The City Sage

If you follow my Instagram and Twitter feeds, you may have seen that I recently visited Charleston. Not only did I acquire a new favorite American city, I came home with a list of pinch-me moments longer than the Savannah River. You see, I was invited to tag along with two directors of Target's in-house design team as they explored the city's antiques markets to inspire what we'll soon find in Target stores. The experience was unreal; I kept waiting for Candid Camera jump out and yell 'gotcha!'

I did a little shopping of my own (the syrup bottle and Japanese pitcher below are two of my finds) but I was most fascinated to see the process of discovery that the Target guys employed. They. Were. Tireless. We left no stone unturned. My feet ached by the end of the day. But we weren't looking for items to copy outright. Our search was for patterns, silhouettes, surface treatments. For the handle on a vintage armoire to inform the curve of a lamp. For the print of a 1950's skirt to combine with a motif spotted at Art Basel to create something altogether new for window dressings. It was a search for tomorrow's design, today.    

Along the way, the Target team had me cracking up with their tales of adventure—and misadventure. When your job involves unearthing the world's treasures, you're bound to collect as many stories as you do objects, and you'll need a great sense of humor while you're at it. Plus they've already traveled more this year than I have in my lifetime. I came away from my weekend with more respect and admiration for the design process than I've ever imagined. Not to mention a burning desire to return to Charleston with an empty trailer and fill it with antiques! 

Disclosure: As a Target Inner Circle member, this experience along with my travel expenses were provided by Target. I am not an employee of Target, and all opinions are my own. 

Tonight I had one of those 'Oh my goodness if I don't order that brass turtle right this very second, surely some other savvy shopper will snap it up from under my nose and my life will be incomplete forever' moments. As often is the case in these instances, the panic passed as quickly as it arose when I remembered that I'm a girl on a budget, so I consoled myself by creating a collage of my favorite items from this darling vintage shop on Etsy. It's called The White Pepper, and it has me over the moon!

All the hits are here: curios and collectibles, books pre-organized by color, so-tacky-they're-terrific needlepoint creations, and larger items like shelving units and chairs. Styles vary slightly from Danish Modern to Atomic but all hover above that Midcentury sweet spot. Won't someone do me a favor and give this turtle a good home for me? He looks like he could use some love, wouldn't you agree?

All images from The White Pepper on Etsy.

Oh, Valentine's Day. You funny thing. I haven't celebrated you in ages, and I'm not likely going to start. But here's a secret that you can't tell anyone, okay? You're my favorite holiday to look at. Now don't go getting too worked up, but it's true! WIth your pinks and reds, your hearts, x's, and o's, you can't help but appeal to the part of me that longs for sweet, tender gestures delivered with a kiss.  

My infatuation with your charms began in grade school. I'd spend hours crafting scented sticker notes for my classmates, my family, my dolls, anyone whose name could be written on a scalloped envelope. These days my taste runs more towards the graphically designed than the glittered and doilyed, yet I still stroll down the candy aisle at the supermarket with wistful glances at the milk chocolate messages of 'Be Mine'. So here's the deal, Valentine's Day. In the words of Margot Tenenbaum, "I think we're just gonna to have to be secretly in love with each other and leave it at that." 

Images: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 

One of the trickiest things about living in a rental (holler if you feel me!) is decorating the bathroom. You can't just go in, rip out eyesores, install a chic sink, and call it a day. The small decor elements that serve as finishing touches in other rooms can transform a bathroom. Which is why I'm loving Fab. They're an unbeatable resource for everyday design products at killer prices—and with their vast selection I'm constantly discovering fun one-of-a-kinds to distract me from my linoleum situation.

At present I'm torn between two vibes for my bathroom. The first is a quirky industrial feel that will compliment the 1940's architecture of the apartment. Because Fab features vintage as well as new design products—their curated shop with architectural salvage studio Relique is killing me—they're a perfect marketplace for this look! I'm drawn to a worn step ladder as shelving, super soft Turkish towels, and colorful touches provided by antique science charts and Moonrise Kingdom-esque soaps.

But just as I settle on Plan A, my mind turns to Plan B: a playful spa sensibility grounded in modern lines and a clean white-on-wood palette. A bamboo towel rack would solve my space conundrum, while this Rifle Paper Co. print that I've had my eye on for a while is available for a seriously tempting price. Of course whichever route I go, this adorable llama box is a must. Looking at him makes me smile, which is more than I can say for the baby blue tile in my shower ;)

Shopping Guide: 1. Science Illustration Moth Print 2. Striped Turkish Towel 3. Industrial Copper Pendant Lamp 4. Vintage Metal Step Ladder 5. Utilitarian Soap Set 6. Vintage Leather Suitcase 7. Bamboo Spa Bench 8. Rifle Paper Co. Citrus Print 9. Pantone Universe White Cup 10. Wood Llama Box 11. Refurbished Vintage Dock Lamp All products found on Fab. Images: My interior design Pinterest.

Last fall when I discovered the British online shop Plümo, I fell instantly and ardently in lust with their understated luxe-eclectic mix of fashion, accessories, and decor. So I'm thrilled to bring you guys a first peek at their brand new Spring catalog, which doesn't go live until February 10! The verdict?Plümo's signature 'haute meets handmade' look is back, and it's better than ever.  

In apparel, think reach-out-and-touch-me textures and unexpected pairings in shape and scale. With the days getting longer and a fresh breeze just around the corner, the snuggly cables and embroideries of last fall have given way to airy open weaves and patterns like batiks and eyelets. For homewares, I'm coveting offerings in polished brass and worn leather. They're bringing me one step closer to my goal of creating an apartment that looks like the love child of a Belgian atelier and a Scottish moor! 

Images: Plümo Spring Catalog. The whole catalog will be live on the Plümo website February 10.

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