midcentury love

what's your feeling on the midcentury modern pieces that have become all but ubiquitous over the last few years? the two that come to mind immediately are the saarinen table (replete with tulip chairs as seen here) and the eames molded chair. although there's a part of me that desires them less because it seems everyone has them now, there's a larger, more pronounced part of me that feels like if i still love a piece regardless of how mainstream it's become, then who really cares? 


are there items you've loved, only to love them less when you see them everywhere? does ubiquity water down something we love? does it have to? i think not. look at all the gorgeous ways these two iconic pieces can be used and enjoyed...the one thing i probably wouldn't do is use them together, but mixed with other special and not-so-special pieces? eclectic perfection.


i love the idea of a slightly less-oft seen take on these special pieces like the saarinen table with a marble top or in an oval shape, or the eames chair as a rocker in a punchy color.

p.s. this saarinen replica is under $200. just saying...ubiquity be damned.

images from here, here, here and linked sites

getting ziggy with it

i'm having a zigzag moment, majorly. since i'm dreaming of moving to a new place, it opens up all kinds of thoughts about new things...new colors, new patterns, new ways of mixing said colors and patterns...here are some of my favorite chevron/ziggy items right now.

there's the zig zag printed rug in so many fun colors, and it's so reasonably priced. i love the idea of the black and white one in a kitchen or entryway, and the serene light blue one would be perfect in a bedroom that dabbles in grays, whites and blues.

and then the zigzag duvet ... i love the gray version to be mixed with lots of white pillows and textiles, or the idea of the amazing saffron color in pillowcases against an otherwise solid or monochromatic bed.

and how about the ziggy chair? i love the thought of the navy one used in an otherwise preppy, nautical style room.

and then i die for this amazing print for a pair of x-benches or an awesome chair. does ballard designs not kill it?

obsessional over these gorg bangles...

 and of course there can't be a complete conversation of zigzag without talking about missoni...have you seen the missoni for bugaboo stroller? check it.

are you getting ziggy with me?

laundry in french is so much better

i so love all these textiles from french laundry home...gorgeously spun linen that sings with that vintage, timeless look. they're made in plain, in pitch-perfect stripes and then also in coordinating prints - i really love the whole grain sack look, and the numbers too. do you not just want to crawl into a bed dressed with these beauties? i think with too much of it, it could easily be overly sweet (like this), but with one or two thrown in unexpectedly to an otherwise eclectic or modern mix, i'm in love.

and how about these chairs? would love one at a mixed-and-matched table of chairs, no two alike. it's this concept, though i've started to like the idea of leaving each chair in its own color too.

plain and simple

i think everyone interested in home design knows about the truly amazing selection of drawer pulls and cabinetry hardware available everywhere from anthropologie to urban outfitters to home depot and the myriad ways it can spruce any room. they make such amazing ones that are pieces of art in themselves.

but the dresser above was a pleasant reminder of how lovely it can be to choose a very simple and unfussy option - they don't have to be expensive or complicated or vintage or anything in particular. doesn't this combination look nice?

image

saying yes to holes

for some reason, i find things that are perforated so particularly nice. one of my favorite little home objects is a perforated metal votive holder, which creates a spotted effect as it splays light on the walls. for that reason, creating tin can luminaries seems a fine idea (maybe this could be a use for the coffee cans mitchell insists on saving...don't ask).

along similar but less amish lines, i love this awesome pendant light from crate and barrel:

it's now discontinued which makes me very sad since i've had it bookmarked for my new apartment, whenever that happens.

and my heart bursts for this pierced wood train station bench. i think if i could choose one item to possess today, this would be it. how lovely would it be in an entryway, a mudroom, a shaded front porch...it would even transform a lonely hallway.

in the accessory space, i love the recent-ish rash of perforated leather bags all over. i wasn't sure at first, but now i'm very, very sure indeed.

there's the gorgeous pink one above and this one...

this one...

and this one...

oh, and a big YES on the perforated leather shoes too.

i love when a certain concept like "perforation" can come into your life in so many ways in the form of light, furniture, personal style and more. such a yes.

throw me a bone

how do you feel about objects for the home with bone inlay? i loooooove them. i think they contribute perfectly to exactly the type of design that's speaking to me right now...eclectic, culturally influenced and not too perfectly matched.

i love it in every incarnation here...polished and glam, international, relaxed, tribal, elegant and everything in between.

probably my most favorite is the room above with the bone inlay dresser...i don't think it's any coincidence that the room also hold some of my other favorites...an x bench and a suzani pillow included.

images from here and here