Posted in Kids' Stuff, Make It, Shop It, Tabletop on November 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »
It’s 24 hours until Thanksgiving…have you set your table yet?
Get yourself over to Boston Mamas to see my elegant and kid-friendly Thanksgiving table, then hit your local craft store for the supplies. It will keep your kids busy and get your table ready for family mayhem. Promise.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Posted in Décor, Make It, Reinvent It, Tabletop on November 22, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Over on Boston Mamas, my Use-What-You-Own Hanukkah Table Setting is featured. Fun! Central to the design are these pretty dipped vases. They’re super easy to make, customizable for any holiday or event, and usable long after the celebration is over.
Ready to go? Here’s what you need:
Please note that the paint WILL COME OFF if these vases are put in a dishwasher or washed by hand with too much vigor. Rinse and dry carefully to make them last!
Posted in Make It, Tabletop, What Do You Want to Change? on April 10, 2013| Leave a Comment »
THIS?
Took SIX MINUTES.
And my kids — okay, one of my two kids — devoured it before I even sat down.
For all you real chefs out there, THIS, in SIX MINUTES, won’t surprise you.
But for me, who can barely get dinner on the table each night, it is HUGE.
Find the recipe at Make More, Buy Less — another place where you can find me (talking less about design-y things and more about, well, pretty much everything else).
Posted in Décor, Floors, Furniture, Inside the Mudroom, Kids' Stuff, Linens, Organization, Outside, Shop It, Tabletop, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do? on April 2, 2013| Leave a Comment »
A few weeks ago I made the long trek down to IKEA to pick up a bookshelf for my younger son’s room. He has about 2,763 books and I wanted to poke my eyes out every time I went into his room because it was such a sty. When I was visiting my mom in North Carolina, we went to a pretty little museum shop in Chapel Hill and I fell in love with their display shelves. Turned out that they were from IKEA’s BESTA media storage line, so I hightailed it down to my local shop as soon as I returned.
I don’t know about you, but every time I go to IKEA I’m sort of blown away by how awesome it is. I’ve been buying IKEA wares for nearly 20 years — from furnishing my first post-collegiate New York City apartment to replacing my most-loved stock pot just a few months ago. Mid-century-inspired furniture, Swedish holiday accessories, live plants (including fiddle leaf fig plants — I scored three the last time I was there!), the design-y P.S. line…I love it all. Here are my five favorites right now:
1. BESTA Shelf Unit – Used as a museum store display, intended to hold living room electronics, purchased for my son’s excessive library. I no longer want to poke my eyes out every time I go into his room. 2. SOCKER Vase (set of 2) – got them in the coral and aqua (couldn’t resist). 3. RENS Sheepskin – graces the back of my office chair. 4. UPPTACKA Shopping Bag with Wheels – perfect for flea- or farmers-marketing. 5. EIVOR Throw – super cozy, light, and graphic.
What’s your favorite IKEA item? Tell me below or on the Mudroom Boston Facebook page. You’re a fan, right?
Posted in Interiors, Reinvent It, Shop It, Tabletop on March 26, 2013| 4 Comments »
Last week, I spent a few days with my mom at her home in North Carolina. Although I didn’t grow up there, it seemed that every time I opened a closet or cabinet, some object behind the door reminded me of my childhood. These great hobnail goblets — my grandmother’s originally — were such objects.
I have loved these goblets for as long as I can remember, sparkly and fancy, filled with memories of my mom’s unsweetened iced tea with two lemons. In fact, if you were to say the word “goblet” to me (does anyone even say goblet anymore?), these glasses are what would spring to mind. When I became old enough to use such fancy glassware — twelve, maybe — I drank my milk out them each night at dinner. And even when I came home for breaks during college, they were the first glasses I reached for when I wanted to throw back an iced Coke with a bag of chips while watching a 90210 marathon (ah, youth).
Lucky for me, my mom decided that she’d had enough years enjoying the glasses and sent them home with me this time. Now I’m hoping my boys love them as much as I do.
