usually when i see this much color i might shy away — it can often be too much for me (lover of all things sedate in decor). but this paris apartment just works and doesn’t feel over the top to me — instead it’s very cheerful and full of that french joie de vivre. featured recently on inside out magazine, i admire the owner’s adventurous endeavor with the color blue — and not just one shade but many, and paired with those classic high ceilings and ornate crown moldings the combination makes for a dramatic yet playful juxtaposition.

• photography via inside out magazine.

today we’re dropping in on the bright, light and very charming abode of Ayla Gurganus. ayla is a floral designer who runs soulflowers in Atlanta, Georgia specializing in everyday bouquets, intimate weddings, and events, as well as designing home parties. energized by the elegance and beauty from florals, ayla combines that with a passion for foraging in nature to compose free flowing, whimsical arrangements. Soulflowers originally started as a mobile flower cart bringing pre-arranged fresh floral designs to the streets of Atlanta and has now grown into a complete floral studio. and ayla has most recently been in the process of opening a micro flower shop inside of a local boutique, young blood in Atlanta that will open their doors this week. she resides with david, her sweet husband of three years and their two pups, Ziggy and Olive. let’s check out their home sweet home, and for more from ayla, follow along on instagram.

• photography by Morgan Beatton for Ayla Gurganus.

file under pop: even the name is rad. their whole clever collection is file-worthy and definitely packs a pop. but ever so tastefully — paint, wallpaper, tile, and lavastone are all pretty stunning. take their wallpaper stylisation collection — one design boasts hand painted wallpaper where paint is used together with white gold leaf and paired with something exotic and beautiful called Jesmonite pieces. file under pop’s projects and installations mirror designer and founder’s josephine akvama hoffmeyer own home  — or is it the other way around? (see my earlier morning post to see what i mean). their studio located in Frederiksstaden, a historical part of Copenhagen, is truly inspired and regardless, it’s all quite smashing. you can see and sampling of some of my personal favorites and see more file under pop on the site. oh, there’s some pretty impressive and interesting press here and be sure and follow on instagram, too.

• photography via file under pop.

those tiles probably had you at hello, am i right? well, they had me for sure. this is the beautiful barcelona home of designer paloma lanna, an eclectic home filled with sentimental objets d’art that symbolize memories of paloma’s mother and father, drawings of friends, photographs taken by friends, and a ceramic collection from people she admires. therefore, a very personal space — everything has a history. if you love this space, you might also like to check out Paloma wool, the brainchild of paloma lanna — a multidisciplinary project & shop that was born from all her diverse interests — fashion, photography, art and design. her home is one of those spaces with loads of character that seem to truly reflect the soul of its inhabitant. for the full home tour visit architectural digest espana.

• photography via architectural digest espana.

let’s bring a little bohemian into the boudoir, shall we? this happens to be my personal favorite look — a little funky, a bit romantic and very vintage-inspired. i aim for this vibe in my own bedroom and get the look with unique lighting, like my hanging pendant lamps, a Fringe Throw Blanket, crochet trimmed sheets, and fluffy and velvet throw pillows. think unexpected and mixed but definitely not matched. a statement-making headboard helps, as well as a great duvet cover — on top of my own pale gray duvet i add a vintage white crochet lace bedspread — it makes for a really comfy layered look, and i love the contrast of the gray peeking through the white crochet. my advice is to just have fun and play with it — but that’s always my theory about design — use what you love, try it out and if it turns out you hate it, change it up again! when you use vintage pieces they’re usually affordable, and the resale opportunities are endless. if i don’t like it — onto craigslist, chairish or ebay it goes, or i sell it at the next yard sale. viva la vintage!

• photo credits in order of appearance: sweet home; bungalow classic; castles crowns and castles; waste vintage; vintage candelabra; the every girl; drop dead gorgeous; bungalow classic; living etc.; the socialite family; architectural digest espana; lonny; elle decoration; Wire Loop Vanity at urban outfitters; hautelook; elle decor; grace spain; vartnya hem; toast uk ; miss zeit; ida painting via artilleriet; ideal home uk; ahigo.

okay, i kid you not — this may be one of the coolest products i’ve been asked to review in some time. i am completely smitten with my new Google Home. Google Home is a voice-activated speaker powered by the Google Assistant — you ask it questions and tell it to do things. honestly, i didn’t know what to expect because i’m a bit of a Luddite when it comes to technology (even though i practically live online, technology stumps me a lot!). but i was asked to check out the new Google Home, and this little piece of tech is my new BFF. you literally plug in the device, download the app on your phone or tablet, give it a bit of information on your wifi situation etcetera and then it basically makes your life a whole bunch easier. i’ve been redecorating around here and sprucing things up for spring, so i found a nice little spot for Google Home right among my beloved treasures and she fits right in. and, you can easily move it around — simply unplug and plug it in elsewhere.

