it just so happens it’s lilac season and i’m never mad about that. i picked some fresh blooms up at our local farmer’s market last week and i couldn’t help but notice how many shades of these sweet-smelling flowers there are, et voilà — the inspiration took hold. so i decided to round up this week’s color story around all the lovely hues found in these pretty floral bunches, from plum to deep purple, to pale lavender and the actual shade of lilac, here are some sometimes very romantic, often modern, and sophisticated looks inspired by just one of nature’s many beautiful color palettes. and if you like this look, i think you’ll also enjoy following @thelavenderghost on instagram — her feed and shop are full of this kind of inspiration, just like her bedroom just below and her very fabulous dining room further down the post.

clockwise, l to r: kitchen backsplash by @carlaypage; 1947 landmark cover from vogue; CHRISTINA LUNDSTEEN Stripe Velvet Bolster Pillow from amara; wildflowers by @anekirstine.bilde; Charlie Sprout Baoule Pom Pom Throw from Anthropologie; fruit platter via ruvi; KARTELL Componibili Storage Unit from amara; floral photography by fanée on behance; colored glassware by @thelavenderghost; amara LUXE Barroc purple Highball Glasses; luke edward hall artwork via another magazine; JONATHAN ADLER Eyes Valet Tray from amara; wallpaper via hgtv; Lorena Canals upendo woolable rug from maisonette. below: cocktail glasses from the lavender ghost.

clockwise, l to r: painting by artist kenny harris; plums by @anekirstine.bilde; Semikah Textiles Moroccan Kunal Rug; CHRISTINA LUNDSTEEN Isabel Velvet Pillow from amara; ASSOULINE Provence Glory book by François Simon; plum tile backsplash via @ailsa_macconnell; SIMPATICO Hobnail Glass Candle in Fig; bougainvillea via le ciel de paris; rustic plum-colored room via cassia viviani; luke edward hall artwork; JONATHAN ADLER Vice Canister for Gummies; plum sofa by @jen_wonders; watercolor figs; lilac bedroom via the socialite family; color palette via newendy.

• photography credits: click on the image which will take you to its original source. in the case of my collages, the links are listed just below clockwise from left to right.

bonjour mes amis! as i may have mentioned i’ve been trying to learn french on duolingo — have you tried it? i’ve found it’s quite a cute and easy app to study with. and i’m doing this because i really hope when i get back to france to shop for super marché i’d like to be able to communicate a whole lot better! or anyplace, really. i’ve still got a very bad case of wanderlust, thus this week’s friday finds. i hope you are getting out of your houses this long memorial day weekend and maybe even heading out on a travel adventure of your very own!

xo, victoria

1. i discovered this fabulous beach house designed by tamsin johnson when @coco.kelley featured it on instagram and had to do a deeper dive. tasmin’s work is really up my alley — eclectic, unfussy and a tad bit whimsical — perfect for a beach house. visit her instagram account for much more inspiration.
2. if this charming kitchen doesn’t scream Mediterranean getaway, i just don’t know what does. it’s the beautiful Mallorca home of Mercedes Lopez Coello and her instagram account will get you swooning for a trip for a stay in Spain’s beautiful Balearic islands.
3. i’ve long been a fan of everything hotel magique designs and her new tote bags are no different — i love this perfect holiday beach accessory, her Fruity magique tote bag. she also has a brand new coffee table book out The Pleasure of Leisure that looks rather wanderlust-worthy.
4. i just love this repurposed ‘caryatid’ @amyazzarito hung on her bookcases. aka a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support like those at the Acropolis in Athens amy won at auction on @liveauctioneers (i’ve got to check them out!). it’s just the perfectly unexpected placement!
5. if you’ve been dreaming of visiting portugal, and i highly recommend it, the founders of @themadeiracollection.be, a Portuguese wine company, have been hounded by friends for advice on visiting Portugal, and so the duo conceived the Addresses, a newly launched hospitality brand that offers stays in their private guest houses throughout Portugal’s coastal Algarve. gorgeous!
6. i keep seeing the traditional mexican serape blanket popping back into my web feed and i have gathered up a few myself for those cooler laguna evenings on my porch. they look great, like this one from vogue fashion editor eugénie trouhu’s home featured on the socialite family and they are super affordable — check out etsy for loads of options. this one’s gorgeous.
7. remember headscarves? so popular when i was young and my mum used to wear one all the time. i find them so chic, and yet i have the shape of head that seems to make them always slip off! double drat! wear them for me, won’t you? and if you like them too, check out my pinboard dedicated to the stylish fashion accessory.
8. this is such an inspiring home tour of photographer ana hop’s mexico city home. i’ve featured that amazing window library before, but you should check out the whole gorgeous tour on in bed. from this simple vignette you can see how simply you can pull together a pretty pile of books and seashells for an easy beachside vibe.

