Tag Archives: Pottery Barn

Our Picks for Pottery Barn’s Best of Summer 2012

27 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in Accessories, furniture, garden, Inspiration, Kids, Kitchen, lighting, Living Room, Outdoor, Parties, rugs, Tabletop

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Chevron Rugs, Potter's Bench, , Pottery Barn Summer 2012, Rope Lamp, Sail Canopy, Wicker Furniture

Did you get the new Pottery Barn catalog last week? I have to say that there are quite a few treasures in there, actually in both the regular catalog and the kids catalog. So many in fact that I thought I’d cull some of them out and share some of the amazing-ness with you, just in cased you missed it! Let’s start with the insane boat cleat and nautical rope gallery wall above (sorry, I couldn’t find a better picture). Love, love, love!

And since you know I love all things nautical, this Rope Table Lamp definitely fits the bill. You just have to make sure to use it as a fun accent and not as overkill. For instance you wouldn’t want to have a ship’s wheel coffee table (just in case you happen to have one of those) and these lamps. Sometimes less is more!

Also in lighting, the new Caged Glass Pendant is a great look and a great size at a great price!

The Woven Rattan Drink Cooler is perfect for summer entertaining indoors or out!

As you may remember, I love salt cellars, and this turtle set couldn’t be cuter. Plus, they have lids which makes me think that maybe, just maybe, my salt won’t get sticky in them here by the ocean where it’s a major problem.

I’m kind of obsessed with the dhurrie rugs in a chevron pattern or bordered in colors like pink, navy, and chocolate.

And the pint sized Chesapeake Potter’s Bench–can you stand it!

The Tavern Chairs have an awesome vintage vibe and I love the colors, but I have to say I probably wouldn’t spend $119 each on them. Fingers crossed for a great sale!

The Tree Fort Loft Bed rocks!

The Wicker Elephant Table may be in the kids catalog, but it would be equally at home in an adult space too.

The Woven Shark also is super cool and only $39.

If I weren’t married to a sail maker, I’d be all over this Sail Canopy.

I think I could keep going, but that ought to be enough to start your summer shopping!

If you like this post, you might like these:
Be Prepared for Warm Weather
Knot Nice
Color in the Conch Repulic

5 Fabulous Outdoor Dining Tables for Under $500

21 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by in furniture, Outdoor

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,


Last year when we were packing away the outdoor furniture, our glass top round table kind of fell apart. I’m not particularly crazy about the table as it’s not my favorite style and while it suited our old deck just fine, the deck at our current home really wants a rectangular table as it has built in benches along the side so I’m quite happy to be able to look for a new one. But as always, I’m not so crazy about having to shell out the cash for it. So here are five outdoor dining tables for under $500! The 79″ Teak Table from The Mill Stores is just the style and size I want for $380.

Ikea’s Applaro Drop-Leaf Table is great because it’s perfect with the leaves down for our family of four to eat together or we can expand it for more when we’re entertaining. And at $139 I really love the price!

For a more modern look, I live West Elm’s Barrow Glass-Top Table for its chicness, although I have to admit the glass top on this one makes me a little nervous. Perhaps it’s best suited for those who don’t have kids throwing baseballs across the yard. But at a price of $399, it’s worth the risk.

J’adore Fermob, the French outdoor furniture company! This powder coated steel furniture is rust resistant and comes in dozens of bright colors at an affordable price. This French Bistro Table is regularly $525, but French Bistro Furniture.com is selling it for $340!

The popular Chesapeake Collection by Pottery Barn includes this 60″ dining table that’s perfect for those that don’t entertain large groups or have a smaller outdoor space. We love it paired with the captain’s chairs.

So which one will I choose? My guess is that we’ll end up with one of the top two. The Mill Stores table is exactly what I want, but Ikea might win me over with it’s amazing price. Plus if I can save the money, they I can get a fun new umbrella to complete the set!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
 Sea Creatures for your Table
Garden Stool with a Twist
Customize Your Play Set

Mason Jar Pendants for All

11 Wednesday Jan 2012

Posted by in D.I.Y., Dining Room, Kitchen, lighting

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

DIY Mason Jar Pendant, , Mason Jar Chandelier, Mason Jar Pendant, , Terrain, , Vintage Mason Jars

We really loved the Mason Jar Chandelier we found on Etsy a few weeks ago, and it appears all of you did too. So when we came a cross a few more versions of them we thought we’d best share them with you to give you all of the Mason Jar Chandelier and Pendant options we could find. The 16-Par Pendant from Pottery Barn provides the same look and will arrive quickly for those of you who love instant gratification.

