Midwest Modern

I'm back!

2010-08-13T08:43:00.012-04:00

Sorry for the not so brief hiatus, I guess I took a little un-announced summer vacation! That being said, I realized I hadn't shared a new place I fell absolutely in love with when I went down to Martha's Vineyard to see my parents while they were in town for a wedding. First of all, the Vineyard is one of my favorite places on the planet...specifically Chappaquiddick where our entire extended family has gone on vacation in years past. It's truly what vacation should be - cell phones don't work and the most dressed up I get is probably a t-shirt dress...if that. Here's the view from the house we usually stay in...

This summer though my trip down to the Vineyard was just for one night and I stayed in Edgartown at one of th emost charming hotels I've ever been to - The Charlotte Inn. Even their website is adorable...I love the line on the homepage - "Behind the times on purpose..."Then within the website they have an online brochure that is all illustrations of parts of the hotel from the check in desk to the patio dining.

Once we arrived I was in love. They have every corner of every room perfectly appointed with antique silver hand mirrors, umbrella stands, stacks of leather bound books, vintage telephones, and old bar sets with high-balls and decanters.
Here's my friend Sohee, who I went with, sitting in the "Green Room" while we waited for our room. I was in love with that horseshoe cocktail table.
This was the hallway upstairs outside our room. Don't you just want to live here?
This was in our room which had 2 adorable antique twin beds with summer quilts on them and then those 2 great club chairs.
My parents room had the best little kitchenette with an antique but functioning stove that fit just right with the cabinets and counter tops.

I was lucky my parents let me piggy-back on their trip because usually I'll take an inflatable mattress on the floor of anyone who will have me down to the Vineyard but if you have a change definitely swing by the Charlotte Inn even if it's just for a drink or dinner...you'll feel like you're in a completely different time.

Collaboration Celebration

2010-06-21T18:12:00.009-04:00

I've noticed more and more collaborations that I've been loving - especially because for the most part they make something MORE affordable! Target comes to mind first as it seems like they're really pioneered this whole movement with designers like Zac Posen, Cynthia Vincent, and Rodarte to name a few recently.

Obviously paint has been top of mind and beyond the color I chose for my room I've been obsessing over all of Martha Stewart for Home Depot's colors...

I'm not usually very into light pinks, but I think this color (Ballet Slipper) would be so pretty for a Powder Room or maybe a big closet or dressing room (if you were lucky enough to have one!)

Another collaboration that I just came across was Mike Miller for West Elm. I first fell in love with Mike Miller's silhouettes through the John Derian website and have been pining away for one ever since - now they are in my reach! There's a whole serious of prints and pillows but I'm really loving the larger sized print - especially at a $79 price point for a framed print!

Last but certainly not least - I know it's not exactly news but I'm still obsessing over FENTONFALLON for JCrew. I drool over the cases with Fallon jewelry at Barney's and while the price-points haven't changed much they have edited their look a little to fit more into JCrew's repertoire - I mean, adding pearls to anything means it could be sold at JCrew I guess.

Painted Pretty

2010-06-09T16:33:00.004-04:00

Were you all waiting with bated breath? I did it! I finally painted my room and love the color...I did end up going with Sharkey Gray by Martha Stewart and it came out so well! It's the first time I've painted myself and I must say I did a fine job. The best part was definitely that I think it looks really good with the things I already had in my room. I was looking to go with a little bit of a darker color since my bed is white I wanted it to pop off the wall more than it did in my older apartment where the walls were really light.

The other color I was considering was kind of like a coffee ice cream that I liked a lot but I wasn't wild about how it went with this print (above) which I adore. It's a print of the tall ships coming in to Boston harbor that my mom gave to my dad when they lived here in the seventies....and then I stole it!
Also, totally unplanned it matches this Gretchen Dow Simpson print I have of a bulding in Scranton (where I was born.) The mat on the print is almost th eexact color...I also like how the silver mercury glass lamp looks with the gray.
And my obsession with lucite is proven worthwhile again...because it goes with everything!

High Heeled Foot in her Shoes

2010-05-22T08:10:00.006-04:00

I think I must have gotten too excited about this because I posted it last week on accident on but it's actually today that I will be guest-posting for Camila at High Heeled Foot in the Door. I'd be lying if I said Camila wasn't a huge inspiration to me and one of the sweetest people I'm fortunate enough to know. So scoot over there and check it out!!

But come back because I do believe I'm taking on the task of painting my bedroom today and as of now (which could still change) I'm going with...drumroll...Sharkey Gray from Martha Stewart's line of paint

Whirlwind Weekend - Part 1

2010-05-10T18:22:00.007-04:00

I was home in Columbus over the weekend and am honestly surprised by how much stuff I managed to do in the span of 3 days! The whole trip was really based around Hat Day on Friday which is a fundraiser at the Franklin Park Conservatory to support their community gardening program (more on that in a bit) but the weekend turned into so much more! Starting with the Pearl Jam concert, ending with a Mother's Day brunch and a fashion show thrown in the middle there for good measure - needless to say I'm still tired.

So let's start with Hat Day...this was the 10th Anniversary of the event and it was the 2nd year I had gone, this picture is from the first time I went and is hanging up in my room.

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a picture of myself from this year but I do have this great one of my parents!
What's better than an excuse to get dressed up, wear a hat, and help a good cause? Not a lot! There were some really amazing hats and as pictures start to surface I'll continue putting them up...

I Scream, You Scream

2010-05-05T17:57:00.007-04:00

I literally did scream when I found this out! Just like me, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams has made its way from Columbus to Boston. I know it was already on DailyCandy this week but I thought I'd give it a few days and then just remind everyone who already saw it or inform anyone who hadn't what AMAZING news this is. My sister has written about it too so if you couldn't' tell my family is very fond of Jeni's. It all started with Salty Caramel at the North Market. Now that's the name of her blog and North Market is just one of 5 locations and a number of retailers (nationally, thank God!)

Opening the email from DailyCandy last Sunday was seriously like Christmas in May. They are now selling Jeni's at Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge and hopefully soon at the South End Formaggio as well. Both seasonal flavors, like Savannah Buttermilk, and the classics like Salty Caramel will be available.

I very highly suggest you try them, or if you are in Columbus that you visit one of the actual ice cream shops because they are also adorable.

Images from Jeni's website and Real Simple.

Movin' On Up

2010-05-04T16:50:00.008-04:00

I must say I laughed out loud when I went to pick up the keys to my new apartment and the key-tag said "Penthouse"...is that what we're calling a 4th floor walk-up these days? I guess so! Well 13 hours, 4 movers, and countless boxes later we're all in. It was seriously like putting a ship in a bottle and letting it expand and now comes the fun part. It's a Boston apartment so it's old, or in real estate terms "has charm" and it definitely needs a little TLC so you're in luck - you just get to read about it while I do the work!

First order of business is painting, here's what my bedroom currently looks like (without furniture) so I'd like some suggestions on paint colors...

Hopefully I'm not crazy and you'll agree with me that you can't tell exactly what color it is. It's like a greyish tannish white? I also am pretty sure the walls are not all the same shade. To give you an idea what it needs to match here's the bedding I currently have.

So what do you think?? My bed is white so I don't want the walls to be too light because then you lose the the bed against them.

Thanks in advance for you help!!

Sneak Peak

2010-04-23T09:03:00.007-04:00

After starting to clean my apartment in preparation for my upcoming move (more on that to come!) I spent a good portion of the night laying on my bed on the phone like in the movie Bye Bye Birdie staring out my window, kicking my legs in the air, and watching them set up for Urban Showcase!! (see previous post below for details)

Lucky me can see right into all levels of the house from my bedroom and I tried to creep and get some good pictures but they didn't turn out well except this little guy in the basement window....

...don't you think there should be a little sign hanging that says "Jonathan Adler was here!?"

Urban Showcase

2010-04-14T16:38:00.014-04:00

I've seen this house rise from the ground up over the past year and it has honestly been nothing short of amazing. I live just behind it and I've got to say Bradford has become my favorite street in the South End, it's a perfect location without being too busy and I love all the houses on it. 44 Bradford Street is finally complete and now ready to be shown off.

...and not just shown off in an open house. Local Realtor, Ricardo Rodriguez, will be presenting the Urban Showcase - April 29-30, May 1-2, and May 6-9.
Each floor will be done by a different designer and put on show to benefit the Pine Street Inn ($10 Thursday/Friday, $20 Saturday/Sunday). Need even more reason to come? One of the floors will be done by Jonathan Adler! Other designers include Terrat Elms (known for designing The 1850, also in the South End), Dennis Duffy of Duffy Design Group (designed Rocca,) and Lisa Kreiling of LTK Interiors.

Here are a few previews of the designers, Jonathan Adler...a private residence on Shelter Island, via jonathanadler.com

Terrat Elms...a kitchen in the 1850 building, via terratelms.com

Duffy Design...great room in Concord, MA via duffydesigngroup.com.

