Bungalow Retreats:: THE PERFECT ESCAPE

I'm slightly challenged with this concept since I don't have a backyard. But don't these cozy little bungalows look like the perfect retreat from our everyday nests?

This old ivy covered garden shed turned beautiful bath spa was cleaned and painted, with new terra-cotta tile floor and bathtub.


A tiny home office, housed in a converted potting shed in Santa Cruz.


Summer retreat home in a tent cabin from Sweetwater Bungalows.


A lakeside retreat complete with wooden deck and ivy canopy.


A white one-room vintage log cabin in the woods of Wisconsin.


These bungalows are the perfect backyard escape during the summer!

Images via Sunset Magazine, Sweetwater Bungalows and Chicago Home + Garden Magazine.

take me away

Nothing says summer's here like these breezy dresses and bandeau bikini's by Melissa Obadesh. Her 2010 collection is inspired by vintage fabrics and prints from Italy – and reflects simplicity and elegance. The collection includes beachy kaftans, dresses and swimwear all in matching tonal colours. I've barely been back 3 weeks and I'm already dreaming up my next warm escape!!

**Images via Melissa Obadesh

sunny monday

Hope you enjoyed a beautiful weekend! Yesterday I divided my time between shopping the locals farmers market in Marin and trying very graciously to hit a tiny white ball into 9 holes of golf. The course we played in Novato had the most scenic landscaping with rolling green hills and wild geese roaming all around. It was truly amazing! I came home last night with feet ((very)) tired, and bags full of fresh eggs, cilantro, snap peas, snow peas, shallots, leafy greens, blood oranges, tangerines and meyer lemons. It was the ideal day!!

**Image from Country Living

happy weekend!

Wishing you a beachy weekend.... I'm boot scootin' south to a country concert tomorrow evening and a little golf on Sunday! If I'm really lucky, I'll have my toes in the sand and treasure hunting on a beach too. 

The weather should be perfect in San Francisco!

Enjoy!!

***Images from JCrew

I heart fridays

Happy Friday!! I can't remember where I came across this photo (sorry!!), but I love this idea and wanted to share. Isn't this fun– a heart shaped collage of photos. I think it could work well framed too and would make a thoughtful gift for an 'anniversary', 'I love you' or, 'just because you're fabulous to me'!!

Casual Living

Hope you are having a Happy Thursday!! In my blog browsing I came across this lovely nest on Mi Casa Revista. This home reminds me of the some of the house interiors in Nancy Myers movies. I always love the mix of natural and white, it's perfectly casual with a little of the relaxed California charm I like. Enjoy!!






**Images found at Mi Casa Revista

alex marshall nesting bowls

I'm in love with these oversized ceramic nesting bowls by Alex Marshall. I've had a similar bowl on my kitchen counter for years now and I use it to store rolled hand towels, fresh fruit and seasonal vegetables from the farmers market. Because of the size and depth, it also doubles for the perfect salad and pasta serving bowl.

Marshall's work is described as organic and beautifully functional sculpture, each piece feels handcrafted and unique. She received her MFA in conceptual art from the San Francisco Art Institute and takes a skilled and deliberate approach to her art. She encourages the philosophy, "Longevity is Green" and one aspect of "green" that's true for everything her studio produces: longevity, believing that when something is made to last, you don't have to buy it again, which decreases the impact on natural resources and keeps waste out of landfills. All ceramics and glazes are made in Northern California, which means less fuel consumption and production consumption.

This month marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Along with the fun interiors and fashion, I plan to continue to highlight some of my favorite sustainable products and companies that are dedicated to making a difference.

**Image and bowls found at Colcha Home in Venice Beach, California.

weekly wish: enjoy life

This is my weekly inspiration for this week of April.

Hope you had a fantastic weekend! The weather is San Francisco was sunny and hot and just the way I like it! I took a little time for some R&R and a couple of long days in the sunshine with friends. I'm happy to get caught up on some blogging and new ideas this week! Let's enjoy it!

thank you, neo-traditionalist!

I woke up this (TGIF) morning and found a wonderful little surprise when I scrolled down my facebook news feed.... and I just wanted to send Katie, from Neo-Traditionalist a special *thank you* for the sweet feature she wrote about Pretty Chic SF journals this morning!! I'm a fan of Katie's on facebook and I love her blog. What a great compliment!

You can see our feature here.

Thanks for the love, Katie!
xoxo,
Pretty Chic SF

I heart the caribbean!

I'm back!! And happy to be home sweet home again after an amazing cruise in the Caribbean with 30 family members celebrating my grandmother's 80th birthday. I still can't believe how fast the time went by. It was my first cruise experience and I had such a great week visiting Haiti, Jamaica, the Grand Cayman Island, and Cozumel. We sailed the islands, climbed rivers, and snorkeled in some of the most amazing waters. It was quite an adventure! I'm already looking forward to going back soon and spending more time on the islands.

Here's some photos from my fabulous adventures, hope you enjoy!!

**Labadee, Haiti

**Ochos Rios, Jamaica

**Grand Cayman Island

**Cozumel, Mexico

**Cozumel, Mexico