sound suits

artist Nick Cave (not to be confused with the musician) makes these amazing "sound suits" from found objects, cast-off clothing, odd trinkets, and treasures...my mind is being blown.

from the article on Flavorwire...he "draws from sources as varied as African ceremonial costumes, Tibetan textiles, and pop-culture creatures. His elaborate suits aren’t just objects pegged to a pedestal; they’re meant to be worn, vitalized through movement and the sounds they make. In fact, the dance-trained artist is working toward a 90-suit performance that he’ll take around the world."

it's nuts. and I love it.

it's Friday, I'm in love...

okay, okay, okay. so I finally gave Lonny a shot. yes, it took me this long, and no, I'm still not entirely sold on digital magazines. though I must say, after checking out Lonny's back-issues, they're finally hitting the mark with #3.

so here's a little Lonny love...some of my favorite shots of amazing wallpaper, charming vignettes, and of course, bars.

I've had a fantastic week and am looking forward to a lovely weekend watching movies and writing jokes with my boyfriend and also meeting with a bride. will any of y'all be celebrating St. Patrick's Day tomorrow? green is sooo not my color...

oui.

lately I've been daydreaming of Paris. it's not a place I've ever really considered, but now that I've been bitten by the travel bug, I kinda can't stop thinking about it.

this looks like the perfect day: lunching solo outside a little cafe; a bright salad, fresh bread, butter, and a carafe of water; throwing on anything and everything and looking effortlessly interesting and pulled together at the same time; carrying around a perfectly-aged leather schlep bag filled with magazines.

photo taken by the Sartorialist, of course.

from Russia with love

spring is definitely springing here in Chicago, but that isn't stopping me from lusting after a pair of Valenki.

Valenki are traditional Russian footwear, designed to keep your feet and legs warm and dry. the little booties are thick and sturdy, made from felted wool. they look like giant Christmas stockings and are so much fun to wear when sliding about the house, but then you pop on the rubber bottoms and you've got a pair of galoshes that will withstand subzero temperatures.

often the subject of debate (totally ugly? cute classics?), Valenki are kinda hard to find. this site sells them, but with an obnoxious logo. you can occasionally find them on eBay, but sizing is kinda weird as, a) they're Russian, b) they don't come as right or left (your feet actually block them as they're worn), c) they're just giant wool socks.

regardless, I love them and want a pair. what do you think of Valenki??

great goods

on my way to pilates yesterday, I noticed that Home Goods is just around the corner from my gym. I decided that if I made it through the class without dying, I'd take a stroll through the store and see what treasures I could dig up.

normally I don't find any joy in shopping at furniture or home decor stores. I like thrifting and antiquing, flea markets and auctions. it's the thrill of the hunt that gets me going...but I discovered that stores like Home Goods are so jam-packed with total crap, that it's kinda fun to uncover the buried treasure. for example...

there was a whole section devoted to decorative glass, most of which I wouldn't mind flinging against a wall. but those large purple globes were literally as big as half my body and they were only $16.99! can you imagine how gorgeous those would be under an entry table, flanking a buffet, or used anywhere in a mostly white and marble kitchen. love 'em.

this little occasional table would be ideal in a small hallway or entryway. the cutout pattern is really charming and lends an antique vibe to the contemporary piece. I'd absolutely paint it...but what color? it'd look great in most any hue and at $39.99, it would fit even the smallest budget.

this ceramic lamp is so Palm Springsy! it's making me miss the weekend I spent with 12 other girls in a mid-century gem...but back to the lamp: it's a little trendy, but the color is such a great shade of green, it'd be just the right pop! in a neat living room. I'd love to use this next to a chintz-covered chaise...it rang in around $60-ish and after changing the shade, you could have a super cute, vintage-inspired light source for under a benj.

these planters were HUGE. seriously, I could curl up inside on of them. and they're only thirty bucks?! the color was much more mustardy than the photo lets on...here they are deceivingly orange. they'd be so perfect potted with succulents, a fig tree, or topiaries. I'd also love pack one with firewood and place it next to the fireplace. how would you use it?

after browsing the perimeter, I braved the center aisles...the "home accents" aisles. yikes. the nautical section, the shabby chic shelves, even the world-traveler area were all pretty frightening, but I found a few gems...literally! these (fake?) geode bookends were a steal at $9.99 each and there was a variety of colors. I'd put them on top of stacked books.

okay, off to yoga and then a job interview!

but first: what is your favorite home decor store? do you prefer to dig or do you like to go where you know you'll find just what you're looking for?

work it, girl

sooooo, I joined a gym this weekend. it's awesome and totally weird at the same time. I love having the option to exercise however I want to, whenever I want to, but dudes...gym culture? whoa.

my gym kinda rules so far, in that there are a million classes every day and they're all free! yoga, spinning, boot camp (no thanks), water aerobics, you name it. I'm going to try pilates for the first time right now...eek?

anyway, just a little break in design/style postings to be all "hi, I'm a real person, who does real-person things!"

so, do you belong to a gym? do you have a workout schedule? what is your favorite thing to do? what's the weirdest thing about your gym? omg, tell me, I'M SO CURIOUS.

on your side

I found this side table hiding out on the shelves at Target and I have to say that I love it! it has a sheen to it that gives the look of old wood that's been touched a million times...gorgeous in person.

it rings in at just under $100, so you kinda can't lose. is anyone out there currently considering this table to use in their space?

desktop cleanoff

it's my turn to share what others have shared with me...

this image from the most recent House Beautiful really made the rounds, but I couldn't help reposting it here. I love everything about it, except for the table height. I just don't understand putting a tall table in front of a sofa...

great small space decoration: place two huge urns under an entry table and you've got instant drama. no one would ever have to know that they're stuffed with winter hats, mittens, and scarves!

what a lovely example of how the nook at the end of a hall can be turned into a charming library. all of the elements are very simple, yet look so elegant and rich when put together.

a tightly-woven jute rug and a grid of framed vintage Vogue covers. yes, please!

with the band

I popped over to ban.do today and checked out their Black Label collection. then I promptly fell in love with this headband:

I know headbands are terribly trendy, but I occasionally wear them and always feel great when I do. I love that this one is made from bits of vintage metallic material and looks both regal and mystical at the same time...or maybe it's the stunning model that's selling me. either way, it'd be perfect to wear to one of the many weddings I'll be attending (and coordinating) this summer...

wet hot American winter

the other morning when I woke up with a bloody nose (ew, sorry), I told my boyfriend that I wanted to buy a humidifier. all those years in LA made me forget about the dry winter air and the damage it does to your skin...but as the word "humidifier" left my cracked lips, I cringed at the thought of bringing one of those ugly contraptions into the apartment.

thank god for Middle Colors, who have introduced a simple, sleek humidifier that comes in a variety of hues. I'll take the white one, please.

maybe if I keep this buddy going all day, crank up the heat, and listen to this video on repeat, I can pretend like I'm back in Costa Rica. now excuse me while I make a Guaro cocktail.

bright is right

I am really loving the bold pops of turquoise in these rooms!

tell me dear readers, what is your current favorite accent color and how are you using it?