Everyday Curator

Tammi Terrell, Uh-mazing.

2010-08-24T11:50:00.003-04:00

She is killing it with this performance! I love her little faces.

The Lyric Theater - Birmingham, Ala.

2010-08-09T19:00:00.006-04:00

A couple of years ago, while I was working at Thicket magazine in Birmingham, Ala., we shot our Spring fashion spread in the Lyric Theatre, a Vaudeville stage that opened in 1914. Rumor has it that when it was closed in-and-around the 1930's, it became Birmingham's premiere dirty movie venue. Can't verify that, and I'm not sure who to ask. In any case, it has been vacant for over 50 years and is in a horrible state of disrepair. The decay made for an incredible backdrop for our shoot, but I'm rooting for its restoration. For more information on restoration efforts: Lyric Fine Arts Theatre

The word asbestos, in Greek, means "unquenchable."

The Arctic Club, Seattle

2010-08-09T18:03:00.005-04:00

On my recent vacation to Seattle, my two brothers and I had no idea where we were going to stay in town until we got there. We rented a car and just started driving around, and as luck would have it, we pulled up to The Arctic Club, a recently refurbished turn-of-the-century gentleman's club. WHAT A TREAT. They've done an incredible job of preserving the architectural detail of the building, but have incorporated just a hint of modern sensibility in the decor. What caught my eye most were the colors they used in the hallways - that rich, primary blue on the doors paired with the mustard yellow walls and brown, deco-checked carpeting.

Whoever was put in charge of branding has done an incredible job as well. The logo (below) is seamlessly incorporated throughout the hotel, most notably on the handsome stationery provided in each individual room - a belly-warming throwback to the days of gold mining and heavy scotch drinking.

Over all, just an incredibly unique, luxurious, and distinctly Northwestern place. Click here for reservations.

Knot Dress

2010-08-06T15:56:00.005-04:00

Ok, so I thought I was in love earlier, with those awesome jeans in my Intelligent Clashing post. THEN I saw this DRESS. Who wants to buy it for me?

P. Allen Smith

2010-08-06T10:45:00.004-04:00

I hadn't heard of him either, but EVIDENTLY he's the "Martha Stewart of the South". I'm jealous.

Intelligent Clashing?

2010-08-06T10:25:00.005-04:00

I recommend this site for some inspiration.

NEWS FLASH: A friend just sent me the link to purchase the insanely awesome pair of jeans that they feature on Intelligent Clashing (pictured below). Get them while they last. So sick.

FSA color photos

2010-08-06T10:04:00.010-04:00

Wow. Check out these rare color photos taken by the Farm Security Association during the depression. The people come to life in a way they didn't in the black and white photos we're all so familiar with.

The Rich and Boring Need Not Apply...

2010-08-02T18:20:00.005-04:00

Great article on the rise of Todd Selby in the NYTIMES.

...Mr. Selby’s online gallery is also indicative of a trend toward a rawer, more photojournalistic approach to interiors, a movement typified by indie design magazines like Apartamento or the interiors blog Homebodies, which are less interested in the faux perfection of shelter magazines than in the effluvia of everyday life. The spaces actually look lived in because they are.

The Wedding Sheet

2010-07-17T09:25:00.006-04:00

I came across the concept of the wedding sheet in Josephine Ryan's French Home last night. I'm getting married in the Fall, and I'd never heard of this tradition, so I did a little bit of research.

It is referenced as both a French and Italian tradition, where the bride is given an ornately embroidered wedding sheet in "fil de lin" linen as part of her trousseau. On the morning after the couple's first night, the tradition states that the couple will hang the sheet out a window to show their family and nosy neighbors that the bride was indeed a virgin.

My guess is that if they are still being given on the occasion of a wedding, the second, more public part of the tradition has fallen in favor.

I came across this site, Fleur d'Andeol, which sells impeccable antique wedding sheets and other fine linens. Worth bookmarking for sure.

At Home with Joan Parker...

2010-07-14T13:38:00.004-04:00

I am mainly posting this so you can see dear Joan's incredible powder room. Picture 8 out of 9 in the slideshow. Deco, with a touch of industrial. And the cool green on the walls and ceiling, the cream trim. I'm in love.

The Little Black Bikini

2010-07-12T21:06:00.007-04:00

The little black bikini should be a staple of every woman’s wardrobe, just like the little black dress. It works well for the same reasons - it’s slimming, it looks good when you’re tan or when you’re pale, it doesn’t show stains, it looks timeless in photographs...the list goes on.

Wish list: Emilio Pucci Neoprene zigzag swimsuit: $500 at net-a-porter.com

Wattage

2010-06-08T18:54:00.004-04:00

Who knew vintage light bulbs could be a political issue? Love them, energy efficient or not. NYTIMES.