i used to struggle a bit with my wireless speaker and now i just say, “hey google, can you play me some mellow music?” and she (i think she’s a she) says “sure, I’ll play your spotify mix called mellow music”. it’s as simple as that. you can ask her to turn the volume up or down, skip a song, or move on to another playlist. or play your favorite podcasts or news stations, like the lastest from NPR.

i asked Google Home to set an alarm for me for 7:30am and she woke me up nicely. i asked her (i think i need to give her a name) what my day looked like and she reads off my calendar appointments and the weather. i’m telling you it’s pretty magical how she syncs up with my calendar and knows more than i do about the cosmos and what the day will look like and whether i need short sleeves or a light jacket.

i also put her to the test in the kitchen and asked my Google Home what to make with fresh basil and she read off an encyclopedia of options including how to make fresh pesto. i asked her where the closest neighborhood florist was and she named three great spots close by. you can ask her what museums are open, or ask her for an interesting tidbit of information and she’ll rattle off some amazing topics and trivia. this girl has got it all — looks and brains. i’m pretty much in love with my Google Home — and maybe best of all — when she talks back, she talks back nicely.

• photography by lily glass for sfgirlbybay.

This is a sponsored post in partnership with Google Home and all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep sfgirlbybay going with fresh content every day.

there are days when the mind wanders and we dream of living elsewhere, right? i mean, as much as we love our own homes, we can occasionally get that feeling that ‘the grass is always greener’ somewhere else. for me it can be the dream of living in a place with uber tall and very ornate ceilings — someplace like antwerp, or paris, london, or even brooklyn where their brownstones have enviable architectural details such as these. here in southern california we aren’t as apt to have these skyscraper tall ceilings and beautiful crown moldings, except for in the odd victorian still left standing in certain neighborhoods like angelino heights or hancock park, and of course mansions in beverly hills. but the average homes here in L.A. aren’t like these fancy spaces, so today i’m dreaming about being able to decorate a space like one of these — especially if that means contrasting all the ornate with a modern edge. — come along with me, won’t you?

• photo credits in order of appearance: home of fanny moizant via ring the belle; vogue living; swedish furniture; heidi’s bridge; Morgane Sézalory’s home via a cup of jo; Ellie Goulding’s apartment via cargo collective; cote maison; Angelika Taschen’s home via sandra semburg ; home of Matthew Brookes via elle; elle decor; domino; frank leder’s apartment via catview; dust jacket; grace spain; white & faded; fashion gone rouge; emma hos.

one of my favorite bloggers, niki brantmark of my scandinavian home has a brand new decor book out, and i think you’re want to add it to your design library. the book is the Scandinavian home: Interiors inspired by light, and since niki’s blog covers this design trend extensively on her blog, she’s the perfect person to compile the look into a book. Scandinavia is famous for homes that are pared-back and simple, and form and function are combined to create aesthetically pleasing but practical interiors. also inspired by light, having an abundance of it in summer but so little of it in winter and Scandinavians tend to maximize the amount of natural light that enters their homes, making the most of outdoor life during the summer. Similarly, nature and the weather are major influences: homes are made warm and cozy for the freezing winter months—not just literally with log burners, but also through incorporating wood and natural materials. the Scandinavian home shares an abundance of these beautiful homes and explores how the Scandinavian lifestyle is reflected in them all — from minimalist to bohemian, and pale palettes to dramatic dark colors. here’s a sneak peek of some of my favorite images from this beautiful book.

• photography images are the copyright of CICO Books; photographed by James Gardiner for the Scandinavian home: Interiors inspired by light.

this week dwell magazine featured the home of architect Benedetta Tagliabue — a crumbling 18th-century flat in the middle of Barcelona. i don’t think i’ve ever seen such elaborate and gorgeous moldings the likes of these, especially in their dining room — simply not to be surpassed! the incredibly beautiful tagliabue home has reached almost mythical status among the city’s architects and designers — “Have you ever been to Bene’s house?” is a question often heard in the city’s gatherings. for a full tour, and the complete story head on over to dwell.

i love the story-telling images of barcelona-based photographer salva lópez. he seems to just slip in and capture the mood of a space perfectly — like a fly on the wall, there’s no disrupting the elements — just a very personal documentary of what’s taking place. this story, for instance, commissioned by client Monocle Magazine of a husband-and-wife team in their live/work apartment in spain. the creative couple decided to transform their apartment behind Madrid’s Paseo de Prado into a space in which they could live and work, and salva has managed to make us feel as though we’re actually in their comfortable abode — i can practically smell their lovely leather goods. you can see the full story on monocle (which is an amazing magazine if you don’t already subscribe!) and more images on the online portfolio of salva lópez.

