HELLA JONGERIUS

I was introduced to Hella Jongerius when I was doing a freelance gig at Newsweek on their big Design issue back in 2005. I ended up meeting this dutch designer at Moss in New York. We shot her at Moss and it was her unbelieveable vases and maharam pillows that we were featuring. Now, she has this very cool line of porcelain dinnerware manufactured by Royal Tichelaar Makkum. Each piece is stamped with the glaze type and designer's mark which makes each piece one of a kind.

The Dinner Service set includes: two small bowls, two small plates, two large plates and two large cups. Its not cheap...$550 for the set. Take a look by clicking onto the title.

MARCEL WANDERS

I got this Marcel Wanders water Carafe as a Christmas present from a photographer, and I love absolutely it. Its a great gift and affordable...$55. Check it out by clicking onto the title.

KOEHLER WINE

Since I work at a food and entertaining magazine, we send out alot of wine to photographer's or contributors to thank them for doing a good job. Just recently, my guy Max at Wally's wine suggested this one. Its a nice SYRAH from Koehler...a Santa Inez Valley wine estate. Its delicious and it will not fail you. The reasonable price for a nice solid red, $32 will would be a nice treat for a dinner party or to just sip with some friends and treat yourself. YOu can purchase it by clicking onto the title or going to Wally's Wines in Los Angeles.

LOEFFLER RANDALL

My friend Kat Odell (her food/entertaining blog is Corkandrind.blogspot.com) told me about this designer, Loeffler Randall, who is a fabulous handbag and shoe designer who was just commissioned by Target this season to do a cheap line of shoes and bags. $20. You can't beat it. Check out the items by clicking onto the title.

Check out Kat's blog...its great. CORKANDRIND.BLOGSPOT.COM.

URAWAZA

This is a collection of random things that Tokyo-born journalist Lisa Katayama put together. This book humorously collects more than 100 secret random tricks illustrated by Joel Holland. Example...Want to turbo slide your sled or snowboard...spray it wilt non-stick cooking spray like Pam. If you are going away for a week, place your plants into oversoaked wet diapers, so it slowly absorbs water over time. These are things my grandmother would would know...its hysterical. Click on the title to purchase.

WHITE

Since I am a photo editor at a food/entertaining magazine, props for made up dinner table sets are part of my life. I also love to surf the web and always finding amazing designers that do beautiful patterns. Its endless the designs out there. I decided that I am going to stop the madness and just stick to white.
I am overwhelmed by the choices, patterns and colors available. I am simply going white for a while.
Here is a set that Martha Stewart has at KMART, to tie me over for my current whim until I get sick of white. They are very inexpensive...and on sale at this time. Check them out by clicking on the title.

RED SUEDE SHOES

Dinnerware may be white, but for clothing...I have been going through a phase where I really like red. I found these vibrant red SUEDE Chuck Taylor's for $199. I know...I know...been there done that, but the slip on's are so easy for lazy people like me who can't deal with laces.
Check them out by clicking on the title above.

BUTTON RING

I was surfing the web last night, and I found this $10 vintage daisy cabochon attached to a vintage button. I like the green one shown above but it comes in red too.


A vintage daisy cabochon attached to a vintage button.

CB2

I am in the middle of a bedroom redesign. I have been looking for interesting side tables that are low and have a nice classic design element. If you are on a budget, take a look at these by clicking on the title above. There are two at CB2.com, Crate and Barrell's lower price point line. The two shown above are only $199. I noticed that Domino was featuring alot of their items, so I found myself wandering onto the website quite a bit lately... a few delicate wine glasses and water goblets they have can easily be mistaken for items at Moss. Check them out!

PUMA SHOES

Check these out by Mihara Yasuhiro.

MIHARA YASUHIRO

This is an a limited edition book by Colette in Paris showcasing contemporary Japanese art and creative images. Mihara Yashuiro who had been designing shoes for Puma for about 6 years. His website SoSu.co.jp is really facinating. You can do a translation on google translation to read this website, since they are both in Japanese. This book is also available at the black store in NY on West 14th Street or you can log onto mihara.puma.com.

I also found this on FYI magazine, at fyi-mag.com, but they were sold out.

This was quite an inspiring book with other collaborators such as AKira Yamaguchi, Makota Azuma, and Takao Saito.

FLORENCE

I just got back from Florence, Italy. I have never been to Italy and I have to say, it was everything I had imagined, but a bit more touristy than I thought. I actually went to Rome AND Florence, but it was Florence that really took my breath away. A few places that are a must...The Uffizi Gallery with art work by Michelangelo,Leonardo Da Vinci and Botticelli to name a few, Palazzo Vecchio, Signoria Square, the Old Bridge, and just walking around the shopping areas to find amazing gelato and leather shops. I actually ate my way through this city. I was told a list of places to go and went to about two of them. There were so many tempting places on every corner, it was just as easy to eat an one place on Signoria Square than all the way over on the other side of town! I will be blogging about a few dishes I had there soon...check some of these photos out!

