Valentine's Day

Wishing you a happy Valentine's Day—have a sweet one.

(photo via silver blonde)

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Have a warm and lovely one.

(photo by winnie au for refinery 29. via the shiny squirrel)

Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day! Have a lovely one.

(photo by austin gros via jessica sloane)

Smile

Have a fun Valentine's Day.

(photo of marilyn monroe via here)

Valentine

Happy Valentine's Day to you — have a lovely one.

(photo by hannah lemholt via étoile des neiges)

Weekend

Happy weekend! Hope it's a lovely one. And with Valentine's Day falling on Saturday this year, it'll be a sweeter one, too. Enjoy.

(photo by marianne nouguez via sfgirlbybay)

Buffet

This week's links. Enjoy.

What Love Looks Like After More Than Half a Century
Absolutely lovely. Inspired by her grandparents' devotion to each other for 59 years, Lauren Fleishman photographed couples who have been married for half a century or more for her new book The Lovers. The slide show will make you melt.

Yves Saint Laurent's Valentine's Day Love Cards
So gorgeous. Yves Saint Laurent's Love Cards, created and sent by the designer from 1970 to 2000, are stunning, brightly coloured hand-crafted collages. Soon to be reissued in a book, you can follow the link to view a selection from the series.

Architect Couples and Their Houses
Have a look at the homes that architects design for themselves.

Abstract Photos Created From iPhone Smudges
Artist Arslan Sukan's new photography series features scans of his iPhone screen, magnified and turned into mesmerizing abstract art.

10 Delightfully Whacktacular Vintage Kitchens
Apartment Therapy rounds up 10 vintage photos of kitchens that truly have to be seen to be believed. Awesome.

Parmesan Broth
Transform the rinds of parmesan cheese into a rich broth with the help of onions, garlic, white wine and fresh herbs — a delectable base for soups, risottos and more.

Hold That Thought
Thirteen leading designers get to grips with and discuss an object they find inspiring. Fascinating.

Citrus, Fennel and Avocado Salad
A perfect winter salad that combines seasonal ingredients for a colourful and healthy dish.

(photo via vt wonen)

Simple Pleasures

Fresh flowers. Love this still life by Anne of The City Sage featuring a wonderful mix of roses and kumquats — gorgeous colours and textures.

(lovely photo by anne sage on instagram. via pinterest)

Happy Valentine's Day

Have a lovely Valentine's Day — hope it includes something sweet.

(photo and recipe for coffee coeur à la crème via donna hay)

Smile

Lana Turner, photographed by Clarence S. Bull in the 1940s. Happy Valentine's Day!

(via my vintage vogue)

Buffet

This week's links. Enjoy.

Top 50 Romantic Lines From Literature
Beautiful words about the mysteries of love by writers and poets over the centuries, to get you in the mood for Valentine's Day. 

The Best Face Oils
I featured oils to boost your mood last week — now it's time to give a little love to your winter face. Eva Wiseman picks six that will have you feeling pampered and glowing in no time.

Dining With The Futurists
Via The Browser: "Italian Futurists saw food as a 'weapon in the fight against tradition'...In March 1931 they opened the Tavern of the Holy Palate in Bologna, devoted to futurist cooking. On the menu, Chicken Fiat: 'A good-sized chicken is boiled, then roasted. After its removal from the oven, a large cavity must be dug in the bird's shoulder and filled with ball bearings." Fascinating article — and definitely memorable meals (even if inedible).

Famous Film Sets as Cross Section Illustrations
Really beautifully done series of illustrations by Federico Babina of classic film sets you can peek into like a doll's house. Love his stylish picks, too — Goldfinger, The Party, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Vertigo and Playtime are just a few of the great films illustrated.

Life as a Hollywood Stylist
Ever wonder about the people who choose the gowns worn by Hollywood A-listers on the red carpet? A glimpse into the life of ten top Hollywood stylists and what they do.

Top Ten Crime Novels in Translation
Looking for something a little different to while away a chilly February evening? Check out this list of great crime writing from Italy, France, Spain, South Africa among others that have been translated into English.

How Knitting Keeps You Healthy
Who knew? Not only do you get to create something lovely, but just the act of knitting is doing you a lot of physical good, too. Time to start another scarf, I think ...

The Saveur Valentine's Day Guide
Everything you need in the way of recipes for a perfect Valentine's Day, including dinner menus, rich chocolate desserts, sparkling cocktails and breakfast in bed.


