Holiday Gift Giving

/ December 5, 2012
These open weave baskets made of the dried stalks of the Water Hyacinth plant are hand woven by skilled craftsmen. Their durable leather handles make them the perfect container for carrying laundry or towels to the beach. The smaller containers are great in the kitchen.

These open weave baskets made of the dried stalks of the Water Hyacinth plant are hand woven by skilled craftsmen. Their durable leather handles make them the perfect container for carrying laundry or towels to the beach. The smaller containers are great in the kitchen.Slideshow

The addition of 'bubble glass' to our assortment is new. This beautiful product is mouth-blown in Italy. I have been thinking about transforming the soap dish to a container for holiday nibbles.
I use olive and mint hand soap in my kitchen and love the fragrance. I also have adopted the 100% linen kitchen towels as my favorites. I love products that are made by skilled craftsmen in the US.
I love the fragrance of Fresh Linen for hand soap and cream. I am taking the room spray and shower gel to our New Year's hosts. I know they will ask for replenishments!
Our alpaca and cotton herringbone throws are warm and cozy for the cold winter nights many of us are anticipating. The beautiful fringe is hand twisted and the dyes are all natural.
Our New Year's Eve hosts will love this mouth blown glass. The designs are very fluid and the colors a rich addition to any serving pieces already in a collection. Overnight guests will especially love the carafe and glass by their bedside. My favorite color is gray.

I agonize for weeks to find just the right gifts for family and friends, colleagues and business associates. The children in my family are easy, especially the girls (clothes for all), and I can usually find just the right accessory for adult family members by visiting one of my favorite antiques shops, George Champion Modern in Woodbury, CT or calling the extraordinary bookshop in LA, Lead Apron. But, hostess and good friend gifts give me the most angst. I try to be not too clever or deliver anything too ubiquitous. An ordinary bottle of wine won’t do nor will a box of chocolates, even if they are hand made. So I decided to to thoroughly explore the Waterworks assortment to find five thank you gifts to deliver to friends who have been by my side during this year that had a number of challenges. From a gay couple to an older single woman with funky taste to a very conservative couple, I have been able to find just the right degree of sentiment for each. I hope that my selection helps you in your search for the “perfect” gift.

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A Classic American Bath

/ November 28, 2012
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A well done but very simple all white bath. This photograph is a great comparison with the one above to demonstrate the affect color has on a bath or any space for that matter.

Several weeks ago I published a post on a bath that had good bones but lacked a sense of style or a reflection of its’ owners personal taste. The bath pictured in today’s post was published in THE GREAT AMERICAN HOUSE by Gil Schafer and tells quite a different story. Unlike my comments previously, this bath not only has great bones and detail, but it also reflects a very sophisticated and stylish resident. Clearly, this bath is in a traditional house or apartment where the use of bead board is an appropriate material. The tall base molding with a distinct profile and a crisp chair rail confine the lower portion of the room and define the space. It is obvious that the tall window has well articulated moldings and the door has simple yet refined hardware.

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Happy Thanksgiving

/ November 21, 2012
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For a number of years, Thomas Jayne and Richmond Ellis have organized an unusual Thanksgiving celebration in Central Park. A gathering of friends, now about 50, assemble at the Pilgrim statue in the park to lay a wreath of corn. They read a description of the first Thanksgiving written by Edward Winslow in 1621. This coming together celebrates our collective bounty and remembers the sacrifices made by so many that have allowed us to be so blessed.

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March: San Francisco

/ November 14, 2012
The refined graphics and the signature blue give a hint that something special is inside.

The refined graphics and the signature blue give a hint that something special is inside.Slideshow

Table linens and bags on an old drying rack.
Sorry this photo is so dark, but I want to show the scale of the pendant lights and the food art. You can tell the shop is long and narrow, very white and fresh.
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Sam is always searching for art that relates to food. This rather amusing piece is made of stuffed socks hanging on a pot rack.
A view out in to the courtyard and office behind the shop.
March offers custom islands crafted in metal and hand selected wood. They are practical for cooking and open storage.
Beautifully handcrafted there-legged stools. The seat appears razor thin.
I sent home an assortment of spices in perfect cobalt jars.
A tempting assortment of tableware.
A view of March from the front door. The space is white, crisp and a visual delight.

It is so exciting to discover a shop that is both original and inspiring. MARCH located on Sacramento Street in San Francisco is just such a place. MARCH is the brain-child of Sam Hamilton, a graduate of the Ralph Lauren enterprise. It has been my must-see shop in SF for several years.  In its’ first incarnation, MARCH sold European antiques and contemporary furniture; but not just any furniture. There was always something special about the pieces whether it was the finish, the scale or or the uniqueness of the design.

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