{style inspiration: pale & pretty neutrals}

. . . not quite december yet, and already things are beginning to move along at an even more dizzying pace than usual, with upcoming soirées, dinner parties and gift exchanges, boxes tied with ribbon and a feeling of magic in the air, and in the midst of all the running around, have been practically living in luxuriously soft cashmere cardigans, belted, and perfectly paired with cozy scarves and festive gold fingernails . . .

{images: photography by janis nicolay for country living; patterson maker}

{holiday inspiration: silver & gold}

. . . while may not have had a chance to get together holiday decorations this past weekend {perhaps & hopefully this week}, have been dreaming up elegant colour palettes for the season, and while the last may have been inspired by tiffany's blue, this year, quite smitten with the idea of simple and classic silver and gold, perhaps hints of pearl and opalescence, gilded garlands and glittering sequins, and perhaps, just the faintest glimmer of palest lilac . . .

{p.s.} also lovely: one & two; & how was your weekend? dying to know what holiday colour palettes you've been dreaming up?

{also:} a few things you may have missed:
* weekend: a few lovely links
* at the shops: andrea bonelli, san francisco
* for the holidays: advertising

{& one last thing:}
* now that we finally have a winner for the philippe starck louis ghost armchair, it's on to the next glamorous give-away {perfect for the holidays!} a little later today -- check back if you like . . . xo

{images: photography by virginia macdonald for style at home}

{a new week & the last month of the year . . . }

. . . summer feels like a beautiful dream and the last of the autumn leaves have fluttered away, and now, it's waking up to mornings of romantically swirling snowflakes, wreaths of holly and towers of meringue, ruffled bed canopies and gold satin slipcovers, gingerbread with icing and the warmth of crackling fires, fairy lights and candlelight and the most beautifully decorated trees, and most of all, a feeling of magic in the air . . .

{images: 1 - domino magazine via pinterest; 2 - homes & gardens; 3 - toast; 4 - photography by chris everard; 5 & 8 - simple home by mark & sally bailey via linen & lavender; 6 - at home via 1st dibs & delight by design; 7 - homes & gardens; 8 - style at home, both via delight by design}

{holiday travel inspiration: australia}

. . . with the exception of one christmas in florida, have always spent the holidays somewhere where there is the possibility of swirling and softly falling snow -- whether paris or anywhere else in the world, the holidays were always a winter wonderland in late december, and while shall always love a blanket of snow on christmas day, have sometimes wondered what it would be like to celebrate in a place where the sun shone brightly and warmly and it was summertime, and realise that it would be quite the same, if you are with those you love, with the exception, of course, that you could trim the tree with freshly picked gardenias and host a holiday dinner party outdoors . . .

{images: homelife}