housemartin

succulent and green

We did a fair bit of wandering around and exploring while in New York. While in the West Village we came upon Ovando. I am always inspired by other floral shops when I travel. I simply can't escape it. I am drawn in. It is a small but sleek and modern floral boutique. It's chock full of one of my favorites - succulents. The window display showcased some amazing plant sculptures. What a treat!

 

curio

More adventures from our New York trip a few weeks ago. I was so fortunate to have a quick lunch at the gift show with Lois of Lola Home - a lovely store in Berkeley, California. She recommended going to Michele Varian on my shopping trip. We found this wonderful shop in between Soho and Nolita and I immediately fell in love with it and wondered how long it had been open...8 years apparently! I couldn't believe I had missed it all this time! Anyway, you must go if you are in NY. What a lovely combination of lighting, art, furniture, decorative items and curio as well as Michele's signature line of pillows. These pillows are dreamy - appliques, cut velvets, and colorful satins all with a delicate tie-closure. Get ready to camp out for a while - there is so much to see...a feast for the eyes.

soldiers

Back from NY and sharing with you some highlights in the coming week...

One of my favorite spots to have a peaceful breakfast in NY before rushing around all day is Pain Quotidien. It is a European chain and there used to only be a few in Manhattan but this trip I saw them cropping up all over. Seems I'm not the only one who enjoys it! I love the look of the long wood communal tables. I like to order the soft boiled eggs which come in cute little eggs cups. They come with slivers of bread (soldiers) hat you can dip in the warm yellowy egg yolks or slather with their signature Noisella - a hazelnut spread-divine! And you can slowly wake up to a foamy latte that you have to hold with 2 hands in a bowl - my favorite kind.

mine

Remember when you were a kid and you would lick the cookie that you wanted so no-one else could get it? That's the reaction I had when I saw this bench at the NY gift show. well I refrained from licking it but I did drool a little. It is a slab live-edge reclaimed wood bench with old industrial machinery legs. What's not to like? She will be on her way to ink & peat very soon!

summer sale

Summer sale starts at ink & peat today! Come on by for some sweet things!

get your goat

In about a week, ink & peat will be carrying this wonderful line - Beekman 1802. It is a simple and gorgeous line of hand-made, chemical-free goatmilk soaps. Brent and Josh have created a wonderful collection of "months" soaps which represent the scents found on the farm at different times of the year. April, my favorite - smells like a walk through a field of wildflowers. In contrast, the month of October soap smells like "apples, crackling kindling, and the scent of drying wildflowers."

In 2006, Brent Ridge (a doctor and VP at Martha Stewart) and Josh Kilmer-Purcell (an ad exec and writer) were in Sharon Springs New York on their annual apple-picking tour and came upon the Beekman Mansion. They soon learned that it was for sale and their lives changed that day. They soon bought the property and began the vision of having a working farm with a goat herd. They named the company Beekman 1802 in honor of the previous owners. Today they raise the 100 goats and make handmade soaps and tend to the gardens. You can read their blogs which highlight all the daily activities at the farm. You will have to come in and try them - which month is your favorite?

lulu dee

I am so enamored with these prints from Portland designer Laura Bachman Carignan (lulu dee). There is nothing like a bold crisp well-studied graphic print in great colors to set the room off. Or how about a whole wall of them - delicious!

personality

Can I just tell you how excited I am that very soon we will have these handmade dolls at ink & peat? They are all lovingly design by Simpli Jessi. Each one has its own personality and fab outfit - if only I could look as groovy as Iona or Francoise....

cakey

With any luck tonight we will be walking over to Magnolia Bakery on our NY trip. I can't even tell you how many times I have been there and still I have not been disappointed. Maybe it's the guy at the door letting people inside in small groups - 2 go in, 2 come out. He's charming the ladies and telling jokes. Who can be dower when they're in line for cupcakes? My favorites are actually their dense moist cakes. You have probably heard me mention my #1 pick - Hummingbird cake if you have been reading this blog for a few years. Aw, eating it out of the box on the hotel bed with a plastic fork after a long day marching around Javitz...life is good.

(photo from here)

moon unit

My sweetie found this amazing house online (posted on dornob). It is a Shell Villa by Japanese architects ARTechnic. It's form is so intriguing in how it so foreign looking and yet melds with the landscape so seamlessly like an organic creature. I also love how the courtyard looks at night with that central tree. Go to ARTechnic's website for more beautifully crafted designs.