>> plumes

Hermes Home has some spectacular new items, including two items I'm drooling over (both with feather motifs), the above porcelain ashtray ($630) and this 25" x 25" pillow cover ($680). Just kinda sorta pricey unfortunately.

>> matteo outlet

Last Friday I stopped by the Matteo outlet (912 East Third St., downtown Los Angeles) to browse the bedding and such. How freaking cool is the store design!? Made from salvaged pallets!


I'm also really feeling this Matteo plaid scarf ($60) on sale at ABC Carpet + Home.

Roberta Roller Rabbit

Current obsession: Everything at Roberta Roller Rabbit, and it's pretty reasonably priced. Big cata pink pillow ($40).

turquoise quilt ($125).

Picnic throws ($125 each).

Francesca placemat ($12 each)

Flavia napkin ($8 each)

Pendleton Woolen Mills

I've posted (along with the rest of mankind) about how freaking dope The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs is. Well, my friend Ashley recently checked out the Ace Portland and became so smitten that she wanted to find a blanket like the ones at the hotel. Not a bad idea.

Many of Ace Portland's furnishings are sourced from Pendelton Woolen Mills, a Portland company that's been around for over 140 years! They've got some great Native American and Pacific Northwest-inspired bedding, blankets and tabletop items. But, beware it's hit or miss...really hit or miss. Ashley said it best when she texted me while at the store:

It feels a bit like a west coast Orvis with a tinge of Talbots.

Ooh La La

On Sunday Matt and I drove down to Laguna Beach for some fish tacos—but really my motivation was to go to the Kerry Cassill store La La, one of my absolute favorite stores behind the Orange Curtain. I love the beachy feel of the store, so appropriate for Kerry's soft, fun, and casual fabrics. I think the Hubz-to-be would agree, doesn't he look fascinated? 1145 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA.

More Muji please!

While I was in Tokyo last month, I went into every Muji store I could, because I love the concept of a "no-brand" store that sells great products at affordable prices—and they are all over Tokyo. I brought back a shirt and sweater for Matt that he absolutely loves, maybe because it's just so simple that it's easy to wear with everything. I wish I could get more stuff for him online for Christmas—especially since the things I got him are a little small (Muji clothing runs at least one size smaller since it's designed around a typical Asian physique). You can get a few clothing items through MoMA and if you're lucky enough to live in NYC, where there's a Muji in Soho, Times Square and Chelsea (hello--there are other cities that need you!) you're set. I might just have to make a quick trip to New York.

Leontine Linens Spring 2008

The New Orleans-based heirloom driven company Leontine Linens launched their Spring 2008 line, most of it is what you'd expect: high quality monogrammed bedding, linens, and a few accessories—all of it taking cues from the early 20th century. For example, I'm loving the above cocktail napkins ($55), an instant family heirloom. There were however, a few items that stuck out from the pack. The below drawstring shoe bags ($75) are a new item and it's a great gift for any well-heeled guy you know. The other stand-out is their (new?) Julien Monogram with Roland Border ($85-$985), not the typical style for Leontine Linens and I'm not sure it's my favorite, but interesting look none the less.

A Tale of Two Matteos

I think this might be my last show and tell post from my weekend in New York, and interestingly enough, about two designers both named Matteo. The first Matteo I discovered when I was walking around Moss. I took the below photo (illegally I think, sorry, I can't hold back when I see neon) of Italian designer Matteo Ragni's 2007 "Sunglass" set of six drinking glasses for Pandora.
They work really well with those neon Laguiole knives, no? Anyway, I really love those neon glasses ($140 for six).

The second Matteo was an even better find. Matt (I guess that makes three Matteos) and I have been looking for new linens ever since we moved, but have been having a really hard time. I think it's because we have two poppy lithographs above our bed that are bright orange and aqua-blue, so it's been hard to find something that complements the art and doesn't make you dizzy. We decided we had to go super neutral and were really excited when we were introduced to the company Matteo of Los Angeles when we were perusing around Auto, waiting on our Pastis reservation. It's really well-made, super soft quilts, and great neutral colors. We were instantly sold (I'm sure the three foot hobo hole I accidentally ripped in our fitted sheet has something to do with it too). What's better is that while we were elbowing through the masses at ABC Carpet & Home's 20%-off sale, we found the Matteo flagship store (that's how big ABC is if you haven't been, 6 floors, 2 buildings, seriously you can make a whole weekend out of it) and finally bought some new linens. You can buy all the collections on the Matteo website as well as find local retailers near you, they also sell the line at Design Public (for much cheaper oddly enough). RIP hobo hole!

Papa Stour

Papa Stour is an online shop that was created about two years ago by designer and stylist Rosie Brown who wanted to make both modern and inspirational Scottish goods accessible. The store includes unique home accessories, gifts, art, baskets, hand-bound books, jewels, cashmere blankets, scarves, feather nests and silver spoons, truly making it "A Collection of Scotland's Finest." I am really loving the above photograph, Returning from the hinds by Glyn Satterley ($149).

