Time for Drinks

When summer rolls around I always think of spending days out in the sun with a couple of cool drinks. With that in mind I have recently been on the search for the perfect bar cart... here are the ones I have found so far that I think could be winners.
First up a lovely lacquered goatskin in a really beautiful and summery aqua color from Belvair at $2200 (available through 1stDibs). Second another lovely find at 1st Dibs through Susane R. This one I particularly like becuase of it's chinoiserie detail as well as the detachable tray top making it a really multi-functional piece. At $1400 this possible Maison Jansen piece would make a beautiful addition to any home. The last two are both available from Restoration Hardware, the Hanover and Campaign respectively are both under $800 and have classic features that make them beautiful and great for any interior.

Living Room Story Board

I have two things to compete with, my roommates couch and scary tv stand... my plan is to just deal with and/or downplay the sofa but to convince them to move the tv stand to the garage and use one that I buy. Let me know what ya'll think.

Strong Socialite Showing this Spring

Gotta love alliteration... anywho... I am only, like, ten pages into the May Domino and I am loving it. First off in the editor's cravings section is a page on Babe Paley, who some may consider the queen of all socialites ever, and then a piece on chinoiserie. A piece on Babe Paley hot on the heels of Alex V.F. maybe next month they will do an editor's craving on C.Z.

Cute Book

While I was in Las Vegas over the weekend the Anthropologie in the Forum Shops at Caesar's had the cutest display set for a new book, Lauren Child and Polly Borland's version of "The Princess and The Pea." To the left you can see a bed made with heaping piles of Anthro bed linens, wedged mid-way between the many layers are serveral cans of peas. I saw the display before I actually saw the book, but immediately knew the reference and it made me smile. I'm not sure if the other stores have a similar display set up so I thought I would share it with you because I thought it was adorable. The book is equally adorable and would make a cute gift for any little girl.
Whilst on the subject just a reminder that Anthropologie is having a sale on their upholstered furniture.

Out and About: La Jolla

Today I went shopping in La Jolla and to one of my favourite shops there, Seaside Home. Seaside Home has first and foremost an excellent selection of design and art books to choose from. They carry Baker furniture, Janus et Cie, William Yeoward crystal and more. This is a truly beautiful store with very polite and helpful staff. Before you drop by start you day off right with breakfast at Nine-Ten within the Colonial Hotel. I recommend the Nine-Ten omelet, yummy.
The shop is two floors of goodness. I am personally in love with the needlepoint leopard throw pillows seen in the photo to the left, they are absolutely brill.

Von Fabulous

In the nineties the Miller sisters were "it" girls of the New York and international social scene. Two out of three married princes (technically), the third marrying an oil heir. Fast forward to now, two out of three are amicably divorced, one retains the title of princess, and all three seem to have begun to lead more of a private and/or quiet lifestyle. That being said, my favorite of the three, Alexandra Miller von Furstenberg is featured in this May's Vogue. In the article they take a look at Alexandra's home in L.A., that she shares with her two children. It seems like a clean, bright, laid-back Californian space, which by the tone of the article is what Alexandra was seeking after leaving both a gossip laden New York and "dark" London. What caught my attention most was the interesting fireplace treatment that Alexandra had schemed up. She placed huge glass diamonds on black boxes within each fireplace. This is so random but I think it looks really pretty, and I'm thinking of stealing her idea as I came across some big glass diamonds the exact same day I read the article ...design destiny I tell you!

Inspiring Architecture

Last week my friend and I went to have an early supper at the restaurant Prado in Balboa Park, in San Diego. The beautiful buildings and surrounding gardens and ponds are a great place to picnic or sketch the surround architecture. On a side note funny story, my friend went here on a date and was remarking about how beautiful the old stone buildings were and her date knocked on them to prove her point about their age and enduring quality. To her surprise and his amusement they were hollow plastic. "Yeah really old huh?" said he.
In any case still worth a visit and a look.