A Gorgeous Coastal Hideaway by Hayburn & Co., Sandbanks

The unofficial start of summer for our family has always been Memorial Day.  Barbecues, pool, beach, sand and sun vacations, and longing for our own coastal hideaway.  In Sandbanks England across the Channel from Cherbourg, France, and only a 2 hour drive from London, Hayburn & Co. deliver on décor inspirations with this gorgeous estate.  Complete with bespoke living, this coastal hideaway boasts: a gorgeous and spacious kitchen, indoor-outdoor living, glamorous chandeliers and tufted banquet, enviable pantry and the sweetest puppy . . .

I adore the simplicity of these linen drapes framing the view of the circular driveway.

A secret coat closet in the entrance of this gorgeous home.

A perfect room for a cup of coffee and a morning sunrise, or a candle lit dinner with a spectacular 180 degree view.

This kitchen is brilliantly laid out. At one end of the counter is the stove, and flanked by armour cabinetry the refrigerator is on the side with another sink for prep, while the tufted banquet is enclosed as part of the island.

It's like walking into your favorite gourmet store and patisserie; I love this pantry, it's stylish, functional and a visual treat.

Crystal chandeliers, fitted tufted banquet, double sinks and ovens, glazed white cabinetry, lit glass fronts and wrap around counter top ....  Sigh

Those gorgeous curved bespoke cabinets ... 

This home has perfect handcrafted joinery on the floors, cabinets, walls, and doors.

Floor to ceiling windows and the sweetest little puppy make the perfect laundry room!  Just look at that counter space, lantern, and cabinets with open shelves.

Bespoke accordion French doors.

Gorgeous!

Sliding bespoke pocket doors with glazed/frosted glass for transient light.

Framed garden views throughout.

Bespoke hers and his closets.  Every detail considered.

The perfect estate backyard for a wedding at home, or a Danielle Rollins Soirée.  Either way, I will keep my eye on the post box for an invitation. 

www.hayburn.com

"A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset ..." - Lesile Sinclair of Segreto Finishes

One of the best surprises for me about blogging is the friendships you gain while creating a post.  Bloggers have the greatest opportunity to meet very gracious and talented people; Leslie Sinclair, owner of Segreto Finishes, is one of those people.  Segreto Finishes is a Houston-based company that specializes in custom paint finishes for walls, ceilings, cabinetry, floors, and furniture.  Her work has been featured in numerous publications including Architectural Digest, Veranda, Traditional Home, House Beautiful just to name a few.  Leslie also regularly contributes to Antique Shops and Designers magazine.  She has also published her own design books: Segreto, Secrets to Finishing Beautiful Interiors, Segreto Style and her third soon-to-be-released book Segreto Vignettes in September.  I am thrilled to say she was willing to share with us her answer to the question, "What does living beautifully mean to you?"

These pillars are faux finished by Segreto to look like wood!

"A beautiful day begins

with a beautiful

mindset.  When you

wake up, take a second

to think about what a

privilege it is to simply

be alive and healthy.

The moment you start 

acting like life is a

blessing, I assure you it 

will start to feel like one."

 

To me, living beautifully is a state of mind.  Being thankful for what we have and appreciating all the good that is around us, no matter how small or big, gives us the gift of a life more beautifully lived!  Specific things that make my life more beautiful are ...

Being in the moment with my family and enjoying the time we spend together puts a smile on my face.  All three of my children are in their twenties now ... they grow up so fast!

 A great cup of coffee and a quiet moment in the morning.

The gratitude I have for clients who entrust us with their homes.  They joy I feel in creating a comforting place that they will call home.

Discovering a new painting technique.

Viewing the world through the eyes of an artist literally changed the way I saw the world.  I continue to marvel at nature's beauty, but also began to appreciate all the tones, colors and shadows that made them appear that way, giving me inspiration that translated into finishes for walls, cabinets, ceilings and floors. 

Helping others out and putting them above yourself.

A good meal with friends, sharing stories, enjoying each others company.

 

Laughter,

Laughter,

Laughter.