LTK Interiors...living room in a Boston duplex via ltkinteriors.com.

Karen Walker (not that Karen Walker)

2010-04-09T14:58:00.010-04:00

Although I do covet her collection of Hermes and tolerance for Gin I am not currently referring to the Karen Walker of Will & Grace but instead the eye wear designer. Fashion is fun and should be treated as such which is a huge reason I love Barney's and Fred Segal...they don't take themselves too seriously. I've noticed Karen Walker's stuff popping up in magazines and I've seen it on a few blogs but I just finally got around to checking out her website and now I'm totally sold!

I mean, her logo was enough to get me excited...

Then once you actually get into her site this amazing pattern scrolls through different styles of her newest line of sunglasses. This is from her 2010 collection...

She also keeps her past collections up on kind of an archive of sites for each year. Here is 2009...

See what I mean about keeping it fun? I've tried a pair on and they are definitely a good quality so I'm thinking I might have to buy myself a pair. They're all pretty much under $200, not to say that's cheap but all the sunglasses I've wanted recently have been north of $300 which is just getting silly. This rain (in Boston) is supposed to clear out tomorrow so some nice weather this weekend might call for a new pair of sunglasses!

Music for my Walls

2010-04-01T20:28:00.014-04:00

Unfortunately I think when you mention concert posters a lot of people picture a velvet black light Pink Floyd poster or something equally offensive but one of my current obsessions is band and/or concert posters either vintage or orginial by some of the great print makers our there right now.

One of the best websites for them is Poster Cabaret where I actually picked up this Band of Horses poster as an engagement present for my sister and her husband because they went to see them for their first date.

It looks so good framed and I think it made a pretty good gift if I do say so myself.

The other one from Poster Cabaret I'm loving both because I love the band Stars and because I love the artwork is this one, which is by the artist The Small Stakes - definitely one of my favorites on the website.

One great find that I cannot take credit for is a Bob Dylan poster that came folded in his 1967 Greatest Hits LP that my sister bought for her husband Peter for Christmas one year. She got in eBay and then had it restored because it was worn from being folded up in a record sleeve for so long but it looks perfect now.

One of the great thing about concert posters is they tend to come in really standard sizes so its easy to find frames at Ikea or other big stores to fit them so you can save some money on custom matting and framing.

West, Collier West

2010-03-30T15:26:00.011-04:00

(I was picturing that in a "Bond, James Bond" kind of voice) Suzi West, of Collier West - my favorite store in Columbus - was featured on Apartment Therapy for her amazingly cozy loft in Columbus. And while my desk still looks as atrocious as it did (see below) I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this! It's listed under Apartment Therapy's Chicago tab - See how chic the midwest can be??
I absolutely love this light fixture - aka 'branchelier' and it is actually on display in Hudson's front window right now (the Boston location.)
With less than 600 square feet you can see what a good job Suzi did of using space wisely because it looks much larger than that. I love the overlapping oriental rugs sprawling from the living into the bedroom.

Aparment Therapy notes that one way Suzi opens up the small space is by not using curtains to minimize the windows, but you can see she uses large mirrors too to make the space feel bigger.I think one of the smartest design tips in the article is "evaluate your life, how you spend your time and then build around that" which Suzi refers to when she explains why she didn't redo the kitchen - because she rarely eats in.

This is my favorite. I honestly can't decide what I like the best...the sign, the headboard, the bedding, the chandeliers, the chest. It's all amazing!

Help!

2010-03-24T12:35:00.004-04:00

I feel so out of the loop...I haven't had time to browse, shop, click, read, blog, etc because this is currently my life...

...as soon as I can poke my head out I'll be back in action!

Paper Party

2010-03-19T13:28:00.023-04:00

I'm a firm believer in the written word - I love thank you notes, I don't want newspapers to die, and admittedly I have some pretty juicy diaries from about Grades 6-11. So I thought I'd share with you some of my new favorite paper products as I feel like there has been an abundance of them recently.

Moleskine notebooks are a staple in my life and their most recent line is genius! Moleskine 'Passion Books' are journals catered specifically to wine, music, film, books, recipes, and wellness.

They have the same classic setup, shape, size, etc of the regular Moleskine notebooks but are organized based on topic and also each one has embossed covers specific to their topic.

I'm definitely going to get some I just haven't decided which ones yet - how do you decide between wine, movies, food, and books? (I mean, I've already eliminated 'Wellness'...)

The other new paper-products I'm oohing and aahing over are Jonathan Adler's new stationery line. I'm a sucker for a new set of note cards but our dear friend Jonathan has taken it to a whole other level with file folders, gift wrap, paper lanterns, and much more.

I love that all the envelope/card sets aren't match-matchy and that he makes good use of all of his great patterns and colors.

If you're anything like me these folders will legitimately make it easier to stay organized. I don't mind doing taxes, sorting bills, or cleaning up my desk when everything is getting put into these! (This might be a slight exaggeration)

Last, but not least, I love using note cards like this because you don't always have enough to say for a whole gift card - if you're giving a good gift I think "Love, Elizabeth" should suffice!

Well I could go on for hours about 1. Stationery in general, 2. Moleskines, and 3. Jonathan Adler so I'll spare you and let you look around for yourselves....have a great weekend!

Extreme Makeover: Bed Edition

2010-03-17T08:41:00.006-04:00

My adoring sister Katherine pointed out to me my lack of content recently and offered up her recent bedroom transformation for me to share with you, so here goes...

Our bed was in a sad, sad state. We had sheets that Peter bought a few years ago from Bed Bath and Beyond. Nothing wrong with them, but they were tan and drab and boring. I used to have really pretty blue and white toile Yves Delorme sheets, but when we joined forces we kept his
bed because it's a queen and my sheets didn't fit. Anyway, one of our cats, Henri, is fascinated with the process of making the bed. When I fluff up the comforter his pupils dilate and he jumps underneath, clawing his way in...resulting in some tears that have grown bigger, and bigger. Note my fine sewing skills to patch them up.

Anyway, we finally said enough is enough and bought new sheets. I decided to buy from Garnet Hill, I've owned several sets of their sheets before. They're good quality and very affordable. I chose Fiesta Percale for the duvet (blue sky) and fitted sheet (white), Signature Hemstitched Percale for the big pillowcases (white), and Everyday Percale for the regular pillowcases (lemongrass). All those items came to only $240 with shipping. Here's some before and after
pictures. The lemongrass color looks more yellow here, it's really more of a citrus green. And that brown quilt is from ABC Home, from a few years ago. And yes, that is Henri...ruling the roost.

...and after.

2010-03-09T10:38:00.004-05:00

As requested here's a picture of what the boys' house looked like after the girls (and maids) worked their magic...

*Please not the poster in the background strategically covered by one of the many Britney Spears posters the girls used to redecorate!

Boys to Men

2010-03-01T14:13:00.014-05:00

My sister, Katherine, was in Boston this weekend for a bachelorette party and they surprised the bride-to-be by 'renting' the house they all lived in during their years at BC from the kids that live there now. Good in theory, right? Reminiscing in their old house - this huge Victorian in Brighton that was the closest thing BC ever saw to a sorority house. Yea, good in theory.

They arrived to see this....

4 hours and 7 maids later it was as liveable as they were going to get it. Now I've seen a lot of bad apartments and houses through my four years at BC and various trips home to Ohio State houses on campus but nothing like this!

It got me thinking, and I couldn't think of many male-owned houses and apartments whose interiors I really admired. With the obvious exceptions...Johnathan Adler and Simon Doonan's Palm Beach house.

Nate Berkus's Chicago apartment...

So I did a little digging, and granted these are not your average men, look at some of the beautiful homes I found! Clearly designers and filmmakers and hair dressers already have a predisposition for beautiful things but these homes are still inhabited by the same sex that was inhabiting the aforementioned house - decorated with mostly just beer and dirt.

J. Mendel designer, Gilles Mendel's bedroom...

Lambertson Truex designers - Richard Lambertson and John Truex's dining room...

Frederic Fekkai's living room...

Filmmaker and directer Brett Ratner's living room...

Images via Elle Decor

Lizzie Love

2010-02-25T16:46:00.012-05:00

Look at these beautiful necklaces for Spring that I got in a Charm & Chain email yesterday! I die.

New Dawn Fades necklace

Frivolous Tonight necklace

Eclectic and Reckless necklace

Palace in Pondicherry necklace

Chanel Ink

2010-02-24T09:09:00.014-05:00

Generally speaking I live my life with the belief that Chanel can do no wrong - speaking of which the new consignment store in the South End, Boomerangs, has a Chanel suit in the window if anyone who hasn't give up shopping for lent is interested!

Anyway, after this spring's fashion show and their recent announcement to actually make them available I can't say I'm totally sold on their new temporary tattoos. First of all, if I'm going to buy anything Chanel I don't want it to be temporary!

