I let out an audible gasp when I opened the Heath Ceramics newsletter today and saw that the seasonal collection this summer is a range of BLUES! Remember last summer’s Poppy & Grapefruit and the epic Yellow in 2011? Fond memories. Hey there Horizon Blue, Indigo and Tea Green…it is a pleasure to meet you.
This is NOT good news for my bud vase addiction. If I call it a “collection” is it still an addiction?
xo,
Lydia
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.
Gotta love home goods line with a seasonal collection right? You can start referring to your bud vases as “so S/S12.”
xo,
Lydia
Thanks to all of your suggestions we had an amazing and delicious trip to Charleston.
Charleston embraced us with bacon-y kisses at a late dinner at Husk. Heath Ceramics and Wine Punt glasses on the table were a chic California touch but the food was delightfully Southern. Drew’s parent’s surprised us by picking up the bill all the way from Georgia as a Valentine’s Day treat! It was a perfect night.
the next day I headed out on a riverfront jog
the pineapple is a symbol of welcome, thanks Charleston I feel right at home
pink and purple houses, my 8-year old dream come true
now days I’m more into this turquoise palette
one of the beautiful rivers, I almost feel Pat Conroy whispering in my ear.
famous side gardens did not disappoint
I think I’ll just paint my door bright coral for spring. Drew got back from groomsmen practice and we hit the town together.
ancient protections in Battery Park
but even older oak trees
bundles of vintage cookbooks shopping on King St.
and bedazzled Marker’s Mark bottle of course.
Lunch at Gaulart & Maliclet French Cafe was so fun! At the long communal table I heard a 7-year old boy tell his father is was the best French food he has had outside of Paris. Also they brought out a Dijon mustard trio with our lunch, enough said.
Sightseeing via beach cruisers courtesy of our hotel The Vendue Inn
Valentine’s Day decor on a fancy mansion in the Battery
It’s not only Colonial architecture in the air folks (Gadsden Flag)
Truly this coconut cake was one of the best things I ever ate, don’t miss it. The Peninsula Grill.
I saw lots of red chard and other winter garden greens growing in pretty flower boxes and public parks!
A late night snack at Cypress was a highlight. Mini crab rolls topped with celery leaves on homemade buns.
Drew had the Pimento Cheese Burger a Cypress (sans bun of course but he did try a few bites of coconut cake #sorrygluten).
Miss you Charleston. I’m reading South of Broad to keep the dream alive.
xo,
Lydia
Remember our Halloween table? We’re using the same elements for our Thanksgiving decor. Run a similar arrangement down the center of your Turkey Day table or along your mantle for a natural, elegant and understated display.
We started with our faithful workhorses: the burlap strips. Then, inspired by the darling mini pumpkins, we clustered orb-like clear and white bud vases and filled them with Chinese mums. The repetition of almost round, squash-like shapes is what makes this look work. Lydia had the great idea to toss in some cipolline onions I had in the kitchen- it’s a cucurbita and allium table for those taxonomes out there!
Off-white pillar candles stand ready to bring the glow. My Juliska gourd carafe does double duty as an elegant vase, adding height to a side table or mantle.
For a dinner table centerpiece, you want something low enough to see over. So we removed the tall flower arrangement and swapped in a medium-sized white spray-painted pumpkin, adding in a few silver for sparkle.
All we need is food and family!
xoxosl
Sources:
Burlap- Michael’s or any other craft store
Carafe- Juliska
Vases- Jonathan Adler and Heath Ceramics
For You
Similar loafers,bag, pants, shirt, headband
The Richard Nicoll for Fred Perry Collection has captured the look of my “London in the 60’s” fascination. Headbands, preppy wool patterns and boxy shapes borrowed from school boys feels just right for fall.
For Your Table
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Burgundy is making a come back this season, pair it with navy for a crisp combo. Have your seen these limited edition Heath Ceramic Etched Bowl yet? Peaking out from the insides of the winter white exterior is a warm navy or burgundy glaze. It’s like serving your hummus and crackers out of a birch log, what could be more festive for this fall/winter?
xo,
LEH
Hi, loves.
We’re still working on our Registry Basics Series (barware is next) and realized that we hadn’t given you a list of our favorite places to register. So here it is. And please excuse the absence of the Holy 5— Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, Sur la Table, Bloomingdales and Macy’s. We’re guessing you’ll start there anyway.
Heath Ceramics for handmade plates in dreamy colors and natural table linens
Simon Pearce for graceful pottery and hand-blown glassware
Anthropologie for everyday fun table and kitchen stuff. No other place has such happy glasses and platters. They’ve recently added some very chic flatware (see here and here for our most recent picks).
