fine china

Wedgwood is an English pottery company that makes some of the finest pieces of kitchen ware and home decor.  Their designs range from simple plain white, to the most ornate details.  Check out their website; they have so many different things, from plates to vases, picture frames to clocks, and everything in between.  I definitely want to own a whole collection of Wedgwood.

frugal finds

 

You don't always need to go to an expensive furniture or home decor store to find great things.  Elle Decor has their own collection exclusively at Kohl's, and their products offer a glamorous look without breaking the bank.

conceptualize

When we were in New York, we stopped in the BoConcept store in Chelsea.  This is the ultimate destination for modern, urban furniture.  They can be a little pricey, but they definitely sparked a lot of inspiration when I saw what they had in store. 

ellegant

Last week when I was at the drugstore, I picked up a copy of Elle Decor, and I instantly fell in love with it!  It is created by the publishers of Elle magazine, and for me, it is a collection of pure inspiration.

burnt out

When baking cookies, or anything that you would use a cookie sheet for, I think the best type of sheet to use is any that is made of light metal (as opposed to typical darker metal).  You can find them on Amazon, but they're also sold pretty much anywhere that bake ware is sold.  Light metal is better because it doesn't retain heat as intensely as dark metal does, which can result in burnt cookies.

you better work

I love when I find a store or design studio that turns an everyday object into a perfect work of art. That is what you will find at Waterworks Studio.  They have bathroom accessories, tile, faucets; all things bathroom.. and all beautiful.

pillow talk

I am all about velvet details right now, and I am thinking about pillows!  Crate & Barrel has some really chic velvet pillows in an array of sophisticated colors.  I think when choosing a color for a pillow, contrast is something to keep in mind.  Velvet is the perfect accent material.  Velvet pillows are plush, lush, and just lovely!

hella nutella

I found my new favorite snack!  I take a coco pop, which is a multigrain crisp (but you could use a rice cake and it would be just as yummy), and then I spread Nutella on it and add a sprinkle of ground sea salt.  And there you have a delicious, sweet and savory snack.  It's simply divine!  And if you can believe it, it has less than 50 calories!

inspired shopping

Amazing, fresh, modern, unique, and inspired.. all words that perfectly describe Design within Reach.  They sell some of the most beautiful everyday things.  Visit their online store to see what they have; and if you have a chance, go to one of their stores and gaze at all the glory that is within reach.

kitchen prep

I love these Martha Stewart kitchen prep bowls from Macy*s.  They will keep all of your ingredients well-organized and readily available.  They could also be used for dressings or dipping sauces.  They come as a set of 6 for $9.99.

omg!

I was so lucky to have the chance to meet Alexis Stewart before the show.  We ran into her outside the studio (and when I say we "ran into her", I mean that we hung out in front of the studio for an hour and saw Alexis walking in).  Contrary to what "people" (like Tim Gunn) say about Alexis, I have to say that my experience meeting her was nothing but a pleasure.  She was really sweet and really down-to-earth.  She spoke to me for quite a bit, took pictures, and signed my book.  The show was great!  Alexis and Jennifer are doing a really great job.  If you want to watch a really fun hour of talk (where no topic is off-limits), then tune into Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer, only on Hallmark, weekdays at NOON.

the cutting edge

This Ekobo knife block is a free-trade product made in Vietnam.  There are no slots on this knife block; instead, there are bamboo skewers that hold any size knife.  This was one of the first things I purchased for the kitchen.  They are a little pricey, but I promise you, it's worth it.  They are little works of art! Available at Lekker home

the real McCoy

In April 1910, the Nelson McCoy Sanitary Stoneware Company was formed by Nelson McCoy and his father J.W. McCoy, in Roseville, Ohio.  They began manufacturing and selling functional and decorative stoneware.  Today, McCoy pottery is highly collectible and very sought after.  I have a small collection of some of their planters from the 1960s.  Many antique stores and consignment shops have McCoy pottery, but be aware, because there are many fakes out there..  Hence the term, "the real McCoy".

