some of you, I've prepared an ideabook filled with decorating accents for a lived-in cottage. Check it out on Houzz.

Floral Round Jar | D. Porthault La Liseron Boudoir Pillow | Pink Ditsy Cocktail Napkins | Director's Chair in Ivory | Round Jute Rug | Pine Cone Hill Ibiza French Blue Blanket

Delightful Weekend: The Perfect Oasis

Estee Stanley for Domaine Home

Worthy Links: 17.05.13

Do you ever go around your blogroll and notice a few really strong trends? I normally notice them to an extent, but the trends in my blog roll were especially obvious this week, and I have to say I like what I saw: this week was all about the countryside, white on white, and Joie clothing (did you know that Joie means joy in French). I could happily see these delightful trends through the summer, driving around the countryside in my white on white Joie outfits. Anyone with me?

I'm kind of dying to try this ancient Moroccan makeup trick.

Miles Redd's Fire Island retreat. How do I get an invite?

Bailey launched a new season of Biscuit bedding.

I can't help but dream of owning a pair of L'Icona.

Erika shared her super adorable daughter's room.

Happy weekend everyone!

Delightful Daily: Perfectly Bohemian

Kathryn Ireland's Home

Beauty in the Details: Mark D. Sikes' Beautiful Backyard (Again)

Are you sick of me sharing photos of this house yet? Truth be told, I’m a little embarrassed at the amount of times I go back to Mark D. Sikes’ house. I can only justify this by saying I have never been this obsessed with how meticulously perfect a house is. And I’m not saying that in the manicured sense. I mean it’s 100% my taste: part classic American, part French provincial, part California cool. All in a coherent and well-packaged interior. And the best part of the house: the backyard, obviously.  So it should come as no surprise that when I need a little backyard inspiration, I turn to this one.

Backyards here in Montreal are a double-edge sword. You can either hate the fact that you have to start from scratch every year, or you can take it as an opportunity to do better than the year before, to improve and to reinvent. Personally, I like the latter point of view. Which is why I'm drawing inspiration from Mark's backyard to give a few exterior ideas on Damask & Dentelle.

Delightful Daily: California Cool

Estee Stanley