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Archive for the ‘Shop It’ Category

Night Night, Amy!

Posted in Décor, Shop It on July 14, 2009| 3 Comments »

For those of us who are fans of the bright, modern, fresh designs of Amy Butler (I sometimes wish I had a daughter just so I could dress her in clothing made with Miss Butler’s fabrics), there’s something new to covet — a just-released line of bedding available at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I had heard word from fellow home design bloggers that Miss Butler would be releasing a line this summer and have been checking in on her site ever since. Thanks to a late-night Twitter check-in tonight, I hear it’s finally available online! Five collections, delicious colors, 400-thread-count sheets and 100% organic…get a good (and beautiful) night’s sleep!

Image credit: Amy Butler Design

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Butterfly Chairs

Posted in Furniture, Outside, Shop It on July 13, 2009| 2 Comments »

I don’t know if they’re making a resurgence, or if the great lounge chair from my childhood home just happens to be everywhere I am right now, but Butterflies seem to be following me. First, a month or so ago while passing through Urban Outfitters — a foldable version with a leather cover. Then in a Ralph Lauren Home ad while reading the Sunday Times. A few weeks later, two set side-by-side as the seating area in a newly-opened local clothing boutique. And finally, the very chair from my childhood on a recent visit to Vermont.

Butterfly chairs, designed by Argentinian architect Jorge Ferrari-Hardoy in 1938, became commercially available when Knoll began producing them in 1947. Since then, numerous manufacturers have produced versions of the original design, and today you can find them a retailers ranging from Modern Furniture Classics to Circa50 to PB Teen.

It’s shape and endless cover choices means the incredibly versatile Butterfly can give a room a strong design statement and be used nearly everywhere. In my house growing up, our Butterfly chair played a leading role indoors, but they can make a really stunning set up outside too, just check out the patio at the Parker Palm Springs…

Parker Palm Springs.AT

Image credit: Apartment Therapy

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French Bull Picnic Set

Posted in Inside the Mudroom, Outside, Shop It, Tabletop on June 29, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Over the weekend I heard a depressing statistic…here in Boston and the surrounding area, we’ve had a grand total of three days of sun in June. Since we don’t, in fact, live in Seattle, I think enduring the ongoing deluge deserves some sort of medal, or at least this sassy and summery picnic set from French Bull. The heavy duty insulated backpack is filled with non-breakable service for four, cutting board, salt & pepper shakers, corkscrew, bottle opener and an oversize blanket — ready for the moment that the sun comes out. Tomorrow?

French Bull Blanket Picnic Set, $150

Image credit: French Bull

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Built by IKEA, Updated by Bemz

Posted in Furniture, Reinvent It, Shop It on June 24, 2009| 1 Comment »

Bemz Couch I’m a big fan of slipcovers. In theory.

When my husband and I bought our first “real” living room furniture (read: not a hand-me-down futon on an unfinished frame with splinters that I slept on beginning my sophomore year of college) every piece was slipcovered. Dirty? Throw it in the washer! Bored with the look? Order another one! The washability was great, but when we did, in fact, get bored with the look, I dicovered it was going to cost $750 to get a new slipcover for an $800 club chair. If only I had bought that chair at IKEA and then, if only I had known about Bemz, things would have been different.

Bemz, a Stockholm-based company whose products can be found only online, specializes in custom slipcovers for the most popular sofa and chair models from IKEA including the Ektorp, Klippan, Lillberg and more. The fabric offering is vast (but not too vast — a plus in my book), and prices are reasonable (a slipcover for a 4-seater Klippan sofa is about $200), but the real clincher for me is that Bemz offers slipcovers in Marimekko prints.

If only I had known. Our big ol’ club chair would’ve been from the IKEA PS collection and covered in Marimekko’s Unikko poppies…or maybe navy linen…or orange cotton…

Image credits: Bemz

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Mudroom Shoe Rack

Posted in Inside the Mudroom, Organization, Shop It on June 22, 2009| 1 Comment »

I had been planning on waiting until next Fall to re-think the “mudspace” at my back entry, but with all this ridiculous rain flooding us in New England, I think I might need to figure out a better system for our family of wellies before October. This simple, utilitarian, yet handsome boot rack from Winsome Wood should do the trick. With three shelves for shoes, a slot for umbrellas and removable metal tray for wet footwear, this looks likes a perfect fit for small spaces.

Winsome Wood Shoe Rack, $82.99

Image credit: organize.com

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Toss One On

Posted in Décor, Furniture, Reinvent It, Shop It on June 18, 2009| 1 Comment »

One day recently, I was at a friend’s house consulting on a living room reinvention (maximum change for minimal cash) and I spent some time extolling the virtues of throw pillows and their ability to pull together a room through pattern, update a couch or chair, or just generally add visual interest to a space that’s spare on accessories. So on that note, let me share some of my faves from this season:

Look to CB2 for some great cheap and chic options, including the Kala Pillow, featuring a collage of bright fabrics in graphic bars.

For a summery addition to your living room, look to L.L. Bean’s new Maine Isle Throw Pillow collection including the starfish motif in navy cotton.

As the Fourth of July approaches and I reflect in my renewed sense of pride in our country, I’m loving the American Pillow Cover Collection from Restoration Hardware, particularly that little boudoir Flag pillow cover.

Because there are so many unique, affordable options for pillows from major retailers, as well as local artisans through sites like Etsy, I wouldn’t normally advocate for a spending a ton of hard-earned cash. But after catching a glimpse of John Robshaw’s new collection which includes a series of stunning handpainted pillows, I’m advocating. If you can spare it, I support it…and feel free to pick up the Painted Stork for me while you’re at it.

Image credits (from top to bottom): CB2; L.L.Bean; Restoration Hardware; John Robshaw

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A Lamp of One’s Own

Posted in Décor, Shop It on June 16, 2009| 2 Comments »

Lamp The very first time I saw the “U-Fill-It Lamp” from Circa Lighting, I fell in love. Dining room? Fill it with elegant glass marbles. Craft room? Colorful skeins of yarn. Office? Gumballs, definitely. I had an idea for every room in my house, but at this point in my life I can’t justify a $315 lamp that I don’t really need, no matter how gorgeous. Luckily, as I was perusing one of my favorite blogs, This Young House, I came across this perfectly terrific look-a-like, available at Amazon.com for $99. Until the whopping daycare payments are out of our monthly budget permanently, these will do the trick!

Image credit: Circa Lighting

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With an oink oink here, and an oink oink there…

Posted in Décor, Shop It on June 11, 2009| 1 Comment »

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

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Vase 101

Posted in Décor, Reinvent It, Shop It, Tabletop on June 9, 2009| 1 Comment »

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:

Mugs
Trumpet-shaped
Collection of bud vases
Cylinder
Ginger jar
Pitcher
Footed bowl
Regular bowl

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.}

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Hooray! Les Toiles du Soleil Fabric Online!

Posted in Décor, Make It, Shop It, Tabletop on June 9, 2009| 2 Comments »

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!