Friday, June 29, 2012

Sleeping on a Cloud

Jillian's post yesterday with that fabulous ruffle bedding brought to mind this gorgeous quilt from Anthropologie. This must be what it feels like to sleep on a big, white, puffy cloud. So dreamy!


It's even on sale! Check it out here.

*****

Catalina Quilt and Euro Shams from Anthropologie

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Ruffles and Rainbows

I just got a preview of Land of Nod's fall collection via Gilt and look what's there -- pink ruffles!


Look familiar? Mindy has bedding very similar to this. (See her post from last year here.)

The whole Fall collection is great but you probably know that I'm already a fan of all things Land of Nod. (I'm basically a "groupie" at this point.) I especially like the knitted poufs and artwork but the star of the show is this lamp.



I mean, come on. Could it be any more fabulous?

*****


fade to pink duvet cover
licorice rope rainbow pendant

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

SLS Hotel South Beach

After having just returned from a wonderful vacation, I had not planned on paying attention to any of the tantalizing emails in my inbox advertising exotic vacations and hotels. But late last week I received an alert from Jetsetter featuring the following image for the SLS Hotel South Beach, and haven't stopped dreaming about this space since.


Hello, gorgeous! I love the black and white scheme with touches of pale pink. And I'm especially loving the fabric covered walls. Can you believe that the fabric is illustrated? How inventive! 





Designed by Philippe Starck, this hotel includes two high-profile restaurants, and even a bungalow and penthouse suite designed by musician Lenny Kravitz. I think it looks absolutely decadent. Just take a look at some exterior images of this beauty.




So enchanting, right?

This brand new property promises to be a fantastic addition to South Beach's upscale hotel market. I hope to visit one day!

*****

images via Jetsetter and SLS Hotel South Beach on Facebook

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Doughnut Delights

My favorite sweet treat is an ice cream cone (frozen yogurt twist with rainbow sprinkles to be exact) while Mindy's is a doughnut. We've written about it a few times (see here). My son has recently become obsessed with doughnuts, too, and these bags would have him absolutely salivating. Don't they look yummy?


Special thanks to Regan for introducing me to this colorful and fun Etsy shop!

*****

Monday, June 25, 2012

Dressing a Headboard

Headboards have recently become one of my favorite things in a bedroom. I'm constantly drawn to fun and vibrant upholstered patterned headboards like these swatches from Land of Nod.


But I always fear that after a few years I would want to change the pattern or the colors of the room and I would then be stuck with an item that was expensive and a big deal to replace. So I was really excited when I saw this:


Better Homes and Gardens suggested upholstering a headboard with a quilt! It looks super simple to do -- just lay your quilt down (right side down) and place quilt batting on top. Then put your headboard above that and while pulling tight, staple along the top and bottom. So easy and what a transformation that could make!

And then here's another idea found on Little Green Notebook:



I was instantly drawn to that striped headboard and was delighted to find out that it's actually an Ikea throw placed over an already upholstered headboard. Isn't that clever? A totally new look -- and no stapling, gluing, or even batting necessary. Genius!


*****

Land of Nod swatches (on left - Gerber Cotton Sungold, on right - Zig Zag Grey/White)
middle image via bhg.com

Friday, June 22, 2012

Land of Nod's Institute of Art

I've mentioned before about how validating it is to see things that we've previously blogged about later popping up in our favorite catalogs. It's just happened again with Land of Nod!

This time it's in the Nod Institute of Art, a collection of limited edition prints by some of Land of Nod's favorite artists. One of their favorites is one of mine, too -- Michelle Armas (featured back in November on The Pink Chalkboard here).


Then there are others that have similar styles to artists we already know and love. This one by Julia Rothman reminds me of Kate Bingaman Burt's fun prints.


And this print by Inaluxe made me think of Rex Ray.


But perhaps best of all is that Nod's Institute of Art has introduced me to new artists that I will be looking into more now like Fine Little Day



and Amber Alexander.



And though these prints are available at Land of Nod, they certainly aren't just for kids rooms or playrooms. They could go anywhere in the home. I particularly would like to see Amber Alexander's Turkey Feathers really, really big and featured in the living room over a couch. Graphic and artful, pretty and simple, these feathers would make such a statement in a super large scale.

