Ladies & Gents, Gusses & Geese: we have just this afternoon signed our lives away on THE biggest gem of a can of worms of a dreamboat you’ve ever seen:
…in the cutest little postcard of a mountain town there ever was (we live in Crested Butte, Colorado).
{ image via here }
{ image via Travel Crested Butte }
The property is comprised of a 1200 SF front house built in the 1800’s (the white stucco part) – currently not *quite* what you might call “livable” (hey man, floors – who needs em??), and a 1700 SF addition (the wood siding part) built onto the back that was framed & roughed-in in the 80’s, but then was left unfinished & hasn’t been touched since.
The back house addition looks like this inside:
As for the front house… llllisten: if you thought Karrie’s house we renovated 5 years ago was a primitive “before” (#casacovetliving)…
…then hold onto your shorts cuz that was the Four Seasons compared to what we’re delving into. The term “Fixer Upper” doesn’t *quite* do justice to this little historic, circa 1880’s beauty which currently lacks living room floors but is chock full of blue midcentury plumbing fixtures, velvet-clad walls and serious quirks. And while it may be short on ceilings (they’re just over 7 feet downstairs), it’s high on charm (great bones & lots of tongue-in-groove walls and gabled ceilings), high on endless potential and SURE to be high on cans-of-worms. AND WE COULD NOT BE MORE THRILLED. Here, I’ll hit the highlights for you:
Entryway into Living Room
Living Room
Kitchen
Goosie in said kitchen
Sunny little breakfast nook off the kitchen (you better believe imma repurpose that vintage pendant light somewhere)
Downstairs Bath (and currently the only bath)
Velvet Walls for the Win
Upstairs Master Bedroom
When Chris & I first saw this house come on the market, it was last Fall right before our (2nd time’s a charm) wedding, and we remember thinking: “WOW. Tons of potential, tons of space… ho-ly &$#@ (!) – tons of work.” We would’ve moved on it then, but we were in a pressure cooker otherwise known as trying to execute a destination wedding with 75 people during a global pandemic, with ever-changing rules (and a crazy DJ who lost his marbles and I was certain was going to call the 5-0 on us, cuz he had already called Gavin Newsom… can’t make this stuff up)… so it was just too overwhelming to do all the things at once. Plus, there was this problem: “Exsqueeze me, I’ve just spent our down payment on bougainvilleas and booze. But MAN you should’ve seen my jade velvet tablecloths! Do you accept handshakes & Monopoly money as a form of currency?” HAAAAAAA.
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And so after our insane wedding (which I loved SO MUCH and I wouldn’t take ONE SINGLE PART OF IT BACK – NOT ONE!), there we sat – just sweating while we watched the market tick up & up, and were racing against the clock so we could jump in before it was all out of our reach. Crested Butte is a dang gem, but it’s no longer a hidden one: it’s actually referred to as “the last great mountain town in Colorado,” and people used to always say to us: “What do you guys DO that you get to live in this place full-time?” It’s true that Winters here are not for the faint of heart – they are brutal and unrelenting…
It’s also true that you’re sure to stand in line for at least 1 hour at the Post Office at Christmas time, which melts my brain… and that we are a far reach from the big red bullseye (closest Target is 2 hours away). But if that’s the worst of it, then yo – I’d say we’re in pretty good shape. This sweet, belongs-in-a-Hallmark-movie small town is stunningly beautiful, with an abundance of nature that is largely untouched and still wild… it always feels safe (I think maybe someone borrowed someone else’s townie bike to get home from the bars last Summer, then returned it the next day, but that’s about the worst shenanigan I’ve heard of going down here), and it has THE most magical Summer & Fall. M-A-G-I-C-A-L. I tell you what – they just don’t make towns like this anymore.
{ via } – photo by Morgan Rachel Levy
Anyhow… the ski resort here was bought by Vail a few years ago, which drove up the real estate market a sniff, but I swear when COVID hit, sh*t went bananas and all bets were off: everyone and their mom’s brother’s uncle’s cousin figured out that they, too, could live here and work from home. It was (and is) like a real-life game of Monopoly – or a group mud wrestling match – or that scene from Far and Away where people were hustlin dem wagons out to the frontier and staking their claim on anything they could… and we were about two shakes from being totally out of luck and either having to rent forever, or having to move out of town. Every *single* house that hits the market in this place (as I’m sure is the case in all resort towns) has multiple offers, almost always cash offers, and almost always over asking price. HEH? All I could think was: dang, is a tiny roof over our heads such an astronomical ask? I don’t know if we can run with the big dogs. Where do the Muggles go? This is us btw. We are muggles.
And then, our little gem came back on the market one day in late January, and we walked a few blocks over from our house to view it with our (most AMAZING realtor, without whom we would’ve been lost) and good friend, Jesse Ebner of Signature Properties & her husband Dave…
…and as Chris & I stepped into the little front living room with no floors, sagging ceilings and not ONE extra ounce of space for even a fart, we both said, almost in unison: “OMG I love it. I am NOT scared.”
We raced in an offer the next morning, and knowing it was a huge Hail Mary and that we probably didn’t have a dog in the fight, I wrote a letter that I asked Jesse to enclose with our offer. I introduced myself and Chris to the sellers, told them we were locals and both business owners in town and that we wanted our kids to know what it was like to grow up in a place like this. I told them we wanted to raise our family in this house and that that was our intention not to do a quick flip or turn it into an AirBNB, but to live in it full time and lovingly restore it. I told them why we loved the house so much – that Chris loved the Norwegian-looking historic exterior of the front house, that I loved the sunny breakfast nook, the gabled storybook ceilings upstairs, and the big yard for Goose. I told them I was a designer and that I loved renovations the most, because they’re always a puzzle to be solved and there is always a reverence for the history of an older home. I told them we knew they probably would have tons of other offers, but that I wanted them to know how earnest we were… and that we had every intention of getting to the closing table (the house had 2 contracts fall through previously). And so we sat on pins & needles for 2 days, and then Jesse FaceTimed us: “YOU GUYS ARE BUYING A HOUSE IN CRESTED BUTTE!!!” – not the finest glamour shot of either of us but the happiest snap, in the interest of documenting…
Chris was all calm and collected and sat back and goes: “….whooaaaa, this is so awesome.” And I go… something like this:
GIPHY via Jay Versace
The road from contract to closing, however, had more ups & downs than the Vortex at Kings Island (Burris kids get the joke BURRIS KIDS GET THE JOKE!!). You know what’s NOT for the faint of heart? Getting a jumbo loan for a pair of 1099 employees on a historic non-conforming property, during COVID. I swear, I couldn’t buy a dag gum pair of undapants for the last 45 days without the underwriters asking me who/what/where/why/when I bought em… then there’s more shenanigans like: “Because of COVID, we need to make sure you’re still employed, Stephanie, as of a few days before closing so could YOU send us every.single.piece.of.paperwork you have touched over the last 10 days” and I thought my brain was going to explode. I was like: “Mr. Underwriter, I am so overly employed right now that I don’t know how to stop what I’m doing to create a paper trail for you but OK FOR THIS HOUSE I WILL DO IT.” The only thing more fun than that was trying to get insurance on a house built in 1880 where they ask you 20 ways to Sunday: “And tell me again, when was the last time the roof was replaced?” And I would just snort laugh and go, “I think in the 90’s!” THE 1890’s, THAT IS – fbdsafhdkshafkdhahfkah. Anyhow – by some miracle, we made it (!) and she’s all ours.
