Hello friends. How is your summer going? I hope you are getting out to savor a few of those quintessential things I am like evening bike rides and ice cream bars (way too many!) I just wanted to check in for a minute and give you a few updates… Epic insanity here right now trying to move back to our house in about a week and a half. I told my husband the other night it was the first time I thought I may actually have a break-down. I realized I four lights that have to be returned didn’t work and need to be replaced and about 100+ knobs were still to be chosen for the house! Not to mention a whole host of other things I haven’t even gotten to yet. I was feeling it.
Then shockingly yesterday I got the knobs chosen in a miracle one hour with a wonderfully helpful gal from Belmont Hardware in Cupertino. I couldn’t believe it. I was so relieved I could have cried as I am naturally a bit indecisive and the choices for cabinet hardware are infinite and we had eight spaces that needed knobs. Crazy right? I was so happy and then a friend who just finished a renovation contacted me to ask if I’d like to purchase two of her bathroom lights she didn’t use. They were my style and adorable. Unbelievable. So things were looking up by time I went to bed yesterday! On that note, I felt I could take a few minutes to blog about things I’ve been loving for summer. I’m able to breathe a little today.

In the process of shopping for the renovation I’ve been finding all kinds of cool things and I am in love with some of the vintage photos on One King’s Lane. This print by Santa Forlano, from a 1962 Glamour magazine is so lovely- the colors, the tree- it all feels like the tones in my house too. I am thinking this would be lovely somewhere..Not sure exactly, maybe in my all white bath or the bedroom?

This Slim Aarons print of women at a pool in Athens also is cool. I’d love this above a tub or in the pool bathroom. The vintage swimming cap reminds me of my grandmother who had a whole collection of these when we were kids and how cute are the bathing suits and sundresses here with Athens in the backdrop? Wish I could find such a swimsuit now!

This photo though seems more personal to me – also Slim Aarons titled Lake Tahoe couple. It reminds me of my parents who were both huge swimmers- my mom a water ballet ( synchro) swimmer and my dad, a water polo player. Looks like this was taken at the iconic CalNeva lodge which straddles the California Nevada border and was a glam hangout for the rat pack types in the 60s. We spent many a day by the pool as kids at home and we often had dragged the puffy chaise pads like this to the pool edge. I may have to get this one. It also makes me wonder if I could find our own vintage photos and do something like this though the likelihood of blowing one up successfully are probably slight given the quality and whereabouts of negatives…
While we are on pools, I collect pool themed books. Our house in wrapped by a pool so I decided to embrace it. I started accidentally one day at my local vintage bookshop I came across a rare copy of Kelly Kline’s Pools book for a song and then found a very old Slim Aaron’s book. That got me going and now I grab them when I see ones I like. I plan to have a stack on my coffee table when I move back. A new pool book just came on my radar..

Splash by Annie Kelly and her photographer husband looks gorgeous. I die just looking at this cover pool! It has photos by pool type and inspiration and has a few celebrity pools too.

In that summer state of mind, want to feel like French girl on your next trip to Whole Foods? Well then you need a proper market tote like they use in Provence and all over the Cote D’Azur for shopping trips and errands. This little gem showed above, popped up on an Amazon search for something else and I love it. I almost bought the exact one on last year in Antibes, but the challenge was getting it back with all the other stuff I crammed in the overhead bin. I didn’t want it ruined so I held off. Then here it is on Amazon and able to come in like a day!! Even if you use it for beach trips, or just to hang on a simple hook by the door you have instant summer chic.

I also love striped summer throws for sofas, across tables and on the ends of beds. When I see one I like I grab it and now have big basket full of these for the cool evenings here in Northern Cal. This striped one is cute, also Amazon. I’m thinking of getting a few for the boy’s beds and just having their sheets and this for summer.

By the way have you all gotten in to Turkish towels yet? They are so much better than the usual beach or bath towel as they dry crazy fast, look super cute too. I bought a bundle of these at Homegoods at the beginning of the summer as I plan to replace all the heavy pool towels with these. They can just get hung up and dry in a flash. No more big loads of beach towels – so much greener and I don’t need to use the dryer. In fact they are so cute I am thinking of getting everyone these for the bathrooms now too. They are also good for kids who need to take a towel to camp or to the beach. They roll up to nothing.

