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Last night, after a couple of weeks of successful -- ahem -- coaching, my husband and I felt secure enough to move the changing table out of our youngest son's room. Now presented with a completely blank wall of opportunity, I'm thinking shelves filled with his ever-growing book collection, broken up with pig heads and bums...how cute are these?
Animal Index by Hiroshi Sasagawa, $23, pig, reindeer and giraffe heads and hindquarters
Image credit: greenergrassdesign
Here in New England, the peonies have bloomed, the hydrangeas are leafing up and snapdragons are just around the corner -- perfect timing for a little tutorial from House Beautiful on the eight vases to have at the ready for gorgeous, simple summer arrangements:
My go-to vase right now isn't even meant for flowers...it's an IKEA glass placed carefully into a small drawstring bag I picked up late last month at Les Toiles du Soleil in New York (I wasn't sure what I was going to do with that little bag when I bought it, but I knew I had to have it!).
{Find House Beautiful's eight favorite vases and sample floral arrangements here.}
Pursuant to last week's post on Les Toiles du Soleil, I am happy to report that Paper Source is carrying a small collection of the delicious striped canvas online! So for those of you who won't be making it to New York anytime soon, and aren't too jazzed about ordering over the phone, you can order by the meter here!
Image credit: Paper Source
Once upon a time, after an auspicious run-in with a $20 drop leaf table, some rockin' Paper Source paper and a good deal of Mod Podge, I had fantasies of making a living reinventing Craig's List furniture into masterpieces. That was until it took me five days to scrape, sand and do a masterfully bad job of decoupaging my bargain. I was so tired after the experience that I still (almost a year later) haven't found the where-with-all to refinish the table legs.
Turns out someone else had my great idea, but was far better equipped to deliver on it. While browsing the SoWa Market yesterday in Boston's South End, my pal Greer and I had the good fortune of coming upon Jamaica Plain-based Chroma Lab. Owners Alicia Cornwell and Tony Bevilacqua transform vintage pieces in need of some love and attention (and maybe some nails and glue too) and turn them into things of beauty. I was drawn to Alicia and Tony's tent because of this joyful Marimekko-covered chair, but once inside discovered even more swoon-worthy items including a pair of sinuous yellow lamps and the practical-joking Pretend Table, faux bois-finished with the wood grain likeness so real that it wasn't until I got home and was checking out their site that I realized the piece was painted.
Best of all (I think) is that they do custom jobs -- so if you have a piece-of-junk dresser that you are ready to trash, get in touch with them and be prepared to fall in love.
Image credit: Chroma Lab
Between the family events of last weekend and my little brother's college graduation tomorrow, entertaining and celebrating have been on my mind. I love creating beautiful table settings (or "tablescapes" in design-ese), so whenever I see interesting linens, dinnerware or other tabletop accessories, I'm instantly drawn. My latest table candy? These colorful (and functional) grosgrain ribbon "belt" napkin rings from Social Couture. At $12 for 8, I'm not sure you could even make them for less...
Image credit: Social Couture