linen & lavender

If you are like me, 
you can pick up a home magazine 
or design book, thumb through it quickly 
(without even opening up the pages entirely) 
and know if there’s something in it you’ll love.

“Do you really get that much out of it?” (I can hear someone asking.)  And to that I respond with a resounding, “Yes! Absolutely!”  

“Yes, yes, yes.  -‘Spirit of place’ and all that.  -But how do you describe your personal style preference?”

and mushroom-y taupes juxtaposed with dark espressos

and ethereal whites . . . and an abundant use of textures and natural materials;

(love!) Irish moss and maiden hair fern, figs,

and aubergine, lavender and . . .


I’ll delve further in future posts, I promise.  But for now, the blog title I chose ~linen & lavender~ speaks volumes in answer to that question.


Linen, natural linen, is my all-time favorite fabric.  On a trip to Nice I purchased several yards of a very old hand-made linen, dark and grainy -very earthy in its appearance.

Although I purchased artwork and several other items that trip, the linen was hands-down my favorite take-away and I thoroughly enjoyed the hours I spent mulling over the options . . thinking about this incarnation and then that one it might become.  —Not unlike one might hold on to a bit of rare truffle they’ve splurged on; —stowing it away until the perfect opportunity to incorporate it into just the right recipe. . . Enjoying every moment of anticipation until they are finally sitting down to savor every bite with just the right wine and in just the right setting-


If you’ve ever had the perfect truffle dish paired with the perfect wine (say a great Brunello di Montalcino, perhaps?), I know you are right there with me now. . .  Ahhh, Roma!  Thanks for the memories!       But I digress.


Suffice it to say, these things can’t be –shouldn’t be- rushed! It’s important to savor every memorable bite and as with most anything worthwhile, the time spent leading up to “the event” is part of the equation- the dreaming. . .creating. . .all that anticipation and tender-loving-care truly gives life to food and to a well-designed living space, as well.  To overlook those moments, is to miss out entirely on the heart and soul of it all. 


The lavender aspect of the title speaks to my love of nature and the importance of it in every day living and thus, in good design.  The scent of lavender represents to me everything clean   and restful- a bundle of associations and memories all in one little herb:  


It’s a well-kept home and a day at the spa; it’s my favorite b&b and summers in Provence; it’s little brown perfume bottles from a flea market in Grasse and hand-made soaps and bees and honey. . . And I could go on, but here’s my favorite:


Slipping into crisp white linen sheets, freshly laundered and laden with the scent of lavender