One Creative Brit

Orla Kiely is England's very own Kate Spade creating an entire lifestyle brand by starting out with some very pretty handbags that caught on with the right crowd. Her iconic patterns are now appearing on coffee mugs, bed linens, and even iphone cases, so it was inevitable that she come out with a book all about the patterns that have made her famous! You can now pre-order it on amazon here.

Happy Inside

The new IKEA catalogue and ad campaign has come out in the UK. The use of cats to create the feeling of home is a huge hit! Check out how they released 100 cats through an IKEA store in London and even lost a few in the process. Most people can relate to getting lost in the IKEA maze.

Chelsea Harbour

I took a trip out to the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre this week and was in awe! The space is gorgeous on its own, but each dome is populated with showrooms featuring all of the newest offerings in the design world. The space didn't show any of the signs of the bad economy that the Pacific Design Center in LA are showing. With every space occupied, it could take a whole week to sort through every showroom.

The Travelling Moose

Taxidermy is on the brink of being out of fashion, but this white moose head is a fun edition above this bar table. It made the move from California to London, so it needed a special place in the flat.

Eames Style

The Eames Hang It All from Design Within Reach is the perfect solution for a tiny entry that lacks style. This piece is functional and fun and makes the entry feel more like its own space rather than a transition point.

The hipstamatic app for the iphone has really gotten me back into taking photos after a hiatus. I still think that using such digital tricks is a sell out technique, but there is no need to take these photos too seriously.

F & B Color Palette

I love the industrial color palette coming out of Farrow & Ball for the Fall. Yellow and Grays will make any space feel modern and clean.

Favorite Ad

I have loved the Benjamin Moore color ads for a long time, but this one for Golden Nugget is by far my favorite so far!

Food for the Summer Table

I am not typically a BBQ sauce fan but Giada de Laurentiis' Balsamic BBQ sauce will be an all around at your summer BBQ. Easy to make and easy to keep on hand. Here is the recipe

For the Balsamic BBQ sauce:

• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3/4 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Mix all of the ingredients in a saucepan on the stovetop and simmer for 15 minutes until mixture is incorporated and smooth. Glaze on your favorite meat and throw on the grill.

Speaking of Summer Table Linens...

The NY Times had an interesting article in their style section about shopping for summer linens with textile designer Madeline Weinrib. Click here to view the article. It is a quick and inspiring read. I am loving all of her bright and colorful fabrics for the season and they are now carried at Harrods.