W is for... Whimsy

I am all for whimsical interior design - and designers like Jonathan Adler - who know how to keep design fun and light. It's not brain surgery, and sometimes it's fun to bring silly elements in to keep things happy and silly.

Love these silly tabletop items from Uncommon Goods...

Illusion wine glasses - in which the wine looks like it's floating inside the surrounding glass.


And this creamer --
Moo!!!


And an adorable Anthropologie lamp - adorable for a girl's room!
Happy Whimsy Tuesday!

T is for... Tabletop

With the holidays upon us, a gorgeous tabletop is a top priority for most hostesses. While I didn't get to do any major holiday hosting this year, these are some ideas I will keep on the back burner until my next big fete.

I LOVE this image from House Beautiful - a tabletop design idea by Martha Angus, a San Francisco interior designer.
Between the de Gournay wallpaper as tablecloth and the gorgeous gold accents, I'm in love.

Here are some accessories I'd add to the mix:

These chic Modern Monogram cocktail napkins by Sferra (featured in Elle Decor) are tre chic. Love the clean font.



These goodies were suggested by Kelly Wearstler in House Beautiful - my stepmom has those dishes - they might slowly start disappearing from her house (and into my purse!)The glasses are Michael C Fina, the dishes are vintage Sascha Brastoff "Surf Ballet," and the flatware in Alessi.


This pineapple bottle opener would be a good replacement for my current Target one.

By Verdura (featured in Elle Decor.)


I also love this tablescape from House Beautiful - this one by Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge.

Some more things I'd add to the mix:


Gorgeous mother-of-pearl spreaders from Williams-Sonoma Home.
From In Style magazine, Nov 09.


And some fabulous horn tumblers (don't worry, these were naturally shed by buffaloes. No buffaloes were harmed in the making of these tumblers.)
From Sourceperrier - featured in Domino magazine Dec 08/Jan 09.


A fantastic Roost candleholder from

From In Style magazine, Nov 09.

I always love the tablescapes that come out of the DIFFA Dining by Design event. Here are some favorites: The New York Times designed by Ankasa



Moment of Luxury designed by William Stubbs hosted by Architectural Digest



Domino designed by Allison Sarofim and Stuart Parr

All these tablescapes are making me hungry!

H is for... Housewares

Everything about my wedding was wonderful - the flowers, the dress, the groom - but my husband and I discussed it and there is one teeny tiny thing we may have done differently: the registry. I love my dishes, don't get me wrong (we did Kate Spade's Pompano Point for fancy pants days and Nambe's Butterfly for everyday), but about a year ago, I had a flash of brilliance. To register for twelve different sets of china, one place setting of each set. That means everyone at the table would get a different gorgeous plate. We could get all the dishes we liked, no hours in Bloomingale's working out a compromise between two different patterns... Of course, I can still carry out this dream by picking up a new funky place setting from time to time, but for now I'm working on putting together my dream team. Here are the twelve I would register for now if I could (I picked two shops, Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus.)

Love this one
Ombrages by Raynaud at Bloomie's.


I would want to mix in fun colors with gorgeous neutrals - this Missoni one would definitely do the trick

From Bloomie's.


I haven't hid my love for all things Kelly Wearstler on this blog - here are two sets of her china that I'm in love with


Both from Neiman Marcus.

Another Neiman's option to bring some color and whimsy to the party - this adorable owl dinnerware called Taika


For some bold black and white I'd definitely get this Kate Spade style (from Bloomie's)


And balance it out with this mellow, sweet one, also Kate Spade (Bloomie's)


This Juliska motif has been a fav of mine for a while (I have the cake plate, which sadly only gets used once a year, if that.)
from Bloomie's.


These melamine personalized plates from Neiman's would be fabulous - I might have one for indoors and a few more for when we entertain al fresco.


Love this zen one
Golden pearls from Neiman Marcus.


This lace one - Jasper Conran for Wedgewood at Bloomie's is high on my wish list


And of course the table wouldn't be complete without the red coral by Raynaud at Bloomie's.


And to take the cake, I'd get one of this amazing table runners from Kim Seybery at Neiman Marcus. Time to plan my next dinner party!

A is for... Agate

I am still infatuated with agate accessories. My husband thinks agate belongs in a little boy's room, but I agree to disagree. I think agate is a chic way to bring nature into your home...

These candlestick holders are gorgeous and subtle.
From Vivre

Also from Vivre are these (less subtle) agate platters.



Wouldn't they make great cheese platters? Yum.

Or these Roost agate bookends from Roost at Velocity Art & Design.
My mountain of books definitely needs some agate bookends to tame them.

Eva Zeisel

I (heart) Eva Zeisel. She's 102 years old, and the woman is still designing up a storm. She is so incredibly talented, so it's fabulous that she keeps blessing us with her gorgeous things.

Below is her design for a new rug carried at the Rug Company. This rug is based on her design for her belly-button room dividers. Just what every needs, a belly button rug ;)

Gorgeous colors, great pattern, fabulous woman. Image from Metropolitan Home.


But she is most famous for her ceramic designs. I LOVE her line at Crate and Barrel. My husband and I typically see eye-to-eye, but when registering for china back in our engaged days, we could not agree on this. I adored these plates, he didn't get it...


Husband or plates? I think I made the right choice - he's a keeper. Plus, I can start buying the plates, bowls and accessories one by one and start sneaking them into our cupboards...

Home Clean Home

I recently received a Daily Candy update with the cutest designs for my home's ugliest accessories: the plunger, the dust pan and the sweeper brush... From Alice Supply Co.





Stripes, orange and camo, oh my! (they also have sponges, garden hoses, buckets, toolboxes)

My Boyfriend's Got Glass

I have not made my design crush on Jonathan Adler a secret... And it's no surprise that I think his new glasses are absolutely adorable.

I would love one in every color...


What a great way to present your mother with breakfast in bed?


They even multi-task as cute vases!
If I ever met Jonathan Adler, I'd faint. Then scream. Then have a giddy smile on my face for a few weeks...

Little Goodies

This month's Domino also featured this beautiful black handsoap. Very unexpected and chic.

Hello, My Name is FABulous

Vivre is an online shopping mecca for all things luxurious... Here are some of my top picks...


A chair made from welded coins. DEFINITELY something your friends and neighbors won't have.




Metallic cowhide pillows. Those must have been some fashion forward cows. They also make these as rugs, which I'd love to have in my home.

Woven leather throw. May not keep you super warm in the winter, but looks mighty fine trying.




Rocker glam chandelier


Petrified wood coasters. Mother nature can be so glam sometimes.






These teacups read your fortune in gold instead of tea leaves. I think your fortune is "You have WAY cooler teacups than grandma does."


Red zebra rug.


I want it all!