House Beautiful

Archive for the 'Stuff We Love' Category

Page 56 of 59

It’s Delicious (!)

Published on July 21, 2010 in Before and After, Decor and Stuff We Love. 3 Comments

Ever since I cracked the July/August issue of House Beautiful last week, I’ve been swooning over a one-day bedroom makeover by NYC designer Amanda Nisbet.  I could eat it with a spoon:

(via House Beautiful)

Like I wasn’t already a sucker for all white beds, ikat, curvy/funky anything, and that frothy, café au lait wall color.  This room is serene, simple and genius…  like a little slice of heaven.

Cues to take from Nisbet:

1.  Symmetry (the matching lamps and matching bedside tables), a neutral palette, & repetition of color (see the little chartreuse vase on the left bedside table?  Ping!) make the room feel balanced and easy on the eyes.  It’s visually calm and uncluttered, but the funky headboard, pops of color, and the geometric throw pillow give it just enough umph to make it dee-lightful.

2.  Whenever you’re working with all whites, or with a monochromatic palette, try to layer different textures to keep it visually interesting.  Otherwise, you’ll end up with a snoozefest.  Nisbet layered her whites beautifully by using the pebble-patterned matelasse bedspread, the glossy West Elm side tables, and the Christopher Spitzmiller lamps, which are not only a unique twist on the (lovely but overdone) gourd shape, but if you look closely, these have an almost organic linear detail…  like they were spun to perfection on a pottery wheel.  Perhaps by Molly & Sam, to the tune of the Righteous Brothers, before Willy Mays busted it all up in that alley after the ballet.

Click here for the full before & after.

xoxo!

3 Comments

Vicarious Livin’ thru Coastal Living

Published on June 30, 2010 in Eat & Drink, Stuff We Love and Travelista. 4 Comments

I’ll be the first to admit: I have a may-juh addiction to magazines.  Home decor, trashy celeb gossip (duh, my favorite), fashion, more celeb gossip.  I’ve always got a fresh stack at home and between all of the magz and my DVR’d episodes of “Real Housewives of Timbuktu” and “The Hills” (I’m not proud), it’s a wonder I ever get a book read.

But the ONE magazine I absolutely love, the one that transports me into daydream land each time I read it, is Coastal Living Magazine.  Every time I pick up this magazine I feel a sort of peacefulness wash over.  Not to  mention the rooms are sigh-worthy (I WILL live in a house by the beach someday.  I WILL live in a house by the beach someday.)

Check out those hurricane candle holders filled with shells (above).  This look is easy to get.  Just head over to Target or Pier 1 and look for a cheap holder.  I have a few in my apartment which I filled with rocks and purdy shells.

I’ll go ahead and take that fluffy duvet cover with the pillow, as well as the seafoam shag blankie with lime fringe.  While we’re at it, go ahead and throw in the Lab. Cool.

Rifling through this month’s issue, I noticed a piece called The Best Seafood Dives, categorized by different dishes (Best Fried Clams, Best Fish Tacos).

I started reading and to my pleasant surprise, the magazine had gotten it so right. It wasn’t a list of commercial faves by tourists – these were some real, down and dirty gems.  On the list were three of my FAVORITE seafood places to grab some grub:

1) South Beach Bar & Grill in Ocean Beach (San Diego), CA

Their fish tacos are SO. FREAKING. GOOD.  And simple – with some salsa, sour cream/Ranch-type sauce and cabbage.  *Cute side note: This is where my old friend from college, Tim, and I reacquainted and he ordered me the famed lobster tacos. A year and a half later I would say yes to his marriage proposal.  Coincidence? Unlikely.

2) Star Fish Co in Cortez, FL

For years my parents have lived in sunny Florida, and some of our happiest times together have been at this truly hidden gem.  It’s so small and shack-style.  Only now are tourists starting to trickle in. Commercial fishermen pull up their boats dockside and bring in their catches of the day, to be served to you minutes later.  Though I love the shrimp scampi and hush puppies, according to my brother Sam, the soft shell crab sandwich is the way to go.

3) Reel Inn in Malibu, CA

If my man and I are in LA and looking for a chill spot to eat, we drive up the coast to the ‘Bu and dine here.  Located across the street from the beach, this casual place is sweet, with picnic tables to lounge on while breathing in the salt air.  It’s also pretty inexpensive (a rarity in Malibu).  And you literally get to pick your piece of fish out of the case, so you know it’s super fresh.

For my landlocked homies as well as my lucky friends on the coast, check out this month’s mag for a few breezy minutes of coastal daydreamin’.

xoxo,

4 Comments