Archive of ‘Design’ category

Pretty Planters

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Terracotta pots? Boring. Something fresh and pretty like this vintage bathtub planter?  Gorgeous but pricy.

Which is a good thing because filling that tub basically constitutes begging the gods to strike my garden down.  I haven’t the hubris to think I could keep that much greenery alive.  Not with these brown thumbs.

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Maybe terracotta pots spray painted matte black?  No numbers for me, just a row of clean black mugs topped with frothy green vegetation.

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Or some color-dipped cheapies?  In pink!  Or maybe turquoise?

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Or galvanized tubs in different shapes and sizes?  An easy, inexpensive English look.

Each image leads to the DIY.  Thanks to all the ladies responsible for breaking me out of my terracotta rut.  Which would you do?

xx Sarah

 

The Allure of the Crock-Pot

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Crock Pot

We learn early that if something has a lot of names, that something is very important.   Remember the Eskimos and all their words for snow?  And if there’s only one name, then it better be a good one.

Which might be why crock-pots get such a bad rap.  An actual ceramic bean crock has old-world charm, but adding “pot” to “crock” pretty much clouds the derivation of the word.  As my sister would say, ewwwwww.

But it seems the appliance supersedes the name.

Everyone I know is obsessed with their crock-pots.  From my adventurous college-age cousin to my city-chic girlfriends.  My mom pals swear by it and their husbands, men accustomed to the yummiest restaurants in town, say nothing compares.

All this crock-pot talk has me itching to order a new kitchen toy, but my Brady Bunch era associations linger.   So sway me, please.  Do you have a crock-pot?  What’s your favorite dish to make?

Should A & O start sharing crock-pot recipes??

xx Sarah

Wooden Spoon Rainbow

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Colored Serving Spoon Handles

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Wouldn’t this be a great gift? Dip some pretty wooden serving spoons into non-toxic colored paint. Maybe a whole set for friend’s wedding shower or just a pair for Mom on Mother’s Day. The ultimate in chic hostess gifts if you ask me.

 

Pastel Painted Wooden Spoons

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xo,
Lydia

Poppy, Grapefruit & Birch

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Introducing the Heath Ceramics Spring/Summer 2012 colors… Poppy, Grapefruit and Birch! Heath seasonal collections are limited in production and supplies only last a few months. Remember last years yellow collection? SO SO sad I didn’t get a keepsake. Won’t make that mistake this year.

s12-06-heath-seasonal-bud-vase-set

 

s12-13-heath-seasonal-tray-and-tumbler

 

 

 

 

Gotta love home goods line with a seasonal collection right? You can start referring to your bud vases as “so S/S12.”

xo,

Lydia

Picking Pajamas

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Ladies, I have a question for you.  What do you wear to sleep?

I’m mostly an undies girl or else I pick a cute chemise (I love eberjay‘s soft cotton).  But now I’m looking for something I can actually wear out into the living room without pulling on a huge fuzzy robe.

So, what do you like?  Do you prefer menswear pajamas or yoga pants?  Or do you just grab a robe when it’s time for breakfast?

xx Sarah

Aqua + Yellow Accents

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Drew and are have been discussing how best to freshen up our living room for spring/summer (translation: I talk about ideas and he nods his head sometimes). After a few hours on Pinterest I’m falling for pops of yellow to partner pleasantly with our sea of aqua accents.

Fresh and fun right?

 

xo,
Lydia

Ball Jar Light Fixture

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I have an ambitious line up of cleaning a organizing projects this weekend. This time of year makes me feel extra motivated to rearrange my furniture, clean out the garage and finally re-pot those plants I’ve been neglecting. A clean home to launch a healthy and productive new year.

Ball Jar LIght Fixture

I have some aqua blue ball jars with vintage zinc lids left over from our wedding and I want to make this light fixture to have over the table in our dining area. This is not my original idea, I found this picture on Pinterest last year from Re-Nest.com. Let’s hope I can figure this one out.

Happy clean start friends.

 

xo,

LEH

Tenugui Cloth Napkins

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tenugui cloths

Lydia and I were so excited to see gardening editor Stephen Orr’s Thanksgiving table setting in the new Martha Stewart Living.  The picture hasn’t made it online, but if you flip to page 106, you’ll see why.  Stephen set his table with a few of our favorite things!  Lots of natural elements like branches, quail eggs and individual flowers in low vases as well as Lydia’s Heath plates in mixed colors (French grey, mist and aqua) and my tenugui cloth napkins in mixed prints and different shades of blue.

The article inspired me to purchase a new fall collection (you can see my old one here) so that I’ll be ready for my Thanksgiving guests.

I’ll be doing all-white plates and mixing napkins in navy, burgundy and gold.  Each tenugui costs $13 at Tortoise General Store and each cloth makes 2 napkins.  You simply cut them in half and toss them in the washing machine.  They come out as soft as an old T-shirt with frayed edges.  Use scissors to clip any long strings and press with a hot iron before setting your table.

Can you believe we’re already thinking about Thanksgiving?  We’ll be sharing our centerpiece decor, tips for executing your feast in a small kitchen and our Turkey Day countdown in the next few days.  Number two on the countdown?  Make sure you have enough napkins.  Check.

Have a wonderful, candy-filled weekend!

xoxosl

Broome Street General Store

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Broome Street General Store

Ever get the storybook sense that you’ve wandered into a place built just for you?  That’s how discovering Broome Street General Store felt to me.  Like someone had collected all the essentials for my best, most active self.

Stanley Thermos

The self that drinks hot coffee from a mint thermos on a blustery day.  Preferably atop a hill and a blanket both.

striped shirts

The girl who never runs out of clean, striped shirts…

Straw tote

and stashes goodies for sharing in her market tote.

ginger syrup

The friend who has on hand the secret ingredient to a Sailor’s Ale…

Pantry items

and nuts, chocolate and (Sqirl!) jams to satisfy your sweet cravings.

Gimme! Coffee

The friend who makes a mean cup of coffee.

A word about this last.  As far as I know, Broome Street General Store is the only spot in LA that actually sells gimme! coffee.  Brooklynites as well those who have had the joy of calling Ithaca, NY, home will understand when I say that stumbling upon those red labels and exclamation marks warmed my heart.

Broome Street also carries Weck jars in all shapes and sizes, acacia cutting boards, wooden salad spoons, cast-iron pans, and pantry basics like sriracha and Bob’s Red Mill grains.  It’s where I’ll head for housewarming gifts and stocking stuffers.

They serve local pastries and sandwiches daily as well as fried chicken every Friday night.

What’s not to love?

xoxosl

Broome Street General Store
2912 Rowena Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90039
Neighborhood: Silver Lake

Inspired by: The Hour

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Is anyone else watching The Hour on BBC America?

 

the-hour-logo

I’m obsessed with the look of this show. The sets, costumes and hair and make up are so styling. 1950’s Britain is my current design inspiration for fashion/home decor/tabletop.

The main character Bel rocks some chic short, bouncy hair and great pencil skirt + cardigan outfits. Not to mention she is wicked smart and produces a TV news program. No bored housewives drinking red wine for lunch on this show.

Her best friend Freddy is not too bad to look at either as he is investigating a murder.

It’s all very exciting friends, such a well written and smart program. I think you will like it, certainly the look of the show at least.

These tastemakers like the show as well.

 

xo,
LEH

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