march catalog day

hooray for catalog day! i love looking through new catalogs with coffee in one hand and a sharpie in the other. every month i'll tell you what i've circled from the stack. this time around will be a little different than february, as i've grouped picks together instead of just running down a random list. basically, i liked a LOT of stuff and didn't want to bore you with an over-long post. 

two rules:

1. these are things i spotted on real paper through the real mail (i.e. not something i saw online or in a store).

2. all budget-consciousness is out the window. this is purely for fun.

happy shopping!

all of this is from paper source, and they are the winner with the most must-haves this month!

1 // blush gold foil 4 bar thank you notes

2 // kate spade bow paper clips

3 // chalk stock tags

4 // envelope template kit and envelope liner template kit (make your own from any paper. need!)

5 // kate spade glasses pencil pouch

6 // kate spade gold confetti coasters

7 // black border a6 stationery

8 // initials custom address stamp

9 // kate spade gold dot notebook

10 // paper bag a7 box mailer  (up the party ante by sending your invite in a box)

11 // gold foil scallops 4 bar thank you cards

from design within reach:

1 // tolomeo mega 17" floor lamp, black fiber

2 // lampe gras model 205 task lamp

3 // lampe gras model 214 wall lamp

1 // pottery barn kids dahlia chandelier

2 // dwr neutra house numbers in aluminum

3 // dwr cross round table, oak

4 // dwr adnet mirror, brown

5 // pottery barn catalina slipcovered sofa 

6 // serena & lily dip-dyed stool, white 

7 // pottery barn kids stella ceramic side table 

8 // pottery barn round woven coffee table 

9 // serena & lily jute border rug, metallic silver 

doesn't this chair just make you want to smile?
serena & lily riviera arm chair in dandelion

i am crazy in love with this zig cotton dhurrie in navy/ ivory. the (top to bottom) havana navy pillow cover, indigo herringbone throw and navy racing stripe pillow cover also sport its classic color combo. all from serena & lily.

all from our very close catalog day runner-up, j. crew:

1 // thompson blazer in navy stretch cotton

2 // mougin & piquard for j. crew chronograph watch

3 // suede lace up cage pumps in black

4 // linen baseball tee in coloblock heather grey vanilla 

5 // destroyed boyfriend jean in light roxy wash

6 // nora perforated ballet flats in chalk

7 // tassel-trim scarf in plaster white

8 // floral pastel cuff

9 // t-strap gladiator high-heel sandals in vintage sandstone

10 // convertible stationery clutch in raffia 

anything cross your mailbox this month that you can't live without?

sonoma house tour

as i write, i am at the library going through this month's magazines, in order to make good on my promise to bring you the best of them. as a teaser, (and because this is too much goodness to fit into my magazine round-up post), i must share a tour of the home i just found in march's house beautiful.

this is a barn-inspired house in sonoma, california. designer rela gleason helped her clients interpret their desire to renovate an old barn into a new construction project that channeled "historic wineries, ice houses and barns...into something more contemporary."

 in the living room, natural materials, a huge stone fireplace, and industrial doors that connect the inside with the out help create a stunning and serene retreat. the designer used a mix of materials to add visual interest to the neutral pallette.

the kitchen is open to the main living area and has a zinc feeding trough-turned light fixture above the island.

a massive wrap-around porch connects two wings of the house. the table is sized to host a crowd, and the built-in grill allows for outdoor cooking in any weather.

 an iron headboard and cedar wood accent panel dress the guest bed.

storage in the guest bathroom is handled by clean-lined shelves backed with mirror.

guests enjoy this treat of a tub while taking in spectacular views.

the master bedroom is surprisingly cozy and simple, dominated by the wonderful character of the antique chest filling one wall. i especially love the pharmacy wall sconces by restoration hardware.

marble and steel sinks provide a sleek contrast to the natural materials elsewhere in the house. concrete floors camouflage the sonoma dust until cleaning day.

as newlyweds living in the bay area, ryan and i enjoyed spending time in sonoma, and outdoor dining is a way of life there. good wine, delicious eats, waning sun and gentle breezes join your friends as regular dinner guests.   

an outdoor shower blends with the home and the landscape, and stands at the ready to banish vineyard dirt from your feet.

i hope you enjoyed seeing this home as much as i did! there were several more beautiful moments i'm excited to bring you from the magazines this month, so stay tuned.

before i do, i'll be taking some time off from posting (hopefully not more than a week or two) to work on a much-needed site redesign. i have been collaborating with a great friend and photographer, have found a web design company i'm excited to work with, and have about a billion (ok, slight exaggerration, but still) posts half written and ideas scribbled down that i can't wait to share with you.

here's to good things ahead!