Love this shot...

2010-06-04T12:52:00.003-04:00

Found it on an old friend's blog.

www.julieabaumgardner.com

Eye Candy

2010-06-04T09:09:00.004-04:00

How fabulous is this room? It incorporates my two favorite colors, too: tomato red and celadon-green.

See the whole house at NYTIMES.

Shopping Seattle

2010-06-02T13:04:00.008-04:00

I just returned from a trip to Seattle, my first time there. Yes it rained everyday, but otherwise, I was incredibly impressed with the place.

Some say that Seattle is a few years behind when it comes to style, catching onto the East Coast's trends late in the game. In my opinion, that's an irrelevant analysis. People in Seattle seem to have a style all their own, distinctly different in ways from other cities that we consider to be "style capitals". The difference I think is in the lifestyle of the typical Seattle resident. They incorporate a lot more outdoor gear into their wardrobe - hiking boots, hiking pants, parkas, things you generally find at REI. And they bike, A LOT. So they have really athletic looking messenger bags. I found myself getting into the fashion of the outdoor lifestyle, as much as the outdoor lifestyle itself.

A couple of boutiques really caught my eye that I thought I would recommend in case anyone heads there in the near future. You absolutely have to go to the REI mega store if you are there, but for the feminine additions, check out:

ALHAMBRA
Downtown, 1st Avenue and Pine St.

This shop was pretty high in price range, but each piece they carry is incredibly unique. I had never heard of Gary Graham, but they carry a lot of his things - simple and provencial dresses, but in luxurious fabrics - as well as Tucker's new line of blouses. The decor at the store is in itself worth the visit - lots of functional rusted iron sculpture. In general, a very wordly and travel inspired collection.

Baby & Co.
Downtown, 1st Avenue and Virginia St.

Baby & Co. is extremely parisienne. Jill Donnelly has had the store since 1973 and travels to Paris every year to buy most everything for the store. Great scarves, great European alternatives to Keds, lots of architectural dresses and trenches. And there is a sweet little Bulldog that hangs out at the front door :)

Jill's business card reads "Baby & Co., Seattle. Mars." which seems a leftover "far out" branding effort from the 70's, but her clothes are nothing if not down to earth and wearable.

Jill is hip. Check out her shoes.

Meryl's Oscar Evolution

2010-03-05T12:46:00.003-05:00

Full slideshow at the Daily Beast...

Lisa Yuskavage

2010-02-26T10:09:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure what the connection is here. But I was feeling sort of down-and-out this morning and I googled Lisa Yuskavage, one of my favorite painters. It made me feel better.

There isn't time in the day to learn and accomplish all of the things I want to do, but Lisa's paintings make me want to put my Spanish books aside (let's be real, I haven't pulled them off the shelf in 6 months) and pick up a paint brush. Normally her work is very vibrant and colorful - my original favorite of hers is below - but I was drawn to this gray one above this morning.

Parisian Love

2010-02-24T15:32:00.004-05:00

I'm going to have to agree with my friend Rich at Redsquare: Super Bowl ads were largely under-impressive, except for this one...

Romantic and SO SMART. A reminder that Google plays a much larger role in our lives than we even realize...

My article in Coastal Living...

2010-02-17T13:53:00.005-05:00

Hi! I'm super excited about my article in this month's issue of Coastal Living magazine. I had no idea until I discovered it at the checkout at my local Publix that my story got the cover photo. Cheers to Meg Braff, the fabulous designer of this house, for making my job so easy!

Nu Shooz

2010-02-15T22:22:00.002-05:00

Kind of freaking out about this (re)discovery.

Victorian Collage

2010-02-05T10:15:00.005-05:00

OH. MY. GOD. I am so unexplicably excited by this article/discovery that I can hardly stand it. Weekend project: collage.

Muted Candy Stripe Bed Linens

2010-01-15T09:18:00.004-05:00

These are really nice.

Heaven Can Wait

2009-12-09T14:26:00.006-05:00

New from Beck and Charlotte Gainsbourg (Beck looks so infantile with this haircut).

Compete

2009-12-09T13:45:00.003-05:00

Just stumbled on this, The Hearst 8x10 Photography Biennial. For all of my budding photographer friends (there are SO MANY of you!).

Political Fictions

2009-11-23T09:15:00.005-05:00

New York magazine has started doing this little series called the Political Fictions Project, in which they invite seven writers to submit short stories featuring contemporary political figures. They're also asking for submissions from us laymen, in case anyone is interested. Filing this away in my "wish I'd come up with this" list...

Check out the latest story by Adam Haslett titled "Nightwalk": With Afghanistan on his mind, the president leaves the White House grounds and encounters a stranger...