In the interest of getting a jump on permits and everything else e.g. appliances that are backordered until the end of time, we’re already pretty neck-deep in planning (I may or may not have already done most of the CAD drawings for what we want to do… #SQUEAL). I will be blogging & Insta story-ing through the renovation process (and another medium that’s in the works that rhymes with schmboob schmtube), so I hope you guys can follow along through all the twists & turns (and cans of worms) that are surely ahead! I mean, how does my favorite saying go??
“Pretty sure “What the hell?” is always the right decision.”
WE ARE SO EXCITED. So is Goosie:
Up next week: Renovation Plans!
Pop Quiz: what should the hashtag for this project be??? Doing a giveaway for whoever manages to come up with the best one! Stay tuned via my Instagram page for details.
LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
When we had to create a registry for our wedding last year, it was honestly really tricky (but I mean, listen… I MANAGED)… at that point in time at the ripe age of 38, I’d already amassed loads of great kitchen swag… so we just didn’t really *need* a whole lot. I had (in previous years) written guest posts for other publications about “the Perfect Registry” – which was really more a matter of making pretty eye candy on a mood board than actual functionality. And after we got engaged, I read oodles of blog posts on the stuff people *actually* ended up using that they registered for (versus what looked pretty but took up space & got dusty after the wedding – e.g. a KitchenAid mixer… but it all depends on your lifestyle). Anyhow – the extra swag I wanted to register for were things that would be timeless, so we did add a few rad things to our arsenal. I also once heard a married friend say that the best part about wedding gifts was that (you’ll think of the person who gave it to you) every time you use it – and that I have found to be true. So, I thought I’d round up my favorite things like this shun classic knife set, in case it might be useful for any soon-to-be brides, or just anybody who wants to give their pantry a refresh!
1. Charcuterie Board, $140. Not sure if these are supposed to be used for cutting (or just for cheese & meat spreads) but I have literally butchered ours and I love it more for the wear. Karrie & Melissa got this for me for my birthday back in 2016 and it still looks great.
2. Gingham Napkins (20″ x 20″), $20 each. Coming mid-February to the shop! (message me for pre-order) We have the tea towel version of these now and it is one of my favorite things. Neutral enough to look good with everything (but not beige), the perfect weight and rumply-ness, washes up nicely… all that jazz. I know, I know – $20 seems a little steep to spend on a single napkin, but I bought (similar linen striped ones) in the Hamptons probably 8 years ago that are the same texture / quality / weight, and they are still my favorite thing, and something we use daily. How’s the old saying go that I tell my clients all the time? “Buy the right thing the first time around and you’ll only cry once.”
3. Oval Nesting Measuring Cups, no longer available. This is a jerk thing to put on a list of favorite things because they’re so scarcely available, but I freaking love these suckers. My homegirl Lindsay Aherne turned me onto them – they’re from Williams-Sonoma, they’re oval so they tuck a little easier into space in a drawer, they’re stainless steel so they’re bulletproof, and they come in all the odd increments (e.g. 1-1/4 cups, 2/3, 3/4 etc etc). Here’s the link – some are still available for pickup in select stores.
4. SMEG Electric Kettle in Cream, $160. We make French press coffee every morning, and (for the longest time) I would boil a big saucepan of water, then wobble & painstakingly pour it into the French press and try not to also pour boiling water (all over myself). We had a friend staying with us from out of town last year and she watched me doing it and was like: “Honey, it’s time for a tea kettle.” This is SO MUCH BETTER. Works great and looks cute as a button on the countertop, too.
5. Lodge 10.25″ Cast Iron Skillet, $22. I think we use this at least 3x/day. I find that eggs (over-easy or over-medium) do much better in this than a non-stick, and it’s the best for grilled cheese, searing any sort of meat… anything.
6. Joule Sous Vide, $250. This thing might be the #1 thing on this list I’d recommend you buy if you want to make restaurant quality meat at home. The first time we made filets with it, we took a bite and looked at each other and were like: “EHMYGYAH are we at Elk Prime Steakhouse or are we in our living room?” IT. ROCKS. Thanks Cousin Liz!
7. Italian Wine Glasses, $26 each. These beauties from Nickey Kehoe are the closest I can find to the vintage ones I got at a little shop in Paso Robles during our mini-moon. They are uber timeless, feel nice to hold and are just a little more special than a standard wine glass. I always reach for one of these first when I hear the pop of a wine cork.
8. Staub 7-quart Dutch Oven in Truffle, $375. I use this thing all the time. A few times a week, at least. I wondered when I registered for it if it would be that thing that I used once a year, or if it would be too big (they also make a 5 quart and a lots-of-other-smaller-sized-quarts), or if it was too pretentious to register for something with that price tag (luckily, my amazing mother-in-law who’s a great cook and loves nice things got it for us and was like: “IT IS MY FAVORITE THING AND HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE YOURS!”) And it is! It’s perfect for a pot of chili for me & Chris (plus a few rounds of leftovers), or a big pot of soup, or last year on New Years, I made a short rib dinner for 6 (also Joyce’s recipe). The Truffle color was super hard to find (still is) but it is SO PERFECT. It’s somewhere between an off-white and grey but with these little speckles in it.
9. Modena Tumblers in Lilac, $54 per set of 2. I would never say purple is my favorite color-color, but it may be my favorite accent color. So these – in the palest lilac – look great with EVERYTHING. If you won’t take my word for it, Julia Berolzheimer also has them, so you know they’re kewl. You’re welcome.
10. Mauviel Copper & Brass Roasting Pan, $270. Another thing that felt frivolous putting on a registry, but another thing I use all the time and will have forever. It’s surprisingly non-stick, roasts super evenly, and is really easy to clean. Looked gorgeous on Thanksgiving with a turkey in it, and looks gorgeous with veggies roasting in it on a Tuesday night. Thanks Mulligan!
11. Hamilton Beach 8-cup Food Processor, $40. I generally believe that you get what you pay for – so I’ve seen $300 lookalike food processors, but this thing, I swear, has about 1 zillion horsepower. Works & cleans up like a boss, and we’ve had it for years. I do everything with it – make homemade pesto, salsa and hummus, chop nuts, and chop onions & garlic when I don’t want to (touch them) because we know that makes your hands stank for days.
12. The Ove Glove, $17. Not the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen, but who cares because it’s heat resistant up to 540 degrees, and that’s the key. Also, the glove (versus a mitt) gives you more control when handling hot potatoes. Perfect for anything, but especially for touching the cast iron pan handle or pulling something out of the broiler.
13. Microplane Cut-Resistant Gloves, $15. Chris said once that (for having been a D1 college athlete back in the day with good hand-eye coordination), I might be the clumsiest person he knows. He is not wrong. I grated my knuckles one too many times on cheese graters & zesters, and then I found these. I wear them when I’m using anything sharp… including a mandoline.
14. Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus Cetrifugal Juicer, $150. If you’ve ever wondered why fresh squeezed juice from a Juice Joint is so dang expensive, try using any juicer and it makes you realize just how many fruits & veggies you have to use to make 1 measly glass of juice. That said… this sucker is totally worth it. I use it daily. You can throw in whatever you’ve got, but here are a few favorite combos:
for every day – a few stalks of celery, a few carrots, a HUGE hunk of ginger, 1/2 an apple, 1/2 an orange and a handful of fresh spinach. Beets are always great if you have them. Makes about 1.5 glasses.
if you are feeling sick – a raw lemon (or 2), an even bigger hunk of ginger, an apple and a few stalks of celery. I woke up last Saturday sneezing and with my nose running like a faucet, so I made myself a glass of (this) and it knocked it right out. Makes 1 glass.
One other thing I love that I couldn’t fit on this mock-up: this mandoline (thanks Aunt Diane & Uncle Pete!) It’s so scary I call it the guillotine – ha! You HAVE to be extremely careful, then use the cut-resistant gloves, plus use the safety tool that comes with it. And maybe a hazmat suit & some armor. But it’s a boss.
