A Thoughful Gift

I received the loveliest housewarming gift from a girlfriend who recently came to visit. She's now working for a swank New York gallery/bookstore, and she brought me a print from one of their recent installations. It's from a series called "Storefront" from husband/wife photographers James ands Karla Murray who documented the disappearing mom & pop storefronts from in and around NYC.

She gifted me "Richard's Barbershop." It's truly a timeless gift!


http://clicgallery.com/info/2009-07-murray/


http://www.clicgallery.com/locations/index.htm

Connecticut's Quiet Corner

Having a baby (make that babies) can be a bit isolating, which is why you need interesting friends. If they live states away, all the better for babies to nap. I've started driving to my friend Hillary's Connecticut home at least once a month. I adore her son, and her style!


Hillary and her young family relocated from Providence where she was a boutique owner (my neighbor on Thayer Street) for a quiet and peaceful existence in this quintessentially New England place. The colonial home they purchased has mature gardens and grounds and a house that has a soul, having sheltered people for over 200 years.




They made some upgrades and made the house work for them, while essentially maintaining its colonial history. I really appreciate that ability in a non-professional designer since it's so easy to get side-tracked (my own pitfall when it comes to decorating). The floors are original, and the walls still look remarkable. The couple did a kitchen update, and yes, there's a plasma on the wall. Even though it's a very old home, it feels like a young family has breathed a new life into it. the family entertains often, taking advantage of their phenomenal patio and gardens.


Farmers markets, neighbors stopping in, weekend guests, dinner in the gardens. Hillary's husband calls their life in the Quiet Corner wholesome, and it sure looks that way. Where can I sign up?

Drink? I think I will, thank you.

Based on the name of my blog one might assume that I enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage. While I certainly do partake in the occasional (okay, frequent) libation, I chose the name of the blog with Webster's version in mind:

Main Entry: 1lush
Pronunciation: \ˈləsh\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English lusch soft, tender
Date: 1610
1 a : growing vigorously especially with luxuriant foliage b : lavishly productive: as (1) : fertile (2) : thriving (3) : characterized by abundance : plentiful (4) : prosperous, profitable 2 a : savory, delicious b : appealing to the senses c : opulent, sumptuous
synonyms see profuse
— lush·ly adverb
— lush·ness noun

The Urban Dictionary meaning is simply a coincidence.

However, that didn't stop me from finding the coolest new(ish) bar in Boston, Barbara Lynch's Drink. So I'm nearly a year late getting to the bar, but hey, I've been having babies! It's located on Congress St, across the street from another old fave Lucky's, in the area named Fort Point. The design is slick: more asian-inspired with lots of angles, and no bottles to be seen, but don't let that fool you, they are serious about their cocktails!

A friend visiting from NYC was gushing at how terribly cool it was to see a huge block of ice being chipped from to make cocktails, and after a few words with our genius bartender we realized champagne was not the right choice and that we needed to sample his expertise. Mixers like bitters and Cassis are in medicine droppers, and you won't find things like prepared sour mix in this joint.
http://drinkfortpoint.com/

Fall Shopping: Shopbop.com

It's easy to feel out of touch with the world of fashion when you're a stay at home mom of two one-year-olds, which is why Shopbop.com is so spectacular and addictive. Their Lookbooks are fabulous. Hmmmm, this season I'm going to be a "classic." No, I changed my mind, I'm definitely a "wanderer." Point. Click. 40 pieces of clothing that fit that life, oops I mean look. Here's what I'm feeling this Fall,:

Dolce Vita "Zigzag" sweater $297 & "Silvia" dress $188; Stuart Weitzman suede platform boot $595;

Marc By Marc Jacobs Parker Plaid Jacket $858; Nightcap Clothing Equestrian Tights $198; Ashe Pearl Wedge Boots $462;

Ode to Domino

It makes me sad every time I'm reminded that Domino magazine ceases to exist. I have a near complete collection, because somehow I miraculously had the good sense to keep nearly every single issue. The ones I'm missing, believe me I know exactly what's in them, I look forward to finding someday. Domino launched as I was starting to nest, and having no design background, looked to it for inspiration.

They called it a "guide to living with style" and it truly was. It was a step-by-step on how to live an elegant yet bohemian lifestyle: menus for entertaining, cocktail recipes, how to launder correctly, floral arrange, and of course how to decorate. It was a great accompaniment to higher brow home pubs that are good inspiration, but that you can't always see ourself living the life on their pages.

I found that some other fans had the ingenious idea to share images on Flickr. At this moment I feel an overwhelming need to share a couple of my faves....

This is the image that made me realize my own personal style. I thought it was a perfect blend of traditional, contemporary, and exotic. (The woman in the corner is the interior designer).

The kitchen images happened to arrive as we were about to embark on a major kitchen renovation. The wall color ( Benjamin Moore's Cliffside Gray), white cabinets with recessed door faces, hardware, dark floors, and carerra marble really hit it out of the park. I told myself it shouldn't matter that I was inspired by Katie Lee Joel. Who? You know, the chick who was married to Billy Joel and wrote a cookbook. Really it was Nate Berkus' design and we love him.

Another great combo: a Wisteria etegare, Kohler sink, B&W area rug, and animal print towels in neutrals.

Someday I'll blog about outdoor spaces and include this. It's Sunrise Ruffalo's patio.

Ahhhhhhhh, it's nice to walk down memory lane. Sometimes it's easy to forget why you like certain things and where you honed your sense of style. Domino gets a lot of credit. I feel lucky that whenever I'm stumped for design inspiration I only have to wander into my library, pull down a West Elm magazine organizer, and flip the pages.

I thank my lucky stars that Elle Decor's still in print, the next best thing to Domino.

Real Housewives of Atlanta

I think that I've already mentioned that I have the inability to finish reading a magazine, so forget about books, newspapers, or anything relevant. So what's a mum to do with her two hours of free time after the girls are in bed? I have one word for you: BRAVO.

I'm addicted to Bravo's vast array of reality shows: Real Housewives (of everywhere), Rachel Zoe Project, and Flipping Out! I'm even guilty of watching NYC Prep, an utterly boring, yet none-the-less addictive, reality version of my fave Gossip Girl. I guess that I can thank Anderson Cooper for initially turning me on to Real Housewives of Atlanta which is where it all began for me. He gave an odd recommendation when he was co-hosting Regis & Kelly last summer. Stunned that the Anderson Cooper couldn't turn away from the show, much like a car crash, I started watching.

NeNe, Sheree, and Kim kill me, and I'm gonna keep watching. Catfights, gossip, sugar daddies named Big Poppa, fights with top level executives, 30-somethings throwing themselves parties equivalent to a Super Sweet 16. I love it! I suggest you tune in too. I can't wait for tonight's show so that I can watch Sheree open up some whoopass on Kim and pull her hair/wig. http://www.bravotv.com/

Inspiration Folder

I have an "inspiration folder." It's a manila folder with design ideas that I've torn from magazines, catalogs, and the like with bathrooms, kitchens, sofas, baskets, doors, lights, swimming pools, you name it, that I might want in my house (or some other future house). Now, I've started an online version too which means that I can share it with you!

Today's inspiration is Thom Filicia's (you know him from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy among other things) Hudson Valley Lake House. The now defunct Domino magazine featured it last summer, and it's exactly what a lake house should be. Dream on......