Posted by Jodi

I was recently preparing my house for a friend’s baby shower when I noticed the non-curtained French doors in the den provided a great view for guests to my not-so-neat bedroom.

It’s the kind of thing you don’t think of until the door bell is about to ring.

My quick fix: I took a few of my son Sammy’s paintings from our massive collection and taped them neatly with white artist’s tape to the back of the doors.

It was meant to be a temporary solution, but my husband and I love it. (We know we are biased.) I might even laminate the art so I can hang the masterpieces neatly with some tiny eyelets on cup hooks.

Since there is a lot of Sammy art where that came from, we often have “art shows� at our house. (His teacher told me that he “uses up more paper than anyone in the class.�) I was proud, even though I’m not sure it was meant as a compliment.

Our shows are installed in hallways, on doors, and strung on clotheslines under the mantle. One “piece� that is on permanent display over our mantle is a series of his first people drawings collaged and hung in one of Ikea’s “NYTTJA� frames.

They come in lots of colors and sizes. The one above is the large (19 ¾� x 27 ½�) orange one and it’s only $7.99! (One downside with the frame is the plexiglass starts to bow and sag after a while. I plan to replace it with glass.)

Collaging a bunch of your child’s artwork is a great way to capture a series and create a larger piece of art.

Now that my younger son, Lionel, is starting to draw himself, we may have to move to a place with more walls!

Remember when I told you about this house that I fell in love with on the Modern Atlanta House Tour? Apparently Metropolitan Home found the house as well*. Their photographer Mali Azima provided pictures of it that are far superior to the ones I took on my iPhone! While they have some great shots of the branch chandelier and the folk art collection, they did not show the mask wall! I am not finding this spread on PointClickHome as of yet, so to check it out, you’ll have to buy the December issue and turn to page 134. UPDATE! It’s up, just click here to check it out over at pointclickhome. There was another interesting article written about the home you can check out for free in Creative Loafing.

To see more work by the home’s owner/architects Cara Cummins and Jose Tavel, check out their firm’s website at TaCStudios.com. Also, many of the self-taught artists whose work you see in the home are represented at one of my very favorite spots in Georgia, Around Back at Rocky’s Place.

*I’m trying to remember if Met Home was a sponsor of the tour; I am 99% sure that they were, but the Modern Atlanta website is down at the moment so I cannot confirm. UPDATE: Yes, Met Home was a sponsor, and the MA website is back up! Personally, I prefer a house tour such as this one to one “Idea House.” I think it provides a magazine with so much more to share with their readers. I’m sure an idea house probably helps the magazine strike deals with advertisers, and in the already overcrowded shelter mag category this is likely crucial to help them stay alive (O At Home is the latest one to bite the dust), but the feeling of one big advertising spread is apparent in a lot of Idea Home pages.

I feel so lucky to be part of this very supportive medium that informs, entertains, supports, and amuses us all. And people like you are the reason I keep going! Thanks so much Joni! And to all of you that come and read my little blog. I so appreciate you all.

Best-
Katie

(RSS users, click here to see my latest eBay picks.)

The Devil's Postpile

The Tufas at Mono Lake

Stalagmites and Stalactites in the California Caves in the Gold Country

2) I love the extremes, like:

Mt. Whitney, the highest Peak in the contiguous United States

Death Valley, The lowest place on earth, and the hottest in the United States

The Redwood Trees, the biggest trees on earth

Lake Tahoe, the biggest Alpine Lake in the United States

3) I love the varied architecture and architects, like:

Frank Lloyd Wright's Walker Residence in Carmel

Greene and Greene's Gamble House in Pasadena (where I grew up), a prime example of Bungalow Style Architecture

Frank Gehry's Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles

Julia Morgan's Hearst Castle

4) I love that we can do all this within a few hours drive:

Horseback ride in the Mammoth Mountains in the Eastern Sierras

Fish at Lake George

Cross Country Ski in Bear Valley

Play wave tag in Newport Beach

Hang out at the beach in Laguna

5) I love that California has a Cuisine named after it and world famous wine country:

Alice Waters, co-founder of the esteemed restaurant, Chez Panisse, in Berkeley, California is usually credited with originating "California Cuisine". The emphasis on using fresh ingredients in season grown by local farms garnered her reputation as the proprietress of one of the top 50 restaurants in the world.

