temporary grisaille

I'm tickled pink to see this newest offering from Anthropologie. I'm normally not too keen on their products (blog blasphemy I know) but in the years of shopping there, very few items last more than a season. However, I'm very excited to see this wallcovering, via Jennings and Gates!

st. augustine lighthouse

I would be remiss to discuss St. Augustine and omit the lighthouse. I'm not a lighthouse person, but I know many are. And I find this fascinating from the perspective of life on the "frontier" as it were. It was the first lighthouse established in Florida by the new, territorial, American Government in 1824. As you can imagine, there was not a whole lot there. The lighthouse keeper and his family had to farm and hunt to feed themselves. If memories serves the first few versions were of wood, kept by the Spanish. In 1824 the first coquina structure was established.


By 1870 beach erosion required a new tower. Construction began in 1871 and it stands as it was to this day.

Hall at the base of the lighthouse, where oil was kept to be carried to the top for burning. As you can see, quite a number of stairs. No need for fad workouts here.

The Keeper's House

Images from here, here, here, here, here

colonial st. augustine

I swear, this is the last of it, well almost. When I first went to St. Augustine, I thought it to be a very hokey tourist trap. Beyond the kitschy beach shops and seafood shacks (both of which I actually do enjoy!) is a wonderful historic gem.

Fort Matanzas

This is my favorite house tour. It is the "oldest" house and has been in near continuous occupation since the Spanish. It shows the evolution of the town. You can see the basic house on the first level, the English addition with the second. While it has been restored, it once also bore the ornamentation of the Victorian era.

The Peña-Peck House

The Ximenez-Fatio House

And worth mentioning is the Fountain of Youth, in case your regimen is insufficient...

Images from here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here

unpainted inspiration

Jonathan Adler endorses white walls in Coastal Living's Palm Beach Style 1960's redux.

image via Coastal Living

check please

Taking a break from St. Augustine today. I've been mad about buffalo check for some time now. I found these wonderfully inspiring as to what to do with my several yards of Pindler and Pindler oversize blue buffalo check.

Source: stylishserendipity.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

From the Lake Forest Show House; I believe this may be the same shade, scale and even fabric! via

Source: kkerrdesign.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: kkerrdesign.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: niagaranovice.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: houseandhome.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Ann on Pinterest

Source: pinkwallpaper.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Ann on Pinterest

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Source: willowdecor.blogspot.com via Ann on Pinterest

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From Amy Meier

Source: amymeierdesign.com via Ann on Pinterest

bonsai tree houses

These miniatures by Takanori Aiba are amazing! You must see them; and thanks to decorology for sharing them!

flagler's st. augustine, part 5 of 5

Lastly for the period, historic photos from the Hotel Alcazar. As my last post in the series, I have to say this series started as one post until I realized it was going to be just an absurd pain to load. There's so much to this town, so forgive me.


The Turkish baths

Lounging Room

The gym

Steam room


Massage room

Cold Plunge Pool, post steam naturally

Images from the Lightner Museum