Interiors :: Deborah Needleman's Country Home

The 18th century country home of T Magazine editor Deborah Needleman is an absolute retreat. Designed by Rita Konig {LOVE her!}, the former one-room inn was carefully restored by Needleman and her husband to be an oasis for casual entertaining. From the breezy beadboard bedrooms to the farmhouse sink {we have one too!} to the gorgeous collection of antiques to the amazing vegetable garden and pool, everything about her home just feels charming and welcoming. Side note: Deborah also wrote one of my all-time favorite interior decorating books - The Perfectly Imperfect Home. I highly recommend you checking it out!

Art :: Karen Rosetzsky's "Young Love"

I recently came across Karen Rosetzsky’s photography exhibit aptly titled “Young Love” while staying at the Hoxton Hotel in Amsterdam. Every so often a work of art just sticks with you, and Karen’s work did just that for me. Every time I walked by her images at the hotel I felt almost magnetically pulled toward them. The emotion in the photos is so palpable that it almost feels as though you are not only the viewer but the subject. 

Amsterdam

Our three days in Amsterdam were grey, misty, and wonderful. Even in cloudy weather the city absolutely shines. Our hotel was ideally located on one of the most beautiful canals surrounded by quaint shops, restaurants, and bars. We would literally spend the entire day from dawn to dusk just wandering the picturesque canals, stopping into antique stores, and admiring the architecture. Our last day we rented bikes {a must} and visited the stunning Rijksmuseum, then took a boat cruise down the canals to admire the illuminated art installations of the Amsterdam Light Festival. The city was incredibly accessible and welcoming, within about an hour we were already talking about how we could easily imagine ourselves living there.

Our Wedding :: The Bridesmaids

One thing I knew way before we got engaged was that when the time came, I wanted to allow my bridesmaids to pick their own dresses. I have been a bridesmaid many times and I understand that there are a lot of expenses that go along with being one. Two weddings I had previously been in had mix-and-match bridesmaid dresses, and I absolutely loved how it turned out both times. Not only were we able to pick dresses that were in our budget, but we also could pick dresses that reflected our style and fit our body type. Come the day of the wedding, it was obvious that everyone felt so much more excited and confident, which in turn created a positive energy that lasted for the entire day and evening.

Interiors :: Rita Konig's Manhattan Flat

I miss the old Pinterest. The Pinterest before it became just another profitable social media tool for advertisers and bloggers, when it was simply an organic form of finding and saving inspiration. Pinterest inspired me to travel to the Amalfi Coast. Pinterest is where, several years ago, I found my dream wedding dress and venue. And Pinterest is what introduced me to my all-time favorite interior designer - Rita Konig.

The Hoxton, Amsterdam

If you follow me on Instagram you probably already know that we recently traveled to Paris and Amsterdam over the New Year. It was a spontaneous trip which I think could actually be the best kind! I had about a month to plan everything from our flights to our transportation to our accommodations, which was surprisingly a lot easier than I had excepted {one of the many perks of traveling in the “off season}. 

Art :: Yellow Korner

Romina Ressia - Bubble Gum

While in Paris exploring Le Marais we stumbled upon the coolest contemporary photography shop inside of a quiet little courtyard named Yellow Korner. After returning home I did a little more research, and found out that there are actually dozens of Yellow Korner galleries worldwide. I loved their beautifully curated limited edition photographs and was surprised at what a good price point they were. We picked up this photograph {I love how much it resembles an Edward Hopper oil painting}, and I've rounded up some of my other favorites below.

My Life :: On Becoming a Vegetarian

Many people don't know that about a year ago I quietly transitioned from eating poultry to a vegetarian. I still eat fish, which makes me technically a "pescetarian," but since I get mostly confused stares when I tell anyone that, I just stick to the word vegetarian.

