28. January 2008 by Parker.

I’ve told my husband numerous times that there is an invisible beacon on top of our house that leads all stray dogs to come here, for they can seek refuge here. A new dog or dogs find their way here at least every other month and I take them in, care for them, try to find their owners, and generally fall head over heels for their cute furry faces in the process. So was the case with these two…

They wandered onto my property last Friday and took up residence with me until Monday morning when the county pound opened. Normally I would have kept them until their owners came a calling or until I found them a new home but I had a conference all week and the husband was out of town so I had no choice but to turn them over to the county. I did, however, make arrangements for them to go into foster care together with a note on their paperwork that they should be adopted together, as they rely on one another, and that the pound should call me in a week if they weren’t adopted as I would take them in for as long as it would take. No call came today so I’m assuming they found a good home together. Here’s to you little Bonk (husband’s nickname for small one) and Captain. We love ya!

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22. January 2008 by Parker.

This has to be one of the cutest corkscrews I’ve seen in a while. However it comes with an large price tag of $79.00 from Barneys.

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19. January 2008 by Parker.

Anthropologie and I have a strange relationship. Sometimes they are right on target with what I am looking for and other times, there isn’t a single item on their site that I would consider buying. It’s a love-hate relationship and today, I love them!

Here are a few of my favorites:

I’m actually thinking of buying this rug just so I have an excuse to paint my dining room red…

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17. January 2008 by Parker.

New Article for This Week’s Citizen…

Most of us collect and display something unique in our lives. It might be a collection of family snapshots in elaborate scrapbooks, meaningful vacation souvenirs arranged lovingly on a bookshelf, or random sea shells resting peacefully on a bathroom ledge. Others form collections for a specific purpose and with incredible discipline: hundred year old coins or antique radio parts for an ambitious project. Since three or more of anything merits a collection, find a clever way to display your treasured pieces as if they are works of art. Collections are a fantastic way to showcase what you love, and your personal style can quickly become an artistic display in itself. By showing your collections openly, you will constantly be reminded of the things you love and can share the joy they bring you with others.

Collections typically start out innocently and innocuously. A friend gives you a frog figurine for your birthday one year and suddenly everyone thinks you love frogs. They start pouring in at every occasion and you now own a gigantic frog collection. Maybe you do not even have space to display your collection or perhaps you simply do not know how or where to display your pieces. If you started your collection intentionally, you should sort the collection into groupings split by either room or season to start.

Before designing the display for your collection, you must first organize it. Unpack all your items and examine what you have amassed over the years. If you have too many pieces, consider paring down your collection. If you have a small space, you can be logical about how many pieces will comfortably fit. Collections are generally started for a reason so enjoy your prized possessions by creating a fabulous display. Clutter is a detractor even if you can afford to collect Faberge eggs by the dozen. You can find a place to put almost anything in your home. Shelves and vacant wall spaces are the most common presentation areas, but try thinking outside the box for creative new places and original ways to display your treasures.

Now that you have taken a good look at your collection, move onto separating your collection by color. This is the easiest way to group your collection when you are ready to display it openly. If you have several shelves throughout your home, this is also a good way to decide what to put where. A pleasing display can easily be created by grouping like-colors together. Blue bathroom? Find or commandeer an open shelf and put all those lighthouse figurines in there. Grouping items by color also provides a unified look in a place where lots of color may seem out of place or distracting from the room’s focal point.

Keep in mind the intended use of the room as well. A plate collection makes sense in a dining room as do tea cups in the kitchen. A vintage key collection hung carefully by alternating ribbon in the entry of the home is appropriate and serves as a discussion piece as well.  This also gives you the ability to add a sense of depth to a vacant wall without having to break out a paint roller to change the wall treatment in the process.

Strong shapes and bold colors make for a great collection. Whether the items are vintage or sparkling new, do not feel pressured to make everything match perfectly; it is simply not possible. A large assortment of colors is acceptable in an oversized display; however a communal base shade will help the set feel more uniform. Try combining several sizes and shapes as well. When you begin collecting, you may not have any rhyme or reason to what you collect, but everything always has a size and a shape. Also try to focus on odd numbers when arranging a collection. Three figurines of varying sizes will be more calming than two mirrored figurines that are the exact same size sitting right next to each other. Remember to put the taller items near the back and place the smaller pieces in a staggered formation in the front.