Persane by Yves Delorme

2009-11-20T17:03:00.003-05:00

I was walking past Pioneer Linens yesterday in downtown West Palm and saw this bedding in the window. So da-bomb.

Zac Posen's New (Cheaper) Line...

2009-11-18T22:19:00.004-05:00

They are calling this "hipster". I call it "lunch-counter chic". And I mean that in a good way. I'm liking the looks of this stuff, specifically the one pictured below. Complete slideshow at WWD.

Me gusto mucho Almodovar

2009-11-18T14:13:00.006-05:00

Pop-culture leaves...

2009-11-18T14:04:00.004-05:00

Loved this little "study in leaves" in the New York Times. A fun Sunday afternoon crafts project if you ask me. See the whole series here.

Good China Bad China

2009-11-12T22:06:00.003-05:00

Fine bone china featuring 7 deadly sins and 7 contrary virtues in prussian blue script. Set includes 12 dinner plates and two serving plates, or can be bought in pairs for $49 at Generate Design. From Remodelista.

New stuff at Coach

2009-11-11T13:50:00.007-05:00

I've never considered myself a Coach fan, but they have some cool stuff lately (disclaimer: I'm in the market for an evening bag).

amanda metallic leather drawstring bag: $198

poppy feather crossbody: $298

poppy sparkle leather mini t-lock cross body: $138.

Amanda Satin Jewelry Roll, $98 (great gift idea, this one).

So what if it was a weave?

2009-11-10T12:23:00.001-05:00

It was still so hot...

The Sartorialist is Nailing it

2009-10-15T13:40:00.008-04:00

My good friend Claire gchatted me today with "I'm in a man phase. Check out the Sartorialist". (Disclaimer: I'm always in a man phase). The new Sartorialist photos make me want to belt a pair of men's corduroys, roll up my sleeves and light a cigarette...

Dori Csengeri- I'm a wannabe collector

2009-10-15T13:31:00.004-04:00

So I returned from a recent trip to Austin with a renewed obsession with Dori Csengeri. There is a store on S. Congress called Maya and frankly, their clothes leave something to be desired but the JEWELRY! They have a great selection of Csengeri and I've decided that it's all I ever want to wear. It's high-end (but decently priced), colorful or not colorful, unique, amazing, incredible, i love it, it's awesome. Check it out.

Guilty Pleasure, So Guilty

2009-10-15T13:30:00.004-04:00

I can't help it. It's so wrong. But I'm posting it anyways.

Campers- High and a Little Higher, Brow

2009-10-07T23:11:00.006-04:00

What is it about campers that incite such wanderlust? I see an airstream on the side of the road and visions of a "Wonder Years" silent film footage trip cross-country ensue- me, the man of my dreams, a golden retriever, good barbeque.

Ah, dreams. In the meantime, check out this camper eye-candy.

The Teardrop trailer, by Silver Tears Campers. Courtesy of Garden and Gun.

This "wagon" as they call them in Britain can be found marooned in a Cornish meadow, where the family of 6 who owns it vacations. They bought it at a roadside sale in mint condition (the family who owned it previously had all of the upholstery covered in plastic). Courtesy of The World of Interiors.

Overexposure- Let's Talk About It

2009-09-24T14:04:00.003-04:00

Barack Obama is getting a lot of flack for last Sunday's media blitz. The critique from most parties? The office of the President is one of prestige, and by offering himself too easily to the masses he will desensitize us to his presence, and most of all his message. Said Peggy Noonan on This Week with George Stephanopoulos,"It's boorish, and it makes people not lean towards you but lean away from you."

These are my thoughts EXACTLY when it comes to the oft-mentioned GOOP, a new online venture of Gwyneth Paltrow's with the tag line "Nourish the Inner Aspect". The company's product is a weekly newsletter geared towards easy and healthy ways of eating, exercising, dressing, and traveling, under the categories of "BE, MAKE, GO, GET, DO, SEE".

It's a really cool idea. And no one would care about the recipes, the exercise regimens, the travel tips if Gwyneth wasn't the one dishing them out. Alas, my critique of GOOP is not GOOP itself, but of Gwyneth and her new role in my life (an overly dramatic statement but hear me out).

I used to worship Gwyneth in the ways that we all idolize move stars that we hope to emulate in looks, demeanor, lifestyle, you name it. She lived the dream-life. Part of the attraction was that her lifestyle was essentially non-attainable to little ol' me.

Now that the distance between us is so short, and I read weekly about the realities of how she stays thin, her detox regimen, how much she loves wheat-grass, and her favorite maternity outfits (which, actually would still be way out of my reach financially), I'm sort of getting sick of her? And frankly, the health food things is bordering on obsessive.

I don't want Gwyneth to be the new Oprah, or god-forbid the new Tyra (I think just vomited in my mouth). And she wouldn't, her style is too different, too subtle, which is probably why she's doing her thing online, and not on daytime T.V.