This smaller 5-Jar Pendant is great over a round table or kitchen sink.

And this Vintage Mason Jar Pendant from Terrain is perfect for those of you who are looking for an authentically vintage look.

And for those of you looking for a little color, we’ve got you covered too with this Pastels Mason Jar Pendant.

One thing is for sure, if you like the look you can definitely find one to suit your style…or even make your own Mason Jar Pendant.

Be Prepared for Warm Weather

24 Thursday Mar 2011

Posted by in Inspiration, lighting, Outdoor

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Fairfield Square Planter, Furniture, garden, Gardener's Supply, L.L. Bean, lawn games, Outdoor, outdoor lighting, planters, , Restoration Hardware, Wisteria

A few inches of snow on the ground isn’t going to get me down. I’ve got pansies planted in my window boxes and spring is still here, with summer not too far away either. Rather than dwell on the snow, I’m going to look at the things I’d like to fill my outdoor spaces with. Here are a few of my favorites starting with the Fairfield Square Planter from Gardener’s Supply. Use it on your steps, your patio or scattered about your yard with flowers or vegetables.

There are few things more relaxing than lounging in an Adirondack Chair, like this one from L.L. Bean. Add wine for perfection.

There are few things more enjoyable in the summer than dining al fresco, but you’ll need to shed a little light on your meal with these Square Glass Lanterns from Wisteria.

These fabulous Esther Paisley Outdoor Cubes by Pottery Barn will work wonderfully as both extra seating and as a table where you can rest your snacks.

And of course there must be games! I love this Lawn Bowling Set from Restoration Hardware. Now go get yourself some of these outdoor gems, and by the time they arrive on your doorstep, I bet mother nature will be ready for you to use them. And until then, I think you’ll have an added spring in your step!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Colorful Plantation Chairs Perfect for Lounging
5 Fabulous Outdoor Dining Tables for Under $500
Under My Umbrella

The Party Closet

23 Thursday Sep 2010

Posted by in Celebrations, D.I.Y., Holidays

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Butler's pantry, Caterer's Dinnerware Sets, Christmas Tree Shops, flatware, napkins, party closet, , stemware, Table Clothes Factory, Taylor Rental

Everyone should have a party closet! A few years back (well maybe close to a decade ago) the close family friends I grew up with started getting married and having kids and the moms started throwing bridal and baby showers, and before we knew it my mom had a full on huge closet dedicated to all things parties. We joke about it, but really, it’s a truly fabulous thing to have. Now my mom, my aunts, my sister, our friends and so on all run to the party closet when we have an event coming up. The trick is not to have the fanciest pieces, but to have a matching set of dishes, glassware, flatware, napkins, etc. in large quantities. Plain white dishes are perfect because you can plan any event decor around them. My mom happened to get her 20+ plates at the Christmas Tree Shops, but I was thrilled to see that Pottery Barn is actually selling Caterer’s Dinnerware Sets. These come in sets of 12 and ideally you’ll want 24 or more, but I would suggest finding a friend that wants to do the same thing and agreeing you will share your sets for when either of you are hosting larger parties. It’s best to pick someone that will always be invited to your events to avoid needing them on the same night.

Pottery Barn also sells stemware sets and flatware sets for the same purpose. While it’s not always easy to find exact matches, we found that rental stores like Taylor Rental are a great source for pieces. They often have excess pieces or pieces that somehow landed in their hands after an event that don’t belong to them and they’ll sell them super cheap. Again, discount stores are great as are thrift stores, tag sales and anywhere else you can find bulk of like items at low prices.


While most people have a decent white tablecloth on hand, you can easily stock up on other colors or stock up on napkins, table runners in every color and more at the Table Clothes Factory. The items on this site are sooo inexpensive, it doesn’t even seem possible so grab two dozen napkins in a few of your favorite colors and throw in a few table runners and toppers to go with them. They have chair covers and sashes and other party supplies too.


Before you know it, you’ll be ready to host the most beautiful parties at only a moments notice and everyone will be wanting invites to dinner. So many of us are stretched so thin and the last thing we have time for is entertaining, but if you have everything at your fingertips, a huge amount of stress is taken away and we all need those nights with friends to rejuvenate ourselves. Plus, this makes the holidays a lot easier. A little effort goes a long way so go get yourself a party closet!

