There is a particular time of the year that I love most- the first days of summer. There is magic in the air. A sense that life is long, young and free. Excitement happens in summer. And spontaneity. Although we live in a climate where the seasons are subtle to say the least, the sense of change can be dramatic. It’s still much like that first warm day in New York where coats are shed and Central Park is a sea of blankets. Here, there is a shift in the air, a new smell and a shift in the light. The energy around town changes and the ocean beckons. It seems to happen over night.

This weekend, we spent the days and evenings outside. We revamped our porch, did some planting and spruced up the yard for summer. Spending sunrise to sundown outside, makes you really aware of the light and how it changes seasonally and throughout the day. This week I am exploring light. Light in pictures, in art and in writing.

Today, I have collected a few photos that have got the light just right. Playing with the sunlight when taking pictures, can make for beautiful and unexpected outcomes. Here is a challenge, and I am doing it myself. Let’s take a few photos where we are focusing on the light. The way it falls on your walls in the house throughout the day, on your kids playing at dusk, however you feel like capturing it. I’ll post mine at the end of the week and I’d love to see what you come up with!

Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy.

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Looks from Suno, J.Crew & Madewell

The daring Leandra Medine of Man Repeller

Collage by Andrea D’Aquino

Embroidery Print by Jazmin Berakha

Art by Thomas Campbell

Listening to Beach House by Sierra Thoreen & Circle Collage by Ashley Austin (both available at Cluster)

Good morning Monday! Hope everyone had a great weekend. This is the busiest of weeks and we are getting so close to launching the site!

One of the trends that has been popping up everywhere lately is mixing patterns. What used to be a faux-pas, is now totally in. Watching the girls choose outfits, it’s almost as if they gravitate towards clashing patterns, which looks so cute and playful on them. Luckily, it’s no longer just for the toddler set, mixing patterns is trending not only in fashion but in art as well. I know I couldn’t be more thrilled that this movement is finally becoming accepted, but the question remains: are you daring enough to try this trend?

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Textiles can be colorful. They can have intricate patterns, or varied textures. In many cases, they are hand-crafted, and reflective of the culture from which they came. To us, they are one of the most beautiful and unique forms of art. Do you incorporate textiles into your home?

{ Dress / Notebook / Photograph / Interior / Nightstand / Painting / Girls’ Top / Necklace }

A few weeks ago, we told you about the biggest trend in color. Another big trend, color blocking, seems to come in in a close second, and we can certainly see why. It is the ideal way to infuse your life with bold shapes and bright colors.

{Sienna; Katherine Sandoz via Black Eiffel }

Of course, no one does this trend better than a five year old. Here’s Sienna in front of Katherine Sandoz’s beautiful abstract nature paintings.

When ‘Tangerine Tango’ was named Pantone’s color of the year for 2012, everyone seemed to take notice. According to Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, “[Tangerine Tango was chosen because] there’s the element of encouragement with orange, it’s building on the ideas of courage and action, that we want to move on to better things.” Weeks later, its influence on fashion, home decorating (and everything in between) is already starting to become apparent, and we can certainly see why. This bold color is perfect for brightening up our everyday.

Interior / Chair / Swatch / Bookcase / Nail Polish / Blazer / Ottoman / Photograph

{ Quote from The Washington Post }