All I'm saying is that, now that I've got her secrets for a life well-lived, I'm less interested in her life. I just want her to be the fairy tale again. And while I'm at it, can someone just rewind the tapes back to "Change has come to America"? The podium has a way of giving me goosebumps that the chair next to David Letterman can't.

Babycakes

2009-09-24T10:31:00.003-04:00

So, I was turned onto this video by Gwyneth's newsletter, GOOP. I don't know how I feel about that. I plan to get back to you on my love/hate relationship with this new venture of hers. It's like, I kind of liked Gwyneth more when she wasn't trying to be my homegirl, you know? I go back and forth. ANYWAYS, check out this video of Erin Mckenna of Babycakes, the vegan/gluten-free bakery SENSATION (blah blah blah). An Andy Samberg take on icing cupcakes. Funny.

BabyCakes NYC: Frosting Party! from BabyCakes NYC on Vimeo.

The Season for Mad Men

2009-09-17T20:51:00.005-04:00

I'm writing a little piece on Mad Men/50's fashion for a paper here in West Palm called The Coastal Star. The perk was that I got my hair and makeup done and got to dress up all house-wifey. It was DA-BOMB. Check 'er out.

Aretha's Inauguration Hat

2009-09-17T16:16:00.003-04:00

It was friggin' awesome and now they're making a t-shirt with a picture of her wearing it. It's an alternative way to commemorate the occasion. Get 'em while they last.

Casamidy

2009-09-10T12:31:00.006-04:00

Stumbled upon some promotional postcards that the design firm Casamidy sent out to promote their unique vacation rentals in San Miguel de Allende and Paris, to name a few (pictures above. The settings and interiors are simply stunning.

The company, based in Mexico, was started in 1998 by a woman named Ann-Marie Midy and her partner Jorge Almada, fueled by their desire to combine native artisan talent in Mexico with the design concepts that they both studied in school. The result is a product line and design aesthetic that is a rustic, provincial approach to high style. Everything they produce seems worn and cozy and worth keeping, like an old woman with good stories and lots of wrinkles.

Check out their website to learn more: www.casamidy.com

Artist Profile: Adam Stennett

2009-09-02T15:55:00.004-04:00

Paregoric and Three Poppies. 2008. Acrylic on paper 22 x 22 inches.

I came across Adam Stennett's work after seeing his piece "Paregoric and Three Poppies" in an email newsletter from Irvine Contemporary, in my opinion THE best contemporary art gallery in Washington, D.C. I love this series of still life drawings that revolves around strange drugs. Says Irvine,

Adam Stennett has been working with photorealist styles for several years as ways to present provocative scenes that challenge the way we read an image. In recent paintings, he presents what appear to be still-life genre paintings of drug ingredients and over-the-counter medicines. The paintings have an eerie, almost documentary quality, as if an Old Master set up common plants and medical implements in a studio.

To learn more about Adam, go to www.adamstennett.com

Gudrun Sjoden: Scandinavian Inspired

2009-08-31T12:38:00.007-04:00

Autumn 2009

I discovered Gudrun Sjoden after seeing an ad for the company in Telegraph magazine on my recent trip to London. My first reaction was that it looked like the European equivalent to Anthropologie. Similar styles, the difference being that Gudrun Sjoden is both the producer and purveyor of all of its eco-friendly clothing and home goods, and the story of the company's rise is more heart-warming than that of the Urban Outfitters conglomerate.

Gudrun Sjoden, the woman behind the clothing, started the company in 1976 and has stores in Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. You can also order her goods online. The aesthetic is very Scandinavian chic - peasant blouses, witch like booties, hand-embroidered dress coats and the like. But she also has a great jersey line in solids, stripes and polka-dots. The best part is you can wear her things with a good conscience- Gudrun has a no child-labor policy and uses no chemicals in the manufacturing process- and her clothes are relatively inexpensive.

Home 2008

Winter 2008

Paris Shopping: Les Puces de Saint-Ouen

2009-08-27T16:29:00.007-04:00

I was given a tip from a friend that if I wanted to have the ultimate antiquing/vintage shopping experience on my recent trip to Paris, then I MUST wade through the crappy street vendors at Port de Clingancourt and make my way to Les Puces de Saint Ouen- a maze of wonderful vintage clothing, furniture, art, and the like.

Unfortunately, I found myself in Paris when the dollar wasn't worth crap (a week ago) so all I could afford was this (wonderful) 1950's photograph of an Ingrid Bergman look-alike with her beautiful spaniel and his kill.