Even so, I just overall don't think it's really my cup of tea, what do you think?

Haberdash Vintage

2010-02-22T13:42:00.004-05:00

I've actually been meaning to post about this since the summer when I saw the adorable trailer at SOWA but I didn't have my camera that day and then couldn't remember what it was called. I almost wanted to be a total creep and put it in Missed Connections in the Improper Bostonian or something! But low-and-behold they Haberdash Vintage was featured in the February issue of Boston Magazine...
The more and more I read, the more and more I love! Punky's blog, PunkyStyle is amazing, and you can even get a peak at her impeccably picked inventory on her site. Almost better than her taste, are the prices! The awesome line-up of boots they showed in Boston Magazine were $20-$60 which is perfect - the bargain is half the fun of vintage anyway.
Her blog says that The Haberdash is hibernating for the winter so I guess I'll have to hang on tight until summer comes around and the market opens again. In the meantime I'll just have to continue to peruse her website - check it out, I loved her most recent post about capes!

Kat in the Kitchen

2010-02-15T13:34:00.017-05:00

Cooking, among other things, is a talent my sister definitely possesses that I do not! Since getting married in September she's been a very good wifey and made a lot of delicious food for her husband, Peter. So Katherine has decided to share her successes and experiments in the kitchen, I proudly present..... I'll Cook If You'll Clean Up.

Kat and Peter are both total foodies. Pretty much anytime they go on a trip a large percentage of their pictures are of meals, snacks, markets, and other food-inspired scenery. Jut take a look at some of the pictures of their honeymoon to Paris and the South of France....

So check out some of the stuff she's made for her lucky husband, and use some of her recipes...take my word for it they are all delicious. This will no doubt be a great resource for anyone who likes to spend time and try new things in the kitchen, especially because you certainly won't get any of that here.

Bon Apetit!

Close, but no cigar...

2010-02-12T08:58:00.005-05:00

I only recently noticed how much I use cigar boxes for everything throughout my apartment. They are the perfect size for storing notes, pictures, stationery, etc. and can be really interesting with all the different brands and labels. Lucky me has a cigar-smoking father so I can get all his left overs and put them to use!

I love putting them on bookshelves especially, stacked like they're books...this one looks great because it's bigger and has nice clasp

I use this one instead of a jewelry box, it has all little separate boxes in it with earrings so they don't' get all tangled up and lost in a bowl or tray

Brooklyn's Heights

2010-02-09T12:54:00.013-05:00

Did anyone see Brooklyn Decker on the Today Show this morning? Rude. Every time I think I can't be more jealous of her - she proves me wrong! First, she stole Andy Roddick. Then, she was not only in Elle but styled by Olivia Palermo (who yes, I hate, but still has undeniably great style) and on The City, and now the cover of the Sports Illustrated swim suit issue - not that I would have any interest in doing that, but I mean I wouldn't mind being asked. Anyway, her Elle shoot was amazing - here are some of the photos if you missed it. Not surprising that I'm so into this look - remember how much I love Annie Hall?

It was tough to find good pictures of their wedding because they kept it pretty private, which I like - ahem, Heidi and Spencer. It all took place April 17th in Austin, TX and Decker wore a gorgeous Vera Wang gown.

photos via TMZ

I heard they bought a condo in Brooklyn (obviously) and I'd love to see that because I'm sure it's amazing as well - how could it not be? So for now I'll just wait for her to wow me with her design skills as well, because I'm sure that's next!

Light up my Life, please

2010-02-02T17:30:00.002-05:00

AH! What a craze the last week or so has been, I've been super busy and unable to do what I do best...browse, shop, read, etc. But alas, I had to share this beautiful lamp I'm obsessing over from Modern Dose. Blue and white porcelain PLUS lucite? How can I resist this??

California Safari

2010-01-23T08:45:00.010-05:00

If you know me at all you know how much I LOVE birthdays, not just mine, everyone's! That being said, naturally I am already considering what I want to do for mine (which is April 10, FYI) even though its months away. Unfortunately I find myself starting a lot of sentences like this but...if money and time were not an issue (ha!) I'd love to go to Coachella - the music festival in Indio, CA. This year it's April 16th-17th and while I look through their website every year I just discovered the amazing safari tents that they have available to stay in with every amenity and unlimited access to the whole festival for the weekend.

Ok, now I usually would be against staying in such swanky digs while at a music festival (sleeping in the back of my Volvo station when I went to Bonnaroo in college comes to mind) but how could you resist this?? Air conditioned safari tents with air conditioning, bathrooms, showers, breakfast, golf-cart shuttles, and more.

To be honest, I'd stay in one of these beautiful tents where ever it was! But the fact it's 1. in Southern California and 2. at Coachella is almost too much for me to handle!

How relaxing does this look??

Alright, so who wants to fund this trip for me? Just kidding...but a girl can dream!

Olde Dutch Cottage Candy

2010-01-20T09:18:00.006-05:00

For any of you who live in or frequent the South End I'm sure you've at least walked past the Olde Dutch Cottage Candy store. It's a little shop across the street form the Atelier building on Tremont Street right before Berkeley, and if you've had a similar experience to mine you've never seen it open. So this past Sunday while I was walking down Tremont and saw a light on I decided I had to go in.

Let me tell you, once I walked through the front door I immediately felt like I might never get out - I have NEVER seen so much stuff in one space! Candy and jewelry hanging from the ceiling, countless porcelain and pewter boxes and vases everywhere, more prints than you could count. I mean, there were corners of the store you couldn't even get to!

Since it probably won't be open again for another year I thought I'd share some pictures so you can see what I'm talking about...

All vintage necklaces hanging over the jewelry case, there was stuff hanging from the ceiling all over the store

You can see they did have some nice blue and white porcelain which I always have a weakness for...

...and also lots of cool antique silver and pewter...

...but usually at places like this I expect to find complete steals, not the case! Obviously I don't know the significance of the above framed certificate but it was $4000!!!

I do love this little silver box on the left though, if I ever see it open again I think I'll go get it

Sick Day

2010-01-15T12:13:00.003-05:00

I've been home sick this week and daydreaming in my NyQuil-induced-half-concious state about my ideal bed that I'd love to be curled up in. While I will defend the comfort level of my bed to the death, I will admit this is pretty appealing...

So this is what I came up with....I know, I know the house from The Holiday in LA is BEYOND amazing, but that cottage in England is actually my favorite. It's so cozy, not to mention if I looked half as good as this when I was sick and got to lay in bed with a huge loaf of break and big glas off red wine...well let's just say I'd NEVER be at work. So for now, I'll just close my eyes and pretend I'm Cameron Diaz swaddled in cashmere and quilts!

Bootights!

2010-01-12T12:38:00.004-05:00

I got so excited when I saw these in Lucky Magazine last night...usually my daily footwear November-February consists of black opaque tights and American Apparel knee-high gym socks under my boots. This causes 2 problems; 1. sometimes the socks pill onto my tights 2. it prevents me from going to shoe shopping after work (sometimes I do that on purpose though, like my own electrical-fence)
But now there are Bootights! It's one of those 'why didn't I think of that' things but I'm glad someone did.

You can read the story on her website, but founder Shelby Mason came up with the idea after an embarrassing incident taking her boots off in line at the airport...something I've become far too familiar with myself.

They come in different heights for knee-high boots or shorter booties and are available at Dillards.

Louis's New Home

2010-01-07T17:41:00.007-05:00

So, I know it's old news that LouisBoston is moving to Fan Pier but I just got re-excited about it when I saw the Globe today. Yes, of course I am sad...I love the Natural Science Museum building and I'm scared what will happen to it because God knows no one can afford to get in there after them, and I'll miss it being close to me but you KNOW it's going to be amazing at in the Seaport. First of all look at the rendering that the Globe published in October...

While we're at it, I thought I'd post some of the old images the Globe used to show when the building was the Natural History Museum because they are so cool.

I'd love to see if the Globe could get reprints of these photos because they would look amazing framed.

Most importantly though is what this move means for us......and that would be 50% off! Sale is Thursday - Saturday, 11a-7p

In Fond Memory

2010-01-05T14:19:00.017-05:00

Charles Kleibacker -1965

One of the more interesting people I have been fortunate enough to meet is Charles Kleibacker. My mom sadly informed me yesterday when Charles passed away so I thought I'd put up something in his honor as he was such a wonderful and talented person.

Kleibacker designs - mid 1950's
Images via Threads Magazine

Born in a tiny town in Alabama Charles knew he wanted to be a designer from a very young age and went on to do just that. I'll never forget sitting with him in the atrium of the Columbus Museum of Art and him telling me about sitting in his own boutique within Bergdorf Goodman selling his couture dresses. Can you even imagine??

