Anthropologie and Capiz

I've been looking at a lot of store front designs lately. I need to design a store front for a gift shop, and I've been seeking out some inspiration. There's one place that I know I can always look for creative, out of the box, imaginative ideas! I'm talking about Anthropologie of course. Many of their storefronts have a vintage/bohemian, kind of edgy/funky style...and if brevity is the soul of wit I just failed miserably! 

The next few pics are more about the window displays than the actual storefronts but I had to share!

I mean how cool is this!

Take a closer look- what do you think? Rice paper and embroidery hoops?

Can you imagine one of these as a room divider?

How about this one?

Such a simple design! 

If I was an event planner I would definitely try to incorporate this into my next soiree! 

The colors of this one are amazing. 

I was thinking water until I took a closer look. 

After looking a bit closer, I'm thinking butterfly migration! 

via Ballard Designs

Ballard sells a capiz shell wall hanging which looks great here as a headboard accent. The Anthropologie displays reminded me of capiz shells and speaking of capiz shells- what do you think of the capiz shell lighting that has been trending for quite a while.

via Eva Designs

Like most design elements- I think they can look amazing if they are used in the right place.

via Room

These Lotus design pendant lights from RoomNYC are stunning. I would love a pair...one on either side of the bed. 

via West Elm

West Elm's capiz lighting has more of a modern vibe.

via Cococozy

This photo taken by Coco of Cococozy was the subject of one of her Pretty or Ugly series. I'm not sure what the verdict was. What do you think?

via Decor Pad

Of all of the capiz lighting that I've seen, these are my favorite! 

Have you ever wondered what capiz shells look like in nature? 

Come back tomorrow for a Fun Friday Find 

and because of the holiday last Monday, I'm still accepting pics for 

The Monday Mix: Jewelry and Decor!

Fun Friday Find: African Game Reserves

Okay, full disclosure here. I just did a big no-no! I came upon or should I say I stumbled upon (using stumbleupon.com) a website that promotes over the top, luxury, African game reserve holidays. Have you heard of "glamping" (glamorous +camping, you know with hair dryers and and wine refrigerators and such)  well, these places make "glamping" look like you're really roughing it.

Check them out!

My big no-no is that I practically copied every picture from the site. I was just going to use one or two but then they just kept getting better and I feel a sense of duty. I absolutely must share these beautiful "camp sites" and "lodges"with my readers ;)

Perhaps if one of my readers books at holiday here they will feel so appreciative that I discovered it for them that they might invite me to go along! It could happen!

All of the previous photos are from the Singita (meaning place of miracles-you think!) Game Reseve in Africa.

Marataba Game Reserve in the Waterberg Mountains, Africa

Ulusaba Game Reserve in South Africa.

If you would like to see more, there are a few pics that I haven't shown you. Follow the link HERE!

I hope you have a great Fourth of July Weekend! 

Be Safe :)

A Garden Tour: Sycamore Hill Farm...Part II

This is Part II of my tour of Sycamore Gardens in Marcellus, NY. 

To see "Part I"click HERE.

I wish I knew the history behind this structure. I know they were disassembling it and using the stone in the gardens but I recently heard they were rebuilding it. It's a mystery to me! One of the things that I like about this tour is that we were free to roam around the garden by ourselves but I did notice a small tram driving patrons around and I heard the driver telling some of the history. I guess I should take the ride at least once.

The Dragon Pegoda Garden features a Japanese style pavilion. 

The pavilion is surrounded by traditional stones, carvings, and various ferns. 

Crossing the water by way of the stepping stones is always fun. 

Just one of the never ending surprises that you find around each corner.

Water lilies in the Koi Pond.

It was very relaxing to sit by the pond for a few moments, take in the landscape and watch the koi fish. No two were alike- each had its own unique markings in the most beautiful colors!

Another photo from the back of the Hanford's home.

...And another!

More Koi fish- the photos just don't do them justice though.

In the middle of the pond is a spire of water that shoots up ...oh, I would guess at least a hundred feet!

The spray hits you as you are crossing those stepping stones I showed you earlier.

One last little garden area that we explored was right in the very front of the house, near the road. It was a very shady area with a water garden in the center. There is a tall shrub border that shields the garden from passing cars.

...and of course a large statue in the middle of the water feature.

This garden was filled mostly with ferns and hostas.

This little garden really felt like an outdoor room- a little secret garden!

The entrance of the home. Everything is just decorated so tastefully.

Visit the Sycamore Hill website to find out about upcoming tours and events.

 I hope you have a chance to visit this truly exquisite garden!

A Garden Tour: Sycamore Hill Farm...Part I

I went on a garden tour over the weekend with my mom. I have taken this tour twice before but both times on Mother's Day. On Mother's Day, the gardens are filled with spring flowering trees, tulips and thousands of emerging perennials. It was absolutely spectacular to see the gardens in June!

Hundreds of Hostas were just bursting. Every kind of Hosta that you can imagine- amazing! The morning that we went, it was a bit drizzly, which made everything look so lush!

This is the stately home of the Hanford family. 

The Hanford's own Sycamore Hill Garden. It is nestled amidst the rolling hills of Marcellus, New York.

 

The gardens cover more than twenty five acres. We were there for three hours and did not make it to every border that we wanted to see. 

How did this get started?

The story that I heard is that on Mother's Day, (I don't know how many years ago) Mrs. Hanford's wish was that she could just spend the entire day in the garden planting and doing work. This became a tradition and every year the gardens grew in size and scope. Now, they generously open the garden for certain fund raising groups to do tours on Mother's Day. A few years back, they added a Father's Day tour (which is now called the Summer Solstice tour and is held a couple of weeks after Father's Day).

Starting this year they are offering a tour in the fall. That will be just as spectacular and I can't wait to go!

They have collected over eighty bronze statues from all over the world.

This "Iron Tree" was magnificent.

Every where you went, there was a place to sit and take in the view. They encourage you to bring a picnic.

I took almost two hundred photos! It's a photographers dream.

Even an amateur like me did okay with my camera phone!

I would love to show you every single statue- each one was so unique and every garden setting that they were placed in was just breathtaking

Marcellus is a small town of about 6000 people southwest of Syracuse, New York. It's very hilly which made for some gorgeous long range views.

The row of Arborvitae that you see in the distance is the perimeter of the Maze!

Here are some pictures from inside the maze. When we first came here years ago, the trees were only to our knees!

 Now they stand over ten feet high and you can actually get lost in the maze. We did (just a little)!

If you make it to the middle, this is what greets you! I can't even show you the Minotaur from the front- you would surely blush :)

This picture does not do this justice. These weeping trees practically bring tears to your eyes!

The way they are lined up makes such a statement- they truly looked mournful!

 Tomorrow I will show you some more of the pictures that I took or you can check out the album on my Ispirato Design Facebook Page. I've added many more there and will eventually put all of them in that album.

TTFN (TaTa For Now)

I hope you enjoyed the tour so far!