Interior Designer Lori Pepe - Lunché : Relaxed and Beautiful

The portfolio of Berkeley, CA interior designer Lori Pepe - Lunché evokes several adjectives: relaxed, unstuffy, warm, welcoming, and refreshing. All very good things. Here are a few of my favorite rooms by Lori.

White bedding...I think white bedding is my favorite.  I have lots of printed linens, but I always think my bedroom looks prettiest when my bed is done in all whites...

I adore this bathroom.  The cool slick marble contrasting with the branch sconces and decor is glamorous, but not too overt.

The small Berkeley kitchen below is full of cool storage solutions

How cool are those utensil holders?  I've never seen anything like them before.

Check out Lori's fab blog, Design Salon.

around the house...

Happy Halloween!

We had the family over this weekend to celebrate my mom's birthday and enjoy that some cool weather finally seems to be arriving.  I have pumpkins around my house and candles lit and we are slowly starting to feel like Fall.  Starting to feel those holiday times creeping in on us.  Off to watch some grandkids trick or treat tonight and then on to California again to bring back some more treasures for the big grand opening of the Union.  Stay tuned!

A Ghost?

With Halloween coming up, you might think this picture might be of a ghost....

Normally you don't see a white one of these...

It is a white squirrel.  They are rare but seen around here occasionally.  This one has been hanging around our house.  I was really happy to be able to get the picture above.  Normally every time I run and get the camera, he takes off or turns his back on me...lol.

I will miss seeing all of the wildlife around here, like this tiny baby bear, and this bear, these bluebirds, the baby turkeys, fawn and deer.

Some of you have asked we our moving date is.  We are closing in a few days and at this point the moving date is scheduled for Nov. 26.  We are looking forward to being in our own home again.

Hoping all of you are safe and sound after the wrath of Sandy.

xo

Penny

My Summer in Europe - Budapest Part 2

If you saw my first post covering our trip in Budapest, you know how much I loved it. It is such an amazing city. There were so many photos I wanted to share that I had to break it up into two posts, so here goes again.

The Hungarian Parliament Building is one of Europe's oldest legislative buildings and the largest building in Hungary.

Aerial views from the top of St. Stephen's Basilica

A view of Castle Hill - you can see the top of Fisherman's Bastion

Along with my 10 week backpacking trip with my fiance Chris, I have also done traveling on my own to France and Italy.  Traveling alone is an enjoyable, albeit different experience than traveling with a friend.  Everything is on your scheduled and your preferences.  I think it's becoming more popular to take single vacations, as more and more places are advertising themselves to the lone traveler.

One of the highlights for me was the stunning, not-to-be-missed Matthias Church.  Unfortunately because of the bright spotlights from the ceiling, and our not-so-great camera, it was hard to capture the beautiful blue of the ceiling.

If you really like these you MUST go to 360 Cities where you can click and drag for a 360 degree, high res. view of the church

Here are some screen grabs from 360 cities.

Here's that list again of all my posts from our travels that I've posted -

Spain
•Introduction to my European backpacking trip and a list of places we visited
• Galicia - Baiona and Isle de Cies
• Galicia - the coast, some charming vineyards, and Pontevedra
• Santiago de Compostela and gorgeous hidden beaches
• Gorgeous mountain lakes of Picos de Europa
• Stunning mountains - Picos de Europa
• Bilbao and San Sebastian
• Beautiful Barcelona
• The amazing Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona
• Art Nouveau dream house by Gaudi in Barcelona

Italy
• Not to miss - the gorgeous rocky coast of Italy's Cinque Terre
• More from my summer traveling Europe - amazing Rome
• From my summer in Europe - amazing Pompeii
• Turquoise ocean and vineyards on cliffs - the amazingly stunning Amalfi coast
• My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy
• Enchanting Siena
•Venice
•Lake Como, Italy

Switzerland
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 1
•Jungfrau region, Switzerland, Part 2

Germany
• One of my favorite cities from my European backpacking trips - Ulm, Germany
• Lake Constance
• Cute HOUSE Overload - the charming medieval homes of Germany's Romantic Road
• Regensburg, Germany, and Salzburg, Austria  

Austria
• Salzburg
• A charming lakeside village, Hallstatt
• Beautiful Vienna
• Kunst Haus Wien in Vienna

Hungary
• Budapest Part 1

*disclosure: This post is brought to you in partnership with Varvacations.com

tory burch

The newest member of the Burch family.  

Even little Tory loves the best linen!  Bella Notte is doggie friendly!

Come in to check out all the wonderful Bella Notte we have in stock!

Getting cozy inside when it's stormy out...

As I'm sure you all know by now, here on the East Coast we are all bracing for Sandy to hit. Schools are closed, offices are closed, and transit is at a halt. There's no where to go but to stay home, and why not make it as cozy and comfy as possible?

I'd love to know where this house is

We were without power for a whole week this summer, so we're bracing for the worst this time, and have gathered up all of our candles and filled all of our pots with water.

Nothing says cozy like marshmallows and cocoa.

And of course, park yourself in front of the fire if you are lucky enough to have one...

How do you get cozy?

via: 1. Sweet Home Style 2.  Pinterest, 3. Pinterest 4. Ruffles and Pleats  5. Heart Home 6. Crate and Barrel, 7. Pinterest  8. Project Wedding,  9. Pinterest via A Day That is Desert  10. House Beautiful

House Whispering and Packing

I am spending the next few weeks packing.  Rather than pack all at once, I am spreading it out a little, taking my time.  I am marking the boxes with the contents and room that it will go in.  That way, when moving day comes, I will be able to tell the movers where to put each box.

While I am packing I am day dreaming about what the new house will look like with all of my old familiar pieces.

At our previous home, we had this lion fountain in the middle of our back yard.  Here is my previous backyard and fountain, below.

We loved it, but it stayed with the house when we sold it.  So, I have been looking around the internet and found some ideas for a new lion fountain at the new house.  This time, since the yard is much smaller, we are thinking about having a wall mounted fountain.  Here are some inspiration photos.  All of the photos are from Houzz.com

Mediterranean Entry design by San Francisco Architect Simpson Design Group Architects

Traditional Landscape design by Birmingham Landscape Architect Bob Elam, APLD

Traditional Patio design by Atlanta Architect Kenneth Lynch & Associates

Mediterranean Patio design by Los Angeles Landscape Architect CARL BALTON & ASSOCIATES

I can hear the trickle of the water...can you?

Okay, back to reality.  Packing....

I hope all everyone in the path of Sandy, stays safe and warm!