Happy Shopping!!
xo,
WHAT’S UP TEAM! Here are a few of my faaaaavorite things:
Crystal Champagne Coupes, Etsy, $168. I’m crying as I type this because I wanted to order these so badly, but a) we don’t need them, but b) if I bring one more set of glassware into this house I swear Chris will serve me with divorce papers. So, may the fastest typing hands win them.
Rattan Scallop Ottoman Tray, 20″ x 20″, Covet Living Interiors, $150. I love this thing so much. I am about to place an order for them so I can’t promise they’ll get shipped from my shop to you before Christmas which makes this gift guide item a huge bust; nonetheless, let me know if you’d like a swell January surprise We’ve all seen a joe schmo tray, but this one ups the ante with the scallop detail – 4.5″ high. Holla for preorder!
Bone Inlay Frame, Etsy, $65 for 8×10. Probably also not getting to you by Christmas OHMYGYAH I AM THE WORST – does it still work to gift wrap a Polaroid of whatever you got so-and-so that’s not here yet? Anyhow – I think this is so beautiful and you can specify your color which I love.
Blue Crush Artwork, 57″ x 41″, Covet Living Interiors, about $750 shipped (depends on destination), January delivery. My New Years rager continues. Christine Flynn has some similar, surf-radical stuff on One Kings Lane, but this one is my favorite. I did it in one lovely client’s house in LA and it’s a stunner. Send me an email to place an order!
Farm Table Plank, 40″ x 10″, Hudson Grace, $195. Someone just bought this for us from our registry and I am straight tickled to get it.
Brass Clean / Dirty Dishwasher Magnet, Sir | Madam, $34. Thirty four dollars is a lot for a magnet, but not having your S/O have a reason to say: “I didn’t unload the dishwasher cuz I didn’t know if they were clean or dirty” = priceless. THIS CAPTION WILL SELF-DESTRUCT IN 30 SECONDS.
Gingham Napkins in Cognac & Blue, Covet Living Interiors, $110 per S/4. Another day, another January party. These JYEST came back in stock after almost a year of being impossible to find. I have the dish towel version and the weight and texture is perfection. You will have these forever. Holla for preorder!
The Prettiest & Most Vibrant Bolivian Frasada You Have Ever Seen, 56″ x 64″, Covet Living Interiors, $350. These are HARD TO FIND in great condition and especially in the right colors. This is the happiest textile I have in the shop. Dying to cover (a bench, a chair – anything) in it but I just ran out of time and it’s so good, I feel like I should send it out into the universe.
Here’s a dining bench we used another one on in a client’s house 2 years ago… and at that point, that one was the most vibrant one I’ve ever seen.
Vintage Anatolian Runner, 43″W x 109″L, Covet Living Interiors, $1300. This is one of those pieces that I will probably cry when it sells. It is really beautiful – purples/violet, this greyish sage color, and then the pumpkin. I acquired it years ago but never really found a place for it, so it’s a recent addition to the shop. Holla for dibs.
Rialto Rocks Glasses in Millicent, S/2, Sir | Madam, $52. What kind of list would this be if the caboose was something that was actually in stock? It DOES come in the most beautiful rainbow of colors – and also in coupes / martini glasses etc – but the green was calling to me. I would have these except, again, I’ll be in timeout till 2022 if I bring more glassware across that threshold.
Happy Trails & Happy Shopping! For any of the items listed at Covet Living Interiors – holla at me to order – stephanie.m.ballard@gmail.com. I’m off to polish off the rest of the cookie dough in the fridge and pretend like I’m starting a cleanse in the morning. See yaaaaaaaaa!
xoxo,
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It’s the Holly-Days! You know, that time of year when Karrie & I crawl out of the cave of blogging hiberation (in sweatpants, with bed head) to sling around some of our favorite things – partly as ideas for you guys (!) and partly as ideas for our loved ones. Every year we do this feels more and more ridiculous, because we’re old as dirt and don’t need a ^$#% thing. That said – this year, I’m keeping in step with tradition and putting forth a list that is about 3 parts pipe dream (aka totally ridiculous) and 1 part sane. Happy Shopping!
A &^$% HOUSE
Remember that phone booth thing on game shows in the 80’s they’d put people in, then turn the blower on and make you try to grab as much stuff as you can in 20 seconds? Trying to make a real estate decision where we live – in an ever-escalating, ridiculous market that’s getting away from us faster than our little brains can move to figure out what we wanna do – welp, it feels a lot like that. Whoopsie! We’ll get there. SANTA ARE YOU LISTENING?? Image via Martha Stewart.
FENDI SUNNIES
Well if these aren’t the raddest things I’ve ever seen. Can’t find the bastards anywhere.
STACKERS, BABY.
Just like everything in a house, I feel like jewelry is best when it’s collected over time.
SEE-ALL LEATHER TRIMMED CANVAS CASE
Net-a-Porter, $95. Cuz I’m always on the hunt for classic, hardworking travel pieces. I actually do need this.
NATAN MOSS CUSTOM LAMPS
Through Hollywood at Home, $1550 each. They are stunning, and each one is a work of art. I think they remind me – on some level – of this pottery studio that was in our hometown when I was a kid that my parents and some of my parents’ friends still have pieces from. See man, it always comes back to Muncie.
WREN COAT in MELANGE
Ulla Johnson, $995. If I could pick one designer’s clothes to wear for the rest of my life, it would be hers. This amazing, can’t-wait-for-it-to-go-on-sale-but-it-never-will, has-my-name-all-over-it trench coat is everything.
APPLE iPODS with CHARGING CASE
Amazon, $109.99.
A TALE OF INTERIORS, by PIERCE & WARD
Amazon (or check your local small biz bookstore – they may have it!), $38. They are my favorite designers. They have no formal training, no rules and no fear. They are brilliant.
LADY or TWIST PIN
Hand + Fire, $30. Because someday soon, I need to graduate from the No. 2 pencil, which is what I use now to tie up my hair.
ALGAE CANDLESTICKS
Carolina Irving & Daughters, price varies. These are so perfect. Carolina Irving is my favorite textile designer (and a close tie with Jasper, Rose Tarlow and Peter Dunham) but anyhoo – she and her two daughters started a tabletop line a few years ago that would wow any guest at your dinner table. Image below via Nickey Kehoe, who sells them through their shop.
PACK OF 10 TAPER CANDLES in FRENCH ROSE or ROSE TAUPE
Etsy, $21.68. Love these and love shopping small. Both of the colors (listed above) I’m gunning for are currently sold out, but there are so many beautiful others. We go through taper candlesticks in this house faster than clean underpants.
MOST BEAUTIFUL SUZANI PILLOW I HAVE EVER SEEN
In someone else’s house, not for $ale. But doesn’t mean I’m not always on the lookout for a textile like it. Image via House Beautiful.
Merry Merry!! Gift Guide for the Home on deck (and maybe Karrie’s too?)
xoxo,
While we’re getting fatter just sitting here looking at stuff, I am taking this Blackberry Thyme Brie en Croute for a spin at our next suppa party. Cheese is never a bad idea.
This Penny Morrison fabric appears to be discontinued, but I’m still lusting after it. Big luscious drapery panels (???) – yes please.
New Favorite Podcast = Wine for Normal People. We binged it recently a few weeks ago with the same fervor as we would a new season of Stranger Things.
Is there anything sweeter than an old golden?? ANYTHING IN THIS WHOLE WORLD?? …OH, GUSSIE! (ps these photos are by Dai Chan – beautiful pics of his pup here).
