It's high time I hit up the High Line!

I had heard great reviews about the High Line since it opened in June, but I FINALLY just went to see it this past week! It was just as amazing as I hoped it would be!I lucked out with gorgeous weather!There was fabulous people watching! I mean the clothing and style is just amazing!The natural plantings and the way the original rail ties are blended into the landscaping is really quite striking. Many compliments to James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the landscape architeture firm and architecture firm responsible for the breathtaking design. Many great sites to take in - I found that some of the dilapidated buildings were so visually intriguing. Isn't it interesting to see the old building and tracks juxtaposed against the new path?Other fun sites include this seating area which looks out onto the avenue below.I loved these chaise lounges! In addition to beautiful green space, this park includes several lovely seating areas, perfect for taking a snack from the Chelsea Market. The High Line was originally built in the 1930's to remove train traffic from Death Avenue, as 10th Ave was known due to the high level of accidents between the street level trains and road traffic in the busy industrial area that was the meat packing district.
The elevated tracks were designed to run over the center of blocks rather than over the avenue to avoid some of the negative conditions of elevated tracks and allowed trains to connect directly to factories and warehouses. The tracks were used until 1980 at which point the space sat vacant for many years.

Fortunately for us, in 1999, Friends of the High Line is formed, advocating preservation and reuse as a public space. Now, the High Line is open from Gansevoort to 20th Street, with plans to open 20th to 30th street in 2010!

It's such a great place to spend an afternoon in NYC!

Photo Credits: the High Line, Huffington Post and Flickr.

Is Summer Weather Finally here?

I hope everyone had a fabulous long weekend and a fun 4th of July!!

It finally stopped raining here and we've actually been able to start enjoying some time on our deck! We have a great fire pit and a lot of seating but it's nothing compared to these great entertaining spaces!
I'm drawn to the fireplace and white furniture here.... and I love any home with shingle siding! Isn't this a gorgeous outdoor kitchen?What a view!

I just die over this picture! Something about the lights in the tree just makes me fall in love with this spot!

Mmmm looks like a yummy barbecue!

Did any of you get to spend the weekend outside?? Perhaps in a space as gorgeous as these??

Photo Credits: Eric Roth, Eric Roth, Southern Living, Eric Roth, Unknown, Eric Roth

Nice Weather Weekend?!?

It's rained all week here, but this weekend is supposed to be gorgeous!! perfect for spending outside in these pretty outside spaces! I could spent hours sitting by this fire! Think of all the smores to eat and beers to drink!! I really like how the seating feels natural in this field. On the other side of the spectrum --- how awesome is this illuminated table!?? and I love being near the water!

and I love me a gorgeous pool! The infinity edge, palm trees, chaise lounges, I'm set!

I thought this porch was pretty cute too --- How cute is the painted floor!?!? the gardenias are pretty too!

Photo Credits: William Abranowicz, Paul Joseph Hopper via Desire to Inspire, House Beautiful, Apartment Therapy.

And make sure to check out the parties today: Hooked on Houses and Fifi's Flowers.

Get me outside!

Of course its snowing here today in New York... but warm weather HAS to come soon right?!In celebration of the first day of Spring, check out these amazing outdoor spaces! I'd gladly give up my morning routine of watching the Today show if I could start enjoying my coffee on this porch found in Architectural Digest. I love that the wide expanse of the pocket doors lets the house completely open up and merges the interior and exterior spaces. Designed by Howard J. Backen, the house is located in the Napa Valley... so I'm betting that more wine is consumed on this porch than coffee ha!

The southern girl in me loves this plantation style home by John Stefanidis. And this is only the guest house not even the main house!The best outdoor spaces have to have a pool (or at least in my opinion). I love that the lawn continues up to the pool's edge here at actor Rob Lowe's home. What I would do to be in one of those chaises right now! I wonder if Dave Annable (Justin from Brothers & Sisters and previously the love of my life) has ever come over to lounge at the pool!?

I picked this one for the lovely bar. Because who doesn't want a poolside bar!? I love to swim - like really swim - flip turns, one-piece swim suit.. the whole nine-yards! But so many backyard pools are just too small to get a good work-out, or if they are actually big enough, they just seem massive and out of place. But I love this one - they did such a great job at fitting in a full lap but it still fits so nicely in this space. (These above 2 pools are in Better Homes and Garden).

Happy Spring!