multicolor man

Takashi Murakami is a contemporary Japanese artist who works with painting and digital media.  He takes popular themes from mass media and pop culture, and turns them into 30-foot sculptures, paintings, or commercial goods.  He is also the mastermind behind this famous multicolored Louis Vuitton print:

h

moo

Moo.com is a super cool, ultra-modern print company.  They do business cards, greeting cards, postcards, and--my personal favorite--mini cards.  Everything is completely customizable and each order is sent in a very nice recyclable box.  With Moo, you can promote your business, website, blog, or even yourself!

mr. adler

What can I say about Jonathan Adler?  The store is amazing.  He sells everything, and it's all so quirky, chic, and colorful.  It has wall art, bath accessories, furniture, candles, bedding.. EVERYTHING!  If you're looking for a unique gift, check out Jonathan Adler.

i die

I was given one of these for Christmas last year.. and died!  This murder ink pad is a deadly take on the classic sticky note.  It is an outline of a man's body with a bloody pen stuck in his heart.  FUN, RIGHT?!?!

ez does it

One thing I always have plenty of is EZ glides.  With hardwood floors, these are a must-have.  I find myself using them for more than the bottoms of chair legs and couches.  I even use them on the back of mirrors and wall hangings to protect the wall from scratches and dents.

the perfect process

 

I love my Cuisinart food processor.  Mine is the brushed metal one like the one in this picture.  It can hold 7 cups and there are a lot of different blades you can use to chop foods differently.  The feed tube on top makes it easy to put in even whole fruits and vegetables.  I think this machine is a must-have for anyone who cooks!

branch out

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to add life and interest to any room is with natural elements like branches, flowers, or even grass.  Nettleton Hollow is the best website for all of these.  I am loving these moss-covered branches.

fashion Friday: white hot

I got this Michael Kors acrylic chronograph watch for my birthday this year.  It's such a great watch.  It goes with pretty much everything, and can be dressed up or dressed down.  The white makes it the perfect summer watch, and it's so chic that it can easily be worn throughout the year.  I love love love it!

sisal style

Choosing a rug is never an easy task.  If you're like me, and you're looking for something that looks clean all the time, is easy to clean, and repels dirt and odor, well the answer is a sisal rug.  Sisal is a stiff, coarse natural fiber obtained from agave plant leaves, and when woven together make an amazing rug for any room, indoors or outdoors.  I love sisal!

paper gangster

When I am at the mall, one store I always stop into is Papyrus.  I am a stationery/ribbon/frame/pen FREAK and this store has it all: stylish wrapping paper, candy-colored ribbon, and some of the most amazing greeting cards ever.

cut the cheese

When we were walking down to Greenwich Village, we stopped in a place called Westside Market, located right on 7th Avenue.  Packed tightly into one small corner of a storefront, this place had everything!  It is a combination grocery store/deli/salad bar/cheese shop.  We picked up a wedge of parmigiano reggiano cheese.

table for two

Finding a place to eat in New York City can be harder than it seems.  We had planned on just finding a place along the way as we walked, but we had a tough time finding something.  After a few hours of searching, we finally found an amazing restaurant called Jane that was just perfect.  It is located on West Houston street, so right on the border of Soho and Noho.  I got the spaghetti, which was made with shiitake mushrooms, tomatoes, arugula, hot chilies, and pesto.  Scott got the toasted ricotta gnocchi, which had Italian parsley, parmesan cheese, and a white truffle sauce that was absolutely to die for!  We also got a side of the rosemary fries, which were amazing as well.  The whole meal cost us less than $40, which is a really good price for NYC dining that isn't from a street cart.

the perfect napkin

I am a lover of napkins, and I have been on the hunt for some really fabulous cotton napkins.  I wanted something casual, but made well enough to be fancy too.  Where did I finally find them?  West Elm of course!  These 100% cotton napkins are only $12 for a set of four.  They come in a lovely array of jewel-tone inspired shades; I chose the classic tan.

with sprinkles on top

Shortly after we arrived in New York, we HAD to stop at Magnolia Bakery.  We went to the one next to Rockefeller Center.  They have quite the fan following in NYC, and recently expanded their business to Los Angeles.  We both got a vanilla cupcake, and let me tell you, they were absolutely to die for.  My only complaint is that they weren't bigger!

shine on

When we were in New York, we stopped in a place called Michael Aram.  It's located on West 18th Street in Manhattan.  They have a lot of silver pieces, and they are delicate yet every structured; and very piece is entirely handmade.  The pieces are expensive, but they are all works of art and absolutely gorgeous.

nyc

Truly one of my favorite and most inspiring places to be is New York City.

on the house

After we moved in, one of our friends gave us a few bottles of wine, and House Wine was one of them.  This red wine is a cabernet blend, and it comes in a white variety too.  The winery that makes this also has a couple other original blends that we are excited to try!  And look at the label on the bottle.  How fun?

charge pad

An electronics charging pad, like this one from Duracell, charges devices like your cell phone, iPod, or camera, by just putting the device on the pad; no more messy cord confusion.  This is definitely going on my Christmas list.

cool it

This 16x20" non-stick cooling rack by Nordic is perfection.  I hate tiny, flimsy cooling racks, and this one is heavy duty.  I love how big it is, too.  And it's non-stick.  I actually found mine at TJMaxx for $7, and they are also available on Amazon.

designer diner

I was Google-imaging Chanel and found this.. and I think it looks yummy.

table style

Mud Australia has the most beautiful porcelain I have EVER seen.  The shapes and colors are modern and super cool.  Not only are they perfect for your most exquisite dinner parties, but you could even use these everyday.  I want all of them!

consider cactus

Cactus is one of my favorite house plants.  My apartment doesn't get much sunlight, so this type of plant is perfect.  Cactus are low-maintenance; they require little water.  They can be put almost anywhere, and they always seem to look chic!  This picture is one of my cactus that I have.  I got all three of mine from Ikea.

fresh plug

 

The Wallflower from Bath & Body Works is my favorite way to freshen up a room.  They are very cute and almost invisible.  Their minimalist design and color options are amazing and keep rooms smelling perfectly fresh.  I love the passion fruit-scented one.

light bright

This silver bowl light bulb from Gracious Home is such a chic way to light a room.  These are best for light fixtures that have an exposed bulb, because the bulb looks as if it were dipped in liquid silver, which hides the inside filaments of a light bulb.

"flower girl" (2010)

Original photography by Andrew Williams

bedtime

The Olivia headboard by blik is actually a wall decal.  Please browse their website; it's absolutely amazing.  I love all of the decals they have.  They also have everything from lamps to shelving, mirrors, and even furniture.  I am seriously considering getting this for our bed.  I just love it.

possible purchase

West Elm's bracket shelving is just what I have been looking for. Available in 2 color choices and 3 different bracket designs. Graphic, sleek , and unique there is a design for everyone , I am thinking white with a straight bracket ?????

write this down

The Bic Mark-it has become my new favorite writing instrument.  I use them for art, for writing notes, I use them at work, I use them for everything.  With colors like "tuxedo black" and "tiki hut tan", how could anyone resist?  I get them at Staples.  You can mix and match and get 10 for $6.

on the rocks

On the Rocks ice cube tray makes fun rock-shaped ice.  Perfect for whenever you want a drink to truly be "on the rocks".

one pot wonder

This Martha Stewart Collection casserole pot is one of the best things to have.  I do everything in this, from browning meat to making soup, and so much more.  Definitely a must-have for any kitchen, and very comparable to its over-priced French relative by Le Cruset.

iced coffee instantly

Starbucks Via iced coffee packets are $5.99 for 5; that's only a little over $1.00 per cup.  They dissolve into 16 ounces of cold water, which is the equivalent to a venti (large) size at Starbucks.

whatever!

Whatever with Alexis Stewart and Jennifer Koppelman Hutt premieres today on Hallmark Channel.  We will be at a taping for the show on Thursday!

flor

 

Flor carpet system.. I love this!

clean

Pop-up sponges are smart, small, and natural.  They always smell fresh and are a kitchen must-have for me!

pissed!

These Piss Paintings are by Andy Warhol

local food

The Boathouse restaurant in Tiverton, Rhode Island.  Their Hall of Fame chowder is to die for!