The unofficial start of summer is finally here, and it’s time to take advantage of everything we dreamed of during those long winter months. Agota Rimsaite has designed the conceptual Panama Banana, a dual-purpose piece of furniture that’s meant for relaxing as well as playtime. Turn it one way and you’ll be relaxing in a hammock, flip it ninety degrees and you’ll have a soccer goal!
I’m not sure how I’ll made due with my little turntable after seeing this one from Shinola. The Runwell Turntable was created as a limited run of 500 units and is absolutely WOW. It’s the Detroit-based company’s first audio endeavor – an American-made, solid aluminum, steel and wood, 2-speed belt-driven turntable featuring a modular phono pre-amp and a whole lot of oomph.
I’ve finally found the perfect table for the ever-entertaining host or hostess. Marcus Voraa‘s Roll-Out Table is beechwood crafted with a beeswax-treated surface, finished off with steel and canvas. The length of the table can be adjusted by sliding the end out and letting the tabletop follow, while the steel crank on the side is used to retract the length.
I wanted to try and represent the social arena that is the internet. The table is where we meet, get to know each other, discuss and share information in the real world. No matter whether it is around the dinner table, in the meeting room or at a conference, it is at the table where our parallel worlds meet, the physical and the digital.
These handsome dry goods vessels from Fort Standard are intended for the kitchen, but could easily find a home in any number of places in your home. The thin glass vessels are sealed with large cork stoppers and turned American walnut hardwood handles. Pick up your favorite or get all three and get 10% off!
Lighting is perhaps the element I most look forward to when designing a room – the right finish, the perfect glow, everything comes together to set the mood in that just right way. Chandeliers in particular are the icing on the proverbial cake of decorating, and I don’t think they’re utilized often enough. Think past the dining room and entryway to the bathroom, the bedroom, and beyond to take any room to the next level.
The biggest dream I have for my house is turning the finished attic, complete with dormer windows and a turret, into my dream master suite. It’s split into two rooms, and ideally the front one would become the bedroom and the back a wardrobe and sitting room. The main obstacle is that there is no ductwork up there, and I live in a state that fully experiences all four seasons.
But whatever. Because when I’m finally able to save up and make it happen I know that I don’t want built-in shelving or suspended rods, what I actually want are old school garment racks lining the walls.
Are you elbow-deep in potting soil, too? So far I’ve already moved the majority of my indoor plants onto the front porch and repotted a bunch of succulent babies. This weekend three peony bushes, two peony roots, two oriental poppies, and heirloom tomatoes are on the docket for planting. I love how greenery and flowers make any space feel more alive, but always seem to be running short on pots and planters. It turns out now is the perfect time to stock up – plenty of these are on sale!
Simple, functional pieces that can be easily moved from room to room depending on what I need them for draw me to them like a moth to a flame. When I came across OMMO‘s products, that combine both eastern and western cultures, it was love at first sight. The word OMMO stands for the idea that good design is for everyone, and their collection exemplifies just that.
Snack-filled meals have long been some of my favorites, back in November I even laid out my dining room with charcuterie, crudités, and tappas for my housewarming party. What I love most about these types of spreads is that there are no real rules, only fast and loose suggestions.
These tappas boards by Samarie Designs would be a beautiful addition to any spread. Printmaker Samarie Higgins teamed up with woodworker Jeremy Happ to create these one-of-a-kind pieces that use sustainable wood. Each one features a swirling work of art that’s sure to complement the food served upon it.
Charcuterie includes mainly meats and cheeses, with some supporting roles thrown in by way of fruits, veggies, nuts, and carbs. It’s definitely an appetizer that’s heavy enough to be considered a light dinner. (A recommended 5 oz. of meat and 2 oz. of cheese per person, if you’re curious.)
+ dry-cured salami, prosciutto, smoky sausage, speck, coppa, chorizo, and sopressata
+ one of each type of cheese: stinky (blue), aged (cheddar, gouda) , soft (double or triple creams), hard (parmesan, manchego), and fresh (ricotta, goat, mozzarella) served at room temperature
+ toast a sliced baguette and/or cut up flatbreads in the oven
+ add small bowls of nuts and dried fruits scattered in between
+ olives, cornichons, and artichoke hearts will elevate your entire board with new textures
+ a few types seasonal fresh fruit, either sliced or in bowls
+ slice the hard cheeses, break up the stinky ones, provide different knives for the soft and fresh
+ add in a grainy mustard, fig jam, and fragrant honey for those who want to get adventurous
Crudités platters are usually full of seasonal vegetables, something pickled, and a few sauces. It’s a versatile appetizer because it can be served cold or hot, depending on the time of year. Separate everything into groups when plating on platters and boards for maximum visual impact.
+ cold, sliced seasonal vegetables– broccolini, cauliflower (white, green, orange and purple), radishes (red, black, watermelon), asparagus, celery, carrots, assorted bell peppers, snap peas, haricot vert, English cucumbers
+ mini skewers with things like mozzarella balls with cherry tomatoes
+ steamed, grilled, or baked vegetables such as corn on the cob, mini potatoes, and edamame
+ something bright and citrusy, like sliced oranges or Meyer lemons
+ two to three sauces for dipping
+ hollow out a few small heads of cabbage and fill them with thicker sauces for serving
+ a fancy salt, like pink Himalayan
