Etsy Love: Manzanita Kids

I always love a good story, and David's and Adrienne's is just that. With a newborn and a layoff on their hands simultaneously, the couple behind Manzanita Kids searched their souls and creative talents for a way to make a living from home, and thus their toy company was born. Lines of Montessori and Waldorf-inspired developmental puzzles and blocks, as well as wonderfully imaginative modular building sets, were lovingly conceived to "nurture creative play." Offerings are all hand-cut in natural materials and many feature their own homemade beeswax/organic safflower oil finish, for a toy line that is as eco-friendly as it is pure fun.


Surely inspired by the iconic Robert Indiana sculpture, the Love Puzzle spreads a positive message to the littlest hearts.


From their baby line, these Moon Rattles are finished with their homemade beeswax/organic safflower oil, safe for teething mouths and tiny hands.


Several different Animal Puzzle creature combinations are available, including this adorable Bear, Shark & Parrot trio.


The Elephant Seesaw is a simple yet engaging way to sharpen a toddler's understanding of balance and motion.


One of several Modular Building Sets handmade by Manzanita Kids, affording hours of versatile, imaginative play.

Put A Cork In It

New Years Eve came and went without much of a fuss from me, but certainly in merry festivities far and wide, corks were popping and bubbles pouring. I may uncork a bottle of wine now and again, but my true obsession with this ultra-sustainable material lies in its myriad other home uses beyond beverage sealing, from decorative surfaces to functional bowls. Here's a few of my earth-friendly favorites.


100% natural cork fabric Adjust-A-Bowls come in medium and large sizes and are available through Branch Home.


Vitra's Cork Stool C from Design Within Reach.


Recycled Cork Mosaic Tiles made from cork beverage topper industry waste are durable, sustainable, and naturally antimicrobial (tiles shown are from Habitus).


Recycled cork Float Pendants by Benjamin Hubert.


The pricey but handsome mildew-resistant Cork Bath Collection from Labrazel Home.


Small chips of metallic cork make up this unique wallpaper, found on My Two Designers.


This sleek, modern kitchen with cork flooring strikes the perfect contrast.


Michael Roger Straw's Cork Sleeve for Apple's 15" MacBook, from Amazon.

Monday Color: Indigo & Khaki

I recently received the new Spring 2012 Serena & Lily catalog, a brand I've long admired since back when they were only peddling bedding. The pages felt like a journey around the world, with colorful palettes from bold to serene, indicative of a company that has really come of age. I pulled the inspiration for today's Monday Color Combination from this relaxed, eclectic bedroom, featuring the toned down nautical vibe of Indigo & Khaki, with lots of white of course.



From the dip-dyed curtains, to the pieced-denim wall-hanging, to the chevron patterned rug, blue tones take center stage without overpowering. The upholstered Fillmore Bed plays the perfect supporting role in the versatile White/Putty Jaipur fabric, a less contrasty pairing than your standard blue and white palette. Read on to see how this combination works in any room, harnessing any style.



























An eclectic boys room with rustic wood paneled walls, pops of apple green and cheery red, boldly striped bedding, all grounded by a blue and khaki palette (from Decor Pad).

Spotted on Lisa Sherry Interieurs blog, the linen colored upholstered chair and light wood plays beautifully off the deeply saturated indigo walls in this bedroom.

A Nantucket living room designed by Frank Roop featuring a sea of blue hues with a sandy colored jute rug anchoring the nautical look and a tiny infusion of bright green stripes to keep it all light-hearted (from House Beautiful).

A traditional blue and white country feel in this living room gets even more informal with the infusion of khaki the rug delivers.

Another Serena & Lily-styled room emphasizing, how they always have, that a nursery can be sophisticated and baby-friendly at the same time.

Safavieh's Alba Rug in Indigo & Sand, designed by Thomas O'Brien.

West Elm's Organic Cotton Pintuck Duvet Cover in Steel Blue

Kelly Wearstler's Sea Urchin fabric for Lee Jofa.

Unionmade Doane Utility Notebook against a dark khaki headboard.

Coyuchi's hand embroidered linen Radiant Roman Key Pillow is available in two enticing colorways: all-indigo scheme or a light khaki linen with just a touch of blue.

The timeless 1950's Windsor Love Seat dipped in blue, available from Anthropologie.

Two examples from the fashion world showing the versatility of indigo and khaki, from its bohemian, utilitarian personality to its chic, urban adaptability.

