The Love List Spreads the Love with Milly and Krystal Sasso

Looks from the S/S 2009 Milly Show - click to enlarge

I die. I DIE. It's no secret I love, love, love Milly. I have a veritable collection of dresses growing in my closet and I can see that this spring I am going to have to save my pennies so I can get my hands on more of these fantastic frocks. Remember my post on Michelle Smith's gorgeous Manhattan apartment?

Image styled by Carlos Mota and photographed by Roger Davies for Elle Decor

Here is something even cooler; remember my post on my friend Krystal Sasso? To refresh, she is a jewelry designer in Palm Beach whose stuff I fell in love with when I saw it in a local boutique on the island. I mean really, look at it:

So naturally, since I love to wear both of these things, I mentioned to Krystal that she should get in touch with Michelle Smith's camp because her jewelry would look great on her runways. I had been in touch with Milly's PR people before, specifically the super-sweet Jennifer at Laforce + Stevens, (who so kindly invited me down to Saks of Palm Beach for a fashion show and interview with Michelle when I was a wee bitty starter blog) so I passed along her name to Krystal, who emailed Jennifer about her line.

Cut to NY Fashion week - KRYSTAL'S JEWELRY WAS ALL OVER THE MILLY RUNWAY! How amazing is that? She met with Michelle Smith several times and Krystal told me it was amazing. What a good feeling to know I helped!

Krystal backstage at the Milly show at The Promenade, Bryant Park on September 10, 2008 in New York City.
Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images North America

Moral of the story is this - no favor is too small, and no idea, even passing, is a bad one if it helps someone - especially a talented friend.

Ask Kyle: No Time / No Money

I think a lot of us can empathize with this predicament: Reader Jenny F. wrote in asking me what are some of my tricks for quick/cheap home updates and also some of my favorite sources as she doesn't have the money or the patience for some of these DIY projects. First and foremost, take pride in where you live. Your space is a journey, and not a destination- so putting together a room in a weekend isn't going to reflect you in the long run.

Part of the fun of putting together a home is creating a collection; whether it be from places you have visited to different pieces of furniture you have picked up along the way. I always think putting together a collection is incredibly important and it infuses a personal element to enrich your space. Think about starting a collection of matchbooks from every restaurant, bar, club, and hotel that you go to – its FREE, and if you find a great frame or beautiful apothecary jars (or even some vintage mason jars) it makes for a colorful, classy, and conversational design element in your room. Matchbooks are becoming a dying form, so act now and your collection may one day be a valuable commodity.

Another inexpensive idea is to collect simple white dishware and display it in a modern way the way Kelly Wearstler has done here in the Viceroy Hotel. Any collection in a unified color palette can make a statement.

Secondly, think of objects in different ways and change your space up for the seasons. Just like you log on to the Love List for new and exciting design ideas that are constantly being added, you can translate that same idea into your own space. Invest in throw pillow covers to instantly create a change. Almost every major store these days sells pillow covers and inserts separately, and you only need invest in the pillow inserts once.

I'm really loving all of the pillow designs from Thomas Paul these days - he has a great whimsical aesthetic to his stuff.

Another idea for creating some transitional items in your space is a wall hanging. Fabric and wallpaper are so big these days because they create instant personality and style. Instead of investing the money in having someone professionally hang wallpaper or fabric and risk having a landlord or loved one tell you that they hate your now permanent wall decoration, think of hanging these items in simple frames: put three large frames along a blank wall to create a graphic triptych art piece - because they are framed and not permanently hung, you can change out the fabric or the wallpaper to fit your moods or the seasons. Since you'll only have to buy a single roll to get this effect you can splurge a little and still not break the bank.

This Cherry Blossom Triptych is an inexpensive way to give a wall visual appeal.

Now for the big question I am always asked – what are your sources? As a designer I am exposed to tons and tons of different resources- that in a nutshell is why I am hired to do what I do – because I have access. Urban Home has only a handful of stores in California, but I see them becoming one of the next big chains – with their incredible prices and amazing array of style they will be around for a while and they are already in the process of expansion.

I think these paintable wallpaper rolls from Graham and Brown are great, as you can customize the color to your own surroundings.

