The Wondrous Things to Come...

Can I just tell you that the next 15 days, 6 hours, and 55 minutes can’t go by fast enough!  When it comes to what I’m most excited about right now, all eyes are on September 5th.  First of all, as of that weekend my brother and cousin will officially be Nashvillians…something I’ve been looking forward to for months.  Secondly, the John Derian for Target Home collection comes out and it…is…awesome.  I’m talking seriously fabulous.  Known for his artisan decoupage techniques, John Derian’s style is as unique as his regular prices are expensive.  Fortunately, his partnership with Target makes his to-die-for pieces accessible to any and everyone.  The collection he’s about to release has about 100 pieces, all of which are $25 or less.  Just when I was foolishly thinking I could never love a Target collection more than Liberty of London…this happens.  Way to prove me wrong Target…way to prove me wrong.  I got a little preview of what’s to come today and all I can say is…countdown starts now!  Here’s what to keep your eyes peeled for…'

Faux Bois

In the grand scheme of things, a lot of time is spent making fake look real…so I love the concept of intentionally making fake look fake.  You don’t see it all that often (and understandably so) but take the ‘faux bois’ pattern as a classic example.  Faux Bois is French for fake wood, and it can rear it’s head on anything from dishware to furniture.  I think the look is adorable and in many cases as lovely as real wood while being substantially more intriguing.  Martha Stewart, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and many other fine establishments have used faux bois in their designs- check out how versatile and fun it is!

Contradictory Design

Growing up in South Jersey made me privy to a wide variety of delicious food the majority of the world simply wasn’t lucky enough to be exposed to…real Philly cheesesteaks, 24 hour diners, Tastykakes, Herr’s potato chips, Panzerottis, and the list goes on.  Ask anyone from South Jersey and they’ll tell you the food there is so good you have no choice but to brag about it when you visit other cities.  One of my favorite treats to discuss with non-Jersey folks has always been Water Ice…especially because nine times out of ten the response sounds something like “Water ice?  How can something be both water and ice at the same time?”.  The fact that it is seemingly contradictory in terms makes it intriguing to describe (but substantially more fun to eat).  Now, leave it to me to find the connection between food and…essentially everything, but the same concept applies when you add a little contradiction to your design…things start to get interesting.  Take the design style ‘modern vintage’, for example.  A little old, a little new…could be intriguing, no?  There are some styles you simply can’t go wrong with…and this isn’t one of them.  The potential for disaster is probably quite high, but fortunately so is the potential to create an amazingly beautiful space.  Like most things in life, there’s no sure-fire formula for the perfectly coordinated balance of vintage and modern, in fact everyone who attempts the look is sure to go about it in a different way.  And if I had to pick one thing to love about the concept, that would be it.  If you’re interested in styling a vintage modern space you should start by determining a few foundational pieces.  Which elements will be streamlined, finished and sleek (modern) and which will be nostalgic, distressed and comfortable (vintage)?  Consider colors, shapes, patterns and textures from both styles…how can you coordinate them?  Go ahead and glean some inspiration from the rooms below. 

Be the Change

I read an Edward Everett Hale quote years ago that’s always stuck with me- it said “I am only one, but I am one.  I can’t do everything, but I can do something…and I will not let what I can not do stop me from doing what I can”. That being said, lately I keep finding myself in a mood that is all but impossible to describe without seeming disingenuous.  Simply put, I have the strongest urge to help whoever, however and wherever I can.  Sure, I can’t change the world by myself, but if I’m willing I sure can change someone’s world…and so can you!  If your interest is piqued but you’re not sure where to start, try something simple like purchasing a product that benefits a cause.  If you need a new pair of shoes, consider buying a pair of Toms…for every pair sold, a pair is donated to a child in need.  Looking for a cute purse?  Check out Puresa Organics…all their bags are hand made by women rescued from Human Trafficing.  For a trendy necklace look no further than Project AK-47…they created dog tags with the names and ages of 100,000 active child soldiers in Burma, Sri Lanka and the Philippines as part of their ‘wear their reality’ movement.  They’re more than just an awareness campaign and remain dedicated to freeing and recuperating as many precious children as humanly possible from the unspeakable violence of war.  There are so many organizations that work really hard to meet needs as well as provide a great product…for a beautiful way to outfit your home and do something good all at once, pick up an Altru candle.  Created by Manuela Testolini, Altru means “unselfishly giving of one’s self to others”.  Her beautiful candles and home fragrances are sold to support In A Perfect World, a non-profit organization that helps support the education of underprivileged children here in the United State, as well as in developing countries such as Haiti and Mali, West Africa.  You can buy an Altru candle at Neiman Marcus, Bergdof Goodman, ABC Carpet and Home, or online by clicking here.  While they’ll cost you a little more than what you may have budgeted for candle expenses (right at $50), it’s a wonderful way to positively impact our world.  