• photography by salva lópez for Monocle Magazine.

i’m such a fan of barcelona-based photographer salva lópez. his photographs for clients like dwell, freunde von freunden and monocle magazine have such an ethereal, peaceful quality of light, and they make me want to crawl into them and live my life right there and then. these spaces are the perfect example of what i’m talking about. modern, sometimes sparse, but eclectic and perfectly styled, salva lópez captures light with his camera exactly like i’d like to.

• photography by salva lópez.

homestead seattle.

sometimes when i think about beach house style, i like to think in terms of a more sophisticated color palette. instead of say nautical blue, i think neutrals, black, white — the colors of sand, black coral, thatched huts, and the color of the ocean under the moonlight. ever since my trip to tulum i’ve been obsessed, and strongly impacted by the style i saw represented there, so my new house is taking on quite a bit of this vibe. i’ve still got my pops of pink here and there, but much more understated. i’ll be sharing soon, after a few renovations, but in the meantime, here’s an idea of the kind of looks i’m really loving. an eclectic mix of mid-century modern, meets gidget, meets beach hut sophisticate.

olga olsson; fringed hammock from serena & lily; two leaking bags; reunde von freunden skate deck; and 100 layer cake.

kimberly-genevieve via desire to inspire.

architectural digest; room + bloom pom pom pillow; k2 modern; the bikini enthusiast.

Modernist Iron Chairs from green cycle design.

alchemy works via oxcroft (above); and taylranne (below).

HOME LIFE.

alvhem.

the ultimate beach hut bathroom, via design*sponge.

as these images demonstrate, lighting can really make or break a room. the right light can add drama or make a bold statement. i noticed when i was europe their use of an eclectic mix of lighting and how it really impacted my mood. one room i stayed in had probably five different lighting fixtures and not one matched, and yet it all worked fabulously together. i went hunting on chairish for some killer lighting and was not disappointed. i’m still on the search for a perfect fixture in my bathroom and favorited a bunch of potentials as well as some lighting ideas you might like. here’s a few i love.

my chairish favorites: 1. Blown Glass Onion Cage Pendant; 2. Wicker & Brass Wall Sconce; 3. Mid-Century Fiberglass Shade Hanging Church Light; 4. Bohemian Wicker Floor Lamp; 5. Luxus Uno & Östen Kristiansson Pendant Lamp; 6. Vintage Black Tole Extending Wall Lamp; 7. Spanish-Style Brass Chandelier; 8. a pair of 1950s Bent Rattan Lamps.

• photo credits in order of appearance: civico quattro; gravity home; schottlander; architectural digest; lonny; stylist shannon fricke; rue magazine; louis poulsen lamp by pia winther; the socialite family; palette; 9798.

This post made possible in partnership with chairish but all opinions and thoughts are my own. thanks for the supporting the brands that make sfgirlbybay possible.

this week’s wear this there may be strictly scandinavian in design sensibility, but when it comes to the fare it’s a trip to the mediterranean coast of italy — a magical mixture no doubt. with shocking teal seating against a pure light wood, and white walled structure the italian is the spot to hang in copenhagen. designed by the norm architects studio, it’s worthy of a few snaps of you in your look of the day. a peachy frock, with your neutral accessory game on point, you’ll be ready to face whatever carbs come at you from the italian menu. our read this there of the week is the sweet novel a gentleman in moscow (obviously we have european cities on the brain), the perfect summer read.

~ michaela d’artois, vérité published.

wear this there: gap tencel shirred boatneck dress; via raiz crin sencillia necklace; intentionally black joy in black shoe; cuyana leather travel wallet; grei small tassel keychain; Pamela Love Monte Ring; read this there a gentleman in moscow by amor towles; need supply Acne Studios Scientist Sunglasses in Black; w3ll people bio bronzer stick; j. hannah nail polish in agnes; shop vérité les courses tote.

• photography via est magazine.

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festivities abound can be found in the pigalle district of paris, at pink mamma. a restaurant brimming with foliage, good lighting, and dreamy dinnerware, this is a no-miss for those looking to overload their instagram story with the most awe-worthy shots, and their bellies with edible souvenirs. pink mamma is just one of many from the parisian restaurant group, big mamma. a classic french menu, with seasonal twists, you can’t go wrong, even if you don’t speak a lick of français! throw on an eyelet summer frock set, your favorite organic lipstick, and a good pair of millennial-pink shoes because you’ll want to look your best for such a spot! this weeks read this there is in fact a listen to this there, as we binge the latest true crime podcast up and vanished.

