mirrormirror - Part 79

New In Store – Atelier LZC and Abigail Percy

February 10, 2009 By Paola 6 Comments

Just a quick run down of some new stuff now available at mirrormirror .

Firstly we did get some Eiffel Tower bits and pieces from Atelier LZC after you were so positive about them before Christmas. And you were right, they’ve been selling well for us.

First up is this hanging steel Eiffel Tower cut-out in a delicious deep cranberry.

Then two tea towels featuring iconic Parisian images.

And finally double-sided greetings cards also featuring images of Paris.

I know from our previous poll that these items are popular in the US and now that the pound has tanked against the dollar there isn’t a better time to buy them. They’re also very light, so shipping will be super cheap.

Just in time for Valentines Day we’re also got two new necklaces by Abigail Percy – a beautiful cut-out Anemone Flower necklace and another necklace featuring an internally gilded 3-D Silver Leaf and a cluster of Rose Quartz beads. All non-sale jewellery is currently reduced by 10% until Valentines Day, so this is a good time to drop a hint via the mirrormirror wish list.

I ‘Heart’

February 9, 2009 By Paola 4 Comments

Just in time for Valentines’ Day, here is a small collection of heart-themed pieces from British design company Deadgood for Barker & Stonehouse stores.

I’m trying to work out whether these are kitsch or cool. Unfortunately I suspect the former, though I’m loving the shapes and the detailing such as the covered buttons on the chair and the beautifully executed heart-shaped joinery.

Thoughts?

{Images via Deadwood. Found via ‘If It’s Hip It’s Here’}.

Our New Lamp

February 9, 2009 By Paola 5 Comments

Bought at Christmas from Habitat in the UK and shipped to the US at vast expense. There are some shops I just can’t live without.

One day that wall and wood trim will be painted a different colour. However, I really wouldn’t hold your breath.

A Random Cool Thing

February 7, 2009 By Paola 1 Comment

The Jesus Lamp

By designer Ricardo Garza Marcos. {via Kanye’s Blog}

I want to work in an office again so I can have one of these behind my chair. Apparently it gives the perfect light for reading or working.

Seattle News

February 7, 2009 By Paola 4 Comments

Just a quick heads up for Seattle peeps. Firstly there’s a sample sale TODAY at the Seattle Design Center in Georgetown. Normally it’s open to the trade only, but today it’s open to the public with hopefully loads of sale goodies available. We’ll be there later this morning.

Secondly the best Italian restaurant in Seattle has, very excitingly, recently opened two blocks from our house in lower Wallingford (just north of Gasworks Park). We went to Cantinetta last night and had the most amazing time – fabulous buzzy ambience, friendly and knowledgeable service, a rustic but airy space in a converted corner brick house and incredible food and wine. The rabbit with wild mushrooms and polenta was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in Seattle.

I’ll try and do a proper review with photos next time I go, but in the meantime I advise you to run there as fast as your legs can carry you.

Modern Jewellery Boxes

February 5, 2009 By Paola 15 Comments

Anyone got any good ideas?

My jewellery is a nightmare of disorganisation which I’ve been meaning to sort out for ages. But, I’ve been held back by not having a nice jewellery box and the Husband owes me a Christmas present.

I’ve tried searching on eBay and Etsy but most vintage ones are too frilly and kitsch or look like they’d be a bit icky and musty inside and make me think of incontinent old ladies wafting cheap perfume.

I’d like it to be simple and with lots of compartments but beyond that have no great preferences. Here’s what I like so far, but I’d love to know if you’ve seen anything else.

This Muji one is great, but too small really.

I would of course not say no to one of these from Smythson’s, but at $1,650 (!) they seem a teensy weensy bit overpriced.

I love these modular boxes from Rare Device but even these seem pricey once you’ve bought a couple together with the inserts.

Or else there’s these ones from Crate & Barrel

Or this one from Pottery Barn, but they all look a bit Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn respectively (though the Pottery Barn one scores highly in the ‘lots of compartments and look, even a cute little travel case’ department).

And then I’m trying to decide whether these mirrored ones from Marks & Spencers are worth the trouble of being shipped from the UK.

Finally this white lacquer box from Conran is almost perfect AND it’s on sale, but the compartments don’t look very practical.

Any more ideas? I am in a dither here. (There was a great discussion of this topic over on Apartment Therapy, but it was some time ago and most of the links are out of date).

Go Fug Your Room

February 4, 2009 By Paola 14 Comments

This is why I won’t miss Domino.

