Terri, January 27th, 2012
Long, loooong ago when we were house hunting in Miami it seemed every house we looked at was muted colors, tan, light brown, coffee, chestnut, hazel, beige, toast. The realtor opened one more front door walked in and said, “rambling beige,” and forevermore I’ve remembered that term. And I thought, “I will NOT have a rambling beige house.”
In the market for a couple of chairs, I pretty much fell in love with orange ones:
 Or turquoise, yes, maybe turquoise.  turquoise in leather... But here’s the crazy thing; I think I love orange chairs; I think I could go a little wild with turquoise and then I take a look at my handy Pinterest board where I put my whole look together and it is totally rambling beige. I am shocked, but picture after picture confirms it; I like monotone. I am boring.
I know, I know; I could bring out some color with pillows, throws, a tchotchke. But I won’t; I mean take a look at those pictures, no color. Even the tchotchkes are muted.
I have rambling beige pieces showing up for my living room this week, no orange, no turquoise, no purple; just beige. Maybe there’s enough color in my life that I don’t need it in my living room. Yah, I’m going with that.
I love antiques mixed with mid-century modern, color (which I need constant inspiration for because white is just too easy), bold patterns, graphic fretwork, contrast, a spot of glamor. I love House Beautiful and I enjoy other in-print magazines like Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, etc. Today it’s hard to make it in paper– so much has moved on-line– and even print media needs an Internet presence.
I’m new to the on-line magazine world but here are a couple that seem to have it all.
Lonny
House of Fifty
Fresh Vintage
Meghan, January 23rd, 2012
Erin, help! Do I want to buy this? I have been looking at several paper mache trophy heads and the ones you sent me from West Elm have been my favorite ones so far. I like the wildebeest or maybe I like it better because I go into shock at the price of the Gemsbok. But it also reminded me of this marble bust I saw at the Smithsonian. I’m pretty sure I would love the Wildebeest really anywhere in the house but maybe particularly in my kitchen. But do you think it is too small? As I told you before, I have been wanting to add some modern elements to my house and I love the whimsy of this.
Terri, January 22nd, 2012
Have you read the children’s books, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, or, If You Give a Moose a Muffin? The story starts with a simple little cookie given to a mouse, but as soon as that mouse gets a cookie he’s going to want a glass of milk to go with it, and [...]
What sets the tone of your house like the entry?
In these old row homes the entry is usually narrow and puts your directly at the bottom of the staircase. Some of the houses have a vestibule and an inner door which I love because it keeps the freezing or sultry air from blowing straight through [...]
Meghan, January 20th, 2012
It just so happens that we have snow over here and quite a bit too. I love it. I would be happy if we had snow all the way till spring. Alas, we don’t get it that often but when we do I think it’s so cosy. We have been listening to lots of Harry [...]
Meghan, January 19th, 2012
As I promised, a post on Anwyn’s bedroom makeover. If the room itself looks different- it is. We made some room changes so the kids could have a play room and what a great change that has been. All the toys in one room- phew.
Most of the pink is gone as promised, but touches remain. [...]
Terri, January 16th, 2012
Winter is a great time for a breakfast with a little more substance. Zac and Caitlin introduced us to this humble breakfast kicked up a notch with a little bed of arugula . Yes, it is definitely for those watching their weight as it will stick with you almost until dinner. And even if it [...]
Caitlin, January 16th, 2012
What'll it be?
Alison!
You’re the winner of a box of 12 truffles from Arrowhead Chocolate, so go ahead and choose your fancy: milk or dark chocolate, or go for a mix! Enjoy!
Terri, January 12th, 2012
I picked up a 1969 copy of Time and Life magazine and was bowled over by the advertisements. I didn’t realize how brainwashed I’d become to recoil at the site of a cigarette ad or an alcohol ad, never even mind being told to go ahead and eat WHITE sugar. Criminy!
Anyone remember when smoking [...]
Caitlin, January 11th, 2012
Here’s a great project for any time of the year, for adults or kids. My mother-in-law has been making gorgeous soap for a while now and came across the idea of felting soap. Basically you are creating a washcloth around your bar of soap that will shrink around the bar until it is all used [...]
Meghan, January 10th, 2012
Of late Anwyn has loved designing and coloring clothes, shoes, hats, bags and everything in between. Watching a few Project Runways with me has definitely fueled this interest. This fabulous little book Eric and I picked up in San Francisco at Anthropologie has been perfect.
Caitlin, January 9th, 2012
Hooray, a give away!
My favorite chocolate shop is giving away a box of truffles to one of you lucky souls! See below to enter. . . .
Ever since this shop opened last winter I’ve been dying to take my family to Arrowhead Chocolate. Every time I go, I feel spoiled – [...]
Aileen, January 6th, 2012
I can't imagine how long it would take me to embroider this by hand!
Jas is a far better person than me. As Christmas approaches he is genuinely more excited to give gifts than to receive, something I thought didn’t happen in nature. I, on the other hand, have learned to eke some joy out [...]
Meghan, January 5th, 2012
My little mouse has been running around on a book so I thought I might get a real mouse pad for it.
If you are at all like me, I come across fabric I just love all the time. I hold it and think long a hard about just what it is that I would [...]
Never say, “die,” Erin decided that really there was enough time to do one last crafty thing. Understand, we had just, as in, Erin and Tim were still in the car returning; we had just returned from our New Year celebration almost four hours away with Caitlin’s family. We had been sledding, shopping til we [...]
Terri, December 30th, 2011
I am so excited about these photos. Everyone present and accounted for. Matthias’s friend and neighbor took our photos after Meghan set up the tripod, and fixed all her settings. Zac T. did a great job of making sure everyone was looking at the camera and smiling, no small feat.
Fox, Anwyn, Aileen, Jason, Matthias, [...]
Terri, December 29th, 2011
The sheer magnitude of twenty-one people for Christmas celebration can not adequately be captured on camera. In a single moment there could be five daughters sitting around a table playing Settlers of Catan, six men out in the garage completely enveloped in smoke from their cigars as they discussed their reading, three boys locked in [...]
Terri, December 21st, 2011
Well, it’s happened again.
Erin always has a very interesting trip across the country and it seems mostly to end with her almost getting here.
One year she was stuck half-way here sleeping in an airport for 48 hours, calling occasionally to cry and exclaim how her vacation days were slipping away.
Another time she was diverted to [...]
Terri, December 19th, 2011
Besides the basic mayhem of twenty-one of us milling and mulling about there are a few things that have become traditions at Christmas.
A tradition that I started a few years ago has been to give a book to everyone in our family. I love books. I have too many books. I give them away at [...]
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