I also always recommend eBay and your local Craiglist as it is a one stop shop for everything. By bringing in older elements into your home, it creates a much more lived-in environment. Finally, explore your city's different "districts", from your local fabric area to commercial display areas – take a Saturday and you'd be amazed to see what you'd find.

-- Kyle

["Ask Kyle" appears the first Wednesday of every month. Kyle Schuneman is a professional designer who has worked in not only residential design but also on the sets of many of your favorite design shows. To learn more about Kyle and see pictures of his work, click here. If you have a question for Kyle, feel free to ask! Email Kyle@thelovelist.net, and you may see it answered on The Love List!]

Wednesday Rooms du Jour: Eileen Boyd

Those chairs! In the words of the Zoe, "I die."
Photo, ekbinteriors.com

Photo, ekbinteriors.com

New York City designer Eileen K. Boyd is known for her attention to scale and bold use of color, and both of these rooms play up her signature talents in a way that will perk you up faster than your morning red eye.

Tuesday Room du Jour: Gwyneth Paltrow

In honor of my previous post, today's Room du Jour comes from House Beautiful's feature on Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin's Hamptons home. How much do you love Gwyneth's Madeline Weinrib chair? Feminine without being saccharine, edited without being cold - I love this home.

Culture Roundup: On The Road Again

Lately there are so many great things being released I feel like I have to touch on one of my favorites with you. Aside from the recent release of Sex and the City on DVD (re-live Carrie's Apartment Makeover) and the impending release of several great books from Celerie Kemble, Domino, and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, there is a new show on PBS that I am enjoying so much I have to share it.

Mario Batali and Mark Bittman stroll the streets of Spain, Photo courtesy yumsugar.

Food is my other ancillary passion in life. I love good food; cooking it, enjoying it, and learning about it, and Spain - On the Road Again, a new show on PBS has really caught my attention. Celebrity chef Mario Batali and a gang of foodie friends (including Gwyneth Paltrow and NYT Food critic Mark Bittman) pile into a convertible and eat thier way through Spain on what is honestly some of the best television I have watched in ages. For those of you saying to yourself "hey, isn't this a design blog?", worry not - the show touches on the scenery and art of the country as much as it does the food.

One of my best friends spent the summer in Spain and though I was jealous of him then, watching this I realize I should listen to his advice and go there myself. The first episode takes us to Toledo, and while the show does take you through foodie attractions Anthony Bourdain-style, what I really like about it is that there is actual cooking demonstration and recipes to correspond. It has inspired a trip to the grocery store on my behalf to cook some new things that I can't wait to eat.

I encourage you all to tune into PBS and find out when the show airs in your area, or to simply download it on iTunes and enjoy it that way. If I have any fellow foodies out there amongst you design junkies, I want to hear what you think.

A Brief History of Ginger Jars

Back to our regularly scheduled programming! It feels like forever since I have had regular content at The Love List, and while the Home Tour was fun (can't wait for next year!), I think it's high time we re-focused, don't yall? Why don't we begin today with a little history lesson...

Blue Ginger Jars are scattered through the home of designer Anna Spiro's mother - on the table behind the sofa, one can be seen holding a beautiful Frangipani flower arrangement.

Ginger Jars, a perennial favorite among decorators, are steeped in centuries of Chinese culture and history. Different colors, sizes and styles denoted separate occasions and uses, including the evolution of the popular "fishtail" jars we often see and use today. Some jars were used for basic provisions such as salt, oil, and yes, ginger - while others were designated as gifts for the Emperor (a yellow 'pearl' jar was appropriate for this use) and were even suitable as urns.

More beautiful blue and white ginger jars can be spied in the home of Cote De Texas' Joni. Photo courtesy Pigtown Design, via Better Homes and Gardens.

The use of the Chinese character for "double happiness", which appears on many blue and white ginger jars, suggests that they were often given on special occasions (such as weddings) and were intended to last a lifetime.

Nick Olsen, Daily Dose design blogger and uber-stylish assistant to Miles Redd, has a beautiful white ginger jar in his apartment. Photo from Domino. By Paul Costello, November 2006.

Covered jars, similar to the ones we often see, were popular through the Quin Dynasty. True antique jars will often show signs of wear, as they were used then as we use canisters now to store our flours and sugars. It is very difficult to find jars with their original, matching covers.

