My Summer in Europe: Pictures from lovely Florence, Italy

Florence is a must-see if you're going to Italy. It's just so beautiful. I went there for a day in the winter after I graduated college, and wished I had had more time. This summer we stayed for two days so I got to see more of this charming city. While the weather was much nicer in the summer, in the winter it was a treat because there were very few tourists about. If you can somehow manage to go in the Fall or early Spring that would probably be your best bet.



The famous Ponte Vecchio. The bridge is pedestrian and lined with jewelers.

The architecture in Florence is stunning and an interesting mix...

Piazza della Signoria

From my winter trip

There is an popular open-air sculpture garden in the famous
Piazza della Signoria

Inside the Palazzo Vecchio - the most prominent building in Piazza della Signoria

The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is unforgettable



The Baptistery of St. John boasts the famous bronze doors Michelangelo dubbed "The Gates of Paradise"


The beautiful Santa Maria Novella...

Anyone here been to Florence? What did you think?

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

Spring bliss

The weather has been so wishy-washy. Teasing us with a 70 degree day, and then bringing us back down by dropping to 50 overnight! But, the leaves are finally on the trees, and the days are longer - so it's safe to say Spring is here.

I love the longer days...so beautiful
via KML Design

Domino Mag

...and fresh flowers. The first image is flowers in tea tins. I do this, but my tea tins aren't water tight so I put a juice glass with water inside the tea tin and just put the flowers in the glass. The second image is a cute idea: use some glass bottles (they don't have to match), wrap some jute or hemp around them - and you get a lovely handpicked, country centerpiece.
via Country Living

....weekends in the country....
via NiKreations

Love the lanterns hanging from the trees!
via Scandinavian Chic

Meals outside..
When I was a kid, we out outside every evening in the summer. We didn't have a patio, so we just set up chairs and a table right out in the yard

2 images above via Rue Magazine

The ultimate---poolside...
via Design Interior

How do you enjoy spring?

2 lovely but different homes: a photographer's loft, and a couple's ode to their travels

First, a photographers bright and breezy loft, filled with things she's collected and uses for photo props...

awww.... and I love the old radio (I think that's what that is) as a side table

The large chalkboard actually hides some unsightly electrical panels

This table is like a little personal collection of curiosities

I'm still into the clear console tables - does anyone have one? How's it holding up?

Next, the home of a couple who are world travelers, yet proclaim themselves also to be homebodies. I can relate to this because I love traveling, but I also love coming back home.

Under the classic alarm clock is one of the funniest books ever, "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris. If you haven't read it - do so...

These panels from Indonesia were too big to get back home, so they bought similar ones they found imported to the states. I deal with this all the time. When I travel, I often just have a book bag, and sometimes shipping an item back home is more expensive from buying something similar already imported to the states...

The painting is a child's work from Cambodia. They sell their art on the streets to pay for tuition.

This gold Buddha is from Chiang Mai, Thailand

This silver elephant is from Cambodia

via Covet Garden

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A tidy bedroom means more family time....

Do Not Miss: The phenomenal interior photography of Richard Powers

Okay, these images really speak for themselves. I am super busy today, so of course, I started it off by cyber-slacking looking at design blogs. I stumbled upon Richard Powers's portfolio and just had to share it with you asap. So, if you're slacking too, you won't regret it after seeing these pics...

*hint: click on each image for a larger view - it makes a big difference and you won't regret it!



Gorgeous

The two above are from the Royal Mansour Hotel in Marrakesh.

This is a hotel - awesome bathroom!



Love the window seats - if that's what you would call those...







The two images above were shot in Istanbul


Are these not divinity?

all images property of Richard Powers