A Dose of the Delightful

Colorful Inspiration for Warm Weather Decor

In the past few months, I've been inspired by bursts of color in the pages of my favorite shelter and fashion magazines. As a Florida native, bright colors have always made me happy, and I'm thrilled to see them embraced with such wild abandon! 

Take a look at some of my favorite shots below:

This is one of the most relaxing breakfast rooms I could possibly imagine (from Martha Stewart Living, April 2011). Those Ikea Solvar chairs are gorgeous, but unfortunately it seems like they've been discontinued - I can't find them anywhere on the website. I also loved the natural version of these.

 

That Miles Redd - he does it every time! I appreciate his daring sensibilities and willingness to combine tons of color with bold pattern. This exuberantly decorated Manhattan home appeared in the April 2011 House Beautiful. 

 

I love the creative treatment of this collection of celadon vases.

 

There's not a dull surface in the entire place!

 

Primary colors and hot air balloon wallpaper combined with sophisticated lamps and furnishings make for a playful child's bedroom that adults can appreciate too.

 

Canada's House & Home April issue shows the same room styled with two different color palettes.

 

Both are pretty and distinctly different! 

I think my absolute favorites from this series are the breakfast area and the Miles Redd sitting room. And you?

Sneak Peek Part 2: HomeGoods in Manhattan!

Whew! It's been a busy weekend, but I've finally had time to share the rest of my finds from the press preview of the new HomeGoods on 99th and Columbus.

Today's the opening day of the store, and I'm sure it's an absolute madhouse. I just hope some of my finds are still there next weekend!

I really like the retro-inspired fabric on this slipper chair - but the chair's so inexpensive, it'd also be fun to reupholster. The rattan tray would look great atop an ottoman or coffee table, and the cute pouf on the bottom right makes a great footrest or additional seating in a pinch.

The bright colors of these sheets and duvet really caught my eye. I particularly like the kaleidoscopic pattern on the top right. Polka dots have been popping up everywhere lately, and these periwinkle dotted sheets are a cheap way to update my basic bedding without making major changes.

My love affair with stripes will never die, and these red and blue striped pillows are incredibly classic. The marigold print pillow on the bottom right would work well with a few other patterned pillows with hints of that pretty golden yellow.

 Like mirrors, rugs are another piece I'm hesitant to shell out lots of money for, but are pretty essential. A large sisal rug might cost $500 or more, but these faux versions work just as well, and I wouldn't constantly worry about ruining them.

These fun outdoor chairs have CB2 written all over them.  

 Yep, that's Kate Spade china on the left and the bottom right. I love the playful patterns in combination with elegant gold edging. I'd fill each of the old-fashioned glass candy jars with anything that struck my fancy, like a collection of discarded wine corks, shells from a vacation, or clementines and lemons for an outdoor dinner party in the summer.

 Not too long ago, I was in the Conran Shop drooling over olive wood serverware. These items from Arte Legno are stunning - the marbled grain is so eye-catching. 

The happy hues of the cutting boards and colanders on the top and bottom left would make any prep job less of a chore, and they're made by sustainable brand Preserve to boot.  Preserve, which also sells everyday tableware and food storage items, makes everything from 100% recycled plastic, and the items themselves are recyclable. The set of nesting mixing bowls & measuring cups from Joseph Joseph would be great for my teeny tiny apartment-size kitchen, which lacks any real storage.

What do you think of these finds? I was really impressed with the selection (and the wallet-friendly prices) and will definitely be back.

Sneak Peek Part 1: HomeGoods in Manhattan!

I had the pleasure of meeting the HomeGoods communications team at Housing Works Design on a Dime, for which they were major sponsors and showcased two vignettes designed by Elaine Griffin. They were nice enough to invite me to a special press preview of their new Manhattan store, located on 99th and Columbus.

The store is gigantic compared to the one I'm used to in Jacksonville. It's two floors, with the top floor stocked with flatware and kitchen supplies, and the larger basement level packed wall to wall with lighting, furniture, bedding, organizational items, outdoor furniture, wall mirrors, and even kids and pet goodies.

Regrettably, we weren't allowed to shop, but I snapped some pics of items I might scoop up come Sunday at 8 am, when the store opens. The $50 gift card we received at the preview is already burning a hole in my pocket!

I love the cork shade on the top left lamp. I'd do a quick spray paint job over the pink in white or muted grey.  Elaine let me in on a little secret: the top right lamp is made by the same manufacturer as a much more expensive lamp, with only one tiny detail changed. The rustic shades and carved wood bases of the bottom two lamps really caught my eye as well. 

You could pay $700 for this Bucellati sterling silver owl to perch on your desk, or shell out very, very little for the pretty version above. ZGallerie's white Filigree Urn will set you back $100, while the one here's only $20. The large bowl on the bottom reminds me of an amalgamation of several different Alessi fruit bowls.

Mirrors are one of those indispensable items it seems you always have to pay more for than you'd like. I have to admit I've never seen a framed standing mirror this large for only $80. The similar Crate & Barrel version retails for $499. The whitewashed distressed wood framed mirror on the top right is nearly identical to Pottery Barn's Adelle mirror ($299), and the one on the bottom right feels a bit like their Santorini mirror. 