Hurry over to Nod's Institute of Art to see much more and make some purchases. Prints are in limited editions so get them while you can!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Paris Flea Market (part two)

As I mentioned yesterday, the Paris Flea Market has so many amazing things to offer, but one store is my absolute favorite. 


Welcome to Quintessence Playground. This shop really is a playground for people who love interior design and home accessories. There are lots of large scale pieces here, like the globe pictured above and the barrels below. The store is two stories and the barrels are stacked high along the open stairwell. It is quite dramatic. 


This Eiffel Tower is one of my favorite things in the store. It's enormous! I think it would be a really great prop in a store here in the States. (Dear Anthropologie, you should buy this!)


I think it is cool to see American things in foreign countries, especially antique stores. So we snatched a photo of these messenger bags stamped with U.S.A. In yesterday's post I included a couple of photos with California Republic and American flags. 


I had also mentioned how much I appreciate the way stores at the Flea Market display their merchandise. Quintessence Playground is one of the best. I love how these antique keys are displayed on this coffee table. Placing them together in small groups on red panels really makes them pop against the table's distressed wood. 


This table setting is gorgeous. I love all of the white plates and vessels complemented by the large pieces of white coral. Did you notice that the surface of the distressed wood table is the American flag?


The photo below features a collection of scientific beakers. They are really tall and make such an unexpected arrangement. The pink flowers are actually ceramic and add a nice touch of color and texture.


This is the kitchen area of the store and I just love how it is styled. I want this Tom Ford book in my kitchen, too. Random, but very cool. (We photographed this space in black and white because we loved the Instagram effect and in reality this space actually is all black and white).


Here is another table setting that I really liked. The oversized wicker pendant light is very dramatic. And did you see this table? I love it! Perfectly distressed. The items on top are so unusual and interesting.


I wanted to show the benches on both sides of the table, too. They are lightly distressed and upholstered in linen which is screen printed with some graphic letters. This is such a great look. We saw a lot of items upholstered in linen all over the market, a look that it is so clean and comfortable.


Well, that ends my wrap-up of Paris and our visit to the Flea Market! If you are interested in exploring more from Quintessence Playground, you can visit their website here. Also, The New York Times has an interesting article here, with lots of information about the Flea Market. It's definitely worth a read before you begin your adventure. Happy shopping!

Quintessence Playground
14 rue Paul Bert
93400 Saint Ouen, France

*****

Instagram images via The Pink Chalkboard

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Paris Flea Market (part one)

The Paris Flea Market (Marche aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt) is said to be the largest flea market in Europe. Located just beyond the Boulevard Peripherique (the border encircling central Paris), it is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. We were able to go on a Saturday, the day before flying home. If I ever go again, I want to be able to visit the market over all three days, since it is so large and impossible to fully see in one day, not to mention exhausting. It's not just walking around for hours and hours that wears you out, but concentrating on the overwhelming amount of beautiful things to look at!

We took the Metro from our hotel to the Porte De Clignacourt stop early that morning. The market opens at 9am and I wanted to get there early so that we would have enough time to shop. We followed these directions from Oh Happy Day and they were extremely helpful. If you ever have a chance to go to this market, I highly recommend printing out a copy of these directions and bringing them with you.

The first thing you see upon arriving are a bunch of stalls on the street. Having been to many flea markets here in the U.S., it is easy to assume that this is the flea market, since it has a very temporary feel, full of tents that are easy to set up in the morning and take down at night. But that's not the case at all. These first stalls that you encounter are actually smaller street markets. They sell clothes, street food, and cheap knickknacks, not the antiques for which this market is so famous. But if you keep going past these stalls, you'll encounter a series of buildings with permanent stores—this is the Paris Flea Market. 

What we know as the Paris Flea Market is actually made up of a dozen individual markets, each in their own buildings. Within each of these markets, many of which can be quite large, are lots of little passageways filled with stores. These stores sell just about every kind of antique you can possibly imagine—from gilded pieces fit for the Palace of Versailles to rustic wooden furniture, from giant lights used on old movie sets to vintage bags and dresses from Chanel and Louis Vuitton, from industrial metal pieces to exquisite sets of china and silverware, and much, much, more. It is also extremely high end. Be prepared to spend a lot of money here!

One of the most impressive things, aside from the selection of items available, is the way these items are arranged. A lot of the store owners and dealers seem to be designers, and they have really perfected the art of display. It was such a pleasure to browse the stores because I found myself admiring so many of the items and then feeling so inspired by how they were arranged. I have never seen anything quite like it. 

