lola and ali

Italy for me please...

2010-11-06T12:36:00.001-07:00

I went on a cruise this summer through Italy, Greece and Spain and the two spots I fell in love with were Capri and Florence. The sun, the wine and the pure beauty of Capri (let's not forget the food. Best pizza lunch I ever had!!) In Florence it is the art, the fashion and I have to mention the incredible style of the people. I would move tomorrow or at least spend an extended amount of time in that gorgeous city..

I did not get to see enough of either place but I came across an article in the online magazine Lonny about a hotel called J.K. Place that has locations in both cities. That is where I would love to stay if I ever (hopefully) go back. Check out the hotel and some of my own photos from the trip.

lola

J.K Place Capri

From italy

Capri from our trip

From italy

Of course I bought some of the incredible turquoise and coral jewelry!

From italy

Best pizza ever in Ana Capri. Yum!

From italy

Yes, we really took this picture at the top of Ana Capri. Scary!

From italy

J.K Place Hotel Florence

From italy

My Florence

From italy

Rainy (no actually storming) day in Florence. No matter, still wonderful.

From italy

I love this picture. The way I would like to live with my bike

parked outside my little boutique. Across from this store is the Gelateria (below)

with the BEST gelato! 7$ for a small cone but worth every bite..

From italy

summer products...

2010-06-24T06:49:00.000-07:00

Elle Macpherson always has a great summer style.

She is 47 years old and looks amazing!!

I love products that you can buy for summer. There are so many creams, hair products, lip balms, nail polishes ........well I could go on and on. I have put together some of my favorites that I think you should try.

lola

I discovered this product working with a make-up artist on a photo shoot. He used this on the models legs and arms and they glowed! So nice for summer. From Benefit.

This is a great lip balm for summer called Sugar. It is from Fresh and you can get it at Sephora. Very nice on the lips as it has a bit of color and it has an SPF of 15 so great in the sun.

I really like the whole line of fun nail polish colors that Essie has. The website is great and shows you how the colors will look on your fingers with short, medium or long nails. I know green nail polish is really in but yikes!! not sure I could stand to look at it. I will stick to some nice bright summer color like this orange called Vermillionaire!!

My daughter has dark brown hair and has been using this spray- in lightener for the past month when she sits in the sun. It works so well and looks completely natural.

I seem to remember using this product when I was a teenager so it has been around for awhile, but it really works well!

Okay for you ladies still shaving and waxing there is this product that I want to try from Bliss. Apparently it is the best thing to stop ingrown hairs. I also read that it is great for those little white bumps you get on your arms. What are those from anyway??

I discovered this self tanner this summer and it is definitely the best I have tried in a long time. No orange legs and funny smell to contend with just nice bronzed color!! I have tried many on my pale white skin and although a little sticky when it goes on it soaks into the skin soon enough and even makes the skin soft.

A little more expensive but worth it!

Clarins website

Okay I never tried this but I want to as I love Kerastase products and my hair is totally drying out from the sun and the pool. Good for protecting the scalp and hair.

Gorgeous summer hat from All Saints. It looks a lot like the hat Meryle Streep

wears in the movie It's Complicted. (one of my favorite movies)

One last thing. I am loving this side braid for summer.

Very loose and casual look that I want to try. Enjoy!!

Backyard summers....

2010-06-04T16:41:00.000-07:00

This is the backyard of Rachel Ashwell from Shabby Chic.

I love the relaxed feeling of her pool area. Not too slick or modern.

I love having a backyard and always have. As a kid in British Columbia I spent many hours in our backyard climbing the apricot trees, playing in our tree fort and doing cartwheels on the lawn for hours. My mom, my sister and I used to sleep under the stars on our little cots on the backyard lawn and wake up late in the morning to the full sun beating down on us as we snuggled in our sleeping bags.

My backyard today has a pool and for me there is no other more relaxing moment than when I arrive at home and go out to sit in front of that blue, blue water that moves every so slowly with the beautiful peonies, iris and clematis around me. The reflection of the blue in my kitchen and onto the ceiling of my dining room make summer the best time of year and one I cherish greatly.

I want my backyard to be an oasis, a respite from the day and I often look at different backyard designs in magazines. Take a look at a few I have found and see if any of them would be that kind of special place for you..

lola

Summer Music that may stir some memories!

Photo Architectural Digest.

A craftsman style home from Architectural Digest.