He was one of the few American designers to find success in doing only couture and no mass produced ready-to-wear lines. When I read articles or biographies about him I actually find them hard to believe because he was truly one of the most down-to-Earth people you could ever meet. He started his fashion career as an assistant designer in the house of Lanvin in Paris and opened his own studio in New York in 1960. He is famous for his bias-cut which requires painstaking attention to detail, high quality fabrics, and extraordinary talent which is why it truly can only work on couture designs.

Image from The Fashion School at Kent University

In 1984 he accepted a position at The Ohio State University and the art world in Columbus would never be the same! He did so much good for OSU, Kent University, The Columbus Museum of Art, and so much more. While is presence will undoubtedly be missed his legacy will absolutely live on.

The images below do not do the dress justice but Charles was kind enough to give this dress to my mom and it is absolutely stunning. What I find most interesting about it is on the inside you can see all the construction and architecture that goes into making a couture gown. I didn't fully understand or appreciate what his famous bias cut did for the shape of a garment and of its wearer until I saw this dress.

*Information from Kent University

Deck the Halls

2010-01-02T18:41:00.007-05:00

Remember when you were little and you always got the BEST idea for your Halloween costume on November 1? Then you'd swear that's what you'd be next year but you'd always forget....that's how I felt when I saw the Christmas decorations at our house this year! So I thought I'd put them up not only to share with all of you but also so I can remember where I saved the pictures and then use them next year as inspiration. She worked with Kevin Reiner of Kevin Reiner Design in Columbus who helped her with re-doing the garden before my sister's wedding as well and the house looked so beautiful. Here are a couple pictures of what they did around the house using all plants, flowers, and vintage ornaments.
The pictures above and below use vintage ornaments that are a mixture - some my mom found at a consignment store and others she borrowed from Kevin. You can find very inexpensive ones on eBay or in any antique or consignment store. Then just use regular ornament hooks to make any light fixture look festive or just put them in bowls and vases around your house.

I think this one is my favorite, above they hung really small bud vases with satin ribbon and put red amaryllis in them. Also, once the red flowers had died my mom replaced them with white which was also really pretty and could easily be done any time of year without looking too holiday-ish.
Using matching ribbon to the hanging amaryllis there were small green bunches hanging from the sconces in the dining room too.

One thing this season I really fell in love with was using dried Magnolia leaves, which I also saw at Hudson. They had a whole garland and wreath there which I'm sure was very labor intensive but for an easier and quicker decoration just put them in a vase or bowl like above and they last a really long time too. Also, don't necessarily just have to be for holiday decorations.

Well, I obviously can't take credit for ANY of these ideas or designs but thought I could at least pass it along! Some good ideas to use next year...

Playing Dress Up

2009-12-31T09:12:00.006-05:00

As if finding out that they sell wine at Target here didn't make me want to move back immediately on Day 2 of exploring with Karen we went to my absolute favorite store of all time- Collier West.

Between the two of us we must have tried on every piece of jewelry they had out. The one-of-a-kind necklaces they had were unbelievable. Words (or pictures, really) cannot do them justice and what makes them even better is they were all by Ohio designers! There were 2 that were my favorite one was a collection of all different shaped and sized gold chains and then one big strand of silver glass beads that almost looked like pearls. The other one that I couldn't' get over was also a collection of all different size an shapes silver, gold, and copper chains but much smaller and then they were held together in the middle by a vintage French belt buckle that I think must have been from a Roger Vivier shoe - regardless, it was so beautiful. There is another one of her pieces (not the one that I tried) in the picture in the top right.
Karen tried one on that made her look like Coco Chanel - it was a higher chain all different sizes of pearls and vintage gold and silver chains. They were all SO amazing. I borrowed this picture from the store's blog so you can get an idea (and also look at some of their new merchandise.)

Lost and Found

2009-12-31T09:04:00.004-05:00

Happy Early New Year! I'm still home in the great state of Ohio and have been having such a good holiday season and hope you all are too. Karen (my mom) and I have had 2 great days of 'exploring' and it's been so much fun to spend time with her. Two days ago we went up to Powell, Ohio which is a smaller town just north of Columbus. There was the most beautiful store called Found that I fell in love with. They had the most amazing linens by Matouk that I plan on tracking down once I'm back in Boston because it turns out their factory store in is Fall River! Which is where my mom grew up. I didn't have a camera with me but snapped a few pictures on my phone so you can see how beautiful this store is. The space was amazing and I loved literally every single thing they carried from cocktail rings to the most beautiful black and white photography of Italy. Enjoy! And definitely visit if you're in the Columbus area.

The photo of the horses on this bedside table is by the same photographer featured throughout the store.

This was their apothecary table with all different vintage perfume bottles, bar soaps, and natural sponges.

This is the upstairs of the store, it was like a 2 level home and look at how beautiful the floor boards are.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T15:18:00.004-05:00

I'm forecasting the next few days are going to be madness between traveling and shopping so just wanted to wish everyone an early Merry Christmas!!

xoxo
e

*Kate Spade Christmas cards...so cute!

Channeling: Diane Keaton

2009-12-21T14:20:00.015-05:00

From Annie Hall to Nina Banks to Erica Barry, I love Diane Keaton. Even when the movie isn't good, like Because I Said So her style impresses me. I think I'm so drawn to her because so many of her wardrobe choices remind me of my mom with all the white popped-collars and pearls (except when she got weird and wore tuxedos on the red carpet)...but regardless of the character she's playing she always looks so much like herself at the same time which is one of the things I admire the most.

How can you talk about menswear trends and not be reminded of Annie Hall? I absolutely love that movie and everything about Diane Keaton in it....

1977: Keaton and Allen in Annie Hall

2009: JCrew Catalog

Not to mention what I'm sure is a hardly noticed lined in the movie, Woody Allen: "You use black soap?" Diane Keaton: "It's for my complexion..." Referring to my favorite skincare line, Erno Laszlo, that my mom got my sister and myself hooked on - I think we're both loyal users of it mostly because it appears that my mom has Benjamin Button Syndrome (I mean that as a compliment)

A lot of people I talked to didn't like The Family Stone but I absolutely loved it - not just the story but the people in it, the clothes, and that house! From what I've read the film was shot in multiple locations on the East Coast but that amazing house is in Greenwich, Connecticut, and the film is set in a fictional town called Thayer, Massachusetts. Plus - how can you not like a movie with Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams, Luke Wilson, and Diane Keaton?

If this house looks so appealing in the winter, can you imagine that wrap-around porch in the summer?
I love the kitchen table, and how it doubles as a desk with the computer on it. One of the best things about this house is how lived-in it looks...so many houses in movies have that museum quality (like in Somethings Gotta Give, which I will obviously get to.)

And then there are Diane Keaton's quirky but classic outfits...

Now, once I started putting together everything I wanted to say about Somethings Gotta Give I got carried away. Also, let me say I know none of these movies are new whatsoever this Sunday while I was stuck inside due to a blizzard I watched The Family Stone and Somethings Gotta Give so Diane Keaton was top of mind. So we'll save discussing that beautiful house in The Hamptons and Amanda Peet's adorable outfits for a later day...

"Hand Printed fine Found Objects"

2009-12-18T13:13:00.006-05:00

When I saw Shara Porter's work at the SOWA market over the summer I fell in love with it, and like I always do forgot to follow up and investigate it more. So when I saw her again last weekend at the SOWA Holiday Market I was so excited. I was even more interested when I asked her where she gets most of her 'found items' and she said that a lot come from the great state of Ohio! What music to my ears!

Shara uses vintage leather bags, clutches, wallets, coinpurses, etc and then prints them with unique designs - anything from ships, to animals, to trees. She also has new merchandise like wallets and coasters available and was nice enough to email over some images of her new cardholders made from recycled leather that will be available to buy off ehr website very soon.
Here are some of my favorite images from her site of selected works she has done...they make great gifts and are sure to start conversation.

I can't get over that clutch with the owl on it.

There is a list of retailers that carry Shara's work on her website...

Beautiful Boots

2009-12-17T10:40:00.004-05:00

I honestly don't know why I do this to myself. So I wandered into Barney's last night just to browse - never a good idea. And then it happened, I fell head-over-beautiful-heels in love. Behold...my latest obsession...

Givenchy Buckle Ankle boots, on sale (not that that even matters.) I swear they make you look 10 pounds thinner, your hair looks fuller, your teeth look whiter, ok I'll stop...just thought I'd share in case any of you had finished your Christmas shopping and were looking to treat yourselves, or looking to treat me for that matter!

And yes, I was that girl taking pictures o f myself at Barney's...

Cheers!

2009-12-09T09:18:00.012-05:00

Yes, I'm still alive! Life (as expected) has gotten pretty crazy towards the end of the year so I apologize for my absence. In the spirit of the holidays, and the increased alcohol consumption that seems to go with it I thought I'd share with you some of the drinking vessels that have caught my attnetion recently. I think the inspiration from this stems from 2 different places: 1. my sister's obsession with cups and glasses has spread its way into my life and 2. although I generally am 100% in favor of breaking rules in terms of design and fashion, for some reason I am a stickler for using the right drinkware for the appropriate drink (with the exception of juice glasses for wine, I just love that). That being said...here are some fun containers for your cocktails!

