April 2022
The Essentials: Spring 2022
As the days extend, and the spring light filters through the trees that brush against my sunroom, I’m basking in the inspiration a new season brings. The temperature still has edges of the previous season, but a new and welcome warmth has me lingering on my walks with Stella, and I’m basking in the vibrancy and colors that change daily in the spring. Perhaps mimicking natures new growth, I too find myself drawn to the new - new restaurants, new music, new shapes. Here are some of my Spring essentials of which I can’t get enough:
1. RTH Peaced Scarf
RTH has long been my favorite shop in Los Angeles. Styled like an other-worldly trading post, I love its southern and southwestern influences. I recently picked up this scarf - it has a traditional bandana print but its raw edges and ultra worn-in fabrication make it special.
2. Mujó
Mujó recently opened up just a few doors down from the shop and I’m eager(and attempting) to secure a reservation It’s inspired by the Japanese concept of “ichi-go ichi-e”, essentially that every moment is a unique experience to treasure. I love exploring the West Side’s newest additions - and a new local sushi spot is just the ticket.
3. Fun Guy Lamp
The aptly named Fun Guy is my new favorite lamp. It’s such an unexpected shape - curvaceous and full, but with negative space in the form of a cut-out. It makes its light dispersion wholly unique and interesting. Coupled with the its brass accents, it’s the item I’m most excited to get into the shop this Spring.
4. DRAMA – Don’t Wait Up
Drama is a duo from Chicago that I have on repeat. I attended their recent concert at Terminal West in Atlanta, and they are one of few bands that can get me to a concert on a Monday night. It was well worth the outing-a night of dancing, friends, and great music. If you haven’t seen them live, I definitely recommend it, but their new album is a close second to that experience, and doesn’t disappoint.
5. My Brilliant Friend
My Brilliant Friend on HBO is one of my favorite shows and it’s finally back for season 3. Based on the “Neapolitan Novels” four-book series by Italian writer Elena Ferrante, it follows the coming-of-age of two best friends who grow up in a poor Naples neighborhood in the 1950s. It’s an expansive epic that gleans immense beauty from the most desolate of circumstances; I can never take my eyes off the screen. If you haven’t started it, begin at season 1 and prepare to be in awe.
6. Greenpacha Straw Hat
Handwoven in Equador, I’ve been loving my Greenpacha straw hat, especially as I’m spending more time in the sunlight. The palms grow on the Ecuadorian coast where they are gently harvested, and the hats are woven by hands of women in the mountains of Ecuador. The designs, created in California, are a slightly slouchier and cooler take on a classic piece. Sun protection has only gotten more important to me over the years, and I like to protect myself as stylishly as possible.
7. Flamingo Estate Olive Oil
My husband and I alternate cooking responsibilities during the week; we keep it exciting by trying dishes from the assortment of cookbooks I’ve collected over the years. A non-negotiable staple in our kitchen is very good olive oil. Flamingo Estate is a farm and food oasis in the heart of Los Angeles that partners with local California farms to craft the most amazing products. Their olive oil is a great entry point into their ever-expanding collections of hand-crafted products for the kitchen and home.
8. Daily Chew
Every Sunday for a few weeks now my husband and I have been going to the Daily Chew for avocado toast al fresco. Our friend Julia opened up this local gem as an offshoot of her meal service Stop, Think, Chew. We love to support our friends and their businesses, and Julia makes it incredibly easy with wholesome and delicious eats.
9. Moro Dabron
In a search for new fragrances for the shop, I found the most incredible new line of candles that I immediately ordered. Moro Dabron is a London based perfumery that has created some beautifully complex and arresting scents housed within glazed, twin-handled vessels that eventually will become keepsakes for flower stems. We ordered limited quantities that will be arriving in the shop soon - we highly recommend pre-ordering.
10. de Gournay ‘Namban’ in Silver Gild
I recently saw a sample of the most stunning de Gournay wallpaper in a gilded silver and my heart stopped. Wallpaper is such a lively and unexpected way to infuse excitement into a room, and de Gournay specializes in creating vibrant, balanced and contrasting colors that create an aura of happiness. I immediately planned to use it in a client’s dining room in a recently purchased historic home in Atlanta. Its bird motifs and metallic sheen have me inspired to continue looking for unexpected patterns and textures this coming year.