Photo by Brent Miller, WineCountry.com

Then there is the Napa Valley, or what I like to call "the Valley of the Gods". It is stunningly beautiful and produces some of the best wine in the world.

OK....that is my five things.

But, as much as I have tried, I cannot wittle it down to five. I have to add:

What would we do without it?

And this:

California, the home of The Happiest Place on Earth

Kay....I'm done now. And I am tagging:

Pigtown

Cote de Texas

Lime in the Coconut

The House of Edward

Visual Vamp

From Julie:

Designed by Andrew Lang, the Cycloc Bicycle Storage Rack is available in four colors and costs $135 at Zwellow.

today’s city guide belongs to wilmington, north carolina and comes to us courtesy of ellie snow of mint. ellie grew up in wilmington and has been living in the triangle area of north carolina ever since. she’s currently a graphic design at flywheel design in durham and is thrilled to share her favorite hometown spots. wilmington is known as “wilmywood” to some, because of the numerous tv shows and movie that shoot there, so if you’re in town keep your eyes open- you never know who you’ll bump into (i’ll never forget hearing from friends in wilmington who got to see the dawson’s creek cast for years). click here to view the full guide or just click “read more” below. thanks, ellie!

Nestled between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, Wilmington is often called the Port City; although many fondly refer to it as “Wilmywood” in honor of local motion picture and TV studio Screen Gems. (Think Dawson’s Creek, or the recent Nights in Rodanthe). Wilmington was settled nearly 300 years ago, and today visitors can stroll tree lined streets past century-old homes, then drive less than twenty minutes to find themselves among surfers and sunbathers on beautiful beaches. In the mid 1980s, Wilmington began to revitalize its downtown and today the area is rich with restaurants, bars, boutiques, galleries, and antique shops.

SHOP:

-Edge of Urge- 18 Market St.
Located just a block from the riverfront in downtown Wilmington, indie boutique Edge of Urge has become a favorite among locals and tourists. The boutique specializes in the handmade, with a range products by DIYers to brands like Orla Kiely, and a wonderful collection of mens and womens clothing, shoes, accessories, goods for the home, notecards, and more.

-Island Passage- 4 Market St. or 1900 Eastwood Rd. (Lumina Station)
An old local favorite for women’s clothing and accessories, Island Passage now boasts 6 locations in the Cape Fear region and has labels such as Free People, French Connection, and Velvet.

-Return Passage- 302 N. Front St.
A sister of Island Passage, Return Passage is a one stop shop for those looking for gently used, well priced clothing and accessories. If Marc Jacobs under $50 sounds appealing, then Return Passage is your place.

-Blackbeard’s Bryde- 18 S Water St. #5
Blackbeard’s Bryde has an eclectic (and occasionally blush-worthy) selection of gifts, clothing, jewelry, and things for the home. It’s located right on the Cape Fear River and is named for Wilmington’s pirate past.

-Baby Swank- 1904 Eastwood Rd. in Lumina Station
Just over two years old, Baby Swank is an upscale shop with everything needed to upfit your dream nursery, from cribs to rocking chairs to linens.

-The Ivy Cottage- 3020-3030-3100 Market St.
The Ivy Cottage was opened in 1998 by a mother daughter team with a true love for antique shops and flea markets. Over the years it has grown from one building to four and now has over 25,000 square feet of vintage and consigned furniture, home accessories, antiques, china, jewelry, garden items, and more.

-Planet- 108 N. Front St.
Look for the mannequin wearing a gas mask, and you’ll know you’ve found Planet. Odd gifts and good deals make this shop a hit with men and women alike.

-008- 105 Market St.
This tiny boutique got the headlines this year (sort of) when Sophia Bush strolled in and bought a couple of shoes. It’s not surprising, then, that 008 is the place to find hip mens and womens clothing and accessories.

-Airlie Moon- 1908 Eastwood Rd. in Lumina Station
Step into Airlie Moon, take a whiff of that lavender, and you’ll be ready to move into a cottage on Wrightsville Beach and start decorating. Think refinished furniture and design with southern, sophisticated vintage-inspired flair - with plenty of crisp linens, hand-milled soaps, and delicate jewelry to boot.

