Recently while reading through my daily bloglist, I saw a post on Matters of Style mention a local etsy crafter who did custom stamps in calligraphy. I thought this would be a great idea to do a small stamp of my name on the front page of the books in my library. It came in the mail yesterday and I couldn't be happier with it!
I dealt with Trialbycupcakes, who was so easy to work with and let me create the stamp sans address. Thats one of the great things about etsy, you're generally dealing with people who work out of their homes as a small business and they can help you get what you're looking for. I will probably use the stamp for other uses as well, but now time to head to the store to get an assortment of different colored stamp pads!
Last night I was so excited to get a sneak peak of the HUGE new CB2 which is opening this weekend in Georgetown. After both potterybarn and west elm closed in the city, we really lost all locations for inexpensive, fun home items.
CB2 offers fun, colorful and modern home furnishings and accessories at a startingly low pricepoint (no, they didn't pay me to say that!). While I wouldn't advise filling an entire apartment or house with their products (overkill), a piece or two in a room really would liven up any space by adding color and good, clean design.
I loved this green coffee table, the wheels really are so practical!
The red metal shelf over the bed really caught my eye; not just for the pop of color but also for the unique shelf layout. I could see this in an office or even a bathroom, providing extra storage.
These 3 Pablo side tables were my favorite piece of furniture in the store. The best part -the set is ONLY $129. SERIOUSLY. They look like amazing mid-century pieces to me!
This 'Fold' desk was very elegant; I loved the yellow top and the lady bug rug was so fun; great for a kids room (especially at $199)!
Speaking of rugs, they carry FLOR tiles in store! I had never actually seen them in person and was surprised by their quality.
More than just furniture, their accessories are an easy and even less expensive way to add some color to your house.
This buddha pillow would bring a smile to my face everyday for sure.
CB2 is located at 3307 M Street NW, across from Cadys alley.
DC had its first taste of summer today, with highs in the 80s. It reminded me of the time Heather and I spent recently exploring the Miami Design District.
Outdoor restaurants abound. While we didn't eat at Martinez, seen above, it definitely seemed popular and a beautiful place to enjoy the weather!
Christian Louboutin, rather than fill the store with orchids, decided to decorate the exterior with a living wall.
Oh to live in a semi-tropical climate; this took our breathe away!
Another outdoor restaurant; Modernism seems to fit this warm climate much better than in the North, don't you think?
I loved this one group of buildings which appeared to be painted concrete. Early modernism inspired by neoclassicsm; one of my architectural weaknesses!
Surrounded by tall, shaded arcades, the buildings provide the perfect place to window shop out of the sun's glare.
While in Miami, definitely take the time to check out this revitalized area: remember to bring your wallets for all of the great shopping!
I'm back from my whirlwind adventure to Highpoint Market week which was so incredibly fun but also highly educational (pun intended)!
The talk of market seemed to be the new line of Ralph Lauren lighting (which I was sad not to see for myself) as well as the new line of AMAZING furniture for Theodore Alexander designed by the history savvy and passionate Keno brothers of Antiques Roadshow fame; also - the return of claw and ball feet, even on very modern pieces. The Keno line has not officially launched but believe me when I tell you that you will be blown away; not just by the quality but by the incredible design, a reinterpretation of mid century modern. The brothers chose the company for their line because of TA's exceptional quality and old world contruction techniques out of Vietnam. 
I also fell in love with a few pieces of furniture for myself (oh to have a bigger apartment and larger bank account!). I am having an affair with a chair: the Louis XVI square back chair from Hickory Chair. Most notedly in the weathered mineral gray finish seen above with ivory stripe and a blue ultra-suede upholstery (just in case those fine folks want to send me this sample, hehe). It was probably the most beautiful chair I have ever seen and I felt it could have been inspired by the great Jansen and classic French 40s design. Look forward to a future post on this great company right here.
I also loved nearly every piece in the Grand Tour line at Century. The textures and quality really just blew me out of the water; I was even stuck oohing and aawing while the rest of the tour group ran on ahead! I'll definitely be showing you more from Century soon as well.
We were able to meet with the adorable Bunny Williams and see her new pieces from BeeLine home. There are a few new pieces I'm sure you'll be seeing EVERYWHERE very soon such as this Swedish cupboard below.
In practical applications, we were fascinated by the technology being incorporated into furniture at Sligh. Media centers which look like fine antiques caught my attention. These hide all of your nasty cords and machinery behind fine wood doors and traditional design and operate through smart eye technology. They even ventilate the insides of cabinets much like a CPU so your equipment doesn't fry. They had some great office solutions too: stylish and practical; who says office furniture has to be ugly?