I really like this space. The flowers over the pergola are beautiful.

House Beautiful.

This is my kind of modern. Very 70's but lush and inviting.

From backyards

I read the blog of Slim Paley and this is her home and garden. What a fantastic space!

Photo Slim Paley

Wonderful english garden.

Photo Architectural Digest.

A cozy retreat.

Photo House and Home

A bit over the top but I would have killed for this backyard growing up.

Photo Architectural Digest.

I like this table surrounded by the banquette. Of course the chandelier looks great and would be wonderful at night.

Love the view from this pool. From Better Homes and Gardens.

From backyards

The ultimate in backyard luxury from Kelly Wearstler.

I know it is a classic and not very sophisticated but it is sooo good to eat a burger

off the grill in summer!! This one looks very good from Bobby Flay.

Directions
Bobby's Perfect Patty

Shape 6 ounces of 80 percent lean ground beef chuck into a uniform patty, no more than 3/4 inch thick (don't overwork the meat). Make a depression in the center with your thumb so the burger won't bulge; the indent will rise as the patty cooks. Preheat a grill or cast-iron grill pan to high. Brush the burger with canola oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill until golden brown and slightly charred, turning once (7 minutes for medium-rare). Avoid pressing with a spatula! Add cheese for the last minute of cooking.

Cheese

Your pick: Monterey Jack is a California favorite, but Bobby loves this burger with cheddar, too.

Avocado Relish

Avocado is one of Bobby's favorite ingredients. He mixes 2 chopped Hass avocados with 1/2 diced small onion, 1 minced jalapeno, the juice of 1 lime, 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro, and salt and pepper.

Watercress

L.A. doesn't do iceberg lettuce, so Bobby tops off the burger with this peppery green instead.

Tomato

One thick, juicy slice takes the place of ketchup.

Stripes...

2010-05-19T04:21:00.000-07:00

Striped Walls look great combined with a variety of tribal prints.

Elle Decor

It seems that stripes are back full force this year with a range of looks from nautical stripes to a mix of stripes and florals. Stripes in the home and in fashion are being seen everywhere and I am really liking the look. I love striped wallpaper on the vertical and horizontal and when done in bright colors the look is fresh and fun. I am not sure I would do it in my own home but in fashion I would definitely go for it. I bought an All Saints tee this season with a great nautical stripe and an All Saints dress with a bold orange and oatmeal stripe. A real departure for me as my wardrobe consists of black, grey and white for the most part.

If your not ready for a full wall of stripes it is fun to have a pillow or two with a bold stripe on your couch or in your wardrobe add a handbag in stripes instead.

As I was researching it is amazing what I could find in stripes. Everything from video covers to candles come in stripes.

Take a look at some of the great photos I found..

lola

Petit Bateau Stripe jacket for a nautical spin on stripes.

Striped Espadrilles

Striped Bag from Marc by Marc Jacobs

Love these striped carpets from Living Etc.

Bold and bright combined with a light floral on the chair.

Living Etc.

This is the bathroom at the J Crew Collection store in New York.

These stripes are painted on instead of wallpapered.

Spring collection Stella McCartney

Great striped pillows. Living Etc.

Fun wallpaper done on the vertical and horizontal. Very creative.

Living Etc.

My striped dress from All Saints. Love it!

Tribal Stripes and patterns mixed at Living Etc.

This is a placemat from a site called Five Stripes and they sell...you guessed it, striped only clothing and home accessories. Cool..

And last but not least how about a striped Flip Video. Yes you can get it at Cafe Presse.

A very fun site for personalized t-shirts etc.

mothers....

2010-05-08T05:12:00.000-07:00

My mom is now 88 years old and has been the biggest influence in my life. I think I got my creative side from my mom. Even though she was a nurse and never worked in a creative field she was always busy doing one thing or another to our house (sometimes to disastrous effect) or sewing me a dress from some VOGUE pattern, knitting a sweater or painting a picture. We would tease her about her efforts but it was her way of expressing herself and showing her creativity in her own quiet way.

As I grew up she was so afraid for me as I only expressed interest in drawing and writing poems. She sent me to so many typing classes in the hope that I would eventually fall back on being a secretary because what kind of living could I make from the type of interests I had...but as nervous as she was she always encouraged me to find my own path and for that I will always be grateful.

