Concrete Bath.

I pretty much love concrete everywhere in a house. I'm not fully sure I can articulate why, but I like how much texture it has while still being smooth (does that make any sense ?). I like it's slight variations in gray, and I love that you can pour it into any form you want. There is a watercolor like fluidity to this very massive heavy material. Maybe you can't have a full concrete bath, but here are some great touches. Shave kit, toilet brush, soap dish (no longer available).Have a great weekend :).

Racquets + Paddles.

I love clean well done preppy. I hate bad preppy. Sounds arbitrary I know, but you know it when you see it. The idea of paddles + oars is great to me, but mostly feels kitschy and forced.

However I Love these vintage paddles I spotted on remodelista. Coming off a road trip of Jamestown, Hingham, and St. Michael's they feel super appropriate.

Bardessono Airplant Wall.

Over my Napa Valley Easter we stopped in the Bardessono Hotel in Yountville to see their Green design. The hotel / spa is awesome. It seems as though no detail was left out. My favorite of these details was this Air Plant wall. How cool does this look ? It was in a hallway connecting the front desk area to the pool. Such a great original + stand out piece.

I Heart Details Week :: Interiors

You might not think of your home as a product, but I do. I view homes as not just one product but possibly two or three. We're always representing or selling ourselves on some level, right ? The way we dress, the things we display, the editing we do when speaking to one person or another. Whether we're trying to prove something, or if we end up showing that something is of non-importance to us, a message comes through. Then there is a the level of, if we're home owners, our house is a commodity that at some point we'll most likely choose to sell to someone else : a product. And lastly many people employ designers (to help them with my first reason), and with this, the house becomes a representation of the designer or architect and the product they have to offer.

Like with products on shelves, my favorite parts of houses aren't the huge sectionals or grandiose living rooms, its tiny well thought out details. I think this is why I've come to love shades of white so much -- simple lines and textures speak so much louder when there aren't deep or bright colors competing for attention. Above is an example :: My shower :). The bathrooms in this apartment have no patterns, no break in the walls (chair rails or breaks in tiles), and the floor is simple poured concrete. This floor to ceiling tiny square (walls + shower) of a muted green recycled glass allows details to speak. This repetition allows the imperfect grouting and ever so slight color variation in the glass to move and dance along the walls in a way that would never be visible or beautiful in a busier room. I love this "imperfect" detail. The other detail allowed to shine is the two simple shapes being the only present. The contrast of the circle fixtures is so profound and clean cut against all of it's neighboring squares. Fixtures I might otherwise not love, create a beautiful presence on this wall.

Designer Love.

I spotted Bleu Nature at Calypso home in Soho. How beautiful are these lamps ? Of course, leave it to the french :). The first one literally stopped me in my tracks -- so simple, but so right on. I'm a sucker for bringing nature indoors. I want to see them in a perfectly crisp white room. I think one lamp would carry the whole space.

Jamie Douglas

How much do you love these paintings by local Williamsburg artist "Jamie Douglas" (the description says "goes by the moniker" ??). I'm obsessed. They are oil on wood + focus on the details of the traditional Hudson Bay Point blankets. You can find them here, at Brook Farm General Store. I could by everything there -- such an incredibly sourced + edited store, owned by such nice people.

Obsessed

With this barbed wire chandelier. How amazing ??

[image courtesy of remodelista]

Light

So Liz posted this morning about the light fixtures we chose to use throughout her house. You might remember me pointing out the ones I spied in Telluride (ha ! I swear I didn't mean for that to rhyme. Major nerd points), and clearly that's where I got the idea. Anyway -- her post reminded me of these lighting pictures I snapped on my phone, and I wanted to share.

These obviously are very different than what Liz is talking about. These are not practical, or something you would use throughout your house. They definitely are a statement. Somehow they're still a bit quiet or unassuming, which is no easy feat when you're a seemingly random circle of tiny bulbs. Let me back up. These were circular pieces I spied at Calypso Home (one of my favorite home stores). There were three of them in varying sizes, and the shopkeeper informed me they were made by a French artist. It's pretty rare that I'm quickly gripped by a piece of buyable art, or a light installation, but these puppies stopped me in my tracks. I can't tell you exactly why I love them, but I do. If the wee-est one was not $1000, or if I were rich and famous, they might be in my apartment by now. They are just so delicate and lovely.

