Massimo Vitali L O V E
Massimo Vitali was born in Como, Italy, in 1944. He moved to London after high school, where he studied Photography at the London College of Printing. In the early Sixties he started working as a photojournalist, collaborating with many magazines and agencies in Italy and in Europe. His series of Italian beach panoramas began in the light of drastic political changes in Italy. Massimo started to observe his fellow countrymen very carefully. He depicted a “sanitized, complacent view of Italian normalities, at the same time revealing “the inner conditions and disturbances of normality: its cosmetic fakery, sexual innuendo, commodified leisure, deluded sense of affluence, and rigid conformism. In the past 12 years he has developed a new approach to portraying the world, illuminating the apotheosis of the Herd, expressing and commenting through the most intriguing, palpable forms of contemporary art- Photography.
http://www.massimovitali.com/
inspiration from Serena & Lily catalog
Have you seen the new catalog from Serena & Lily HERE? Mine just arrived and I am quite impressed by the great style and styling. I'm so tempted to order everything to recreate this table. So pretty!
our breakfast room lighting ( a before, after and now )
We've had our home for three years. And we've had three different light fixtures in our breakfast room.
There's something about having the same light as everyone else on the street that had me on the hunt for new lighting right away. It wasn't long before I purchased the Gothic lantern from Pottery Barn HERE:
After:
Now:
Before: with the builder light just after move in day:
Oh, how I wish I wasn't so sensitive to my home environment. I think we had the Gothic fixture up just a few months when I noticed dirty film on the glass. Lesson one: glass encased light fixtures are not for an OCD clean person. Lesson two: not a huge fan of the pointy Gothic arch. Lesson three: scale is everything. I knew I could do better.
See the film? After cleaning it, I could never get the streaks to disappear. 
The next day we removed the glass inserts and I liked the open sides better... but not for long...
Here it is now with a new lantern I really love. The scale is better, the lines are prettier and it just feels nice.
You can see the tree house from this window. And let me tell you when we are outside at night, this lantern looks beautiful glowing through the window. The dimmer switch makes the lighting romantic and welcoming.
I also learned that lanterns create intersting shadows on the walls and ceiling.
Where is the Gothic lantern now? In my office sitting room. It's okay (anything was better than the builder boob light), but I'm always keeping an eye out for something better.
No glass = No film
It's fun to play musical lights : )
another fab find from Wisteria (a table for our cabana)
This past fall our pool project was completed. Before and After pictures of the entire outdoor project are coming soon, but first, I want to share this fab find... this new bistro table from Wisteria that arrived today, delivered for less than $100 (thanks to their winter sale and a coupon code from retailmenot).
I had been thinking about this little table for so long,
but it was the sale price and this picture from The Girl is Craftee HERE that finally made me complete my Wisteria order. Don't the tables look nice flanking the sofa here? Just as interior designers Bixy and Ball HERE (the designers for this space) used the Wisteria tables indoors, I want to too. The quality, finish and design are great. Now, go order one for yourself before they sell out!
Another new L O V E from Wisteria.
Isn't it cute for the great price?
The cabana is feeling more and more complete. Almost. Still wishing for lanterns, a rug, new pillows, cushions, plants and outdoor drapery.
The garden stools are from One Kings Lane. I purchased 5 of them to scatter around the pool area. The lounge furniture is from Ballard and the shutter cabinets are from Restoration Hardware.
I had been thinking about this little table for so long,