I have tried to encourage my own daughter to find what makes her happy regardless of what that is and I admire her for her efforts to make that happen. She is strong and sure of herself and a lovely creative person...

So to all the mothers I would like to say, remember to feed your own soul and express your own voice in whatever way you can and encourage your children to do the same.

love you mom..

Happy Mother's Day

lola
xx

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them

They say they still can't see.

I say,

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Tablescapes..

2010-04-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

A David Hicks tablescape with a tray, books, toy car, photos and found objects.

He was the master.

I consider every bare surface in my home an opportunity. Just another spot to fill with lovely treasures I have collected over the years. The term for this type of decoration is "tablescapes" as coined by the influential interior decorator David Hicks (1929-1998). David is the father of India Hicks who you see on various shows on tv such as Top Design. (She also has a nice line of products at Crabtree and Evelyn but back to tablescapes). David Hicks was the master of arranging everyday objects, art, flowers and such into a pleasing and cohesive statement. Here are a few tips:

1. Combine small and large items with low and tall, in other words size and scale are everything when working on a tablescape.

2. Color is another factor. Keep it fairly consistent in terms of color using one or two colours or variations of one color.

3. Use odd numbers when creating your tablescape, 3 , 5 or 7 keeps the balance just right.

4. Low items in the front moving to medium and tall at the back. (I use books or magazines to raise up some of the objects)

5. If your table is close to the wall then incorporate items onto the floor and wall as part of the overall look.

6. Use trays or baskets as part of your tablescape.

Here are a few examples that I love:

lola

The designer Windsor Smith incorporates what is under the table and

on the wall into her tablescape. The pop of orange colour follows through

from the floor to the table and onto the wall.

Designer Sara Scaglione's tablescape using baskets, books and candlesticks.

Designer Jill Brinsons's tablescape with shells, books and photos.

All you need to fix a drink is displayed in a basket with the accessories around it.

Throw in a plant and a lamp and voila...barscape (did I just invent a word).

Mary McDonalds dressing room table

features her jewellery, flowers, photos.

Could we call this a mantlescape? Ok I have gone "scape" crazy!!

Above two photos are from another master at this, Ralph Lauren.

I leave you with a photo of one of India Hicks tablescapes from her island home.

Check out her line of products at Crabtree and Evelyn.

Amazing things..

2010-04-11T08:10:00.000-07:00

From amazing

I read many blogs but one of my favorites is Slim Pailey. She is funny and clever and I can relate to this women who I have never met. I loved one of her old posts about things that amazed her and it got me thinking about some things I find amazing in my own life. Here is my list:

1.That I live in Montreal where the winters are horribly long when I could choose to live in a warmer climate.

2. That the little hairs on my chin are getting longer and more abundant when the hair on my head seems to get thinner as I age...(yeah you know what I am talking about)

3. That my daughter is going to turn 16 and yet I still think I am 16..(how did this happen!!!)

4. That I never get tired of shopping and I keep buying the same type of thing over and over again and usually something black (do I really need 8 black cardigan sweaters).

5. That I have the best friends in the world ..

6. That I can get any stain out of my white furniture ( I have a technique that works every time) and that I get surprisingly few stains on my white furniture.

7. That I now like brussel sprouts (yummm with butter and dijon mustard)

8. Ipods

9. That I forget my password for my computer that I use every day but can remember some random phone number I had in 1982.

10. That my husband of 23 years still asks me daily why I come home so late from work (like..get over it. A good guy despite this shortcoming.)

11. That I can watch the same movie over and over and never get tired of it.

12. My daughter (such a great girl)

13. My sisters (such great women)

14. That the state of California has more people than all of Canada

15. That I can not let go of a decorating magazine even from 1985 (ever seen that show Hoarders..that is me with magazines

16. New York...

I will keep you updated with more amazing things but I would love to hear about some of your amazing facts in your life!

Happy Easter...

2010-04-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

Easter this year brought one of the most beautiful weekends I can ever remember in April. Instead of the usual cool weather we had a warm weekend (26 degrees celsius). My plants are starting to come up and the buds are out on the trees!! Easter makes me think of so many things. Not just candy eggs and chocolate although I do love a little of the milk chocolate at this time of year but it is a time for pastels and hats ( I did wear a hat this weekend from J Crew) and spring flowers..

Here are a few of my favorite Easter things...

Ali
xx

J Crew Spring 2010 Collection is so beautiful. All pale pastels and small florals.

