China with Personality

In the midst of wedding planning there is the registry which is a designer's dream to get to select what might go on your future table top or in your kitchen. I am really bored by most of the china on the market and feel like the traditional china isn't as functional as people once thought it was. Were I to have the Queen to dinner next weekend, I might have to just splurge on some proper china. Since I don't see that happening anytime soon I am looking at table top items that fit with my everyday home style and reflect the type of marriage that I hope to have: fun, adventurous, modern, and whimsical. Here are some of the bold styles making their way into stylish registries this wedding season!

1. Kate Spade Market Street Collection

2. Diane Von Furstenberg Miro Flowers Collection

3. The Juliska Pewter Stoneware Collection

4. Vera Wang's take on traditional Wedgewood 

with the Naturals Collection

5. Rosanna dinnerware, La Vie Boho Collection

Color Story: Day Off

Taking the day off to enjoy the Memorial Day holiday and the Bank holiday in the UK! New posts coming up on the design scene in Seattle and next week's color story is all about orange!

Great British Design

In honor of the great getaway and summer kickoff that this weekend marks, I have a fun boutique hotel to share. I stayed at a recently renovated boutique hotel in the Cotswolds, a few weeks back and had to share some of the great British design found inside. The Feathers hotel has a cute sitting area that is decked out in chartreuse and fuchsia fabrics from Osborne & Little. The modern twist on classic furniture is a refreshing style for a hotel in a small town in the countryside. 

Seattle

I am heading to Seattle for a circus themed wedding and can't wait to check out the latest design and Pacific Northwest style!

Fresh Finds at the CDW

I was able to check out the Lulu Guinness pop up art exhibit of a life size pin machine and pin-up version of her iconic lips purse that she created in honor of Clerkenwell Design Week.

Clerkenwell Design Week

My neighborhood's annual design week is kicking off today and it makes me want to celebrate great British design all week long! I am really excited to check out the interactive public art display by Lulu Guinness, all of the open showrooms, and the open market throughout the week.

Color Story Monday: Lovely Lavender

Lavender is a color that is sometimes thought as strictly feminine, but a new crop of lavender shades that bring in more grey tones make this regal color a neutral for many homes. As long as you don't pick a lavender that isn't too pink, you can't go wrong!

The perfect shade: Farrow and Ball Calluna
The White Company, white lavender candle
Make your kitchen complete with the Le Creuset line of cookware in Cassis
Give the Ghost chair a new spin in the perfect purple
The Stripedot fabric from Studio Bon is one of my favorite prints and now it comes in a lilac.
The new Soho Hemp collection from Phillip Jeffries has a combination of blue and grey that makes the perfect gender neutral lavender color.
Z Gallerie has always had a penchant for purple and they aren't letting us down with these lacquer frames in lavender or the lithe purple glassware.

An Anthro Shopping Spree

My favorite section in Anthropologie is their kitchen and housewares department. Check out these great finds for styling open kitchen shelving that I picked up last month!

1.What to Cook & How to Cook It! 

2. Mini Latte Bowls

3. Milk Bottle Measuring Cups (my favorite!)

Cheap and Cheerful Fabrics

I am going to attempt to take a beginners sewing course over the summer and I started searching for some fun fabrics that were cheap enough that I could completely destroy them with what is likely to be a disastrous sewing adventure. IKEA happens to have a lot of hip prints that bear similarities to Marimekko designs and nothing is more than $8 per yard! Check out their cheerful prints and patterns here.

Peony Season

 

My favorite flowers are in bloom, the Peony! For a flower novice, these blooms are the easiest to work with. Throw just a few stems into a vase and they will instantly brighten up your home! Here are a few cheap and simple vases that would look great with some peonies thrown in!

These David Stark soup cans from West Elm need some dressing up with this seasonal bloom!

Who could resist these sunny limited edition bud vases from Heath Ceramics which would go with any shade of pink peony.

