Category Archives: home design

friday finds / happy fourth!

Happy Friday, friends! This is an especially lovely Friday for me…it’s been a busy, busy month here, and I need some R&R. So, I’ve decided to give myself a little “staycation” next week. That’s the problem with a holiday falling on a Wednesday: it all but requires this kind of drastic action. So, I’ll be MIA here in blogtown, but I have no doubt I’ll be unable to completely detach, so if you get lonely, hang with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or even Instagram. I’m everywhere, people…just like Starbucks.

With that, a few of my favorite finds this week!

I love a good West Elm party, and they’re having a great one tomorrow. The Portland store is having a “Dog Days of Summer” bash – bring your dog, donate some food or treats to the Pixie Project (an amazing doggie nonprofit), and you’ll get a free pro pic of your pup. Meet me there! Oh, and if you’re not in Portland, don’t fear – other stores are having their own awesome fetes as well.

Claudia Pearson doggie plates, $16 (yep, totally need these)

You know by now that I’m not exactly the eco-friendly type. But I got the sweetest email from the owner of a very stylish green boutique called Future:Standard, to let me know that her entire site is 20% off this weekend with code sb1120. She has some pretty fantastic pieces, eco or no…a few of my faves:

Scalloped denim shorts, Covet, $50 / Kingston dress, Koch, $142 / Dean Tee, Toggery, $44

I have a longstanding love of Russian nesting dolls, or matryoshka (if you can spell it) Something about the bright colors, insane amounts of detail, and all that tinyness manages to appeal to my creative side and my Type A personality. So when I spotted these adorable stacking matryoshka necklaces, I let loose a tiny little squeal. Am I too old for them? Maybe. Am I still dying for one? Absolutely. I’d put the whole family on one 22″ silver chain…or, even better, a charm bracelet!

I got my copy of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale catalog this week…and friends, it is good. My favorite pick so far? Those Rag & Bone Newbury boots you’ve seen on every. single. celebrity. They have a black suede edition for $299, which is an amazing price (they retail for $495, and almost never go on sale). Keep your eyes out for those bad boys…presale starts 7/11, but you know I’ll give you my annual picks list before then 🙂

And speaking of new social media, I’m going to give you a little Instagram goodness today instead of a Pinterest pick. I recently got the most gorgeous rugs from Rugs USA as part of my insane home overhaul. I’m head over heels for them…and so are my pups, who think my new Moroccan souk rug is one giant dog bed. Happy dogs, happy life. Or something.

I think they should hire her to do all their modeling, don’t you?

That’s it for me! Have a fabulous weekend and a happy Fourth, everyone…I’ll see you back here in a week!

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friday finds

Is there anything better than a summer weekend? Especially one in which the sun is actually rumored to be making an appearance? I think not. I’m going to do my darnedest to take this weekend off, friends…I suggest you do the same!

I’m sick to death of seeing the same old LemLem scarves everywhere on the web…it’s time for some bright stripes, don’t you think? Plus, it’s been much too long since I showed you a little EpicĂ© eye candy.

Striped linen scarf, Epice, $217

As I’ve mentioned, I’m right in the middle of a home redesign, which means a whole new world of shopping opportunities! This week, my interior designer has me searching for garden stools to use as side tables. I’d forgotten all about Jamali Garden until I started hunting…wouldn’t these be an amazing indoor option?

Ivory Garden Stool, $90

I have the worst time finding shorts to get excited about. They’re never flattering, and they’re either too short, too long or too tight. But, like Goldilocks before me, I may have finally found a pair that’s just right. Bonus…they’re on sale, plus an additional 30% off, so they’re basically free.

Flower canvas shorts, Talbots, $25(ish)

A friend of mine just got back from Disneyland, and just hearing about her trip has me wistful for a ride on the Matterhorn. I’m a Minnie Mouse girl from way back, so when I spied Minnie’s new collection from OPI, I absolutely had to get it. My favorite? I’m All Ears, obviously.

OPI Minnie Mouse Collection, $8 ea, OPI.com for stores or Rush for my UK friends!

And last but not least, this week’s Pinterest Pick. I don’t often think of Drew Barrymore as glamorous, or as someone that could carry off a color like chartreuse. But here she is, doing both…and it’s flawless. This photo is a great reminder to actually try those colors you’re afraid of, don’t you think?

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

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friday finds

Happy Friday, friends! This week’s finds are a little (okay, entirely) home-slanted…perhaps because I’m in the midst of redecorating! I’ll be sharing the whole process with you next month, but for now, here’s a little taste:

My design guru at Manor (hi, Shannon!) is helping me stretch my style boundaries a bit, and it’s working. This lighted ampersand (from a vintage carousel sign) is so not in the design plan, but I still think it’s fantastic. At 2 feet tall, it makes an insane impact in a room, making it a total steal at $205.