If you'd like to check this place out, take the 4 line all the way to Port de Clingancourt and ask for Les Puces. It's only a few blocks away from the metro stop. It's open 9am to 6pm, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

Little French Girls

2009-08-26T14:47:00.006-04:00

Here's a tribute- inspired by the little girl I watched for almost half an hour outside of Shakespeare and Co. in Paris (above). The little one below KILLS ME.

Once upon a time... from Capucha on Vimeo.

Quote in Dossier

2009-08-26T14:42:00.003-04:00

I liked this quote in the latest issue of Dossier:

There are those who love to get dirty and fix things. They drink coffee at dawn. Beer after work. And those who stay clean just appreciate things. At breakfast they have milk and juice at night. There are those who do both. They drink tea.

-Gary Snyder

The Home of Albert Maysles

2009-08-03T14:43:00.004-04:00

There is nothing like the authenticity of a well-loved and historied home.

The New Antiquarians

2009-07-30T11:09:00.002-04:00

Story about the popularity of taxidermy and other turn-of-the-century upper crust trinkets. Stuffing dogs is not okay, for the record.

StevenSclaroff.com

2009-07-21T16:55:00.006-04:00

Saw and ad for this website in the summer edition of The Paris Review (ho hum)- very cool furniture, art, lighting, etc. He seems to specialize in "collections" of things, like the desk accessories selection below, sold together for $50.

Exciting Book Purchases

2009-07-20T20:18:00.005-04:00

I'm on an architecture kick and can't get my nose out of these two books:

(Above) It's just a good thing to have and I hope it will one day greatly inform my real estate purchases.

This book is by the renowned architect Christopher Alexander, who teaches at Berkeley. Apartmenttherapy.com has referenced this book several times in regards to "making sense of your surroundings". So far, it reads like the "interiors" version of Jane Jacob's The Death and Life of Great American Cities (sweet original cover below).

Abandonned Drive-In

2009-07-20T16:35:00.002-04:00

Came across this abandonned drive-in theatre on our way to Martinsville, VA from Charlotte, NC for a wedding this past weekend.

Bed Sheets

2009-07-15T17:58:00.004-04:00

Whenever I want nice white sheets, or towels, or the right kind of paint, etc I always blank or where to look to get the 411 on the best at the best prices. Which is why I am posting this from Remodelista, about white sheets and which ones are awesome.

Bedroom: Before and After

2009-07-14T15:07:00.007-04:00

My bedroom was previously this deep mustard yellow/doo doo brown color and you know, I didn't HATE it but I wanted to lighten up the room a little bit, so I painted it white. Here are some before and after shots. I'm also experimenting with the clothes pin system for pinning up clothes that would otherwise be in piles on the floor, photos, hats, laundry that needs air-drying, etc. Any suggestions?

Before:

After:

New Eileen Fisher Ad Campaign

2009-07-12T17:58:00.007-04:00

...And the smart award goes to......Eileen Fisher!

Did anyone else see this on the back inside cover of today's NYTimes Magazine? My friend Claire and I have been saying, in secret, how we kind of LOVE Eileen Fisher and now it seems, Eileen Fisher has caught on. I guess over-sized linen dresses and sweaters used to be a middle-aged woman thing, which would explain EF's decades old ad-campaign targeted to the woman whose has "confidently gone gray", so to speak.

This new ad campaign indicates that they are changing their market. For example, I don't know a single middle-aged Eileen Fisher-ish woman who would sit all thugged out in black ankle boots and a hoodie like above...

College Polaroids

2009-07-10T16:59:00.002-04:00

My First New York Apartment...

2009-07-10T16:02:00.006-04:00

...was a shitty NYU dorm room on Lafayette in Chinatown. The mere thought of it makes me want to throw myself out a window. THIS, THIS does NOT!

Inspiration: Upholstery

2009-07-09T14:35:00.004-04:00

Found these chairs at Dolce here on S. Dixie. Have you ever seen a chair upholstered with this curtain on the back? The shop keeper says it was done in the 60's...so divine.

Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley

2009-07-09T09:40:00.005-04:00

From the music files: I've recently gotten into jazz and am obsessed with this Nancy Wilson/ Cannonball Adderley album.

My two favorites from the album are Save Your Love For Me and Never Will I Marry. Enjoy.

Craigslist Review: South Florida

2009-07-07T11:05:00.006-04:00

Paul McCobb Credenza- $650

Mid Century "Plycraft" standing light fixture - $170

Mid-century Dovetail Tables- $150

Second Home, Starter Budget

2009-07-07T09:47:00.004-04:00

How did I miss this? Such a dream. From NYTimes.

Pollyanna and Pork Pie Hats

2009-07-02T14:52:00.010-04:00

Every 4th of July I get super excited because it is an excuse to wear my pork pie hat. Wearing it makes me feel like I'm at the carnival in the movie Pollyanna. Best party of all time. If I could choreograph any scene in any movie, I swear it would be this one. Here's a tribute...