PS. Ever since I typed in "light" as the title, I've been singing in my head, "this little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine ..."

Please Don't Leave,

I'm decorating for a few friends here in the city and was sifting through rugs this AM. I came across this doormat at Urban Outfitters asking me to please not leave, and it made me so happy on this rainy muggy morning. My mom used to have one of the "Please Go Away" doormats. I had to tell her I didn't think the sarcasm was cute. Probably none of my business, but I like to be welcomed, I thought she should know. Now you can welcome your guests + keep them as long as possible.

Flatware Continued

Right after I posted my two flatware suggestions remodelista did a quick post about wooden handled flatware -- something I've always loved, just hadn't see a recent favorite. Well here is a great one from Sur La Table. They usually don't dissapoint. I love Olive Wood. And maybe not as cheap as my Target 20 pieces for $30, but at 20 pieces for $100, it's not so bad either.

Balloon Shakers.

Maybe you have more spices than S + P on your dinner table on any given night. If you're like my sister, you need "Slap Ya Mama" Cajun seasoning inches from your plate with any given meal (not the most attractive container). And if you don't, maybe you'll suddenly feel the need for them once you've seen these. I for one, think these cuties are works of art, and an amazing addition to any table.

[image courtesy of Merchant no. 4]

Flatware

I love the look of vintage pieces mismatched, which can be a fun collection to start when you're out in junk and antique shops. Sometimes though I want a very clean looking table and in that case, vintage hodge-podge can be a bit too shabby chic. I recently came across this black flatware by Almoco at dwr. I think its a great pop of color and contrast on an otherwise rustic or neutral table.

And while this flatware is far less exciting -- it's what I own from Target and is only $30.00 for a 20 piece set :). I like that the bamboo shape is modern and different without feeling cheesy, and its the perfect weight.

[top image borrowed from remodelista, and bottom from Target !]

Pristine Plates

When I was younger I thought bright colors and fun patterns so much fun for plates. And then a while back I heard someone on the food network (Ina I believe) say how important white plates were in order to let your food be your art. I've remembered it ever since, and it couldn't be more true. Perhaps some of it is a food trend thing :: like in the 80s, Lo Mein doesn't look so pretty whether its on turquoise or white. Or in the 60s meatloaf was still a brown hunk on a floral or a solid. But today so much of what is in is also beautiful. The farm-to-table and whole food movements have really changed what we're looking at. Beautiful roasted beets, chicken under a brick, or brussel sprout leaves should be showcased. They should be savored by the eye, just like each bite should be savored. Here are two plates that are on my list of must haves. Both can be found here, again, by the ever talented Heath Ceramics.

Interiors week :: LAST spillover !

Some parting pics from Telluride that I love. Notice the pottery displayed in the kitchen -- beautiful, very popular, Heath ceramics with a nice mix of kitchy moose mugs. Perfection.

Interiors Week :: Chairs

So this is a little "week" spillover. But look at these great chairs ! I love the shape of the top, and the fact that the fabric and blanket at perfect Colorado, while still neutral, and nice enough to be in their formal living room. And the bottom is clearly a vintage find with recovered cushions. It was in a room with bench seating so it was perfect without a partner. And who doesn't love a rocker ?

Interiors Week :: Guest Cottage

This " guest house " is no bigger than a big backyard shed, but it was perfect. It had everything one would need -- a huge comfy bed, a nice TV, alarm clocks and an amazing shower. Plus lots of windows we could open to hear the rain beat down or the bear eating out of the trashcan (yes, big scurry bear !). The simple materials continue from the house, and work perfectly in this small space. I love the touch of the rusty saws and horse shoes on the side. They are simple and camouflaged enough that they're not at all kitchy.

Hope you all are finding yourselves in one of these this weekend !

Interiors Week :: Moments

I think the best proof of use of space is if you cant take small snapshots (even in your head) of a room, and have it tell a story. Of course before even that comes functionality. Is space used efficient and effectively. But that's sort of obvious. After that, can you break corners and settings up into little moments ? Moments that stand on their own ? I could write pages about each fragment above, and some aren't more than a foot or two in this home.

