There’s been some talk around our place of redoing our home. A soon-to-arrive baby seems to do that to people. So I’ve been spending a lot of time researching architects and designers, and studying their minimalist portfolios.

Then I stumbled, yet again, on this kitchen designed by Jean-Louis Deniot (photo from Elle Decor, in case the watermark didn’t give that away). I don’t remember where I first found it (Pinterest probably), but I love everything about it. It has such high-impact glamour in such a tiny space, and makes me think minimalism is overrated — over-the-top is where it’s at.

Buying art is hard. Not just because it’s often a serious investment, but also because it has to move you (and hopefully whoever you’re living with too).

These Italian beach prints by Gray Malin move me. Like in a take-me-to-Italy way.

I love a rocky cliff-covered coast line. I’d take that over a five mile stretch of unbroken white sand any day.

And it sure makes for some beautiful shots, like these from Malin’s La Dolce Vita series.

Which is a series I’d happily invest in.

[Images: Gray Malin]

While everyone and their grandmother is obsessed with Taylor Swift’s squad these days, I set my #squadgoals on a posse of LA-based designers, bloggers, photographers and creative types: Emily Henderson, Joy Cho, Bri Emery and Max Wanger. Their aesthetics are different (their talents are too) but there’s some serious cross-pollination happening in their bright and colourful, sunshine-infused looks. Which makes for some fun collaborations.

Is it the Southern Californian weather? Is it the LA creative community? Are they friends in real life? I don’t know.

But I do know that when you follow any one of their Pinterest posts to their blog, chances are there’s some sort of shoutout to one and other. All the sunshine and smiles make me want to add colour — and a bit of gold — to everything.

[Images: Joy Cho’s nursery/office by Emily Henderson, Love print by Max Wanger, Bri Emery’s dining room by Emily Henderson]