Steve Martin Does Billy Jean, circa early 80's

2009-07-01T15:41:00.001-04:00

Incredible...

Take a Moment for MJ

2009-06-26T10:26:00.004-04:00

Honestly, I had sort of forgotten what an incredible performer Michael Jackson was since in the last ten years I've only associated him with small children and that one Law and Order SUV episode that was clearly inspired by his latest child molestation trial.

The guy was incredible!!! Check out this tease he puts on in Tokyo in 1987. I'm dabbing my brow by the time it hits 55 seconds.

Morgan Levy Photography

2009-06-25T09:30:00.007-04:00

My good friend Sara has been on a Fulbright scholarship in Bogota, Colombia for the last year. Another friend Morgan Levy, an incredible photographer, went to visit her in February. These are a few pictures from her trip, which I enjoy both for personal reasons and for their beauty— Morgan has a wonderful eye.

A reminder that you never know what you'll find when you travel. All the more reason to hop on that plane.

Wayuu Abuela and Sara

Salt Mines, Uribe, Colombia

Baby dolls, La Macarena, Bogota

Authentic Provence

2009-06-24T13:21:00.005-04:00

You know how wedding planners ALWAYS tell you to "get the tent" just in case it rains, and it bums you out so much, because it ruins the ENTIRE PLAN you've had since you were 16?

Enter Authentic Provence- purveyors of all things authentically provincial, and some amazing amazing pavilions and tents that won't detract from your fantastic ceremony or after party or just any old party your throwing.

All tents are framed in either bamboo or galvanized metal and can be customized per clients request. They are water-resistant and imported from Italy.

My favorites below. DREAMY.

AGGRESSIVE (LY AWESOME).

Dressing Like a Cartoon

2009-06-22T21:44:00.007-04:00

My college friend Diana did this thing (intentionally) for several weeks at school where she wore the same outfit everyday (gray eighties sweatshirt and navy blue shorts). Honestly, I'm not sure if she actually wore THE same outfit everyday or if she owned multiples of these items, but she never smelled bad and looked great so I didn't ask.

At first I was so UN-interested because getting dressed in the morning is like, THE most fun creative activity. But then she made the point that not only was it easy, it was cartoon-ish. Every cartoon character has a uniform that defines them (Charlie Brown, Sheera, Doug). So Diana was sort of like, experimenting with cartoonism, which was totally bizarre but I came to the conclusion that it was THE GREATEST IDEA.

These pictures on Garance Dore are the inspiration for my future cartoon uniform: Canadian tuxedo, in EVERY POSSIBLE COLOR.

Fmr Sen. Sam Nunn on Meet the Press (No, Really)

2009-06-22T12:43:00.006-04:00

I just want to give a shout out to former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA) for spicing up his wardrobe on yesterday's Meet the Press: crayola-ish, hot-red tie matched with the baby blue button-down and the BROWN jacket.The nuclear threat out of Iran and North Korea is fascinating, and the color combo in Sen. Nunn's wardrobe made his comments just that much more enjoyable yesterday. Here's to personal style...

P.S. David Gregory looks really bad in HD.
P.P.S. If I had styled Nunn's look I would have added some tortoise shell glasses to complete the look, duh.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Oliver Peoples, Emerson El Mirage Tortoise Eyeglasses.

Tucker by Gaby Basora

2009-06-18T10:52:00.003-04:00

It's official. I'm in love with Tucker, the new line by Gaby Basora. Simple cuts (slip dress, camisole, short-sleeve or long-sleeve blouses) in your choice of some incredible, understated prints.

Hotel Delano

2009-06-18T09:56:00.002-04:00

Paul and I spent the day in Miami yesterday, and boy, for an hours drive away it felt like we were half-way across the world. Such a difference from the pace and people watching of West Palm Beach. My favorite part of the day was spent at the Hotel Delano, designed by the renowned Phillipe Starck. See pictures below. By all means, a design destination.

So Alice in Wonderland...

Fell in love with this cafe table and matching liquor cart..

Evidently they play classical music under water in the pool...

Old Magazine Ads and Fashion Editorials

2009-06-16T16:59:00.002-04:00

Found these in a bunch of old magazines in an Antique store on my last trip to Big Sky, Montana...

If I remember correctly, this was some advertorial about the future and "computers". These cardboard boxes are different interpretations of the computer of the future. How the little girl fits in I do not know.

Ali McGraw, je t'aime...

Paint Therapy: My Bathroom before and after...

2009-06-16T15:41:00.002-04:00

My mom and I have always said how we would love to be brick layers in our second lives. The process is so simple and therapeutic, as is knitting, and...painting. I was down and out this weekend and in an attempt to keep my mind in a positive place, my boyfriend Paul and I painted my bathroom. Let me just tell you, it was a long time coming...

