Japan

Heartbreaking

Google People Finder for Japan

If Martha Were My Best Friend :)

I'd ask (no, beg) her and her editor Kevin Sharkey to design the pied-à-terre I would love to have in NYC! Their collaboration in transforming his apartment resulted in this very chic, "meticulous-attention-to-detail-as-only-Martha-can-do-it" and glamorous showstopper. Kevin's been working on the home makeover for over a year, and he blogs about it on Martha's blog. You can read about The Big Reveal and get lots of great design ideas (how to choose paint color, how to use mirrors, etc) In case you haven't seen the pictures, take a look.

Pretty nice place to call home, no? What do you think?

Kevin started out by choosing a paint color for

the entire apartment, and went with Martha Stewart's

Heath...keeping the palette subdued so the eye is

drawn to the views

I think those are framed pieces of Japanese

papers...they look great at a super price point...also

note the collection of silver on the left..trés Martha, non?

I'm sure the Buddha wouldn't mind chilling out

with the ipod every now and then!

If you did not already know Martha was involved,

you would when you see the drabware and the

elegant subdued kitchen

an inspiring perch for a little work desk

I love those mirrors marching up the wall from just

above the baseboard...in the entry I think..to great effect!

and those chandeliers came all the way from Florida (I'm

just guessing Miami)

another brilliant use of mirrors...here mirrors gives diners

a view of the outside balcony, and of course, double

the visual space of the room

Kevin's collection of Japanese lacquerware brings a

shot of color to the dining room

On the Road Again: Palm Springs, California!

What could be more fun than hopping in the trusty Beemer with your sweetie and driving south from San Francisco down I-5, leaving the fog and drizzle behind, cutting over onto the old Route 66 and ending up a few hours later in Palm Springs? Where the sun shines all the time and the Mexican food simply cannot be beat? We had a wonderful trip.

OK, so the average age of the residents hovers around 85 (hey, I feel really young here!). But there is also a hip, young element encamped here in the desert that helped put the mid-century design vibe back on the map.

my good friend Kathy McGuire captured perfectly the spirit of the

California road trip with her painting...

see more of her California vernacular work at her website

and be sure to check out her new blog!

our destination!

one of the many diner stops we made along the way... gotta refuel!

in the high desert Mesa area above Palm Springs is this

stunning modern home nestled among the palms

bold colors and modern pieces

in this Palm Springs design shop..love

the iconic 50's sunburst mirror, of course!

walking the hills I came across this stunning abstract gate and love

the way the sun backlit the pattern

I just liked the way the blue/white pattern of the pillows

worked with the orangey of the cool chairs... and

the white coffee table is adorable too

love the pattern of the pyracantha bushes espaliered along

the front wall of this hacienda in the hills

perfect example of 50's modern architecture in

southern California, Case Study House No. 22 in

glass and steel was designed by Pierre Koenig

in the late 1950's and is outside LA

simple landscaping so typical for the area just

looks amazing to me

this wonderful mid-century style lamp

is the design shop's best seller!

on my ramble I wandered up the driveway to

the gate of the Sonny Bono estate... the only

reason I knew that was a friendly neighbor

taking a walk nearby told me.. four dwellings

on the property now selling for $4 m

***

did we eat a "few" tacos along the way? ummm...yess..but

to make up for it, check out this yummy Mexican

fruit salad...perfect with any grilled anything!

Mexican Fruit Salad with Chili Powder*

Choose 1, 2, 3 or more fruits and/or vegetables—here are some that work well:

mango
pineapple
watermelon
cantaloupe or other melon
cucumber or fresh pickles
jicama
lime juice
chili powder
salt, to taste

Prepare the fruit. Slice up the fruits [and vegetables, if you're using them]. For the salad you see here, I used pineapple, mango, watermelon and cucumber. Slice them into big chunks and spears—this is street food, often eaten with your fingers. You can make the salad ahead, up to this point, and chill the fruit until you’re ready to serve.

Assemble the salad. Place the fruit in a large, shallow bowl. Squeeze lime juice over it [for a generous salad for two, I used the juice of one lime]. Season generously with salt and chili powder. Stir gently with a rubber spatula to avoid damaging fruit and taste. You’ll probably want to add more chili powder; keep adding, stirring and tasting until you pick up the flavor of the chili powder and a little heat. Add as much chili powder as you and your dinner guests can comfortably take—that’s a key part of this salad’s charm. Serve immediately.

recipe from Blue Kitchen

***

"hasta luego" from moi & Mr. CP!

Ochre!

I'm not talking about the color (we love that too) but the brilliant design atelier from France and England with a storefront in NYC. Stunning chandeliers that captivate with their originality and the whimsical texture they bring to clean-lined interiors. Well-designed, practical and chic modern furniture, with upholstery in velvets, linens, mohairs. Cool accessories, such as the stunning large mercury-glass mirror (I want that!) and textiles from artisans in Africa. Many pieces use reclaimed materials, such as the gorgeous baskets woven in France from old paper (see below). Nothing mass produced. Perfect for a Chic Provençal look as well as Cottage Chic, Rustic Chic, and Modern Eclectic.

this very rustic reclaimed wood table contrasts

wonderfully with whimsical shape of the lights

absolutely stunning distressed steel cabinet is tres chic!

in this lidded bench you can see the quality of the fabrics and workmanship:

velvet & leather pillows, linen-lined chest

mercury glass top and shelf for this

spare iron end table

suspended "pears" of glass look stunning as curving chandelier

I love this iron-based table in walnut with mercury glass

insert (the backdrop's not too bad either!)

chain mail chandelier is drapey and atmospheric

closer view of the pear drop chandelier with two gorgeous

upholstered pieces in the background

Ochre's small "Snooze Sofa" in nubuck & velvet is fabulously chic

under another pear drop chandelier

gesso and bole framed mercury glass mirror

presides beautifully over the salon

another stunning distressed steel cabinet

linens from Africa

wine bottle basket carrier lends a great

touch of rough texture to sleek, modern rooms

I love these African baskets; they are made

in many colors

this French basket is woven from paper that

has been coiled into strips

click HERE to visit

Pushing Printemps

Even though in my heart I know that winter's rains and chill are not over, today we had a little teaser of springtime to come. When our plum trees bloom and the sun shines all on the same day, who wouldn't love up an impromptu breakfast outdoors? Since we have not even ventured into the garden in months, I set this one up on a makeshift table of reclaimed redwood planks on a vintage garden cart that I found in the shed.

in June we will pick hundreds of luscious plums

from this tree, but for now, a gorgeous

canopy of blossoms over our breakfast!

dappled with sunshine under the plum tree with

mossy ground, the table is set with vintage

French hand embroidered linen, vintage pitchers,

Phillipe desHouillieres plates, Meyer lemons from

our tree, and IKEA demitasse

the plum blossoms sprinkle over the

ground like so many snowflakes; in the

background you can see the tomato cages

patiently waiting their turn

in the vegetable patch

the view of the garden earlier this week... unending

rain and gloom, wind and chill

hope your Sunday is lovely!