November 19, 2008 in
Drinking,Eating,Gifts,Holiday decor,The kitchen with
I’m proud to say that I actually have quite a bit of my holiday shopping done, though this is by no means usual. This year, I copped out and went with gifts for the home. I guess it’s fun trying to buy gifts for my elders who already have everything they need, but I just plain don’t have the time this year to dedicate my time and energy to shopping.
What do all the parents and grandparents in my life have? Homes, that’s what. And I’ve never heard anyone complain that they simply have too much cute in the kitchen.
What you see:
November 18, 2008 in
Color,Decorating,The bedroom with
I’m really digging the decor palettes from Dwell Studio — in these cases, the colors are muted, but they manage to jump out at you nonetheless. Maybe it’s because all of the really eye-catching hues are accents backed by white and gray? I could see a room done in these colors looking really dated in 15 years or so, but that could be because I grew up thinking that greenish-yellow you see on the pillows and that blanket was the ultimate in old fashioned home decor.
What do you think?
November 17, 2008 in
Color,Drinking,Eating,The kitchen with
At my wedding reception, the caterer brought along something they called “upscale disposable silverware.” Prior to the reception, we were all pretty interested to see what that would turn out to be. As it turns out, upscale disposable silverware is silver plastic cutlery designed to look more like an actual silverware set than the white plastic forks, spoons, and knives one can buy in the garbage bag aisle of the local Winn-Dixie. Okay, then.
Designers Donata Paruccini and Fabio Bortolani took the concept a step further with their deluxe plastic cutlery sets (manufactured by Pandora Design).
The set is decorated with a floral motif typical of 19th century Italian silverware and is dishwasher safe. Why would you re-use plastic cutlery for reasons other than ecological friendliness? Maybe because a sixteen piece set costs a whopping $120. The plastic glasses also come from Pandora Design, and a set of six costs $140.
Yikes?
November 16, 2008 in
Kids' rooms,The bedroom with
When it comes to rooming with baby, the though of buying a bassinet never really crossed my mind. The though of buying a piece of baby furniture that I can only use for three or four months gives my inner frugal diva morning sickness. That said, I do think that this nest bassinet from Spunky Sprout is pretty cute… and so very Danish! It reminds me of the furniture my European grandparents collected when I was growing up, which may explain some of the affinity I feel toward a rather uncomfortable looking baby bed made of bent plywood and chrome.
At $799, I wouldn’t call this bed a steal — the baby can only sleep in a bassinet for so long, after all — but it does convert into a play table and toy bin, so at least it’s not completely useless.
Also must add: GHOST CHILD LOVES NEST!
November 15, 2008 in
Just Because,The kitchen,The living room with
Okay, maybe just five gifts. And we’re not exactly going around the world, as the areas of the globe represented in the above furniture and accent decor from Ten Thousand Villages are limited to the Caribbean, Central America, India, Vietnam, and Kenya. So I lied a little in the name of beautiful accessories for the home. Sue me… then buy me a hand-carved kisii soapstone hippo from Kenya and I’ll forgive you for being so easily upset.
November 14, 2008 in
Color,Decorating,Furniture with
I want Drake Design Associates to work their home decor design magic on my little house. Sure, I can’t actually afford to hire an interior designer of that caliber, but that won’t stop me from looking through their design portfolio and pretending I live in the houses the company has created.
This Fifth Ave. loft in New York City pairs velvets and shantungs with antique mirrors and high gloss lacquers for an eclectic look that makes me break whichever commandment that says coveting is a sin.
(more…)
November 13, 2008 in
Eating,Just Because,Weird furniture with
And by TV dinners I of course mean dinners eaten in front of the television, which is how most meals in my home are consumed, much to my horror. I’m enjoying it while I can — once my children are old enough to appreciate the whole family thing, dinners will be consumed as a family at the kitchen table. We don’t have a dining room, or else I suppose we’d be eating in it. For now, The Beard and I balance our dinner plates on our knees with our feet on the coffee table in the den. Ah, childfree living…I shall miss you.
Maybe I should get one of these sweet retro TV trays from Koo Koo Bear while I still can? Okay, maybe not in this economy. Like Twistie and I were saying the other day, the houses in our heads are getting upgrades while the houses we actually live in will have to do that much longer. For now, answer me this:
November 12, 2008 in
Gifts,The bathroom with
With the Thanksgiving holiday’s imminent arrival, it’s time to think about taking care of house guests by stocking up on toiletries and linens. Here’s an idea: Pamper your mom or sister (or best friend) with delicious handmade soaps from Naiad Soap Arts…just don’t be surprised if they stick around for longer than expected because they can’t get enough. You can get around this predicament by buying a few extra bars of soap so your guests can take some soapy sweetness home with them.
November 11, 2008 in
Drinking,Eating,The kitchen with
I’m quite the fan of Amy Butler, so when I heard she’d teamed up with Mikasa to produce a line of dishware, my heart was all aflutter. But now that I’ve seen the results, my reaction is basically “meh.” All in all, the line is kind of tame — there are so many wonderfully bold Amy Butler patterns out there that would make smashing dishes. Like this, this, and this, for instance!
November 10, 2008 in
Color,Just Because,Seating with
