Sunday showhouse.......and you're invited

Happy Sunday! Hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend. Mine has been quite busy so I am looking forward to a day of semi relaxation (son is in a lacrosse tournament all day long, who am I kidding). As I do every Sunday, it is a day to showcase and  enjoy three spectacular homes.But before I begin, on a sidenote......I have to say I recently more than once experienced "peony envy" particularly after eyeing Elizabeth's gorgeous freshly cut peonies from Pretty Pink Tulips blog. Peonies and hydrangeas are my absolute favorite flowers (and orchids). Well- yesterday I was at the new house, taking a walk and lo and behold..what do I see? Is that a wild peony bush I spy? Yes...it was. I was so excited!! I quickly got a pair of scissors and started clipping away.....ran home to make up two small arrangements. They also happened to be my favorite color peony, the palest blush pink.... peony envy problem solved!

The unsuspecting peonies "hiding"

And there they are just waiting for me to find them!

Beautiful color....

Perfect bloom

It only took a few minutes to make those babies mine!

I found a pair of small blue and white Chinese vases

Voila! Simple and elegant...

Love the color and lushness

My peony wishes come true!

Moving onto to our three beautiful homes......

BARBADOS. You could probably give me a pretty little tent on a beach and I wouldn't complain as long as its in Barbados! But then you get this fabulous formal vacation home, and its really over the top! Rene Margie's built this home from scratch and is responsible for all the decadent interiors. The grounds are a lush tropical oasis and the opulence continues inside, it looks like something from another era. Here is his formal take on a Caribbean colonial plantation home..quite the getaway, don't you think?

I would be spending A LOT of time on this hammock

This back has almost a theatrical feel to it, its so lush

GREENWICH, CT. This beautiful home situated in fabulous back country Greenwich was done by arhictect Ike Kleigerman Barkley. This beautiful coastal home situated right on the Long Island Sound was born out of the owners desire to build a smaller home than they previously owned, which would be a modern take on a Gothic and Romanesque style home. The result is the wonderful stone, glass and wood structure. The interiors features a lot of warm rich woods and a slightly more traditional feeling decor. An indoor pool pavilion completes this fabulous home. (and what a view)!

Check out that view from the indoor pool......stunning!

With a view like this, I would never again complain about having to sit and pay bills!

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. We stay in Connecticut and move onto this black singled home decorated by Alexa Hampton. At first I thought black shingles..how odd! But I actually really like the look of this rambling English inspired country home. On one side of the facade is the black wood and on the other stucco. The interiors reflect an ongoing eclectic mix of new and old, the decor is fresh, alive and young.Interesting to see the mix of the traditional style home outside and the surprising more modern interiors. Come on in and see what you think!

This is a great and cozy room

So what do you think? Do you have a clear cut favorite? I think they are all interesting and very clearly defined by their own personal style. Its always fun to see otters interpretation of their "dream house" isn't it? Hope you have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday!

Sunday showhouse.......and you're invited, we have a winner!!

Today I am happy to announce the winner of the Seda France trio. I used random.org and here is my winner! I will be contacting you or feel free to contact me. These are wonderful products that you are sure to enjoy!!
Congratulations......Quintessence!!

Drawing #5,623 PRIVATE

Seda France Trio 4th drawing held by The Enchanted Home Completed on Sunday, 3 April 2011 at 12:07:03 UTC 68 entrants, 1 winner

Winners (1)

 1st: quintessence

Thank goodness its Sunday, I need an official "free pass" to feel like I am off duty today. Its been a long and sometimes stressful week and its nice to have a day just to do as I please..though we all know there is no rest for the weary! By the way, saw Jane Eyre which I had been dying to see..it was incredible. I loved it.....the scenery, music and costumes were breathtaking, the homes it was filmed in "knock your socks off" gorgeous in that hauntingly beautiful, cold and somewhat foreboding English castle kind of a way. Hows that for a description? I loved the film adaptation from the well known novel and would recommend it if you enjoy period films. Sunday is a day to take it nice and slow.....so start your day by going on a house tour with me!!First we start off in Lake Michigan, then head to ranch country, Montana, home of some of the most beautiful vistas in the world and finally back east to Greenwich, CT. You know I love to know what you think so please let me know if you have a favorite! Here we go.....
LAKE MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN. This fabulous stately clapboard classic designed by the renowned Robert Stern took great care to keep this house true to its New England roots. It is understated and classic elegance at its best. Victoria Hagan designed the interiors and its very clear that she has left her indelible and creative stamp on the refined and restrained interiors. The views of the lake that beckon are incredible and this gem is complete with a pool house that compliments the main house. Pretty nice!

BIG SKY, MONTANA. Horse and ranch country. Warm rich colors, lots of wood. Inviting and cozy but still grand. Enough said, lets have a look...... Locati Architects, one of the masters of the ranch house universe,  is responsible for this beauty. The hand hewn beams used throughout the interiors adds warmth, elegance and a charming rustic quality that is exclusive to fine ranch living. With a vacation house like this, and vistas and views that this house has..I might never feel the need for a vacation away from home ever again!

GREENWICH, CT.  This stately elegant classic brick Georgian in beautiful mid country Greenwich is a bit of a surprise inside. I would describe the style of interiors as eclectic, because as you can see there are a number of different styles going on there, I see transitional, even some modern, traditional, and even some colonial. What do you think of the mix? I love that mirrored door dressing area....step inside.

So that wraps up the Sunday showhouse..what do you think? Do you have a favorite? You know I love to know..its always fun to hear your ideas and opinions! Enjoy your Sunday and rest of the weekend...hope you are doing something fun!