a wedding present for the couple who has everything

Dear ESB,

You have had some great gift posts in the past, so I thought I would ask for your help with a wedding gift that has me stumped.

I am attending a destination wedding for a couple who has a lot of money, like a lot of money. They are wonderful, gracious people and their wedding is going to be the bomb. But everything on their wedding registry, which was all very reasonably priced, was bought up the day after I got their invitation and now I have no idea what to do. 

It feels weird for us (always broke-ish) to give them cash or a gift card to Williams Sonoma when they don't really need money. I love them and would like to get them something in the standard wedding range of about $100. I could go as high as $200, but closer to $100 is ideal.

Their taste is classic, kinda fancy, but they aren't dorks or anything. They're like, wealthy, straight, big-city-living people in their 40s. Have you seen any new and exciting salt bowls? I'm at a loss.

Love,
Bad At Shopping For Once

*****

How bout a polished horn salt bowl [pictured above] and spoon....

plus a jar of white truffle sea salt "harvested from seawater off the Oregon coast based on evaporation techniques first used by early explorers at the turn of the 19th-century." (Sounds like something rich ppl would like!)

$29 + 9 + 29 = $67 from Kaufmann Mercantile

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Sidebar: I had a terrific experience with KM back when I was obsessing about tiny home decor.

I ordered the horsehair hand broom, which I l-o-v-e....

And the enamelware dust pan (which is gorg) but then I decided that I wanted the enamelware dust pan with the rubber lip, which was out of stock.

They sent me a free return shipping label, hung on to the credit for me, and shipped the dust pan with the lip as soon as it came back in (which took a while, but was worth the wait).

Can't recommend em highly enough.

And ps if you sign up for the newsletter, they'll send you a discount code for $7 off.

YOU GUYS

We're about to pull the trigger on this baby from Design Within Reach.

It's not cheap, but it is the perfect perfect perfect minimalist multipurpose desk/dining table to go under our big windows and it is made out of MOTHERFUCKING STEEL and I am over the moon.

We had the Ikea knock-off tulip table in the bungalow for 5 years, and though it looked good (from afar), it was wobbly, the plastic base attracted dirt like crazy, and the surface scratched off if you scrubbed to hard.

I'm turning FORTY. I'm too old for that shit.*
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*Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I will now shut up about how I'm turning 40 and you can all go back to pretending I am precisely your age.

the obsession continues.

I still don't have my dream toilet brush. I posted this before I ordered it, they sold out immediately, I am an asshole, I don't want to talk about it.*

Moving on to brooms/dust pans.

Anne Sage did a terrific roundup of stylish/affordable cleaning tools yesterday,** which sparked a terrific discussion about stylish/affordable cleaning tools, which led me to....

1. The Shaker Broom from Justamere Tree Farm ($40 + $10 shipping) (which I just bought)

2. The Cardboard/Bamboo Dustpan from Harimi ($24)

I haven't pulled the trigger on the dustpan because I'm obsessing about whether or not I'm willing to pay $10 shipping for a $24 item. And whether or not I need the little hand broom that goes with it. (And if so: whether or not I care to pay for shipping from Japan.)

Welcome to my brain.
______________________________

*I did finally buy a temp toilet brush at Target after H had a mini-meltdown the other day, so you can lay off the poop talk in the comments. Thx.

**THANK GOD I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO CARES

Dear ESB: What should we register for?? (Plus a giveaway from Pierrepont Hicks!)

hiya,

I'm trying to put together a wedding registry for myself and my man and we are struggling to decide what to put on it. My mom is a potter and has already given us tons of plates and mugs and bowls, and is making us a bunch more over the next few years, so a matched set of everyday dinnerware is not necessary (and not our style anyway). We are not huge bakers, so we don't need that huge kitchenaid mixer that everyone wants.  

We have a close friend with a lovely high-end home goods (and jewelry, but that can't go on the registry, alas) shop and are setting up a little registry with her, plus we've got a MyRegistry site set up to aggregate items from the web, where we've put up the requisite food processor, some Reidel wine glasses, some long-coveted blankets, Santa Fe Stoneworks fanciness, a drill... We also have a cash "future adventures" fund for people to contribute to, as well as a few charities we'd like people to donate to in our name, so perhaps we should just leave it at that and move on to other things (like sending out our paper invitations, oops).

But I don't want to be too casual about what is, for practical purposes, a rare opportunity to make the transformation from having a big kid house to a Grown Up house. Any suggestions? We've been to enough weddings to know people always put flatware/silverware on the registry... And we should probably replace the hodgepodge set we've accumulated over the years mostly from stealing from dining halls, friends and neighbors... But we don't know anything about flatware/silverware and what differentiates good from bad. Should we put on stuff for our dog and cat? Would that be weird?

