I'm Mad About ...

Good morning! I'm off to the Bay Area this weekend. Here are some things I'll be thinking about on the long drive up there:

By Andrewrabbott (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

• Will you be celebrating Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee?
• Today is National Doughnut Day—a good excuse to indulge your sweet tooth!
• I'm drooling over this stunning Beverly Hills home.
• Is your home overstyled? I'll admit, I might be a little guilty of that, but I honestly love everything I own. And I still want a bar cart.
• If you care about animals, please take a minute to ask True Religion to stop using real fur in its clothing.

Have a great weekend!

I'm Mad About ...

Good morning. There's so much good stuff this week, let's get right to it:

• Too bad I don't have Pottery Barn nearby—this accessorizing class sounds like fun.
• I do, however, have a Target nearby, and I can't wait to hit the Shops at Target. Get there early Sunday, 'cause you know it's going to be a sell-out.
• Speaking of Target, Nate Berkus's Target collection drops Oct. 21. I've marked my calendar!
• Design Star season seven starts this month!
• I'm so moved by the spirit of this little guy. Dogs are the best.

Have a great weekend and happy Cinco de Mayo!

I'm Mad About...

Happy Passover and Easter! I hope you all have wonderful plans for the weekend.

Here are a few things that caught my eye this week:

April the greyhound is in Michigan, looking for a home

• April is National Greyhound Adoption Month. How can you resist? 
• The Shelter Pet Project is on Pinterest. I love the way they use wit and humor (and not guilt) to bring attention to animals that need homes.  
• Have you seen the new Anthropologie magazine? I've only flipped through it briefly (still have to catch up on back issues of Marie Claire and the new Matchbook), but there's a story on Palm Springs. (I think it's a sign.) If you've read it, what do you think? 
• And some sad news: Renowned designer Albert Hadley passed away last week at the age of 91.

All in the (Smythe) Family

Did you know that the fabulous Tommy Smythe has a sister, Christie, and that she's also a designer? Not of interiors but clothing.

I think I've mentioned before how much I love this kitchen Tommy designed:

House & Home

Now, how gorgeous is this jacket from the Smythe spring collection:

Smythe

Talent is definitely in their genes (and their jeans!).

Ahead of His Time

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." —William Morris (1834-1896)

Portrait of William Morris
by George Frederic Watts,
via Wikimedia Commons

I've been aware of influential 19th century English designer William Morris for years, but only came across the quote above sometime last year. It perfectly describes what I've been actively trying to live.

Then the other day, while browsing the aisles of Barnes & Noble, I came across this beautiful book. The store was about to close, so I only had time to flip through it briefly, but I knew had to know more about this fascinating man.

A true renaissance man, Morris was also a trained architect, a writer of poetry and prose, and an early socialist. But what he's remembered for most are the textiles and more than 50 wallpapers he designed. His nature-inspired creations still look fresh and modern today.

This vivid large-scale wallpaper was created for St. James's Palace:

William Morris, via Wikimedia Commons

His Acanthus design dates from 1875:

William Morris, via Wikimedia Commons