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{Absalom Boston House…epitome of Nantucket style}

I recently just got back from a trip to Nantucket to put the final touches on the vacation home of a client that I have been working on (from my Chicago office) for quite some time.  I have to say…I am in love.  So quaint, charming and beautiful, Nantucket really takes your breath away.  One gets the sense that not much has changed on this island in generations, taking comfort in the tradition and steadfast dedication to its way of life as a simple retreat. Furthermore, the homes in this intimate community have retained the classic look so associated with the island….shingled structures of muted grays, blues whites and soft neutrals.  While I was adding a modern spin on my client’s 1800’s classic charmer, many of the homes still retain that rustic,old world feel that so many of the beach getaways of the East Coast (Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod….) are known for.  Take a look at some of the images from Lisa McGee’s book, “A Home in Nantucket” and feel the instant comfort and ease of the Nantucket life.

Stay tuned for photos of my spin on the Nantucket home!

If it takes a “green thumb” to bring life to the ordinary garden, then it takes a green arm and a leg to maintain the pristine splendor of this Lake Forest home, featured in Chicago Home + Garden.  One of the most prestigious names in Chicago landscaping was brought on board to translate the look of this French country villa onto a horticultural canvas.  Before undertaking this horticultural challenge, the homeowners had been dissatisfied with the wild, prairie look that the initial landscapers had created.  As Europeans themselves, the homeowners knew they wanted the look of more formal European gardens.  Although almost completely absent of any color other than green, the variety of plants and trimmings provide an impressive array of variation in itself.  Upon passing through its gates (or as experienced through the following photos), one feels as though they are whisked away to the south of France.

Alright, Punxsutawney Phil, where’s spring?  As the calendar page is quickly turned to March, spring’s “light at the end of the tunnel” is no where in sight.  As I’m sitting here in this literal hazy shade of winter (the constant gray cloud coverage…remind me why I live here again?), my mind is drifting off to the sweet, poolside lounging days of summer.  How I crave the warmth of the sun, or a dip in a pool.  Seeing a  beautiful pool house in an ad this month was just sucker bait.  While the reality of winter here in chilly Chicago is inevitable, a girl can dream about lounging poolside in her lovely outdoor abode, right?

{Evanston home that inspired this article.  It has been used in the film “Baby on Board” in addition to others}

As both a designer and a self proclaimed “housie,” (house version of a “foodie”) I’m always on the look out for beautiful homes in television and movies.  Honestly, there are times that I have completely lost track of the plot because I am so enthralled with the decor and/or architecture.  After recently reading an article in the Chicago Tribune detailing an Evanston woman’s “movie house” experiences, I decided to do a little digging to uncover some of my own favorite on screen abodes.

{The illustrious home of Cameron from “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, also located in suburban Chicago}

{Beautiful Victorian from “Ground Hog Day”}

{Nora Walker’s Pasadena home in “Brother and Sisters”}

{Kitchen from “Brothers and Sisters”}

{Backyard party from “Brothers and Sisters”}

{Apartment in “Down with Love”}

{Apartment in “Down with Love”}

{Pasadena home in “Father of the Bride”}

{Exterior of the Humphrey’s Brooklyn loft in “Gossip Girl”}

{The Humphrey’s Brooklyn loft in “Gossip Girl”}

{The Humphrey’s Brooklyn loft in “Gossip Girl”}

{Exterior of Nate Archibald’s Upper East Side home in “Gossip Girl”}

{Interior of Nate’s home in “Gossip Girl”}

{Nate’s home in “Gossip Girl”}

{East Hampton estate in “Grey Gardens”}

{East Hampton estate in “Grey Gardens”}

{East Hampton estate in “Grey Gardens”}

{Amanda’s Los Angeles home in “The Holiday”}

{Interior of Amanda’s Los Angeles home in “The Holiday”}

{Interior of Amanda’s home in “The Holiday”}

{Kitchen in Amanda’s home from “The Holiday”}

{Bedroom from Amanda’s home in “The Holiday”}

{Amanda’s bathroom in “The Holiday”}

This list could go on forever…there are so many fabulous movie homes and interiors!  Do you have any favorites?  I’d love to hear…and maybe do a Part II!

All images via Hooked on Houses and The Chicago Tribune.

As my ancestry calls me….I am a Buckingham by birth, and seem to be drawn to all things English with an amazing regularity.  I have been told that to design a castle might be my dream job (who would not call that a dream job?!).  But without a doubt I can recall early images of my Irish mother announcing that all things “English” were dreamily elegant and ultimately oozed glamour and style.  This leads me to West Wycombe Park located in Buckinghamshire, UK….

The house- a sumptuous Palladian Villa- is a part of the National Trust, although it remains firmly in the hands- and is the family home of Sir Edward Dashwood and his family…all 5,000 acres of it.  This Blue Drawing Room embraces all things English with examples of statuary, furniture and fine paintings.

The Music Temple- on an island in the lake and reachable only by boat- is another family favourite: “We use it for drinks parties and picnics.”  Oh so English sounding…I just had to use their spelling of the word favorite.  It DOES sound more elegant, doesn’t it?

Film-makers also find West Wycombe irrestible.  ”Little Dorrit”, “Daniel Deronda”, “Cranford” and “The Duchess”- have all been made here.  ”Colin Firth and Rupert Everett must have been here many times”  says Edward Dashford. With its yellow-stone exteriors and pale blue doors, this is a house without an obvious front or back; although the west portico- the Dashwoods (pictured above in almost their entirety) front door- built by Nicholas Revett in 1771 is stunning, the earlier south-facing double colonnade, by architect John Donowell, is grander.  In the summer, the family eats outside under the pillars, overlooked by a row of busts and the prostrate sculpture of a naked woman.  I knew that I loved all things English.  I am still in the market for designing the spaces within a castle…..

All images courtesy of House & Garden Magazine October issue.