Our general parameters for buying things are that we try to buy from independent shops in person (Brooklyn) or online, made-in-usa or fair trade/well-paid workers, etc. Unfortunately, unlike the areas of clothing and food, where we have our go-to favorite and trusted brands/stores, we don't know where to go for feel-good but also attractive and high quality homegoods (that's why we will not go the etsy route--no offense to those few gems who use that selling platform despite the shoddy company it puts them in). 

We also don't want our registry to be totally out of reach to our guests. Cost-wise, we usually spend $100 on gifts for our friends getting married (and that's a joint present from us as a couple) and wouldn't want others to spend more on ours...

Any advice? Items? Kitchen/household gold standards we would be fools not to ask for?

-- Having trouble asking for stuff for the first time in her life

*****

Coupla things we registered for that we use the shit out of: All Clad pans (made in the USA), a Henckels chef's knife and a pair of Wüsthof kitchen shears (both made in Germany). No idea what to tell you about flatware. I inherited my grandmother's silver, which we use every day because why not.

Who's got an opinion about flatware?

Recommendations for must-have registry items?

Just want to yell at the nice lady for registering for cash?

Mrs. Pierrepont Hicks has offered to give away a blue Backseat Blanket (100% Minnesota-made) to one lucky reader. Offer your two cents in the comments by 12pm on Friday and I'll select a winner at random.

p.s. pls do not register for gifts for your PETS. that would indeed be weird.

cushion stuffing (for brains)

I just spotted this photo from Miss Moss in my google reader and thought, "Into The Gloss did one of those beauty-secrets features with a HUNDRED YEAR OLD WOMAN? RAD."

Miss Moss.

Into The Gloss.



I am spending too much time on the internets.


Anyhoo. These photos of Gisèle d’Ailly van Waterschoot van der Gracht (publisher/painter/long-liver and long-name-haver) and her Amsterdam apartment are lovely, even if there's no eye cream involved.

Photos by Jordi Huisman for FvF via Miss Moss

Do I have the product for you!

If you liked the Cuppow, you will loooooooove Vino2Go!

Though I have to admit, I'm a little confused. Is the wine glass built in, or is this just a jar you put your wine glass in? And, if so, could you put a martini glass in it instead??

(I will spare you the story about the time I tried to sneak a martini into the movie theater. In my tote bag.)

Via Kate Arends

Blog of the Week(ish): Brick House

It's been a while, eh?

I'll be honest, I got a little bored with the internet over the summer.... But now that we own a motherfucking HOUSE, the whole wide world has opened up.

Enter: Brick House

I spent approximately 6 hours on this blog yesterday.

Creating a "for the tiny house" board mostly just so I could pin the FAUXDENZA. Obsessing about kilim pillows (and ducking over to ebay to browse kilim pillows). Debating about whether we really need a new duvet cover (we do not really need a new duvet cover). Realizing we do, in fact, need a pillow-y headboard (Jamie was way ahead of me on this).



Morgan gives me a bit of a complex because she is constantly re-shopping and rearranging rooms that were already gorg. Her house will never be finished. Which is also what is fascinating about it.

Bonus: CUTE DOGS ALL OVER THE PLACE

Photo by Morgan Satterfield for Brick House

What do I get for my dad who just eloped?

Hi,

I wrote you a few months ago about a friend's wedding dress, and the suggestions were very useful (several readers called it when they said she'd wind up with a Jenny Packham). 

I've got another, unrelated question for you/your readers:

My dad eloped with his long-time partner (woman, for some reason I feel I should specify that.) He had indicated they would be getting married and that they would be having a ceremony with just the two of them. I assumed I would get a phone call beforehand telling me when it would be happening, but instead I got an email saying, "We're married!" 

We're having a party for his birthday in a few weeks that will be doubling as their "reception" and I'm wondering if I should be getting some sort of a gift for them both? What on earth does one get for one's father after he has eloped? Surely a KitchenAid Mixer or salad tongs aren't exactly appropriate (especially since he got those the first time around...) and please don't suggest nice sheets (shudder.)

Help?

Best,

Attempting to be adult about a very juvenile situation

*****

I need a little info about your dad:

1) City or Country?

2) Sweet or Savory?

2) Mac or PC?

4) Beethoven or Neil Young?

*****

Hm,

Country, savory, Mac, Neil Young (though Pink Floyd would be perhaps more accurate.)

*****

OMG I LOVE THIS GAME.

Obvs you should get them.....

The Wild Unknown Mirrored Prism from Catbird ($65)


Or.....

Sign up for shop updates from Herriott Grace and buy them a little salt bowl ($45 CDN) for good luck.