Popular incarnations today vary as much in price range as in use. This Christopher Spitzmiller Lamp retails for a cool 2110.00, while these lovely blue and white jars from WS Home range in price from only 125.00 - 375.00 . Ebay is also a valuable resource.

Ginger jars barely scrape the surface of the vast history of oriental porcelain, which was actually invented in China. For further reading, please have a look at this useful guide to different symbols found in porcelain patterns, porcelain grades, and more facts about it's origins.

Blogger's Home Tour Wrap Up: Part 2

The Home Tour wrap up continues today instead of Friday due to a bad 24-hour flu had going on - not fun at all for you or I, because it delayed the rest of the best! Without further adieu..

You are looking at Rubie Green HQ and the home of the talented Michelle Adams. Can you tell this lovely lady used to work at Domino? Oh please, you have seen this shot over and over again but my eyes still aren't tired of it.

Karen's staggeringly glamorous home has so much to take in - no detail has been overlooked and her flair for upholstery really puts her in a league of her own.

Picking only one image from Chris's home proved to be difficult, but I love everything happening in this photo - from the orange flokati rug and the reupholstered rawhide Pottery Barn chair to the gorgeous pierced lamp and the art brought home from a trip to Vietnamn, these guys have an extraordinary eye. I was happy to help welcome them into the Blogosphere!

A lot of you fell in love with Cassandra's kitschy tablescape, and I did too! I love the original painting she found at a nearby antique store, and using a painted mirror as a dressing table tray was such a creative idea I used it in my own home!

Leslie's green office curtains lend a little drama to her clean, well-edited home. Her style got rave reviews from the minimalists in the crowd.

What were your favorite parts of the tour?

Blogger's Home Tour 2008 Wrap-Up: Part 1

A huge thanks goes out to all of the Home Tour's enthusiastic, stylish, and clever participants! Here I have rounded up what I think is the best of the tour for y'all to enjoy in case you missed any of these wonderful homes. Below are highlights of the most popular and most commented photos from throughout the 4 week tour today and tomorrow.

Mrs. Blanding's gorgeous home office garnered a lot of gushing readers' "oohs" and "aahs". Everyone agreed the piping on her estate sale chair was perfect finishing and a great compliment to the Benjamin Moore "Heritage Red" she painted her walls in.

Kyle is our resident designer and an extremely talented one at that - his idea to install tin ceiling tiles on the wall behind his bed got everyone talking! I also loved the vintage Sears & Roebuck chair he had reupholstered in a gorgeous trellis.

Erin's tour was hugely popular! But the room that really made you take a second look was her great-looking pantry - all her handiwork. My favorite detail is the Jonathan Adler papered backs in her cabinets. This is the kind of touch that lets you know Erin's a pro.

Chris's warm, handsome Virginia home was such a great mix of heirloom pieces, great antique finds, and an excellent eye. This area was really stunning - proof that masculinity can come across in a room with style.

Who didn't totally love this little corner in Kristen's home? Her funky style got lots of buzz and cross-posted to many other blogs. The adorable Made By Girl poster is such a great touch above a vintage chair she painted herself.


Stay tuned for part two of the roundup, and tell me...

What were your favorite parts of the tour?

Teaser...

Tomorrow wraps up the 2008 Blogger's Home Tour. I will have a wrap-up for you of some of the best highlights and two bonus tours for you as well! In the mean time, have a scroll through all the homes and visit the blogs of all the fantastic bloggers who participated this year. See you tomorrow!

xo Jess

Blogger's Home Tour: I'm Making My Debut!

I'm so excited to finally share my home with all of you. I just moved into this new place in August, a three story townhouse right by the hustle and bustle of campus (yes, my room mates and I are students - two victory lappers and one grad student). Being at this point in my life naturally means budget budget budget! My bedroom is set up loft-style to allow space for friends to sit around and talk - we've had many a wine night here already. The door you see opens right up to the street and we are two blocks from all the bars, so as you can imagine my room has become kind of a hangout.

This is where I spend the majority of my time when I'm in my room - I do all the work for Poppy Seed Design right here. I'm a neat freak, so yes, my desk really does always look like this! My garden stool was a 50 dollar Homegoods find and I love it! It acts as extra seating on those aforementioned wine nights, a step stool, a footstool, and in this picture I have a pretty plate set up to hold odds and ends. The desk is a Parsons desk and the chair is a Louis Ghost. For details about whats on and in my desk, check out the Blogger's Home Tour Flickr set!