I just found this pic on my phone when I was on a plane yesterday, bored to tears and deleting old photos, which made me cry when I saw it. It’s my sweet Daddy and Gus. My Dad LOVED Gus… LOVED. You know if you follow me on social media that we are obsessed with and adore little Goose, but man. They are all such little individuals and such people. There will never be another O.G.
Our officiant at our wedding (who is a close friend of Chris’) a few weeks ago spoke about Gus, and the life & marriage lessons we could all take from him for a large part of the ceremony. I think people assumed we fed him the lines, but it was a surprise to both myself and Chris – and there was not ONE DRY EYE IN THE DAMN HOUSE.
photo by Anni Graham
Also had these as our cocktail napkins. I had a lady named Alicia on Etsy make them (she was wonderful) – I sent her a picture of Big Gus and she sketched it out and it was printed on them in copper. My baby boy was there, everywhere – on the napkins, in the sermon, in my heart… everywhere.
Favorite kind of mani – besides the vanilla kind I usually get (Bubble Bath!) is a half-moon mani like this. Makes the grow out easy breezy.
The perfect green! Belongs in my future house somewhere – butler’s pantry, a vanity or a laundry room. Ladurée in Paris.
Really pretty exterior brick & paint combo.
This hexagon mosaic pattern is pretty specific, but man it’s rad. Via Rebecca Atwood’s Insta.
Love this for Fall. Source unknown.
I’m all about staple shoes, and here they are. I can hardly find these anywhere, except maybe on Poshmark or eBay, in a size 4.
I do other peoples’ kitchens for a living, and it may be my most fun room to do, because it’s like a portrait of the homeowner you paint via the combination of finishes, materials, and the way it functions. This one is by Jessica Helgerson (credit: Aaron Leitz Photography for AD), and I audibly gasped when I saw it.
Favorite parts include:
- the hand painted floor, which is a big commitment in a space like a kitchen – where doodles can’t easily be un-did – but in this case, I feel like it is what makes the space, but it definitely has a more timeless quality than so many of the patterned floors I’ve seen. The terra cotta color is rich and warm, and becomes a neutral in the space and another layer of texture.
- the Rocky Mountain Hardware brass apron-front sink, which I’ve been trying to get into someone’s house since the beginning of time (it was in this doodle back in 2014), and
- the Lacanche range.
If I were doing it, I would probably have swapped out the freestanding island for an antique shop counter, like this one from Field & Fort in Santa Barbara:
And I would make room for (I can do this, because this is fantasy land and I’m the mayor) my two favorite Italian 1950’s vintage pendants that I picked up at Hollywood at Home a few years ago – almost identical to these: 
Anyhoo. Since now we have the wedding under our belts, it’s about that time to try to settle into a house. We love our (operative word: little) cozy place in Crested Butte, but we’re tinkering with the idea of either building (which is not a speedy process here) or buying a resale that we may have to do some work to (and knowing me / us, nothing will be the way we want it so I’ll have to turn it inside out). Building costs are also bananas in this town… and I would almost equate trying to nail down subcontractors to herding sheep, but that hardly cuts it; it’s probably a little more like trying to nail molasses to the wall. IT’S OK I’LL FIGURE IT OUT. Anyhow, I’ll have to write a separate post soon to share all the fun stuff we wanna do, and then imma hafta figure out how to stretch our budget from stale beer to bubbly champagne so I can include all the highfalutin things we want. But while I’m at it, here’s a wallcovering I die over slash MUST HAVE – via Nicky Kehoe. Looks like William Morris but can’t 100% place it.
Also die over William Morris’ Pimpernel in Fig / Sisal. It’s elegant, it reads old world and timeless but can also read modern, depending on what you put it with. And it feels in motion, which I love. The combinations in each colorway are also stunning.
Waiting with baited breath for Carolina Irving’s new release of “Delos.” Spring 2021. Have my hand on the buzzer à la Family Feud to use it on one of my fave clients’ dining chairs or counterstools.
I saw this Royal Cauldon Dinnerware pattern at an antique store on our mini-moon and I stalking it hard trying to collect it.
I could keep hunting that, or just blow my future kids’ college funds on the Oriente Italiano collection, which is so beautiful it’s stupid. I’ll gladly eat trash scraps under a bridge on those plates. jfdlsjfkdsjhakjfhdajkhakjha
How cute is this dress? It almost looks like the maternity version and the inverse of Julia’s dress from the polo match in Pretty Woman.
Also, these pearl studs. OMG I have to post something about Def Leppard or a t-shirt from Goodwill stat before I go straight snooty sorority house meets Golden Girls right in front of your eyes.
Here’s one of my fave new (old) songs:
I pride myself on lots of things, but one of them is sniffing out (get it?) the best candles for every season. I’ve ordered a few brands into the shop (and returned almost all of them) – because sometimes they have a good nose (e.g. when you lift off the lid and sniff them in the store) BUT so many times, then they don’t smell the same (or smell at all) when they burn, which has to the ratio of the actual oil to wax that the candlemaker uses. Anyhoo – one line I kept is NEST, which I carry exclusively in Crested Butte, and also 1 flava-flave from 1 other line. Here are my 4 favorites for this time of year:
1 – Ethics Supply Co, Black Elk Peak, $38. Has a woodsy, cozy, almost spicy scent to it that I think works great during the Fall but also into the holidays.
2 – NEST Holiday, $42 for the regular size, or $68 for the 3-wick. A holiday classic! So good, and the box is gorgeous for gift-giving. I have both sizes in the shop.
3 – Thymes Frasier Fir, price varies per size. Smells like a Christmas tree, but super potent and super delicious. Only one I don’t carry, but the nice lady across the street (Elena / Casa Bella) does.
4 – NEST Moroccan Amber, $42 for the regular size. Kind of a warm, vanilla & amber, fireside, more gender-neutral candle you can burn year-round, but great for the holidays, too. I have been surprised how much I love this one.
Comment on this post or email me at stephanie.m.ballard@gmail.com to order! Or just pop in the shop sometime!
Speaking of the shop – I have made a lot of custom ottomans for it in the past few years, but I’ve never seen an ottoman I’m more obsessed with than THIS one from House of Windsor by Windsor Smith. Even Chris Driscoll lost his mind when he saw it.
How pretty is this for a stacking band?
Maybe I’ll add it one of these days?
Saw and screen shot this ages ago on Sally King Benedict’s Insta Story – cuz that is a BOMB STACK.
How dope is this Bolivian Frasada I picked up at Porch in Summerland (Santa Barbara) during our honeymoon?
Speaking of… I referenced it before, but our 10.22.20 wedding was insane. I-N-S-A-N-E. So magical I don’t have the words to describe it. Will also have to post about that someday soon (lots of pics on Insta and in this highlight), and tell you about everything from mind-bending drama like the time my one-time DJ called Gavin Newsom (as in the Governor of California, on the phone) about my wedding, to mind-blowing wedding cake aka the time we flew in the orange shebert cake from Cru Cafe in Charleston.
We mini-mooned in Santa Barbara & Paso Robles – also must write out recs for those. Also must book trip back ASAP. My, I’m making myself a fat to-do list for a lazy Sunday. Santa Barbara in particular may be tied with San Diego for the places my soul was meant to live.
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Here’s one rec for your Thanksgiving Day table: we had a few favorites from Paso, but Adelaida was our fave vineyard, and this is my fave wine for the price point from them. My favorite wine altogether is the 2016 Syrah, but this one is a fraction of the cost, still delicious, but a really good table-drinking wine.
Also, the 2017 Lazy Creek Pinot Noir slays.
