I've always loved school. Back-to-school was my favorite time of year when I was a kid and I always approached the first day of school with excitement. As I prepare (physically, with school supplies, and emotionally, with tissues handy) to send my first-born to kindergarten in less than three weeks (omg), I've obviously got school on the brain. 

For all the families getting ready to go back to school or go for the first time, or maybe if you're homeschooling and need gear: Overstock has partnered with the fabulous PBS KIDS (which is on quite a bit at my house) to create the Overstock Kid Zone.

There are several categories within the shop that include products for school (supplies, desks, and watches to keep older kids on schedule), artistic expression (easels, paint supplies, and craft kits), learning through play (tablets, science activities, play kitchens, dress up clothes), and kids' rooms (beds, storage, and decor). 

The Kid Zone page also links directly to PBS KIDS videos and activities families can do together. Best of all, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of products purchased from the Kid Zone goes to support PBS KIDS and its mission of educating children.  I know as long as my daughter has access to Peg+Cat and Plum Landing for a long time to come, she'll be happy. And since some students, like my godchildren, have already started back to school: I wish learners of all ages a happy and enriching year!

When most people move and don't need (or want) certain things anymore, they sell their furniture on Craigslist or occasionally leave it on the curb where it is then spirited away before you even get back up to your living room. 

But if you have (or want) higher-end furniture, you need a better option. For you, check out Viyet, a site dealing in high-end furniture and home accessories consignment. 

If you're looking to sell, there are a few requirements: the items must be a designer brand, meet the minimum retail price (there are different cutoffs for different categories), and they must be in excellent or good condition, or able to be restored to excellent or good condition with a little care. Once you've submitted your piece for consignment, an expert curator will come to measure, photograph and document the details of the items you're selling. Viyet will help you market and sell your pieces and profits are split 50/50 between Viyet and the consignor. 

Buyers can find quality pre-owned items for 50% to 80% off the original price. The pieces are by well-known interior designers such as Alexa Hampton and Steven Gambrel or are from retailers like Century Furniture, Mecox, and Tai Ping. Modern and traditional pieces for nearly every room are available. 

A site like this provides an opportunity to buy a well-made designer piece when you might not be able to otherwise, and even if you do have the cash, it's a great deal. The other thing I really like about Viyet's concept is that it keeps pieces in circulation and combats the disposable culture it's so easy to fall into. 

No, the pieces aren't in perfect condition (though some are pretty close), but with a little TLC or perhaps some strategic furniture and accessory placement, they'll be well worth what you pay.

A few of the items currently for sale that caught my eye, including the Sé Damien Langlois Meurinne table above:

Between this and the last post, you might think you're seeing a pattern. And though the last couple weeks have definitely made me want to indulge in a little wine more than usual, I'm really not much of a drinker. However, I do love having parties and hanging out in the beautiful outdoors, which is where this little baby comes in. I'm totally into this Party Bucket with Table from Pottery Barn. 

It's fun, it's functional (times two), and it's pretty attractive. The bucket is made of galvanized steel and fits into a hand-woven all-weather wicker handled piece. I think you can imagine as easily as I have how great this would be at a party or casual cookout, and ease is what good summer entertaining should be all about. 


image via pottery barn

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When I think of my own style, I always think of a mix of sophisticated and tough. From my vaguely gypsy-slash-rocker chick style in high school and college to the things I gravitate toward now (similarly rock chick chic), I love pieces with a little edge and hardware. Last night, I stumbled on this beauty online at Hudson, long a Boston design destination.

This ice bucket isn't inexpensive, but what a great statement piece (a much better statement than "I get tipsy off half a glass of red," which is sadly true in my case). Made of reclaimed teak wood, iron, and stainless steel, this will keep more than your wine bottle cool. 


image via hudson

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There's something I've been seeing more and more of lately and I just love it: black windows. A simple paint job changes the whole look of the room and, to me, makes it a lot more exciting. It adds a sort of architectural interest, even to a room that has none otherwise. 

Whether you do a little (only paint the muntins, the generally decorative pieces that divide the panes of glass) or a lot (include the channel and sill, the frames or even an door), it amps up the room. The stark contrast of black window against bright white walls is lovely, and I know they go well with dark walls. But I am also curious to see more black windows used in rooms that have colored walls, as I haven't seen too many examples of that. 

I've never been a fan of muntins in windows, always preferring to have nothing breaking up the view through the glass, However, in my next house, I'm leaning toward painting the windows black on all of the downstairs windows. Just picturing it makes me excited to paint shopping. Part of why I love the look is that it reminds me a lot of the spaces in New York where I've worked on photo shoots and the old iron windows looking out over the city and the rivers made me so happy. 


