Have you ever had your eye on something but put off buying it because you didn't need it right then, or it was too much money, and then when you went back to buy it, it was gone? That happened to me with the Jonathan Adler Eve Hand. It came out a long time ago, and I immediately wanted it, but I put off buying it because I thought it was a little expensive for "just" an objet. I asked for it for Christmas once or twice, but alas, no one bought it for me. And now it's gone, discontinued. And of course, now my concept of what is expensive has changed so much, I wouldn't really hesitate at the price. It's all relative, right?
Though there are other, newer Eve pieces in the collection, this is the one I love. There's something in the positioning of her fingers, and the inclusion of the apple, which the newer pieces don't have. The apple and the snake, the symbolism of women and female power, and the portrayal of women throughout history—not only do I think it's a good-looking piece, but it really speaks to me, especially as I majored in women's studies. So if anyone out there has this (in good condition) and no longer wants it, let me know! I've tried eBay and so far nothing, but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled. Have you ever lost out on a piece you really wanted? Xx a
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I'm working on an article that's due Friday about the house of a local interior decorator who has a fashion background. So I've had the interplay of fashion and home decor in my head for a few weeks. I happened to be checking TradHome last night to see if there was a new issue I might have missed (there wasn't, but I hope there will be one soon), and came across this menswear-inspired tabletop scheme.
The marbled cocktail plate and the flatware with sculptural handles immediately caught my eye. I think the mix of varied shades of blue and gray is so lovely and sophisticated. The combination of the blues with the pewter stoneware charger and plate, and the patterns on the cocktail plate, fabric (acting as tablecloth) and napkin… all I can think of is Stacy and Clinton from What Not to Wear (who I miss dearly): color, pattern, texture, shine. This has it all. You know I love clever details and a touch of humor, so of course to me, the mustachioed Jonathan Adler teapot and the fabulous punchy purple bow tie used as a napkin ring around a shirt stripe-patterned cloth napkin are just the right notes to make this sing. As with fashion, it's all about layering and the details. The plates, navy placemat, mug, and napkin are all Juliska and the flatware Mikasa. I don't know what that gray background is, but I really love it. I can't stop looking at the marbled plate against that backdrop. Adore. image via traditional home Xx a Since this is the time of year where people are pledging to get up earlier, go to bed earlier, or spend more time doing various noble pursuits, I was thinking about time itself and clocks. I came across the Flat Life clock, which is a few months old, and while it's probably more than I would spend for a wall clock, I really like the concept.
A familiar retro-looking alarm clock image is printed on a very thin piece of plastic and by way of a power cord, the piece makes the transition from two-dimensional image to three-dimensional product that actually functions (though it doesn't have alarm settings). I love the humor, originality, and simplicity of this design and the way the cord trails off, bleeding out of the image and into real life. If you like it, too, you can also check out the Flat Life light by the same designer: I know I've mentioned that one of the definite perks of my career has been getting to meet and work with creative and inspiring interior designers. I love seeing interiors where people take chances with patterns, colors, and mixing styles, because I think most average homeowners don't—but I'd love to be proven wrong! I'm pleased to say that all the designers I've worked with have been such a joy; I'm always so happy for them as they continue to be successful and especially when they branch out into new directions, such as product development. You might remember me mentioning Tilton Fenwick a few months ago, when they were part of a rug collaboration with Studio Four. Now, Anne Maxwell Foster and Suysel DePedro Cunningham have launched their first fabric collection, partnering with Duralee, who continues their tradition of working with fantastic designers producing exciting fabrics. It's exciting for any designer to be asked to develop a line of products, but I think it speaks volumes about their talent that Anne and Suysel were asked after having only been in business a few short years. The duo are known for their colorful and layered take on traditional. Since being featured as New Trad designers to watch by Traditional Home magazine (where I worked when I met them), they've also designed for showhouses and industry-favorite event Design on a Dime, in addition to their growing client roster. The fabric collection with Duralee is full of bright, happy, versatile designs that work well in a vibrant pattern-rich environment, yet many are restrained enough that they are perfect for someone who prefers a more subdued look. Take a look at these wonderfully rich colors and patterns available in a variety of scales. Stripes, florals, animal prints, and patterns inspired by recent travels work together to create a fresh perspective on traditional themes. The strong peacock pattern is actually Tilton Fenwick's company logo translated into a printed fabric. I can't wait to see some of these patterns on drapes and upholstered chairs and sofas. If you're not familiar with them, here are a few examples of Tilton Fenwick's exuberant and gorgeous work: images via duralee, tilton fenwick, and interior photos via michael rodenbush, darina todorova, trevor tondro for the new york times Xx a These grand room scenes are not renderings, drawings, or embossments. They are made from sheets of paper folded and creased carefully, over and over, by German artist Simon Schubert. Using a technique he developed, he creates these architectural images with great depth and impressive detail. I love the perspective of these pieces and the play of light and shadow. Apparently it takes around a week for him to complete each work; he must have so much patience and I can't imagine how many times I would have to start over to achieve this level of precision. You can see many more examples at his website. In our last house, we had a very large walk-in closet in the master bedroom, which we had outfitted with a very nice installation from California Closets. It had a 15-slot shoe organizer and plenty of drawer and shelf space, though my husband would say, if you had so much space why were your clothes never put away? And I would say, it's because I was in a constant state of let-me-try-all-this-on-and-see-what-fits-ugh-body-issues.
