​To say it is hot here in Texas is the UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE DECADE=;( On days like this I yearn for the North. Cooler temps, fireflies dancing at night, and savoring the long summer days. Hey...when you know it is 80 degrees in November you don't exactly embrace July in Texas.  Well...maybe my kids do as school is right around the corner.  Hallelujah! Back to the blog!  

​My new Walpole Outdoors catalog arrived today and it made me dream of charming Cape Cod style homes, times at the Jersey Shore and the sublime beauty of Kennybunkport, Maine in early August. Sigh.... Since the next time I will see the North it will no doubt be 30 degrees, I am going to linger on these summer shots. 

For those not familiar with Walpole Outdoors (formerly Walpole Woodworkers) this company flies under the radar but needs to be discovered for those that love making their outdoor space sing. 

I have purchased a number of products from this company including a mailbox I am still grieving the loss of...I hope the new owners of my last home love it the way I did=;) To me WO embodies all of the beauty of the North and a life filled with a true appreciation of fleeting warm-weather days.  Here are a few of my favorite images from Walpole Outdoors.

​While the company started in Massachusetts, WO products are now widely used all over the country.  This pergola comes with all the needed materials and is assembled onsite.  You will note a cover for rain and sun and electrical can be run as well for fans.  The columns are gorgeous!  This piece fits perfectly with the hardscapes in lovely this Bucks County, PA backyard.

​Is there anything better then the juxtaposition of crisp white trim offset by a dark color? The light post can be sold with or without an accompanying light.  If you choose to use WO, they have a number of attractive lights to choose from on the website.  They also offer companion lights. 

​This one has Jersey Shore written all over it!  The fence and gate are perfection! 

​Walpole Outdoors offers a number of retail sites in New England.  This charming barn style shop is located in Westport, Connecticut.  The website and catalog are very robust and offer a solid shopping experience for those not located near a WO shop. 

​Ahhh...summer days!  This post has the added detail of a lantern with a sign bracket.  Walpole Outdoors also makes beautiful custom signs with lettering and numbers.  

​The sweet shed (She Shed please!!!) is one of many that Walpole Outdoors makes and can send to anywhere in the country for onsite installation.  The cupola, fence, and flower boxes all make this shed an enchanting addition to any backyard.  

​When folks wonder how to gain curb appeal, this is a great example of where to start.  Outdoor lights that are large enough to ground the space on either side of the door, hearty shrubs such as boxwoods that don't require a lot of maintenance and ground cover mixed with a welcoming hardscape...this is it!  The cost of the Walpole Outdoors lantern pole is not that expensive and will add loads of charm to the front of your home.  

​I hope you have been inspired or at least enjoyed the view=:)  Walpole has an endless bounty of outdoor treasures.  Take a trip to the website and/or request a catalog.  The inspiration pictures are stunning.  I suspect you will find room in your budget for a few items!  
 
One final reminder, Walpole Outdoors ships throughout the US and Canada.  Arrangements can be made to ship to the Caribbean as well as Hawaii and Alaska. 

​It has been a long summer here in Texas.  Holy hot!!  I hope everyone is keeping cool and enjoying the lazy days of summer.  It has been a while since I have blogged, but decided it is time to fire up the engines again.  There is so much in the design world to see and share.  There is also a tremendous amount of design activity in Texas and specifially in the Houston area. On that note, I bring you a little slice of heaven located here in Southeast Texas....True Blue Home! 

​In the time since I moved to the Houston area I have done my fair share of travel for not only design related expeditions (Round Top y'all) but alas...I have been all over this state for competitive soccer. That is another story! 

For 4 weeks this past April I blazed a trail from The Woodlands, TX to Brenham, TX every weekend for soccer.  One of my absolute joys was passing by and visiting True Blue Home in Chappell Hill, Texas.  Oh the sweet joy this little shop brings me.

​Located roughly 90 minutes from Houston, this little gem of a store started off on a quiet street in Chappell His, Texas. It has since moved a mile or so and is now on 290 which a lot of folks use for travel between Houston and Austin.  This is also one of the few roads that can get you in and out of Round Top for those that go on the annual or bi-annual pilgrimage. 

This charming shop immediately grabs your attention.  Once inside let the lovefest begin.  It is design love at first site.  Rich with textiles, art, stationery, and modern farmhouse accessories, your eye doesn't know where to land first. Did I mention the second floor.  Gah...my heart! 

​The second floor has a display bathroom ripe with candles, soaps, the MOST heavenly diffusers, towels, robes, and even divine lighting.  Every inch of this shop has been tended to with thoughtful detail.  The diffusers that True Blue sells have become a signature hostess gift of mine. The aroma is fresh and enchanting and I haven't been able to find anything like it anywhere else.
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You really need to take your time in True Blue Home. Give yourself at least an hour to linger and visit the cafe.  The sites and scents immediately draw you in.  The styled rooms, mirrors, cashmere throws, pottery, candles, and well appointed furnishing will sing to you!  

​The photo above is just one of the gorgeous Visual Comfort lighting pieces that is on display.  There is actually an entire wall of Visual Comfort lighting to view.  The charming Visual Comfort sconces can be seen throughout the shop.  This Moravian Star has always been on of my favorites.  I have seen this chandelier dressed up or, in this instance, anchor a shabby chic
farmhouse with shiplap and a tin ceiling.  The floor lamp is also Visual Comfort. 

The cozy room continues...the opposite side features art, signature blue chairs with ottomans and more Visual Comfort lighting on the side table.  Don't you want to grab that nightgown, a book and a glass of wine and curl up for a long read? 
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​While the house is a generous size, so much bigger than the original shop, it is filled to the brim with linen furniture and shades of blue in everything from rugs to lamps to pillows.  

​The shop lives up to its name.  Shades of blue envelop you as you enter the store.  If you are
a John Robshaw fan this shopping experience will equal nirvana!  Oh...his pillows abound!

This venue is tailor-made for hostess or housewarming gifts.  AND GUESS WHAT??? AMAZING NEWS!!! True Blue Home is in the process of finishing its online store.  So for those of you who won't be making a trip to Houston or Round Top in the near future...there is still an opportunity to experience this gracious little retreat's wares.  Hint, get the diffuser=;)

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​Last but certainly not least...you must try the avocado and toast sandwich with a cappuccino at the attached Honeysuckle cafe.  Sink into the oversized chairs or pull up a seat either indoor or outdoor for a sandwich and a sweet tea.  Texas is calling y'all.