Before (heinous HOT PINK)...

After (Thin Ice by Valspar)...

Bath Mat (also used as outdoor rug) by Dash and Albert. Shower Curtain by Shabby Chic.

Broken Dolls

2009-06-16T15:21:00.002-04:00

Archival print by Kate Phillips for sale on Etsy.

Broken dolls are really creepy. I had a pair of my moms dolls from childhood (arms amputated) in a little rocker in my room growing up and my friends always made me turn them around to get rid of their stare (see below). Maybe everyone is scared because of the "play things coming alive at night" storyline (think Chucky).

In any case, I like old dolls for the same reason that I like antiques and animals up for adoption— their make-up has been loved off, their arms broken, and now they need a home. It's fun to imagine the lives they've lived.

Yesterday I found this AMAZING mid-century painting of a child and her broken doll that I am in love with and hanging in my bathroom. I think it's got less of the creepy factor because it's 2D.

On Assignment: Yolo Boarding

2009-06-16T14:29:00.002-04:00

I just returned from Grayton Beach Florida where I was on a freelance assignment re: Yolo boarding, the new stand-up paddling craze taking over parts of Florida and California. Here's a glimpse of the photo shoot...

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Photographer Colleen Duffley at work.

To learn more about Yolo boarding, check out www.yoloboard.com. Photos Courtesy of M Public Relations.

Liza Sherman Antiques- NYC

2009-06-09T14:18:00.002-04:00

(My favorite, the Senegalese Oil Barrel Shelving Unit, price upon request).

Strolling through the West Village on my recent weekend in New York, I came across Liza Sherman Antiques- a good mix of industrial, french country and ethnic. The chandeliers are particularly awesome. Check it out.

French drafting table, $6,200. Stage lighting, pricing varies. Late Edo Japanese Handpainted Banner, $3000.

Cumulus Bamboo Chandelier, $1950. Bubble Chandelier, $3800.

Pair of Karl Springer lamps, $2200.

Nude Women

2009-06-02T18:05:00.002-04:00

I once had a friend explain the "tattoo debate" to me this way:

A person is in one of two camps. The first camp looks at the body as a blank canvas, a place where they can create something new. The second sees the body as a work of art in itself, something that shouldn't be tampered with.

I saw this painting at a store on Dixie and fell in love with it. The woman's face and figure are so modern. They seem in many ways to contradict the traditional (draped cloth) set up of the painting. In any case, made me think of the aforementioned argument, body as work of art.

Derby Chairs...

2009-06-02T18:03:00.001-04:00

Campaign Chests

2009-06-02T17:50:00.001-04:00

I found this campaign chest in Birmingham. Asking $215. I had no idea what a campaign chest was. Webster's has two definitions:

1. money collected and set aside for use in a campaign, esp. a political one; a campaign fund.
2. a low chest of drawers having handles at each side for lifting.

I love the look of storage spaces with these tiny little drawers. Check out Desire-to-Inspire's entry on "Card Catalogs". Similar but different. One person even uses is for liquor storage...

French Laundry Basket

2009-06-02T17:45:00.002-04:00

...turned into a table. Would look awesome with stacked books or linens in the interior.Found this at Hanna Antiques In Birmingham, Alabama. Asking $300. Corresponding chairs $45 each.

Dixie Finds: Lounge Chairs

2009-05-14T15:51:00.002-04:00

Found this Eames knock-off at A. Abbott Antiques for $299.You may be able to deal with the downgrades, considering the real thing costs $2,949.

Vintage Recliner. $450 at Hampton Antiques.

Trendspotting: Chalkboards

2009-05-13T09:47:00.002-04:00

My new chalkboard.

You know that scene in Devil Wears Prada, where Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestly) goes on and on about "cerulean blue" and says to Anne Hathaway, "it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room."

I sort of feel like the Andy Sachs character when it comes to chalkboards. Honestly, I peeked my head into this incredibly outdated Office Supply store the other day and left with a giant green chalkboard. I felt innovative. After surfing the design blogs/shops for the last few days, I realize that in all reality, Factory 20 has been feeding my subconscious. They're lovin' the chalkboards. Alas, my purchase was not my own...

From Factory 20:

970s, USA, Great pair of Vintage chalkboards from the highly sought after Monumental Untitled Concepts Collection (MUCC. $885 (1 left in stock)

Jugendstil framed salvaged slate paneling. Thick flowing floral 2 ton heavy canvas ribbon framing bolted around the perimeter. Iron anchor bolting. $4800.

And this super cool chalkboard drawer idea on Remodelista. If you are regularly changing the contents of your drawers, this is a cool way to customize.

Also, from photographer Roland Bello...