A TOTALLY NOT COACHELLA RELATED Guide to Palm Springs

My buddy Sam is going to Palm Springs in May, and he asked me for "suggestions on cool places to drink other than the Ace and that place with the purple walls."

What I drummed up from architect/illustrator/design maven Kelly Lynn Waters, is in fact an entire weekend guide:

Palm Springs, how could I have been so blind to you all those years I lived in Los Angeles? Perhaps the incessant sun in LA does not make one search out more incessant sun? I don't know but sometimes I feel like I haven't seen the sun in 10 years living here in San Francisco. Wouldn't it be great if we could mesh the two cities together or at least move them closer? (I'm also voting to move Tahoe closer if we are moving cities around. Wouldn't that be stellar? L.A., S.F., P.S., and Tahoe all within couple hours of each other?) But we aren't moving cities around we are talking about how incredible Palm Springs happens to be so...

I'll admit that I thought it was a bit one dimensional and didn't have much going for it except all that glamour from half a century or more ago but I have to tell you Palms Springs kinda blew me away. To start I always have a difficult time packing for any and all trips. I've been a long time "carry on" girl since my girlscout days when I was told to "only pack what you can carry." This always poses a bit of a problem since I'm always traveling to a city which requires at least four pairs of shoes (something for walking, going for a run, heels, and usually another pair for ensemble reasons) and I can usually only fit in 3. But somehow everything went seamlessly from my closet into my suitcase and I wore every single piece. Of course when you spend most days in your new Malia Mills bathing suit and occasional cover and big hat this makes dressing a little easier. 

Alright let's get down to brass tacks shall we?


Where to Stay:

The Ace (pictured above): Cheap and well designed. Just don't expect much in the way of service here. And if you are anything like me you'll only want to stay here during the week and not on weekends. Do I have to explain that one?

The Korakia (pictured above): An incredible place to stay for a fairly reasonable price with INCREDIBLE service. I swear every gal who works here is gorgeous AND a doll. It's in a great location and feels so private. I don't know how to explain it. It's a gem.

The Parker Palm Springs: Well hello Mister fancy pants. This place is GORGEOUS but it will cost you. But seriously incredibly designed. Book it now. And Jonathan Adler makes me so happy I'm gonna ask him and Simon to move in with me.

Hotel Lautner: And a little out of the way in Desert Hot Springs you have the refurbished hotel originally designed in 1947 by John Lautner of course. I know little more than that as I haven't had a chance to get there yet but an architect like Lautner is worth the pilgrimage.

Or if you wanted to stay out in Joshua Tree you could stay in one of these experimental properties. I lose my breath just looking at them.


Where to Eat + Drink:

Mister Parker's: If you don't stay at The Parker you must at least visit and that means dinner or cocktails.

Viceroy's Citron: While it is a hotel I loved their lunch best, out by the pool or inside to take a break from the sun.

Cheeky's: Brunch or lunch is delicious, organic and affordable.


What to do:

PS Modern Tours: Personally design is at the top of my list when traveling anywhere from the restaurants I choose to the places I stay, to the locations I venture to because what is the point of traveling if you can't view it through the eyes of those that envisioned a place better than they found it? So the first thing I would do is stop at the Albert Frey Tramway Gas Station and pick up a P.S. Modern Tours map. You can tour the area's modern gems either on your own following the map or take Robert Imber's tour. I personally chose to go it alone as I get antsy on tours especially when I usually know more than my tour guide but I have a feeling this guy really knows his stuff and I'm definitely taking the tour next time around.

Frey House II (pictured above): Bribe one of your architecture friends to get you in. It's pricey but it helps pays for the upkeep and restoration of the place. Only architects and students can visit it (but shhhh, how can they make you prove it?) The views are of all of Palm Springs since it's nestled in the mountains. And seriously people there is a damn boulder inside the house anchoring it to the hillside. If that is not reason enough to go I cannot help you.

The Tram (pictured above): Just take it and take a sweater it's colder up there and it's going to shock your used to 100+ degree ass.


Shopping:

Studio 111 (pictured above): I've been shopping for high end furniture since I was barely legal. I've seen so much and unfortunately at this point I'm bored easily. Everyone has the same stuff! But not these kids, they have an incredible inventory of hard to find and obscure pieces and even a few up and comers you've never heard of.

Dazzles: Holy Crap there is sooooo much in this place there is literally not one iota of free space anywhere but what you really want to take a gawk at is the jewelry. I've never in my life seen a collection of costume jewelry like this before. Dazzles is a must go on my list every single time I visit.

Flow Modern Design: This talented design couple just opened their first retail location in Palm Springs. If you take one look at their portfolio I'm sure you'll be curious to pop your head in.

Obviously there are a few holes here but that is what's so great about a place like Palm Springs, you are always going back.