(photo by lisa petrole)

Simple Pleasures

The sheer prettiness of a soft blush pink — something I always seem to rediscover around Valentine's Day. Love this sophisticated use of it on a wall, with crisp black and white as contrast. So modern.

(photo by tia borgsmidt with styling by mette helena rassmussen. via nordic design)

Smile

Love Heart Blocks by Red House Industries — hand drawn typography that spells out the word love in twelve different languages. Hello Valentine's Day. Available from luvocracy.

Sponsored Post: Uncommon Goods

Shortly before Christmas the lovely online shop Uncommon Goods was kind enough to invite me to choose an item to review over the holiday season. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Uncommon Goods features unique designs and handcrafted gifts created in harmony with the environment, made without harm to animals or people. They're also committed supporters of non-profits, recycle as much as possible and believe in giving back to their community — all admirable goals that I definitely agree with. 

When it came to choosing an item from Uncommon Goods, I ended up picking Colorku, a board game that's a clever variation of sudoku, using coloured balls instead of numbers. Andrew and I have been playing ever since it arrived — it's an excellent game, both absorbing and addictive. It's also so beautiful to look at, as it's made of rubber tree wood with brightly painted wood balls — I'm happy to leave it out on a side table when it's not being played. Highly recommended. This would definitely be a fun Valentine's Day idea out of the many offered on the site (either for your significant other or for your family) — or, if games aren't your thing, choose from the many other wonderful products at Uncommon Goods, ranging from home decor to bed and bath items, wall art and more. But I think we'll be enjoying another round of Colorku this evening!

(photos by me on instagram)

Sponsor Spotlight

Thinking of getting something a little different for your significant other? Black Rooster Decor is having a Valentine's Day sale! This great Star Light Fixture by Nashville artist Michael West is definitely a highlight of the sale, and would be amazing for both guys and gals. Start shopping here. 

Jamie Herzlinger has just launched a new undertaking that's close to her heart — her new space in New York! Located in the New York Design Center, it's a mecca for interior designers. Here they'll find custom furniture and case goods, wall coverings by Studio E, a curated collection of antiques from Linda Horn, period lighting by Carlos de la Puente, beautiful accessories, Persian rugs plus luxury interior design services. Find out more here.

Sweetness and Light: Valentine Edition

Wishing you all a very warm and happy Valentine's Day today — whether you spend it with a partner, with family or with friends, it's all about sharing love with others. We're off to see the film Amélie at the local independent cinema tonight — it's one of our faves and we're so looking forward to watching it together again. Have a good one.

(photo by lucy snowe available as a print here)

Buffet

This week's links. Enjoy.

1922 Kodachrome Test Footage
Beautiful and mesmerizing, this early color film from 1922 features actresses vamping for the camera. Incidentally, I shared this as my current favourite thing on Monday over at Bliss.

From Stables to Summer House
Lisbon studio Atelier Data converted a row of stables in rural Portugal into an airy summer retreat for a family — take a tour around this rustic modern space.

Modern Etiquette: Social Media Do's and Don'ts
Grace of Design*Sponge recently invited a few blogger friends to discuss the pitfalls of social media — excellent advice on how to handle Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

The 20 Best Interiors Blogs
Gareth Wyn Davies of The Telegraph picks his favourite interiors blogs. Great choices and lovely to see some blog friends on the list!

The Scared is Scared
Really charming short film featuring a child’s wisdom for starting new chapters (creative or otherwise) in life. Watch this and feel instantly better.

Europe's Best Neighborhoods For Foodies
Planning on a trip to Paris, Rome or Istanbul this year? Check out this great list of recommended places to eat from Travel + Leisure.

A Lost King Found
Interesting art history news — Spain's Prado museum discovered a rare image of Louis of Orleans hiding under paint in a 15th-century painting donated in 2011.

Recipes For Breakfast in Bed
Saveur rounds up a delicious selection of breakfast and brunch recipes that are perfect for treating your sweetie on Valentine's Day (or any other day, for that matter).

(photo by sveinung bråthen with styling by kirsten visdal)

Smile

A ring made in France between 1830-60, with the romantic hidden message 'je t'aime'.

(from the victoria & albert museum collection, via another)

Simple Pleasures

A little Valentine's Day breakfast. Treat each other, your family or yourself to a really nice one today.


(photo courtesy of the ikea livet hemma blog)

And ...

Wishing you a very happy Valentine's Day! And on a lighter note — A Map of the Open Country of a Woman's Heart, dating from between 1833 and 1842 and available as a limited edition vintage print from 20x200. Appalling and amusing ... :)