Family Photo Gallery Wall

07 Monday Jun 2010

Posted by in D.I.Y., Inspiration

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Benjamin Moore, , Lee Gallery Frames, Maaike Bernstrom Photography, , Ribba frame,

I was so ridiculously excited yesterday when we FINALLY hung the photos behind our couch. This has been VERY long process in picking out what to put in this 8′ wide by 6′ tall space behind our 9′ long couch. I have a basement full of photos and artwork, but none of them seemed right and so for the past 3 years I have agonized over what I could put here that would achieve the look I wanted and fit my budget. I have contemplated everything from a giant canvas to a decorative iron grate but kept coming back to wanting a series of square frames. Then last November we had a great set of family photos done by Maaike Bernstrom Photography so I decided I definitely wanted to use those and create a gallery wall. I found the Lee Gallery Frames in an oversized 8 x 10 at Pottery Barn which I loved, but at $129 apiece and since I would need 6 of them, that idea was quickly dropped by this unemployed blogger. Then, to my surprise, I found the Ribba frame at Ikea which at about 20″ square was only slightly smaller and way less expensive. I was able to get all 6 frames for less than the cost of one of the Pottery Barn ones. Score!

Oh, but not so fast (I bought them last November). Now I had two new issues, the first being that the opening of the picture mat was 12″ x 12″. This is only a problem because it is nearly impossible to get a photo to fit this size. Your options are 11″ x 14″ or 16″ x 20″ so you will be just a tad too short or quite a bit too large even if you zoom out and trim down. I decided that since I liked the square thing I had going on that I would have 8″ x 10″ photos printed and then trim them down to 8″ x 8″. Great, right?

Problem number two, I now needed to find an additional mat to make up for the gap between the 12″ x 12″ mat and the 8″ x 8″ picture. I didn’t want to use anything white because the mat was already white and I needed something that would match my wall color which is Ocean Air by Benjamin Moore. I looked at everything from different colored papers, fabrics, wallpaper and more, but nothing seemed right. I thought about having pieces of mirror custom cut to fit the frames which I actually think would have been very cool, but the thought of bringing two toddlers into the glass shop with me was daunting, and now I think it probably would have looked a little more formal than the rest of our house is these days. And then it hit me, I had nautical charts sitting in a closet waiting to be wallpapered onto my downstairs bathroom wall, but that project wasn’t ready to be done. The blues in the charts would pick up the wall color perfectly and the charts would add more interest to the frames while still being subtle enough not to compete with the photos. Plus, the charts are of Rhode Island and include a lot of the beaches and bays that are near and dear to our hearts. I am completely thrilled with the result! Now I am on a roll and am doing another gallery wall message center in my kitchen which I hope to share with you by the end of the week.

Under My Umbrella

26 Wednesday May 2010

Posted by in Accessories, beach, garden, Outdoor

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Aqua Market Umbrella, Bamboo Parasol, beach, Design Within Reach, Hampshire Stripe Round Market Umbrella, Mid Century Sunshade, Pier 1 Imports, , Santa Barbara Umberlla, The Conran Shop, Tuuci Razor Shade, Watermelon Cover

Watermelon Cover by Santa Barbara Umbrella

Ahhhhh, the beach weather has finally arrived and a little bit ahead of schedule here in the Northeast. I am eternally conflicted with my complete and total adoration for the sun and my very fair and freckled skin. And while I can handle a little too much sun (even though I shouldn’t) I can’t bare to see my kids whom are even more fair skinned than I (in fact the doctor claims she has never seen a fairer pair) get a sunburn. Hence it is time to figure out how I will shade these two outdoor loving little people. Here are my favorite picks for beach and patio umbrellas.


Lillypond Umbrella by Santa Barbara Umbrella
Hampshire Stripe Round Market Umbrella by Pottery Barn

Mid Century Sunshade available at Design Within Reach

Tuuci Razor Shade available at Design Within Reach


Aqua Market Umbrella by Pier 1 Imports

Bamboo Parasol by The Conran Shop

Now I just have to figure out how to keep the little dears under my umbrella. Enjoy the beautiful day!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
5 Fabulous Outdoor Dining Tables for Under $500
Colorful Plantation Chairs Perfect for Lounging
New Pillows for the Patio

Whale Basket

10 Monday May 2010

Posted by in Accessories, Kids

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , storage, whale

It seems I have a thing for whales…in case you haven’t noticed. But wouldn’t this Pottery Barn Whale Basket be amazingly adorable with the Little Whales wallpaper I posted last week? It comes in white or honey. I might actually like looking at all the toys in my house if they were stored in this basket!

