Retail Odyssey: A Peacock Hamper

one of those things you can't find just anywhere

I was in Toronto this summer and tried to take in as much of the city as possible. One of the first things I did was stroll a good length of Yonge Street. I mostly covered the retail-heavy part that is full of malls, restaurants and shops. One of my first stops was HomeSense whose ads I often see in Style at Home and House & Home magazines. Turns out it's just like our own Home Goods/Marshalls/TJ Maxx in the U. S. 

Rooms on Film: Enough Said (Marianne's House)

Let's have a look at the second of three lovely homes in the 2013 film, Enough Said. Unlike main character, Eva's (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) little suburban two bedroom, Marianne's (Catherine Keener) house is just a little more..something I can't quite put my finger on. Certainly Eva is impressed when she first visits the home. This one is also in a suburban neighborhood, but the location seems to offer some cooler outdoor decoration options. 

Should Eva be jealous? I certainly am.

Retail Odyssey: Gorgeous Global Mirrors

sana mehrab mirror from world market

Mirrors are one of my many weaknesses. After hot pink, color, texture, pattern, turquoise, bedding, hammered bronze, mehrab arches, floor cushions and paisley...comes mirrors. There are ten around here. Ten! Without shame. So why are the decor imps out there sending a perfect storm of showstoppers down the pike? The last thing I need is another mirror, but...

Bring Back Domino: Thank You!

an eclectic, global rooftop cabana in los angeles

This is quite overdue. In the year since domino magazine returned in it's new format, I failed to thank the publisher for one particular detail: making the archive images full-size. It did take me a while to realize that they were. But other people's pins showed me I was missing something. It has been really fabulous to be able to get my favorite house tours at a properly viewable size. It's pretty hard to see the details in 3x5" images. 

So, thank you, domino. I can finally appreciate my all-time favorite profile without wearing cotton gloves to protect the pages.

Rustic Canisters

paddle wood & glass food cannisters from pottery barn

These wood-topped glass canisters caught my eye. The rustic lids are very earthy. For the right price, I'd like some in my kitchen. The only space for canisters is on the window sill, really. Perfect spot to see them every time I'm in there.

Rooms on Film: Enough Said (Eva's House)

julia louis-dreyfus as eva in "enough said"

This is a lovely little 2013 film about a midlife divorcee who meets a new man and also meets a new friend/massage client at a party. Turns out the new man used to be married to the new friend/client, which our heroine discovers after having developed a serious girlcrush/envy on the new friend while listening to all her complaints about her ex - who our heroine has fallen in love with. One woman's shlub is another woman's teddy bear. 

Anyhoo, in the course of events both of these women have lovely girls-only homes that each shares with a teenage daughter. I see no reason for anyone to be jealous of anything given these two pretty boxes. But I'm a midlife woman in a studio apartment. Shall we? 

Color Story: Rustic Glamour

from nz house & garden, august 2010 - photo: jane ussher

Here's one for my "Someday" file: a simple room that is both down-to-earth and elegant. Black walls temper the airy room and plentiful sunshine making the space cozy and intimate. The aged credenza and bare wooden tabletop bring an earthy, rustic sensibility rather like a traditional farmhouse or outdoor dining. Then the details kick it up a notch combining low-key gold luster, simple glass, porcelain and silver into a simple gleaming focal point. And those Tanzanian portraits anchor the restrained color scheme. Despite my allegiance to bright colors, this room seems like the perfect restful space to end the day and focus on the personal. 

Someday...