-Flashbax- 30 N. Front St.
You’re sure to find the perfect flapper dress, sixties beads, or vintage cowboy boots at Flashbax on Front St.

-Hallelu- 84 Waynick Blvd. Wrightsville Beach
Hallelu has great clothing (both new and consigned), good prices, and a scenic view of the sound. After you’ve bought that cute dress, duck around the corner to Trolley Stop (see below) for the best hot dog you’ve ever had.

-Antiques on Castle Street, 500-600 block
Castle Street is a great place to spend a couple hours antiquing. Favorites include Castle Keep (507 Castle St.), a shop with beautiful vintage textiles located in an old church building, and Retrolution (553 Castle St.), a new shop specializing in cool finds from the 60s and 70s and excellent prices.

-The English Garden- 2317 Market St.
Gifts for your favorite gardener, plus a great selection of orchids and rose bushes.

-Sambuca- 200 N Front St.
Sambuca is a boutique and spa specializing in organic, fair trade, renewable, and recycled materials with lots of style. They offer a good sized selection of beauty and skincare products, in addition to Bella Muse gift cards and stylish, comfortable women’s clothing.

EAT:

Narrowing down Wilmington’s restaurants is no easy task. Wilmington has become known for its wide selection of delicious cuisine, and of course nearly everyone offers a good selection of seafood. If you’re new to the area, you have to give Calabash-style (read: deep-fried) seafood a try - preferably with a side of hush puppies. And of course there is good ‘ol southern BBQ at every turn. But as you’ll see from this list, this southern town is not all greasy-spoon joints.

-Dock Street Oyster Bar- 12 Dock St.
When I tell people I’m from Wilmington, it’s not uncommon for the Dock St. Oyster Bar to come up in conversation shortly thereafter. Delicious seafood, good service, and dog friendly.

-Indochine- 3007 Market St.
I’ve lost count of how many restaurant awards Indochine has been given, and in my own humble opinion, Indochine is one of Wilmington’s best. Since it’s often crowded, you’ll probably be sent to the bar for a couple drinks before you’re seated in their richly atmospheric dining area and served delicious Thai and Vietnamese cuisine. If the weather is nice, sit out back in a gazebo and enjoy the garden under strings of lights.

-Caffe Phoenix- 9 S. Front St.
You’d be hard pressed to order a bad thing on this menu. Modern and trendy since it opened in the ’80s, Caffe Phoenix is a good place to have a glass of wine, watch passersby, and check out local artwork on the walls.

-Circa 1922- 8 N. Front St.
The hardest part about classy Circa 1922 is knowing when to stop eating all the fantastic tapas you’ve ordered. Because skipping dessert is not recommended!

-The Dixie Grill- 116 Market St.
Combine greasy-spoon style eating with menu items like veggie burgers and fresh fruit & granola, and you’ll have Dixie Grill. Just don’t leave without trying the sweet potato fries! Breakfast served until 3pm.

-Slice of Life- 122 Market St.
Who doesn’t want a hot piece of pizza after hitting up the downtown bar scene? Open until 3am, cozy Slice of Life has a great pub atmosphere and truly delicious pizza.

-Trolley Stop- 121 N. Front St. and 94 S Lumina Ave. Wrightsville Beach
The Trolley Stop has two locations - one downtown and one at the beach. Go to Trolley Stop at the beach in the summer, and the line goes out the door as beach-clad locals load up on Surfer Dogs. I don’t know if it’s the ridiculously soft buns, the melty cheese, or the juicy hotdog itself, but there is nothing like a Trolley Stop dog.

-Tidal Creek- 5329 Oleander Dr. #100
Tidal Creek is a market and deli selling organically produced foods and goods from local growers and high-ethics companies.

-Casey’s Buffet and BBQ, 5559 Oleander Dr.
Look past the atmosphere and dig in to a plate of collard greens, fried chicken, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and of course BBQ. Southern charm on the side.

-Coffee
Wilmington is the birthplace of Port City Java, although now that Port City Java is a franchise in seven states, it’s almost like visiting Starbucks in Seattle. Instead try the Smudged Pot (5032 Wrightsville Ave.) which has friendly staff, a great selection of magazines, crafty goods for sale, AND ice cubes are made from coffee. Another good bet is Jester’s Java on Castle Street (#607) which is a great place to stop after you’ve hit up all the antique shops there.