So, dear readers, is there tableware from your childhood that conjures up memories for you? And have you gotten to hold on to some pieces for your generation or the next?
All images by Paige Lewin. For similar hobnail lovelies, visit Etsy or ebay.
Posted in Art, Décor, Floors, Furniture, Inside the Mudroom, Inspiration, Interiors, Kids' Stuff, Lighting, Linens, Organization, Outside, Shop It, Tabletop, Walls, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do?, Windows on August 22, 2012| Leave a Comment »
As a mother of two who has dedicated nearly my entire professional life to aligning large organizations with causes, I am excited to be a part of Macy’s Shop for a Cause fundraiser supporting the March of Dimes!
Did you know that the March of Dimes was established in 1938 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, inspired by his own battle with polio? In fact, March of Dimes funded research for vaccines developed by Dr. Jonas Salk and Dr. Albert Sabin — the vaccines that ended childhood polio. In 1958, having addressed its primary mission to end the polio epidemic, the March of Dimes shifted its focus toward birth defect prevention. Today, the organization is focused on preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality, as well as advancing maternal and health research. For those of you who have had babies in the last decade or so, you’re probably well aware of both their folic acid and prematurity awareness campaigns, both of which have worked toward healthy, full-term pregnancies for all women.
Now’s your chance to support March of Dimes and get up to 25% off your purchases at Macy’s — all for $5.
Simply buy a $5 Macy’s saving pass that will provide 25% off on regular, sale & clearance items, including home items (please note that you will receive 10% off electronics, watches, furniture, mattresses, rugs/floor coverings), and Macy’s will donate 100% of the $5 cost of the savings pass to the March of Dimes to help give more babies a healthy start in life.
So you want to know the details?
From now until August 25: buy passes in-store (good for in-store purchases only)
August 25 only: buy a $5 savings pass online at macys.com (good for online purchases only)
SHOP, SHOP, SHOP on August 25! Use your passes online or in stores (depending on where you bought them). Two stores in Massachusetts will hold Shop for a Cause on Friday, August 24 AND Saturday, August 25 — Boston (450 Washington Street, Boston) and Berkshire (170 Old State Road, Lanesboro). So if you want to get shopping early, you can go on August 24 to either of these two stores, buy a pass, and shop.
Want to see my Shop for a Cause wish list?
Gold is having a moment throughout the house, and I’m LOVING this Marchesa by Lenox hostess set!
The shape, shade, and color of this table lamp from Pacific Coast are perfect.
My husband and I were given a single glass cake stand for our wedding 12 years ago, but I could find many uses for this one from The Cellar collection. Great for displaying baked goods or using as a tiered centerpiece filled with fruit and flowers.
Add texture to your living room with these faux bois vinyl coasters from Chilewich. (psst – they’re a bargain closeout!)
These Sandpiper tidbit plates from Kate Spade would be a great hostess gift, or framed out in shadow boxes and hung on the wall.
On a trip to Atlanta last year, I fell in love with a natural fiber cocktail table, but decided against it because the shape didn’t work with our sectional. This cocktail table is perfect!
With two boys and a mountain biking-husband, I use indoor/outdoor rugs throughout our home. This runner from Couristan is a beauty! (Please note that rugs are excluded from Shop for a Cause online purchasing, but are eligible for the discount in-store!)
Inspired? Purchase your pass, help babies, and get shopping!
Image credit: all images from macys.com
Complete details about Macy’s Shop for a Cause fundraiser can be found here.
This post (+ my sharing on social media) was inspired by my participation in a compensated program initiated by Women Online/The Mission List to raise awareness about the March of Dimes/Macy’s charitable fundraiser. All commentary, opinions, and fabulous finds are, of course, my own.
Posted in Kids' Stuff, Linens, Shop It, Tabletop, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do? on October 12, 2011| Leave a Comment »
{Love that pink and green}
I started shopping at the fabulous One Kings Lane more than a year ago and have scored some seriously fabulous deals. But even better than the deals are the home artisans, designers, and companies to which I’ve been introduced, and Pomegranate, Inc. is the latest in a long list. A couple of weeks ago when Pomegranate came up as one of OKL Sales of the Day, I was immediately attracted to the bold colors and block printing. The price was right, so I picked myself up a pair of much-needed oven mitts (yes, much-needed…our current singular oven mitt was given to us eleven years ago as part of a wedding gift), as well as a birthday gift for a girlfriend (the item and print shall remain nameless for fear of revealing the recipient!).