~ michaela d’artois, vérité published.

wear this there: front row shop lace top; front row shop frilled lace skirt; by far shoes in colleen pink; clare v. salmon new look poppy bougainvillea Flat Clutch; ilia lipstick in paradise; listen to this there up and vanished podcast; anthropologie Ladder Tassel Drop Earrings; shop shade dylan shields sunglasses; ban.do keep your chin up bandana; front row shop straw hat.

• photography courtesy of milk decoration.

meet the latest from light locations — a Very serene Victorian house in Queens Park, england complete with garden summerhouse! i tend to get lost wandering the beautiful english location homes in light locations’ inventory and this one is particularly lovely and the styling spot on. the color palette has me feeling soothed, and the each vignette is styled subtlely but with just enough interesting objects to draw me in. the artwork’s nothing to sneeze at, either. for the full tour of the charming english stunner, visit light locations.

• photography courtesy of light locations.

this light-filled danish cottage is a whitewashed floor fan’s dream come true. look how everything just pops off those perfectly polished white painted floors — those black sofas look especially dramatic. perhaps not your most practical decor plan, but hey i’m just fantasizing here — i don’t have to clean them. besides, if it’s just a wee cottage that you slip away to on long weekends, how bad could it possibly be? that mix and mismatched dining room set up, and the exposed beamed ceilings are oh-so-sweet, too. featured in inside out, i love the entire space just exactly as it is.

• photography by Morten Holtum for inside out.

some days, not just mondays you want to bury your head under the covers and just glide under the guise of sleep a while longer — stay in our safe space. i felt like that all weekend. i don’t want to bury my head under the comfort of covers and ignore what’s happening in our country, but at the same time i find myself with a loss for the right words. i don’t know how to eloquently say how i’m feeling, but i also don’t want to ignore what’s going on not just in Charlottesville, but across our country. i want to acknowledge how much sadness, pain and dispair i feel and see around me and hope that we can collectively do better. we can’t let the ideology of white supremacy grow and fester — history shows us what happens when hate is allowed to spread unchecked. this weekend, Heather Heyer, who lost her life standing up to hatred in protest said it well in her last public facebook post, ‘If you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention”. and my wise friend casey put it beautifully, and very succinctly: “love cannot win if we are not its warriors.” i’m supposed to share beauty here, not my personal views but to not say anything at all felt like taking this space for granted and insulting you, my intelligent, caring and thoughtful readers. so instead of sinking back into my safe space under the covers, i’m opting for small gestures and small actions to start with. i will not grow weary. i will fight with compassion and in solidarity. this morning i decided to linger in my imagination if just for a little while and discover some spaces invoking calm clear heads, and simpler times. find the love, friends and shout it out loud. crush the hate. xo, victoria

• photography credits in order of appearance: brooke holm for share design; @tessahop; fantastic frank; once wed; anona studio; miluccia; stardust; caminario; light locations; nicole franzen photography; sincerely kinsey; @sarcuz; Brigid Arnott photography for Country Style Magazine; architectural digest espana; the sydney morning herald.

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i adore my california craftsman bungalow style home — its sloped, open beamed white ceilings are a big part of what sold me. but sometimes, i miss the grandeur of the really tall ceilings you could find in san francisco victorians or a brooklyn brownstone — tall and usually not without those incredibly ornate crown moldings. these spaces fit that bill — beautiful sky-high ceilings and very often accented with a bold choice of paint on their walls to accentuate those killer moldings. plus, these taller rooms allow for some statement-making pendant lighting, and those pretty ceiling medallions. you can fake that look — faux medallions abound so go ahead and add a great light fixture and get the look — fake it ’til you make it to your very own sky-high ceilings.

• photography credits in order of appearance: vogue; latest collection from west elm; simon watson photography; simply grove; @homesteadseattle; bo bedre; coco kelley; french by design; light locations; elle france; inside closet; fantasic frank; architectural digest espana; tom delavan photography; emily andrews photography.

there’s nothing shy about the renovation of Interior Designer Jenny Wolf’s Cobble Hill townhouse featured recently on vogue. sure, we start off with neutrals — black, white and pops of pink, including that sweet pink tufted sofa. but soon enough pattern and color play a huge part in giving this eclectic brooklyn home oodles of style — from bedrooms with bold wallpaper patterns to color-blocked walls (and a blue tin ceiling!) everything you think might work against each other actually looks quite smashing. and speaking of smashing — there’s definitely a healthy dose of British influence happening here, and it’s just brilliant! for the full home tour, visit vogue.

• photography via vogue.