Finding the right pattern in which to hang or place your collectibles can be tricky. Try tracing your items onto paper bags and cutting out the templates. This way you can tape the templates onto the wall in varying patterns until you find the one you love - without putting several holes in the wall in the process. Keep in mind that a symmetrical arrangement is considered more formal, whereas an abstract display is more modern. Pick which style you prefer, or mix and match displays until you find your own unique style. You may just be surprised by what comes to light!

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10. January 2008 by Parker.

It’s official. Yellow is taking the fashion world by storm. It’s everywhere. In clothing lines, furniture stores, textile marts, and more. So prepare yourself for the bright hues and wonderful patterns that are coming your way. Here are a few glimpses….

From Anthropologie:

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1. January 2008 by Parker.

Just finished this week’s article for the Citizen. Enjoy!

As times have changed, so have our homes. The traditional floor plan of formal living room and dining room off the main entry has long since gone. Newer homes are adapting to our more informal lives and offering family rooms, bonus rooms, and even home theaters. Nevertheless the size attributed to our closets has not changed significantly. While master closets were revamped into walk in closets in the 90’s and guest rooms were given the entire length of a wall for their closets, the need for storage space has continued to increase exponentially.  

Places like The Container Store exist because everyone is yearning for a way to organize their belongings. In an age fueled by unbridled consumerism and deficit spending, we are increasingly bringing home more ’stuff’ everyday, yet we have not prepared our homes to store it. Each room has dead zones just waiting to be tapped for organization duty. If you can discover those hidden gems and add the proper storage vehicle, order can triumph over clutter once and for all.

Back to Basics: It always amazes me how often people overlook the obvious. When I met my husband, he kept his few ties crumpled in a drawer and hung his two belts on the towel rack in the bathroom. No need to elaborate on what humidity does to leather belts, but when I purchased him a combination tie-belt rack our first Christmas together, he looked at me as if I had just demonstrated cold fusion.  As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that these items were invented for a reason. Use them.

Inches to Spare: Shoe racks can both create and save space. Whether you have an empty wall or small floor area available, shoe racks can do the trick. Mount a shoe rack to the wall behind a door to create some extra storage and/or hang another on the back of the door to maximize the space you have. The door may now only open 90% of the way but you’ll have a home for 2 dozen more shoes. You can also use clear shoe racks to hold small and easy to lose items like jewelry, hair clips, and more.

Think Outside the Box: Acrylic shoe boxes allow you to see all your shoes, from ballet flats to platform wedges, and still stack them with ease. However don’t be misled by its name. These same boxes are great for storing everything from winter scarves and gloves to socks and tights. If you choose opaque boxes, make sure you take a moment to label them, saving you precious time later when you are in a rush. Be resourceful and commandeer that wasted space under your hanging clothes by adding shallow storage containers for everything from out-of-season clothes to special occasion dress shoes.

Hooks, Hangers, & Knobs, Oh My: Hit songs are all about the hook. Add stylish hooks almost everywhere, including cabinets, doors, and walls. Think of uses beyond just hats or coats and hang purses, bags for laundry, or pajamas. Decorative cabinet knobs mounted onto the wall make excellent storage for necklaces and scarves. Also discard all the flimsy dry cleaner hangers and purchase a cohesive set. Believe it or not, the new uniformity will make the entire space feel larger and more accessible.

Shelves: Examine your closet carefully to see where you can add an extra shelf or two. Most ceilings are 8 to 10 feet tall these days which allows room for storage boxes, pillows, and blankets. A bookcase along the back wall can be the perfect location for folded sweaters, jeans, or boots and the adjustable shelves come in quite handy. Also consider utilizing additional items in your home for purposes other than they were intended (i.e. Adjustable steel shelving, typically used in commercial kitchens, can transform an unused guest bedroom into an instant closet. See photo)

In a perfect home there would be a place for everything and everything in its place.  If you invest the time and energy necessary to organize your storage areas now, you will discover more space for next year’s stuff.

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