I set this IKEA Lack shelf low so it could function as sort of a console table. The John Derian for Target tray is a drop spot for sunglasses, keys, and my blackberry. The orange Hermes box holds odds and ends while the brown iomoi box has my address labels in it. The "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster was purchased on etsy from sfgirlbybay. The shoes are Kate Spade and J.Crew.

The pillows are John Robshaw and on the back of my couch is my favorite cozy cashmere throw. The zebra rug is from Urban Outfitters and under the coffee tables is my stack of Vogues and Dominos. I lost a lot of my Domino back issues when I moved and I miss them so much :(

A close-up of my coffee tables - IKEA Lack tables. The roses are in a cute Mint Julep cup and the books are all from my collection - I'm the proud owner of a first edition signed Tom Ford book. Another Hermes box and some John Derian for Target coasters rest here as well.


Goes without saying I am DYING to hear what all of you have to say about the space and I can't wait for your comments!

And finally, I need some advice. I scored this great looking Draper-esque X-base bench on ebay, but now I'm at a total loss as to what fabric(s) I should reupholster it in. Piping? None? Now that you've seen my room, I'm taking suggestions :)

Blogger's Home Tour: Alkemie's Karen Defines Eclectic Glam

Alkemie's Karen has one of those bold, graphic, and totally glam homes that few of us are brave enough to pull off. The rooms began with a free, and by Karen's account "frightful" sofa found on Craigslist that she had reupholstered - after one go-around with tufting and the like, Karen got hooked to the point where she plans to open her own online shop in the near future.

When she began, she had no plan at all - she started with her couch and a coat of paint and everything evolved from there. She has everything from Rococo chairs to midcentury modern dining chairs because what she loves is so diverse, the only thing she can do is buy what she loves and find a way to pair everything together in a way that's somehow cohesive.

"Black Crystal base lamps with white silk shades are from Ballard Designs. Very heavy because the base is solid crystal. It comes also in a clear base. The Sofa was done in lilac cotton velvet from Alexander Latimer (fabric company.) It was a throw away because it was in such bad condition, so I got it free and got the upholstry company to pick it up directly from the guy who was getting rid of it. It had to be completely redone from the inside out, new springs, cushions, the works. The black Louis ghost chair was a second hand find on Craig's List, and the red velvet tufted wing chair also a find on Craig's list but redone in Raspberry Red. Mirrored end tables from West Elm."

"Duvet was from Smart Bargains.com, or was it Overstock.com? I always check both sites for bedding. They have a nice selection of colored flokati rugs too. The brown large pillows and lamps from Z gallerie, small silk pillow in yellow and red from Cambodia."

Thanks Karen! Be sure to drop by Alkemie and have a look at her gorgeous uber-glam taste. For more photos of Michelle's home, including additional rooms and detail shots, check out the constantly updated Blogger's Home Tour Flickr set here. Feel free to subscribe to The Love List to keep up with new homes as they are posted!

Blogger's Home Tour: Michelle's Manhattan Gem

When Michelle Adams of Rubie Green and MABelle moved into her first "real" New York apartment, she couldn't wait to decorate- she wanted to create a space that was serene and relaxing, but also totally fun and chock-full of her favorite pieces. Michelle started out by building a foundation of basics such as furniture, rugs, draperies and shelving in neutral colors, which then allowed her to inject her favorite patterns without making the space feel cluttered.

Once she got the basics down, she then filled her home with her favorite pieces - be it something silly she found at a flea market for five bucks, or a really great piece of art. She is a hardcore bargain shopper, so almost everything in her home is purchased from outlets, flea markets, or sales. You may have seen Michelle's home featured in Jonathan Adler's Happy Chic contest, (which she won 3rd place in!), but here is a fresh look at one of my favorite homes.

