The incredible, wonderous, beautiful great outdoors and we have a winner!

ITS GIVEAWAY DAY!!!! I used random. org to select a winner......I am thrilled to announce the winner of the lovely chair from Safavieh is......
My follower.......FIDJI FROM THE BLOG, IRRESISTIBLE PARIS
Please step forward to claim your prize so that I can make the arrangements to have Safavieh deliver your newest addition! (I could not locate your email address so left a message on your blog)
CONGRATULATIONS!

Finally feeling almost fully back to normal and its full steam ahead, many house appts. today, heading to cabinet maker for kitchen color choices...wish me luck!I don't know about you but I am really craving being outside in the fresh spring or summer air, strolling with my dog, sipping on a light tropical drink (granted I don't often stroll with a tropical drink but it sure sounds good), feeling the surge of the warm crisp air, taking in the beauty of the green grass and flowering trees and bushes. We here in NY, received a gift from the weather Gods, two unusually mild days, back to back and I think its put a little pep in every ones step!  I am longing for winter to go! Its been a long one for nearly all of us and for many of us in the most unexpected places, hello Virginia, Atlanta, Texas just to name a few......so today, for all you weary souls.... I make a tribute to fabulous outdoor spaces. Country, mountains, ranch or farmland, the Islands, the coast...wherever, there are so many fabulous outdoor settings that truly take my breath away. I can easily find something in each of these pictures to draw inspiration from. I cannot wait to be in the great outdoors and when you do, why not make it every bit as fabulous as the indoors? Outdoor living is bigger than ever and the industry as a whole is growing by leaps and bounds...so here are a few inspirational if not envy provoking images of some amazingly inviting outdoor spaces..enjoy! Do you have a favorite and if so, what can you see yourself doing in that space? I will go with number 1, and I can see myself and six other couples having a wine tasting dinner al fresco, on a perfect early summer night, light jazz music serenading us from the distance...... 

Suzanne Tucker did a stunning job on this winery covered loggia/outdoor entertaining space in the Silicon Valley, outdoors at its best...so lush!

This pretty brick walled columned covered porch is intimate and inviting with a pretty limestone fireplace and a front row seat to the pool

Architect Hakan Habif designed this stunning outdoor space in Turkey, overlooking the Aegean Sea.....love the furniture and interesting "trunk coffee tables"....stunning!

One of my all time favorites, Tuscany inspired high elevated outdoor porch in California..dreamy by Craig White

Love how the outdoors and indoors become one in this bay area outdoors space.....what a view of the Golden Gate Bridge! Agins Interiors

Love this! Under an grape vine pergola....fabulous, elegant and sooo inviting! I could happily have every meal at this table!

Jacques Dizier brings the outside in with disappearing glass walls that incorporate the stunning living room into the outside terrace to become one, overlooking the Pacific....beautiful soft colors make the setting serene and focus on the breathtaking vistas

Bring me my Mai Tai and I am all set....beautiful outdoor space on Maui, Architectural Digest

This stunning large scaled covered porch off this home off the coast of the Carolinas, is situated to take advantage of water views on each side....love the warm colors used here, Shope Reno and Wharton

Beautiful covered porch with fireplace by William Stubbs is  picturesque poolside

This sunny inviting space is in Napa Valley by Lori O'Kane Backen

This attractive Hamptons home boasts a beautiful indoor/outdoor area with pretty dark green wicker furniture...makes me long for a summer day Architectural Digest

Pretty outdoor space overlooks the Inter coastal in Palm Beach by Geoffrey Bradfield

Jacque Dizier created this sumptuous wood and stone covered trellis outdoor dining area...perfect. How gorgeous is that view in the distance of the Napa vineyards?

Chers "drool worthy" covered porch looks out onto the infinity pool and ocean...one word WOW!

Juan Pablo Molyneaux created this lush oasis full of beautiful greenery on a stone terrace overlooking the French countryside, give me a stash of magazines and a cup of good French coffee and I am good to go!

This beautiful outdoor patio has a tree growing right through the roof, but blends beautifully with the natural, neutral colored furnishings. Architectural Digest

Designer Bunny Williams created this inviting cozy old fashioned feeling covered porch complete with outdoor fireplace...the candles give it a nice glow on a cool summer evening

Mark Boone created this beautiful covered porch/loggia...beautiful against the dramatic tall dark wood cased doors

This would have to be kind of like, the ultimate in outdoor entertaining, don't you think? With the expansive outdoor terraces, the fireplace seating area, the pool, and the ocean beyond...pretty dreamy I would say!  Agins Interiors (just in case you are wondering who this belongs to, its belongs to Restoration Hardware's CEO....yep, you probably helped pay for this!)

Barbara Barry created this beautiful monochromatic rear terrace overlooking Montecito, CA

Gorgeous indoor/outdoor pavilion in this Kona home is done by Mary Philpotts McGrath

Pretty seating area on simple stone patio....calm and serene

Robert Stern designed this dramatic neo classic section of a home that doubles as a dramatic and beautiful pool house

Breathtaking Moroccan inspired terrace off Sicily overlooks the tranquil Tyrrhenian

Frankly you don't need to do much here because of the out of this world spectacular view, but the pretty rounded patio takes advantage of a 360 degree view....perfect!

Wishing you a wonderfully enchanting weekend and congratulations Fidgi!

Things I am loving Thursdays and house update!

Last day to be part of my wonderful giveaway and what a giveaway it is! Will announce the winner tomorrow!Please look at the bottom of this post for details.
As promised, I am including some "update pictures" at the end of this post below. Camera battery was low so took as many as I could......More to be added in the future as we near the "fun stages" which is just around the corner...... I decided to set aside one day-Thursday (barring of course any urgent decor matter or musing that would have to take its place) to talk about things I am loving at this very minute...week to week, day to day. I am constantly and frequently inspired by so much that on any given day, I have a new love, new obsession or new object of my desire. Sometimes its a look, a theme, a room, a designer,  or an actual item...so today I have listed the things I am loving this week. Let me know if you feel the same about anything on my list or if you care to share what you are love this week, would love to hear about it....one never stops learning!