Magazine Wrangling

04 Tuesday May 2010

Posted by in Accessories, D.I.Y., Home Office

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Architectural Digest, Canvas Magazine Butler, Crate and Barr, Devon Office Organizer, Fabric Wall Mount Magazine Holder, In Style Home, Interior Design, Invisible Magazine Rack, O Home, , , The Container Store, Town & Country,

West Elm’s Canvas Magazine Butler

I realize that I’m a little (ok, maybe a lot) late in getting today’s post done, but I actually have a very good excuse. Do you remember how my New Year’s resolution was to get organized and how a week and a half ago I pleaded that less is more? Well I actually spent most of the day working on these things today instead of just talking about them! Yes, I realize that time is often the issue in achieving these goals (for everyone), but I’ve decided that baby steps are the only way it’s going to get done and so I’m going to try to spend at least an hour a day in my quest for a more minimal and organized life. My first step was to go out and buy some basic small storage containers with locking lids that my 1 year old could not get into. I have been so tired of my 3 year old’s multiple boxes of crayons, paints, play-doh, etc. scattered about the living room and kitchen so now each art medium has it’s own storage bin and they are nicely stacked in a cupboard in the living room that was full of stuff we never used which I emptied out. Why I was letting things we never use occupy valuable storage space in a prime location for things we do use I don’t know. Apparently I thought it was going to take me longer than the 15 minutes it took to move the never used stuff.

Pottery Barn’s Devon Office Organizer

Next up was the magazines. I don’t know if you are like me and like to keep your design magazines thinking that you will go back and look at them when you are ready to tackle that next project. As someone who spent most of my day reading old Interior Design, Architectural Digest, House & Garden, In Style Home, O Home, and Town & CountryHome Edition magazines from 2005 and 2006 today, I think I can safely say that it is unlikely that you will refer to your old magazines again. I can’t throw a design magazine out without making sure that I’ve first torn out all the rooms, gardens, fabrics, products, etc. that inspire me, and I promise that I really do sit down every few months and do this, but for some reason this batch of 25 or so magazines from 5 years ago I was really clinging to (maybe it’s because literally half of them don’t exist anymore)…at least until today.Crate and Barrel’s Invisible Magazine Rack

Ok, so now I have completely rid myself of all magazines unless I have been published in them (those get filed in a magazine file box) or they have arrived in my house within the past month. I do have a large stack of tear sheets that need to be added to my binders so that I can refer to them when I need a little inspiration. But how do I make sure this never happens again? Well, I have a magazine rack that probably holds about 10-15 magazines and my new rule is that every magazine or catalog in the house has to go in that rack, and if there isn’t any room then it’s time to get rid of something if there is something new I want to keep. One in, one out (making sure I’ve torn out any pages that I HAVE to have). The Container Store’s Fabric Wall Mount Magazine Holder

Bottom line, if you are a media hoarder like me, find a magazine rack, shelf or something else with limits to its capacity and agree that you will limit the amount of media clutter to that space. Everyone’s threshold for how much they keep on hand may not be the same depending on whether you live in a small apartment or a large house, but keep it to a reasonable amount that you can sort through every few weeks or so. Here are a few products that may suit your space and help you get organized.

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Perfect Easter Basket

12 Friday Mar 2010

Posted by in Accessories, D.I.Y., Kitchen

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, Easter, Eco-friendly, , Martha Stewart, Natural Easter Baskets, , Twenty Little Toes, Wisteria

There is nothing that drives me more crazy than walking through the stores this time of year and seeing all of the disposable decorations. Why buy something cheap and then throw it out because it’s not nice enough to make it worth holding onto when for a few extra dollars you can get something that will last for years and years to come? So here are a few Easter baskets that will happily hold your beautiful eggs and chocolates for years to come, starting with the Natural Easter Baskets by Pottery Barn (above).

For another natural look, you can customize your own by making one with synthetic flowers as Martha Stewart does here.

Pottery Barn Kids has an adorable collection of wicker baskets and linersthat are made to last and can be personalized. These would also be an adorable baby gift for any new babies arriving in the next few weeks.

And I just love these bunny baskets on wheels from Wisteria. You might even be able to find a place to keep these on display year round. Can’t you just picture a bunch of fresh carrots from the farmer’s market resting in this basket on your counter?

And of course, baskets abound on Etsy like the bunny fabric one above by seller Twenty Little Toes. Or search here for more on Etsy.

No matter which style basket you like, just try to find one that will last beyond next month.