I'm loving these burlap vases that keep fresh peonies casual from Jayson Home & Garden 

Vote for Starlight Before & After

I entered the Master Bedroom from my Starlight Home project into a before and after contest using West Elm products. If you are on facebook, you can vote for my project since there is a fan favorite category!
Click here to vote for my entry and for those of you not on facebook check out the before and after photos below as well as the products from West Elm that complete the design of the master bedroom! You have until June 2 to place your votes...

For a nightstand I used the silver butler tray and stand from West Elm which also can double as a great bar cart! The silver has been discontinued, but I love the white and raffia colors that are available!

To add warmth to the wood floors and tie in the luxurious chocolate brown wall color, I used the Andalusia rug in Espresso from West Elm.

Color Story Monday: Mellow Yellow

The color yellow invokes the feeling of spring and summer with its bright tones and dreamy hues.

From Left to Right, Clockwise: A building in London's Primrose Hill, Benjamin Moore Sun Kissed, Yellow Task Lamp from West Elm, a yellow zigzag rug from Anthropologie, yellow garden hose from Crate & Barrel, yellow and whtie striped wallpaper from Walnut, vintage yellow typewriter from Etsy

Riviera Magazine

Just out this week is the May issue of Riviera Magazine and I was so lucky to be highlighted in a fabulous article written by the talented Carrie Williams and photographed by uber talent and college friend Jennifer Becker. If you aren't in Southern California, you can check out the digital edition of Riviera Magazine here.

Delta Spotting

Delta, the infamous cow exiled from Newport Beach in the 1980's, has made a reappearance in this posh townhouse in London's Primrose Hill!

Graham & Green

I finally got to visit the Primrose Hill branch of Graham and Green over the weekend. Not only was the furniture selection as amazing as I dreamed, but a celeb sighting of Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale suddenly made the shop even hipper. Check out their website for the lovely mix of vintage and modern pieces!

Color Story Monday

This store display has inspired me to write a new column every Monday about color. Color has the power to transform, calm, and awaken all kinds of emotions. Look for my first post next Monday on the color yellow!

Happy Mother's Day

Abbey Trees

I promise this will be the last royal wedding post, but this one is more fitting for an interiors blog. Yesterday I was able to view the trees at Westminster Abbey before they are taken down an replanted throughout the royal real estate. Seeing them in person really proves how much warmth foliage and greenery can add to a space, especially a cavernous space such as Westminster Abbey. I had hoped to take some photos however they were strictly prohibited. If only the Abbey could keep the trees for everyone to see how the trees added an intimate feeling to the daunting 300 yard aisle leading up to the alter.

Patterns

Just put together a collage of some of the patterns seen throughout Istanbul. I love the geometric metal work and the zebra striped patterns found naturally occurring in the marble.

Artifacts and Antiques

Just some artifacts found laying around Topkapi Palace

On the topic of antiques, I found an interesting article buried in the LA Times over the weekend with all of the major world events happening. The article is about Obsolete, a little shop in Venice that is suing Restoration Hardware. Here is a link to the article. The owner of Obsolete is accusing Restoration Hardware of purchasing his hard to find antiques and reproducing them for the masses. I'm not sure how I feel about this topic as I love that RH brings great design to people at a more affordable price, but as an artist don't agree with their sneaky tactics. I may be biased after dealing with their dreadful customer service and store employees who don't appear to know anything about the products they sell. One thing I learned is that I must check out Obsolete for their impeccable taste and unique finds!

Daylesford Organic

I was able to get out of the city over the long holiday weekend in England and visit the Daylesford organic farm. It felt like a little piece of Napa was transplanted to the English countryside. The Daylesford farm has all of the laid back California style and culinary sophistication. From the gorgeous home and kitchen ware to the delicious cheese room, butchery, bakery, and wines the Daylesford is a must stop for visitors to the Cotswolds. 

Royal Recovery

I am still recovering from the crowds and excitement at Buckingham Palace and all throughout London that took place on Friday!

Happy May Day