I love parties. Throwing them, going to them, it doesn’t matter. A friend’s potluck bash got me thinking recently about all the things I could make to share with a crowd. Making food for parties is totally different than cooking for yourself. For example, I wouldn’t be apt to make a dip to eat myself,…
Scanning design blogs and magazines regularly, I find that a great lighting fixture is a common statement piece when it comes time to decorate… and also one that is often difficult to find. Function and beauty combined is definitely appealing. In fact, it’s an essential part of what makes good room design and lighting is…
For those of you with a green thumb, fall brings a whole new phase for gardening. If you live in a cold winter climate, it’s time to tuck everything in that will winter over as well as bring inside your outdoor planters. Fall is also the time to plant bulbs, like daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and…
Know any oenophiles? An oenophile is a lover of wine, oenophilia the love of wine, and oenology the study of wine and wine making. Others prefer the term wine connoisseur, aficionado, or the more general, wine lover. So what do you get an oenophile? It sounds like an easy question – wine. But what kind? From where? If you’re like me…
What’s trending on your tabletop? Do you love a massive centerpiece or a more subdued minimalist design? It’s probably no surprise that I’m a big fan of hand painted dinner plates blended with other personal accents to make a unique statement. And recently I’ve noticed that more and more restaurants are using decorative ceramic plates,…
I love the fall… from the crisp weather and changing leaves, to the excuse to pull out my favorite wool sweaters and boots. It’s also the start of party season, which means decorating for the upcoming holidays. I am drawn to rustic, nature-inspired decorations around Halloween and Thanksgiving, like gourds, wreaths, and white candles. And…
Writing about tabletop trends last week, I got to thinking about pieces that have transformative powers. While some Italian ceramic lovers fill their table with entire sets of dinnerware, I have found that a few smart accents can make a striking effect. For instance, a small, but colorful Italian pitcher, used to serve wine or display a floral…
What’s the most popular color in the world? A recent post on Apartment Therapy describes a survey conducted by Dulux paints to learn what colors people love and hate. The big winner? You guessed it: Blue, followed by red and green. But what’s better than just blue? Blue and white of course! This color combination continues to be one…
I love visiting Mexico. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious, I get to use my Spanish, and on top of all that, I can see Mexican artists make ceramics, weave all manner of gorgeous cloth, work metal or leather, and create other beautiful traditional crafts. With Día de los Muertos (the Day of the…
We just received a huge shipment from Gorky Gonzalez and among other things, I am happy to announce the arrival of the adorable Rooster Creamers. Although we ordered more than a dozen of these darling creamers, the fact that they were hand-painted means no two are alike. Each is decorated with its own unique pattern, from…