Friday the 13th - Superstitions as Decorations

Friday the 13th is here and since I'm not very superstitious myself, I've decided to celebrate the most common folkloric phobias and anecdotes from the bad luck black cats are supposed to bring to the good fortune of horseshoes. With a whopping three Friday the 13th's falling in the 2012 calendar, maybe I should consider being a little less flippant and a little more cautious this year. (Knock on wood, that is.)


A whole wall of intentionally broken mirror from Living Etc, via Aw Snips.


Two of the many brilliant umbrella art installations by Crooked Brains.


From a post on Elements at Home featuring intriguing ways to decorate with ladders, some safely against the wall, some just beckoning to be walked underneath like this one.


Tempt fate every day with the Sigg Black Cat Silhouette Water Bottle.


The aged concrete floors of this Toronto, CA auto repair shop converted into a relaxed modern home leaves plenty of floor cracks over which to step, but I think these are of the lucky kind. (Design by Levitt Goodman Architects, found on Plastolux.)


Put this symbol of good fortune to good use. (Authentic Used Horseshoe Triple Hook from Trailwood Western Store.)

Monday Color: Lavender & Ivory

I found my inspiration for today's Monday Color post in the recent Elle Decor spread featuring Hilary Swank's Manhattan apartment designed by Mark Zeff. Her living room is awash in accents of stony lavender against an ivory back-drop of boxy Calvin Klein sofas and a massive putty colored area rug. Plus one wall is clad in planks of reclaimed barn wood! **swoon** The overall effect is serene and airy, yet earthy and grounded, marking the beginning of my love affair with this sophisticated lavender and ivory combination.

























Images above:

1. A shot of Hilary Swank's living room with art and accent pillows in an ethereal lavender.

2. A darker lavender upholstered bench pops against an ivory bed and grasscloth walls (from Decor Pad).

3. From Design Shuffle, via Dream to Life, I love the infusion of color these plummy lavender chairs bring to the bone-colored walls of this dining room.

4. An ivory bed is surrounded by grayish lavender walls and touches of peach and violet throughout the room to create this restful master bedroom retreat, designed by the team at my former company re:place.

5. Pale beige walls and all-neutral furnishings are a design staple allowing allowing the addition of virtually any accent hue. In this room, a pale lavender Ikat accent pillow is the simple show piece of color, found on Real Simple.

6. Another Decor Pad find, this masculine lavender pairs well with wood tones, a mustard headboard and off-white walls. I love the vintage science chart but am not so certain I'd want to sleep beneath a bee hive!

7. From a Happy Color Combinations post on House Beautiful, this eclectic living room adds chartreuse and gold to the lavender and ivory mix. Happy indeed!

8. Anthropologie's Le Versha Chair in Plum.

9. Selati, a zebra print chenille from Osborne & Little.

10. New Hope Plum, a profusion of purple hues in an abstract painting by Randy Hibberd, available through Z Gallerie.

11. Nourison's Parallels Rug in Lavender, available from Rugs Direct.

12. The Lulu Nursery Collection from Serena & Lily.

Etsy Love: Flux Glass

Quite appropriately, my son and I created our New Years Intentions this year while listening to Michael Jackson's Man In the Mirror. He requested "MJ" and Man In the Mirror is hands down my favorite one of his singles, so on it went. We giggled at our cheesiness but sang along at the tops of our lungs anyway.

A few days later I was on the hunt for unique eco-friendly mirrors for a client, mindful of the approaching Saturday Etsy Love feature I'd be needing to post today, and I stumbled upon Flux Glass. All the uniquely shaped mirrors are handmade by Dennis Smith in Asheville North Carolina from upcycled mirrors. As a designer, I got particularly excited about the infinite custom options that are available. Have a look (pun intended) for yourself....


Best for those with a soft spot for California or Texas, or other interestingly-shaped states, these hand-cut, lead bordered accent mirrors would be perfect as part of a large collage wall with other beloved memorabilia or tucked in a little nook on their own. The suppressed West Coast girl in me loves the California State Wall Mirror best of all.




The Pair of Flying Bird Wall Mirrors are lovingly hand-crafted with the same upcycled mirror surrounded by lead and backed with a hanging wire, although they look just as lovely resting on a floating shelf like in the second photo above.


I love vintage signage and have amassed a nice little collection of the letter "R" which hangs above my son's dresser. (His name is Ryder, for those of you who don't know.) If I was the flashier type, I'd add the sparkle of a single mirrored letter like Flux Glass's Custom Letter Wall Mirrors to the collection.