I also totally want to blog (soon) a Registry List with our favorite things we got (plus favorite kitchen stuff we already had), and a few tabletop mock-ups, so remind me to do that. All of this (except the silverware, which is vintage – and which we used at the wedding) can be ordered thru yours truly. What I love about this set-up is how versatile it is. I have a few vintage and/or colorful tablecloths that all of this plays so nicely with. You could also totally change up the napkins and the glassware depending on the season / what else you have happening chez vous.
PS these were our tabletops at the wedding. CAN YOU EVEN HANDLE IT. Photo by Anni Graham.
The patina on this antique piece in an entryway by Amber Lewis is perfection.
Well friends (!) thanks for letting me brain dump all over you and all over the interwebs on a Sunday afternoon. Gotsta scoot to do precisely this:
I for sure blabbed about what to blog about next, but what do YOU guys want to hear about?
xoxo,
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Please… someone either take me to La Posta Vecchia Hotel immediately so I can live in this bathroom, or bring this bathroom to me.
Tammy Connor Interior Design out of Charleston does some stunning things… like this living room on Kiawah Island, that I audibly gasped when I saw. It’s the sconces that tipped the scales.
I started a SATC binge this weekend and I’m telling you, it’s nothing short of – well – basically a simultaneous orgasm of nostalgia and sheer bliss. It makes the whole world right again. I was sure I’d already seen every episode at least 4x but it’s been years. When I was in college, our dude-neighbors had HBO and we would invite ourselves over and park it on their sofa at 9pm every Sunday night to watch. PS, this article ranks every single episode which is amazing. Anyhow – all the seasons are on HBO Go but you can also do a Hulu add-on of HBO which is what I did.
How cute is this little fixer upper in Birmingham? I feel an oddly strong pull back to the South these days, and have for awhile. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older and (that’s where my Pops is) and we’re hoping to start a family soon, or if it’s because I lived in Charleston for almost 10 years of my adult life and I have so many amazing friends there who feel like family so it still feels like home… or what. Maybe just a wee condo there to escape to in the Winter would do?
Loving everything from Lucy Laucht. Literally every last thing. Karrie turned me on to her work and now I want (all of it).
Sarah Sherman Samuel just did this bathroom and played with a wider grout line as a design element in a way I have never seen anyone else do. It’s genius.
This breakfast nook is everything. From Lauren Santo Domingo’s house in the Hamptons.
The thought of this classic Bowood on the walls of a nursery is just about the only thing that could convince me to get knocked up before my #letstrythisagain October wedding and bust the seams of my dress that is the most beautiful garmet I have ever seen in real life. KIDDING, kidding. Sort of.
Also, this. From Cabbages & Roses. A nugget’s room would be a toss-up between the two. Just ordered samps from across the pond and can’t wait to see em.
Also comes in blue. Be still my heart.
New cocktail I’m going to learn to perfect? The Paloma.
These window treatments bring cornice boxes to a whole new level.
How beautiful is this?? Wish it were fabric that could be printed… it’s the back of an antique kaftan – mid-16th century, probably from Istanbul.
Behold, the perfect outfit.
Double Chaises??? Don’t mind if I do! Image from Courtney Barton, whose vibe I love.
How lovely are these? I’ll take two to match my two double chaises.
Welcome to my new (dream) house! Again… the South.
Need this frame stat. This is the kind you have forever.
I die over this print. DIE. Like, would put it everywhere and on everything. It’s 1750-1800 ca. French linen and cotton.
This one would also make beautiful drapery panels. I love pink as a neutral.
On that note, dying to paint something either Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster or Pink Ground.
The sconces in this bathroom are to die.
I just put them in this mood board last week for a new uber traditional client’s bedroom.
How beautiful is my friend Rosa’s backyard?? I would legit never leave.
If your uterus didn’t already explode at those nursery wallpapers earlier, check out this numba, and everything on Elisa Vaughn’s page.
Oh fer pete’s sakes – while we’re talking about kids clothes – how cute is this little bathing suit? It’s from a wholesaler that I have no reason to buy from and where you have to buy in bulk – so if like, all of y’all want me to order a few for your little chunky monkeys, lemme know.
Same for this ditty. I love it so much. 20″ square x 4.5″ tall. Perfect for an ottoman or maybe to corral liquor bottles on the bar. Holla if you’re interested in one! Retails for $170.
Pretty good fish taco recipe if you ask me. Sidenote: you need about 1/3 of the ingredients it actually calls for for that jalapeño slaw.
Go ahead and eat these chocolate chip cookies from Butter & Brioche for dessert. Good luck converting the ingredients from grams & such.
Love these Miu Miu heels.
Love all the artwork at House of Spoils.
Love this bedroom by Julie Hillman.
I love this dresser perhaps more than I’ve ever loved any piece of furniture I’ve ever seen. Vintage, from a Wendy Word install.
Sink is bananas.
Disc Interiors out of LA did this kitchen and it makes me so happy to look at. It’s probably the Calacatta Viola and the green cabinets.
This ring is INSANE…. loves.
If we’re Facebook friends then you’ve probably seen this, but my friend Gina (Buwalda) Johnson started doing these beautiful, editorial freehand pieces recently, and I asked her to do one of me and (my sweet baby GusGus). I cried for an entire day, I think, when she sent this to me. She’s now taking commissions – check out more of Gina’s work HERE.
How pretty is this pillow I just had made for the bench in our dining room?
And, this is (currently) our bed. I brought this pillow I love home from my shop to test out the pattern against my fave ever Carolina Irving Patmos Stripe Euros. I love it. It needs to be wider so I’ll have another made, but the pattern and color palette is perfect. It’s a favorite Rose Cumming print I used for a client’s drapery panels last year.
Welp, it’s 8am and I should probably throw on my running shoes and shuffle around the block. Hope these ditties give you guys some good inspo too! Have a great rest of the week!
xoxo,
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Wellllllllll since we’re all at home (pretty much indefinitely? …#gulp) – might as well embrace it, right? I doubt Shakespeare was talking about the Coronavirus when he said this but –
So, in the spirit of being home, I thought I’d rock out some of my most recently coveted favorite things. Might as well cultivate the most beautiful, comforting environments we can, right? Whilst we’re all staring at our 4 walls and such.
To start, this is one of my favorite prints from my favorite textile designer, Carolina Irving. Cordoba in Raspberry / Aubergine makes me SO HAPPY every time I look at it. I think most people probably reserve a print this loud for a pillow or a small dose of something, but I love to see it on a larger piece of furniture, like this settee.
Speaking of… I’m currently having a 100-year old carved settee recovered in this fabric from Peter Dunham. It’s for our wedding…… which *hopefully* will still take place sometime in 2020.
This rug has long since been sold and I still cannot stop thinking about it. Never have I ever seen a more perfect rug in that tart hue. #rugsaremydrugs
This is Amber Lewis’ new kitchen, and you know what my favorite part is??? The stone ledge. Love the utility of it. Also appreciate the tiled hood (it’s just prettier than a stainless steel one, amiright?)… and while we’re talking details, also love the inset cabinets, the ceilings, and obviously the Clé handmade terra cotta field tile which I cannot stop using.
Speaking of, about to use the Tea Ceremony colorway of Clé’s Zellige in a master bath remodel in Crested Butte and I CANNOT WAIT to see it.
How beautiful is this vintage oushak from Jayson Home?
And this Temoayan Blanket from L’Aviva Home? Give me all the texture.
Never, ever can ever get enough green glass. It’s reproduced so frequently now (and not very well – no offense to my homies at Homegoods) – so whenever I see authentic vintage demijohns or wine jugs, I snatch them right up and make sick lamps.
If this isn’t the cutest outfit I’ve ever seen, I don’t know what is.
These drapes from the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara make me happier than a pig in shit.
I have a super soft spot for light blue cabinetry… (and that hood… plaster? And that range.) PS not sure whose work this is so if you know, please holla so I can credit properly!