Yum..Godiva chocolate...need I say more.

Burberry spring 2010 collection is all about the Pastels. Soft yellows, blues and greens.

Do these not look like Easter shoes with all those flowers?

My Easter bonnet I wore this weekend from J Crew.

My favorite Easter flower is of course tulips.

So many varieties and so many beautiful colors.

Here I am writing about pastel colors and my daughter just came back from

New York with pastel nail polish. Some of the newest shades shown here.

Pastel rooms from House Beautiful.

What are your favorite things about Easter? Leave a comment and let me know!

Euro Country Charm

2010-03-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

Euro Country collection from Restoration Hardware

I like the weathered and worn, the charming and eclectic and I have found that Euro country suits my taste. It is not one of the "trendy" looks in home decorating (I have suffered enough of those as all of the stuff in my basement will attest. Mmm I think it is time for a garage sale..) It is rather a look that will stand the test of time and I think I will have to add a couple of these wonderful pieces to my home. This whole look is really a take on Axel Vervoordt, a very well known Belgian antiques dealer and designer, that pioneered the look many years ago. He has decorated many homes, hotels and castles in Europe and has some of the best loved decorating tomes, Timeless Interiors and The Story of Style.

Take a look at some of Restoration Hardware's wonderful finds as well as the charming home of Axel in the shots below.

lola

Restoration Hardware.

Love the table and chairs!

This chair is from Restoration Hardware. So French..

These chandeliers from Restoration Hardware are amazing. I would like two please!!!

Axel Vervoordt's book Timeless Style

Axel Vervoordt's home

Axel Vervoordt

Some of the colors from Farrow and Ball that you would use to get this style just right.

My favorite things..

2010-03-20T15:33:00.000-07:00

I am in the mood to post about some of my favorite things. It is a rather random list but I have some things I am hooked on and though I am easily swayed when something new comes on the market I do stick to some of my favorites so here is the short list..

Did you know that Moroccan oil is the best! I am probably the last person to get on to the kick but it makes my hair soft and tames the flyaways. I had a hair cut today and my hairdresser said "Your hair is in great shape". Thanks to Morrocan oil. It smells good too! It is not cheap but well worth it!!

I love candles and have them all over my house. I am such a sucker for candles that I have over paid like you would not believe for a great smelling candle. One of the ones that I love the best is the diptyque 34 st germain paris 5e candle in Feu de Bois. The smell is like a campfire in summer. A woody, musky smell that is not too strong but still fills up the room. It last about 60 hours and is worth every penny of the $60 it costs.

Is there nothing better that a nice cup of tea in the afternoon. If you put a chocolate cookie with it then I am over the moon, but I like to think I have tried a wide variety. To have a cup of tea the best place is Mariage Frere in Paris in the Marais. I could LIVE in that tea shop. The waiters wear white gloves and serve tea with a lovely scone or muffin hot from the oven.

As I do not live in Paris and visit only occasionally my favorite tea to buy to make at home is Kusmi. I love the Jasmine Green Tea and the packaging is so beautiful. It comes in tin boxes that have a beautiful color and pattern that make me happy each time I go to make my tea.

This brand of tea originated in Russia and I just learned that the first Kusmi boutique has opened in of all places Montreal on St Denis St!! I must go and see it.

My favorite store in Montreal is currently Moutarde. I would move into that store if I could (did I not say that about Mariage Frere?) but my all time favorite is ABC Carpet and Home in New York. Soooo beautiful and thoughtful. Each item from the jewellery to the pillows are sublime.

ABC Carpet and Home

Moutarde Decor

Just a few things for today. I will expand on the list in future posts.

lola

Good Grace...

2010-03-13T19:18:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched the movie "The September Issue" which follows Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour and her Creative director Grace Coddington putting together the 2007 September issue of Vogue magazine. I must say I was very inspired by the creativity of Grace and her ability to turn every photo shoot she did into a beautiful story. Her poise under tremendous pressure and her determination to get what she believed were the best photos into the magazine, was wonderful to watch. Her glorious red hair and funny flat shoes not to mention her love of cats made me chuckle and at the age of 62 she has such energy!! The best part for me though was seeing a small clip of her house on the extra DVD. It is exactly what I love with all white and wood and photography lined up on the walls. (see my post Wall of Life). It was also fun to watch the interaction between Anna (who is very Devil Wears Prada, another of my favorite movies) and Grace. The tension is clear but so is the respect.