The play of the copper radiator and its interesting shapes against the color + pattern of the curtains as they brush against each other - heavy and light, curves and sharp lines. And the way the light spills over.

Or the simplicity of the one moose figurine on the sill. A "huge" white picket fence looming behind him, and the way his body plays with the sink faucet and paper towel holder.

The paper thin prayer flags, their many neutral colors and tattered edges that allow scenes of the street through their words, while matching perfectly with all that surrounds. (incidentally Telluride has something with prayer flags. They're everywhere. Literally).

And lastly the light streaming in onto this sweet window seat and antique lamp. That without being on, curves around to spotlight the table, whose legs curve around gracefully at the floor and play with the incoming light. All still close enough to the bed to draw its creamy iron into its shape game.

Interiors Week :: Laundry Room

I'm aware that plenty of people have exposed piping in their basements due to a lack of finishing. Its them + their sheets down there in the dark, so why would they invest in it ? This basement laundry room also had exposed pipes. But not for a lack of finishing. I LOVE this white pattern it has created over the machines above, and the awesome grid those little switchboards (?) created on the wall below. One, white pipes on a dark wall, the other, dark mechanics on a white wall. And again, less is more.

Interiors week :: Bathrooms

I loved these bathrooms. LOVED. And these are only photographs of two of them. But one of my favorite parts was the continuity. I only need to show you two bathrooms, because there were so many similar details in each of them. To start, if you look above they're very simple. This white, and in other rooms creamy-white, bead board was used throughout the house. I have always loved bead board. I almost used it in my apartment, but decided against it. Next place, definitely using it, and this house was proof that it works in more than just New England beach cottages. It was right at home in this mountain house. Also to note above is the sky light. There is nothing spectacular about it, but it is so perfectly off center between the two sinks (this is the master bath), and it open up the slanted ceiling (literally and figuratively). Lastly, this simple gray stone on the floor. They were simple circular shapes (pentagons ? Hexagons ? I never counted sides). They were a cool grey in the sunlight and warmed in the night to a soft purple.

Also of note is the light fixtures. These grew on me more and more the longer I was there to the point that Im obsessed. I've been searching for them online to use in a clients home, and have yet to locate. Not only do I really enjoy the minimalist cage, but this was the only ceiling light fixture in the entire house, and there were a lot of ceiling lights. Again, I loved the continuity, but I also loved how when you found them smack in the center of a ceiling they took on a larger presence, and I was drawn to their lines, and when there were multiple lights in a room and they weren't centered, they took a back seat and melded into the setting--never unbalancing a room or taking away from other features.

This phenomonal shower was in the basement. Yet again, less is more. There is no fancy tiling or color -- there is the actual structure of the house. The bright light keeps it from being cave like, the bead board is kept, this time on the ceiling, and the very in subway tile on the back (which I wish I had a better shot of) is fixated with very dark grout (also used upstairs) for a much edgier look. And of course in this minimalism, they manage to not sacrifice luxury with elements like this huge overhead shower head (LOVE these !) Notice the Biolage shampoo, conditioner + washcloth ? Same exact in every bathroom. My money is that they were picked out for their bottle. You don't even have to lose design on elements like product :).

And lastly, this fantastic fantastic piece is also in the basement. This window is over the toilet, and since it's the basement it is level with the lawn. Instead of a simple shade they have this mirror which slides along a track to either let in the light or give you total privacy. The mirror helps open up the small space when there is no natural light, you get great slips of light framing it, and lets face it -- a mirror on a rolling track is just cooler.

Interiors

We all make the trek to Telluride Colorado for the great outdoors. There is clean mountain air, skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, and so much more. So while I was out there last week for the great outdoors (okay, including an outdoor concert), I was pleasantly surprised to stay in one of the best designed houses I've ever been to. Every detail was so thought out, yet never overdone, and all keeping in a relaxed, small ski town vibe. I was beyond impressed. In fact if the home owners knew how many pictures I took of their belongings they might be creeped out.

This week Ill be sharing some of their design elements -- things you can employ too. This one is super insignificant, but there was something so quiet and sweet about these 3 perfectly placed vintage figurines on the window sill as you descended the stairs. Hi guys.