I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to discover Hostess with the Mostess, “an innovative online resource for hip, modern, and unique entertaining ideas”. It’s like the website was made for me, featuring gorgeous, gorgeous finds, and so much entertaining inspiration. The Hostess Blog is a must-read, and has been added to my Google Reader feeds. I love it!
When it comes to discovering sites to love, I was definitely on a roll this week. Check out my other new favourites:
absolutely beautiful things. Absolutely excellent. I love the pink background, too.
Speaking of pink… casapinka is fascinating.
And finally, desire to inspire features lovely design and decorating photos.
Consider me inspired!
Of all my purchases (and, as a shopaholic, there have been a lot), among the things I never regret buying are good cookware. I’m talking great pots and pans that we use over and over again, and will probably pass on to our future children.
Which is why I get thrilled when great pans like these by Calphalon go on sale at Amazon.
This one, the Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Everyday Pan with Lid is on sale for only $27.99- that’s down from $168. I’m not kidding.
There’s also a Calphalon Saucepan on sale for only $29.99, down from $119. Yummy!
That I’m a little bit of a shopaholic is a given. What those closest to me know, however, is that I’m even more of a foodaholic. I’m enthusiastic about food- good food in particular- and going hand in hand with that is my almost unhealthy infatuation with kitchens.
My kitchen, a corner of which is pictured here, is warm and inviting and bold: its walls are painted cherry red, its cabinets are black, and its “island” is actually a repurposed pedestal table. It’s been this way since we moved in a little more than two years ago. I loved it then, and I still love it, but that doesn’t stop me from swooning over beautiful kitchens whenever I see them.
Which is why, when Green Tea Design asked me to review their kitchen cabinet collection, I accepted cheerfully. And excitedly!
The first thing that struck me about these kitchen cabinets is that they’re Asian-inspired designs. How can a kitchen be Asian-inspired, and yet be modern and functional and everything a kitchen in the year 2007 should be?
Apparently it can. The key word here is “flexible”, and because you can stack or separate the modular units, mix and match the various designs, or have single modules custom-made, these pieces are wonderfully flexible.
Take, for example, the Dana Cupboard I am coveting (pictured here hanging above the Mizuna kitchen counter): An adaptation of a classic tea chest design, the cupboard features both open shelves and closed doors, and is available in a variety of sizes and colors and woods.
And speaking of woods: all Green Tea’s furniture is constructed using salvaged hard woods such as Elm and Gingko. By salvaged they mean they use large beams reclaimed from older structures such as country homes, barns and warehouses. And you thought the “Green” in their name was just for looks.
Check out Green Tea Design’s kitchen cabinetry- but only if you’re ready to fall in love. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I don’t know anyone else who loves sleep as much as I do. I’m not sure why most people have trouble getting out of bed, but for me, it’s because I really, really enjoy sleeping.
My husband likes to joke that I can sleep anywhere- on planes, in cars, in particularly billowy armchairs. But while it’s true that I don’t have trouble falling asleep, my sleeping location of choice is and will always be our bedroom.
Our set-up is simple enough: a king-sized bed with a tall buffet table with drawers at its head that functions as a headboard and replaces the need for side-tables. At the foot, an oversized antique hope chest filled with extra pillows and blankets. Directly across the bed is the wooden “entertainment center” my husband had made to order, holding our tv and DVD player. Nothing really matches- yet it’s a set-up that’s worked for us quite well since we moved here two years ago.
But while I’m certainly not complaining, lately I’ve been seriously contemplating “upgrading” our bedroom. How wonderful it would be to come home to a picture-perfect sanctuary, to wake up in a beautiful bed and see my alarm clock sitting prettily on a brand new night table? To know that our bedroom, which no one but ourselves ever sees, is just as- if not more- beautiful than the other rooms in our home?
Which is why the order for a review on this site selling bedroom furniture came at such a fortuitous time.
I’m a web-research addict, and never make large purchases without spending an almost unhealthy amount of time on Google (and Froogle, of course). Still, I’ve found it difficult to find many places online featuring bedroom sets that are designed to my liking.
What I like about the furniture on this site is its obvious quality. Of course I can’t speak from first-hand experience, not having placed an order just yet, but looking at the pieces and their descriptions gives me the feeling that I won’t be finding any awkward beds that squeak and sad tables that teeter here- these are pieces crafted of hardwood, designed thoughtfully and made scrupulously.
And then, of course, there’s price. The bedroom set I’m particularly lusting after, pictured here, carries a retail price of $4,099.00. Not too surprising, given that it includes a canopy bed, six-drawer dresser, mirror and nightstand, all in a beautiful “warm cappuccino colored matte finish”. The price on the site, however, is $1,639.00- with a delivery charge of $150. A good deal? I think so.
Of course, I want to customize my order, and this site makes it easy as well. $65 to upgrade to a King-size (naturally!), $260 for an additional nightstand… I can even add a 5-drawer chest for $560. And if I decide I don’t really need the mirror, I can choose to remove it… bringing my total for all I want to a healthy price of $2,404.00.
No, this isn’t a perfect site. It could certainly do with a better design, and I’d be happier with a less hard-selling approach. But the amount of information available is great… and they accept PayPal.
See more bedroom furniture on their site.
Door knobs, knockers and handles don’t sound very sexy, but I like to think of them as jewelry for your home. When my husband and I first moved here, one of the first things we did was change all door and cabinetry hardware… not only was it a quick way to update the look of our rooms, but it was an inexpensive way to do it as well.
ArchitecturalClassics.com is sponsoring this post, but I want to make clear right now that I’m being completely objective here. If I didn’t like their products, or their site, I’d call them on it. But the truth is, I do like their products, and probably would have featured them here even without the sponsorship.
They describe themselves as “one of Europe’s leading retailers of period, decorative and classical pieces”- so if you’re decorating in an ultra-modern or Asian-zen style, their offerings probably aren’t for you. I’m partial to European grandeur, ritzy hotels and antique designs that have stood the test of time- so there was lots that I found to love here.
The Lion’s Head Door Knocker shown here, for example, is a hand-finished reproduction of an original period piece, available in polished brass or (as shown in photo) patina. Perfect to adorn your front door, whether you live in a simple cottage (like me), a sprawling mansion, or a city apartment. It costs 100 euros- not cheap, but I prefer to think of it as a small investment in my front door. Heh.
Their site is easy on the eyes, with enough helpful information to simplify ordering, and a solid search engine that located the crystal doorknobs I was looking for… and they might just have what your house needs as well. See more at Architectural Classics.
Page 4 of 6« First...«23456»