ORCHIDS AND FRESH FLOWERS. I was lucky enough while I was sick with the flu to be the recipient of some beautiful flowers from dear friends...maybe that started the "flower bug". It can also easily be chalked up the miserable and dreary winter, but I am craving any sign of life....in the form of flowering petals. So my husband bought me a gorgeous potted orchid, and I picked up a beautiful arrangement of fresh flowers! Love the instant life it brings to any room or space.  I LOVE orchids, have always had them in my homes, in my kitchen, living room and occasionally when I am feeling very indulgent in my bathroom. So with my new arrangement of flowers and my new potted orchid...it gave an instant lift!

CANDLES. Moving right along, picked up Charlotte Moss's new candle, Virginia, not only is it a beautiful candle but its smells and burns wonderfully. So this is another item I am loving this week. Get your hands on it if you are a candle connoisseur like I am.

BATHROOMS. I have been working on the bathrooms....no easy feat. I am making great progress but still have two left to go. One thing I am l am loving this week, for a very small powder room off the library is onyx. I want it to be dark and luxurious (remember this is a very traditional home and off the library), so think onyx could me gorgeous there! I love this rust colored onyx, its so rich and old world looking and you don't see it coming and going. It also has some green running through it with a hint of honey. In person its quite exquisite and I am imagining it with beautiful moldings, a small dark wood demilune vanity chest and some beautiful old sconces. Then finish it off with a rich dark wallpaper by Schumacher...which one do you like? What do you think... would LOVE to hear your feedback if you love one over the other! I am really loving all three and could use your expertise!

                                            

Moving on...

How cute are these little pagoda style salt and pepper shakers? (Horchow)

SOAP. I am also a serial soap addict....love great soap. Mistral is one of my favorite lines..not overly "perfumey" as some are, but just has enough fragrance. This one is the Lait or milk scent and it is so soft and wonderful...smells like a freshly bathed baby! If you aren't familiar with this line, I highly suggest you try it. Its an inexpensive indulgence...who knew that a little bar of soap could make me this happy!

BLUE AND WHITE. And last but not least.....I am really in a serious blue and white state of mind. It's like my blue and white radar is on and I just cannot get enough! So......I ordered these gorgeous blue and white jars! What do you think....I can use them anywhere, but am thinking either in the living room or in my bedroom.....but they will look great anywhere! They are tall bout 24 inches and really wide, which is why like them about 20 inches at their

 widest...love them!

SEATING. What do you think about the idea of having a settee or small love seat incorporated into part of the seating at a breakfast or dining room table? I really like it, it makes it look so inviting and cozy.....its along the lines of banquette seating which I also really like, below are two images..what do you think?

Two love seat type pieces flank a round table and two chairs...its different and interesting.

Love the colors, the lushness of the comfy banquette and cushions, the lantern, the floors and the gorgeous hewn beams.

So that wraps up what I am loving today.....of course tomorrow is a whole new day! Too many pretty things in this world. Then of course having the Internet makes it all so instantly gratifying even if it  means just keeping a picture of something you lust after to put in your online wish list or photo album....the next best thing to actually owning it! Would love to know if anything here really made you swoon......

House update- started sheet rock, it looks a little boring but soon enough these bare white walls will come to life once we start the mill work and bathrooms!

Finally finished the roof on this side!

Side view of the garage side

The future covered porch, its a great outdoor space with an outdoor fireplace, we are waiting for the limestone to finish it

Future family room, a beautiful room with 22 foot ceilings!

Love these lattice type windows, we have them in several of the kids bathrooms

Love our windows, 5' swing out french casement...they are so wonderful!

Gorgeous water jet borders for boys bathrooms by New Ravenna

Part of master suite walking into my bathroom

Master sitting room looking into bedroom

Part of master suite, the french doors will go out to a Juliette balcony

Sample of husbands waterjet floor for his bathroom by New Ravenna, my favorite line!

Part of living room with the mahogany french doors

Looking from living into dining room

The 20 foot tall breakfast room, flooded with light even at 4 pm on a winter afternoon!

Part of the 3 story stair tower

Part of the front foyer looking into the "front to back"

Downstairs gallery/hallway

Rear view of the house...all we are really waiting for exterior wise is the rest of the limestone, roof is 90% done!

LAST DAY TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GIVEAWAY (DRAWING IS TOMORROW)

Safavieh Home Furnishings

has generously donated this brand new fabulous french occasional chair!

(Retails for $395)

Gorgeous painted Provence chair, ideal for a living room, dining room or a dressing area.

 (The picture is a little blurry, working on getting a clearer one but here is the link to get a great picture and be able to zoom in and get the details... http://www.safaviehhome.com/product_info.php?cPath=6_44&&noborder=noborder&newPath=44&products_id=2695

Go to www.safaviehhome.com and scoll down for links to their facebook and twitter:

• Join Safavieh on facebook and leave a comment on their facebook page on what your favorite item is from their site (one entry)
• Follow Safavieh on Twitter (one entry)
• Leave me a comment anytime today telling me what your favorite post is since I have been blogging about a month ago.....good luck! (one entry)
• Last day to be eligible is today, Thurs. Feb. 17th
• Actual drawing is Friday, Feb. 18th and I will announce the winner that day on my post

I will use random.org to pick the lucky winner..... this wonderful giveaway will take place on 

Safavieh's warehouseHave a wonderful day.