{top image: mine ; bottom image via apartment therapy}

A few weeks ago I opened my mailbox to be greeted with the new j.crew catalog.  After looking through its pages I became obsessed with the mix of color and texture in their new collection.  Of course, the topper on the cake was the setting of Astor Courts for the photo shoot.  I instantly knew this was the direction I wanted to take the look of our home for spring and summer.  The colors are both fresh and nostalgic with mixes of chartreuse and mint, melon and blush.  I am completely in love with the hint of gold and animal prints along with the mix of casual cotton along side silks and cashmeres.  There is this perfect playful sophistication in the styling about which I am just nuts. 

The best part is that this inspiration couldn't come at a better time.  Just a few weeks ago I noticed that my linen pillows on the sofa had finally become kid stained with something resembling cherry dum dum after almost three years of use.  I would say three years is a good life span for a throw pillow.  I plan on deconstructing the pillow and reusing the parts that aren't stained.  I had also been feeling like the living room was becomming a bit dark so these candy colors will really breathe some new life into the place.  I even have a dark table similar to the one in the above photo.  So now I have a batch of fabric in route to my house ready to be made into pillows and throws.  I am also seeing some new paint on  the fireplace as well.

I have been so inspired by the last catalog that I carry it around in my purse.  What about you?  What is makig you look twice this week?