Restoration Intervention

I was flipping through the mail stack just a few minutes ago and came across the new Restoration Hardware catalog. Have any of you noticed that they have completely missed the "less is more" movement currently underway in our country? I seriously think they are trapped in the 90's. The actual catalog is so out of control big it is sickening - what a waste of paper.

I opened it up to peek inside (always interested in their selection of mirrors, draperies, and lighting) and I came across this.

Now I read the bio about the artist, and I am not trying to criticize him personally, but what is this!?! The only think I can say about this coffee table is - leave it in the barn. It is the most impractical thing I can imagine with that metal wheel sticking out there, not to mention it is so freaking huge.

I started to laugh as I looked through more of the photo spreads. I think RH needs to include a little diagram of a person in these pictures to demonstrate how poorly scaled their pieces are. It would be so funny - it would be like Alice in Wonderland. For instance, love the concept of this dining room - but then I imagine all of the adults low in their seats like little kids at the big kids' table.

I went online to further investigate the scaling issue and here is what I found. Two examples of chairs which look like they could hurt you. The first one is called "Buster" for good reason.

I really don't have anything against RH but just wanted to point out that they need an intervention. Someone needs to let them know their proportions are getting scary.

It is a domino effect. If someone unassumingly buys one of these huge chairs it sits in the corner of the room and looks like it is about to eat people it is so big. Already feeling intimidated and weirded out since all of the other pieces of furniture in the room all of the sudden look so wimpy, the home owner goes out and buys more over-scaled furniture to compensate. She then finds herself in a poorly designed and unoriginal room furnished by RH.

Please don't let it happen to you!

Come Together

I am so inspired!

We just got back from watching the Boston Marathon, which never ceases to amaze me. So many people come from all over the world to participate in this grueling race. The amount of excitement and camaraderie people feel on this day is particularly special. Families and friends line up along the entire route and cheer for complete strangers...all...day...long. The spirit and positive vibe is tangible. I would love to bottle this feeling and drink it for breakfast every day of my life.

Springtime here offers a fresh start, a new attitude, and a renewal of hope. I can't imagine what better way to kick off this season than the Boston Marathon, where everyday people courageously demonstrate that nothing is impossible.

(pics from boston.com)

Appreciation for Roses

I don't know why, but I was never much of a rose person. I have always gravitated to other flowers both for arranging and garden design. It took our move to San Diego, and the introduction to Ken at Armstrong Gardens in Encinitas, for me to mature into a rose person. Armstrong Garden Center is a chain (not unlike Mahoney's here in the Boston area). The people who work at the store in Encinitas are so helpful and nice and while we lived in Encinitas I got to be friendly with two guys at the store who were freaky good gardeners. Their enthusiasm for roses rubbed off on me and I started to look at different varieties online and began to take notice of them wherever I went.

In the fall, Armstrong comes out with a rose catalog (paper and online) and you can preorder any kind of rose you can imagine. The roses arrive in January as a rootball for planting. My sister in law, who has quite the green thumb, turned me onto roses in a major way. She and I poured over the catalog and then ordered several varieties. It felt very exciting - sort of like it used to feel when I anxiously flipped through a paper catalog (like J.Crew) in high school and picked out the roll neck sweater of my dreams then waited for its arrival like a love letter.

I plan on growing some roses at our new home and I continue to look at new varieties online (see links below). For now, I live vicariously through pictures and visits to my sister in law's garden, where her roses are always blooming.



http://www.armstronggarden.com/

http://www.davidaustinroses.com/

Not My Easter Yet

Hi Everyone! Hope you are doing well. I think there are ten of you out there reading this blog, and I thank you! I promise things will be getting more interesting as the months progress -especially when we move into our new home. Admittedly, I have been in a bit of a blut (blog-rut) lately. Please forgive me.

Anyway, a disclosure: I am part Greek (if you haven't noticed by the name of my daughter, Athena). My dad is third generation Greek, my mom is full blown Swedish and Dutch but converted to Greek Orthodoxy when she met and fell in love with my dad and we have been raised with a lot of the Greek traditions (especially the food traditions). I find it funny that my parents have really beaten the Greekness in my sister, brother and me - even though we are half-breeds (this is what other campers called us when I was sent to Greece in ninth grade to a camp for Greek Orthodox American kids).

Anyway, our Easter isn't until next week, but I thought I would post some pictures of an old Easter arrangmement I made for our table. It is my job to do flowers for most holidays and this was one which was a lot of fun. If it is your Easter this weekend, enjoy - we will be cracking our red eggs next weekend and I will check in before then - promise!

Hingham

Here are a few pictures of our future town. So looking forward to closing on the house at the end of this month!

And my personal favorite: This is how I have been feeling lately - like a turtle crossing the street!

(pics via flickr.com - keyword hingham, ma)

Spring Table

(i can't remember where i found this shot...southernaccents.com?)

Yves Delorme Outlet

A few years back our good friend Brooke got married in Vermont. Her family's farm house is located in Arlington, next door to Manchester, VT. Manchester has great outlet shopping. Since it located in fly fishing country, there is a great Orvis outlet and then the other typical outlets like JCrew, Gap etc.. These outlets are nice because they feel like real stores in a little town center. While there, I loaded up on bed linens from one of my favorite stores, Yves Delorme. The outlet was fabulous! Since that shopping trip, I have often fantasized about getting back up there to replenish my linen closet, but with two kiddies, haven't found the time.

I heard they were opening an online outlet and after a little digging around last night, I found it! Here are a few finds which are worth mentioning:

This pattern Chance comes in pink, yellow and blue. I might get the pink Euro Pillows and duvet cover for Athena's new room.

I love this quilted coverlet (even though it is still $$$- 205 for a twin)

Aren't these cocktail naps adorable for spring? At 6 dollars a pop - you could buy a bunch and package them nicely for a shower or wedding gift for someone who appreciates fine linens.

And these towels sing spring to me! Something as simple as a couple new towels in a bathroom can give the whole room a fresh look. The guest towels are 7 and the hand towels are 11 - now that is a good bargain for something of this quality.

Also, check out ebay for Yves Delorme bedding - I have found great shams on ebay in the past. Have a great day!