Maison de Cinq

White Out

I guess because I’m not a huge dress wearer in general, I tend to think of summer as more “dress oriented” than other seasons. And I definitely think of white as the summery-est of colors. So those two put together? The definition of summer! Is there anything more indicative of summer than a great white dress?! I don’t think so! Whether it’s a casual shift dress worn with flats or sneakers, or a sexy white dress worn to dinner or a summer party, there is simply nothing more reminiscent of summer than a great white dress. read more

Dress It Up

Dressy shorts. A contradiction in terms, right? However, I have seen them more and more in the last few years, and I must say, I’m a convert. Previously I always thought of shorts as casual, and really only wore them with flip flops or Converse. However, dressy shorts worn out at night with heels can be such a cute look. I admit, I am not a skirt wearing person for the most part, so I guess they speak to me. They are short (like a skirt) but way, way more comfortable. And sexy! They look great with a blouse, a blazer or a loose tank top. Heels are the way to go if it’s an evening out, but for a dressy lunch or day event, they are really cute with flats as well. I think they are a great option when you are not sure how dressy an event will be and you are torn between a dress and pants. Obviously, they are not appropriate for some events (a wedding is one that comes to mind) but for dinners out, or drinks with friends, or a summer party, I think they are a great choice. I’m even seeing them on the red carpet! read more

Friday Favorites – Pearls

I never thought I liked pearls until a couple of years ago. But for some reason, I fell in love with them. I love the classic look of them. They are the perfectly preppy accessory! Although, I admit, I like them better when they are paired with things that are a little less traditional. Not the “twin set with pearls” look, but more like ripped jeans, a white tee, and pearls. Or a leather jacket with a chunky pearl bracelet. I like the contrast of dressy with casual. But the great thing is, they go with everything. You can do them funky, or dressy, or classy, or business-y. They work in all situations and are a staple you can wear forever. read more

Seagrass Simplicity

We have been due for new carpet for several years now (too many, actually). We should have done hardwoods in the entire house when we bought 15 years ago, but we were gutting almost everything and in order to try to save a little, we did the hardwoods in the entry way, family room and kitchen areas, while settling for carpet in both the living room and dining rooms and the upstairs. I know, wall to wall carpet is horrible. No one is more aware of this than I! But even worse, is that when we re-finished the existing hardwoods 3 years ago, we chose not to add the hardwoods to the downstairs areas (we didn’t consider the upstairs as my husband was afraid it would be too loud and not as cozy). Again, the refinishing was expensive and we were trying to save money…. Cut to now. The carpet is old and needs to be replaced. I would love to have wood in the entire house, but at this point, with so much else to do, I would settle for carpet in the upstairs and just adding the hardwoods downstairs. But of course, it’s not that easy! We would most likely need to re-finish the floors again in order to match the rest of the downstairs, and that adds even more cost to an already costly item. So… I’m thinking wall to wall seagrass! I had never heard of that until a couple of years ago when I read about it on the blog Cote de Texas. Apparently, it is very big in Texas! But here in California, I had only seen seagrass as an area rug, never wall to wall. But I have to say, it is the perfect solution. It’s way better than carpet, is very inexpensive, and honestly, I love the look. (Wish I had known about them when I was buying carpet 15 years ago!) The texture is great (love adding texture to a room), and I love the way they take down the dressiness of a living or dining area. Also, since I already have seagrass rugs in the nearby breakfast area and family room, it will tie together nicely, I think. Here are some of the rooms that have inspired me… read more

Friday Favorites – Back in Black

I love the look of a black swimsuit. It doesn’t seem to matter what style, they always look classy. Ever notice that even when they are really sexy, they never look trashy? There is just something inherently elegant about black. I know some people love bright colors for summer, especially in swimwear, and I appreciate that, I do. It’s just not for me. I like the simplicity, the clean lines, the elegance. read more

Black and White All Over

Is it my imagination, or am I seeing a LOT of black and white lately? I know it’s a classic, and always popular in Spring, but this year, it’s really speaking to me. Which got me thinking. I have always loved the look. You know I love stripes, and gingham, both of which come in black and white, of course. But I really love the idea of black and white together as separates. read more