{all images via house beautiful magazine, where you can see more and read the complete designer interview}

office inspiration

this is what i look like when i write blog posts.*  an inspiring, beautiful, organized office is a borderline need for a creative professional. our 2014 mudroom/ powder room/ office project will, hopefully, result in an inspiring, beautiful, organized office for me.

i'll show you what my desk actually looked like, if you promise to scroll really fast past the picture.

what? you saw nothing.

my desk was in the corner of our school room, a former dining room that is currently undergoing demolition. (yes! we made it to 10!) here is a look at the spaces and details currently inspiring our design plan for the office it will become.

 we want a room that is bright, light, and modern. {via elle decor}

i'm in love with these antique doors used to create built-in cabinets, and we're going to try something similar along one wall. {via brabourne farm}

our version will likely involve some sort of ikea hack, a la scrap hacker style.

a desk with room for seating on both sides will help facilitate homework help and project collaborations. {by kelly wearstler design via design chic}

the desk will, of course, include lots of pretty accessories...

 {images via the every girl and the every girl/ danielle moss}

naturally i'd love a macbook pro, but the chromebook is tempting to try first. {phantom pin image}

 i'm sure the desk will always be perfectly organized. {check out these diy paper tray organizers from a fabulous fete, that look soo cute and easy to make}

 i'll save some wall space for pretty storage and display. {i found this image at the pretty blog}

we're going to try to build an oversized bulletin board right into the wall. the look of this one, covered in linen and finished with brass nail heads, is perfect.
{from alaina kaczmarski at live creating yourself blog}

i'll be shopping for a white, modern, clean-lined desk, like this one spotted at houzz.

 a lucite chair is also on my wishlist. {via lauren conrad}

i need the stendig calendar...so expensive at $105, (and sells out in a minute), but grrr....so pretty.

similar to LCY's home office, a gallery of favorite prints will be over the desk, including:

the fabulous fete shop's too legit print,

and something like this if i could figure out were to buy it. (see what i mean about stuff on tumblr?)

i'm loving the rows of white magazine files in this office, by justine hugh-jones,

and the big craft table with pendants in this one, by barbara westbrook.

our room is right off the kitchen, so a big thank you to domino for posting these pictures, which confirm bookcases will fit well in that spot.

and finally, this office sums up perfectly how i want the space to feel (its the same one from domino).

we have the basic plan for room layout and built-ins (always good to know before you sledgehammer a wall), but i'm busy making spec sheets, throwing them out, and making more. i'll post more details as everything comes together!

* not. i meant to say this is not what i look like when i write blog posts. sorry if you felt for a moment like i have it all together, or that i wear jewelry around the house, or that i'm out of pajamas before 9 am. that image is how the girls over at firefly events look when they're working. it'll be me someday. right?

shopping for...wellies

we finally had that day here in chicago that comes in early march; the 50-degree teaser that makes everyone get outside, walk the dog, and think spring is imminent. that day is always (test me on this, it's true) followed by 2-10 inches of snow. and this is when my wellies make their debut. because everything is pure slosh outside and wearing snow boots for one more moment is just too depressing.

{quick sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8 // 9 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16}

for reasons i can't explain, i totally geek out about this genre of footwear. thus, and since the weather is appropriately soggy, i am posting an homage to the wellington. (wait, did wikipedia just lose a little credibility for anyone else?)

my favorite vulcanized shin-high flexi pumps, who have been waiting patiently in my closet since christmas (thanks mom!), are from joules, who arguably makes the best rain boots on the planet.

just look at the beauties they have to offer:

  yellow bows on the back? these make me want to jump up and down. evedon bow welly in black.

cute little dogs? yes please. and these gumbies have a smart yellow stripe up the back. brown dog welly print rain boots.

where joules is lesser-known, at least in the states, hunter is the quintessential authority on billy-boots. they seem to have cornered the market on the classic, but keep us wanting more with every candy color in the rainbow. my current favorites:

 high. gloss. red. original tall gloss rain boot in pillar box red.

i can't stand it. these are too good. original colorblock rain boots in clementine/ white.

i love unexpected details, like the hot pink peeking out at the top of these original back adjustable rain boots in navy/ lipstick,

and the stripe on these original stripe rain boots in black/ biscuit.

of course one will never go wrong with the original tall rain boot in black. seriously, i can't believe i don't own these.

lastly, this brand is new to me, but reviewers sing their praises and i am smitten with the tiny yellow tassle at the top. aigle miss juliette a in black. 

there are countless scores more of alaskan sneakers out there that i could post, but i'm stopping at my very very favorites. hopefully you'll be inspired to don a pair and welcome the puddles with me. yay spring!