2 x 4

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2 x 4

Before I had kids I fancied myself a runner. At one point I had a serious regimen- several times a week I would get up and run a few miles in the hilly neighborhoods of Berkeley before going to work. I would go for a runs on vacation. I would run in the rain, or at night. I seemed to just need it. I love the way I feel when I'm in shape, and I love to be outside. When I got pregnant with Jasper I tried to keep fit, doing prenatal yoga and walking for exercise, and after I had him I did a baby boot camp to get my running mojo back, but it was never really my thing to run with a stroller, and somehow that was it, I didn't run anymore. 

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Wall Mounted Pinch Pots

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Wall Mounted Pinch Pots

Our new house is white walled, and I'm kind of loving it. I like the idea of bringing in little pops of color with art and accessories. I can easily swap them out when I want to change things up. Because our upper level has great light and beautiful tree-filled valley view, I really want the interior walls to come alive with flora to mirror the outside. I even bought a few large Shane Powers ceramic wall pots from West Elm for hanging ferns on the stairwell wall (me and those ferns). Using these large pieces as a point of inspiration, I made some tiny versions with polymer clay to hang in smaller spaces, like the bathroom, or over a bedside table. I think the granite pots look like river rocks.

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Plant Recipes

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Plant Recipes

This will be the last dispatch from the coffee table in this living room with the black and white rug. We get the keys today!  I'm still knee deep in packing materials, but as this is maybe the busiest month on record, we are also attending the big elementary school fundraiser tonight, two days before we move. The word on the street is that if you bring your own flower arrangement you can claim your table.  I thought this is as good a time as any to test out this amazing new recipe book that was sent to me to review...it's a recipe book about plants, or rather, how to use plants to create beautiful, decorative arrangements for your house.

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Orla Kiely

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Orla Kiely

Perhaps I am needing a moment to procrastinate on all the packing and loan doc drama that takes place the week you close on a house. 

Perhaps I need a moment to channel my inner Peggy Olson right now, the Mad Men final season begins next week, and since I'm about to move to a 1968 split level ranch in "original" condition, I need to immerse myself in the time period. Whatever it is, I am taking a moment to daydream about what will happen when I tear down the stifling interior walls and make myself a new kitchen. My first point of design inspiration is coming from Orla Kiely.  I got her book "Home" last winter- it's full of case study houses and danish modern interiors, and features her own colorful, happy London home. I've always loved her now iconic scribble stem pattern. She has this groovy look to her textiles, an obvious nod to the bold patterns of the late 60's, but with a little restraint, and way better colors.  I don't think I'd ever go so far as to put up wallpaper in the kitchen(or would I?), but I do think I'll take her cue to add lots of pops of color with my existing white and walnut furnishings... 

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