Summer Series: La Piscine


Seeing as though it is smack dab in the middle of summer, I thought it would be fun to do a summer series. Everything about summer… Pools, beaches, swimsuits, alfresco dining, gardens, recipes, houses, travel and I’ll try to throw in a little culture as well.

Let’s kick off this summer series today with a look at some jaw-dropping pools, vintage pool paintings and stuff to buy!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Follow my Pinterest board, La Piscine, HERE.
 
 Vintage painting...The Azure Sea Repineado
 
 Circa 1920 Painting...People at Old Cement Swimming Pool
 
 Painting by Samantha French...Purchase HERE.
 
 
 Turkish Foutas Pool Towels. Purchase HERE.
 
 Acrylic Stemless Pool Glasses from Mark & Graham. They have great monograms like the Didot font created in the early 1800s for the Didot family in Paris. Purchase HERE.

The Springboard in the Pond coffee table book.
Find this great coffee table pool book and all of my other favorites HERE.
 

          
The current "It Girls" of pool toys, The Giant Swan and The Giant Pink Flamingo.
Purchase HERE.
For other superchic pool toys visit Funboy.com

A toute!
 

 
*Something you don’t know about me? I’m sorry if I haven’t answered emails, comments or my phone this past week. Yesterday was the three-year anniversary of my sweet little brother’s suicide so it’s always a weird week for me. I thought about it yesterday and I don’t know really how I feel. I think it’s a combination of feelings… Anger, sadness, confusion, relief and absolute grief. The good news is that Gracie spent yesterday with all four of his darling children, Noah, Aiden, Olivia and Gabriel. If you would like to know about my brother, Matt, you can read my blog post that I wrote on his birthday HERE.

 

 

24 comments:

  1. Have the best day that you can Ellie!! You always make mine!! xo xo and prayers always> Loreen

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  2. I despise stemless glasses but I love you...so I'll let it slide. I suppose they make sense for throwing back wine while swimming. And are far less dangerous when airborne in poolside brawls...or while canoeing a la Ramona Singer. So glad Gracie is having a nice trip!

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    1. As I believe Ellie knows, I vote for an even more extreme Summer Survival approach aka a sippy cup filled with ice-cold rosé secured with a strap around one's neck.

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    2. Heather-this sounds like the basis for a wonderful new friendship! Cheers!

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    3. Haha I'm good with a sippy cup! I have been on a serious rosé wave lately. I wish I knew what it is I like or dislike in rosé. I tend to like the ones that are more orangey coral than pink.

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    4. So funny! Today I'm contemplating the pros and cons of stemless glasses. I like their casual, sturdy feel and dislike the plethora of fingerprints. That said, I use them all summer long. Stephen, this article explains the different shades of Rose: http://winefolly.com/review/many-different-shades-of-rose-wine/

      Hmmm, I think I'll have to research whether fingerprints show up on acrylic vs. glass

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  3. Ellie-tip my hat.
    Love and respect.

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  4. My favorite picture is the Moroccan-looking pool with the 2 white planters looking slightly askew. I lost a dear friend and neighbor through suicide, it is just devastating, especially when they leave young children behind. My thoughts are with you, sweet Ellie.

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  5. Dear Ellie I have lost both of my younger brothers one to murder the other to a horrific accident , that easily could have been avoided . In addition I have dealt with 3 close family members suicides , it all really, really sucked!!! I have found wring them letters cathartic , if you haven't already. I usually burn mine .

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  6. Thinking of you... I'm happy to read that Gracie spent the day with her cousins. And I know that Matt was smiling too.

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  7. Stunning pools, love the paintings, too. All we can do is remember, not let them be forgotten. Great big hugs to you.

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  8. I am a newcomer to your blog, you are the most amazing person. I just read about your brother, so sad.
    Just spent a month in California (live in Australia). Spent a few hours in Santa Barbara when we traveled between Ventura Beach and San Francisco.

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  9. Well, this is all just absolutely perfectly beautiful. If there is any way that I could somehow open up my screen and slip into any of those pools, I would be delighted.

    I am so sorry for all of the pain that you felt on the anniversary for Matt's passing but what a true balm to know that Gracie was with her cousins that day. Our world is so confusing at times. Ok, often.

    As always, I am sending you so much Love - just big ol' Love - and Strength despite how much you already have of both in you. A little extra can't hurt right?

    If I was there I would give you the biggest hug,
    Heather

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  10. What? No Vicki Gunvalson pool? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

    Very sorry about your brother.

    I'd love for you to write about the healthcare system in France sometime. Americans are so polarized on socialized medicine that it would be interesting to hear your take.

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  11. Dear Ellie, you have been in my thoughts all week, now I know why, I remember your sweet brother from your beautiful post about him. He was one of those spirits that was too good and gentle for this world. You were fortunate to have had him in your life and to have been able to experience to experience his love and gentleness, sometimes I think that sadness is the price that we pay for having pure love in our lives. Lovely that Gracie was able to see her cousins and spend time with them. I wish I was there to give you a hug but I am sending you all my love and positive energy through this post.
    Lourdes

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  12. Ellie the poolside retreats make me yearn for the water, for the sea!!
    I am thinking of you and how gracefully you handle EVERYTHING! I am so sorry about your brother, a hurt that I'm sure never goes away.

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Ceramic Artist Leah Bowring

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  13. Wonderful post! Can't wait to see what you come up with in this summer series. And the vintage Azure Sea painting??? Is it for sale??? Am ordering the swan and pink flamingo for next year's Vizard Olympics. Will make for wonderful photo ops while racing them…..even better than the synchronized swimming! xoxo

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  14. Dear Ellie

    I am sending you my love.

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  15. I remember reading your beautiful piece about your brother's life and death. I don't know if heaven or hell exist but if they do, your brother is in heaven. You're right about some people are too gentle for this world. Do you know how your niece and nephews are doing?

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  16. I just read the story of Matt, it is special. We too knew of a soft soul, my friends son who at 22 took his life in the same way. It does give me peace to think of the different perspective of some people just being too gentle for this world. Never really thought of it that way.
    Cheers and thank you.
    We wondered why a raven tapped at our ceiling height windows repeatedly on An anniversary of my husband's father's death. The raven was so purposefull.

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  17. Gorgeous Pools...........I took a few swims with my eyes!!!
    xoxo

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  18. All we can do is remember, not let them be forgotten. Great big hugs to you.

    www.pinkqueen.com

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