More beauties from Carolina Irving Textiles…. note the itsy bitsy blue contrast piping! All in the details.
Hey. While yer home and just in case y’all need to spice up the baby making during #isolationstation.
This one is equally hot. QUARANTINE JUST GOT A LITTLE MORE FUN CAMPERS. Maybe I’ll get this for my honeymoon. When we get to go on it. In 2022.
Until then, I’ll just keep slammin rosé on the sofa sans my brazziere.
WHAT ARE THESE AND WHERE DO I GET THEM???? Do we think the City Market in Gunny would stock em this Spring? …#snort. Hey. A girl can hope.
I love the idea of doing shirred fabric behind glass doors. Especially in a bedroom. I also saw this in Estee Stanley’s office a few years ago – she had these HUGE French vintage-looking vitrines with fabric behind the glass doors. Pretty sure I soiled my drawers right then & there.
Catchpole & Rye has some of the most BEAUTIFUL PLUMBING FIXTURES.
Those guys and Waterworks. They are budget busters but holy testicle Tuesday, they are works of art. I had to screen shot this from a video from the last time I was at Waterworks in Denver but holy smokes, it’s my all-time fave. The Étoile widespread faucet in unlacquered brass and it is aged to heavenly perfection. PS, you know who’s gonna hate me while we’re building / renovating a house someday and then love it when it’s over?? …his name rhymes with Dris Criscoll.
Also love this Killi Stripe Orange fabric from Penny Morrison, available to the trade through Hollywood at Home. AKA my favorite place on earth.
All I ever wanted were the Muriel Sconces from Oly in my bathroom someday. Or over a fireplace.
OBSESSED with this itsy bitsy range from Big Chill Appliances in a kitchen by House of Jade Interiors.
I MEAN….
Could we please talk about the new marigold colorway of this Carolina Irving stripe? I know, I’m wigging out this post over her.
Remember the time I was walking around Cherry Creek in Denver and LITERALLY STOPPED IN MY TRACKS when I saw this dinnerware in a store window? It’s the Oriente Italiano collection From Richard Ginori and I don’t know if I have ever seen anything so beautiful. I was so proud of myself when I registered for Chrissy Teigen dinnerware from Target that was PERFECT and so reasonably priced (and after I put it on our registry, it was promptly discontinued for no apparent reason and now I still can’t even find it on eBay)… anyhow. I’m into simple luxury and I would say 364 days a year, I think doing things like registering for fancy plates & such is nonsense and stuff our Grammies did. Um but that was until I saw these.
I mean. How could anyone ever choose just one color?! It’d be like being forced to choose a favorite child.
Currently burning in our house and legit the best-smelling amazon soy candles in the universe. I would carry NEST’s Sicilian Tangerine (and Grapefruit, for that matter) in my store but they have like a 200-count minimum to order and, well. Ain’t nobody coming to the store for awhile. Anyhow. Not essential for now but whenever things slow down, put this on your list.
Did you know Gucci makes pink wallpaper with herons on it? Just sayin.
And that Cole & Son makes this Fornasetti stunning wallcovering with blue leaves and orange (kumquats?) on it?
Or, omg. This oldie but goodie from Farrow & Ball – their Wisteria in this lilac colorway? It’s BP 2209, FYI.
Surely I’ve posted this 19,587x – dating back to so long ago that I don’t even know the source – but this is probably the most perfect tile I have ever seen.
Why did I not buy this when I had the chance?
Perhaps the prettiest flush mount I have ever seen, from RW Guild.
Dying to use this somewhere…. (like my future kitchen). Ken Mason Maroc 1 Mari 9B. Speaking of…. I should also put together a post of the kitchen I would do. Cuz that’d be fun.
One of the most beautiful Bolivian Frasadas I have ever seen (this one is sold). But I have used these to recover dining chairs, dining benches, and am about to do a custom ottoman with one.
Errbuddy’s a little gun shy about big purchases right now – myself included – but these beautiful hurricanes (Arrow Stripe Etched Glass) from Jamali Garden have a palatable price point and put out such a beautiful glow.
I’m pretty over blue & white hmong batik but CERTAINLY NOT OVER THIS COLOR OF IT. From Kishani Perera’s shop, Rummage, awhile back.
Also another shouldah-couldah-wouldah rug I didn’t buy. Antique Khotan. #idiot
Just another case for dusty baby blue built-ins. With that rug above in there? I die. 1,000x.
Put em all together and whadda ya got? These fab kicks that I cannot find the source for.
PS. If anyone is on the hunt for a simple & casual dining side chair, I LOVE the Balboas from Serena & Lily. The price is kind of annoying for a chair that isn’t fully upholstered, but they do usually have pretty good sales going. Cushion comes in different fabrics, so dontchoo moms with spaghetti slinging toddlers get all fussy with me just yet for pitching something impractical. They have Perennials!!! (Also super easy to recover in whatever you want later).
New from Schuyler Samperton (who happens to be our office building’s owner’s bestie – who knew?) DYING to use this somewhere.
We all know how fun it is to make your kitchen island look like a separate, special piece of furniture…. but what about the sink cabinet?! If you have a love of antiques, this is a really stunning and unique way to incorporate them into your kitchen.
Love these Sita Marble Bowls from Annie Selke. Quite certain lemons would JYEST look prettier in here.
Speaking of lemons….
Could we please all stop for a sec and marvel at the detail work here?
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{ via tasha b davis interiors – who does beautiful detail work when it comes to cabinetry & countertops }
….I meaaaaaan, if I didn’t already have a wedding dress………. and if I was a little less of a traditionalist, this one from Naeem Khan by way of Green Wedding Shoes would do the trick.
Howsabout these lamps from Paul Schneider Ceramics???
Speaking of pottery… ever since our kitchen shelf fell and shattered every single piece of dishware on it (including my Michelle Luu custom mugs – *tear) I’ve been begging her to make me some more. So talented but she just does it on the side, so mama’s gotta wait till the wind is right and catch her on the right day someday.
This dresser makes me so happy.
And this one.
These lamps too – shades are covered in a Fermoie fabric via Hollywood at Home.
Um…. has anyone ever done this? The bravest I’ve gotten is trying to scratch the surface of figuring out why I’m never not running 10 minutes late. Is it that I think my time is more important than other peoples’? (*cringe* – I hope not!) – though it really is an ass hole thing to do. Being late. Regardless…. whatever your hiccups are (and we all have them) – they’re all worth a little reflection.
This range, that white brick. Everything. By Summer Thornton, my hero. PS I once sent her firm my resumé when I lived in Chicago and had no business sending her my resumé at that point in time (though it was before she was an actual BFD) – and they actually sent me the kindest reply. I mean, it was a no – but still. It was kind and it left an impression.
I would like to wear this all day, every day.
Or the Sissy sweater in Ivory from St. Roche.
OR these thermals from Mate the Label. Which look perfect for #quarantine #isolationstation.
Hey man. I’ll also take these sweatpants too while we’re throwing sh*t in the invisicart.
That said… if I could have 1 person dress me till the end of time, it would be Ulla Johnson.
If this isn’t the happiest pantry there ever was (and doesn’t make a case for painting something pale pink next week), I don’t know what does.
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And if this doesn’t make a case for panel-ready appliances………
In other news… this is a bedroom I finished last year in Charleston (it’s a little rumply b/c my client sent this snap to me on a Saturday morning… but it’s as life should be, right? A little undone…) – anyhow – I keep looking at that custom suzani bench I had made for her and thinking how bomb it would be to make a whole coffee table out of it. #swoon
Dying over this Candy Brick tile from Ken Mason. Grove Brickworks (that Ann Sacks carried forever) just changed their formula to more of a true “brick” (like one you’d walk on – little more harsh / matte and in colors that aren’t as pretty as before) so this is a fab alternative.