For some reason they decided, at the tail end of last year, to give a feature to Eddie Ross, a former Martha Stewart Living editor and very-full-of-himself losing contestant on Top Design who seems to be trying to set himself up as some sort of lifestyle guru.

Now Eddie, if you’re reading, I’m sure these are all carefully collected and treasured antique pieces and there’s not a SINGLE PIECE of repro in amongst all this clutter, but where is your flair and imagination? Where are the quirky, original pieces; the unexpected combinations; the touches of wit and personality? And why on earth is everything so fussy and maiden-auntish? You’re only about 30 I believe but there’s not a single thing here that suggests you have had any contact with this century whatsoever.

I say this with love, but piling antiques onto every available surface in a vaguely symmetrical fashion does NOT good design make; Canada Dry bottles and huge rolls of brown paper are not very decorative and I can’t believe you’re still using zebra. And Domino, I can’t believe you thought this was worth showing to us.

I do, however, very much like the colour of the wall around the fireplace.

No poll today. I’d just like the answers to two questions.

1) If you’re a young, happening guy about town, why would you feel the need to decorate your house as if you were Martha Stewart’s GRANNY?

2) When is America going to join the rest of the world in the 20th (never mind the 21st) century and give up its love affair with fuss, clutter and ornamentation? This is a young, vibrant, dynamic country and yet I see so many rooms in magazines and blogs where Queen Victoria would feel right at home. Is it because you just all love dusting?

UPDATE: There’s a discussion going on in the ‘Comments’ as to why Domino is going to be so missed. Can anyone who will sincerely miss Domino explain why? And was it really better in the good old days?

Hermes Smart Car

February 4, 2009 By Paola Leave a Comment

One day, when I no longer have to ferry a child and all her attendant stuff around, and when I have a housekeeper to do all the shopping (I realise this may be quite some time in the future), I shall tie a Hermes scarf around my head, put on some huge sunglasses, sling my Birkin bag (gently) on the passenger seat and pootle off into the sunset in one of these.

The Hermes Smart Car, full of little Hermes accessories and available in a variety of colours to match all your Birkin bags.

{More images here. Found via the ever fabulous designers block.}

Sunset Chicken with Tomatoes, Apricots and Chickpeas

February 4, 2009 By Paola 5 Comments

If you’re mourning the loss of Domino and live on the West side of the US, you could do a lot worse than to pick up Sunset. It’s more of a lifestyle-y magazine than pure decor, but they do feature some great ‘real-life’ interiors and gardens and also have some fabulous recipes. The website is really excellent too.

A couple of nights ago we made this recipe for supper which I share with you because it is perfect weekday supper fodder – quick, easy, healthy, unusual and utterly, utterly delicious. Chicken is braised in a sauce of chopped tomatoes, canned chickpeas and chopped dried apricots with middle-eastern spices, which we served with couscous and spinach. The only changes we made from the recipe in the link was to use chicken thighs not breast and to not add any extra sugar, the apricots make it quite sweet enough as it is.

I took some photos but wasn’t very happy with the performance of my little point and shoot camera in the low evening light. Instead I took my slightly blurred photo and ran it through the completely awesome Poladroid app, which makes your existing digital photos look like Polaroids – not just the border but also the intriguing white balance and slight soft focus. You even see them ‘developing’ before your eyes. Huge fun.

Further Adventures in Felt – the wonderful Wonder Washer

February 3, 2009 By Paola 3 Comments

My new toy arrived at the weekend and I got busy felting my little bowls.

And it’s fab. I threw my knitted bowls in (sorry, forgot to take before pics) added some hot water from the tap and a tiny bit of Woolite and then turned on my electric bucket. About fifteen minutes later (twenty for the larger bowl) this is what came out.

The felt is thicker and hairier than the hand felted bowl and they’re a more straight-sided in shape for some reason but I can’t believe how quick and easy it all was. The Wonder Washer gives you precise control over the amount of water you use, the temperature of the water (I topped up from the kettle for the larger bowl); and the amount of time (you can check as often as you want). When they’re done all you need to do is rinse and leave to dry. And all the fibres and lint stay in the bucket, and won’t clog up your washing machine.

And for those of you who don’t have a basement full of junk in which to store it, the base unit fits neatly inside the bucket, so it doesn’t even take up much space.

{my new BFF}

I am so enamoured that I even put it on the ‘gentle’ setting and did all the handwashing that has been languishing at the bottom of the laundry basket for months. My next adventure in felt will, I think, be the Aran sweater.

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