KELLY WEARSTLER

I had the priveledge of meeting Kelly Wearstler on a shoot a few months ago when we were shooting her for the Bon Appetit Awards for the award for the best Designer of the year. At that time, she told me that she had a line coming out and I was so excited to see what she would do. As I was looking at DESIGN SPONGE a few days ago, and then also Lizzie's DESIGN WATCHER, and both of them being my favorite blogs... I saw that she had a party at Berdorf's and that the line has launched! If your not familiar with her, you obviously don't watch TOP DESIGN.
She is Los Angeles-based and is most well known for her interior design. She created the taste-making designs of luxury hotel properties (Viceroy Santa Monica and Palm Springs), exclusive restaurants (BG in New York's Bergdorf Goodman) and celebrity residences (Ben Stiller and Jeanne Tripplehorn's homes), and also is the Paula Abdul of Top Design. I went onto the Bergdorf website and her stuff isn't on there at this time but I am sure it will be soon. Check her out or if you live in NY, check out the new showroom that she has. Click on the title above to get more info about her design items at Berdorf's.

THOMAS PAUL

Need some wall art for a baby's room? A bathroom? Office? Check out this website...there is some great canvas wall art. Check the title above.

DAVID WEEKS

I love this...who doesn't love a fire by the campfire. Its a porcelain candle holder and its only $19! Check it out by clicking on the title above.

CRIS NOTTI

I am very light sensitive and so I either need a very dark room or one of these eye guards to get good shut eye. Check these out...a stylish way to sleep comfortably! They are made out of silk for ultra comfort and are only $20.Check it out by clicking on the title above.

SAMUEL MOYER GIFTS

Samuel Moyer, a LA furniture designer has come out with some very special pieces. Shown, is the The Hair-of-the-Dog Tray...which is great to eat in bed, use to set your laptop on or great for serving drinks too!
Comes in Ash, Cherry and Black Walnut Ply. Its $170. The cutting board is also impressive. Also comes in various woods and the price is around $200.

SPLASH

I saw this on Apt Therapy...its a fantastic gift for a hip mom. Every new mom needs one of these...and the price is right...its only $28. It comes in Red, White and Blue. Check it out by clicking on the title above.

HARALD HYNELL

This tree motiff may not be a new idea, but this designer is pretty amazing.
Check him out by clicking on the title above.

WINE MERCHANT IN SF

I was in San Francisco this past weekend for a wedding but I had a little time to shop around in the Ferry Building. I have had a sudden interest in wine lately and I am planning a trip to Rome in a few weeks so I had to stop in at the well known Wine Merchant store to get some helpful hints from Dejah Overby, the wine manager there for a few tips.
I saw that they had a fantastic selections of wines under $20, (featured on their website), and I wanted to get some of the affordable wines back to LA to taste. Most of these wines are exclusive to them and very difficult to find, and its a nice treat to order them online, have them sent to your home for $15 or so, and impress your guests.
The ones I purchased were a few types of grapes...one in the old world and one from the new world...check them out if you are throwing a dinner party:
New World's Stephen Vincent's 2005 Crimson ($10), Old World's Le Clos Du Caillou's 2005 Cote Du Rhone ($22), New World's HEndry Ranch 2004 Pinot Noir ($20), Old World's Chateau Faure-Beausejour 2003 Gran Vin De Bordeaux, New World's Four Vines 2005 Zinfandel($10), and finally the Old World's Le Sciare 2003 Salento Primitivo ($14).Purchase these by clicking on the title above.

MISSONI TOWELS

I was reading Lizzie Garrett's blog called Designwatcher.com, one of my favorite blogs. Lizzie featured the Missoni Throws which got me investigating Missoni Home... I have always been a huge fan of the home collection but didn't think I could afford it.
I had gotten a few beach towels as gifts and just figured it was out of my price range.
I decided last week that my bathroom is a bit sterile in design, so I think these towels would add a bit of color and class to the two rooms that need help! Check them out on this website. They are fairly reasonable in price but just a the burst of color that your bathrooms might need. Bath Towels are $42, and the hand towels are $15.
Sizes: hand towel 16" width x 28" length, bath towel 27" width x 46" length

CRAFT

Craft Los Angeles opened mid-July in Century City. We went there this weekend to try out Tom Collichio's new restaurant. We have a magical night of delicious food, excellent service and a very well-educated waiter, Brett and a cocktail server named Taryn. We started off with drinks outside in a comfortable seated area with bright lights in the dark sky from the corporate buildings lighting it up...sort of like scene out of film Collateral.
The wine selection was fantastic... as we had glass after glass of the Ken Volk Pinot. They had great beers such as Chimay and Paulaner Pilsner. The decor is a bit corporate and slick, but it does have sense of New York sophistication that is lacking in Los Angeles.
We ordered VARIOUS appetizers and entrees, as the crew I was with ordered like they had just gotten out of jail.
These were the must have's...
Appetizers: heirloom tomato plate, pork belly, octopus, duck egg, and the Oysters. Entree's: Short Ribs was the only thing that knocked it out of the park...Halibut was tasty but nothing special, Scallops were a bit overcooked but tasty. Desserts: Choc Tart, Donuts and the Fig Tart was incredible. Perhaps it was the company, but our group left there with big smiles, satisfied belly's and a feeling that this night was special . The bill for four was about the rent of my 1st apt in New York, but worth every penny.