Would you try a black window?

images via cococozy, liz marie blog, houzz, domaine home, houzz, designed for life

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Whenever I see a cute trinket tray I always want it. I don't know why. Apparently I think it's something I need and will use often despite the fact that my keys are always in zipper pouch (so I don't lose them in my purse) and my glasses, when off, are usually in the bathroom next to the bottle of saline. 

I am, for now, resisting the urge to buy this Kate Spade Eyeglasses trinket tray. The illustration is adorable and it would look very cute on a table near the door. I tend to use small bowls for my rings and earrings, but it could be good for holding things that you want to remember to take on your way out the door. At 6 by 11 inches, it's pretty sizeable, so it could hold a fair amount.

Do you use a trinket tray for keys, glasses, or jewelry or do they just act as objets on a table or dresser?

image via nordstrom 

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When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I had a beautiful color scheme picked out -- inspired by a container of gumdrops I'd found at Whole Foods -- and I knew I wanted to do silver walls. I wasn't finding an affordable option and I also decided I wanted the paint to be as eco-friendly as possible since it would be where my first baby spent a lot of time. I ended up going with a gray that was a shade I really liked, but I always wished I had been able to do a metallic.

Have you seen the videos shared on Facebook this week of Hearst Design Group and Ralph Lauren's collaboration on paint inspiration. In the video above, Elle Decor senior editor/writer Ingrid Abramovitch made over her living room using a Ralph Lauren specialty finish, Metallic Mica. The color looks exactly like what I was going for five years ago. 


Now I'm thinking again about how much I'd love to do metallic walls. I might still be wary about doing in where the kids sleep, although I'm sure my daughter would love to have metallic Fairy Circle pink on her walls (note to self: do more research on mica).


The range of colors available is gorgeous and definitely has my wheels spinning.

If you like the metallic finish as much as I do, you can buy it online at Home Depot, and there is a how-to video if you're going to do the paint job yourself. Click here to access the rest of the inspiration videos, and be sure to check out the bedroom transformation featuring my incredible former boss Sabine!

video via elle decor

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It's a good thing 'Thou shall not covet thy offspring's dresser' isn't a commandment, because I am guilty. I spent a long time trying to find a cool dresser for Sunshine that would grow with her and not look like her sister's, which now feels a little too plain and white. (Maybe it's time for some kind of major Krylon project?)

Enter the Mid-Century 6 Drawer dresser in black from West Elm. Not only did I love the hardware, I loved that it was black and not the ubiquitous chocolate brown finish. It looks great in her room and coordinates nicely with the special knobs from Anthropologie that I put on the crib's drawers back when our first was born. 

Every time I go in Sunshine's room, I'm a little jealous of her dresser. The house we're currently in has a major lack of closet space and I'm currently making do with a sad little dresser borrowed from my sister. And when I say sad, I mean it was extremely cheap and duct tape is currently holding the drawer bottoms to the rest of the drawer frame. And barely holding on at that. But soon our housing situation is going to change and our closet situation with it. But I've still been thinking about the dresser. I went to West Elm's site tonight to look at the price and was crestfallen to see that this piece is no longer available. 

So, if I end up needing a dresser, do I pilfer this one from my daughter or try to find something else? What would you do?



image via west elm

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No matter how interested or involved in social media I am, I'm ever the print journalist, constantly taking down notes by hand -- and realizing that my handwriting has really gone downhill since college as I'm out of practice writing by hand at that length. While spiral-bound notebooks are the most convenient, they're not always the most attractive.

This adorable strawberry notebook from MoMA is perfect for to-do lists, ideas, and notes taken during an interview. The juicy exterior is made of vegan leather and the stem-styled page marker is made of suede. There's also a honey dew version. 


image via moma store

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Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Heart! Sorry, I was thinking of the power of the elements and had a Captain Planet moment. Actually, I saw a video [see below] on Facebook this morning that really interested me. Water can be really calm and serene or it can be angry and scary and strong. And it can kind of be both at the same time. 

Hawaiian photographer Clark Little jumps into gigantic waves with his camera and shoots these incredible shore breaks. Some of the breaks are so big, I want to scold him for not wearing a life jacket (such a mom). He captures these amazing shots while he is completely enveloped and surrounded by the powerful water and the images are truly beautiful. Check out the video in which Little talks about his process and you can see more of his work.

images via © clark little photography

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