Doors in the New Year

This week feels like some sort of purgatory. It's one of those weeks where everyone slows down and is encouraged to be productive in thought, reflecting on the past and making goals for the future. The lucky ones are on the islands vacationing with family and friends, but I must say I am pretty happy snowed in with Brian and spending some quality time at home.

I will be popping in and out of the blog this week, hopefully reading some of your sweet comments, but will be primarily busy with quiet reflecting. I am hoping that this quiet time will lead to the closing of  some doors and opening of new ones in the world of Shorely Chic, sharpening my focus and thinking of the big picture and working backwards.

My Big Picture: Being a renowned interior designer creating the most fabulous and chic homes (preferably on the beach). I'll write a book and frequently contribute to other print and online publications (blogs included!), and I will finally own that boutique built from a bungalow adored by all <3

While I'm working backwards this week, I hope you enjoy these doors I shot from a family trip to France a few years back. These photos were all taken in Villefranche sur Mer, an amazing little beach town in Provence:

this one's my favorite! (above)

When Brian and I buy our first home, I'd love to put these doors on a wall as a series - wouldn't they look great??

Merry Merry

I hope you enjoy your Christmas morning with the ones you love near and far

and that you enjoy the things you love,

and more...

wedding diet starts AFTER holidays :)

 

Merry Christmas from me to you!

Vintage Frames with Fresh Fabric

Browsing through on of my all time favorite blogs this morning, house of turquoise, I ran into this photo which I just LOVED:

Chic Manhattan home belonging to writer and designer Angèle Parlange as featured in the recent issue of Lonny.

The huge board sitting on the desk is actually a bulletin board made from cork, wrapping paper and an old antique frame - a super nice and creative solution to having your desk face a wall. 

It reminded me of my little DIY adventure over the weekend. I created something similar with a few antique frames I had lying around (side note: I can never seem to leave frames like these behind at tag sales and thrift shops, I find their versatility irrisistable!) and remnant pieces of fabric from old projects.

Some of my all time favorite fabrics and frames which can hang on a wall and look pretty as they are now, or can be put behind a desk and used as bulletin boards!

Chic Ways to Wrap Gifts

I have been having so much fun this holiday season wrapping gifts for customers of shopshorelychic and friends and family using papers and fabrics I already have in my little workshop rather than going to the store and buying the traditional wrap. I think it's fun and unexpected to wrap up gifts with materials people don't normally see, plus it's green!

A friend ordered some of my candles for her mother and mother-in-law and I thought to use leftover fabric with raffia, see how cute?

 

and here it was, in the box and ready to go along with a needlepoint Trina Turk pillow :)

browsing around I found these other great ideas that I can't wait to try out!

these old maps look awesome on this package!

brown paper with folded up print looks very cute!

sources:

stylemepretty

tomatedepingles

modernecohomes

apartmenttherapy

26 Is Going to be a Good Year!!

Morning Lovelies! This is going to be short because it's my birthday today -!!!- and Brian has something up his sleeve having me hop on a train to NYC very soon for a surprise adventure.

dreamywhites

 I wanted to post this pretty little picture from Etsy with some of my favorite things, cupcakes and nice girly china!

source

26 is going to be a great year with the growth of Shorely Chic, going back to school to further my education in Interior Design, and a wedding! I am so thrilled to have you all along for the ride hearing me share my tales of planning on learing and inspiration!

ciao ciao for now!

Mad About Stripes!

I am crazy for stripes these days! I love them on carpets, furniture, fabrics, and clothes!

anntaylorloft.com

How about you? What stripes do you own or crave?

source1, source2, source3

Vignette Party!

vi·gnette \vin-ˈyet, vēn-\: a small decorative design or picture so (just perfectly) placed. Don't you just love 'em? I love the whole idea of being able to decorate little pieces and places throughout the home to create a scene, to set the mood. I could spend hours in my home creating these little spaces!


There is a fine line however with these vignettes becoming kitschy and I think the key to keeping them classy is to not clutter the space with lots of little pieces like this:

ah!! source

Here are some fine examples of vignettes:

 

I love how a vignette was created on the bottom of the staircase!

on a fireplace looking awesome with the sea fan...

source

LOVE this via House Beautiful

and this via myhomeideas

from one of my favorite Westport stores, Dovecote via stylechronicle

love this real-life vignette from lisaferncreek.blogspot.com

I could spend hours playing around with little areas and snapping photos trying to get that magazine quality: Here are some from my former home:

and some more from Dovecote:

and the Drawing Room in Greenwich:

Have any vignettes in your home? Send along, I'd love to see!! 

*update* my blogger pal at Sealaura sent these my way and I just love her style and creativity:

she loves the one right above because it reminds her of beach vacations, cute isn't it?