Category Archives: Her Home

Where to Live: Part 2


Last week I posted the beginning of a debate on where to live.  Is life better in the city, or the country, etc?  And then this past weekend as I was wandering the aisles of the Internet I discovered this very clever crowd sourced answer to that debate via Travel & Leisure magazine.

T & L readers rated America’s top cities in a variety of categories and then you can compare them online and find out which city wins in a face-off.

Because I am sucker for cool infographics, and online games of this nature, I played with this for a while.

I compared where I currently live to where I grew up, and in a rare moment of city excellence, DC won…

If you’ve lived in, or visited, a number of these cities it is really interesting to see how the general public views your town and if your own opinions match up.  For instance, DC is tech savvy and Miami is style savvy.

Fun little way to look at the best and worst of each city.

Dream Home: City Edition


Being married into real estate – Mark is a developer – I look at houses all the time.  At first I only looked at homes in the city where we live and work, but then my imagination got the best of me and began “trolling” real estate in other cities and began to identify what I like and where.

I have a really clear sense of what I like in most settings and over the next few Mondays I’ll be sharing them with you, but first up, the most perfect (in my opinion), city loft apartment.

This is the New York City apartment of Devon and Phil Radizwill as featured in Vogue.

Living Room

Shared Office and Library Space

Fun and Games

Time for Rest

What I love: the clean lines, the enormous original panel windows, the exposed brick, the wood and cement floors, the mix of masculine and feminine design, and the pops of color through beautiful art installations and fresh flowers.

I think of liking real estate in the same way as shopping for a wedding dress, when you know, you know.  There is something about it that just fits better than all the rest.  The other good thing, like a wedding dress, it only has to fit for a short while, not the rest of your life as you know your needs and tastes change.

Do you have a city home/apartment style?

 

Where to Live?


The other day on Twitter, someone tweeted how excited they were to be traveling to the place where all of her favorite people live… and it got me thinking, well, then why doesn’t she just move there?

Choosing where to live is often an organic decision determined slow and overtime by inertia, or lightning quick and surprising (to everyone, but you).

Where do you live?  Are you a city mouse or a country mouse?  Where did you think you would live when you “grew up”? Or do you think you’ll keep moving as you keep growing up?

We had an interesting discussion last night about living in an area that is popular, aka visited by a lot of people who don’t live there.  And the two sides of the coin showed that this area would always be vibrant and full of activity, but it would also always be transient and visited by people who wouldn’t love it and treat it like home.

I think that’s why so many people like to travel, it introduces us to new places, broadens our horizons, strengthens our capacity and willingness to explore, and then, when we return home we are once again, if at least only for a moment, delighted by the familiar.

Home, Sweet Home.

Tea (or Coffee) for Two


I am not really a tea or coffee drinker.  I grew up in the age of Clueless, and at an impressionable 10 years old, I believed Cher Horowitz when she shunned coffee because it would eventually stunt her growth.  I’m 5’9 – so you tell me…

Anyway, while I don’t get buzzing over a cup filled with coffee, the same cannot be said about coffee cups.  As the weather turns cooler how lovely would it be to plop down on an oversize sofa cushion with a fresh cup of coffee, or cocoa in one of these charming little cups.

Cup of Letters at Anthopologie

A Kissed Cup by Reiko Kaneko

Heartfelt Cup by Yedi Drinkware at Macy's

I think these would make a great cup for your own home, or as a gift.

A few years ago I used the letter cups for small Christmas gifts and housewarming presents.   They were a great hit, and a very affordable way to send a personalized token.

The heart cups are just dreamy for a ladies – only tea party or shower.  So if you buy housewares for a future event, consider them.

The lipstick kissed cup is perhaps my favorite.  I love the touch of sparkle, the dripping gold (or platinum) and the idea of a more glamorous morning cup.  Besides, who really wears lipstick to the breakfast table?

 

How do you take your coffee?  On the run, in a fancy cup, with cream and sugar?

Butterfly Bash 2011


On Friday night (10/14/2011) more than 500 people, 60 organizations and 30 corporations came together at the Andrew W. Mellon auditorium to celebrate Fair Chance and its work supporting more than 50,000 children, youth and young adults at the 5th annual Butterfly Bash.

Fair Chance was founded in 2002 by Amanda Marshall, who spoke at the event saying, “When I started Fair Chance in 2002, my vision was to provide dynamic and passionate nonprofit leaders with critical business skills so they could not only help more children, but be around for years to come to support the families who were counting on them the most. And, it has worked! In less than 10 years, we have supported almost 60 organizations which in turn have positively impacted the lives of over 54,000 children in the communities of greatest need in DC.”

Amanda Marshall, Founder of Fair Chance awarding Katharine Weymouth, Publisher and CEO of the Washington Post and 2011 Butterfly Bash Honorary Chair

Also speaking at the event the Honorary Chair, Katharine Weymouth, Publisher of the Washington Post, and Co-Chairs Julie Maner and Megan Rupp.