So great!!

lola

Here is the trailer from the movie The September Issue.

Following are some shots from the March 2010 issue of Vogue magazine with

Daria and Grace as the Fashion Director on this spread.

Not only is Grace the Creative Director but she is also an incredible stylist.

Grace also wrote and illustrated a book about cats called "The Catwalk Cats" that shows her beloved cats in all sorts of situations that have to do with her, fashion or designers. Very cute indeed!

Pages from her book "The Catwalk Cats"

Grace at a book signing.

Below you can see Grace on the cover of Vogue magazine. She stared her career as a model doing shoots for British Vogue where she later became a Junior Fashion Editor. She stayed there for many years before becoming the Creative Director at American Vogue.

New York, New York..

2010-03-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

It is spring break (and I use the word spring loosely) and in celebration my daughter and I have decided to make a little trip to my favorite town (hers too) NEW YORK!!!

Three days of eating, shopping and general having fun is in order.

Now.. I have several items on my mind to buy and I hope that they'll all be in stock as I have checked the internet and have every address necessary to get my buys in order. My first stop will be Louis Vuitton. I know, your thinking major $$$$ but I have never bought a Louis Vuitton bag and at my age I think it is high time I went there so I am going for this one...

This is the Never Full MM. Yes it is expensive

but not really considering the lifetime of love it will bring..

I also covet the All Saints line of clothing and they have opened a new store in Soho. I love this hip, slightly rebel, line of clothing. It's rocker without going to far and at my age too far comes pretty fast.

The other item I am going for in NY is a line of creams called Sundari. It is all natural Ayurvedic based skin care products that feel so good on the skin and are so hard to get here in Montreal that I am going to find them in NY instead.

Sundari

Gotu Kola and Indian Asparagus Mask

Just a short post tonight as we have an early morning tomorrow!

Bon voyage!!

lola

Oh so blue....

2010-02-13T06:18:00.000-08:00

What better blue could there be than a Tiffany blue box?

It is Valentine's Day after all....

I know I said in a past post that I love white and it's true but I if I had to pick a close second for my preferred color it would be blue. Naturally when I picked up this months issue of House Beautiful I was inspired as the issue is full of gorgeous blue rooms. I think waking up in a blue bedroom (yes my bedroom is blue....one of the only rooms with color in my house) feels like waking up to the sky. I love when the blue of our pool reflects into my kitchen in summer and when the blue hydrangeas are blooming outside my back door ( which I planted after a trip to Chatham in Cape Cod).

So, from my favorite blue jeans to the sapphire on my ring I will share with you a few happy but blue moments..

lola
xx

From the March House Beautiful issue.

The blue and neutral tones are stunnnning!!

This blue beaded chandelier is by Marjorie Skouras. I adore chandeliers and have 11 in my home. I would kill for this one!!!!!

Photo: House and Home

This wall is a great blue mixed with the pattern and color.

Beautiful soft blue and white room.

These are blue hydrangeas from Chatham Cape Cod.

If you have never been there you must go!!

It is one of the most beautiful places, beautiful homes and these

incredible blue hydrangeas everywhere!

Ok, I know this photo is a bit random but thinking of Chatham got me into my photos from our vacation. This is the blue/green water off the coast at Lighthouse Beach near Chatam. Those are seals just off the beach. They were as curious about us as we were about them.

I love his blue jeans and his style. Photo: from The Sartorialist. If you have never gone on this blog you must. Scott Schuman is a photographer and he takes photos of

people and friends on the street around the world.

He has the most impeccable sense of style, his photos are truly inspiring.

Love her blues rolled up..

The Sartorialist

I just had to put this photo because he is such a stylish guy in his blue shirt with his blue helmut. This picture was taken in Milan by The Sartorialist.

These are some of my favorite blue paint swatches from Farrow and Ball.

The Pavilion blue is sublime.

Blue car in the window at Ralph Lauren in NYC.

Photo by my daughter Chloe. Check out her blog Plongez.

I leave you with this romantic, serene bedroom in blue.

Photo: House Beautiful

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Food lovers style..

2010-01-31T11:34:00.000-08:00

From Food

Ok is there anything better than pictures of food. I mean eating the food is also fantastic but I loooove to look at it too. The simplicity and beauty of food photography is an art unto itself. Actually making food is an art also.......one that I must say I have improved upon over the past few years. Then of course there are all the wonderful kitchen gadgets that you can buy, not to mention dishes, cutlery, linens etc. So my post today is a celebration of not only food and photography, but of all things that make the food and eating experience the best!!

