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We are friends, neighbors, and obsessed with all things style. Gina designs unique, hand-crafted jewelry and Jennifer practices the art of wardrobe management. It was only natural that they came together to launch a blog and style shop. Cakewalk Style Shop.

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silhouette

Claudia Schiffer for Salvatore Ferragamo. Image via TFS.

I am enamored with this ad. The colors. The silhouette. The simplicity. Beautiful…

My own little paradise

It’s a beautiful morning.  The sun is shining, the birds are singing and as I sip my morning cup of coffee, I scan my backyard with the satisfaction of a queen surveying her peaceful domain.  A few short years ago, this scene was anything but peaceful.  It was a mess of a construction site.  Although our initial plan was a renovation, my husband and I decided to rip down the existing house and start over.  And so it began…

Admittedly, I am a reluctant suburbanite.  The opportunity to build a house from scratch was a way to create the urban paradise I have always dreamed of.  I was exhilarated and nervous at the same time.  Would my vision fit the neighborhood?  Would the citizens of northwest Houston embrace my modernist/classicist sensibility?  Did I have any idea what I was talking about or doing?

Lucky I was able to hire my dream team, my architect, Mark Oberholzer of Rhode Partners and my designer, Laura Michaelides of Four Square Design Studio.  Both had a modern aesthetic that I admired and neither was originally from Houston. 

It took almost 2 years from start to finish.  The process was long, tedious and painful.  I met resistance every step of the way.  Everyone involved in the building process made me question my every decision.  Even as the house began to progress, friends and family looked puzzled when they toured the building site.  Where is the big dramatic staircase?  Why are there so many recessed lights?  Why is the master bedroom upstairs?

After quite a bit of time, the house has finally felt completed.  Today, as I sit here with my coffee reading the March issue of Paper City, I feel a sense of validation.
There it is.  First Place in the residential category of the Paper City and Decorative Center Houston Design Excellence Award!

I lift my coffee mug and cheer.
Here’s to the sheet rockers who left the job for weeks in the middle of construction.
Here’s to the stoneworkers to whom I insisted hand chisel the stone for the exterior wall to look more rectilinear.
Here’s to the stucco guys who had to stop in the middle of the job because the stucco color was 2 shades to dark.

There is a lesson here.  No matter what you are doing, be it picking an outfit for the day, designing jewelry or building a house, always stay true to your own vision.  Don’t doubt yourself.  Follow your own instinct and never let other people’s opinion dissuade you.

Here’s the thing.  Even though it is nice to get the recognition, it doesn’t really matter what other people think of my house.  WE love it.  As Mark my architect would tell me, you must create your own bit of paradise.

See more photos of Gina’s house here

Emerald Isle

I woke up and no more sun! The sun is now trying to peek through, but my thoughts are drifting to the Emerald Isle, where I wouldn’t mind the clouds.

If you are thinking about taking a trip to Ireland this summer, do! If you are thinking about going back, you should!

I took a trip to Ireland last summer with my mom, 2 aunts, cousin, godmother, and her daughter. We had a lovely time and after hearing all about it, my husband is insisting he go with me on my next trip back. Our first stop was a charming B&B accommodation in Kilbrittain, County Cork, near Kinsale. The The Glen Country House was so special that I would like to feature it on St. Patrick’s Day.

This B&B is situated in one of the most scenic locations in West Cork, overlooking Courtmacsherry Bay with views of The Atlantic Ocean. The scenery is breathtaking. Guy and Diana have renovated this historic home that is surrounded by mature hardwood trees in a parkland setting which sweeps down to the sea.

View of the sea from the house

Gardens and quaint sitting areas are plentiful

This is a working farm, and Guy’s family has farmed the land for over 350 years. The breakfast is wonderful - a buffet with fresh and poached seasonal fruits, freshly squeezed orange juice, organic muesli and organic yoghurt, and a menu of hot dishes including bacon produced locally from free range pigs and eggs from their own hens. This farmhouse is beautiful and perfectly appointed.

I suggest having dinner at The Pink Elephant and The Casino House. We had the time of our lives at The Pink Elephant. The view was spectacular, the food was great, and the people that ran the place were incredibly fun, friendly and gracious. The Casino house is beautiful, quaint, and the food was incredible. Be sure to make time for both.

The view from the Pink Elephant

A day trip to Kinsale is a must. This is the cutest little harbour town.

Snapshots of Kinsale

Guy and Diana, you are wonderful hosts; we’ll be back! In fact, I promised my husband I would go back with him and he could get in some golfing. See you soon!

Our gracious hosts

Vacay or Staycay?

The sunsets in Tamarindo, CR are beautiful every single evening

For Gina, it’s a vacay. She’s in Mexico with her family. For me, it’s a staycay (it was a timing thing). That’s unfortunate given the current weather situation here. I shouldn’t complain (but, I am), because we took a little ski trip last month. So, instead, I’m dreaming of our beach get-away this summer: the sunsets, surfing, laughing, playing, dancing, ceviche (every night), hammocks, the list goes on…

Ohhhh, and NY + Paris in September. Ok, I’ll take the drizzle for now. No more complaining. And, I’m truly happy for those of you on your vacations! Enjoy!!

Jen-eration

Jennifer. There are a lot of us. Although I love the way the name sounds, I’ve demanded to know from my mom on several occasions why she had to give me the same name as too many other girls (In the 4th or 5th grade, I tried to change my name to ‘Sunny’. Didn’t take.). She swears that most of us born in the early 70’s were named after Jennifer Cavalleri in Love Story.

Well, guess what? I just found out: I am part of a “Jen-eration”. Yes. Leading business publications to refer to us as “the jennifer demographic”. Sounds VERY important. A Cup of Jo and design sponge both spotlight a traveling show made up of 11 artists named Jennifer. The questions are asked: “Have members of this Jen-eration unknowingly grown into a common artistic sensibility? Have they become creators of culture in their own particular way?” I don’t know, but I like the way that sounds. Kind of makes me feel better about having to share my name with so many others!

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