Ready for another round of house snooping? Excellent, let’s begin. Today’s residence belongs to John and Sherry Petersik from the massively popular blog, Young House Love. The couple started their site as a low-key, ‘keeping friends up-to-date with renovations’ diary after the purchase of their first home, and it has since become their day job, a shop, a wealth of DIY information that they have acquired over the years, and a launch pad into feature writing and TV appearances. Not too shabby!

All of their hard work, determination and passion is evident throughout not just their inspired blog, but also the photos of their first and current homes. What I really love about the ‘after’ pictures (to also see the ‘befores’ visit here) is that as beautiful and stylish as the rooms are, they’re all completely achievable. Granted, it will take some long hours and sweat – as the Petersiks will attest to – but with a mix of muted and bold paint choices, and some homely yet very personal touches, the Petersiks have struck the perfect balance. They are warm, welcoming and the love that went into both homes is as clear as day in every room. Please do check out the couple’s blog when you get a spare sec (not forgetting the blog of their dog, Burger!)… but for the moment, here are my favourite rooms from the homes they have made over (the gallery walls! Love! As seen here):

{images via Young House Love}

{Glass Cloche / Sasha Round Mirror / Maskros Ceiling Lamp / Sheepskin Rug}

Some things were just born to go together; Salt-n-Peppa, chocolate and peanut butter, Blair Waldorf and Chuck Bass (please Lord, make it happen), Ant and Dec… and red and taupe. Bright colour is of course the trend of S/S11, and add it to the elegant and softer cousin of grey and it’s a classic combination. Teaming up a bold shade with a neutral one works especially well for those who are a little colour-shy; try a taupe dress with a bright red clutch and heels, or you could cheat by combining the two and invest in a pair of taupe Louboutins. Two birds with one stone – surely that’s just good sense:

{1. Dorothy Perkins red mesh embroidered tunic – £35 / 2. Essie Mink Muffs nail polish – £6.95 / 3. Barratts high heel court shoes – £28 / 4. Radley Grosvenor canvas bag – £329 / 5. L.K. Bennett Larya shirt – £65 / 6. A/wear tencel shorts – £28 / 7. Karen Millen soft draped skirt – £30 / 8. Marc Jacobs cotton crepe top – £535 / 9. Revlon Matte Lipstick ‘007 In the Red’ – £4.99 / 10. Richard Nicoll silk shirt dress – £179}

I well and truly took advantage of the long Easter weekend and therefore granted myself a 4-day blog break. Sometimes it’s nice to remove myself from technology (apart from my iPhone, let’s not get crazy) and spend quality time with my family, just sat in the garden soaking up the unseasonably gorgeous weather, with my mum’s cat jumping over everyone. Unfortunately the summer dress I wore has a little sleeve and now I’ve got a slight case of “trucker’s arm”, but I’m hoping friends will be too polite to comment. I hope you all had a lovely, relaxing break too.
Now, back to business and today’s subject: Atlanta Bartlett. I must confess to having a complete style crush on whatever project she takes on and the many strings to her bow. Her career started at House & Gardens, and she then went on to become a successful freelance stylist and author, as well as running a locations agency, producing a range of decorative ceramics and running an online boutique store. And she has three children. I know. It wore me out just reading her ‘About’ page. Anyway, it’s her online boutique, Pale & Interesting that I’m concentrating on today, because it’s absolutely packed full of the most beautiful items. I adore this style of interior more than I can tell you… it’s shabby chic meets New England meets rustic country. Take a look at some shots from her look book, because it will have you at ‘pink peonies’:

Yep, seriously. That just happened. Do you now want apothecary jars, antlers that hold tealights, and monogrammed cushions? Me too. Oh and these things as well, please:

{products available at: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8}
What do you think of Atlanta’s style?

I can be extremely fickle at times – I had every intention of posting about something else today, then I made a quick visit to Kate Spade and the other post was forgotten in a flash. But take a glance over these typically stylish KS goodies, and I hope you’ll understand why. Stand-outs for me include the adorably-named ‘Tipsy’ pink patent toe flats and the gold paper weight. What do you think of the newest additions to the Kate Spade stable?

{all products available at Kate Spade}

When Heidi Klum recently revealed that the Beckhams’ kids are so well-behaved that after they’ve been to a birthday party they write a handwritten thank you note to the host on their own headed paper, the following thoughts popped into my head: 1) I highly doubt that it’s the children’s idea to write these letters (I suspect Posh is behind that move somewhere, call it a hunch), and 2) erm, back up a sec, their own headed paper?! I don’t even have my own headed paper. I’m being socially trumped by 3 children, sorry, 3 boys, under 12. I clearly need to something about this, so I’ve had a scout around online for the perfect personalised correspondence cards, and a pick from the following bespoke stationery designers could be just the ticket to transform me into the consummate guest (*mutters* their own headed paper…):

{available at: Romeo + Jules / Blush / Honey Tree / Ten and Sixpence / Manzanita Press / Typoretum / Peace, Love & Letterpress}