If you haven’t looked at Leanne Marshall’s bridal collection yet, then you haven’t lived. It is the dreamiest thing I have ever seen.
Same with Pallas Collective’s Neome. If I had seen this dress before I bought mine, it would’ve been a tough call.
This is a chair I have used in 3 or 4 houses – always with a different fabric on the upholstery, and once I’ve used the one with black strings. (This one is in a house in Santa Monica)… It is the most fantastic piece of furniture (and SO COMFORTABLE). Once life & my little shop gets up & running again and I move some other inventory, I’ll put a pair of these in there.
So beautiful. I’m just going to sit over here and stare at it and look forward to the day when we can travel again. Or, you know. Leave the house. This image is from Condé Nast Traveler’s Insta and if you’re into travel, you should probably follow them.
Is this what my hair is gonna look like by the time this quarantine is over from not heat styling it??? Hey. A girl can dream.
Hope you guys are hanging in. What do you plan on knocking out during this quarantine??? Besides barfing all my favorite things on you – and catching up on work – I’m going to use this time to pare down… to clean out closests and drawers and to minimize just the inordinate amount of crap we have… so we can breathe. I also think this is a great time to be creative. Running your own biz and not hiring full-time help (*COUGH* that’s my fault) tends to reaaaaallly bog you down with stuff that isn’t fun (like accounting and admin noise), so this is an amazing time for me to catch up on all the good juju. Update my CAD skills. Seek out new vendors. Heavens – pick my French back up (!!!!) I took a long walk outside to get some fresh air today and put my headphones in and blew through the whole Amélie Soundtrack and it took me straight back to 2002 when I was el-fluent-o, and then it took me back to every time I was in Paris, and how enchanting it is. Le sigh. So, this terrifying global pandemic does have a silver lining called, we all get to slow down a little and reconnect with the things we love, and the things that make us who we are.
xoxo,
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ISN’T THAT THE TRUTH? GRACIOUS! Um, ok – so, we are where we are. What felt like semi-normalcy about a week ago has since escalated to utter insanity and uncertainty, to a zombie apocalypse degree. The best advice I’ve heard thus far is this:
“Even if you don’t have symptoms, self-quarantine and distance yourself socially as if you DO have it, so as not to perpetuate the spread of this thing.”
And we’ve probably all seen this but it’s about all you need to see to get the picture – video version of it here:
Plus Gaga said basically the same thing and when she talks, I listen.
This is going to be tough on and impact EVERYONE for a million different reasons… but let’s stick together, shall we? Cuz WE ARE ALL IN IT. Sales people can’t go out and sell. Hospitality has to be losing their a$$. People who work in sports stadiums have no stadiums to tend to. Health care workers are going to be worked to the bone. People like grocery store checkout folks and UPS drivers are completely exposed to the virus because they don’t really have the option to self-quarantine. How do people who DO still have to go to work care for their children, whose schools are closed for at least the next few weeks? Chris is a medical sales rep and since the surgeon general just advised that all elective surgeries be halted for the time being, he’s basically out of work for a month. There’s no one this thing isn’t touching. Quel mess!
And, the smallest potatoes (seriously) but: we’re going to have to reschedule our April 4th destination wedding which has taken a solid year to orchestrate…it’s a stinker and a pain in the arse and it’s disappointing – but really, no bigs… There is absolutely nothing we can do about it and we certainly can’t afford to put anyone at peril. Plus… this way in the Summer we’ll all have tans, I guess?? (#silverlining). And it’ll be plug & play. Luckily, all of our vendors are AMAZING and have graciously agreed to transfer our deposits to a future date – for which I have a few on hold. The only thing that hasn’t been so easy to swallow is THIS situation, which I’m sure anyone & everyone with a vacation rental coming up is also dealing with, to some degree:
ANYHOW. Here we all are – sequestered in our individual casas, twiddling our thumbs and wondering if we have enough food to last us for the next few weeks. Whatchagonnado???? Welp, those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to work from home, we can work from home. And I have a LOT of work catch up to do. But outside of that – I can think of a few things:
1. VIRTUAL MUSEUM TOURS (here): Hey. Let’s be honest – most of us are glued to social media to a brain-melting degree and could all use a little cultural timeout. Includes some of my favorites like the Musée D’Orsay in Paris, the Uffizi Gallery in Firenze, and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.
2. (FREE!) COREPOWER YOGA CLASSES ONLINE (here): HPF isn’t quite the same when it’s not 105 degrees, but hey. I’ll take what I can get! Safer than going to the gym and touching all the sweaty things with cooties.
3. NETFLIX & CHILL. Here’s what’s on my watchlist:
Homeland Season 8 – GASP! Literally one of the most gripping shows on television.
CREDIT: SHOWTIME
Super interested to watch this. I’ve always been pretty lukewarm on Hillary, but I do think she’s smart as a whip and I certainly respect her.
CREDIT: HULU
Um, this is our friend Steph Turner! She wrote, directed AND starred in Justine. You gotta be a talented mofo to do that. Cannot wait to watch.
CREDIT: NETFLIX.
And if you haven’t binged any these below yet, you’re in for a treat:
CREDIT: FX
CREDIT: COURTESY OF ©NICK BRIGGS/CARNIVAL FILM AND TELEVISION LIMITED 2015 FOR MASTERPIECE
CREDIT: IMDB
4. PAINT SOMETHING, PICASSO! Or whatever crafty venture tickles your pickle and takes your eyes away from a TV or computer or iPhone screen for awhile. I have canvases & oil paint in a drawer that I bought almost 2 years ago that I haven’t even opened yet. And a cross stitch kit so I can stitch out one of those: “Please don’t do cocaine in the bathroom” things and hang it on the wall.
Or, maybe this one would be more appropriate this week:
5. GO OUTSIDE & PLAY. We live in a place with tons of open space so we’re super lucky, but surely even a walk + some fresh air is good for the soul, right? Just don’t hug or like, make out with any passersby.
6. SPRING CLEAN! I mean… what if we all come out of this thing with closets that look like Athena Calderone’s???
Anuschka Rees’ Closet Detox Cheat Sheet is a good place to start. If I can get Chris to do this with me it’ll be like the 8th wonder of the world. Pretty sure he is holding on for dear life to drawers-full of unmatched socks from high school.
Honestly… I am also seriously considering going through my iPhone pics (all 30,000 of them – #brainexplosion) and deleting the goofs and filing the others into folders if need be. Sounds about as fun as watching paint dry but would feel so cleansing.
7. DO YOURSELF A LITTLE SPA DAY. Got Epsom salts, a nail file and some nail polish? Treat yo self! My dome is currently marinating in Olaplex and I’m about to do a deep soak in a lavender epsom salt bath. If you soak to prune-y perfection, you can give yourself a scrub with my favorite $3 exfoliant – Domino Granulated Sugar – and then slather on some coconut oil. You’re welcome.
8. GET INSPIRED BY VINTAGE COVET LIVING POSTS! haaaaaaaaaaa. Wait I’m actually not kidding. I do a favorite things-esque post almost seasonally (which is filed under “Mishmashes & Musings“) – compilations of the most beautiful things on earth I’ve seen. I go back and troll them often and am always re-inspired. Have at it! I’m long overdue so maybe I’ll write a new one this week.
What else?? What did I miss? What are you guys doing this week to be productive (or not productive) and entertain yourselves?
