Incredible Shades!

I was thinking of waiting until Monday to post this, but I couldn't resist! I came across a company called Delia's Shades tonight on Apartment Therapy, and I am completely in love. If only I didn't have window treatments already!

My favorite:




For a touch of humor:



I am going absolutely insane over these! What a nice option instead of boring shades or more traditional curtains. Oh, I'm going to have to save up for these for our next place!

Kids Art

When we were designing our daughter's room, we found some cute art online, but I wish we had found these first:




Available from pillowsandthrows.com in many colors, 3 sizes, and ranging from $65 for a 12' x 12' to $175 for a 28' x 28'.

Lovely Sofa

I spotted this in my searches this week and wanted to share it with you:

It is the Easton sofa from Restoration Hardware. At about $3000 it is nowhere near being a "steal," but I really like the simple lines, the nailhead trim, and the chocolate brown color.

Pillows Galore!

The pillows on our sofa are torn and tattered, so I have been on a hunt for new ones. However, the pillow collections at my go-to places leave a little to be desired. I was feeling quite pessimistic about finding what I was looking for until I came across PillowsandThrows.com. Here I have found just the kinds of interesting, modern, graphic pillows that I was looking for. Here are some of my favorites:

Thomas Paul Flora Orange ($80)


Thomas Paul Seed ($96)


Inhabit Pussy Willows in Mineral ($60)


Koko Embroidered Pillow ($89)



These are just some of my favorites - check out the website to see lots more!

Sale! Luisa Side Table from DWR

My brother and his wife have this table in white, and I drool over it every time I'm at their apartment:



The Luisa Side Table comes in red, white, and black, and it is on sale for $220 (from $278) from Design Within Reach. The white one would look smashing next to the sofa in our living room. Maybe Santa or the Hannukah Bunny will deliver it...

Drinking Glasses

I think these glasses are too cool for school:



From Uncommon Goods, these Illusion Wine Glasses come as a set of 4 for $75. They are dishwasher safe which is absolutely crucial for me and my unfussy life. They look great with red wine (not quite as much of an impact with white wine), punch, grape juice, etc., and I think they are a fabulous gift for a red wine enthusiast with modern taste.

Drink up!

Alexis Bittar Jewelry

Hello, everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful and satisfying Thanksgiving. We enjoyed a feast at my brother and his wife's place. It was absolutely scrumptious.

Enough friendly banter - let's get on to the good stuff.

I have come across Alexis Bittar's jewelry a few times, and I always love it. So, having thoroughly searched through his website, I've decided that I need to devote at least one post to his fabulous lucite jewelry.

The first piece I want to share with you is the Cushion Bracelet in Silver.

At $375, it certainly is not a steal, but I think it is simply stunning and gorgeous and it could improve almost any basic outfit.


The next bracelet I would love to add to my jewelry collection is the Silver Palm Beach Kiss ($295).

I adore the modern, icy quality to the lucite and in this piece, the cluster of black onyx and marcasite add a feminine and striking touch.

Now on to the rings.

The Gold Abalone Ring ($125) is so simple and modern with it's golden sheen (even though it is silver) and it's delicate texture.

It is a very sculptural piece that would complete any outfit.


The Smoke Bianca Ring ($150) is hand-carved and hand-painted with a show-stopping silver faceted stone.

As someone who does not wear much color, this ring would become an integral part of my wardrobe instantaneously. I love the size of this piece, and could see myself wearing it every day (hint, hint, my darling hubby!).

While I don't wear many colorful clothes, I do occasionally wear colorful jewelry, and Bittar's colors are perfectly bright, saturated, and wonderful. Here are a few photos of his colorful pieces:
Turquoise Dome Ring ($175)


Purple Warhol Polka Dot Bangle ($145)


Bittar also has tons of lucite earrings, necklaces, and pins, but the bracelets and rings really caught my eye. He also has some non-lucite jewelry, so be sure to give his website a careful examination when you visit it. (You would think he was paying me, right? But, no, I just think he's extremely talented.)

Splurge of the Week (Nov. 19 - 25)

I am bad. So bad, I know. I have not been posting much recently, and I have no excuse. I don't want to post something just for the sake of posting. I want to make certain that what I share with you is really something wonderful and special. So, you may not see new posts every day, but then again, you may. It simply depends on what I come across and when.

So there.

Now on to this week's Splurge:



Heath Ceramics is a small, Sausalito (CA) based company that has been creating ceramic tiles and tableware for over 50 years. The 20 or so artists use techniques and mid-century modern designs that were developed by Edith Heath years ago. The above photo shows an installation of Heath tiles. Here are some more beautiful photos of their works:





(If you've ever been to Matsuri in the Meatpacking District, you may have seen the above oval tiles in a dark brown/maroon? upstairs by the bathrooms)



The tiles come in a range of rich, beautiful colors, and the possibilities with all of the tile shapes and sizes are endless. (Oh, also, Ann Sacks carries some of the Heath Tiles.)

