Lilly Pulitzer for Target
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Just four more days until the Lilly Pulitzer for Target collection will be available in stores and online!
The famous resort wear brand is offering over 250 items, from home goods to fashion and beauty. It comes just in time for the party I am planning for Amelia’s first birthday. I figured since her nursery was inspired by Palm Springs, why not design her first birthday around the same look. What can I say, I am a sucker for fringe, fun colors, and 60s glam.
With expectations of the collection selling out quick, I went online and narrowed down my top picks.
To check out the rest of the collection, click here.
What are your favorites?
Favorite Indoor Plants
/Last weekend we hit up our local nursery to replenish our vegetable garden, and I have to admit—it’s one of my most favorite places to visit in spring. I could drop some serious benjamins on plants. The more I learn about plant care and gardening, the more I love it. There is something so grounding about digging in the dirt.
Many people express an interest in having plants, but are afraid they may have a black thumb. The good news is, there are tons of indoor plants that are easy to grow so that you can enjoy the benefits of live greenery in your home. A simple internet search will give you tons of lists, but some of them have a real...eh, can I say dentist office look?? You know what I mean. Just kind of stale and plain. This is a list of my favorite plants to keep that have a little more personality. Check em out!
1. Asparagus Fern – this guy has lots of varieties and alternate names. I picked up two at our local nursery last weekend. One tiny baby emerald feather, and one bigger branchy one like the one pictured. They are great for porch plants or indoors since they tolerate low light. And I love their feathery soft texture. A great alternative to the broad waxy leaf of most indoor plants.
2. Jade – these are commonly reproduced artificially. I guess because they are so waxy to begin with, they almost look artificial. But there’s no reason yours should be! They’re super easy to grow. I have one in my kitchen window that’s doing just fine. Many people love succulents but find their ornary nature and slow growth frustrating. Jade is the easy way out. I had some succulents that were already not doing well, and then my two year old decided it would be fun to pluck all their leaves off….so we’re done with those…I’ll just hang onto my jade!
3. Basil – another one of my kitchen window babies. We also have basil in our garden, but I like to keep one nearby for easy access. Basil is an herb that most cooks keep in their back pockets, and if you learn to snip them correctly for culinary use, they regenerate quickly. Even if you're not a big cook, they do great in a sunny window.
4. Aloe – a plant we all know and love come summer time! Not only is an aloe plant extremely easy to keep, but they are handy to have around. We had one in our garage when I was little (yes the garage!) and anytime we had a small burn, my mom broke off a tip and put some fresh aloe on it. Medicinal and easy! Win-win.
5. Hydrangea – obviously an outdoor bush, but the great thing about hydrangeas are they make beautiful summer bouquets, and you can preserve them to keep forever! The bushes themselves need soft light and daily watering, and some people find them difficult to keep (or maybe they just don't read about them before they plant them in the scorching sun). So either find a neighbor with a generous amount of blooms, or look during the spring and summer at the grocery store and you’ll find some clippings. (Just don’t look out of season—I recently heard someone complain in February that the hydrangeas at the store were expensive and not lasting long. I politely explained that it was still winter and they weren't in season here, and the ones in the store were probably grown out of the country.)
6. Mother-in-Law's Tongue – you can’t not love the name of this plant!! I love their hint of yellow and the fact that they’re a vertical plant. If you have a tight corner that needs a little something, this is the perfect plant. They’re super easy to care for as well.
7. Fiddle Leaf Fig – big in design world right now, and for good reason. They are the perfect indoor tree. Broad leaves, easy maintenance, and take up the perfect amount of space in an empty corner. Like the jade plant, they are commonly sold as artificial reproductions, but it’s not necessary to spend the money on a fake when you can have the benefits of the real thing.
8. Dwarf Umbrella tree – I have a baby one of these and I just love it. It’s the happiest little plant. I’ve moved it all around and it hasn’t been phased at all. It’s also grown quickly! I’ve already moved it to a bigger pot and I’ve had it about 6 months. The branches spread out wide and are very tropical-looking.
9. Citrus Trees – I haven’t personally tried this, but after last year’s luck with the birds devouring our meyer lemon tree, I’m considering it! Apparently in ample light with a roomy pot, not only will a citrus tree flourish inside, but also produce fruit—and where the birds can’t get it. I like that!
Now you've got a few ideas to get you started! I also highly suggest local nurseries over big box stores for your plants. The plants are usually better cared for, and at ours, the staff is unbelievably helpful if you have any questions. Or just to trouble shoot. They have a wealth of knowledge, whereas most big box store employees are no different than any of their other employees. Plus it's always good to support local business!
But if you don't have a local nursery, don't neglect the power of the internet. Like I said, there are tons of lists out there on how to care for your plants and how to select the best one for your home. So what are you waiting for??
Happy planting!
Let's Take a Tour-Grow Marketing Offices in SF
/The latest edition of Rue Magazine detailed the inside look of the offices at Grow Marketing in San Francisco. As soon as I turned the virtual page, I thought to myself, "I want to work here!"
Cassie Hughes and Gabrey Means used to be rivals, each working for fashion giants Gap Inc. and Levi's. After meeting and chatting over a bottle of wine, they decided they should start a new business venture, together. What formed was Grow Marketing, now residing on Pacific Avenue in historic Jackson Square in San Francisco.
The pair set out to create an agency of their own and "foster an environment that felt supportive, yet aspirational." After looking at the interiors of their offices, I think they succeeded in doing just that! Let's take a tour.
Exposed brick, crisp white walls and beautiful moldings are the backdrop for this stunning office. Gabrey and Cassie worked with designer Josef Medellin to transform the building, originally built in 1907.
Of course, the bright yellow furniture can't be forgotten either.
I'd gladly take a meeting in this adorable conference room.
Relaxed brainstorming areas are filled with leopard print upholstery and a vintage suitcase functioning as a coffee table. My mind is already traveling to great places just looking at it.
More white and historic moldings...and flowers. I can't forget the flowers.
Seriously, isn't this place so chic? Hard to believe it used to be a watering hole and brothel at one time, huh?
I love the open floor plan and the juxtaposition of the industrial stairs with the glamorous chandeliers and furnishings.
More cheerful office furniture...and those oversized mirrors? Amazing.
A workplace dreams are made of...
I sincerely apologize if you're reading this at your generic cubicle, but I can assure you you're not the only one longing for an office like this. Job well done, Means, Hughes and Medellin. Job well done.
TGIF friends!
An office / guest room design
/Our latest completed e-design, came from a client who like many, had a spare bedroom that needed to function as both an office and a guest room for the occasional visitor.
A couple requirements she had were A) when the room was being used by a guest, she wanted the ability to tuck away any office related items so that it felt more like a guest room than an office and B) she needed storage for her many books.
Based on the space, we decided the best option was to have a pull out sofa in between built-in bookshelves. The sofa could act as both a comfortable place to read and a bed when needed. We selected a streamlined desk with a storage drawer and suggested running electricity into the closet so that she could keep her wireless printer, filing cabinet, and other office related items behind the louvered doors.
For the color palette, we wanted to keep the room light so that it would be conducive to studying and also flow with the rest of the house. We kept the walls white, chose a pale gray for the built-ins (BM Owl Gray) and layered the room with neutrals and blues. The end result was a contemporary, beachy look. I absolutely love the contrast of the peacock blue sofa against the natural wood finishes!
Well, I hope you got some ideas. If you have a design challenge that you need help with, drop us a line. Whether it is finding the perfect coffee table or designing an entire room, we can help.