This rolling industrial side table is half the price of similar ones at Restoration Hardware.

This super cheap x-leg stool and bench would look great in front of a bed or in an entryway.

 Tomorrow, I'll post the rest of my finds from the preview - so far, pretty amazing, right?

Housing Works Design on a Dime Opening Night

Shame on me! I'm terribly late in posting these photos from the opening night celebration of Housing Works Design on a Dime. If you're not familiar with this wonderful organization, Housing Works in a non-profit based here in New York which fights AIDS and homelessness through advocacy, supportive services, and businesses that fund the organization and provide jobs.

The 7th annual Opening Night event was held in the Metropolitan Pavilion on May 5th and showcased 56 room vignettes created by prominent interior designers. The fun thing about this event is that everything you see is on sale! Funds went to the evening's beneficiary, which was the 874 Jefferson Ave. Project, a development for single, formerly homeless adults living with HIV/AIDS.

The evening's hosts included Iman, Nate Berkus, Lara Spencer, Charlotte Moss, and James Huniford, and vignettes were designed by the likes of Miles Redd, Charlotte Moss, Andy Cohen, Tilton Fenwick, Ralph Lauren Home, One Kings Lane, SFERRA, and many more.

Here are a few shots I snapped. I apologize for the quality - the event was quite crowded and the lighting wasn't the greatest for my humble little kit lens and flash.

Lara Spencer, Good Morning America anchor, and James Huniford, self-taught designer, event founder & co-chair. Lara is a huge design enthusiast, and has a neat little section on her site called Flea Finds - certainly right up my alley.

Tilton Fenwick for Traditional Home. In person, that wallpaper was stunning.

A side table in Iman & Robert Verdi's vignette. I love the ikat fabric as wallpaper, and also like the dove-print lampshade, although I'm not sure I'm daring enough to pair them!

A credenza from Home Goods' vignette, designed by the lovely Elaine Griffin (we both share Southern roots - she's from GA). I found out while chatting with the delightful Home Goods folks that they're opening a store in Manhattan! I couldn't be more excited about this; when I was home with my family during my brother's illness, I consistently found inexpensive, great pieces there for my bedroom redecoration project. In fact, I'll be attending the blogger preview this evening. Hooray!

Miles Redd's palette of primary colors

More Miles Redd eye candy

Jarret Yoshida's vignette. 

Steven Sclaroff's vignette. The plant family prints were my favorite aspect of this one.

I wish I'd been able to take pictures of every booth - there was so much creativity and talent in each space.

Tomorrow, look for a post about the Home Goods opening event!

LonnyMag: My Favorites from the May/June 2011 Issue

Since one of my favorite digital decor pubs LonnyMag is produced bi-monthly, I have what is probably an unhealthy amount of anticipation by the time the new issue arrives. 

Below are a few of my favorite pages from the May/June issue. Enjoy, and be sure to check out LonnyMag's decoration inspiration section and blog. You can also purchase and peruse an issue the old-fashioned way - but on Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper. Hooray!

p. 123: I've never given up on my girlhood dream of having a canopy. The combination of sky blue and bold red accents keeps this from being too frilly.

p. 128: I imagine sleeping under this hand-forged iron headboard would feel like slumbering in an enchanted forest. I like the idea of neutral his and hers monograms on pillows.

 

p. 136: How fun and whimsical is this living room? They're lucky to have such wonderful light.

 p. 160: The shuttered entry to this New Orleans home is incredibly romantic.

p. 186: Blush curtains and faint peach paint add warmth.

p 192: I wish my bedroom were bright and sunny enough to paint this dreamy lavender grey hue. I love the way the various vases pick up the colors in the painting on the right.

Happy Mother's Day!

My mother and my grandmother are very different, equally great ladies. They have both influenced me in too many ways to count, and I'm inspired by them both. How great is the portrait of them together below?

Their tastes are distinct, and I wanted to celebrate a few of them here.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom and Moms! 

Mom:

Top: My mother's signature lipstick, Revlon's Toast of New York, and her favorite perfume, J'Adore Dior.

Center: She saw the Beatles live on September 11, 1964, and the rest was history. She's since seen Paul McCartney (her favorite) four more times: in 1976, 1994, 2005, and 2010. When she went to a Monkees concert in 1967, Jimi Hendrix was the opening act and was booed! He still became one of her favorite musicians.  

Bottom: Anthropologie is the one store in which both my mother and I can always find something. She favors longer earrings and would like these amethyst and quartz Candelabra earrings.

Moms:

Top: My always-glamorous grandmother loves White Diamonds by the queen of glamor, Elizabeth Taylor. To this day, she's never without her fuschia lipstick.

Center: My grandmother loves big band; I can remember riding in the passenger seat of her car listening to 1220 AM Big Band Jacksonville. Ol' Blue Eyes, as she calls him, is her absolute favorite singer, and she also loves Tony Bennett.