I have added a little music I like to play while cooking and eating..Enjoy.

lola

From the books by Donna Hay. Great simple recipes.

Photography by Petrina Tinslay

You can get the recipe for this salad and many more delicious treats on the website

Les Touilleurs.

It is a beautiful kitchen store in Montreal. Bon appetit!!

From Food

Some gadgets and dishes from Les Touilleurs.

Another photo of the inside of the store.

Photography by Jean Longre

This mushroom soup looks soooo good from Jamie Oliver....

This is the Crustino Buffalo. Recipes available on Jamie Oliver.

Photography by David Loftus

From Food

Con Poulos photography

The best recipe for White Chocolate Chunk Cookies EVER!!!!

Ingredients

1/2 pound unsalted butte,r at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large eggs at room temperature
2/3 cup good unsweetened cocoa
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 pounds good white chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream the butter and both sugars until light and fluffy in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the vanilla, then the eggs, 1 at a time, and mix well. Add the cocoa and mix again. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt and add to the chocolate with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Fold in the chopped white chocolate.

Drop the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, using a 1 3/4-inch ice cream scoop or a rounded tablespoon. Dampen your hands and flatten the dough slightly. Bake for exactly 15 minutes (the cookies will seem underdone). Remove from the oven and let cool slightly on the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Pretty Pattern

2010-01-21T20:22:00.001-08:00

Patterns at Anna Sui for Spring 2010

I know spring is still far (especially where I live in the snowy north) but I am seeing all of the gorgeous spring fashions at work and on some of my favorite fashion sites and it's all about PATTERNS!! It is so good to see this happy, bright look in the clothes and in the home. The patterns vary from geometric to floral, eastern influences to plaids but no matter, they inspire me to try something new instead of my black and grey uniform or my white rooms ( could I really give up black...uh NO!!!) Oh well, enjoy nonetheless..

lola

I love his style. Great mix of colour and pattern...

Photo: The Sartorialist

Kathryn Ireland Chair and Fabric

Tory Burch Spring 2010

Kathryn Ireland home

Neutral Pattern Play Photo: House and Home

Domino Magazine

Marc for Marc Jacobs Spring 2010

Miu Miu Spring 2010

and last but not least this great bedroom with a fabulous wall paper. Love it!

Also to see a great blog on Pattern and color go to : printpattern.blogspot.com

Wall of life..

2010-01-17T07:51:00.000-08:00

I love the look of a wall with photos, paintings and pictures. It brings the home to life and makes it feel lived in and loved. The execution of this can vary from random to very structured (I prefer random myself having a more random personality..ha) but either way gives the same effect of warming up a room and showing off your style. I like to see a mix of paintings and photos (or any other idea such as old record covers) but it can be just as beautiful with only one or the other. As I was looking for photos for my post I found so many inventive ideas to show off any collection. Using your wall space, limited or not, can be an inventive way to add life to any space.

Enjoy,

lola

Looks great with a pop of color behind..

Photo: Living etc.

These are old album cover put into frames..love that idea.

Photo: Living Etc.

This makes the TV disappear having the frames around it.

Photo: House and Home

Even if wall space is limited you can still add photos or cards to liven the space..

Photo: Living Etc.

I like the idea of using the top of the wall in a dining room.

Photo: House and Home.

....and again in the living room..

Photo: House and Home

Using shelving space for paintings or photos..

Very uniform look with all of the same frames but one row horizontal the other vertical.

I want to try putting a few frames in front of and inside the book shelves.

Photo: House Beautiful

Add a trim to the wall and set photos on it.. saves trying to figure out how to lay them out on the wall!

Photo: House Beautiful

I like the mirror as a center to the frames.

Photo: Domino Magazine

I saw this picture of Hamish Bowles home on one of my favorite blogs Habitually Chic.

So well done over and around the fireplace with mirror sconces and framed drawings!!

