Fashion Meets Its Match: Etro

This post is inspired by a few of my most recent fashion and interior design obsessions.  The first being Etro, the Italian design house that's known for its color and pattern combinations.  Its spring and fall collections have my heart beating faster.  The other is Commune, an LA based design firm that represents,  in my mind,  the quintessential California style.  (Yes, California is still on my mind).  Take a peek at a few of my favorite interiors matched up with some of my favorite fashion looks.

My favorite interior is the Catalina street living room, I love how its retro feel was achieved with comfortable modern design.  My favorite outfit is the one paired with the Catalina street sitting room.  Roomy trousers topped with a patterned sheer blouse.

I almost forgot, here's one more fashion match.  The interior is America Dural's  and the fashion is by Dior.

Ok now,  which one is your favorite?

Beer Walls and Beer Glasses

During a recent trip to San Diego I had the pleasure of drinking some really good beer at BLAH (Blind Lady Ale House).  I'm a beer drinker, it took me some time to realize that, but I really enjoy it.  So when I was faced with a wall of vintage beer cans I just had to take a photo.  I would have taken more but I had beer to drink.

This ultra cool pizzeria and brewery is both kid and pet friendly.  Upon entering, we were greeted by a family dog (only in Cali).  Large rustic tables flanked by benches offer the perfect place to set down a pie and a couple of beers.  Take a look at a few other "beer" photos:

The glass the beer is served in is just as important as the beer.  See a few of my new favorites.

Inverted pint:  Alessi

Eco-friendly glasses produced from empty wine bottles.  Available at Canoe.

Pre-chill this textured mug for a truly refreshing beer.   Available at Crate and Barrel.

What's your favorite beer?

'Til Monday

This week's 'Til Monday image is a photo of Henry, an Irish Wolfhound.   We're babysitting him for the weekend.  The kids are super excited to have this very large, very hairy and very sweet four legged creature in our home.  As you can image, the house is full of activity.  Wish me luck.

Oh, did you notice how nice he looks in our space?   His colors go perfectly with our palette...

Have a great one!

Live Botanical Art

Usually we hang paintings or photos on our walls forgetting that art can be expressed in less conventional ways.  Take a look at how beautiful a mounted Staghorn fern looks on this home's walls.  Easy to take care of,  this epiphytic plant needs very little care to thrive.  An occasional soak and indirect light provide the perfect environment for the Staghorn fern to thrive.

To add some dramatic interest, hang more than one.

I love this particular space. It's a combination of classic design, ethnic influences and a very personal touch.  Stay tuned for a "house tour".

Staghorn Ferns can be found at most specialized plant nurseries or online.

Next time you're staring at a blank wall,  think of less conventional ways to breathe a little life into it...

Loving Frank

Staying true to my New Year's resolution of reading more I'm doing just that with Loving Frank.  Barely a blogger, definitely not a book reviewer,  but I'll give it my best.

Poetically written, Nancy Horan’s account of Frank Lloyd Wright’s passion for design should be easily appreciated by both those with a designing eye and those without.  On a personal level, his transgressions may have been familiar to most readers, but perhaps not the extent of his love affair with Mamah Cheney.  The tragic tale of a defiant love in the face of all things right force the reader to be torn between right and wrong throughout the novel.  At times one feels as passionate about the affair as those who lived it, at others, deeply saddened by the ordeal imposed on all around them.  Is true love worth entire families dismantled in its path?  This doomed and never quite realized love story ends suddenly and violently.  Its impact on the reader is softened by Wright's life long dream to have nature and structure coexist in harmony.  A must read for anyone who loves good design and a good love story.

At a time when the norm for architecture was cookie-cutter style,  Wright braved it all with his idea that structures should coexist with their surrounds, blending seamlessly into the landscapes that defined them.  Take a look at some examples of his work.  I would SO love a tour.