Oh, Ina!

OK, so have you seen Ina Garten's new "barn"? Sigh. I've always sort of envied her life....I mean, who doesn't? That gorgeous Hamptons house? The endless parties? The insanely beautiful garden? A personal florist to bring armloads of flowers to your home? Skipping over the pond to her pad in Paris? As long as I'm dreaming here, I would like to be a tad thinner and can I keep my husband? Jeffrey's nice and all, but he doesn't quite do it for me the way B does.

I should just stop blabbering and show you the pictures (if you didn't already see them in House Beautiful or all over Blogland). "The Tessa" (as C-Man calls her) was inspired by the "simple country buildings of Belgium." Here's what she has to say about the Belgian aesthetic:

"It's very simple but very country...The whole thing about antiques and modern things together, and natural materials like wood, stone, leather — it's earthy and elegant, which is what I always look for in food. Real and not too perfect. It is what it is. If you start with really good-quality ingredients, you don't need to do much to make food taste great. Funny, I always say this about food, but it applies to interiors as well. Start with good-quality furnishings, and you don't need to do much to make a house look good." Ina, I would kiss you if you were right here in front of me.

The "great room" where the entertaining, cooking and dining gets done:

Gorgeous and functional kitchen. Hard to pull off.

Hello there, Oh Perfect Pantry.

I could so nap in this here bedroom.

I could also make very, very good use of this bathtub. The natural light, people? The best.

I suppose this is where I would read a book while Ina brings out some nibbles and a kir for me.

Did I mention she has one of the prettiest gardens I ever did see?

Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh............................