Our Wedding :: The Destination

Last week I blogged about our choice to have a destination wedding and our venue, HammerSky Vineyards. We took a less traditional approach in the fact that when we booked the venue 1) we had never seen it before and 2) we had never even been to the Central California wine country region before! However, knowing how much we loved the Napa area and the fact that my parents had vacationed in Paso Robles before and had the best time, we decided to just go for it.

Our House: Master Bedroom Inspiration

Trellis Pillowcases {Shell} || Brahms Mount Multistripe Blanket {Surf} || Chesterfield Sleigh Bed {Belgian Linen - Mist} || Border Frame Duvet Cover {Aqua} || Gobi Embroidered Sheet Set {Aqua} || Terrace Side Table {Antique Brass} || Genie Accent Lamp || Campaign Dresser || Aged Brass Task Lamp || Benjamin Moore Ivory Paint || Kate Spade All in Good Taste || Swivel Club Chair {Ticking Stripe} || Painted Desert Rug || Max Wanger County Line

Hi there! I hope you all had a great weekend. Today is Ryan's birthday {HAPPY BIRTHDAY!} so we spent the weekend celebrating him by going out with friends, having brunch at our favorite farm-to-table restaurant, seeing Star Wars at the IMAX, and eating a nice dinner at home.

I never realized how much work it is to decorate a house, especially when you're as detail-oriented and indecisive as me {not always the best combination!} While we've made some progress with the downstairs, until recently we haven't even started thinking about the upstairs of our house. However, I received a gorgeous new Serena & Lily duvet and sheet set for Christmas {thanks Dad!} which has inspired me to get my act together and start working on our master bedroom.

Travel :: Mallorca, Spain

On this cold and rainy Friday I'm dreaming about the golden sun and sea breeze of Mallorca, Spain. My perfect trip? Start by visiting the design mecca that is the Hotel Cort in the beautiful Balearic capital of Palma De Mallorca. Be sure to check out the 13th-century Santa María Cathedral—a sea-side Gothic architectural feat commonly called La Seu—and Avenida Jaume III for fantastic shopping, restaurants, and bars. Then head north to the stunning mountain town of Deia to the Belmond La Residencia which offers sweeping views of the countryside, private art classes with local artists, and guided walks through the property's olive and citrus groves. Can't you almost smell the salty air?

Our Wedding: The Venue

After returning from Thailand and relishing in being engaged, we took time to really think about what we wanted our wedding to mean to us. We bounced around nearly every idea from having a 300+ person wedding in our hometown to getting eloped in our backyard {ok, that was my idea and it only lasted about thirty seconds}, but we ended up deciding that an intimate destination wedding was exactly what we wanted. After attending over forty weddings together we definitely knew we wanted our wedding to be a reflection of us as a couple and to be an opportunity for us to spend time with our closest friends and family. But the problem with having a destination wedding is the options are virtually endless.

Hello My Long Lost Friends

I'm not even sure if anyone reads this blog anymore, and to be fair, I probably wouldn't either. It has been nearly 6 months since my last blog post and just a handful of blog posts for the 6 months before that. I know no apology is necessary, but I do feel as though I owe one to myself. I love Dreams in HD and feel like it made me a better, more well-rounded individual. It kept me creatively engaged when it came to cooking, decorating, and traveling. It made me a better writer. It encouraged me to improve my photography and photoshop skills. But most importantly, it kept me feeling inspired to constantly seek out the beauty around me.

Switching jobs in 2014 definitely took a major toll on my free time, and adding planning a wedding and decorating a new house to the mix...well that didn't help. Whenever people have asked me, "How's your blog going?" I would instantly feel a wave of guilt because I knew I had been neglecting my blog and more importantly myself. So, after feeling especially inspired by a recent trip to Paris and Amsterdam, I've decided to try to give it the old college try and get back into blogging {again!} I can't say I will be posting 5x week, and I can't say all posts will be filled with beautifully edited photos and collages. However, I owe it to myself {and hopefully a few dear readers that still remain} to give Dreams in HD another chance!