Hamptons Designer Showhouse

I'm off to check out the Hampton Designer Showhouse today with my friend and fellow designer Kevin Isbell. Be sure to check back later for the full scoop!

Recover your armchair

Jill B got sorta sick of the outdated fabric. She says, "Ikea makes such nice fabric by the yard. Why don't they use it on the furniture?" So she updated it with a new cover she sewed herself. 



Via designspongeonline.

What's in the box?

Apparently the rumors about the demise of the recession might actually be true, or at least on Madison Avenue, where Hermes is building a new men's store across from their flagship boutique. I always knew women weren't the only ones who liked to open those fabulous orange boxes! C'est magnifique!

Ikea blue shopping bag into messenger bag

My local Ikea has just started to turn green. (Yeah, we're slow.) So no more free plastic bags. Everyone is encouraged to buy one of the blue Frakta bags and bring them along whenever they shop. I think it's great and I love my blue Frakta bags. Sturdy. Roomy. You can sling it or carry it. I keep one in the car to haul groceries and whatever I buy. I have another at home for laundry and bring recyclables to the centre.

But the Frakta is more than just a plastic bag replacement. Sara has made it into a really cool messenger bag. I want one!

She says, "I made a small messenger bag out of one of the large blue Ikea bags last night. Apart from an Ikea bag, it is also made of a couple of buckled straps from a bike rack, an old inner tube (for the rubber on the base of the bag and the piping around the opening) and reflective strips from an old hi-viz jacket. Oh, and lots of swearing from getting pins in my fingers!

See Sara's messenger bag photos.

You may also like:
- Ikea laptop bag
- Blue diaper bag and changing pad

Connecticut Classic: HB Home

While we were in Westport, we also stopped into HB Home. I've been seeing their very chic ads in magazines for a while so it was finally nice to see them in person. The shop is an extension of the design firm Healing Barsanti. Add them to your list of places to visit the next time you venture to Connecticut!

Photos by Heather Clawson

Monday fun!

It's Monday! And I figured we could all use a laugh or two. Here's a video a friend sent me and it features some pretty great hacking. (I heard that this commercial is banned!)

Habitually Chic Field Trip to Connecticut!

Recently, interior designer Allison Caccoma was kind enough to invite me along for a little field trip to Connecticut and of course I jumped at the chance to get out the city for a day! First we met with the wonderful team at Moffly Media in Westport who publish a bunch of great regional magazines for the Connecticut area. I especially loved AtHome which I begged them to bring to New York and/or the national market. We could use some new home magazines!

After a wonderful lunch, we hit the amazing stores! My favorite was definitely Dovecote! It was full of great new and vintage furniture, books, accessories, candles, jewelry and more. When we arrived they were in the middle of restyling the store so I want to thank them for quickly putting things together so I could take some photos for you. If you have not been to this store in person, you must get there soon! You will find great pieces for your clients and also yourself! If I owned a store, I would want it to look and feel like Dovecote! You can check out what I bought at the end! Happy Shopping!

Dovecote

56 Post Road East

Westport, CT 06880

203-222-7500

www.dovecote-westport.com

Photos by Heather Clawson