Of course there are shops that are not quite as fancy and a bit more cluttered, reminding me of thrift stores here at home. These kinds of stores offered some items that were more in our budget, and we spent lots of time poking around hunting for treasures. At the start of our day, I had big plans to buy a lot of things and ship them home. But by the end of the day I was tired and probably suffering from sticker shock, so we ended up with just a few purchases—some little spoons (I became obsessed with the little spoons that accompanied my cafe au lait at all of the European cafes we visited), a vintage grain sack that we're going to use as a giant wallhanging in my mom's kitchen, and a metal plaque (written in French, of course). I'll be sure to take some photos soon and share them with you. 

In the meantime, here is just a sample of the design-goodness at the Paris Flea Market. We don't have as many images as I had hoped to share because a lot of the dealers are sensitive about photographs, and many of the shops are dark, but this is a nice little round up. Hope you enjoy!




In my next post, I'll share photos of one store in particular that was so good, it deserves a post all to itself. 

*****

Instagram images by The Pink Chalkboard

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Yellow Button Studio

I think that art should look nice but also make you feel good. I recently discovered Yellow Button Studio on Etsy and am loving these prints.



Perfect for a nursery, these would look wonderful framed side by side. I like their repetition of form and sweet little messages.

*****


I love you to the moon 8x10 print
You are my sunshine 8x10 print

Monday, June 18, 2012

J'adore Paris


Ahhhh Paris. I love it here. When we visited a few years ago, this city just captured my heart and never let go. I couldn't wait to go back. There are so many neighborhoods with charming little streets and grand boulevards, stylish boutiques, and delicious restaurants.  You are likely to find something beautiful and delicious around just about every corner. My ideal day consists of walking around the city—exploring, taking in every single detail, stopping at a cafe for a glass of wine and some people watching—and then doing it all over again. So, for the five days we were in Paris, we did just that.  Having seen most of the museums and monuments during our last visit, I didn't feel guilty about skipping some of the tourist attractions. 

While the weather in Amsterdam, Dubrovnik, and Split was very warm and sunny, it was cool and rainy for much of our time in Paris. But you know what? It didn't matter one bit. How could it? We were so lucky to be in Paris! 

We stayed in the Bastille which was a fun neighborhood and really lively at night. We explored the Marais, Latin Quarter, the Opera, and ate ice cream at the famous Berthillon on the Ile Saint-Louis. We went into what felt like a thousand different stores and ventured to the Paris Flea Market (more on that to come!). I got a real French manicure and bought an awesome pair of sandals. We ate amazing Thai and Spanish food, Breton crepes, and traditional French fare which was to die for. And of course we went to see the Eiffel Tower (and took dozens of pictures). 

One of the coolest things about this time of year is that it stays light out until really late (the sun doesn't set until nearly 10pm), so you feel like you have 24 hours of incredible possibilities. It's really an amazing feeling. 

Here is just a sampling of some of the things we saw in this majestic city. 


*****

Instagram images by The Pink Chalkboard

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day!



We just wanted to wish all of the fathers out there a relaxing weekend and a very special Father's Day. Here's to a lifetime full of laughter, hugs and kisses, and sweet memories.

See you tomorrow!

*****

image via Social Proper

Friday, June 15, 2012

Scenes from Split and Trogir

After our wonderful visit to Dubrovnik, we traveled north along the Dalmatian Coast to Split, the second largest city in Croatia. This is where the Roman Emperor Diocletian built an elaborate palace in preparation for his retirement. Today, what remains of the palace is actually a living, breathing city—full of restaurants, businesses, and lots of shopping (I've never seen as many shoe stores anywhere as I did in this city!). The Riva (waterfront promenade) has a Mediterranean vibe and is a stunning place to sit with a cocktail, people-watch, and admire the boats in the harbor.







We also had the opportunity to visit the nearby medieval town of Trogir, and had a blast exploring its narrow streets and passageways.







Another great thing about Croatia? The food! Italian influences (the Venetians ruled this land for hundreds of years) and the prevalence of truffles in the northern part of the country mean lots of delicious pizza, pasta (in a truffle cream sauce!), cured ham, and fresh seafood. Yum!


Croatia is an extraordinary country with boundless natural beauty and warm, friendly people. We can't wait to go back and discover more!

*****


Instagram images by The Pink Chalkboard
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