The folks at Hooker Furniture are shaking off their traditional image and creating some amazingly cute new pieces at very affordable prices. I think you'll be seeing a lot of them in the future -especially some of the quirkier finds that they feel appeal to a younger demographic like these chairs below. 
Not everyone was as friendly as the above mentioned companies however. We had a bit of a run-in at one of my favorite furniture companies (where I've encouraged friends and clients to spend a LOT of money in the past) which shall remain nameless but you can probably guess who they are from the photo below. Social media is here to stay and companies need to keep up. Oh and also don't piss off a tired group of design bloggers because you'll hear about it again!
Everything you hear about market is true: wear comfortable shoes as it's enormous, book your hotel room months in advance so you're not stuck miles away, the parties are so much fun you'll never want to leave and you'll be seeing old friends as well as make many new ones (compare it to an adult summer camp for designers perhaps?) If you made it to High Point this year, what were your favorites?
No, not what you're thinking, although at 5'-9", I'm not much taller than Napolean was! Rather, I treated myself to this bust of Napoleon that is currently on sale here at restoration hardware.
The surprise was how big he is and a bit out of scale for my bookcase as planned. Thankfully he's not very heavy, hollow terra cotta, and he moved around several times in my apartment last night.
For now he'll live in my entryway - bonus is that he makes an excellent bookend!
On another note, this past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing the celebrated soprano, Renee Fleming in a recital at the Kenney Center. One of her encores was a crowd pleaser and I've attached a clip of it here: O mio babbino caro by Puccini.
While going through some pictures I took, I came across this photo of Katherine Hepburn's portrait at the National Portrait gallery along with 4 of her oscars. I love that you can see how the Oscar has changed over the years since its' beginnings in 1927; larger as time has passed (much like our nation's cars and waist bands!). 
Stamps with Hepburn's image are currently available at the USPS HERE. I used them on my Christmas cards this year and have already had a lot of comments about them! I may have to stock up again.
I just spent an exciting weekend visiting friends in New York. One of my favorite things about the city during the holidays are the window displays. My favorite this year are probably the windows done by the amazing Simon Doonan at Barneys (which just happens to be one of my favorite stores in the city!).
This years theme was a foodie holiday. Hilarious caricatures of everyone's favorite foodie hosts participated: from Martha Stewart and Rachel Ray (grimacing from a clock!) to Paula Deen with her pockets filled with sticks of butter (I loved that one!).
Mario Batali was unceremoniously stuffed like a pig on the dinner table in one window while a glamorous evening gown reminicent of Grace Kelly in the masked ball of To catch a Thief was created from Illy coffee bags in an adjacent display.
Nothing beats New York for getting one into the holiday spirit (and spending more money than you mean to!). What do you do to get into the holiday spirit? 
You cannot visit Barcelona and not eat your way through the city. Barcelonians are all about food: whether it be tapas, pinchos, large meals or dessert.
While not strictly Spanish, the Gelato shop Amorino along La Rambla was probably my favorite haunt; conviently located 2 blocks from our hotel, Le Meridien.
I don't have much of a sweet tooth but I do have a taste for good gelato -and this is the BEST gelato you will ever have, I promise you. So if ever in Barcelona, Paris, London, Munich or any city lucky enough to have one of these shops, be sure to visit and indulge! Be sure to get a cone and enjoy the presentation: an ice cream cone transformed into a flower.
The store which I mentioned yesterday in Barcelona, Loewe, is housed in a famous moderniste building named the Casa Lleo Morera. Renovated by architect Lluis Domenech i Montaner in 1902, the building continues the decorative modern architecture of the neighborhood that Barcelona is known for.
Unlike later modern styles, the moderniste buildings in Barcelona (such as those by Gaudi) are full of interesting and gorgeous details. The style reminds me so much of the work done in the United States, and in particular Chicago, by Louis Sullivan, for whom Frank Lloyd Wright was an intern.
The name, Lleo Morera, is not from the name of the original owners but rather the lions (lleo) and mulberry trees(Morera) seen in the decorations.
If you are ever in Barcelona, I highly encourage a visit to this fabulous building and store!
Across from my favorite bookstore in Chicago (Unabridged Books which carries an amazing collection of design and architecture books and biographies), I noticed these beautiful signs on a school.
Carved in 1892, I think they really make a statement; I'd go to school here! Have a great weekend!