Reading a good book which inspires me or moves me.

Kristy Woodson's new book from the blog Design Chic

Taking time to set a beautiful table.

Watching the Hallmark Channel.  Call me a romantic, but I love a good Hallmark movie where everyone lives happily ever after!

And of course, being in beautiful rooms. 

- Leslie Sinclair

Leslie's design books are resources that you will go to for design inspiration again and again. 

 To order:  

segretofinishes.com/book

Leslie, thank you for your friendship, for your design inspiration, and for sharing with us.  xoxo 

You are UNIQUE . CREATIVE . PASSIONATE & the INSPIRATION for Ethan Allen's new design book MUSES

A MUSE ... awakens creativity.

... becomes the driving force behind a body of work.

... helps you see things  through fresh eyes,

again and again.

What does this have to do with interior design? 

Only everything.

When Mr. Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President & CEO of Ethan Allen Global, and his team set out to make their new inspirational coffee table book MUSES, which is not a catalog but a journey of inspiration, it wasn't long before they realized that it was you, as readers, who are their muses.  "You're Unique.  Creative.  Passionate."  What inspires you- architecture, art, dance, drama, history, laughter, love, music, poetry and spirit inspired them to create the beautiful things you love to live with.  This book is full of inspiration on living your best life and incorporating it into your home - really it's the art of living beautifully.  It's full of design strategy, personal poetic advice, numerous style sheets, and a wealth of beautiful photos.  Mr. Kathwari was kind enough to contribute his response for how he lives beautifully, and I would like to say thank you, I feel honored that he participated, but his new book MUSES answers the question in 324 glorious pages of inspiration.  Come take a peek.

"Je t'aime  I love you. 

It's a promise.

  

It's a compromise. 

It's the beautiful balance that turns "yours" and "mine" into "ours."  

It's the joy that makes the work so worth it, 

knowing that whatever you build, you'll build it together." 

(It's also a darling block-printed Ethan Allen pillow.)

ART

CURATING A SELECTIVE EYE

habitual museum - hopper 

well - read and well - heeled (only the best shoes will do)

on the pulse of fashion

obsessed with independent films

dreams in black & white

relishes lazy Sundays

has a soft spot for furry felines 

would rather be wrong than predictable

ARCHITECTURE

BUILDING YOUR BEST LIFE

Leads with a strategic mind

 follows a creative heart

has a way with words and with patterns

knows success lies in the plans

inspired by the art of dressage and the artistry of the Renaissance

indulges in spa days and opera nights

loves the feel of hand spun wool beneath bare feet

is sweet on tufting and decadent desserts

believes form follows function

but will never compromise beauty

"Design inspiration comes in all forms.

   

The elements of a well-dressed bed are a lot like the building 

blocks of a good wardrobe: quality reigns supreme. 

But colors, patterns and textures go a long way to guarantee 

originality. "

MUSIC

COMPOSING A RELAXED RHYTHM

finds harmony in the simple life

considers homemade the ultimate gourmet

delights in the sounds of birds chirping at sunrise

adores the character in all things weathered and worn

regards comfort and happiness as one and the same

marches to a slower beat

believes in doing what's tried and true rather than what's easy

explore

dream

discover

"Living beautifully to me means spending time with my family and 

enjoying the great outdoors.  Natural surroundings offer so many 

beautiful things - art, color, life, and comfort.  Nature is both a 

great teacher and a powerful muse, providing a sense of balance 

and great design inspiration in its many colors and seasons." 

- Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President & CEO Ethan Allen Global 

- And may I add visionary

Stop by your nearest Ethan Allen Design Center and get your free copy, (yes free) of this beautiful style guide MUSES.  Or I have 5 copies available to me to send out.  Just contact me by email or leave comment with contact info and Ethan Allen will mail one directly to you.

www.ethanallen.com

My sincere thanks to Mr. Farooq Kathwari, November Rawlings and Sandy Como Puswicz of Ethan Allen Inc.  I wish you all the best of everything.

*All photos and text provided by Ethan Allen Inc.