I’m suddenly finding myself drawn to bold, modern pieces that still have that crisp, clean vibe I’m after. This bowl from woonwinkel (another amazing local design store) is made of neoprene! It’s so sculptural and fun (and would be the perfect place to stash remote controls).

But then, I can’t resist going back to my heart of hearts, which always lies in France. Serena & Lily just launched a gorgeous new outdoor collection, and my hands-down favorite pieces are these Parisian bistro chairs. Oh, how I long to put a set of these on my new deck!

I’ve had kind of an inexplicable craving for wind chimes ever since we moved…specifically these gorgeous ones from Pigeon Toe Ceramics (right here in Portland!). If you’re looking for a housewarming gift for me, I’ll take the aqua, please.

And then, of course, there’s my weekly Pinterest pick. Isn’t this the most divine home office you’ve ever seen? Sigh…someday.

{Photo by François Halard for Vogue, via this is glamorous}

Have a fantastic weekend, everyone! And if anyone spots a non-hideous recliner out in the world, please pass a link along to me, won’t you? Desperate times over here, friends.

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one great thing…

This has nothing to do with anything, but it plopped its way into my inbox this week, and I thought it was so charming, I couldn’t resist sharing.

{Dropp! Bowl, via Horne, $50}

If only you could figure out how to keep your apples suspended in air like that! Ah, well. I still think it would be pretty perfect on a picnic table, packed with popcorn balls, or wedges of watermelon, or…just about anything (except potato salad).

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a few feathered finds

Post-Portlandia, the very, very last thing I want to do is put a bird on it. And yet, I’m finding myself inexplicably drawn to a few feathered finds lately. Particularly those of the tropical variety…which I’m telling myself is an entirely different (and infinitely more stylish) option than, say, slapping a sparrow silhouette on every tote bag in sight (cough, cough).

While Mother’s Day shopping a few weeks ago, I nabbed a small brass feather tray a few weeks ago from one of my favorite shops in town (one for Mom, one for me), and honestly, that mini-splurge has paid massive dividends in organizational bliss. Finally all of those necklaces and earplugs rolling around on my nightstand have a home! Then I stopped by Anthropologie and couldn’t tear my eyes from that fantastic flamingo tee…so it came home with me as well. And those parrot boyshorts? I was $8 away from free shipping at Topshop, so I basically had no choice but to buy them.

Parrot bangle, $118 / Athena feather tray, $32 / Elnoris top, $78 /
Feather pouch
, $68 / Parrot cheeky boyshorts, $8 /Isabel Marant feather tee, $198

What can I say? They put a smile on my face. It’s the little things, friends.

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friday finds

Ha! As if I could “find” anything in this mess of a house. Moving is so not conducive to my hyper-organized style. My living room is like something out of Hoarders, my kitchen looks like a bomb hit at my local Williams-Sonoma, and don’t get me started on the state of my closet. I can’t even get to my shoes!

But, I’m making progress. And if nothing else, I’m back to blogging. Which really, is not nothing at all. So, shall we talk Friday Finds?

First up is the highly-talented Nichole Robertson’s much, much-anticipated new book, Paris in Color (from Chronicle, of course). I am obsessed…and much too tempted to take an X-acto knife to the thing and frame half its pages. There are oodles of photos of this gorgeous tome floating around the www this week, but none as cute as mine:

{Daisy-approved!}

I am almost sorry to tell you about this find, because it’s biggest problem is just that: it’s really hard to find. Also, not cheap. But Philip Kingsley’s styling products are a serious obsession at my place these days. I use the Smooth Cream for frizz-free curly hair days, and the Preen Cream (this site has a killer price, and free shipping) for blowouts that last at least an extra day, sometimes two. Totally worth the hunt.

Spotted this J.Crew linen tee via the lovely blue moss girls, and am now obsessed. Slouchy, bright, and just the thing to throw on when you’re feeling style-less. Since I have at least another two months of long sleeves before summer arrives in Portland, I think I’m entitled to a little treat, don’t you?

To say that the very last thing I need right now is something else for the kitchen would be a massive understatement. That said, I am in love with this measuring cup from Terrain (via creature comforts), and it needs to be mine.

And last but not least, my weekly Pinterest pick. Truth be told, I haven’t been anywhere near prepared to Pin this week, but I hope to remedy that by catching up on my 800+ unread blog posts over the weekend. For now, I am borrowing a pin from Nina Garcia, a seriously awesome pinner. In the midst of moving chaos, nothing looks better to me right now than a room that’s utterly blank and serene.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends!