Artist Visit: Courtney Garrett

2009-05-12T17:52:00.002-04:00

Several months ago I wrote a piece for Thicket Magazine's March/April issue about the up-and-coming artist Courtney Garrett. While the piece focused on Courtney's career and work, I was also in awe of her design sense after seeing her place in Atlanta. She and her husband live in a converted basketball gym that they've kept clean and simple, but romantic at the same time. Notice the windows in Courtney's studio upstairs, which would normally be above the bleachers.

Courtney in front of one of her pieces (pink), from her Foxglove series.

Notice how great the light is in her studio...

Cashmere Buffalo

2009-05-12T17:07:00.002-04:00

Cashmere Buffalo is a great shop right at the crux of Antique row on Dixie and Rosedale. Their style is much more eclectic, and affordable, than some of the other gold-gilded places on the strip. I particularly like their linen selection. They've got the fancy stuff and the crafty stuff too.

My favorite piece out of the whole lot is the embroidered pillowcase (french) hanging on the arm of the settee. It's shaped like an envelope, and you secure it like you do an envelope as well, at the flap.

Linens range in price from $5 for a set of cocktail napkins to up to $385 for their damask and antique linens.

They've also just recently gotten in these antique Indian vessels. Very heavy, and would look so stellar clustered together in a foyer or on a dining room table. Maybe even next to your bathtub.

Antique Indian vessels, $65-225.

Apartamento Magazine

2009-05-05T13:18:00.001-04:00

Apartamento Magazine

How I missed the launch of this magazine I do not know. Found it online today and am dying to get my hands on a copy. The magazine is based in Milan and uses the tag line "everday interiors". I gather from the images that by "everyday interiors" they mean interiors on a budget, for renters, and young hip folks. It seems a more European, philosophical, non-Conde Nast, masculine version of Domino (RIP). Just ordered my first copy and will report back once I give it a good going-through.

Brown Paper Packages

2009-05-01T14:58:00.002-04:00

When I was in high school, I bought these little yellow butterfly patches and ironed them onto my backpack because of a line I read in Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years Of Solitude. Mauricio Babilonia, lover of Meme, is followed by yellow butterflies wherever he goes. The line reads something like "and she knew he'd been there, because the butterflies were there."

I was 16 and so in love with LOVE. And though the butterflies were totally heinous (in addition to the backpack and the rest of my wardrobe) I still love "fiction-inspired design" for lack of a better term. One that I still cling onto is "brown paper packages" from the song My Favorite Things in The Sound of Music. I just can't stand fancy wrapping paper with balloons and holly berries. I think wrapping things in postal wrap makes it so much more exciting- it always reminds me of getting something in the mail which is the BEST.

Scotch Kraft Postal Wrapping Paper, 30in x 15ft. Get it at any mailing center or crafts store.

It's also a blank slate for your ribbon (string). I like using rope or a really neutral gingham for thank you gifts. For good friends I like picking out a ribbon that suites their personality, and pink velvet for a 16th birthday!

Dixie Find: Beach Pillows

2009-04-29T16:23:00.002-04:00

Sea creatures. These are fun but not too loud. Handmade and asking $450 each, but the store is having a 40% off sale. Christa's South Antiques on Dixie.

These needlepoint pillows are my fave (there are two of them). Asking $200. Elephant's Foot Antiques on Dixie.

Dixie Find: Shi & Erhard

2009-04-28T18:14:00.002-04:00

431 Bunker Rd.
West Palm Beach, FL
(561) 588-7288

Shi & Erhard is by far my favorite shop on Dixie. Part of the fun of antiquing is digging through the rubble, and this place is so dig-friendly. He honestly doesn't have a thing that's "flat", if I can use a musical metaphor here. It may not be your style but it has style. My favorite finds:

HOW INCREDIBLE IS THIS TABLE??? I'm gonna say "industrial cafeteria"? It's in pristine shape. All four connecting chairs swing out from under the table with ease and the decorative iron legs give it just the right touch of femininity. White glass top. Asking $6,500.

Peach, velvet Hollywood Regency love seat.

ELECTRIC red-head. Asking $200.

Dixie Find: Bamboo and Rattan

2009-04-28T17:55:00.002-04:00

Found a whole set of indoor/outdoor bamboo seating in this fabric at Bamboo and Rattan on Dixie. Reminded me of the big leafy wallpaper I've been seeing in a lot of design mags/blogs. And also of the Gucci Spring/Summer '09 ad campaign (above). Joe (owner) has a ginormous roll of it just sitting in the store waiting to be snapped up if anyone is interested. We had an awesome chat. Says he just sold a whole truck load to Johnny Depp for his latest Hunter S. Thompson movie, The Rum Diary. Evidently they're filming it in Puerto Rico. I'll be front row at that one...