TO DO:

Festivals

Wilmington holds numerous festivals - most notably Azalea Fest which takes place each year in April when the azaleas are in full bloom (well, at least in theory.) The multi-day festival includes a parade, a street fair with local crafters, teens in antebellum gowns (’Azalea Belles’), concerts, home tours, and more.

Downtown Wilmington becomes festive again in October with Riverfest, when you can watch fireworks, view local arts and crafts, hear good music and watch various competitions.
For those who tire of the street-fair scene, there are some fantastic arts festivals that should not be missed.

In November the Cucalorus Film Festival celebrates independent films, in May the volunteer-run W.E. Fest celebrates indie musicians, and in July the Cape Fear Blues Festival brings national and local acts to the Port City.

Bars

Wilmington bars come and go, but these favorites always promise a good time. The Soapbox Laundro-Lounge is downtown’s largest music venue and has washing machines available for patrons who need to kill two birds with one stone. Level 5 at City Stage (21 N. Front St. 5th floor) is a theatre and rooftop bar combined. Enjoy the riverfront view from above and then duck inside and see what’s playing. Bluepost Billiards (15 S Water St.) is a smoky dive off of an alley downtown. Pop open a PBR and play pool, skee-ball, air hockey, or any number of arcade games.

-Thalian Hall- 310 Chestnut St.
Built in the 1850s, Thalian is a beautiful place to see local and national productions from ballet to music to films.

-Farmers Market- N. Water St. between Princess & Market
From mid April to the end of December, local farmers, crafters, and musicians gather on the Riverfront for the Saturday Farmer’s Market.

-Airlie Gardens & the Minnie Evans Sculpture Garden, 300 Airlie Rd.
Airlie Gardens is an historic, 67 acre county-owned piece of property on the water just before Wrightsville Beach. It’s a wonderful place for a walk or a picnic, and is home to the “bottle house,” a work of art dedicated to African American folk artist Minnie Evans. Evans was the gatekeeper of Airlie from 1949-1974 and the bottle house (named because it is made of glass bottles and mortar) was built in 2004 by local artists to celebrate her life.

-Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum, 3021 S 17th St.
Built by the famous architectural firm Gwathmey Siegel & Associates of New York City, the Cameron Art Museum is one of my favorite places to visit. The museum has featured such exhibits as the costume designs of William Ivey Long, contemporary works using classic weaving techniques, and the phenomenal installations of Diane Landry. The museum shop items complement whatever is currently on display in the museum, making it an enjoyable stop on the way out.

-ACME Art Studios, 711 N. Fifth Ave. 910-763-8010
Ring the bell and if anyone answers then you’re in for a real treat. ACME is home away from home for 18 artists who work in all different mediums. You can also visit ACME during Fourth Friday art walks, from 6-9pm.

-Fourth Friday Art Walk, from 6-9pm April-December, 208 N Front St.
Start at Bottega Gallery, get a map, and visit the downtown art galleries during this monthly grassroots event.

A house with a heavy mid-century vibe to it, where spaces interact with each other instead of delimiting areas. I love the play of modern designer furniture combined with the ultra classics. The black Saarinen and white Panton chairs are a plus.

The minimal use of colors for the canvas makes the accent pieces pop even more.

http://www.damilanostudio.com

I have been working on the design for a new Sacramento restaurant, Cosmo Cafe, for the last few months, and had the pleasure of attending the Grand Opening Night Event last Thursday night. The Cosmo Cafe is part of the larger Cosmopolitan building which is also home to the Cosmopolitan Cabaret and the soon to be opening Social nightclub. I thought you all might like to take a peek:

Of course there were Cosmos

And lots of friends and familiar faces.

Kerry Ellis (don't you just love that name?!?!), lighting designer extraordinaire of Benning Design Associates, worked to get the lighting design just right. And Sean from Lumens Light and Living helped us with supplying the decorative light fixtures.

Stacy Paragary of Paragary Restaurant Group, proprietress and wonderful client, had fun with Bruce Benning, owner of Benning Design Associates.

