When we moved into our Cape Cod style cottage two summers ago, we had a long list of goals & projects we wanted to tackle and very little patience. The house had been well-cared for and preserved over its five decade existence but very few things were updated. At the top of our list (along with painting all the rooms and removing the popcorn ceilings) was a fireplace surround makeover.
Over the winter break I’ve developed a slight obsession with the work of Michael S. Smith and orderer several of his books. Although every book is lovely, Michael S.Smith – Houses, published by Rizzoli in 2008, is by far my favorite! Obviously, a book published in 2008 hardly needs an introduction or review on my part. However, in the sea of countless design books that are being published each year, the good ones naturally rise to the top and become classics worth returning to time and time again.
Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season, despite Omicron. Thank you so much for following along, here and on Instagram! You made these difficult past two years easier for this gal to bear. And because it is always great to start the new year on a positive note, I thought we could all look back at the top five readers’ favorite design stories of 2021 here on Café Design. These are the five stories that received the greatest number of views and likes.
View PostI thought I’d pop in and share with you my latest pandemic coping mechanism – painting and repainting a room until my family and friends think I’m off my rocker… I’ve been a little absent lately when it comes to Instagram and keeping up with what everyone else is doing and how everyone else is decorating this holiday, and a part of me is missing that connection. But there’s a good explanation for where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing: I’ve been painting and repainting our library! (Please send help!) After the fifth or sixth color had to be replaced, I figured I have either lost it or, this is my twisted way of dealing with the pandemic, with being confined at home far too long. (To give you an estimate: I’ve tried about six or seven different paint colors so far, only to return to Linen White, by Benjamin Moore.)
Good morning, friends! Hope your holiday preparations are going smoothly! In case you need some last minute gift ideas, we have added some beautiful new items to our Chairish shop, The Collected Home. All of the items have been sourced here in New England, and are one of a kind pieces – vintage or antique – that I’ve come across in my travels, at estate sales and antique fairs near or around Amherst and the Cape. Whenever I go shopping for antiques and uniques, I have two rules I follow: One, the item must be something that I fall for right there and then, and that visceral reaction you get when you find something you love in a place where everything competes for your attention is what makes me swipe my card, each and every time. (No lukewarm feelings allowed, it has to be love at first sight 🙂 ) Two, the item must be in great condition relative to its age. If it’s pottery and it’s old, then a few chips are fine, as long as the overall effect is beautiful patina. So, without further ado here are some of the items we’ve recently listed in our shop. Hope you see something you like!