What's better than a beautiful delicate champagne flute? One that is dishwasher safe! These are available on a couple different sites, (NappaStyle is one) my mom has some like them and they are so pretty - and nice to have something a little different than the classic shape.

Ever since I saw these on Gossip Girl last year, and then again on the Thanksgiving episode this year I've been dying to have them....
...I believe the original design was by Olya, available at Lekker Home but I actually prefer the shape (and price point!) of the same style from Crate and Barrel...
For short drinks I really like a classic low ball glass, reminiscent of all the glasses they use for all the Scotch they drink in Mad Men. Ralph Lauren makes a number of great collections of glassware that always include a nice low ball. Below are the Bentley, Glen Plaid, and Aston patterns...I mean, even the names are great!

Another collection I really love is Match's pewter collection which I saw at Collier West in Columbus. Here is an example of their whole beverage service, and I love all of it but especially their lowball glass.

Lastly, for a tall drink I've found it's an easy shape to find a ton of different vintage patterns in. Etsy is a great resource and you can usually find a great price.
Both of these are under $30!

When it comes to beer - my thoughts are why bother pouring it into something?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle...

2009-11-30T17:47:00.015-05:00

A couple good things that have come from the state our world is in right now....now it's not only socially acceptable but actually celebrated when you a. don't spend a lot of money and b. make sacrifices for the sake of the environment! So this holiday season I plan on gifting, decorating, and generally living keeping that in mind. Here are a few things I've spotted (I can't take full credit) that are great ways to cut a few corners.

While I was home in Columbus we were at Giuseppe's in Bexley (our second home, basically) and I noticed that their row of fresh cut flowers were in old Patron bottles and they looked so cool! Once you take the label off the bottles look instantly antiqued are the perfect size for a simple bouquet. (I didn't get a picture at home but this one is courtesy of Nadia Knows)

Ok, bare with me on this one. It certainly applies to "reuse" and "recycle" but I'd say generally anything Hermes doesn't really apply to the "reduce" category. That being said, if you ever have a scarf with a tear in it or a stain or something this would be a great way to salvage it. Vivre's price point is certainly higher than DIY project would be in this case - but I mean, they are really beautiful.

One of the best affordable gifts I know is anything edible and even better is anything edible and homemade. I love making homemade granola, it's so easy, and I feel like its much appreciated because usually people only give food that's not so great for you (I'm not complaining about that - give me cookies any day!) So it's nice, especially around the holidays, to get a guilt-free treat.

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup sliced almonds
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 tablespoons honey
2 cup dried blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss oats, coconut, and almonds. In a small bowl, stir together oil and honey. Pour over oat mixture and toss. Bake, tossing occasionally, until lightly toasted, 16 to 20 minutes. (I usually bake it in 2 batches to make sure the oil/honey mixture gets spread evenly)
Place mixture in a large bowl and stir in blueberries.

Once you've made the granola buy some mason jars from the Container Store or find some kind of vintage container on etsy, tie a ribbon on it, and voila!

With "Bells" On

2009-11-23T10:50:00.011-05:00

I've finally recovered from my wonderful trip to Miami - and cannot wait to go back! I loved it - such an amazing city...and such a great way to experience it for the first time. My friend Michelle (affectionately called Bells by her close friends and family!) got married down there at The National in South Beach and all I can say about it is details, details, details. From her custom made gown to the vintage suitcase holding the place cards not a thing was left out. Sadly my camera decided it didn't feel like working so I apologize that some of the pictures are off my iPhone and could be better quality, but I've also included some from the photographer, Amy Hill, who did nothing short of an amazing job.
Can you even handle this picture? It's taken at the Delano, which is next door to The National....more on that later!
Here's the vintage suitcase that was filled with sand holding up the reproduction post cards that marked your table...I mean, really? Michelle is amazing.
This is the post card that I got, and then each table was marked with the post card you pulled out of the suitcase. They're from Zazzle.

I have SO much more to show-and-tell but have lots to catch up on before I had back to the great state of Ohio for my favorite holiday! So stay tuned becuase there are so many more amazing pictures and great details to share.

Old Timers

2009-11-11T09:20:00.013-05:00

Lately I've been really into vintage electronics; phones, clocks, radios, turntables, TVs, toasters. What's better than something chic and functional? Once I got my lovely lucite vanity, which doubles as my nightstand, I didn't want to put my function-over-form Sony alarm clock on it so I've been on the hunt for something worthy of my lovely bedside table. I really like vintage Westclox and they aren't too hard to find for pretty good prices. Alarm Clocks Online has a huge variety of new and used and there are also some great finds on Etsy.

Top 2 are from Etsy, bottom is from Alarm Clocks Online - one thing to make note of is make sure that the clocks on Etsy say they are working, because some are just for decoration.

This search is what started my interest, which then turned to telephones. Which I love in bright colors and maybe even a vintage telephone sign from Three Potato Four? For whatever reason I absolutely love having a landline, it reminds me scenes from Bye Bye Birdie or something...not that I ever lay on my bed, wearing a sweater-set, with an updo, kicking my feet in the air while talking to some dreamy boy on the phone but I like to think I would if I had a house phone. Especially one as cute as these.

Top image is from Three Potato Four, and turquoise phone is from Etsy.

This was one of those Etsy searches that turned into 10 other things and went on for at least a half hour...but I thought these signs and prints from Etsy would look great hanging over this little telephone table too!

This is a vintage black and white print of a Rotary Club Telethon, and it's only $9!

This telephone table is also from Etsy, and would look so good with a turquoise phone and that black and white print framed and hanging above it.

Lastly, I've decided I want to buy a turntable. No, not to be a DJ. I'd love to get this one from Urban Outfitters that can work with your USB to be hooked up to a computer and then steal a bunch of my parents old records and put them on a shelf showcased in CB2's lucite storage boxes.

Premature Planning

2009-11-05T09:19:00.010-05:00

I hate how Christmas decorations go up right after Halloween and I hate even more that I'm joining the masses in looking right over Thanksgiving because it is my favorite holiday but when I saw this this morning I couldn't help myself but think about what's just around the corner...

...which then obviously turned into me thinking about all the things I'd like to have for a the holidays, so here is a little preview...
I guess these could be a little Christmas-sweater-ish but I think they're adorable...leave it to Kate Spade! (available at Nordstrom)

Remember that sequin Gucci blazer I wanted? This isn't it.

...but it's probably the closest I'm going to get, and it's really cute on. I think I'm going to rationalize it by having 2 things to wear it to. 1. My friend's wedding in Miami (more to come on that, because she has amazing taste and I can't wait to show you everything she's done) and 2. New Years, because what other holiday is there that something sparkly is required? (available at Bloomingdales)

I've been trying to stay away from Club Monaco lately because it's a dangerous place for a girl who really only wears black and white but when I saw one of their clutches in the most recent Improper Bostonian I had to go the website and look more closely - voila there were 6 of them! Perfect to dress up any little black dress...
...and how pretty would these Jonathan Adler dinner plates look on any table for Christmas dinner? I like the 'white on white' best - a little less dramatic, and also still good for everyday use.

NYMag's Transformations

2009-11-03T16:56:00.009-05:00

First let me apologize if this is old news to any of you but I just can't keep up with New York Magazine! I love to read them cover-to-cover but don't always have time so I just got around to reading the Home Design issue from October 19 and was stunned by some of the projects. For those of you who have not seen these amazing transformations, enjoy!

I really can't pick a favorite, but this is pretty close. Architect Bill Peterson and developer Carol Swedlow turned this run-down mess in the East Village into an amazing and innovative home. I can't say I would ever think to put a functioning garage door in a living room, and on the second floor of a New York City brownstone.
This next project couldn't have been described better than to say "every inch of his apartment has been as custom-designed as a couture dress." The pictures really speak for themselves. Howard Slatkin is the interior designer who took on this project to combine 2 apartments and create a 6,000 square foot residence for himself on 5th Ave. I don't think I could dream up an apartment this decadent, let alone imagine it coming from the "before" that it did!

It's almost as if a John Galliano Dior dress was turned into an entire home.

This is Torture!

2009-10-28T16:52:00.004-04:00

I had to order my shoes for my sister's wedding from the Louboutin boutique in Costa Mesa because they were sold out of my size everywhere I tried.

Because of this, I am now on their email list. Terrible, terrible news for 2 reasons - 1. Even though I know damn well it is just a generic list-serv email sent out it makes me feel special and important 2. I get periodic updates on new Louboutin styles coming out. As if those weren't bad enough they always seem to come right when I need them....like today, a cold, dark, rainy, Wednesday and voila an email from Monsieur Louboutin with a subject like "Colorful Resort to Brighten Your Day"...how could one resist?

