Last month I bought Gwyneth’s new cook book and immediately, I felt like I needed to: a) buy a french farm table b) start wearing more American brands and c) run to Heath ceramics to purchase all new serving pieces. Since “c” is the most doable (mainly due to a Regency style home and a commitment to Marni,) I feel as if these Alabama Chanin designed pieces are just what GP ordered. And while I initially bought the book to be inspired for kid’s meals, (and I was – our hits included Japanese Chicken Meatballs, Gluten-Free Fish Fingers and Honey Carrot Sticks,) I’ve actually been cooking from it every night. So I am officially hitting the “Like Button.” And with some new ceramic tableware, oh you know I’ll like it that much more.
Archives for category: Home Decor
Ahh, the family crest. We all have one, don’t we? Sha right. I just discovered the brilliant artist Happy Menocal who not only makes the most lovely water color note cards but also creates custom heraldry for families and new unions (read: a super sick wedding gift!) With beautiful, muted shades and whimsical designs, it’s like Leontine Linens on crack – which, to a monogram freak like me, is just heaven. 
I’ve oft written about my love for great wrapping, even though I am the worst wrapper ever. Furoshiki, an eco-friendly Japanese wrapping cloth (to be exact) has been popping up on a few web stores and I have been struck by it’s loveliness. Recently I was scouring the Harabu House site for a writing assignment and found this great looking style that even I couldn’t make ugly. In a psychotic fit of web browsing, I found a wrapping tutorial here. But the best part is that once it’s unwrapped, your friend can re-gift the wrapping. I like it.
I met Greg Chait of the Elder Statesman through our daughter’s potentially going to school together. He is the epitome of California-cool: laid-back, thoughtful and collected. And talented! He just won the Vogue CFDA award to boot. Laura, his other half, is just as lovely and so this post is in honor of their latest accomplishment. My newest fixation is this super beautiful ES quilt. I’ve admitted to treasuring my blanket wardrobe and feel there’s always room for one more coverlet, so to speak. This one would make it’s debut this month, just in time for “sweater weather.”
This Venetian mirror from ABC Carpet will give me pause next time I want to post something on Pinterest. My vision was to hang it in my girl’s room after a (possible) wallpaper change. So like any other psychopath, I posted it as a reminder to myself online. And then it got repinned and then it was sold. Now I’m not sweating myself too hard…only a handful of people follow me so there is actually a 99% chance that it was just coincidence. But it did emphasize the idea that once you covet something, someone else might…we’ll all get up, it’ll be anarchy! So maybe in the future (in order to satisfy my shopping paranoia,) I just won’t post one-of-a-kinders. Though in the end it was really my fault…TOO SLOW!
I’m obsessed with rugs. Just recently I purchased a gray and white safari print for Cleo’s nursery and it was a total game changer. Our prior rug was actually shag carpet which would give me palpitations when watching the baby discover broken crayons and other shit that could not be retrieved by professional cleaners. Now it’s like a glorious open field…Vilac wooden clutch toys and lovies are strewn about… And ever since last week it’s been crawling central. My mom bawled me out me out for choosing such a light color way but for once in my life I’m glad I ignored her warning. I’m posting this amazing Madeline Weinrib rug as a reminder to myself of what to buy in my next house when spit up will not be a threat to floor coverings. And with a pattern like this, I can just imagine all the dance parties to be had.
I’ve always been obsessed with Alexandra Von Furstenberg’s neon lucite trays and candy bowls and then Gwyneth went and confirmed that they were cool last week, blah, blah, blah. So I have good taste, what can I say. While I’m not one for displaying perfume, I would if I had this taupe tray that feels more modern and less precious. It’s the kind of thing I imagine my girls sitting in front of while pretending to spritz themselves with enormous atomizers….OK that would never happen with these kids but it’s still a sweet look for the bathroom.
Somewhere in my 50 Shades of Porn haze I decided that our 6 month old “must” sleep in this very impractical and probably unsafe moon crib. It’s one of those dreamy things that everyone repins the hell out of on Pinterest but noone really knows its origin or how to find it. Well when I actually located it on a Parisian web shop, I decided that it has to be Cleo’s new snoozing ground. “You’re seriously out of control,” said Jon. “It’s not happening.” All I can say is that perhaps I will regain all access to reality when I start my next book.
I’m at that age where friends are hosting amazing birthday parties and dinners for turning a major number that’s not 30 but not quite 40. Can you guess it? So along with a baby’s being born every day and a kid’s having a party every weekend, there is a friend turning a major number constantly. So by my calculation, that’s about five gifts a week. My go-tos for grown-ups are the Comme des Garcons zip pouch, a giant lightweight scarf, or a chic coffee table book. Hard, if you aren’t fully down with the friend’s interests but always loved by the recipient, nonetheless. I knew about Linda McCartney’s Life In Photographs book but when I saw it in person, I was captivated. Not that I’m a Beatles Super Fan or anything, but flipping through the beautiful images made me realize that I’m more of a fan than I even knew. Which means that most people are, too. I dub this my next gift for my next friend turning a major number. Which is Saturday!
“He brought a living thing into my house.” Call what it’s from. Well I happen to do better with indoor plants (see: outdoor herb garden summer ’09) and right now I am having a succulent moment, maybe because I have been glued to my computer and could use a friend. And since it’s such a California-friendly plant, it will feel right at home in my tile-splashed kitchen. Now all I need to do is figure out how (often) to take care of it and I think I’ve got myself a brand new boo.
*Answer: Sex and the City
