STYLE IT: inspired....

i'm inspired by a cozy little shed in the woods, a project of mine resting in northern california.

while my "inspiration board" is from long ago, the combination of these images speaks volumes to me....

i love visual language.

do you?

note it:

"inaudible melodies" by jack johnson

(photo credits: various sources including southern living, barefoot contessa, domino, anthropologie, lissa lowe + more. contact me for specific citation as i'll have to research....)

GREEN IT- flora "grabb"

i'd like to suggest that flora grubb be renamed flora "grabb." i wanted to snatch up everything in the place!

an amazing landscape shop / garden center in san francisco, flora grubb is definitely a trendsetter. chock full of gorgeous plants, palms + succulents, the beauty of this place is in the design itself. ideas are ripe for the picking. little vignettes - color-coded at that - set the tone amid various "found objects," like this old car.

delight is found at every turn!

(word has it that urban outfitters' "terrain" in phillie models flora's digs....).

even though i am without a proper plot to landscape, i did not leave empty handed. i purchased on one of these lovely one-of-a-kind handmade striped glazed pots. each pot is numbered + created by hand in los angeles by esther pottery.

i then plopped a tillandsia inside. (such a cool bromeliad - click here.)

in the last week, i've "checked" into this place twice. i aim to become mayor + sell the merits of sustainable landscaping to the masses. (yep, foursquare, i'm talkin' to you...).

note it:

"the sound of sunshine" by michael franti + spearhead

TABLETOP TUESDAY - missoni-esque

the other day i went shopping for a client of mine for tabletop. a seaside cottage in the woods, this "sleep shed" as we call it is a bit magical...dare i say, even mystical.

constructed of handpicked redwood, it is rustic on its exterior and boho eclectic with a smidge of romanticism thrown in for good measure on its interior. (trust me, wonderful photos will soon come.) TLC oozes out of its every groove.

anthropologie's stuff perfectly fits the kitchenette bill by adding to its old-world stylishness. the finds:

~ latte bowls in turquoise, grey, white + orange ($5 each). unifies hues across all tabletop and jibes with our overall color palette.

~ patch nyc tidbit plates (i covet these - and may have to go pick some up for myself! in store, on sale for $3.95 each from $14).

~ island time juice glasses in (on sale for $7.95 each from $12)

~ ecureuil plate ("squirrel") designed by parisian artist nathalie lete ($24 - we are actually hanging it on the wall. makes the "sleep shed" feel that much more fairy tale...)

~ pale jade tinted glass "milk/leche/latte" glass (in store, $4 each).

sigh, aren't the plates just so missoni-esque? (and who doesn't love brand ambassador margherita?!). despite my bias, i do think the interrelation of patterns and color is just so fab...the "sleep shed" is going to be simply splendido!

note it:

"la bohème" by puccini and performed by luciano pavarotti

(photo credits: lissa lowe)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - a zoo

cocktail parties. kiddie parties. wedding parties.

totally cute!

your party will be quite the zoo.

note it:

"zoo" by dragon tales (for charlie. he loves it!)

(photo credit: no idea. have had it forever.)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - golden cow

i want this golden cow.

i bet it makes cream taste even richer....

note it:

"falling in love at a coffee shop" by landon pigg

(photo credit: cookie magazine/dec 05)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - a piece of this pie

i'd like a piece of this pie...pie-wedge table, that is.

plus, the spacing of the succulents amid the mushroom cloche is really brilliant.

note it:

"mushaboom" by feist

(photo credit: house beautiful, april 2010)

HUE: lovely by the sea

i've been thinking a lot about soft pink these days....so much so that this palette is one that my client and i are considering for her seaside cottage in mendocino.

these remind me of the weathered hues of a home tucked away in the hills of the south of france.

i imagine this hideaway filled with well-loved furnishings and "found" objets d'art, treasures of the every day.

where the inspired hues of "chinchilla," "cumulus cloud," "sparkling brook," "opal," "sea glass," "spring melt," "sugared pansy pink" and "wrought iron" come to rest.*

it would be a place that shows its age and yet its timelessness too.

its soul revealed as layers of plaster chip away.

i wish it were mine...and in my mind's eye, it is.

note it:

"sea of love" by the honeydrippers

(photo credits: pottery+sofa images/essentially french, tidepool/unknown; sea glass/waterside living. hues cited are from the martha stewart living paint collection at home depot)

STYLE IT: egg-cellent news!

i am one happy chick today....

martha stewart (@MarthaStewart) is now following me on twitter.

now that's something to chirp about!

thank you, martha. i am thrilled!