Photo: House Beautiful

Pottery Saturday

2010-01-09T05:58:00.000-08:00

Adelaide pottery by Astier de Villate

Each Saturday and Tuesday evening I bundle up and trudge over to the pottery studio 10 minutes from my house. I have taken pottery at various times in my life but I am back at it and I often wonder why I had abandoned it in the first place. The single minded determination it takes to build that small piece of clay into a pot is at the same time overwhelming yet incredibly satisfying. The quiet and peace of the studio, the camaraderie of the artists and the mix of smells from the clay to the glazes to the wet boots from the winter snow outside, all make the experience a welcome one for me.

I love that we are seeing pottery that is less refined and more natural and rough in texture right now. The dishes I wish I could make are the Astier de Villate Adelaide (available at ABC Carpet and Home in NY) . I just saw the movie It's Complicated and she had them on the wall, on the table...everywhere....oh I love them and I have only one in my collection..

Well, someday I hope to make them myself..

I am off to the pottery studio. Take a look at some of the pottery that inspires my attempts at the wheel!!

lola

From Domino. Check out the Daniel Smith Pottery on the mantle.

You must go see the pottery, ceramics and glass at 18 Karat!

Of course there is Jonathon Adler. Here you see his home and some of his work.

...and of course the beautiful Francis Palmer Pottery.

Here are some of my attempts at pottery this year. All in white of course..

Watch this man make a teapot on the wheel! Incredible technique..

What about white?

2010-01-05T11:26:00.001-08:00

I love white. I am not sure if it is all the snow on the ground that is inspiring me to write about it, but I love white furniture, white walls, white cars....well really everything white. It is not like I don't like color it's just that I like to live in white. My house, car, hair, dog are all white... I know color is coming back and I will probably get the urge to add a splash here and there but take a look at these examples of white rooms and see if it inspires you too..

my place

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Happy New Year!!

2010-01-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

I am looking forward to a great 2010! This year I made some resolutions that I am determined to keep! Yes, I know we all say that but these are ones that will feed my creativity, my heart and my sole so here goes....

1. Work on my art..painting, ceramics and photography!

It is what makes me that happiest and I am determined to find the time.

2. Go back to school!

I am not a young puppy but I want to take some fine arts courses. It can only enhance what I do in my professional life and will keep me working on resolution 1.

3. Exercise!

I know we all say it..lose pounds, go to the gym, blah blah, but I love yoga and want to go back to doing it regularly.

4. Eat healthy!

Less meat, more organic and local food. I love to cook and I love to eat (wine, cheese are all included here. Hey, I live with a frenchmen in a french culture, what would you expect.) but I want to stay as healthy as I am so have got to keep improving.

You see! Some small realistic goals for this year.

I hope you have a great year and I wish you all the health and happiness possible.

Photo shot by Max Abadian http://www.maxabadian.com/

the book

2009-12-30T06:33:00.000-08:00

I get an e-mail once a week from a site called Stimulant. It is a creative site for advertisers and marketing people or anyone looking for new ideas. In one weekly email there was a small article on the "book".

What's the "book'? Well for thirty six weeks a sketchbook was sent between four artists. Two of them live in Brooklyn, or did at the time, and two in Belfast. Every Wednesday one of these artists would receive the book and had to send it back out to one of the other artists by the following Monday. Each artist had five days to complete a spread in the book in response to the one that preceded it.

There was no communication between the artists during the time the book was sent back and forth over the Atlantic.

What I find so interesting about the book is the diversity of the artists yet how smoothly they worked off of each others previous pages. Not only is each page beautifully executed but the level of collaboration is clear between the artists. One page does not outdo the others but is a seamless work that looks like it could have been done by one artist using different styles.

Take a look and be inspired by this Collaboration in ART!!

http://www.lookatbook.com/

http://www.stimulantonline.ca/

Lonny Magazine

2009-12-28T21:16:00.000-08:00

loving lonny

2009-12-28T19:39:00.000-08:00

I was a huge fan of Domino magazine. When they were closed down I actually wrote to the publisher to tell them what I thought of their error in judgment...well we all know what happened anyway!

While reading Vanity Fair a couple of months ago I happened upon an article on Lonny, a new on-line magazine brought to you by Michelle Adams and Patrick Cline, former contributors at

Domino. They are now into their second issue and I love it! It is still growing but has the same quirky and unpretentious style as Domino. I love a design magazine that shows you ideas that do not require you spend big bucks in every room and where a little innovation and imagination go a long way. There is also a great feature this month on the new J Crew Collection store on Madison Ave in New York (love the creative director Jenna Lyons!).

Go ahead and take a look www.lonnymag.com