LeAnn Rimes Franklin, TN Estate

Since Memorial Day is upon us and the 3-day weekend often turns into one in which home projects are started and/or finished, I thought I'd post some photos of celebrity homes, complete with exterior/interior inspiration galore. You can see Taylor Swift's Beverly Hills home here & Keri Russell's Brooklyn brownstone here. & Marilyn Monroe's Brentwood home here.

LeAnn Rimes
location: Franklin, TN
price: $25,000/month (for rent)

LeAnn Rimes' English-style Tudor sits on a private 5.22 acres within the confines of Avalon, a posh, gated community with luxury homes and condos. The estate boasts an abundance of amenities, like custom woodwork through out, hand-stained wood floors, a movie theater, an exercise studio, and a salt-water swimming pool, just to name a few. After putting it on the market for $7.45m in 2009 and not getting any bites, Rimes has decided to rent the estate for a hefty price tag of $25,000/month.

photos via Zillow.com

Click below for more pics of LeAnn's home, including her movie theater and workout studio.

photos via Zillow.com

Keri Russell's 1860s Brooklyn Brownstone

- Get Keri's look - Wall color by Benjamin Moore's Stone Hearth; linen upholstered chair by John Derian, rugs by IKEA and Shaw Floors

Keri Russell, of Felicity fame, bought this 1860s Brooklyn brownstone and completely renovated it with her contractor husband, Shane Deary. Knocking down walls to make the space light and airy, Russell and Deary decided to restore a lot of the home's original characteristics as well, like the pumpkin-pine flooring and brick fireplace. Today, the home sits beautifully decorated with built-in shelves, linen upholstered furnishings, and antique decor that Russell acquired from fairs.

photos via Elle Decor

Summertime Entertaining: Tablescape Decor

As the summer months quickly approach, the desire to be outdoors and soak up the warmer days is a high priority of most. Enjoying meals in your backyard or at the park is one of the best ways to celebrate the season, and while the food is most certainly the star, the festive table setting and decor can be the perfect touch to any such gathering. Mismatched pillows as seat cushions, mason jars filled with candles, a few fresh cut flowers, and maybe a paper lantern or two, and voila; a summer soiree fit for all. Here are a few of my favorite outdoor looks:

1. Carolina classic Hudson chair 2. Peonies - peak season April-June 3. Ball mason jars 4. Penguin classic hardcover books 5. Dover tin bucket 6. damask pillows 7. Marquis Waterford candlesticks 8. burlap roll (craft stores) 9. Anthropologie plate in cloud; Mikasa plate in shimmer vine 10. Craspedia (or "Billy Ball" flowers) 11. Kate Spade June teapot

Ralph Lauren's Double RL Ranch + his Ralph Lauren decorated Teepees

above: Two of RL's teepees sit on his 16,000 + acres just below the San Juan Mountains. One teepee is designated for adults, and the other for children, complete with teddy bears and child sized furniture.

Ralph Lauren's Double RL Ranch, about 45 minutes outside of Telluride, Colorado, was featured on Oprah today, and to say it's lavishly-poised interiors mixed with breathtaking views were magnificent would be an understatement. Decorated with a plethora of items RL has collected over the years, both the main house and teepees (yes, as in real, functional teepees) have an Old West feel, infused with chic, rich colors and elegant yet bold patterns. The main guest teepee is surely one of the loveliest components of the vast ranch, complete with rustic furniture, Ralph Lauren Home bedding, and American-themed accents.

above: Guests are invited to stay in this teepee, decorated with collected antiques and navajo patterned blankets.

above: The main house bridges modern-day living with Old West decor; using materials like brass, antiqued wood, and outdoor elements like pine cones to complete the look.

Not here today...

I'm guest posting today over at the fabulous blog {long distance loving}. It's all about California fashion for summer 2011, and I'd love for you to come visit! Click here to see the post.

photo via Hopscotch & Grace

Summer Bags

I've been obsessing over all the straw bags and colorful canvas totes in the stores lately. I'm one of those people who carries everything but the kitchen sink in my purse, so the over-sized summer bags are right up my alley!

1. Kate Spade lawn party tote 2. Tory Burch straw Tory tote 3. Michael Kors Santorini tote 4. Calypso St. Barth for Target sequin tote 5. Kate Spade splodge dot 6. Kate Spade Karen bag 7. Cole Haan Jitney tote 8. Marc by Marc Jacobs Tate tote 9. Kate Spade magazine tote 10. Trina Turk Mykonos tote 11. Fossil Jesse tote 12. Juicy Couture Beverly floral tote

PS. If you haven't checked out BaubleBar yet, you must! It's just like Rue La La or Gilt Groupe, but is filled with the most gorgeous jewelry.

Searching: Perfect Cowboy Boots

There is something so charming and endearing about a simple pair of worn-in cowboy boots. Sadly, during a move a few years ago, I lost a box of shoes which held my beloved cowboy boots; a gift from my Mom that I treasured. I've since been on the hunt for that perfect pair, but have turned up short in my efforts thus far. Here are some I'm currently keeping my eye on (paired with a few suitable ensemble companions):
1. Frye ankle short 2. Tony Lama ankle boots 3. Frye carson shortie 4. Frye billy charcoal 5. Frye harness boots 6. Frye billy pull on 7. linen dress 8. paisley print dress 9. frill silk dress 10. a-line washed dress 11. cropped sweater 12. loose pocket tee 13. butterfly check shirt 14. polka dot scarf 15. chunky knit scarf 16. printed spot scarf 17. petal leaf scarf

Quirky & Elegant

A stark contrast from the house I posted yesterday, this home boasts an eclectic, colorful mix of decor while at the same time highlighting it's original character like wood floors and crown molding. It's quirky and elegant; a rare but welcomed combination.

A Modern & Classic Home Tour

I loved this tour inside stylist and designer Anita Kaushal's home. It's light, airy, and mixes both modern and classic elements; a subtle yet stunning combination. Plus, any house in which a swing is present in the kitchen is a-okay by me.

A Brighter Wardrobe

*In light of recent world events, blogging today seems trivial. I struggled with whether or not I should publish a post this morning, for fear of seeming insensitive, self-indulgent, and flat out disrespectful to all of those being affected a great deal depending on where in the world you are. After much contemplation, I decided to post because blogging is something that brings me a sliver of light and optimism during such times, and it's my hope that it can possibly do the same for someone else as well.

I hate to admit this, but it is the truth, so here it goes: I have a hard time wearing color in my wardrobe. I love my black sweaters, charcoal grey shirts, and dark denim jeans, and rarely shift from such. On occasion I may venture into a shade of brown or blue, but that is pretty much the extent of my color wearing ways. With summer vastly approaching and the clothing in stores becoming more cheerful by the minute, I am determined to break out of my dismal-dye realm and try a few brighter pieces. Here are some dresses, tops, and accessories that I can see fitting the bill quite nicely. They're still a bit subdued, but hey, it's a start!

1. ellie print dress 2. cream chiffon dress 3. pansy print dress 4. sunshine sleeveless dress 5. zip back tank 6. mint blouse 7. stone empire tank 8. nude crop vest 9. graziella necklace 10. blue suede flats 11. sofia bracelets 12. paloma sandals 13. gracie bag

PS. Thank you so much to Christianna at The Girl With The Blue Bow for having me as her "Any Friend of Mine" guest today. Head on over there to read about my 6 sentence story, why I blog, and more!