"Believe it or not, you are looking at my kitchen! Haha, it's a good thing I don't cook! I decided instead to store extra linens in my cupboards, and make the hallway into a gallery wall of my favorite images. I've mixed goofy flea market paintings with inexpensive Etsy finds and photos of my friends and family. I've even got my parents prom picture hanging up! I love how it tells guests a little bit about my life, and is also highly decorative. "

"Here's my teeny bedroom! As you can tell, it doesn't get any natural light (bummer!) and it's so small that I had a hard time taking a decent photo! The headboard was custom made for a Rubie Green shoot and I'm IN LOVE with it! It's actually much higher than it appears, but since I have no storage space in my apartment, I had to put the bed on raisers which makes the headboard appear shorter. (Just wait till I move one day...it will be gorgeous;) The Ikea bookshelf is also one of my favorite pieces, and when I moved into my new place I had the choice of getting rid of this large piece (ummm...yeah right!) or squeezing it next to my bed. So I chose the latter. The goofy ceramic horse on top makes me happy- I found it at a flea market and my dad cannot understand why I hang onto it. I tell him that true love is blind."

"The left side of my living room makes me happy :) My favorite chair from Williams Sonoma Home (which again, I scored for $66 bucks at the outlet!!) is upholstered in my very own Rubie Green Mary print, and is the first piece of furniture that I've ever had professionally upholstered! I had plenty of things upholstered for photo shoots at domino, but never for myself so it felt very...grown up to finally do it for my own home :) The bookshelf also makes me happy- it's the Sapien bookshelf from DWR and people are always afraid it's going to topple over! So I chose to put a delicate bird statue on the very top! In the nook next to it, I placed a West Elm Chunky Parsons Console which was slip covered for a domino shoot (one of the many perks of working there!) and now I hide all my office uglies under it like my printer and supply bins. It's also nice to run cords behind it without having them in sight. Speaking of cords, the Jonathan Adler Bel Air Lamp is something I absolutely treasure, and I scored it for $100 at his annual sample sale! Finally along the walls, I have framed some of my favorite pieces of Rubie Green Press"

"In the photo of my living room above, I hit up the Pottery Barn/Williams Sonoma Home outlet for most of my larger pieces! The curtains were a whopping $11 each, the rods about $15, the red bamboo chair $66, etc etc! My rug and coffee tables were also steeply discounted finds at the PB outlet, and I scored my little lucite side table for $40 at the CB2 outlet on the same trip. I pretty much did a victory dance all the way back to my rental car! The artwork above my sofa is also very special to me. I asked for the Milton Glaser "I heart NY" poster for Christmas, after seeing it in Elizabeth Blitzer's home featured in domino. The piece in the middle is an original watercolor that I scored for $40 at the Elephant's Trunk flea market. Finally the piece on the bottom is a print of Beacon Hill that I picked up at a print shop in Boston. Boston makes me happy so I always like looking at this print. "

"Here's a close-up shot of my shelves, which I set up since I love to create small vignettes! I filled my three shelves with my favorite pieces, which make me happy. The bust is from Oly (yes, I'm a bit obsessed with Oly if you haven't noticed!) and the necklace draped around it is from my all-time-favorite store, J. Crew! I picked up the little red and cream box to the right while I was in Florence this summer at a paper store called Johnsons & Relatives and the Laduree box is a treasure I begged my friend Lauren to get me on her recent trip to Paris! It was filled with macaroons, which we ate in about ten minutes...! The framed fashion print is actually a postcard from IKEA (not kidding!) that famous fashion illustrator David Downton licensed to them a few years ago! I hope to one day have enough money for an original work from him. Lastly, above you can see a glimpse of my all-time-favorite tray! It's a faux snake print by Two's Company, and I picked it up at Global Table in Soho."

"Here's a close-up of my coffee table! I'm in love with this shot of Audrey Hepburn, and also love how the colors all compliment each other. The lacquer box is from my domino days from Pacific Connections, as well as the Annick Goutal candle. The nautical bottle opener is something I picked up this summer in Capri for $9 at a souvenir shop. "

Thanks Michelle! Be sure to drop by Michelle's blog, MABelle and have a look at her fabulous earth-friendly fabric line, Rubie Green. For more photos of Michelle's home, including additional rooms and detail shots, check out the constantly updated Blogger's Home Tour Flickr set here. Feel free to subscribe to The Love List to keep up with new homes as they are posted.

Love Note

The final homes on tour and the tour wrap-up will resume tomorrow. Lots of Poppy Seed Work to do! :)