Today on weekend meanderings, pretty outdoor table lamps with textured shades, bamboo flatware, plus a pair of must-have linen pants, and summer reading.
Happy Saturday friends! It’s time for the weekend post with Kim and Elizabeth, our weekly roundup of inspiration and goings on.
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Did you have a good week? Short week’s can be rough and mine was a whirlwind of running errands, cleaning house, and feeble attempts to (over) pack my suitcare.
I’m in Italy! The Puglia region … and Snowberry is – temporarily – under more capable management.
Summer Table Setting With Cordless Lamps
A couple of weeks ago my stylist friend Alli of TCB Style & Design came over to help me pull together a summer table setting using things I (mostly) already owned. I did buy a set of cordless lamps and adorable raffia lamp shades. Other than that, I pulled everything from my cupboards. Oh, and I borrowed Alli’s faux-bamboo flatware. More about that later. On her way over Alli picked up flowers at Trader Joe’s. Butterfly ranunculus in the lightest, prettiest shade of pink or pale peach. They lasted forever and turned a beautiful shade of ivory … and only gave up the ghost two days ago.
My shiny new summer toy is a cordless lamp. A pair of cordless lamps in a pretty shade of green (comes in several colors and finishes). And to make it fancy, I bought two sets of textured lamp shades that fit right over the top. This water hyacinth shade, which I thought would work best with my table setting, and this raffia shade, which turned out to be my preferred option. That said, I kept both.
Anyway, if you didn’t have a chance to read it, it’s not too late and I think you’ll enjoy Alli’s tips for creating a beautiful summer table without a lot of fuss. And if you go over to my Instagram you’ll find my table setting Reel and more tips from Alli saved to a highlight titled ‘Summer Table.’
Bamboo Love … and Regret
Bamboo flatware has been on my wish list for a long time and this may be the summer I finally buy it. The big dilemma is what set to purchase. There are so many options at different price points. Bamboo is on trend right now but, really, isn’t it timeless? So perhaps investing in a good set has merit.
Bamboo, and rattan, was big in our house when I was growing up. I was born in the Philippines, on a Navy base. We lived in one of those houses on stilts and I had a Filipina nanny named Ning who was, apparently, wonderful because my mother was still singing her praises decades later. I think it was more about the shock of having to deal with me herself once we returned to the states. I couldn’t find my pictures of Ning but I did find one of my mother, me (at a month old), and Mr. Yang, our houseman. My parents adored him too and kept up a regular correspondence with him – and Ning – after we returned home.
Anyway, while in the Philippines my parents traveled throughout Asia and brought home a house full of bamboo and rattan furniture, as well as rattan wrapped glassware that’s so popular now and bamboo flatware. And all kinds of other beautiful pieces that I thought were hopelessly uncool and not at all how my friend’s houses were furnished. Looking back I regret not holding onto so many of those things. Especially the flatware. Oof. I found this picture of my parents round, rattan dining table and chairs set with that bamboo flatware for my Christening dinner.
In my summer outdoor table post I shared several bamboo flatware sets that I’m considering. If money was no object, I’d buy a Buccellati Tahiti sterling silver set at Scully & Scully. Each piece is in the $325-435 range bringing a 5-piece place setting to well over $1800. Doesn’t hurt to look though, isn’t it beautiful?
Everyone Needs These Pants
It’s not often that I feel really well dressed, so when I pull it off twice in one week, it’s worth noting. I wish I could attribute this triumph to my own good taste and style, but let’s not kid ourselves. I owe it to a simple pair of striped, linen pants. (Update: my linen pants may have sold out, but this is a great – and less expensive – alternative from Quince. I have them in black and they come in several solids as well as stripes.) And Kim, because I bought them from a link on her blog.
When I bought them last year, I pigeonholed them into the warm-weather-vacation category. How wrong I was. Last week for some reason I started thinking outside the box and paired them with a favorite navy blazer for a day in the City with Kim, and last weekend I wore them with a cropped sweater for Jim’s birthday dinner at a French bistro. (if you’re local it was Reve Bistro in Lafayette) AND they made it into my suitcase and are now in Italy.
The moral of the story? If you have a piece of clothing languishing in your closet with a mindset that it’s meant for a specific occasion, pull it out and try it on with a few unexpected things. You may surprise yourself. Also, these pants (similar here) can be paired with anything and look chic.
Little House on 4th Update
Last week I shared some rough renderings of our little house on 4th Street, and this week it’s evolved further. We’re waiting on a soils report before moving forward with submitting preliminary plans to the city. If I haven’t mentioned it, the lot we’re working with is all of 35′ wide. It’s a challenge.
Summer Reading
A few book I downloaded for my trip …
Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy by Elizabeth Teller
Wives Like Us by Plum Sykes
Never, Never, Hardly Ever: A Mother-Daughter Story of Antiques and Antics by Kelly McKenzie
In my pre-order queue …
Death in the Air by Ram Murali
Whoever You Are, Honey by Olivia Atwood
A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey (I read an advanced copy and loved it!)
And, I recently finished …
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
Burn Book: A Tech Love Story by Kara Swisher (I love her and adore both her podcasts, particularly Pivot which she hosts with Scott Galloway.)
Current Favorites ~
And that’s what I have for you today. Let’s see what’s inspiring Kim and Elizabeth.
In case you missed it, last weekend I shared our summer ready patio, a disturbance in our garden, and a yummy raspberry cornmeal crumble recipe (plus ice cream), catch up here.
Wishing you the very best weekend.
Ciao!
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