And here I am in my role as Senior Designer for Benning Design, with my good friend Kate of Girl Meets Glamour blog.

Good friends Leanne and Nicole. In the back round you can see the back lighted photo of K Street in Sacramento that I had enlarged showing the original exterior of the restaurant building in it's previous mid-century incarnation as Woolworth's.

I met Kevin Johnson, former NBA Star and perhaps the future Mayor of Sacramento. November 4th will tell!

The crowd was swelling early into the evening helping to kick off a great first night.

Cool congas (Thanks MER!) were played.

Diners were enjoying the sumptuous menu.

The Sacramento Hotel, shown here, was the original occupier of the corner of 10th and K Streets. I created niches lined with back painted glass to showcase historical buildings on and around K Street.

For the bigger groups, there is a private dining room with a view to the kitchen.

Cocktails and friends made it an evening to remember.

So, if you are looking for a very "Cosmopolitan" way to spend an evening, don't miss dinner at Cosmo Cafe before seeing a show at the Cosmopolitan Cabaret!

From Janet & Julie:

Here’s a roundup of clever ideas for the underused space under a stairway.

Below: Architect Jerome Buttrick of Buttrick Wong Architects created a sleek bar in this Palo Alto house.

Below: Vertical shelves provide extra storage opportunities for unwieldy items like oversize books and framed prints.

Below: London-based Domane interior design group tucked appliances under the staircase in this flat.

Below: Stockholm architects Sandell Sandberg built a trio of geometrically precise closets under this stairway.

Below: A salvaged door adds character to this all-white space spotted on Marie Claire Maison.

Below: Storage opportunities abound under this stairway from Splyce.

Below: A bank of Shaker-inspired drawers from Flickr.

i’m always looking for new bags to carry groceries- i like to have a few options depending on my mood. these new bags from sophie at jodii are right up my alley- simple, colorful and reasonably priced at $6-$27. and the pillows? so lovely. sophie is one talented lady. click here to view her full collection and shop online.

As we go into the weekend, I wanted to leave you with the dreamy images of The Royal Collection, Fabrics and Wallpaper, the newest from Designers Guild.

Inspired by the interiors of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, and by the art in the Royal Collection, this collection is a creation of luxurious fantasy.

Designers Guild was given access to the archive of historic fabrics and wallcoverings and has come up with their own interpretation of sumptuous embroidered silks, velvet jacquard velvets and flocked wallpapers.

The Arabella Autumn Winter Collection also makes it's appearance with a fairytail-like collection:

Dream a little dream this weekend!

Additional Note: I received an email from Sophie Trinder with a reminder that the whole collection can be viewed here. And in answer to Aesthete's Lament comment, the collection was indeed photographed at Buckingham Palace. A link to the Royal Collection with more information about the Palace can be reached here.

HAPPY WEEKEND!

As Senior Designer of Benning Design Associates, I had the huge pleasure of heading up the design of a new Sacramento restaurant, Cosmo Cafe. (I mentioned it a little bit ago here.) There are some new photos on the Cosmo Cafe website that may just tempt you to come take a look for yourself. Located in the multi-use Cosmopolitan building, the Cosmo Cafe shares real estate with the Cosmopolitan Cabaret, and the newest Sacramento nightclub, Social.

Come on in. Here's a bit of a virtual tour:

Front Lounge Area

This is a great place to enjoy a cocktail and chat with friends while waiting for your table, or when catching a show at the Cabaret.

Lounge and Bar

Another view of the Lounge showing the graphic floor design

Opening Night Party. The enlarged back lighted photo in the background shows the original building in it's first incarnation as the Woolworth Building.

Main Bar and Restaurant

I had the signature Cosmo on opening night, natch. And I tried a "Faux-Hito" the other night which was so perfectly refreshing, everyone at the table ended up getting one.

Restaurant

I promise you, the food is delicious. There are small and large plates to suit every palate. Like the roasted beet salad, or the polenta fritters I had the other night. Fabulous! Check out the menu here.

Located in Sacramento a block from the State Capital, it seemed fitting to "capitalize" on the political climate with a few caricatures. You may recognize a few!

Some photographs from the Sacramento Archives of historic points of interest near the Cosmopolitan Building were featured in special art niches.