Jonathan Adler for fun accent pieces. Sometimes I get lost in the swirl of colors but a cheeky piece of pottery or colorful throw adds a lot of life to your registry and home. I’m still partial to these birdies.
Design Within Reach is all so sleek, modern and sophisticated.
NapaStyle— the name says it all. I love their glass and flatware in particular. They also carry unique wooden boards and bowls.
Restoration Hardware has beautiful bed linens and the world’s greatest towels, not to mention Lydia’s luscious cashmere robe.
Tiffany’s for crystal: a candy bowl, a pair of candlesticks or maybe a special occasion cake stand.
What have we’ve missed?
My soon-to-be sister-in-law introduced me to MyRegistry.com which allows you to compose a registry of items cherry-picked from any and all online stores (including Etsy and small boutiques) all in one place. No more jumping from store to store to compare items.
Anjali compiled 9 more registry resources for the kitchn.
Happy browsing!
xoxo
When it came time to build our own registries, we knew from our catering past which pieces we couldn’t live without. If you love to entertain as much as we do, the key is being prepared and that means having enough platters and bowls in basic colors and shapes to mix them with ease, add visual interest to your spread, and never get caught short. After all, no one wants to be carving a turkey and realize they don’t have a large enough platters to plate up the bird.
For you, the pieces we love and use regularly…
1, 2 & 3. Three big white platters in round, rectangular or oval or a combination of favorite shapes
Here are a few of our current favorites, but the idea is to go for basic white so they play nicely with all your other dishware and can be used interchangeably.
Great White Coupe Serving Bowls (see these in action with our composed salads)
Great White Rectangular Serving Platters
Juliska “Berry and Thread” large oval platter
4. Two medium-sized serving bowls
Perfect for sides, salads, sauces and mashed potatoes for two. Looks beautiful on a big buffet but you’ll use these bowls constantly.
Heath Ceramics deep serving bowl
and vegetable bowl
5. One large wooden salad bowl
Owning a dedicated salad bowl makes me feel grown up.
Williams-Sonoma Cherrywood salad bowl
6. One cake plate
We love a good cake plate and this beautiful glass one works for cakes, stacks of cookies and cupcakes. Plus you can flip it over to make a beautiful punch bowl. I had never heard of such a thing, but Lydia’s mom had one when Lydia was growing up and, after seeing this one, I’m sold.
Williams-Sonoma Domed Cakeplate/Punch Bowl
7. One footed serving bowl/compote
You’ll use this more than you would expect. It livens up your kitchen fruit bowl, looks gorgeous piled high with tomatoes and shows off any vegetable, like haricot verts, to their best. Also, there is no other way to serve a chocolate pudding piled high with whipped cream or classic Christmas trifle.
Vera Wang Wedgewood “Classic” footed bowl
8. One breadboard
A stylish way to serve a baguette next to your cheese plate or sourdough with your soup. Doubles as a centerpiece when filled with lemons or satsumas.
Napa Style Vintage German bakery board
9. One wooden board
Use for everything from a cheese plate to flatbread slices. We also love it for displaying deviled eggs.
Crate and Barrel Acacia Flatbread-Pizza Board
10. One tiered serving tray
Adds height to your party buffets and can display both sweet and savory items.
Crate and Barrel Artesia 2-tier server
11. Ten Ramekins
These are the mini workhorses of our kitchen. You’ll pull them for prep while cooking, use for baking souffles or coddled eggs, serving mustards with charcuterie or olives with cheese. Oh, these are a must for butter and jam with scones.
Crate and Barrel ramekins
We’re still sweet on Anthropologie’s mini latté bowls as another option for prep and small serving bowls. You just can’t bake a soufflé in them.
12. One silver or wood serving tray
Every girl needs a tray! We use ours to line up champagne flutes for a self-serve prosecco bar. And we keep hoping someone will use it to serve us breakfast in bed. Or you can just pile it high with coffee table books.
Pottery Barn Hotel Collection plated silver tray
You can also see a slideshow of this post at The Daily Meal.
Do you have a serving piece you love?
xoxosl
For You
For Your Table
Anthopologie From the Deep Dinnerware
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Heath Cermaics Bowl in Persimmon/French Grey
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Northern Hemisphere Glasses in Florentine Gold
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Blue Hydrangea Arrangement
xo,
LEH
For you
Image: Garance Dore
For your table
Pantone Mug in Oxblood
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Jasper Conran Navy Fringe Plate
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A single creamy magnolia makes the perfect centerpiece
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Heath Ceramics Casserole Dish in Redwood
Dear Jasper Conran,
Yanks will LOVE the navy fringe pattern.
Anxiously awaiting its arrival stateside,
xoxosl
