I’m thinking of sitting on my balcony with young families milling about below. Everyone is outdoors because being indoors is untenable in this hot weather. My painted toes are in flip-flops, a glass of white wine and a magazine are in my hands, my feet are up, my phone is at the ready and there’s one of these cute-as-hell tables right next to me… Aaaah. The picture is complete.

The table is designed by HAY and can be purchased here.

Via: Coco+Kelley

Two interior design books I’m excited to get my hands on have contrasting titles: Decorate by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick and Undecorate by Christiane Lemieux.

Holly Becker is the author of the blog Decor8 which I’ve read and loved for many years. I find it seriously lovely to see a blogger get recognition for her years of hard work. I’m certain Decorate will not disappoint those who have come to love Holly’s aesthetic. In Decorate she’s collected more than a thousand tips from top designers like Kelly Wearstler and Jonathan Adler. The book promises to be a bible for interior decor lovers and anyone needing some inspiration for their own home.

On the other hand, Undecorate encourages readers to throw out the rules. Lemieux, the founder of DwellStudio (the creators of my much adored duvet cover),  encourages readers to eschew perfection in order to create spaces full of contrasts and personal touches. I find this “real people, real homes” approach so inspiring.

A couple of photos from Decorate (via Amazon):

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A couple of photos from Undecorate (via Scribd):

Admittedly I’m bipolar in my design tastes. I love the extremes of home decor: sparse, Scandinavian interiors appeal to me with their simplicity, but so do eclectic and busy spaces with tons of disparate art pieces adorning the walls. I’d be hard pressed to say which type of decor I’d rather live among. What about you?

Walls of art: I dream of setting up the perfect one. Art of various inspirations and styles, big and small, adorned in a variety of frames or simply tacked to the walls. Here are some of the best examples I’ve found in the past month or so. These have me dreaming for sure!

Photos: Angie Hranowsky (via Seesaw), Sterling Style (original source unknown), Skona Hem (via Emmas Designblogg), Domino Magazine (via Sfgirlbybay) & Sacramento Street (original source unknown).

Photos: Rue Magazine (1 to 3), Lonny Magazine, Mixr

Photos: Canadian House & Home Magazine (via Plush Palate), Lonny Magazine (2-4), Hus & Hem Magazine (via From Scandinavia With Love), Graciela Cattarossi (via Aubrey Road)

Wanted: a home featuring industrial lighting, speckled paint, painted white wood with a few pieces left au naturel, a couple pairs of antlers and a granny-crocheted blanket. This Swedish home featured on Hus & Hem is TOO GOOD!

Via: My Scandinavian Retreat