This is such a fun bracelet, the Wangle Bangle, which is made of resin and is actually magnetic, so you can stack several into one ($294).

I've really got my eye on the above blue striped throw by Kate Samphier made from 100% Merino Lambswool ($259).

These Dolly birds (which come in a set of five) are so cute, they'd make a great gift for a baby's room. The largest bird is 14" x 12" and the smallest is 6" x 5". Available in mint green or chocolate brown ($182).

Missoni Throws

Well, it is without a doubt that Fall is here, in fact I'm not sure if Chicago skipped Fall all together and just decided to go from a humid Indian summer to a chilly, windy, and grey winter overnight (yesterday 80˚F, today 47˚F). It would have been nice if we could have eased into it just a little, I went to walk Harrison this morning in shorts and flip flops and nearly lost my toes to frost bite. Ok, it wasn't that bad (but I'm not going to leave my apartment for the rest of the day to be on the safe side.) In any case, it's time to add more layers to your wardrobe and more layers to the bed. Thankfully Missoni makes Fall/Winter bearable with all their amazing throws. Above is the wool "Hector" throw, coming in colors that will make you forget about that gloomy, overcast sky. Pick one up for $256 at NYC's Auto, which has a large collection of Missoni Home.

John Robshaw

The last major obstacle in decorating our apartment is finding a bed. The challenge has been that every time I find a bed frame that I like and that is within our budget—it doesn't come in California King. So, as a result I've already picked out about 100 linen sets. I am loving everything John Robshaw. In fact, while I was looking for linens, I noticed he does tabletop too, check the above place mats. The tablecloths look so great—festive, colorful and refined. The only problem is that there isn't a website that I know of that has his complete line for sale. Auto is pretty good. But, check right here for your local retailer, I bet they could order anything you want. Below are some of my favorite John Robshaw swatches.

"What's Inside": Lisa Wyatt

This is a very special segment of "What's Inside" because it emphasizes a certain L.A. lifestyle as well as serves as a unique guide to such in its own right. Lisa, my next door neighbor and good friend, is a photographer, surfer, film buff, and animal rescuer at large (it was Lisa that plucked my dog Harrison off the freeway last year). The interior of Lisa Wyatt's apartment is fascinating, I always find something new whenever I'm over there and I've found that her things are literally artifacts from her travels and journeys and friends around the world. Her refined eclectic style conjures words like Spanish, California, Beachy, Bohemian, Natural, and Global. Above is a shot of her front door with its archway dressed in hot pink xmas lights she left up after throwing one of her famous parties. The trim paint is Dunn Edwards "Rainforest" and that's sort of the feel as you walk in the front door among her plants and fountain.Her kitchen has barely changed much from the original design. She painted it the very subtle Mint Chiffon and the trim Climbing Ivy accented by her flowers from Moe's (notice the Chicken Balls!). All of her vases are from Maison Midi and she has a very cool cheese cabinet typical in European kitchens (ideal for storing hard cheeses at room temp) she purchased from The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills. Oh, and that's her cat, Penny. I love her staircase, especially walking down it to see an amazing Jean Luc-Godard poster she bought at Agnes B. clothing store in Paris in the 90s. Cleverly, Lisa uses jeweled Indian sarongs as window treatments, why have I never thought of that!? Her photo books casually grace the bottom of the staircase—her four favorites are: An American Index of The Hidden and Unfamiliar, Coïncidences, Surfing Photographs Taken In The Seventies, and the newly released New York Rises. Her custom bookshelf makes me drool, but not as much as the little critters that are on it, like the John Derian farm animals, a yellow snail shell a Cuban boy gave her on a bus in Santiago, some sage candle boxes and simple white Ikea magazine butlers.In the entry way to her bedroom hangs two Polish movie posters from the 1960s that she bought abut 15 years ago from a guy's garage near Sunset Blvd. and Pointsettia (anyone know if that guy is still around?) Finally, the boudior, complete with mosquito net (from Ikea) and all. Lisa is a fan of Kerry Cassill linens as well as Creative living, but the most important thing in the bedroom is her Obsidian windchimes, one hangs above her bed and there is a tiny one inside her mosquito net. What follows below are Lisa's can't-live-withouts. Thanks for sharing, Lisa!
1. Obsidian windchimes
2. Jivamukti Yoga
3. Maison Midi
4. Calypso Home
5. Young Living essential oils (these are AMAZING!)
6. Wild Mushroom Lasagne recipe from Gourmet Magazine
7. Gardening advice from Sandy Foreman of Anawalt Lumber on Highland Ave.
8. Holistic medicine, raindrop therapy, and healing from Hari Narayan (310-936-5985) of Amrit Davaa Wellness Center
9. Uncle Eddie's vegan cookies (available at Whole Foods).
10.Cinespia film screenings.
And may I just say that DESIGNwatcher can't live without Lisa Wyatt Photography, either can Jacques the Donkey.