• photography credits: click on the image which will take you to its original source.

today we’re headed to one of my favorite parts of the world — the rustic, romantic and so very Italian island of Sicily. specifically, we’re off to Siracusa, the gorgeous city on the Ionian coast of Sicily known for its ancient ruins, to stay at our very beautiful home away from home, the serene and sunbleached nineteenth-century estate, Dimora delle Balze. also known as an ideal wedding destination, Dimora delle Balze is surrounded by beautiful historical places, so the hotel offers exclusive tours to the ancient nearby cities, providing us easy accessibility to these places full of charm and historical heritage, to enjoy the views of Baroque and Renaissance palaces while taking in the romantic scents of the Mediterranean. gosh, i love Sicily and can’t wait to return. i’ve put together some ensembles for you to pack for a long weekend away. we start with a very feminine crocheted tank top and flowy white maxi skirt, paired with sexy black strappy sandals and chic oversized sunnies to shield your eyes from that bright Sicilian sunshine. add to that some beautiful aquamarine baubles and a fun oversized straw tote — perfect for both farmer’s markets and lazy beach days. i’ve also packed you a cute two-piece swimsuit, beach cover-up, pool slides, and my favorite packable sunhat. all you need now is a good read and i suggest Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams.  it’s the epic tale of star-crossed lovers in pre-war Europe colliding with a woman on the run in the swinging ’60s — the perfect poolside or seaside read.

wear this there: mango Openwork knit top; Madewell x WYETH Dylan Rancher Hat; Anthropologie Hermina Athens Sealstone Emerald Necklace; mango Combined 2 ring set; mango Raffia shopper bag; mango Vichy check dress; Isabel Marant Cat Eye Sunglasses; clare v. eyeglass Pouch Black with Eyes; j.crew Cotton-linen sleeping gown in gathered floral block print; mainsonette birdling weekend bag in slate; read this there Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams; & other stories Bleu Innocent Nail Polish; all saints BELL LEATHER SLIDES; maisonette Lorna Murray’s milano sunhat; all saints EVA ONIYURI BIKINI TOP and bottoms; & other stories Dangling Gemstone Pendant Earrings; lisa says gah Intentionally Blank Freya Sandal; all saints EVA MAXI TIERED SKIRT.

• photography courtesy of @dimoradellebalze and Dimora delle Balze.

since my move to laguna beach, i’ve never embraced california’s surf culture more. i think its mid-century roots and good summer vibes (think the beach boy’s pet sounds) give it a kind of vintage modern and a natural, beachy feeling — maybe it’s all those curvy shapes, rattan, bamboo, and the pretty pale color palette. and the sound of the ocean waves is so soothing to me — my favorite sound to fall asleep to. to get this calm, laid-back surf aesthetic you simply add one part vintage mid-century-modern furniture, keep it minimalist and clean, perhaps add some succulents, a clamshell, maybe a dried palm frond or two and create a soft color palette pulled from nature: seafoam, aqua, and warm sand — those shades all work quite well together. are you feeling those relaxed vintage modern surf vibes yet?

clockwise, l to r: pool lounger via chikuzen; mid-century modern vintage lamps from @counter.space; ibiza palm shadows by unsplash; marfa agave plant by @overtheocean_com; peace cloth towel by lena corwin; hammocks by @overtheocean_com; Hôtel san giorgio via hello hello; urban outfitters Moon Phases Bamboo Beaded Curtain; living room via homes to love; QUIET TOWN OJAI TOWEL in STORM; urban outfitters Bamboo Beaded Curtain; @indiehomecollective woven squab cushions; record player via Sigrid Christensen; raffia cushion in morla from fab hub. below: bedroom side table via a merry mishap; the citizenry’s modern hanging cane headboard.

clockwise, l to r: Clam Shell Sink via decorpad; palm shadows by colored shadow; RAMONA JUTE RUNNER from house of jade; Wattsburg Area Rug from boutique rugs; sea fan by m.k. sadler photography; Cutshall Beach Umbrella from wayfair; photo by Bernard Plossu, 1974 via ferntonic; Tala Wall Hanging from dharma door; Hawkins New York Recycled Glass Tumblers; bamboo paloma side table from house of jade; sea sketch via odeysseus; small bamboo table from mode; coconuts by m.k. sadler photography.

• photography credits: click on the image which will take you to its original source. in the case of my collages, the links are listed just below clockwise from left to right.

much like its cool cousin green, pale aquamarine blue, and deeper darker shades of teal and turquoise are popping up all over the place. it’s a real colorfest and a celebration of all kinds of blue hues out there, so you may want to add a dash of your own if you like this week’s color story. i’m not sure i can do a ton of blue because it’s not my color palette du jour (hello, black & white forever), but i know that i certainly admire it from afar and it’s a color that says ‘holiday’ to me. there’s nothing quite like a splash of aquamarine to remind you of far-off destinations and shorelines dotted with small beaches and pastel-colored villages — like the Mediterranean sea, or perhaps capri and the amalfi coast to get specific. there’s definitely a somewhat european feel to a few of these rooms, and they’re beckoning me to take a trip abroad. soon, i swear!

clockwise, l to r: bath tile via the socialite family; Vintage Mid Century Turquoise Ceramic Dish from little dog vintage; aqua & palm wallpaper by @spacecontentstudio; Old Havana Pitcher from anthropologie; bath towels by @ericatanov; swimming pool via dixon rye; place setting via the poetry of material things; anthropologie Tinted Glass Cloche; dining set via planete deco; surf mania movie poster from surf classics; swimming pool via retro music; anthropologie Upcycled Kantha-Stitched Throw Blanket; wallpaper in dining nook by @nightpalm; aqua blue bedroom wainscoting via @cotmaison.

clockwise, l to r: seascape painting via domino; twin beds by @gypsycreekbangalow; jayson home Bristol Serving Tray; double doors by anna malmberg photography; Blue Daisy Bowl from terrain; urban outfitters Little Glass Table Lamp; bed in reflection via milk decoration; urban outfitters Sterling Table Lamp; shell motif lamp by batiik studio; aqua blue walls by anna malmberg photography; jayson home Bristol Serving Tray; exterior aqua blue walls by anna malmberg photography.

• photography credits: click on the image which will take you to its original source. in the case of my collages, the links are listed just below clockwise from left to right.