FUJIWO ISHIMOTO

This guy is an unbelievable designer. He just designed some interesting fabrics for Marimekko. Check them out by clicking on the his name above. Fujiwo Ishimoto finds his main source of inspiration in nature and its aspects in different seasons.
The Collection contains some twenty fabrics designed by Ishimoto.

FUN VASES

Check out these fun affordable vases by clicking on the pink title. These are from Anthropologie...its a great way to give a room a lift if you are getting sick of the home accessories you have.

SOME SUMMER FUN

Its been a while since I have blogged...I have been so busy at work at Bon Appetit Magazine with our new redesign and basically just having alot of fun. I have some photos here from a dinner party this Saturday.
I will be back in action blogging away...as I have alot of things to share.
One thing I learned this summer after having alot of dinner parties...MUSIC is the most important part of the party...more important than the food!
Check out some of these new bands...I played them at the party and they were a big hit!
THIEVES LIKE US...THE NEW WHITE STRIPES...AMBULANCE LTD...and TV ON THE RADIO...THE NEW SPOON...MENOMEN..MSTRKRFT.

WHITE RABBITS

Yes, another Indie band but very much like Cold War Kids and Peel...the music is electrifying. WHITE RABBITS make you want to get out of your car and dance. Great vocals. LIke the use of piano, and lots of different instruments. Its fun and upbeat. The new record called Fort Nightly and just came out in May. Their website, whiterabbitsmusic.com directs you to AMAZON OR INSOUND to purchase the new CD. . I love a few of their songs...Kid on my Shoulders, Navy Wives, and I Used to Complain. Check them out by clicking on the pink title.

KIWI BERRY

I was walking to the Beverly Center with a friend the other day and we stopped at a in the small mini-mall nearby to check out a new yogurt store. Its a complete knock off of PinkBerry...the modern decor, various toppings, the either/or on the flavors, and the prices. I am not a huge fan of PinkBerry but I am the minority.
I ordered the original flavor with Mango, blueberries and granola. As I was tasting it...I was really surprised by how much I liked it. Its a bit sweeter than PinkBerry, but damn, it was good. There is on in Koreatown in the corner of 6th and Kenmore and then one one in Orange County and Claremont. Check it out...it pretty damn good.

KOO DE KIR

A strike to the heart…is the french tranlation of Koo de Kir. This is a cool store in Boston that has a great website that offers modern home furnishings and home accessories. They have been around since 1997, before the post century modern craze started. Check out their website...the prices are reasonable and the tea set is my favorite. They also have a cool Eva Zeisel sugar and cream set and also these Tord Boonje plates I bought at Anthropolgie last year. Good Stuff.

EVELINE

I have been having alot of dinner parties lately and what people most notice is the collection of illustrations that I have purchased from my favorite illutrator named EVELINE TARUNADJAJA. She lives in AUstrailia and I found her blogging one night.
I think she is amazing and so does anyone that seems my beautiful illustrations. Check out her website, and she also does commissioned work. I asked her to do one for a friend a while back as a gift and it was gorgeous.

AMENITY BEDDING

So I am all about getting rid of the old and having fun with refreshing my home and my bedroom. Sometimes if you are feeling like you are in a rut, or bored, the best thing to do is throw out your bedding or towels and start over!

Check these sheets out...pretty cool.

COSTA RICA

I just got back from a intense surf retreat in Costa Rica. I wanted to go and learn how to surf.

I stayed at this hotel and across the street was a great surf school called Safari Surf school. You can check them out but I am really glad that I stayed at the Harmony Hotel. Its an eco-friendly hotel, with the most amazing staff and the nicest rooms in the area of Noscara. I made some great friends...Marian, a investment banker from NYC and Liz, a lawyer from SF. They both went to the surf camp alone to surf, and they inspired me to travel alone more often. I don't usually travel alone, but I see that it can be more fun and the amount of people you meet is unbelieveable!
Regarding the surf, it was the best beach to learn, the waves were perfect, 3-6 feet, lefts and rights. I caught my first overhead, and considering that I was scared to death to paddle out to the outside.


Check out the website. You can tell from my pedicure that I was beaten up from all the surfing, but I have to say, its was one of the most amazing trips I have been on in years. Costa Rica is amazing.

PEEL

I have been travelling pretty hardcore for the last month and have not had time to blog. New York, San Franciso, and then Cosa Rica. I did pick up alot of new music along the way though...I was in Costa Rica a few weeks ago, and I listened to a few CD's that will forever make me look back and smile when I think of CR.

This is my favorite new band called PEEL. Check them out by clicking on the pink title. Also, if you check out PITCHFORK.COM...you can look up a few others that I like...LCD,The Shins, Artic Monkey's and the Thrills. THey all sound sort of alike, but very upbeat british rock.
Check them out! Also, thanks for checking in. Will be blogging as usual now.