The 2011 Butterfly Bash smashed previous years’ fundraising records, bringing in $200,000 including more than $22,000 raised in a live auction at the event. These proceeds allow Fair Chance to support an additional 10 organizations and the thousands of children they serve within the next year. Fair Chance has impacted over 54,000 children and youth living in Wards 5, 6, 7, and 8 and helped transform nearly 60 nonprofit organizations. The organization’s proven Partnership Program, provides more than 300 hours of free coaching and support to small, youth-based nonprofits helping them do what they do better and do more of it.

About the Event…

The Good: The food!  Great catering from Ridgewell’s Catering, particularly fabulous were the caprese skewers.  Also delightful were the take home treats from BLT Steak that were devoured before the valet arrived.

Take Home Treats from BLT Steak: 2011 Butterfly Bash

The Better: The set up of the room encouraged guests to mix, mingle and dance to the fun Jangling Reinhardts, the evening’s band.

The Jangling Reinhardts: 2011 Butterfly Bash

The Fabulous: A crowd that came to celebrate and support a great cause.

Sparkle for Fall


I recently got my West Elm catalog and I was delighted!  West Elm, Pottery Barn’s more modern and affordable sister, is offering a Fall and Holiday collection that I am swooning for.  It has everything I could hope for, some whimsy, some metallic and lots of sparkle.

Here is what I am loving for my home for this fall.

In the living room:

I love the texture on these pillows.  The sparkle is a luxe touch to the natural linen and canvas bases.  How fun would these be on our couch?  (hint, hint!)

Sequin Pillows

These frames, also match a set of small boxes, they have a fabulous pebbled texture and could look sleek and fresh at home.

Shagreen Frames

For the table:

These plates were a guaranteed winner: letterpress and gold?!  Sold.

Letterpress Plates

Is anyone else thinking what I am thinking?  Appetizer and dessert party for the holiday season?

Dessert Banded Plates

Do you decorate for the season with color or more traditional touches?

Haunted Houses


Welcome to October, it is nearly the bewitching hour and time to start thinking about All Hallow’s Eve.

There is something about Halloween, maybe the chocolates, or the “bloody” Mary’s that brings out the kooky and creepy in us all.  So, I started thinking about decorating for a spook-tacular Halloween.

There are lots of ways to decorate for Halloween, my three  favorite: the spooky, the sparkly, the seasonal.

The spooky:

Martha Stewart, Halloween 2011

Jack-O-Lantern Fireplace

The sparkly:

Wendy Addison with West Elm

Glitter Pumpkin from Sweet Paul

The seasonal:

Fall Harvest Mantle

No Carve Pumpkin Decor

Which of these are a treat for you?  And which are just a trick?

Unusual Homes


Our house is over a hundred years old, and so often I wonder about the people who lived here before we did, what the house and their lives within it looked like at the time.  But our house has always been a house.  What if your house was once a church, or lighthouse, or other functioning space.

Cool or weird?

Many months ago, while real estalking, I came across this “house” in San Francisco.  It was once a church, and if the spirits moved you and you had $6.6 million it might be a great deal.

Check out these very church-like details:

Stain glass windows

Altar and Living Room

Dining Room

Well, at least you’d know that there would be good acoustics and plenty of room for a crowd…

 

Would you ever live in an unconventional or converted home?

 

50 Nifty Ways to Decorate


Do you decorate with patriotic flare or geographic influence?  I got to thinking the other day how everything in fancy design books and catalogs are all either Tuscan or French inspired and how very often that is just code for big, and distressed leather and wrought iron.  Don’t get me wrong, it can be fabulous, but I was thinking a little closer to home.

As a Florida girl I can barely resist this print found on Etsy.  I don’t know if it would totally ridiculous in a home outside of Florida, but I do like the cheekiness of it all.

State Print from Etsy

 

Everyone I know who is from NY truly lives in a NY state of mind and this vintage-y and faded print could be perfect for them.

State of Mind Print

 

We have one of these, for DC, not Boston and I love it.  It is a cool way to see all of your cities neighborhood and towns.

Boston Print

 

I have been a fan of this print set for a while now.  It is pretty summery feeling and of course tied to the wonderful song by the Beach Boys but a fun way to show your coastal allegiance.

Beach Boys Print

 

There are no shortage of subway signs, clearly, and while is a super pricy version of that look, it is still “trendy.”   If you’re looking for this style for a lot less, you can definitely DIY it or find a similar style at discount shops or Etsy.

Subway Sign

 

Would you decorate with maps, and city/state inspired art?    My favorite is the Beach Boys print it is so playful and fun.

Which would you choose?

Missoni for Target, a Budget Fashionista’s dream


If you are so lucky to be able to access the Missoni collection on Target today, consider yourself very lucky and get to shopping.  I am a documented Missoni fan, and to date have only been able to lust over that multicolor chevron knit.

But, if the Target server’s cooperate, this is what I want…  (Italian drum roll, please)

Just the skirt, Missoni for Target

Just the pants, Missoni for Target

Makeup Kit, Missoni for Target

"Silk" Scarf, Missoni for Target

Espresso, Missoni for Target

Martini, Missoni for Target

Martini, Missoni for Target

Art, Missoni for Target

Will you be braving the crowds and shopping this collection online?  Fingers crossed for the Target server (and cashiers!)