Suburban blues....

Today I am longing for the old neighborhoods of Dallas; something you cannot get out here in suburbia. We purchased pristine lake front property and have been intending to build but with the economy we are a little gun shy to pull the trigger.

Our designer, Steve Morey builds wonderful homes. Here is his kitchen that won the Architectural Digest award:

We moved from a tudor house in a trendy old neighboorhood out to the suburbs to be close to where we were building, just two days before our second child was born. This house we are in now was to be temporary but it is going on four years!!!! The house was fine for two young active boys but now that they can understand rules (not that they follow them) it is time for something nicer. The issue is I cannot fine ANYTHING that resonates with my style out here. Everything is cookie cutter, just like the neighbor's house. "Old World" Tuscan collides with David Weekly home....vomit!

I did find one today that might work. It is kind of french but maybe I can mix old with new and make it work. I would have to take some of the "special finishes" off. I hate staged homes, like you are living in a theatre set. Anyway, here it is:

What do YOU think? Can I give it some old + new to make it work?

Here are a few french + modern images I love :

For the love of purses in a down economy....a how to guide:

A girlfriend of mine and I were talking amongst ourselves last night about some fabulous purses. I was a little embarresesed when our conversation was broadened to a few more people in the group. I was so mortified that others would think that I would really pay $$$$$ for a piece of leather to put my crap in. The truth is that one of my very special pieces I acquired via Malleries. I still paid way more than I ever dreamed I would on a purse, but it is a classic :)

Here is the link to Malleries:

http://luxury.malleries.com/designer-handbags-c-478-s-0.html?styleSID=4bed81f3fe6313dff0516f0b539ba488

Here is an example of one of the fabulous bags available:

I also have purchased one bag via:

http://www.fashionphile.com/

I really am tempted to buy this one:

but in light of my "coming out of the (purse) closet" last night, I think I am on purse probation!!!

What you will want to do, no exceptions, when you do not pay retail, is get it authenticated in the purse forum before you buy it. There are different forums for the different brands.
http://forum.purseblog.com/

I think some do not realize that if you buy a fake, little 4 year olds were chained to their sewing machines in order to make your purse. Please see this article to know more:

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/feature-articles/the-fight-against-fakes-0109_

NEVER BUY FAKES!!!!

Boy Room Inspirations

I love red and black rooms:

......and I adore boy rooms with maps and globes!!

Tory Burch:

Girl's Rooms

My entire house is making me crazy. We were supposed to be here one year but we are now going on four. With that being said, I am going to have to do a design overhaul (a very superficial inexpensive overhaul) starting with my boys' rooms.

In the spirit of ADD, one of my friends was discussing her daughter's desire to go "pink".

Here are some designs I adore:

Philip Gorrivan:

and designer Amanda Nisbet:

Bravo's top design season 2:

This one is Katie Ridder: