wear rings and a glove

This is the Revolver glove, designed by Mila Hermanovski.  Mila designed this fingerless glove because her two favorite accessories are rings and gloves, and she wanted to create a glove that would allow you to wear rings.  I think it's very chic and made very well.  The revolver glove is available in several materials, such as patent leather and black snake skin.  They are available through her blog Brave New Frock.  Please go check out her stuff; she is very talented!  Also, look for our exclusive interview with Mila, where she talks to the Design Loft about Project Runway, LA Fashion Week, and home design.

take a seat

I love this chair!  This is the Lina folding chair.  I might be picking this up; maybe after the holidays, but how chic?  This comes from Design Within Reach.  It's an Italian-made chair with an extremely durable steel frame.  It can be used everyday, or tucked into a closet for storage when you don't need to use it.  I think it would make a great accent chair, in an office or study.

yummy tissues

I found these Kleenex divine desserts tissues at Target today.  They are so fun!  They come in a variety of cake flavors; I just had to have the red velvet cake.  Blowing your nose has never been so sweet!

stick a light ... you know where

We recently installed a small shelf under my kitchen cabinets, over the sink.  This shelf displays some of my porcelain pitchers and lovely Guy Wolff pottery.  However, it was a very dark area, and being a renter living in an apartment, I could not install any lighting that would be permanent.  Luckily, we found these small tap lights, which are the perfect solution.

Below is a picture of my bathroom, where I used one of the battery-operated tap lights under the medicine cabinet.  This is perfect for a middle-of-the-night bathroom break, when you need just a splash of light.

Replacing the batteries is very easy.  The part that sticks to the surface unscrews from the light where you can put in the batteries.

bring Ralph Lauren home

There is nothing quite as classic as Ralph Lauren.  His all-American inspired fashion designs are timeless and always on trend.  Have you shopped his home collection?  OMG!  I like it, and I like it A LOT.  It is infused with some much of his classic fashion design touches, like plaid or cable-knit designs, using rich materials and luxurious details.  He has some very good holiday gift options.  Please browse the collection.  If you can't buy, just get inspired.  Inspiration is free! 

I love the idea of having a festive holiday table scape, but I wouldn't want it to be tacky.  There's nothing tacky about these Ralph Lauren plaid table accessories.  Such a classic design and festive holiday colors.

A cashmere throw!  This is the ultimate in lavish home accessories, and a Ralph Lauren option?  YES!  You better believe that this is on my shopping bucket list.. someday!

I believe that you can never go wrong with a candle.  EVERYONE loves a candle, and everyone on your holiday shopping list will just adore this silver holiday Ralph Lauren candle.  I am in love with the red plaid box.  I would just wrap a gorgeous bright red silk ribbon around this, and voila!

"make it nice around the tree!"

Check out this site I found.  It's called Christmas Trees Galore and they specialize in artificial Christmas trees that you can order.  I'm so torn between a silver tree and a white tree.  I do know that i do NOT want a real tree.  Such a mess!  Let's have a look of what they have:

 An upside down tree.. um, I don't know about that one.  It's kind of fun to look at, but, really?

A pink tree!  Doesn't go with my color scheme...

This one is different!  I like it a lot.

Fabulous!  Very chic.

We'll see what I decide!  Stay tuned...

secret santa success

Holiday season is officially here, and with that comes the ever-so-stressful workplace gift exchange.  There is always a dilemma with a gift exchange--you pull a name and it's someone too old, too young, someone you do not know well, or someone you do not love so much.  One more thing, and for me is always the most stressful part; the budget!  Typically, $20 is a common limit for a workplace secret Santa.  Here are some great ideas from West Elm.  I love all of these!

Who doesn't love tape?  Well, I do, and I am really loving these wooden tape dispensers, with Japanese tape!  These are from West Elm, and they are colorful, stylish, modern, and FUN!  Trust me when I tell you that you can give someone tape for Christmas--and they will love it!

Coasters?  YES, PLEASE!  Everyone needs them, and everyone will LOVE these lacquered coaster sets.  They come in the most amazing colors.  I am loving the gold and silver sets; instant glamour!

I am always writing things down because I forget everything.  So be sure not to forget this gift idea!  These color block journals are the perfect stocking stuffer.  Or, pair one up with a fancy pen and that gift is good to go!

How chic are these white ceramic diffusers?  I have to admit, these days I have been ditching candles and scattering decorative diffusers all over the apartment.  They are so perfect!  My favorite diffusers come from West Elm.

Now I know what you might be thinking; really, Andrew, a nut bowl?  YES, a nut bowl!  This is not just for nuts.  I would use these for candy, or even as kitchen prep bowls.  They are $4 each, and for only $20 you could give an entire set of five of these.  Mix and match, or give all black, tie them up with a great bow and the fabulous signature gift wrap from West Elm, and everyone will be calling you fancy pants!

holidays trend alert

Leave it to West Elm to bring back the classics--and add their contemporary twist--to these handmade felt ornaments.  These are definitely going on my Christmas list.  I love the whimsical twist, and candy cane colors.  I think these would also be fabulous as gift toppers.

These mushrooms are absolutely adorable!  All of these fabulous felt creations are HANDMADE by artisan women in a village outside of Kathmandu.

I am in LOVE with the white felt bead garland seen here.  West Elm has an amazing selection of holiday decor.  Check out their website for lots of great things.

wall flower

I am loving this idea!  Urban Outfitters sells these wall tapestries that can be used on a bed, on a couch, or--how the store has it displayed--on a wall.  What a great way to create an interesting optical illusion and cover a bare wall.  They offer a few varieties; this is the birch tree option.  I love Urban Outfitters, especially for their home collection.

fab finish

The Martha Stewart Living paint finish tool kit contains eight tools for creating twelve decorative paint effects.  It also includes a full color technique brochure and how-to guide.  A fresh coat of paint does wonders to a room, but to really breathe new life into plain walls and tired furniture, try giving that fresh coat a little something extra.  Eye-catching patterns and surface textures are surprisingly easy to create yourself, and you can see the beautiful results of your project in a single weekend.  This booklet gives you step-by-step instructions for producing a dozen professional-looking effects, including graphic stripes, rich textured linen, and my favorite, “faux bois” wood grain.

put a cork in it

 

When we first moved into our loft apartment, one thing I focused my attention on was the proper drawer liner for the kitchen.  With a cork self-adhesive drawer and shelf liner, you can gently cushion and protect fine glassware and dinnerware.  The roll of soft, pliable natural cork features a peel-off backing to adhere to a drawer or shelf.  The cork naturally resists mold and mildew and easily cut with scissors.  You can find this at Target, and other stores.

prized pottery

Since 1971, Guy Wolff has been spinning some of the most exquisite clay creations around.  Located in Washington, Connecticut, Guy Wolff makes his gorgeous pots at his studio.  I love his work, and I hope to collect many of his pieces.  The clean lines and timeless designs make for ideal choices for indoor and outdoor plant vessels.  I love his white pots--they have a green patina that makes them look mossy and aged.

Please explore his website, and keep him in mind this Holiday season.  Anyone could appreciate a well made work of art like this, that functions as beautifully as it looks.

oh martha

Everyday Foods, Martha Stewart's latest publication, is a digest-sized meal planner for every day of the week, all year long.  Often categorized and featured with seasonal fresh ingredients, this is a great way to come up with a real good meal.  There is also an app available for iPhone/iPod touch that is my favorite!  I have used it at the market as my shopping list--perfect!

texture

Texture is one of the most important design elements.  Adding texture adds interest and character to any space.  A furry sheepskin throw, like the one shown above, lightly thrown over a chair adds warmth and variety to a basic room.

Even adding a carpet with a print, like this faux bois by Martha Stewart, still adds the element of texture.  This also allows a break in the color palette and creates dimension.

Tired of your plain couch?  Add ruffled pillows, and you can basically reinvent your existing sitting space.

fashion Friday: logo refresh

So this week, Gap (one of our favorite stores) unveiled its new logo.  A new logo that replaces the iconic blue box design that Gap has had for more than 20 years.  The old logo:

...and the new one:

This font is the same font that Gap has been using in its marketing campaigns for a few months now.  They decided to update the logo to bring it into a new direction, in order to appeal to a younger, more modern customer base.  Personally, I think it would have been even just a little better without that silly blue box in the corner, which pays homage to the old logo.  Overall, online reactions have been pretty negative, mainly because of the simplicity of the design.  Maybe this could change though.  Remember "new" Coke from the '80s?  Nobody liked it, so Coca-Cola went back to the classic.  Maybe Gap will do the same?

faux bois

The French term for false wood, faux bois is a technique found often in planters and garden accessories that replicates the look of wood grain, often made of cement.  There are very few known faux bois artists in the United States; but one Texas artist, Carlos Cortes, still produces custom faux bois pieces, which are considered to be highly collectible.  This fake-me-out woodland motif is timeless and adds interest to any room.  This is a picture of my faux bois planters.  I have gorgeous succulents and moss planted in mine.

frog

Floral frogs are small devices used to arrange flowers.  They come in multiple designs and sizes.  Some, like the one above, are metal circles with many spikes sticking up.  Flowers stay quite easily in them and appear more full and symmetrical.  They can be found at most potting sheds and florists.

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.