However, now in the house we are renting, the closets are extremely small and the sliding doors barely work because they're coming off their 50+ year old tracks. I had one large dresser which I gave over to my husband and I've been borrowing this tiny little four-drawer piece from my sister, but most of my clothes (which, yes, I still need to go through) are in giant plastic storage tubs. I'm not sure how long we'll be in this house, so I need to come up with smarter solutions to maximize the space we have. And because we're renting, I don't really want to build in anything or install anything. That's why I'm really liking this organizer from Umbra. It only takes up the tiniest bit of hanging bar space and provides two mesh shelves that can be used for folded items, handbags, or shoes— all things I prefer to keep off the floor. And the hanging straps are adjustable so you can hang it at any height, to maximize all the vertical space you have. I think this is a pretty great solution to an extremely common problem, with the added bonus of being easy to stash away when it's not in use. The beginning of a new year is a time for review, introspection, and setting new goals, especially during the month of January when everyone still has their eyes on the prize and hasn't yet hit any roadblocks. So if you're going to do some reflection, why not do it with these humorous mirrors by French artist and designer Nathalie Lété.
Made of acrylic and measuring 9x18 inches, these mirrors could go in a small powder room, or provide a smile (and a final check of your hair) as you head out the front door. The bearded gentleman and the Downton Abbey-styled lady are very on trend. I always like pieces with a sense of humor, and at the very least, you and your friends could get some amusing selfies out of them. images via fab Xx a There are all kinds of resolutions that can be made when the calendar flips to a new year. And while trying to improve ourselves is always worthy, I think the best goals are the ones that involve helping others and making our communities or world a better place to live in.
On Serena & Lily's website, I found the World Repair Kit. Inside the kit is a guidebook, stamps, stickers, and a passport to track progress. It is geared for children, but also for families to work together. The kit fosters engagement with the world around us and gives children a sense of agency and lets them know that they can help to make meaningful change. Throughout the guidebook, kids are encouraged to believe in themselves and to create goals to work toward. The guidebook's illustrations are graphic and fun, and clearly illustrate big concepts in easy to understand ways. I love this kit because it empowers kids to take on serious issues in age-appropriate language and also offers them ways to help that play to their individual interests or talents: Issues discussed include homelessness, environmental conservation, protecting endangered species, hands-on ways to help those in need of clean water, shelter, food, education, and health care, and being a good citizen of the world. Holding a clothing drive or bake sale, creating friendship bracelets to sell, and hosting a world repair party are just some of the kid-friendly ideas suggested. 100% of the profits from the kit go to the Serena & Lily Foundation which funds youth initiatives worldwide. Though the kit is recommended and most appropriate for kids ages 8 and up, it's never too early to teach children about the world and our place in it, and our responsibility for making it better. My non-personal goal this year is to do more volunteering because I really miss it, and I want to get my four-year-old daughter involved. My parents involved us in service projects at a young age and I have no doubt that it played a significant role in my lifelong interest in volunteering and affected my perspective on the world. I distinctly remember going with my parents to load bags for a food bank to deliver, my earliest memory of volunteering. Since then I've helped package meals, cook meals, serve meals, organized a toy drive, helped shop for winter necessities for families, all for various organizations, but I know I can, and should, do so much more. Do you volunteer? Do you involve your kids? I'd love to hear about the causes that matter to you! I am supremely honored to share that I am featured as a trendsetter on Zinc Door's feature Wishlists From The Pros. Zinc Door is a great decor resource and I've worked with them for years and it's been a pleasure. It was so much fun picking out these products, especially the tete-a-tete, which I desperately want, and the glass pendant (swoon).
Thank you Zinc Door for the opportunity! What a great way to start the new year! Xx a Happy new year everyone! Well, this year is definitely not starting the way we'd hoped. My youngest daughter is (hopefully) near the tail end of a bug that made her sick for several days, starting on Christmas, and she spiked a fever yesterday morning at 6am. Shortly after the clock struck midnight and 2014 began, my husband got ill and has been sick since. Today I'm trying to help them however I can while my older daughter and I are crossing our fingers that we do not get sick, too.
Needless to say, not what we were hoping to be doing today. Even though 2014 is off to an inauspicious start, I'm holding out hope for this year. 2013 wasn't a bad year, but it was a hard year. While I'm proud of starting my freelance career, working on this blog, and my family, I did not feel like myself for the majority of the year. I was (and still am) a bit homesick for my old house and for New York. I was (and still am) exhausted because my baby, at 14 months still does not sleep through the night. I'm hard on myself and onmy body, still a little heavier than I wanted to be by now. It's funny, I felt much more confident in who I was and how I looked and dressed when I was in high school and college than I do now. So that's what I'm hoping for this year: to find myself again. To--as much as I can with small children--do the things that make me happy, to make time for myself, to try and push myself out of my comfort zone, to get outside more, to find some energy again and to not always be so tired, to learn something new, to get a little more organized, to dress more like who I feel I am, and to accept that certain things are out of my hands and try to let them go. I'm not giving myself a deadline for these things, because I don't think the added pressure is necessary. These goals have been on my mind for a while, so I feel committed to them. And that's what I wish for each of you, too: that you find what fulfills you, whether it's personally or professionally. Happy 2014! |
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