Le Owner: Madison!

The town that first stole my heart, Madison, is the featured design guide on d*s today. Trixie & I first formed our design sensibilities in this town- Trixie even workin' at one of the recomended places! Check it out!

Emily: Chew Chew Cutie Cutie

Emily: J Shatz

There is something both modern and earthy about these Luna Sphere lamps from J. Schatz, a company that produces lovely ceramics in upstate New York, and whose owner often answers the phone when you call. I have spent the last few days pouring over lighting for my father's green building project, and could not resist sharing these.

Le Owner: Semi-Precious

I just got done reading my new Traditional Home*, and there is a fantastic article on jewelry for your home. I know Emily and I have discussed this many times- just ask her about her fictional but very appealing wood table with ribbons of turquoise running through the cracks and warped areas of the planks. Hot.

While that table isn't going into production anytime soon, some of these great natural, earthy, beautiful items are.

Honeycomb Calcite Lamp by Jan Showers (I know, I know. Jan Showers? Not really a designer I can often get behind, but they all have a winner sometime!)



Um, Ruzzetti and Gow stunner bowls, anyone?? Yes, please!



Or the ever popular rock crystal+candle light=magic combo



*(yes, yes, I, Le Owner, read Traditional Home. I even have a year subscription.)

Le Owner: Cool Kids Stuff

Now that I'm an aunt, I actually pay attention to the plethora of children's things that before meant nothing to me. And! As Astoria becomes more and more stroller mommies territory, I also have to source some great gifts for the wee ones for the store. It's hard.

I'm lovin' these onsies, though. T-shirts lovingly recycled into custom onsies.....oh, the possibilities!

Le Owner: Taxidermy

If I had to decorate a boy's room, I'd buy this for certain...



Adorable feltidermy!

Le Owner: These Times...

Is it just me, or is anyone else having a hard time concentrating these days? WaMu seized by the FDIC! Bye bye investment banks! Government bailouts! Yippie!

So, I'm havin' a hard time focusing, blogging, etc. I'll leave you with one of my new favorite items @ SITE, from my favorite (favorite!!) design team Brookadelphia. At least we still have this....

Emily: Greetings from Central PA

I am now in Central Pennsylvania with my family working with them on the house they are building to retire in. It is such an unusual experience for me (as a design professional) to go through this process with family. There are many advantages, for example, meetings conducted while wearing pajamas and there are disadvantages as we try and act professional with people that we love.

It is a learning experience for me to work with folks who would never, ever, ever, ever, ever seek out the help of an interior designer. Poor things, they have one built into the family who insists on doing a job they were not hired for. I suspect that when all is said and done they will be glad for it. Wish me luck!

The Pattern of Amiee Wilder

Fab, poppy, and totally mactastic patterns from the very talented Amiee Wilder.

Bemz

I love Bemz. Its true.

Bemz is the brainchild a busy Swedish designer who wanted to change up her uh-so-typical IKEA furniture. These fantastically designed slipcovers are not only made of great materials (cottons, linens, and other beautiful and deserving fibers!) but they are also totally removable, washable, and easy to install.

When I needed a slipcover to cover my ugly KLIPPAN sofa, I went straight to Bemz, do not pass go. I was able to order free swatches and found the ticking stripe of my dream almost right away. If you have to buy IKEA upholstery, you absolutely MUST check out Bemz!!! Simply find your IKEA item and then choose from the 100s of fabrics and preview it on your item in real time. So good.

Le Owner: People for Obama

There's something graphic and fun about these nearly-something-for-everyone Obama pins.





(ok, ok....I found Stumble. I'll admit it. I've been spending WAY too much time doing so...and thus, found these!)

Emily: Lilly McElroy

While it is not uncommon for performance artists to use their own body to explore taboos, it is rare that they use their body to explore their connectedness with others. Lilly McElroy's work explores boundaries by using her body as vehicle for communication. She will walk up to and hug complete strangers, or throw herself at man at bars as seen above, to draw attention to the conflict between our physical proximity and psychological isolation to and from others. As a woman I cannot help but be moved by her vulnerability.

Emily: Art Nouveau Tiles

Art Nouveau is one of my favorite artistic movements because it marries modernity, nature and ornament. The popularity of the style means that there were (and still are) many objects made in the style, from furniture and lighting to hand mirrors, clocks and trinket boxes. I collect tiles. Below are some that I spotted on Ebay.

Click here.

Click here.

Click here.

Emily: The geniuses at Flor

I always enjoy getting my new Flor catalog in the mail, though I don't think I will ever specify or buy the product. The catalog is filled with expertly crafted interiors that inspire me. In fact, the only thing I would change about most would be the carpet. ;)

I actually like this carpet a lot a lot a lot. This and the leaves one.

Tea Towel Love

tea towel love @ apartment therapy

eco friendly scarves

a complete delight- eco friendly scarves from ecologicalartist on etsy. natural wool from local suppliers, hand dyed with plants like toyon, coastal sage, or coyote brush.

Pillow Love

This week, it's all about the pillows for me. Perhaps it is the fact that they can so easily transform a dull room into something grand- perfect for the transitions so many of us feel now- or maybe its the glut of craftspeople showing off their new pillow designs @ SITE...whatever it is, I've got pillows on the mind.

I've perhaps mentioned my massive crush on yet ANOTHER Portland store (*cough, cough*- Trixie, where you be, girl?) Flutter? They have suburb style- high femme in all the right ways. BUT! What they really do well is pillows. The kind of pillows you swear grandma just handed down to you, the perfect flea market find. Treasures. In my fantasy girlie suite, I'd pile these high on my non-existent chaise lounge. I'm in awe of their prices- a good pillow can be more quite costly, and these seem quite affordable.

Behold!

Emily: falling in love

Last night I fell in love again. Walking toward the pub where we watch Monday night football (and where, not coincidentally, my Great Grandmother also watched Monday night football until last year) the moist air pelted my face, smelling of ocean and fireplace and the potpourri of crushed leaves and fronds. I fell head over heels again with my darling fleeting season; Autumn. The sounds of cheering crowds combined with the sight of falling leaves and the feel of wool remind me to be grateful for comfort, warmth, foods and good company. More subtle than Summer, more gentle than Winter and more tactile than Spring, Fall is my first - my last - my everything.

flora

Once, when I was living with Le Owner, she said to me that she wished she had a magic wand to wave that would make all of the floral things I owned pile up in the Living Room so that I would be made aware of my attraction to unabashedly feminine things.

Nature is my muse, and nothing inspires me more than a tasteful and textural flower arrangement. My taste in flowers is much like that in interiors; simple, traditional and textural.
I favor low collections of flowers for the dining table, usually monochromatic, with clusters of blooms mixed with other natural materials. To follow are some of my favorite images from my inspiration file.

pink pink pink

It's no secret to most: I LOVE PINK.

Also no secret? I'm also not usually into cause influenced products (pink kitchen aid mixers, pink toothbrushes, pink everything? why not just give your money directly to cancer research? but I digress)

But now DWR is teaming up with some fab designers to bring fully licenced PINK versions of my most favorite classics. More here.

Saftey First

Much needed fall accessory.