This brand is Oeko certified and has the gamut of colors! Check them out. Do not underestimate how cute these look hung on hooks. They add that summer something to a bath or the yard.

Speaking of summer chic, a photo I took two years summers ago in Sorrento came up online. How dreamy is this square with wicker baskets, blue glass bottles and the cutest gal with with her wayfarers and scarf tied bun enjoying a paperback? I look at this and see La Dolce Vita right there. A reminder to make time each day for more of those naps, books in sun-dappled corners and luxuriating in all the good of summer while we are in it.
That’s it for now kids. Hopefully I’ll be back soon with more if I survive the next two weeks!
Kim
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Well,HIP HIP HOORAY!
The list is dwindling and YES to all YOUR QUESTIONS!BUY The 1962 GLAMOUR SHOT Under the BIG TREE!!!!!
FOR YOUR BATHROOM!!!!
YES To the OTHER OLD PRINTS TOO if they give YOU that MEMORY VIBE!
Our neighbors brought us back last year TURKISH TOWELS which we love although mine are thicker than what your showing which is AMAZING!
I can NOT wait to come down for a TOUR and LUNCH!
I think WE CAN CALL YOU A DECORATOR NOW!!!!!!!!!!
I’m headed down to the veggies to PLUCK the FLOWERS from the ZUCCHINI so THE ITALIAN can make his appetizers!
I best head down NOW before they close their little petals!!
XX
Thanks Elizabeth, I think I need to listen to you and get at least one of these! I am noticing there are different parietals of these towels.They are not all created equal. Yes I hope you can come here as soon as I get my self together and my marbles back. LOL. Enjoy the zucchini flowers. I had that once and it was amazing!! You are so lucky to be wed to an Italian. xoxo
So excited for you, Kim! That said, I know how stressful the final days of a renovation can be. Add a move on top of that and its definitely break-down territory. As we begin our renovation I’m already feeling the stress and enjoyed your photos of pretty, calming summer things to take my mind off the millions of things that need to be done. I’m looking forward to photos of your home once you’re on the other side of this process and enjoying the beauty of your new surroundings. xo
Juliet thank you.. You are brave launching into another, but it will undoubtedly be way easier having gone down that path just recently! I can say knowing what I do now, I could do this faster and smarter..You know still learning here everyday.LOL. I also cannot wait to see your new place! xoxo
So great that you had enough time to write and great to read you. I have had moments of serendipity like you had picking knobs. Moments of grace that give some respite in the craziness. Given your longing for the swimsuits in the photos, you might enjoy the one-piece suits at unique-vintage.com. I got a kick out of the turkish towel in the picture. It looks like the towels we hated on our 1964 year abroad in France. We couldn’t wait to get home to our plush ones.
Sheila I love that…So true there are those good things like when the knobs got put on..I loved them. And coming back to see a room fully done with the tile, etc. It’s all coming together and the other day my oldest said thank you mom for making the house so cool. That was really unexpected and nice.
I am going to check out that swimsuit site. When I was younger and working at Nordstrom in Palo Alto in college, I got to meet Esther Williams and she was promoting some swimsuits that were chic and vintage looking..What a great idea that was. She was lovely!
I didn’t know you had a year in France! 1969! Wow love to hear more about that. So cool! xoxo
Can’t wait to see your renovated home. We bought some of these towels in France last week.
I will post more photos soon of the house. Aren’t these towels cool? I’m finding there are many versions.. Of course ones from France are probably amazing!
Listen, don’t flip[ out. You’re doing a great job. Who could write such a beautiful post in the middle of so much chaos. Love it all. Thanks for the Amazon tips. Great stuff. Beautiful photos. Somehow you’re doing it all with style. Bravo. Now just take a deep breath and a martini!
Sandra thanks so much! You are so kind.. Can’t wait to put my feet up at the new place and have a martini!! xo