In With the New

Yesterday was emotional. I decided to retire, for the most part, my favorite and most sentimental pair of booties. These boys were picked up in a little town outside of Cinque Terre for, I’d say, $20. Impervious to the fact that I was purchasing them from a store with an aesthetic similar to America’s Rave, I took a chance on them. They quickly became my favorite pair of boots and the wear and literal tears on them are proof.

I’d been looking for a replacement pair for a few months but couldn’t find one that compared. The toes were perfectly round, the heel a perfect length to bring my flare jeans off the ground and the height just right to tuck my skinny jeans. As I hobbled over to the new pair due to the dulling and uneven heels of the former, I knew I had found their match.

So while you enjoy a laugh imagining me sitting in my room putting jewelry on my new pairs of shoes, because, in reality, isn’t everything a place to display your jewelry, I know my Siena friends will smile at these boots, knowing they come with a lot of history and love.

For you. I just don’t think I’ve ever been happier.

Doors of London

The Queen’s Grocery

On a trip to London last week, I spent some time sourcing the delicate rows of Fortnum & Mason. With so many beautiful jars, tins and bottles waiting to be plucked up and brought home for the holidays, I made sure to bring a few sweets home with me.

Sugar crystals too pretty to eat

Champagne fit for the New Year

Chocolate Squares

Pop in for a sweet

Sugar stars to top your cupcakes

Color coat your spreads

Save the tin once the tea is gone

Shop with gold

Pretend you’re at Hermes

Fancy yourself a Brit

Look back when you walk out

The Marant Pant

Happy Halloween! But don’t be fooled, this isn’t my costume.

Picking materials is one of my favorite parts of being in the interior design field, so I am always drawn to clothing and accessories that have fun or unique aspects that I could see on a fabric or as a detail on a piece of furniture. Where better to wear these Isabel Marant look-a-likes than at homecoming, where my pants aren’t the loudest thing at the party.

Photos thanks to the glam DPL.

I’ll Meet You Down on Huron Street

There’s nothing quite like a block of houses where each one is more amazing than the next… there was definitely a sense of cohesion to these homes, and they were so picturesque that I didn’t seem to mind the competition between which one was more attractive than the next. Spotted while walking around Chicago in this area. Check out the street view here.

Midsummer Nights Chatham

Decorating a summer cottage can be challenging. Furniture needs to be washable, feet need to be able to be rested on coffee tables, and couches need to be comfortable for curling up with a good book. While in Cape Cod this past weekend for Labor Day, we stopped into Midsumemr Nights Chatham. I could have moved right in without changing a thing and it got my mind stirring for beachy interior possibilities.

Fun/crazy paint detail

They have a great clothing/accessories section as well!

Photos from Midsummer Nights website

Post Labor Day Pick Me Up

 

Not only am I obsessed with the stone detail on my friend’s necklace, but the coral, sea foam green and gold are the perfect way to add color to your day… and who says this combination has to end with when the long summer days end.

 

J. Crew sweater (similar here) | Eastern Market necklace find

 

Check Me Out

School starts up today. And while that usually signals the end of summer, I’m not giving up yet… labor day is still around the corner and it’s still too hot for me to wear jeans. I used this past weekend to relax, get organized, and sneak in a DIY project or two.

What a great set of stairs. Cream marble and gold stair rails

I would love to have a custom set of lucite letters made for my place

Proof that the little details are everything

Floors.

Look ma, I made pillows!

Fancied up some boring straps

Gift to myself.

Bubble glass balls- great for coffee tables and bookshelves

Loved the gold on this clear lemonade jar

Up at the Lake

                     

 

The closest to heaven I’ve ever been

Traverse City Maple Glazed Salmon

Last week I was appointed head chef of the Haus of Spitzer. With Lake Michigan being our bath water, fish is a must and we had it almost every night. One item on the menu was Maple Glazed Salmon. We found the recipe in Traverse Magazine and it was juicy, crunchy and just delicious. I highly recommend you making this TONIGHT.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons maple syrup | 2 tablespoons soy sauce | 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger | 1.5 teaspoons cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water | 4 salmon fillets | 1 tablespoon sliced pecans

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together syrup and cornstarch/water solution until smooth

2. Place fillets skin-side-down in baking pan (I placed them on tin foil to prevent a messy clean up)

3. Pour half of syrup mixture over salmon

4. Bake about 15-18 minutes at 450 degrees until the fish begins to flake. Baste with another 1/4 of glaze halfway through cooking.

5. Finish off with the final 1/4 of maple glaze and top with pecans. ENJOY!