House Hunters

There is one reason and one reason only that I’m excited for the Autumn months to arrive…it doesn’t have to do with pretty leaves, bonfires, pumpkin flavored Starbucks beverages or even football (even though I love all those things).  I can’t wait because come this Fall my little brother is moving to Nashville!  For the first time since I was in high school we get to live in the same city and I literally couldn’t be more pumped.  In my unbiased opinion, he’s gotta be the most fantastic guy in the world (next to my Dad, of course).  In preparation for his move, he’s spent the past few days visiting our soon to be mutual stomping grounds.  Our agenda for today and tomorrow reads a little something like this: ‘Find a place for Joey to live.  The end.’  Here are the steps I’ve learned through this process:

1) Start with an idea of exactly what you’re looking for.  Think about ideal location, price range, and living expectations, as well as factors like closet size, parking, etc.

2) Determine whether what you have in mind actually exists and where you’re willing to compromise if it doesn’t.  For example, if you’re searching for a four bedroom downtown loft on a $100 a month budget, you may have to eventually make some adjustments to your plan.  When you can’t have it all, focus on what you want most. 

3) Pursue a few efficient search methods.  There are so many ways to find what you’re looking for, so whether you decide to scour the internet, sort through local papers, or simply driving around a prime area and take note of for sale and/or rent signs, there’s are almost always more search options.  

Since we’re renting and not buying, we can afford to make a few amendments to our original plan without getting too discouraged.  The longer the commitment you’re signing up for, the harder it is to be flexible in your search and the more important it is to do your homework.  In fact, if you’re looking to buy or sell, hiring a professional realtor is at least worth considering.  Put in your time searching and you’ll be able to accept the right deal with confidence.  Wish us luck tomorrow…I think we’re getting close!

Chihuly Strikes Again

A few weeks ago I touched on Dale Chihuly’s brilliant glassmaking, but what I just recently discovered (and thus neglected to mention previously) is that he also does wonders with a paintbrush.  I got a chance to view some of his paintings and found them to be delightful.  While they’re not meticulously detailed, they are outrageously creative to be sure.  Most of all, I was struck by the boldness of Chihuly’s color palette- his color combinations are out of this world!  Even more so than his glasswork, his paintings make you wonder what’s going on in that mind of his.  I was reading up on his process and, from what I understand, he paints quite a few in succession when he’s feeling inspired.  It seems they don’t take him very long to complete, which doesn’t exactly shock me, nor does it make them any less fantastic in my book….all I know is he produces energetic pieces that make me smile.  I’m not a huge fan of the abstract genre, but I just plain like his work.  It’s no Sistine Chapel, but it’s not supposed to be.  

Cleanup Duty

Today started off with a pretty significant coffee spill…I’m not talking about a “oops, four drops escaped from my cup and instantly air dried without a trace” spill…I mean an honest to goodness coffee deluge.  I’ll spare you the details, but the bottom line is I was left standing outside my Aunt’s house waiting for a change of clothes with half my hair, my entire shirt, the majority of my pants and everything in my hands soaked.  The sheer amount of coverage was shocking…the only explanation I can come up with is that the coffee must have been regenerating itself as it flowed out of my cup.  I’ve moved past phase one (yelling) and plan on eventually reaching phase three (laughing), but for now I’m smack dab in the middle of phase two…accepting the fact that spills are a part of life.  All things considered, I was pretty lucky the spill happened outside and not inside the house.  For tips on what to do when the floodgates open in your living room, read on.

The number one thing to remember is to act fast!  The longer you wait to clean and treat a spill, the more likely it is to cause permanent damage to your furniture, carpet, floor, etc.  The best way to treat a stain varies depending on what was spilled and the type of surface you’re attempting to clean.  The last thing you want to do is make a spill worse, so it never hurts to do some quick research before you attack.  I found a few incredible stain charts with a pretty comprehensive list of culprits- click here for stains on washable fabrics, here for carpet stains and here for stains on upholstery. 

As a general rule of thumb, use white paper towels or a white cotton cloth soak up as much of the stain as possible.  Use a blotting motion instead of a wiping one so as to not rub the stain in deeper.  After soaking up as much as you can, rinse the area with water and blot again…remember- no scrubbing!  If necessary, apply a cleaning solvent (see applicable stain chart for more information) to a plain cloth and work from the outside of the stain to the center to avoid spreading it.  Apply cleaner, blot, rinse, blot, and repeat until finished.

Now please pardon me while I wash the dried coffee out of my crunchy hair.  What a day :)