Indianapolis Architecture

Although I've lived in various places on the east coast for 20+ years, Indianapolis remains my favorite place to reside.  It's about 150 miles from where I grew up but I consider it a second hometown.  It is a beautiful, affordable city with great culture, amazing food and so much to do as well as lots of great surrounding towns--whether you have a boat and want to live on a reservoir or enjoy cobblestone streets and fox hunting.  Often, I am surprised at how little east coasters know about "the middle." Here are some great photos from Herstory on Instagram (unless otherwise noted,) it's an account that chronicles historic buildings. I'm already planning a short visit this spring and my list is always longer than my time.

 iso_symphony on instagram

 two photos from laur3nfi3lds on instagram

photo from doingindy. Lilly House at the Indianapolis Museum of Art

p.s. Martha Stewart's recent visit

Waterlogue App

Have you seen the Waterlogue app?  It's pretty amazing and there is a craze going on Instagram :)  Watercolor interiors are one of my favorite things and these images transformed so quickly by an app are very exciting.  It works on pictures of any subject. Here are a few of my favorites.

 Mark D. Sikes

 Mark D. Sikes

Happy February!

February makes me think of pink and in terms of design, it reminded me of Sid and Ann Mashburn's lovely, well edited Atlanta living room.  As the owner of two pink couches, I'm happy to see these . . . maybe I need a lucite coffee table too ;D

 photos from Atlanta Homes Magazine

to read more on these tastemakers, go to Matchbook Magazine

The White House at Christmas

Am I the only one obsessed with HGTV's special covering The White House at Christmastime?  I hope not :)  Maybe it's because I worked in politics for ten years and lived in Washington, D.C. but also have a passion for design.  Whenever I see this annual special, it takes me right back to my time and work in our nation's capital and all the social events and amazing people I met.  Here are a few photos to enjoy. 

Happy New Year!

The White House gingerbread house is always amazing and the replicas of the First Family's pets are so cute!

Photo from The Washington Post

These vases are made entirely of sugar "gum paste" flowers and fruit by Maggie Austin Cakes of Alexandria, Virginia.

'Tis the season!

The New York Botanical Garden puts on a great Holiday Train Show, this is the 22nd year. Garden-gauge trains zip past 140 beloved New York landmarks, masterfully crafted from natural materials and arranged to create a dazzling world inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.  If you've never gone, it's worth a visit and appeals to all ages.  My family went last month, it's a fun way to kick off the season!

 Macy's

 St. Patrick's Cathedral

 The New York Public Library

 The Guggenheim

 Enid A. Haupt Conservatory

 Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Radio City 

 Rockefeller Center

Brooklyn Bridge