Hi Friends! It has been a whirlwind few weeks for me personally and professionally. In between Hurricane Helene flooding my parents home and Hurricane Milton’s winds ripping the shutters right off our windows, I was able to fly home to Florida and assess the damage with my family. My hometown of St. Petersburg, Florida looked like a war zone with piles debris on every corner and so many families displaced. While I was there between the two storms, I also had the heartache and priviledge to say goodbye to my grandmother who I referred to as Gegan. As you can see below, she was quite an icon of style and this little website of mine wouldn’t exist without her influence on my life.

Immediately after that news, I flew to Atlanta for some wonderful home tours coming soon. From Atlanta, I flew to NYC for even more tours coming your way! It so perfectly fall and I was able to enjoy close friends in each city and countless delicious meals.

In a world that often seems full of chaos at times, there is still countless beauty to be found. It gives me joy to bring it to you! See some of my favorite discoveries from my recent travels below. 

 

 

Don’t miss the latest home tours: 

A charming home

A lake home

A family and fur friendly home

and a new tour airs THIS Sunday-

subscribe to my YouTube to see 

 

Gegan:

My Gegan has gone to heaven 🤍 she was a force of inspiration, a lesson of examples, and a purveyor of all things chic. In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, I flew home to Florida to say goodbye. She would have much preferred to be in her bedroom surrounded by her Russian chandelier, pink herend pieces, and lovely soft sheets… but due to flooding, the hospice floor is where she departed. A humbling reminder we aren’t in control no matter how hard we may try.

“I’ve had a really pretty little life.” That’s how she summed it all up. It’s funny when you get to the end of the line with someone you love and become desperate to know more. I didn’t take my opportunity for granted… she was honest and here were some of her very last words on this earth:

On men: “I used to fall in love so easy.
I don’t like it when they lie to you, that is so painful. When they first lie, run.”

On travel: “We’ve had some good times. Go see beautiful gardens and whenever you and your mom go shopping, think of me”

On me: “the next ten years will be the best years of your life. Buy lots of antiques.
Don’t worry pea pie, the right guy will find you. He’s out there”

Gegan loved her prink drinks (basically a cosmo), cashmere sweaters, sunglasses indoors and out, la prairie everything, ranunculus, and cheeseburgers. She was a highly experienced traveler, avid gardener, and a collector of beautiful things. She had Tulsa roots but spent most of her life embracing the Southern California lifestyle of the seventies (a wedding at @hotelbelair no less).

Unable to walk for the last few years, she remarked: “I’m ready to be able to twirl in a Diane Friese dress again.”

On that note, I confirmed with her the One True God and the promise of heaven. In this harsh season for my family, with a second hurricane churning towards our home, we are reminded He makes all things new and beautiful in His time.

So to Gegan, I raise a pink drink and cheers to her legacy… and the fact this page would definitely not exist without my absorption of her keen eye of design and beauty. In her words- ta ta!

FAVORITES

Sweater season was alive and well in Atlanta and NYC- I wore this sweater in different shades, as well as these pants. They are the most flattering non-jeans.

While I was visiting my friend in NYC, it was amazing to see how she transformed her space with this peel & stick grasscloth wallpaper and even peel & stick tiles.

I just purchased this knit dress along with this knit camel skirt and top. Wonderful for fall lunches and get togethers!

A cordless iron does exist! I was so impressed when my friend brought this out to iron her beautiful sheets!

Gegan always had beautiful luggage racks for her guests. These are a great find!

I think this chinoiserie tray would make a lovely gift for someone, as well as these applique monogrammed hand towels!

I saw this gorgeous brown dress in person in nyc and I think it would make a great staple for any wardrobe.

It is often your find art framed perfectly… for the price this would be great to add to your collection or give a gift. Would look great mounted on a bookshelf!

This blue & white hand-knotted rug will be the perfect touch to add some flair to a room.

A beautifully made lampshade that looks custom and would add a pop to any space.

Atlanta

The new Beyond the Curb home tour with Elizabeth Cook is coming VERY soon! Don’t miss her previous home here. It will be fun to see how she repurposed her furniture and accessories!

          

The pictures above are a  sneak peek for a fabulous in-person home tour in Atlanta for a great cause! I will be there- don’t miss It! I will announce more details soon.

When I was in Atlanta, friend and real estate agent Alden Potts let me see her amazing listing! DETAILS HERE

The best part about work trips is getting to visit friends and their precious babies!

If you are in Atlanta, don’t miss Little Sparrow. The food is unbelievable! The butter…the fries.. the everything!

 

NYC

NYC in the fall…nothing quite like it!

A peek into a home tour coming this November!

My friend Ashton has a wonderful NYC apartment. That is her peel & stick grasscloth and peel & stick tile!

This pasta at da Toscano was delicious. We tried to get a reservation at Corner Store- THE hot spot n NYC…but didn’t quite get in!

I have lots of updates for my travel guides, some cities will be available at the end of the month.

 

Have a great weekend! xo Christina