Splurge of the Week (Nov. 12 - 18)

This week's Splurge is a favorite of mine. It is something I have loved since the first time I saw it a few years ago. I still hope to be able to buy it one day, but for now, a girl can dream...



This is the Swirl rug by Paul Smith for The Rug Company, and I love everything about it. The vibrant colors, the asymmetrical swirl pattern, the scale - everything is stunningly beautiful! Beauty comes at a price, however, and the price for this design starts at $85 per square foot, meaning that an 8' x 10' area rug costs $6,795.

Backsplash

Hi everyone! I hope you all are having a great weekend. My Sunday blues are about to kick in, so I thought sharing something beautiful would be a good pick me up.



I am in love with these Metro Crisp glass tiles from Ann Sacks, and we're thinking of using them as the backsplash in our kitchen. I especially love the smaller tiles (behind the mirror in the photo above) and think they would look incredibly sleek and chic in our little kitchen. Now I just have to find a countertop and flooring material that I love as much as these!

Mirror, mirror, on the wall...

So I mentioned my search for a mirror for our entranceway in my last post. Specifically, I'm looking for something to fit between two light switches (why one was put in the middle of the wall I have no idea!) that has a small shelf or hook for keys. You see, my daughter can now reach the top of the table we have by the door, so I can no longer leave things there if I don't want to be picking them up all day.

Here is the leading contender:


It is the "Half a Portion" Mirror with Shelf from the Moma Store, and it is only $198. (I say "only" because I've seen other mirrors that are closer to $1000 than $100 so I was pleasantly surprised that I liked one of the less expensive ones for once!) I love the form and function because while it is funny and adds a little humor to the home, it also serves a purpose as a place to rest keys and spare change.

What do you think?

Accessories - vases

In searching for a mirror for our entranceway I came across these stunning Bambu vases by Laura de Santillana from Unica Home.



I find the forms incredibly beautiful, and while they come in a range of colors, this quartet is my favorite. The combination of the light brown, gray, salmon, and nut (they chose the colors for the names, not me!) is perfectly sophisticated and soothing, and if I didn't have a toddler I would purchase them immediately! (They aren't exactly a steal at $456 but "each vase is one of a kind" and there were only 300 of each color made this year.)

Sale Time!

So yesterday's Splurge was really quite expensive, so I thought today I'd look for some sale items to post.

These Sorbet Votives from Wisteria are 4 for $12 - that's just $3 each! (Yes, I am married to a math teacher, so I have to whip out my crazy math skills whenever I can...just kidding!)

I love the fresh, vibrant colors, and not only are they votives, but they can also be used as vases (see photo) or drinking glasses. Know someone who loves to set a nice table? This could be a perfect (and inexpensive) gift! The set of 4 would also be a lovely hostess gift for a dinner party or weekend stay.


Also from Wisteria, this Provencal Country Mirror is only $89!

Now, you know me - my taste is modern, but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate traditional pieces. I love painted furniture, and this mirror is no exception. The soft blue leaves and the antiqued finish make for a very charming and romantic piece. The downside to this mirror is that while it is only $89, the shipping is $50.


Now, back to my modern taste. The Parachute Dining Table from CB2 is on sale for $199.

This table will seat 2 or 4 easily, but more than that and you'd better look for a different dining table. I love the high-gloss white top and the criss-crossing lines of the metal base - both nice modern touches.

This one isn't on sale, but at only $18 it is inexpensive enough to be included here. The Parasol Flower Lampshade from Urban Outfitters caught my eye right away when I was searching for some good deals.

The turquoise is clean and crisp, and the allover parasol pattern is very graphic and somewhat Asian inspired (think Japanese woodblock print). I wish I had a lamp that needed a lampshade...

Splurge of the Week (Nov. 5 - 11)

At long last, here is this week's Splurge of the Week:



It is the Design Within Reach Airstream. For a mere $49,066 you can have one of these chic mobile homes of your very own. Can't decide where you want to go this weekend, this winter, or this summer. Live like Matthew McConaughey and flex your muscles outside this beautiful Airstream.

The dining area and kitchen (and notice the place settings because 4 are included):


The lovely bedroom (with included linens and pillow):


Straight from the DWR website:

"Included with this Airstream:

The galley comes equipped with cooktop, stainless sink, Elkay faucet, fridge-freezer, Nelson Ball Clock and four Heller Dinnerware place settings. There are recessed halogen lights, a skylight and the Wire Coatrack by Tom Dixon. There's also a lavatory and shower. The eco-friendly flooring has a matte ebony finish and the glossy overhead lockers are backlit and have metal perforated laminate doors. The panoramic windows have custom aluminum window treatments imported from Europe. For leisurely times outdoors, a fabric awning and two Tripolina Chairs are included. There are Matteo linens and a Maharam Pillow, and the electronics package includes rooftop AC, Sony sound system and TV."


