Today is my mum's birthday--she's twenty-nine again! Everything I know about taste and class, I learned from her. With an unerring eye and an innate sense of style, my Mum is my final word on fashion and interiors. And nothing gets her heart racing like a clean, spare, neutral interior such as the one above...
Mum has elevated 'getting cozy' to an art form. Her bedroom is a haven of luxe linens and downy duvets. I gave her an ultra-soft robe from Matteo, and she loves to sink deep into its comfy folds.
Though she's never had formal training, Mum's skills in the kitchen rival those of any restaurant chef. Whether making us Sunday morning waffles or whipping up a fancy-pants leek souffle for New Year's Eve, Mum knew the way to our hearts was through our stomachs!
One of Mum's more recent obsessions? Tea and coffee! She loves the ritual of a hot cup in the morning, lovingly crafted and delivered with a kiss. When guests come over she pulls out her special tea cups, and she serves Earl Grey infused custards or green matcha biscotti.
Of course eating and drinking is as much about presentation as it is about taste, and my Mum needs no excuse to indulge her fetish for beautiful tablewares! An haute cuisine meal prompts her to lay the table with her best Astier de Vilatte, whereas a rustic tortilla soup calls for the terra cotta bowls. She has a dish for every dish!
Even in the bathroom, my Mum doesn't skimp on those special little touches. She designed and built the whole room, hand-tiling the intricate marble mosaic in the shower herself. She definitely passed on that DIY gusto to me, and we love to dive in and get our hands dirty together!
Mum has a passion for antique rugs and textiles--something she shares with her own mother. She can spot a quality Kilim from a mile away, and the warm wood floors of her house are covered in the pieces she's collected over the years.
Mum's talents extend outdoors too. Her garden was even featured in a book
But perhaps the greatest things I got from my mom? My determination and my sense of humour--though I cannot accept responsibility for the cat-on-a-leash incident ;) Happy birthday, Mum. I love you!
Image Credits: 1, 2, 4, 8. Marie Claire Maison 3. Atlanta Bartlett
Aw.. sweet tribute and gorgeous photos. Happy birthday to your Mum!!
Posted by: Chelsea | August 31, 2009 at 09:21 AM
Happy birthday to your mom! =D And lovely, lovely photos.
Posted by: Elyse McConnell | August 31, 2009 at 09:35 AM
so sweet! happy birthday to your momma! i'd gladly dive into any of these scenes!
Posted by: erin | August 31, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Your mom's ambitious! I wasn't brave enough to stop at 29. I celebrate the anniversary of my 39th. Happy birthday to a woman who is clearly young at heart!
Posted by: WendyB | August 31, 2009 at 10:10 AM
What a beautiful tribute. Style definitely must be genetic. Happy birthday to your Mum!
Posted by: heidi.weaver1@gmail.com | August 31, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Lovely.
Posted by: CashmereLibrarian | August 31, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Awwww...what a sweet tribute to your lovely mother!
Posted by: Rachel (Heart of Light) | August 31, 2009 at 11:18 AM
What a beautiful post, Anne. Your Mom sounds like an amazing lady! You gotta love her for that great sense of humor she passed down. :)
Posted by: vicki (simplyhue) | August 31, 2009 at 11:23 AM
like mother, like daughter... how beautiful. The table in the top photo is amazing!
Posted by: lovelyvelo | August 31, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Can I be mummy's new best friend?
Posted by: Bromeliad | August 31, 2009 at 11:29 AM
Happy birthday to your mum! The last photo is my favourite, but I like the first and third photos, as well. =)
Posted by: Kristy | August 31, 2009 at 01:04 PM
how awesome that you know your mom so well. i don't think at 39 myself i could be that accurate when discussing my own mom's loves. you seem very close and AS a mother, i can think of nothing in this world that probably pleases your mother more.
i hope this impresses her as much as it impressed me.
Posted by: my favorite and my best | August 31, 2009 at 05:22 PM
What a lovely birthday message to your Mum. She sounds like a wonderful (and youthful!) lady.
Posted by: Vivi | August 31, 2009 at 05:43 PM
Your cat is obese in that photo...
Posted by: Sara | August 31, 2009 at 06:36 PM
What a wonderful tribute to your Mum...she sounds like a great lady!
Love the photos too...!!
Posted by: cathi | August 31, 2009 at 09:29 PM
yeah! happy 29th birthday to your mom! :) funny how we pretty much stay 29, i love that! and the cat on a leash is a riot! love hers and your style though, just LOVE it!
Posted by: robin pulsifer | September 01, 2009 at 05:29 AM
So sweet. Happy birthday to her!
Posted by: stephanie | September 01, 2009 at 06:26 AM
Happy birthday to your mum! She has a fine sense of humour if it's anything like yours, Anne.
Posted by: Shell Sherree | September 01, 2009 at 07:03 AM
Happy Birthday Mum!!!! What an incredibly talented daughter you have!
Posted by: Rebecca | September 01, 2009 at 07:11 AM
Happy Happy birthday to her! Great photos! So inspiring! What a great blog you have- Just stopping by to say hello! Chrissy from the Perfect Palette!
Posted by: The Perfect Palette | September 01, 2009 at 07:35 AM
aww! What a sweet post. Happy birthday (now belated) to her! That photo of you two is adorable--I had a leash for my bunny when I was little, she wasn't very good at going for walks:)
Posted by: blair | September 01, 2009 at 07:36 AM
you mum sounds lovely...happy birthday to her!
Posted by: Down and Out Chic | September 01, 2009 at 08:02 AM
Happy Belated Birthday to your Mum. The apple didn't fall far from the tree, did it!
We all owe your Mum a debt of gratitude for raising such a creative and generous daughter :)
xo
Brooke
Posted by: velvet and linen | September 01, 2009 at 09:34 AM
So sweet! Happy Birthday to your mum. :) Love all of these spaces.
Posted by: 180|360 | September 01, 2009 at 02:01 PM
Thank you Love for such a humbling and elegant tribute. I love you and am so proud of you, now and forever. You are beautiful inside and out!!! Hugs and More Hugs,
Mom
Posted by: tammysage | September 01, 2009 at 02:55 PM