p.s. from april's MSL, these "cracked eggshells" made from the jagged edges of strips of electrical tape along with this stenciled "chirping chick" are so clever....and so darned cute!

note it:

"happy" by never shout never

(photo credit: martha stewart living, april 2010)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - simple seats

simple seats. simple eats.

un-fussiness allows focus.

now that's food for thought.

note it:

"don't you (forget about me)" by simple minds

(photo credit: lissa lowe, taken at chez papa in potrero hill, san francisco)

COOK IT: mini (many) miette

"miette" is french for "little crumb."

with locations in san francisco's ferry building and in hayes valley, this charming pastry shop is a must-stop! cookies, macarons, confections, cakes, cupcakes...

miette offers classes too.

(for eight years and up, the children's baking workshop sounds adorable!)

these mini (and many) yummies would make fabulous party favors or hostess gifts.

pick up or mail order some today.

miette + me = happy.

note it:

"paris" by yael naim

(photo credits: lissa lowe)

SATURDAY'S SPOONFUL - a small dose of sugar, spice + everything nice

this set of four handmade screen printed cuties from flytrap are perfect for celebrating the change in season - and Easter too.

spring has sprung!

enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

note it:

"banana pancakes" by jack johnson

TABLETOP TUESDAY - plum crazy

i'm plum crazy over this mid-century plaid pottery....

the frugalista in me resisted the unneeded purchase, even for $100.

sigh, crazy.

note it:

"crazy" by gnarls barkley

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

MAKEOVER MONDAY - shiny red apple

i actually have a bamboo bar cart.

what i liked about this one - as made over by eddie ross for house beautiful in 2005 - is the sultry red glossiness.

a flea market find, eddie sprayed it until it was as shiny as a red apple.

cocktail party delicious, i think.

note it:

"kokomo" by little feat

(photo credit: house beautiful, march 2005)

COOK IT: kiddie cupcakes

yesterday was charlie's 4th birthday (!!) + we delivered 24 cupcakes to his preschool.

from a box, we made the cupcakes (i know, i know, so unmartha...) in fun polka dotted liners (a little bit martha...).

out of "more from magnolia," we whipped up the vanilla buttercream (almost as yummy as bleecker street...).

once the frosting was tinted blue, we sprinkled each treat with "A, B, C, 1, 2, 3" sprinkles, bought awhile back at williams-sonoma.

charlie handmade the little schoolchildren stick figures from popsicle sticks + foam that i found at jo-ann fabrics. meticulously, he assembled each.

he was so proud of his baked goodies + his classmates loved them too!

time flies...savor every moment.

note it:

"teach your children" by crosby, stills, nash & young

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - deconstruct

for dinner parties or even weddings, i love the idea of a deconstructed table.

a look like this one can run the gamut - like heirloom china + sterling meets mismatched plates + silverware from the flea.

hold utensils in jelly jars, mason jars, loving cups or jefferson cups.

rethink.

or better yet, don't think.

it's an easier way to set the table.

note it:

"everything i own" by ken boothe

(photo credit: essentially french)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - a bag of chips

mmmmm....what i'd give for some dip and a bag of chips.

note it:

"milk shake and potato chips" by bob marley

(photo credit: lissa lowe, part of my collection of 1950s chip 'n' dip bowls)

STYLE IT: sjp - always current

years ago when i saw this image of sarah jessica parker's hamptons' kitchen, i stopped in my tracks.

it worked then.

it works now.

note it:

"chasing cars" by lee dewyze (tonight's performance on america idol of snow patrol)

(photo credit: elle decor)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - pop star

cocktail party (or tv tuesday) fare.

unexpected + tasty.

munch. crunch.

note it:

"fixing a hole" by lilly scott (tonight's performance on american idol while covering the beatles)

(photo credit: lissa lowe)

GROW IT: spring is in

bring the outdoors in by clipping shrub or tree branches + placing them in glass vessels or colorful vases.

affordable + cheerful.

spring is in!

note it:

"i'm into something good" by the bird and the bee

(photo credit: domino/online)

TABLETOP TUESDAY - tea time

these vintage tea tins would look great repurposed as plant containers (just place a smaller pot inside).

they would also be lovely grouped as a vignette atop a coffee or side table or mixed with books on a built-in bookcase.

they could hold all sorts of goodies!

despite their old age, notice how the patterns, palettes + metallic accents are really in style right now. really great.

whenever i see soulful things like these, i wonder the home from whence they came....and where they will finally land.

as i ponder posterity, pass the tea, please.

note it:

"honey and the moon" by joseph arthur

(photo credit: lissa lowe)