Thanks for the Invite ESB.

Kelly is too classy to include any dive bars (do dive bars even exist in Palm Springs?) but PLEEZ feel free to weigh in below.

Top photo: Peter Stackpole for LIFE via Modern Design, The rest: Kelly Lynn Waters

pickled cabbage = my new favorite placecard

Talk about a pop of color.

And p.s. I want that TABLE for the house we haven't bought yet.

Menus + Thank You Tags: SimpleSong, Flowers: Amy Merrick, Chef: Christine Buckley, Tables: Paul Sperduto of Moon River Chattel

(See more photos over at Sunday Suppers)

anyone shopping for a wedding/thank you/super special gift?

Nikole just updated her shop.

You'd better jump on it fast. (As in: FAST.)

IS THIS TOO SNARKY FOR YOU??

I'm the biggest loser of them all because I'm not drinking tea or coffee at the moment.

Got incredible joy out of walking to Downbeat and ordering a fucking DECAF LATTE on Saturday. It wasn't even a good latte.

But the no caffeine is helping my headaches. A lot.





Sigh.

Fishs Eddy via amy*
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*So annoyed that permalinks for comments have disappeared. I need to speak to Google about that.

Porcelain Cucumber

According to {far 4} it "makes for a great arrangement with a porcelain walnut."

Which... they don't sell? wtf.

via PourPorter

g'morning

 

Did I mention I'm drinking coffee again?

I finally dragged my ass to see a neurologist, and she put me on a new regimen for my headaches. High doses of Magnesium + Vitamin B2, plus a new drug that really seems to be working but offers a wee bit of drowsiness as a side effect.*  Obviously I had to reintroduce the one cup of coffee in the morning.

I wish I could say that coffee has enabled me to write the BRILLIANT ENDING of my script, but I'm not there yet. Maybe if I keep mentioning it here you all will hold me accountable? Either that or you'll get really bored really fast.

Anyhoo. There's a new Dear ESB up on 100 Layer Cake today, on the scandalous topic of attire for the mother of the bride.

(Image via emmas designblogg)
______________________________

*Mom, if you're reading this, I apologize for not updating you. Whoopsy.

Blog of the Week(ish): TeenAngster

Okayeeeeeeeeee. I realize it's been awhile. Here's a new blog for you! And it's a good one: TeenAngster.

She's got great style (hello Pendleton chic), great taste in interiors (hello aging walls/industrial lamp chic), she has wedding thoughts that are RIGHT UP MY ALLEY, and she enjoys posting photos of dogs and cats and taxidermied ducks.  

What's not to love?

Alison is also a wildly entertaining tweeter, if you go in for that sort of thing, and she's a terrific Pinterester.

I have no idea where she finds the time.

(Photo by Tim Flach)

Flower Shelf

I am way feeling this for rustic/modern wedding decor.

Anzfer Farms via Design for Mankind

I am a person who makes muffins

I don't mean to brag... But on Sunday I made muffins for, like, the second time in two weeks. I whipped up* Rachel's lemon-ginger muffins (using a mixture of chickpea flour, corn flour, cornstarch and tapioca flour in place of the dreaded wheat flour) and H-town dubbed them World's Best Muffins.

Hey, we don't get to eat baked goods very often. I think I'd actually forgotten how good baked goods are. 

(Image via FFFFOUND!)

*And by whipped up, I mean: preheated the oven, chopped ginger and cooked it up with sugar, realized I didn't have any eggs, walked to Vons, bought eggs along with party size bag of barbecue potato chips, and proceeded with recipe while I ate barbecue chips dipped in ranch dressing. The butter for the muffins got nice and soft while I dilly-dallyed, which made for super easy hand-mixing. Who needs a KitchenAid?

branches are the new antlers

I fucking love this. How did I miss this??

Pls don't be offended if I haven't read your blog lately. Apparently I haven't read anyone's blog.

Photography and styling by our lady of A Desert Fete. Obv.

p.s. We have a gorg branch hook from OK that I love to death that seems not to be for sale online. Too bad for you.

*BREAKING NEWS: The branch fell down on Ben's head and Jamie has not put it back up. WTF?!*

are you f*cking kidding me??

 

I subscribe to The Selby for affirmation that it's cool to be, y'know, a little untidy. Not. For. This. Get the spotless miniminalism out of my face pls.

Though I must admit I love that Edward Leida arranges his clothes according to color. I do that.

you guys?

I love you guys.  

p.s. H and I just bought a new mattress and I'm pretty sure it's gonna change my life. I finally feel ready to meet the new decade. Okay, ready just as soon as I buy some new underwear. (NOT the lingerie kind. The not-bunching-up-under-my-jeans kind.)

Polaroid by Page Schultz courtesy of The New York Times