Bottom: Rhinestones and sequins abound in Moms' wardrobe; she'd love these Garbo sparklers by my high school classmates' label Dannijo.

In the Nabe: Hester Street Fair Is Now Open!

I live in such a charming, interesting neighborhood that I've decided to highlight some of the best things about it in a series of posts. The inaugural post takes a peek into the Hester Street Fair, located at Hester and Essex Streets.

If you live in New York City, you already know that we were blessed with gorgeous weather today - the perfect weather for wandering through the Hester Street Fair, now open for the 2011 summer season!

I'm fortunate enough to live within a stone's throw of the fair, so I dropped by this morning and took some pictures. Just like last year, the small space is packed with incredibly talented independent retailers and craftspeople.

The fair entrance festooned with bright balloons.

I drooled over coffee and donut holes with caramel from Wonder City Coffee & Donuts in the East Village - yum!

This lovely lady had an incredible array of antique rugs for sale.

Wendy Howard of On the Fringe makes colorful coasters out of ceramic tiles and vintage travel brochures. After my coaster DIY experience, I'm quite impressed at the volume of coasters she's created! 

Talented mother-daughter duo Roni Sue and Allison are unrivaled when it comes to whipping up the best sweets. Roni Sue Chocolates' bacon caramel popcorn and First Prize Pies' bourbon ginger pecan pie are sublime. 

George and Raf of Estate Jewels by George & Raf have an astounding collection of estate jewelry and stock iconic designers like Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Pauline Rader, Guillemette l'Hoir, and Alexis Kirk.

Pretty pastel treats from Macaron Parlour were selling so quickly he couldn't keep his display stocked!

I nearly bought the Mexican embroidered blouse from this vintage stall, but it didn't quite fit. 

Tiffany, otherwise known as The Wellnista, sources all ingredients for and makes her own blends of organic teas. She was kind enough to give me a sample of the chai blend, and it was deliciously spicy.

The Arancini Brothers, as you may have guessed after reading their cheeky banner above, make vegetarian, gluten-free risotto balls. Some are sweet and some are savory - the one above is nutella with cinnamon and sugar.

Girl Next Door Baked Goods' Lisa sells the 'husband bait' that landed her the guy across the hall in her building - raspberry shortbread bars finished with a dash of sea salt. I also sampled her rich goat cheese brownies (!!!).

Hester Street Fair is open every Saturday from 10 am - 6 pm for the rest of the summer, so be sure to stop by, shop, and nosh.

Elegant Tools for Handy Women

After seeing the gorgeous hammer below in this month's House Beautiful, I was inspired to track down other practical items that still retained a certain elegance.

Tackling a serious DIY project shouldn't have to mean a home strewn with ugly tools. You'll feel pleased as punch everytime you pull out a smart leather toolbag filled with beautiful, well-designed tools that can one day even be heirlooms.

1. Estwing Claw Hammer, $38 at Kaufmann Mercantile. A solid steel hammer with bound leather grip, this Estwing piece is sure to last, and the leather will become nicely worn in. 

2. Antique J.Rabone & Sons Torpedo Level, price varies at Gilai Collectibles. Torpedo levels are designed for one-handed jobs or cramped spaces, and this boxwood level with both horizontal and vertical bubbles has been doing the job for years.

3. Crick Tools 15" Level, $63.18 at Crick Tools. This handcrafted level can be customized with choice of wood (mansonia, beech, cherry, or maple), vial color (green, clear), and engraving (binding or plates).

4. Great Neck Sheffield Lockback Utility Knife, $8.50 on Amazon. The blade housing folds out of a happy blue handle, and the blade itself is retractable and easy to change. 

5. Vintage Lufkin Rule Co. Auto-Retractable Tape Measure, $15 at Martin J. Donnelly Antique Tools & Books. This steel tape measure has a much prettier casing than the black and yellow plastic variety you'll find at your local hardware store. Plenty are available on eBay.

6. Wrought Head Black Oxide Nails, $25.95 for 212 at Lehman's. Though these nails aren't for everyday uses like hanging pictures, they'd make a great detail on refurbished furniture or a rough-hewn table. 

7. Revolving Leather Punch, $17.95 at Lehman's. I have grand plans to take an upholstery class at The Furniture Joint, and this punch will come in handy. Until then, it can be used to make a six different sized holes in canvas, rubber, cardboard - I can think of endless crafty uses for it. 

8. Wilde Wooden Handled Screwdriver Set (Includes 7), $27.95 at Harry J. Epstein Co. This set includes several sizes of Phillips head and slotted (flathead) screwdrivers, and the wooden handles are pretty and durable.

9. Klein Tools Leather Tote, $101 at Amazon.  Made of extra-heavy leather and reinforced with riveting and heavy stitching, this tool bag is designed to withstand plenty of wear and tear - plus, it's attractive enough to leave around the house. Klein also makes a deluxe version that comes in several larger sizes and includes a shoulder strap for easy carrying and retainer straps to keep it neatly closed.

I was surprised at how difficult it was to find elegant tools - do you know of any I've missed?