Isn't that rude? Doesn't it seem like they took pictures of beautiful shoes just for me??

Miracle on a Monday (but posted on a Tuesday!)

2009-10-26T14:14:00.009-04:00

What could be better than getting this little treat delivered to my desk on a Monday??

...obviously the Josie Natori interview was wonderful but I was also pleasantly surprised to see 2 of my other favorite ladies in this issue - Kelly Wearstler and Charlotte Moss (more on that later!)

Even more exciting though was the list from Collier West, my favorite store in Columbus....

...as much as I wish it were here in Boston I think its good for my wallet that it isn't.

Their merchandise is unbelievable and their whole store is truly a work of art - from decoupage to antler chandeliers everything they carry is so unique. I'll definitely visit the store when I'm home in Columbus for Thanksgiving and I'll have to get some fabulous pictures to share with you all. In the meantime, check out their website and their blog. Also, here are some of my favorite "to do's" from the list that my mom is talking about in her note:

1. Display is better in threes, as it represents the union of body, mind, and spirit.

3. Black is the new black.

18. There are over 200 shades of white.

87. Black and white always works.

107. Avoid sharp edges, and sharp comments.

127. Buy vintage coats to upholster chair seats and stools.

144. Long earrings or a chunky necklace, never both.

148. You need a signature bag. The kind that stops people on the street.

178. Rotate your photos in frames once a year.

231. Support local markets.

233. A dog in the house makes it a home.

245. I love an oriental rug in the kitchen.

249. You don’t need knick knacks.

Kartell Sale for Bostonians

2009-10-23T09:48:00.003-04:00

Just wanted to let anyone in Boston know that Kartell is having a sale through November 15th - 15% off lighting. I wish this meant I could buy the Bourgie Crystal Lamp that I've been coveting for so long!
Kartell, 10 St. James Ave, Boston, MA - (617) 728-4442

MOB

2009-10-19T14:12:00.011-04:00

And now to the second most important lady of the day, the lovely Mother of the Bride...

Talk about some shoes to fill....and quite beautiful ones at that! Here she is, my stunning mother. (Photo courtesy of Jim Sanders, who did the whole wedding, amazing) This picture was taken before we headed over the church in our living room at home. I must say that taking the advice of my mother's friend and the florist of the wedding, Bart from The Daisy Basket, to only have the 4 of us stay in the house was probably my favorite part of the weekend. He said, "If you didn't grow up here, you don't stay here" and it really did make all of our time together so special.

My mom's whole goal in designing the tent was to make it feel like our house, and she did just that. She has always had an affinity for blue and white porcelain so with a combination of her collection and some help from The Daisy Basket she was able to use her pieces throughout the tables in the tent.

You can also see the cards on the tables. Each table was named after a neighborhood in either New York or Chicago - Katherine and Peter were living in New York and just moved to Chicago this past weekend. Also, we used sheets of wrapping paper that had a map of Manhattan as them for the back drop of the place card (that idea came from yours truly!)

Our table was 'Central Park' naturally, and had a great view of the whole tent. You can see the alternating sized lanterns that hung through the middle of the tent here.

I must say, as if all her great taste and talent weren't enough I think the most impressive thing is that it was all done. There was no panic, no frenzy no last-minute anything...from the moment I got off the plane from Boston everything was done! Now, I may have a good eye but she's got the organization to pull it off and without even breaking a sweat. And I think she had a pretty good time too...so cheers to you mom, love you!

*I just want to say again what an amazing job (as you can see)the photographer, Jim Sanders, did on everything!

Here Comes the Bride...

2009-10-09T10:53:00.008-04:00

Here they are! Some of the wedding pictures finally! I can't wait until we get the proofs from the photographer, Jim Sanders, because he was really great and I love what I've seen of his work so far. Let's start with the bride! Yes, it poured but you'll see it made everything look so beautiful and green.
Katherine's dress was from Pronovias in New York and it couldn't have been more perfect! She looked so beautiful and it fit her so well. The flowers were inspired by a bouquet in New York Magazine in one of their wedding issues from right when she got engaged.
Katherine, my mom, and I all got our hair done by Sookey at Salon Lofts in Grandview, OH. She did such an amazing job - especially on Katherine's. She found this hair-piece at Bergdorf's and it worked so well with the dress and was a great alternative to a veil.
The three of us also had matching shoes! Katherine's were gold and looked so pretty with the vintage looking lace of the dress.
We also all got our make up done which was such a great decision. Megan from Mukha did it for us and she did an amazing job. Two things I was admittedly skeptical about but turned out to be so great were the airbrushing and the false eyelashes. She just used a few of the tiny single false lashes on the corner of our eyes and it looked so pretty. Also, the airbrushing was so nice because there was no need for any kind of touch-ups or anything throughout the night - even in the icky weather!

Just a little Eye Candy

2009-10-06T17:31:00.006-04:00

Well, pictures are coming in from the wedding so I'll get you all the details shrotly but in the mean time thought I'd hold you over with a little treat. My most recent jewelry obsession - Hoorsenbuhs available at Barney's. They've been around for a while but I just kind recently re-discovered them and saw some amazing pieces I hadn't seen before. Enjoy! Be back soon with more wedding fun.

And look who else loves Hoorsenbuhs....

Dress Rehearsal

2009-10-02T10:04:00.008-04:00

Sorry, I'm going a little out of order because these are the pictures I have available as of yet. The rehearsal dinner was held at Sherrie Gallerie in the Short North neighborhood of Columbus. It's next to one of my family's favorite restaurants - Rigsby's - who also did the food (which was amazing, as usual.) Of course before the Rehearsal Dinner comes the Rehearsal which was actually the first time I got to see the church that the ceremony was being held in. It was in Holy Cross Catholic Church downtown, which is the oldest Church in Columbus and it was so beautiful. Here's a picture of the happy couple rehearsing their ceremony with the priest who officiated it....isn't the church gorgeous??

All weekend all the East Coasters were shocked at how great Ohio was, c'mon! The Short North is definitely one of the best neighborhoods in Columbus, a lot like the South End in Boston. Great food, people, shopping, culture, and just minutes away from the University there is definitely always a lot going on there. One of the attractions all the wedding guests were very impressed with was the North Market, filled with amazing food, produce, and wine it's sort of like an ongoing farmer's market that's open everyday.

Anyway, once we'd finished up at Holy Cross we headed over to the Short North for dinner...here's a picture of Rigsby's from the outside. It's such a beautiful restaurant, with a great bar. They also own a little lunch place behind called Tasi, which is full of delicious sandwiches, salads, pastas, etc.

Image via Rigsby's website

The dinner went very well and was filled with kind words from Peter's family. I was trying to be very good and not over-indulge but it was just too delicious. All of the food was wonderful and it was so nice to be able to sit next to my sister all night.....

Interruption of Regularly Scheduled Programming

2009-10-01T08:53:00.003-04:00

I was planning to post wedding-wedding-wedding all week but I got an email form Barney's this morning that deserved IMMEDIATE attention. I should divulge that in a tie with shoes, my #1 shopping addiction has to be coats. Especially on a day like today in Boston, the first snap of cold air that really makes me want to throw on some thing warm and new and wonderful this email was just a rude tease. This coat is amazing. That's really all I can say about it. It's from Barney's new fall collection of their own line which they just put out an online look book for.

Post-wedding Depression

2009-09-30T14:45:00.006-04:00

Now that the weekend has passed not only do I have to deal with the post-partum of thew edding being over but I have to live in this severe state of jealousy due to my sister and new brother-in-law's highly enviable honeymoon. So I decided I'd go backwards in filling you in with all of the wonderful details of my weekend! The wedding was such a success, and it looks like the newlyweds are adjusting well to married life.

This is easily one of the my favorite places on Earth - Chateau de la Messardiere, in St Tropez. A beautiful pool, comfortable bed, fabulous shopping, wine, cheese, crepes, what more could you ask for!

Don't fret, I'll fill you in on all the details but have patience! I'm still waiting for some better pictures than the ones I took as I was pretty distracted all weekend with my Maid of Honor duties (which really didnt' require much seeing as how my amazing mom did everything.)

T minus 4 Days!

2009-09-21T16:47:00.010-04:00

The wedding is this weekend! I can't believe it but it is here and I am headed to the great state of Ohio on Thursday morning so if I MIA this week I apologize but I promise to make it up to you all with a copious amount of pictures of every detail. Sadly this is the current outlook...but that's supposed to be good luck, right? (However, does not a good-hair-day make!Just a quick fun detail to share, can't give too much away. Today I ordered 10 lbs of Pistachio Macaroons from Mike's Pastry in Boston to be delivered in Columbus this weekend. My sister decided against having a wedding cake and opted for a variety of special deserts so this is just one a few but I promise you they are delicious...and while Mike's is known for its cannolli I'd say these are my favorite thing from there.
Image via The Open Road

Eeee! I wish I could show you all of the clothes that are going to be a part of this glorious weekend but I don't want to spoil anything so you'll have to hold out for the pictures!

