If you grew up in North Carolina or our neighboring southern states, then chances are, you have made more than one shopping trip to Belk Department Stores. It was certainly a huge part of my growing up and I still love to visit the store in Hanes Mall when I go back for visits. The store was opened by William Belk back in 1888 and is now in the 3rd generation of the Belk family. Tim Belk, the current chairman and CEO, resides in Charlotte with his wife Sarah. They commissioned architect Ken Pursley to rebuild their weekend home on their property, outside the small town of Chester, SC.

  Ken knew that the original red brick ranch house needed to be torn down. He was completely taken with a turn-of-the-century Icehouse he spotted in Georgia and knew that was the inspiration model for the new structure he would design on Belk Farm.

It has a quirky double-decker pitched roofline that houses a row of ventilation louvers plus, tons of floor to ceiling windows. As a matter of fact, the sitting room has oversize glass doors embedded in floor-to-ceiling mullioned glass walls. What amazing light and views!

 A catfish trap was found on the property and upcycled to become the chandelier now hanging over the dining table.

The finishes, like the architecture, are simple, rustic and humble. The couple wanted to embrace the area and its farmland, but definitely did not want a log home feel. They got just what they wanted with the bright open floorplan,  and walls, floors and ceiling all done in wood. 

The most talked about feature of the home is the creative handrail made out of rope.

When you follow the stairs all the way to the top of the 3000 sq ft home, you discover the bunkroom which houses 6 bunks, 3 on each side. With 5 kids in the family, everyone has their own space! {Notice the use of 4 small rugs whipstiched together to create 1 large rug!}  

Each bunk offers its own reading light and curtain for privacy.

I am totally in love with this bathroom full of sinks, custom towel bars and the green animal art.

I've certainly seen and even used barn doors on a track, but this is a first seeing it used as a shower door! And that's wood on the shower walls...I'm trying to wrap my head around this! 

{images via Garden and Gun/ photographer Stacey Van Berkel}

Have you been watching the Olympics?? I am such a fan of all of it! Sports I have never watched before {bike racing, shooting and water polo}, I watch during the Olympics! I couldn't wait for the opening ceremonies and although it was very British and a little slow in spots, it had some great moments. And did you notice how many women were carrying their countries flag?! Even Iran!

And how great is it to watch the parents of the olympians watching their kids compete?? During a few of the events, they have cameras focused only on the parents of the child competing and it is so much fun to watch these incredibly invested, dedicated parents!! Having athletes of my own, I can't imagine how nerve wracking that must be. 

So, in honor of the host city, here is a beautiful London stone and stucco flat that Sarah Richardson gutted and then fully decorated.    

This lower level living room has fireplaces on each of its ends so dual sitting areas were created. It's hard to tell, but, soft buttery walls create the backdrop for the cherry and orange furniture and pillow palette.  

Because days can be very dreary in London, Sarah added color to every room of the 2500 sq ft home. The walls are soft green, yellow, light blue and pink. Very watery and pale, but just enough to illuminate the interior, even on the most overcast of days. 

 A very simple yet sophisticated kids room.

The kids bathroom wall is covered in beautiful pinwheel tiles in Ming green and Thassos marble. And the scale of the mirror is perfect over the gustavian dresser turned vanity.  

 What a lovely classic girls room with a soft lavender ceiling and pink toile duvet.

 Love the polka dot trim on the roman shade.

To see more of this London home, check out House and Home.

{via House and Home/ photographer Stacey Brandford}  .

Is this not the greatest chandelier, ever??!! It looks like fireworks right at their fullest, brightest, most show offy stage -- the second before they begin to fade. Netherlands based Moooi is the fun, innovative company responsible for this LED chandelier: "The Raimond lamp: a perfect sphere of mathematical ingredients punctuated by tiny LED lights. Looking at the lamp feels like staring into the soft glow of a starry night. Into the essence."

{images via moooi}

I was doing a little window shopping, etsy style, and came across the sweetest shop, Susabella. If you have a wedding to attend in the near future, this shop can offer you some great gifts.

There is nothing I like to give more than a personalized gift to celebrate a new marriage. Susabella's  white pottery is so beautiful in it's handcrafted simplicity, but they also allow each piece to be monogrammed and dated, before it is glazed.  

I don't know about you guys, but these are nothing like the unity candles on the market when I got married.

A cigar box for the groomsmen... 

Instead of the ringbearer's pillow, how about a stamped box?

A sweet remberance tucked into the bridal bouquet.

Check out all they have to offer at their etsy site here.  

{not compensated, just like sharing great stuff!}