Everybody stay safe and hang in there. Sh%* is nuts, but maybe we try to think of it as a way to remember what’s really important… to pare down, reconnect with your family, and reconnect with yourself. Good juju like that.
xoxo,
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Breaking down my faves today, because I can’t mentally sift through the “Top 100 Beauty Products”-type of spreads in magazines, and also because I know so much of that content is in there because X magazine has a good working relationship with Y skincare company… same with some of the blogs I troll for things like this – they’re also often sponsored content (which means the makers of the products pay a fee to have the bloggers include their jazz in a post), so I never know if people have actually used and would recommend them, or if someone just paid them to say they love em. The truth is, Karrie & I are too lazy aka busy to finagle sponsorships & such – and also, we’re both product snobs. So these picks are my legit tried & true, can’t-live-without-em beauty faves. Hope some of them work for you too!
1 – ARCONA WINE OIL, $58. Literally the only thing that gets my face through a Colorado winter. Smells like cloves, feels like your skin just drank a gallon of water as soon as you put it on. I used to use Arcona products exclusively, but have since switcheroo’d my daily regime over to R+F.
2 – RODAN + FIELDS REDEFINE REGIMEN, $208. I’ve been a happy Arcona customer for years, but my beloved cousin Jill (also a R+F rep) gave me this regimen as a wedding shower gift, so I gave it a whirl.
The first day I was like: “Neat! It smells like clean laundry and feels nice on my face. Who knows if it does anything?” – but I took a before + after photo and TWO WEEKS LATER the texture and tone of my skin was completely different. And I (thought) I had good skin before. Consider me converted.
PS: these pics are NOT becoming b/c I obviously have no makeup on and took them (basically while I was still asleep and stuck my face in the natural sunlight), but LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE. Two weeks, people. if you’re interested in trying R+F, give my cousin/more-like-a-sister, Jill, a holler: jillhouser78.myrandf.com – …sidenote, see #6 for a good eyebrow-plumper-upper.
3 – DOMINO SUGAR, $2.50. Cheapest & best exfoliant on the market, IMO. Definitely messy & sticky if you don’t rinse out the tub or shower after you’re done, but if you have a few extra minutes in the shower every other day to give yourself a nice scrub with a handful of this + body oil, your skin will literally feel like butter. Actual sweet cream, melted butter. You do have to be thorough – I do a heaping handful of sugar for each limb – go slowly, in a circular motion, and polish your crusty winter skin to perfection. The important thing about exfoliating is that you gotta do it if you want your lotion / moisturizer to soak in. Because it can’t penetrate a layer of scales on its own. Speaking of exfoliant, I still need to go shopping for a cleanser.
4 – NYX Golden Olive Eyeliner, $7.78. One of those things I randomly picked up at a Walgreens 10 years ago or so. It’s the perfect shade, imo – kind of charcoal-y but with a warm brown/green tint. Goes on nice & smooth, and blends easily.
5 – Goe Oil, $49. Does the same thing for my hands in the Winter or in dry climates as Wine Oil does for my face. Spendy but worth every penny. Also available at Anthro.
6 – Lise Watier Volumizing Eyebrow Fiber Gel, $23. Remember the time I went bananas with a pair of tweezers when I was 15 and then my eyebrows LITERALLY NEVER GREW BACK? I mean seriously. Of all the things we ladies *cough* pluck, tweeze & wax, this is the one thing that doesn’t come back? It’s sadly a doodle that can’t be undid. Anyway – since I’ll clearly never have my old Brooke Shields brows from the 90’s back, I use this stuff to plump them up. I’ve tried lots of others – including NARS – but none are as good as this guy. The makeup artist from the Bravo show I did earlier this year (What up, Mario!) turned me onto it. Next-best thing to Microblading.
7 – Naked Eyeshadow Palette by Urban Decay, $27. Karrie turned me onto this a year or so ago and it’s the only eyeshadow palette I’ll ever need. Retails for $54 on some other sites so this is a bargain.
8 – Estée Lauder “Rich Red” Lipstick, $35+. My bad because when I went to look this up, I just realized it’s been discontinued. SACRE BLEU! It’s still available from a few sellers on eBay though. PS this is what I wore on Thanksgiving this year. It goes on like velvet.
I also love Boots No. 7 “Love Red,” which has a nice blue undertone, but it’s also super elusive. You’re welcome for absolutely nothing on this one!
9 – Glo Lip Balm, $16. One of my clients sent me this in a Christmas Gift a few years ago and I’ve never gone back. Instant relief the second you put it on, and I love the chunky size – means it’s far less likely to get lost in the bottom of my bag.
10 – Dazzle Dry Nail Color, $18. There’s about 1 whole mani-pedi gal in Crested Butte, and she’s the one who turned me onto this. Listen, I love a gel mani as much as the next girl, but what I don’t love is how after 2 rounds of gel, if I take it off, my fingernails are so paper thin that they actually bend backwards when I’m washing my hair in the shower. Ouch. Dazzle Dry isn’t gel, but it’s just about as tough. My color stayed on for ALMOST TWO WEEKS last time I had it done. Hardly any nail salons carry it, but you can put your zip code in and check on Dazzle Dry’s website, or just grab a bottle and DIY at home or hand it to your nail tech to use during your next mani.
11 – Bionic Powerlight Blow Dryer, $99. Better than the Dyson blow dryer, and for about 1/4 of the price. Best hair dryer I’ve ever had.
12 – Kérastase L’Huile Originale, $31.99. Delightful, subtle scent, and one of the only things I’ve ever found that tames my frizz without putting a damper on my hair’s body.
Other than (actual products), I will say the best my hair ever looks is when I cut back on heat styling (trying to limit myself to 1x/week), and the best my skin EVER looks is when I cut gluten, dairy & alcohol and drink tons of water.
What are your faves??
xoxo,
1 – Tom Ford Amalfi Candle, $98 – I know, a $98 candle on my wishlist. Who the f*ck do I think I am? But this summer my husband and I took the most glorious trip to the Amalfi Coast, and anything that brings back the smells and memories of that divine place is worth every penny in my book, and this candle supposedly does.
2 – Drybar Gift Certificate – A repeat request for me, these gift cards for blowouts from Drybar are even more appreciated now that I have even less time for myself, with my 1-year-old running around.
3 -Wool Fringed Scarf, $59 – Because the other day when I went searching for a decent scarf, the fire engine red one from 2010 was the only one hanging in my closet, and that’s just not gonna do.
4 – Free People “Easy Street” Tunic, Size Small, $128 – A simple tunic I’ve been eyeing all Fall, cause it can easily be tucked into jeans, or worn over leggings. Shank you Santa!
5 – NeuLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum, $80 – Supposedly one of the best eyelash serums out there!
6 – Plaid Double Breasted Coat, $165 – I love the put-together, effortless look of this coat!
7 – “The Things You Can Only See When You Slow Down” book – “Ancient Buddhist philosophy for the modern age . . . Profound but relatable wisdom on coping with the daily grind—and on keeping sight of what really matters.” I can’t wait to get my hands on this book.
8 – Slouchy Hat with Fleece Lining, $48 – It’s getting chilly out here in SoCal and this is just the ticket.. oh, and to cover my ever-present bedhead OHKAYYYYYYYY
9 – Free People Cocoa Sweater, $148, Size S – I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect sweater dress this season and this is supposedly it!
10 – Double Breasted Blazer, $49.99 – I’m loving this modernized take on the double breasted jacket!
11 – Grover Field Suit, $128 – I love this for the summer with heels (Ok I’ll pretend I still wear heels) or in the winter with a cardi over it.
12 – Oribe Dry Styling Collection, $75 – The perfect products to Dallas-ize my already slightly bouffant hair! Seriously, I’m always tousling and putting loose waves in my hair, and this is supposedly the perfect styling product to use.
Thank you so much Santy! And Happy Holiday Shopping Y’all!
Love,