The classic Nelson Ball Clock which is included:



The Tom Dixon Wire Coatrack:



So what do you think? Can you envision yourself hanging out on the beach with your home parked behind you? I can, but where will we all fit?

Hint for Monday

I have already decided what Monday's Splurge of the Week is going to be and I am so excited. I absolutely love this Splurge, and I can say with almost 100% certainty that I will never buy it. If you want to try to guess what it is, take a look at the DWR website and see if you can figure it out.

Pouf Time!

I apologize everyone! I took a few days off because I was having so much Halloween fun with P - she was a little purple fairy and looked so incredibly adorable. And then she ate one of the rhinestones off of her wand, and her costume became one big choking hazzard. Other than that, it was great.

So here is a little something for the home that I saw today:



The Flocks Pouf in medium ($800) and large ($1600) from DWR is a multifunctional piece of furniture. Use it as extra seating, a footrest, or simply as a sculptural piece when not in use, but you will have to wait until January to get it. The poufs are created using extra large knitting needles, and the result is an interesting piece of furniture that adds a touch of homemade craft to an interior without looking too "crafty." (Oh, by the way, it only comes in the colors shown in the photo above.)

Splurge of the Week (Oct. 29 - Nov. 4)

Just two weeks ago the Splurge of the Week was the Tod's messenger bag which I adore. I know this seems completely uncreative, but this week's Splurge is also a Tod's item.



The Aspen Platform is $395 and it comes in the color above (burgundy with a white rubber bottom) or black with a black rubber bottom. Now, normally I wear a lot of black (we're talking a lot!), but I absolutely love this shoe in burgundy. I am loving the patent leather which adds a nice shine, and another fantastic touch about this shoe is the delicate ankle strap which adds quite a bit of va-va-voom to the heel. At only (!) $395, this is the least expensive Splurge yet!

Dining Table - Need Chairs!

When I was at Starbucks with P (my daughter) yesterday morning, we happened to be sitting next to a lovely couple with whom I started chatting. As it turns out, they needed a little interior design help, and since you know I love that kind of stuff, I wanted to see if I could help. So, here's the dilemma:

J (the woman) bought this dining room table from Restoration Hardware:

Now, she needs chairs. I was happy to hear that she didn't buy the chairs that Restoration was showing with this table because I really do not like dining sets. However, this leaves her in a bit of a jam because she has two daughters and would like to be able to sit and eat at their new dining table. So I decided to do some looking to see if I could find any chairs that I like (and hopefully, that she will like too). So these are the options:

Traditional

Meyer Chair from Pottery Barn ($179 each on sale; I would get in leather)


Do I love this chair with that table? No, but I do think it is a perfectly acceptable (if a bit boring!) option. Please keep in mind my modern sensibilities here..


Carson Chair from Crate and Barrel ($129 each)


This one is better...my main problem is the cushion. I like that the cushion adds some lightness to the pairing of these chairs and that table, but I don't like the idea of the ties on the chairs to keep the cushions on (the first chair has a slip seat that can be leather and does not have to be tied into place). Also, how often would you have to clean light-colored chair fabric?


Cafe Chair from Room and Board ($179 each; in Mocha)


This is a very standard chair, but with the table and these chairs, the whole dining table would look very different so there would definitely need to be light colored place settings to make it look less heavy.


Finding chairs that I really like with this table has been very hard for me because I really want to find something that will lighten it up. A traditional wood chair is not going to do that. So, I had to branch out and get a little crazy (I am a huge fan of modern design, after all). Here are my modern options (they are all from Design Within Reach):

Globus Chair in White ($238)

I love the white and delicate metal legs against the heavy dark wood. What an unexpected pairing!


Victoria Ghost Side Chair ($294 each; also comes in white which I think would look great)


This is one of my favorite options because of the traditional design of the chair that has been created in an unusual material (translucent polycarbonate). The traditional design would join the chair and the table nicely, but the lightness of the chair and the material would add a very modern touch.


Kong Side Chair - Polished ($1790 each!; also comes as an arm chair)


This is my other favorite option because it maintains a simple, traditional design, but it would glam up the table with its polished finish. I love the way wood and silver look next to one another.

J, good luck with your search! Hopefully you've seen something that you liked here, but if not, I won't be offended and I hope you find your perfect chairs!

Take-Out at Home

Lorena Barrezueta is a Brooklyn-based designer whose porcelain designs I came across today. She takes the classical designs of take-out containers, and instead of making them out of tin, she makes them out of porcelain. Her colors are rich and beautiful, and the result is one that is familiar and fun. Here are some of her pieces:






Aren't these great?