 

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friday finds (and important information!)

Happy Friday, friends! Though, for me, this won’t be much of a weekend, but rather Phase One of the big move. And to clean out all my piles celebrate, I’m selling off a few excellent pieces on eBay that might be of interest. Feel free to take a look – I’d so love for them to go to a good home!

And speaking of sales, there are some killer ones happening this weekend, both in Portland and farther afield.

* Mabel & Zora, one of my favorite girly Portland boutiques with the sweetest owners you’ll ever meet, is celebrating its 6th anniversary today with a flash sale on their website! Save 20% off all separates (which I think means anything but shoes, jewelry and dresses) from 6 pm to midnight tonight only (4.13) with code 6YEAR.

* My beloved MoulĂ© is having an anniversary too! To celebrate a quarter century in business, you can take 30% off the entire store (that means their amazing jewelry and home collections too, neither of which ever go on sale!). The only catch is that you have to be in PDX – the sale’s in-store only. But if you’re here, it’s not to be missed.

* And on a slightly larger scale, Kate Spade‘s multi-annual friends & family event is going on this weekend. Take 25% off nearly everything (except home, stationery and watches) today and tomorrow with code FFSPR12.

And after all that, phew! We need some pretty pictures, don’t we?

These earrings came across my path as a “Best Bet” on NYMag’s blog a couple of weeks ago, and I’m still thinking about them. Quite possibly the perfect studs, don’t you think? Especially for under $100.

Do you know Hermione de Paula? I didn’t either…but now I’m completely in love. She manages to marry old-school tropical prints with mod digitized formats, and the result is, well, the best Hawaiian shirt you’ll ever find.

I am in a world of trouble. Rachel Comey has finally (finally!) opened an online store. Which means no more obsessive hunting through dozens of online mini-boutiques when I’m desperate for a new pair of ankle boots (hers are the very, very best). They even have my size! It spells danger, my friends…but oh, what lovely danger! Those tan perforated Hitch boots (right) are next on my list.

And speaking of newcomers to the online world, Club Monaco’s online store is finally here! Think Topshop, but a little easier to wear – hems are a little longer, styles are a bit more grown up, and looks aren’t all ripped from some other designer’s atelier. I’m so looking forward to taking advantage – particularly since they’re offering free shipping and free returns through the end of April!

And last but not least, my favorite Pin of the week! What can I say…I have bag storage on the brain. But can you blame me, now that this beauty has come to live with me?

{via design*sponge}

Phew! Okay, that’s it, friends. Have a fantastic weekend…pop by my place if you’re in Portland…and I’ll see you back here next week

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plus one: west elm summer preview

Some days, my job is so fun, I can’t quite believe how lucky I am. Like, for example, when West Elm invites me over to the store for a sneak peek of all the goods they have in store for summer. And gives me mini cupcakes. Plying me with sugar nearly always works, but these goods needed no plying at all. West Elm is knocking it out of the park this season, friends. Care to be my plus-one for the preview?

{Photos by yours truly…can you believe it?}

Yes, I’ll take a few of those woven baskets, that papier mâchĂ© hippo head, and any or all of those bed linens, thank you.

Of all the goods to love at West Elm, I think my favorite thing is that they are masters when it comes to display creativity. Sure, I won’t be stringing baskets from the ceiling, but it gives me a great indication of just how well they’ll work as a decorative item. And note how they’ve taken the scary out of pattern-mixing for your bedroom by showing off all of those contrasting bed linens together. I love the pairings they came up with, and it proves the point I’m always making: if you love a combo, it will work, no matter how bold or unique. It’s true in fashion and it’s true at home.

Since I’m in the process of moving to a new place, you’ll most likely be hearing a lot more about home design from me over the next few weeks…I hope you don’t mind. I have remodeling on the brain, and well…it all shows up on the blog. For now, I’m ogling all sorts of potential additions to my new pad from West Elm. Want to see a few of my current faves?

Don’t all of those calm creams and greys just clear your head? I can’t tell if it’s the fact that I’m moving from a warm, quirky Victorian home to a clean, modern condo (with a killer view), but it seems that bold color phase I was in a few years ago has abated. Now, it’s all calm, classic neutrals, as far as the eye can see. I’m envisioning a clean, less cluttered feel than the cozy, eclectic thing I have going on in my current space. Of course, translating that look without scrapping every piece of furniture I’ve accumulated thus far is easier said than done. But I’ll keep you posted on the process!

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