The Birds and the Bees

2009-09-17T12:24:00.017-04:00

I was discussing with my friend, Sohee, the other day how there are things we dislike in real life, but LOVE on clothes, jewelry, furniture, art, etc. Some perfect examples are; birds, bees, and horses. I won't bore you with why I dislike them in too much detail but birds have always creeped me out, obviously no one likes bees, and I have not liked horses since my mom made me take horse back riding at Camp Sequoya. However...put any of these things in a patter, on an earring, or in a frame? Love! I mean, what would Hermes be without horses?? Here are a few lovely examples of these not-so-lovely beings...

Extra wide enamel bracelet from Hermes

I bought this belt a couple years ago at JCrew and have worn it way more than I ever thought I would! It looks so cute with jeans and a tucked in button-up or even just a t-shirt.
I love this bird trivet from Terrain - I had to add it because I just saw it on DesignSponge today!

I saw this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag last weekend in NY and fell in love, it's so cute and fun...perfect weekend bag (only complaint, is there isn't a shorter-strap option)

These are all from Jonathan Adler's Acapulco line of patterned pillows and serveware - so cute!

I can't decide if these bee earrings from Antrhopologie are a little too preppy for me but I think they're adorable

Just adding the little bee to this basic glassware from Ballard Designs makes them so much cuter, and perfect for everyday

"Doorknockers"

2009-09-15T17:02:00.008-04:00

Today at work I had to take my earring out to talk on the phone and got made fun of for being an old lady! It made me remember when I was little and my mom would take off her big "doorknocker" of a clip-on earring to talk on the phone and I thought it was like the epitome of being a grown up....(just to keep you up on my train of thought)...then I continued to think of all the huge earrings my mom used to have that were hot-glue-gunned pieces of fun. I remember one pair that had an old watch gear in it somewhere, and then it dawned on me...they're back! And now I find myself thinking of all the great attention-getting earrings I've been noticing and coveting as of late - especially after my sister gave me these awesome Indian-inspired green earrings last time I saw her (they were form ABC Home, so unfortunately I can't find a good picture of them but I'll take one next time I wear them!) . Anyway, here' s a little preview of a few I love right now...

Mystery of the Mojave earrings by Lizzie Fortunato (obviously!)

Jeweled garland earrings from JCrew

Vintage Chanel earrings from eBay
** for those of you in Boston, there is an amazing little vintage jewelry store with tons of stuff like these great Chanel earrigns on Charles St. in Beacon Hill, its called Twentieth Century Ltd**

Clip-on fan earrings from Badgley Mischka (available from Charm and Chain)

Large gold crystal ivy earrings from Alexis Bittar

Back to TV

2009-09-10T14:27:00.010-04:00

Now that I don't have a college campus filled with all my friends and football games to look forward to ever fall my anticipation has turned to the new season of TV that starts in September - yes, being a "real person" has proven to include a few downgrades in terms of anticipated events. None the less, we have to enjoy the little things! So my wait with baited breath all summer has finally come to an end as I once again get to indulge my guilty pleasures; Gossip Girl, The City, The Hills (skeptical this year for obvious reasons,) Real Housewives of, well, just not Atlanta to be honest. And so to pay homage to my friends that I'll get to finally see again in these next few weeks why not take a look at a few reasons I've missed them! I'll go ahead and start big, the Van Der Woodsen apartment on Gossip Girl? I don't even know where to begin.

I honestly have dreams about the Kartell lamp in Serena's bedroom, I first noticed it at Shreve, Crump, & Low in Boston and have been pining for it ever since.

I'm sorry but I don't know if anyone deserves to get an Eames Chair and Missoni Fabric in one item!
Images from Apartment Therapy Los Angeles

Now as much as I hate giving any press to Olivia Palermo I must commend her taste, and ability to keep an all-white living room clean (but lets not kid ourselves, she doesn't take care of that herself.) Anyway, I obviously love the Hermes tray that she has in her living room - I'm really a sucker for any kind of tray - and I'd like to give myself a little pat on the back for finding it! Hudson, my favorite home store here in Boston had a similar one in a Louis Vuitton print so I asked and they can order the Hermes version as well.

Image via New York Post
I love Erin's gallery wall in her living room and you can't really see it here but to the right of Whitney she has some great lucite bar stools...you know how I feel about lucite.
Image via MTV

And then sometimes TV is best, because it shows us the worst...

...sorry Alex and Simon.
Image via Brownstoner

Runway to (almost) Reality

2009-09-09T17:48:00.005-04:00

I've realized that the stop in between Runway and Real Life is Celebrity. First it's in fashion week, then its on the red carpet, and then I find something that maybe-sorta-kinda-might look like it at Forever 21. Here are a few examples of some fabulous looks I'd die to not only have in my closet, but to have somewhere to wear them!

More to come.....

Matisse, please!

2009-09-08T14:44:00.007-04:00

I've been obsessing over this print for years now and its one of those things that is always there so you never buy it, do you ever have that? For example it took me 5 years to finally buy a plain Longchamp bag, because I knew it would always be available. I have no problem impulsively buying things on sale, or one-of-a-kinds, or even just a rash purchase of an outfit for a night but the things that I actually really want for long periods of time just never seem to make it into my possession! (this dilemma was part of the motivation behind actually making a Fall shopping list this year) So anyway, without further adieu....
I know its not much but that's why I love it, its simple and classic and would go with everything. I had kind of forgotten about it until last night I found a past issue of Elle Decor (the one with the beautiful pictures of Aerin Lauder's home) and the artwork on the cover reminded me of it. Look how great the black and white silhouette artwork looks in this room! I love how crisp and clean it looks.

So that's what I'm thinking of today, now I'll have to decide on an accent color because I'd love for it to be the center of a mostly black-and-white room but then add a turquoise, or green...

Fall Shopping List

2009-09-04T13:03:00.014-04:00

So I'm heading out of the office to enjoy this long beautiful weekend in Boston and thought I'd share some of my fall must haves! Maybe I'll pick a couple of them up if I'm lucky....

I loooove this jacket, it's from Madewell and fits perfectly! (images from ShopBop)

This Jerome Rousseau shoe is so beautiful - it's so flattering because it's almost like a cowl neck for your leg so it doesn't cut off at your ankle like a lot of booties do, and it was very comfortable when I made the bad decision of trying it on! (available at Moxie in Boston)

This Marni necklace would go with so much, jeans, a black dress, a nice work suit and I love the detailing on the pendant.

J.Crew's new Pixie Pants are so adorable and would go with everything - they'd look great with heels to go out, tucked into boots during the day, or like they're shown here with flats for the office, and the gold zipper detail is perfect!
So sue me...I like a good new Tshirt to cheer on my Buckeyes every fall and Homage by far makes the best (obviously, they're from Ohio.) They are the perfect material and all have great artwork - definitely check out their sirethey have some awesome stuff.

Incredibly Camelot

2009-09-01T11:52:00.016-04:00

I have suffered from a severe Kenney-complex for years now. It started in high school when we were offered to take fun classes every year for 2 weeks in May, appropriately dubbed May Program. The idea was to take all different classes every year, but for 3 years in a row I sat through the same lectures, videos, and books known lovingly as The Kennedy Legacy. Our teacher Mr. O would open pretty much every class with "The Kennedys loved 2 things, sailing and flag football." So in the wake of Ted's death I'd like to sidestep any political commentary and just take a few moments to enjoy at least the style and iconography this family has provided us with. Call me shallow, but I think that in this case a picture really is worth a 1000 words.

The family's 3 residences that comprise the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis (courtesy of NY Times)

JFK, Jackie, John Jr, and Caroline in Hyannis. (courtesy of the JFK Library)...I think Jackie has been so praised for her fashion because it truly is completely timeless - I would love to wear this on vacation, a gingham dress, Jack Rogers and long necklace? Just as popular now as it was in the 60's!

Also pictures on the right are Ted Kennedy and first wife Joan with their young children Ted Jr. and Kara in Palm Beach (image from The Palm Beach Post) - why don't people still look this chic when they travel?? If I see one more Juicy sweatsuit on a plane....

I just can't get over how beautiful this picture from JFK Jr's and Carolyn Bessette's wedding is. The tiny chapel is on Cumberland Island, Georgia and doesn't even have electricity. The only major expense of the wedding was Carolyn's dress - by Narciso Rodriguez. (Images courtesy of Denis Reggie, and MSNBC)

And just a small collection of some of my favorites...

Oh, Lizzie....