{Aforementioned much-needed oven mitts. Cute, no?}
The pieces arrived today and I love them even more in person than I thought I would, so I jumped on the company’s site and scrolled around to see what else they had to offer. In addition to the pretty aprons and table textiles Pomegranate sold on OKL, the company also offers inexpensive curtain panels, fun embroidered cocktail napkins and hand towels and sweet twin quilts that would be perfect in a child’s or guest bedroom. Have fun shopping!
{Quilt made in soft cotton voile}
And if you haven’t tried One Kings Lane, you really must! It’s by invitation-only, so consider yourself invited!
Posted in Décor, Fashion, Inspiration, Linens, Shop It, Tabletop, What Do You Want to Change?, What Do You Want To Do? on July 28, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Does it annoy anyone else that “Bed Bath & Beyond” isn’t “Bed, Bath and Beyond”?
Just me?
Okey dokey.
Anyhoo…in case you haven’t heard, Kate Spade has made her way to BB&B. Maybe this is old news, but since I had a temporary absence from the design blogosphere, I missed the announcement until about three weeks ago. She’s got some VERY cute stuff including dinnerware, crystal, and linens. But my very favorite piece in the entire collection is this little number…
One hundred percent cotton bedskirt perfection.
Love.
{And yes, I promise my next post won’t be about stripes. Perhaps I should add “stripe-obsessed” to my profile?}
Photo credit: Kate Spade Heirloom Roses Bed Skirt, Bed Bath &Beyond
Posted in Art, Décor, Floors, Furniture, Interiors, Lighting, Shop It, Tabletop, Walls on February 7, 2011| 2 Comments »
I know it’s a sin, but I’m just not that religious. Here’s what I’m coveting for my home this month…how about you?
Casually elegant stemware that can serve up milk or mimosas equally well,
simply beautiful turned wood lamps,
Michael A. Palmer’s view of the world,
and perfect flatware for parties, picnics or pasta.
Image credits: Hartland Stemware, Simon Pearce; Fish Design Rug, Landry & Arcari, White Turned Table Lamp, Hudson; ch24 Wishbone Chair, Hive Modern; Boat House by Michael A. Palmer, Van Ward Gallery; Seaborne Flatware, Anthropologie
Posted in Art, Décor, Floors, Furniture, Inside the Mudroom, Interiors, Kids' Stuff, Organization, Outside, Reinvent It, Shop It, Tabletop, Walls, Windows on January 28, 2011| 2 Comments »
Logic quiz:
Poor self-image is to fashion magazines as WHAT is to home decor catalogs?
I don’t know either, but sometimes I feel like I have it, whatever IT is. Occasionally I get sort of taken over by staging my house…rolling up the throw blankets and storing them just-so in a gorgeous basket (you’re cold? grab one of these!), propping the white ceramic fish platter in a plate holder on my kitchen counter (look, it’s art!), stacking up a pretty set of books by my bedside (who has time to read?). Maybe it’s some form of OCD, or maybe it comes from buying and selling multiple houses in the past five years (never know when you’re gonna have to put it on the market!), but I suspect that some of the obsession comes from looking through too many home design catalogs and shelter pubs.
Luckily, my little brother pointed me to a hilarious site that reminds me how idiotic some of those scenes from Pottery Barn (and others) are. Catalog Living follows the fictional life of Gary and Elaine, the passive-aggressive, accessory-obsessed couple who live in your catalogs. Created by actor and Tufts graduate Molly Erdman, Catalog Living now serves as my daily reminder that I shouldn’t worry if my throws aren’t just-so.
{But really, a little staging never hurt anyone.}
Image credit: Catalog Living, January 20, 2011
| M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
The Mudroom 
