2/04/2011

Table #3: Wild Nights

Here's a table setting to up the ante for your Oscar party. Something unexpected and chic.

LOVE LOVE LOVE these snakeskin plates.




All the major actresses (like Angelina Jolie) were rocking emerald green dresses at this year's Golden Globe awards. Bring some emerald green to your party with this stunning agate platter.


A big grouping of candlesticks makes any home look festive.



This chic and streamlined flatware is the perfect way to top it all off!

Plates and platter from Vivre
Candlesticks and flatware from Velocity

2/03/2011

Modern Office Desk Design by Philippe Stark

Full-color design computer desk. Computer desk with a color above to raise your spirit.



Colourful and pretty, this desk breaks the monotony with its undulating design and modern shape. It was designed by Philippe Stark for Vitra. Created as a single piece from polyethylene case and with a polyurethane foam coating, the Baobab Desk has a fresh image suited for offices, home offices or commercial areas.

Groupon... This one's good

I was leaving a comment on Little Green Notebook's fabulous post on silhouettes and saw that someone posted a Groupon deal of Carter Kustera's silhouettes. $50 for one of his famous silhouettes (rather than the normal price of $100.)

You email him a pic of you in profile, choose your color, and come up with the custom text that he'll write beneath it. My husband has suggested "I'm my own person" for me - a phrase I used to say repeatedly when I was in nursery school. I'm still working on a good one for him... I might also want "You mess with the bull, you get the horns."

Kelly Wearstler - New Blogging Goodness

It's only 9:30 am here in LA, but I can already tell you the highlight of my day - getting an email from Kelly Wearstler's people that she has a blog! I can't wait to see what other gorgeous inspiration images she posts. Here's a gorgeous image from her first post - and you can check out more here at MyLiveMyVibe! It's a little peak into her creative process.

Babies Babies Everywhere

It seems like babies are coming everywhere! I have a bunch of girlfriends who have announced buns in their ovens, and it feels like every celebrity has been popping up in the tabloids with a baby a-comin'.

I'm super into this very eclectic, colorful and pattern-filled nursery I saw in the most recent Adore online magazine. That daybed and the valence are just too adorable. I like that this nursery isn't too precious, but still at the same time it's totally adorable.

Here's their "here's how to put it together yourself" spread - of course I'm in love with the chevron sofa.



This nursery was just featured on Made By Girl, design by Elizabeth Sullivan. Love the striped ceiling and that adorable ottoman.

I am in LOVE with this wall hanging from the Rug Company... Any baby would by lucky to have it in their nursery!

Baby Shower Recap


I wanted to share some photos of my baby shower to show off how amazingly talented, creative and generous my friends (and sister) are. While I love design, party planning is definitely not my forte. My go-to formula is to book a private or semi-private room at a fun restaurant, get my friend Natalie to make invitations and then just show up! In contrast though, my friend Jess (blogger behind Jackson's Lane) is an amateur party planner (who should maybe consider going pro!). She turned my friend Christina's beautiful home into the perfect spot for a shower with beautiful, tasteful decorations, thoughtful details and some really great food (much of which I have my sister Chef Babs to thank for).


The theme of the shower was "feather the nest," so of course the primary decorations were birds and feathers. I loved the feather wreath over the fireplace decorated with BB Conn's initial and a glittery bird. The colors are very "Martha Stewart" to me and then blend in perfectly with the home's more traditional decor, softer color palette and soft gold touches. I think that's a huge part of decorating for a party: the theme and decorations really need to work with your home's existing decor.



Simple white roses and blue hydrangea are scattered throughout the downstairs in small clusters. I think this is a great way to get a lot of bang for your buck and you can be guaranteed to get a sophisticated look when you keep arrangements simple, tight and petite.


Large manzanita branches in a tall vase (filled with feathers, of course!) create a fanciful tree for more glittery birds. Guests were asked to write notes and advice on pretty paper ornaments and hang them on the tree. I thought this was a great touch and a wonderful keepsake for the honoree -- and it would work equally well at a bridal shower.


A close up of the tags. I thought the paper was absolutely lovely and the tiny birds nests brought texture and a bit of color.


The ladies show that even paper plates and plastic cutlery can look chic with the right presentation. I also love the mint julep cup for the floral arrangement.



Jess decorated the dessert buffet with arrangements featuring baby/toddler pictures of Dave and I. The height of the arrangements work perfectly with the tall mirror and the pictures add the perfect personal touch. Again, this would work equally well at a bridal shower or engagement party.



The dessert spread. Don't you love the cupcakes decorated to look like bird nests? My sister made them with toasted coconut and candied eggs. My sister and I joked that I'd get gestational diabetes from my shower! Given that she insisted I take the leftover cake home, I'm starting to fear that there may have been some truth in our jests!


The favors were cookies made by Jess's sister-in-law, who turns out to be (in addition to an OB/GYN) a fabulous baker/decorator. I love how they incorporate my nursery colors as well as the shower's avian theme. They tasted as good as they look, I can assure you.


The lovely hostesses. Thanks ladies for a very memorable baby shower!

2/02/2011

Minimalist Desk Against the Wall by Mash Studios

Design a simple desk to a place or room is minimalist. Utilize a small space.


A simple method for space saving – the Off-the-wall Desk – was designed by MASH Studios and is part of a collection entitled The LAX Series. The desk attached to the wall makes legs useless and gives an alternative for small spaces. It also looks great and has a sliding part that hides the drawers.