2009-08-31T16:30:00.004-04:00

She's done it again! Not only is Lizzie Fortunato's fall/winter line amazing but she now has pieces available through Urban Outfitters - I'm so happy this trend of designers creating less expensive options is still popular, thank you Isaac Mizrahi. The line is called Hope Marian and not only are the pieces obviously unique and interesting but they are still very well made, despite the price reduction. You can see that the same care to detail and construction were taken and while they may not feature vintage African glass beads they will certainly serve my craving for a statement necklace from her for this fall. I also was told that she's done jewelry for the Sping and Fall 09 VPL fashion shows so checked it out on her website and sure enough not only is the collection fabulous but its available for purchase! So far I've only seen the bangles in person but they were enough to make me want to see it all.

Images via Urban Outfitters.

Sorry!

2009-08-25T14:31:00.005-04:00

I've been playing hard to get... In truth what I do from 9 to 5 has been pretty hectic so please accept my sincerest apologies and don't give up on me yet I have PLENTY of things to share. In the meantime here are a couple of desks I would LOVE to spend my days sitting at.

xoxo

A lucite desk, in Bergdorf's? Fine.

Love! This is Aerin Lauder's (heir of Estee Lauder) lovely desk featured in Elle Decor

Need I say more?

Images via Home Accents Today, Elle Decor, and New York Magazine

"Success & Happiness"

2009-08-18T15:33:00.013-04:00

I guess I'm a little behind the curve on this one because the exhibit left over a month ago but I just had to share this artist I found and have fallen for. Her name is Kelly Sherman and her show Success and Happiness was at the Barbara Krakow Gallery on Newbury Street here in Boston. Sherman is a conceptual artist and her works certainly make a statement. One of her shows was a collection of various wish lists taken from the Internet which was featured at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and won their 2006 James and Audrey Foster Prize. My favorite work of hers is a collection of portrayals of brides. She used real ads from bridal magazines but painted over the silhouette of the actual bride with white enamel creating a very crisp, modern, and somewhat eerie scene. Her work takes aim at how we express our wants and desires especially in relation to consumerism but I must say I don't think I've seen such a serious question posed so beautifully!

Images courtesy of Barbara Krakow Gallery
From top to bottom: Bride #26 2009, Bride #3 2009, Bride #25 2009

Lovely Lucite

2009-08-14T10:01:00.011-04:00

I've always loved vanity tables and when I moved into a new place this year decided that I needed one so the hunt began, and in looking for the perfect vanity through old magazines, blogs, books, etc. I also discovered my obsession with all things Lucite. This vanity is what I was pining away for but alas it was out of my price range (a common dilemma these days) but at least it served as inspiration. The Lucite vanity in this picture lead me to discover the famous Waterfall Table shape which was perfect. I found that CB2 had a great and affordable line of Lucite products and now I want to use them all! I ended up getting this one that they show as a bar table and then hanging the mirror-framed mirror from West Elm above it and it turned out surprisingly well! Now my next territory to conquer with these wonderfully neutral pieces is the living room. One of the great things about Lucite is since it's clear it doesn't appear to take up much room keeping smaller areas looking less cluttered. I'd love to get a few of these boxes as well (also from CB2) to fill with pretty books and back-issues of Domino (RIP.) I have also been on the hunt for a cute lucite stool or vanity seat to upholster - I love how Lucite mixes well with all types of patterns and fabrics also. Obviously it goes well with anything mod but looks really great with florals and toiles as well to somewhat contrast the modern feel it gives - the vanity above from Domino is a good example with the antiqued mirror.

Images via Domino Magazine and CB2

The Countdown is On!

2009-08-13T15:27:00.011-04:00

To keep you all up to date with my life - my lovely sister, Katherine (to the right of me in the picture), is getting married in September...as in next month! Now, as I'm sure you could tell from my previous post my mother is very talented in terms of design so she's really taken the lead on this wedding which is happening at our house - very Father of the Bride. Almost everything is done actually, this little collage will give you a taste of the colors and everything - obviously I can't include Katherine's dress for fear of Peter (her fiance) seeing it but take my word, it's gorgeous.
The border is taken from their invitations which were done by Peabody Papers in Columbus, they came out beautifully. The bouquet is actually from an old issue of New York Magazine's Wedding edition and served as the inspiration for her bouquet and colors. The tie is Hermes, but this one was actually vetoed by my mom because apparently monkeys are bad luck (don't ask) - we made quite the scene in Bergdorfs figuring that out, but we found another option that is the same color. And my favorite part - the dress and shoes are what I'll be wearing in the wedding! I'm so happy (and honored) that Kat decided to just keep her wedding party to me, which worked out well because her fiance has a younger brother as well so it will be nice and small. So over the next month or so as I reference "the wedding" now you'll know what I'm talking about and be able to contribute!

Many Thanks

2009-08-12T13:51:00.004-04:00

I just wanted to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to the lovely Camila for helping me get my high-heel foot in the door so to speak. Her blog is really what inspired me to finally take the plunge and do something about my obsession and her blog has been such a resource, inspiration, motivator, and so much more. I thought it would only be appropriate to thank her with a Kate Spade thank you note as I know she is a big fan and this one is just so adorable. So, Camila - thank you so much, I honestly can't say it enough. I thought I had struck gold when I found Daniela and I really was tempted to then sound like a creepy guy and ask 'Do you have a sister?' - little did I know!

Image via Kate Spade

Paper, Paper, on the Wall!

2009-08-11T11:28:00.010-04:00

I blame my mother for my fascination with wallpaper, and believe me she set the bar pretty high! Just in the last few years she updated our dining room at home which was quite the process. She discovered Zuber wallpaper in a coffee-table book she has about Jackie O's redecorating of the White House. She used Zuber's Vue de l'Amérique du Nord scenic wallpaper from 1834 to decorate the Diplomatic Room on the ground floor of the White House and what it can do to transform a room is honestly unbelievable. The trick now was to find out how she could get this particular Zuber in our house. The Frensh company is the only factory remaining in the world that still produces woodblock printed papers and furnishing fabrics. So you can imagine it's quite cost-prohibitive to get Zuber custom installed in your home. Leave it to my impressive mother to find a way around that! She found an old house in our small Ohio town that wanted to get rid of their Zuber (unthinkable, I know) so she had the panels removed from their home and reinstalled in our dining room. You can see below a little bit of how it looks now in this picture of me and some of my girlfriends form high school before a wedding...

Diplomatic Room image via the White House Museum website

Patio Please!

2009-08-07T16:29:00.005-04:00

On a beautiful summer Friday what's better than a refreshing cocktail, a nice patio, and some good people. I can't think of anything really. It's finally summer in Boston and all I want is delicious sangria and a roof deck. Sangria is so refreshing and so easy to make. I'm an admittedly bad cook but when it comes to side dishes and beverages, I'm your girl! This recipe is easy and delicious, courtesy Martha Stewart:
1/4 c Brandy
1/4 c Sugar
2 firm ripe peaches, sliced
1/2 honeydew melon, sliced
1 bottle of white wine (I prefer to use a Sauvignon Blanc)
1 can of club soda

Now that beverages are taken care of I'd like to fantasize about what sort of roof I'd love to be sitting on and the first one comes that comes to mind is, well, in Rome....so a bit out of the way for this weekend but I can dream. It's called the Hotel Eden and it has a beautiful roof top bar that my parents spent a good deal of their honeymoon in so on our last trip to Europe they shared it with my sister and I. A picture doesn't do it justice, so if you ever have the chance go at sunset - you won't regret it, Ciao!

Images via Martha Stewart and Hotel Eden

Layla, my love

2009-08-06T10:11:00.002-04:00

So why not start off with something I've been obsessing over for months now. I visit her usually twice a week, sometimes I actually go in and try her on, other times I just walk by the window and stare longingly. Her name is Layla. This necklace is one of the most beautiful things to ever catch my eye and I've been trying to raise funds, rationalize, and talk myself into buying her but I just haven't gotten there yet. It's made by Lizzie Fortunato Jewels - a jewelry and accessory designer made up of 2 sisters; Elizabeth & Kathryn (another reason I love them, because my sister and I are also Elizabeth & Katherine) and I spotted her at Looc Boutiqe in Boston's South End. It's made with hand-knotted Liberty fabric, Amethyst, and glass beads - as if that's not enough it has a leather buckle for the closure in the back, I'm really a sucker for a nice leather buckle as it always reminds me of Hermes. Well, I certainly feel like this was a good start because I'm smiling now!

Image courtesy of Lizzie Fortunato Jewels (lizziefortunatojewels.com)

2009-08-06T09:56:00.000-04:00

Bonjour! Let me introduce myself, my name is Elizabeth and I live in Boston by way of Ohio. Raised for the most part in the Midwest I appreciate a needlepoint Ohio State pillow just as much as the next Buckeye but over the past few years my obsession with all things design has really grown and I decided I needed an outlet for it. That's where Midwest Modern comes in. One thing that I've found through my addiction to blogs and online shopping is that I can't hone down my taste to one genre - which I like to think isn't a bad thing! Anyway, here you'll find my musings on design, fashion, food, culture, and who knows what else so please stay tuned, enjoy, and share you comments I'd love to hear them.
Cheers!
-E