Inspired by The Burning House, a site devoted to documenting what people would take in a fire, and also by a bizarre dream I had last night where I had to move to California (for ridiculous, season 2 of Friday Night Lights, kind of reasons), I thought I would make my own list.

Practical Stuff:
My glasses or contacts, whichever I wasn’t wearing

My phone and laptop (and their chargers, since I am being so smart here)

My quilt

My biggest photo album

My purse du jour, which better have my wallet, sunglasses, lipstick, and eyeliner in it, or I am screwed.

Cowboy boots (they are, too, practical- you can wear them with anything, in any season)

Because I am being so practical, I am leaving all my books off of this list, though it hurts me a little (maybe just a Laurie Colwin and Roald Dahl? They would fit in my purse…)

Everything else:

My silhouettes of my grandmother, mother, uncle, and me

My daughter’s big white E

My favorite vintage summer dress

My favorite, much worn American Apparel black pencil skirt

My favorite black cashmere sweater

The 1 pair of jeans in this hemisphere that fit me

The baby quilt made by my great-grandmother, used by me and my daughter

A couple of vintage tea towels

The wooden box that was once filled with chocolates, that my grandfather gave my grandmother 70 or so years ago

My silverware

My daughter’s haiku about the seasons

My big baroque gilded mirror from the bedroom

Knives

The album filled with art and cards from my daughter

I am pretty sure I can shove all of this stuff (minus the big, hulking mirror) in the wooden chest commissioned by my great-grandfather in South America during the early part of the last century (which also has several generations of wedding and formal dresses, so, bonus), so I can take that, too, right?

So, yeah, that’s kind of a lot, huh? I have never claimed to be a throweverythingIowninthebackofaVWbus kind of girl, and rather than horrifying me, my list helps me appreciate all the intentionality of what I have. It doesn’t matter whether you are person with a spare aesthetic or consider yourself a maximalist, the important thing is to look around your space and know you are surrounded by things that bring you pleasure, and nothing else.

What could you not live without?

{images from The Burning House}

…for the lovely piece about our little house. Anne was a delight, and the pictures are great! You can read the article here.

Because this is me that we’re talking about, let’s go ahead and make this a late brunch, shall we?

We can start at Skillet, where I will eat a kimchee omelet, sweet potato hash, an arugula salad, and a bowl of tomato soup. Yes, I really will eat all that. Don’t judge- it’s not nice.

After complaining (one of life’s pleasures, really) about how full I am, we waddle over to the Columbus Museum of Art, because Sunday’s are free and it’s a joy to wander around a museum that you don’t have to go to. You know that feeling of obligation you have when visiting a big city’s museum- trying to get it all in, while fighting crowds and oncoming crankiness, when really, you would have been happy looking at one thing for 15 minutes and then going to find a cocktail. Well, our museum is friendly and free of duty; lots of really wonderful things to look at, but you don’t have to cram 4 periods of painting into one visit. So I will check out the exhibit and look at my favorite Edward Hopper for a few minutes (we’ll get to the cocktails in a minute), and then I will leave without guilt over not poring over all the collections, because I can just come back next week if I want to.

Enough with culture; now, we shop. The Short North is almost cliche, but for a reason- there are a lot of wonderful stores and restaurants. Bloomsbury Loft is so sweet and charming, and Collier West just nails it every time- I’ve been lusting after that albino peacock for years. We can sneak in to On Paper for just a minute, so I can grab a few beautiful pieces of wrapping paper (that I will more likely frame than actually give away…) before we go find something to eat- all this walking around makes a lady feel a little peckish, no?

We don’t have a ton of time left, so let’s just stroll over to NorthStar to have a quick lunch. Black bean sweet potato burrito for me*- let’s not talk and just read all their magazines.

Back home to Clintonville, where we go to Mad for Mod and Rag-o-Rama for the perfect pair of vintage boots and my fantasy find of a DVF wrap dress before heading over to objects for something I certainly don’t need but want. And then, of course, the Antique Mall, because here I will always find interesting old things. Before heading for home, we will stop in at the Gangway, because there are beautiful things to be seen.

And then we really will go home, where someone will have been cooking something delicious for us, having themselves shopped at the Co-op and the Farmer’s Market for local fare. We will drink kombucha until dinner is ready, and then we will take our dinner outside and drink Prosecco until bedtime.

Goodnight, Columbus.

*Yes, I know that these are only served for breakfast and brunch, but this is my fantasy, ok?

{images from bloomsburyloft, breakfastwithnick, columbusalive, the co-op, eatfoodyum)

These books all talk about creating spaces in your home that are special because they are personal. The Selby’s Todd Selby has become one of the most known forces behind the seemingly new popularity of showing homes with a style that reflects its owners sensibilities, highlighting quirky collections (like cowboy boots or erotic novels from the 70′s) instead of sleek design. But books talking about an individual approach to adorning interiors have a long history, of course; Dorothy Draper was doing it in the 30′s, David Hicks in the 70′s, Rachel Ashwell in the 90′s, and dozens in between. But this new batch of books gives us a modern interpretation of how to infuse a home with personal charm.

The focus of Liz Bauwens and Alexandra Campbell’s Thrifty Chic has more of a country flavor to it- mason jars with flowers and quilts in piles- illustrating an informal method of cuteing up a room, while Diana Lind’s Brooklyn Modern explores the connections between Brooklyn’s architecture and its new-found hipster community. Both books demonstrate how a personal POV can find solutions to budget and space restraints, as well as help develop a special feel to a space.

My new favorite in the batch is Details, by Lily Diallo, I think because she has my dream professional life- being a stylist to people with both taste and money, an all too rare combination! She gives lots of advice about how to make your home feel like you, only better. My favorite being, trust what your like, and screw what everyone else thinks. Ok, I might have taken a bit of license, but that’s what she meant. I would follow it with, but then, edit, but this isn’t my book we’re talking about, is it?

Happy reading.

In case you were unclear.

This, of course,  is totally what my table looks like. Not.

{I am very sorry that I can’t remember where I found this image. If anyone knows, please send me the link and I’ll put it up}

Igloo Letterpress

Erica DiPaulo

The Gangway

Grace Hester Designs

TScrapper

If you are lucky enough to have people in your life who do nice things for you, it really is wonderful to send a thank-you note to express your gratitude. There are few things better than receiving a lovely card that says you are appreciated.

We have lots of artists in Central Ohio who make cards (all of the above artists are local), and you can buy them at places like On Paper, Igloo Letterpress, Collier-West, and Peabody Papers.

Jewelry is like Legos for grown-ups. There are a million tiny pieces that get stuffed in a drawer or a box, frequently get stepped on, and leave you feeling you need more…ok, not really like Legos, but you see where I’m going (right?). So what do you do with all of your pretties? Here are some ideas.

Divide and Conquer- First, of course, get everything out and evaluate what you have. You will probably have some things to get rid of, so put that in your going-to-the-thrift-store bag or box (you have one, yes? Excellent.). Earrings without mates can just be tossed. If you have a bunch of necklaces that are all tangled together, spend a few minutes separating them (you may want a glass of wine for this, as it both tedious and frustrating. Also, small children seem to think this is great fun- exploit them if possible.). There will likely be things that you want to keep but are not part of your regular rotation- put them away in a lovely box and move on to what you actually wear. Once you have decided what you keep, you can move on to how to keep them.

Vertical Storage- Putting your jewelry on display is nice because you can see everything you have do that, you can re-purpose  drawers or frames with cork or fabric (or metal!).

Small Containers- I love to use teacups for this, as it gives purpose to beautiful things that often get lost in cupboards, but you can use anything that pleases you- spice containers, baby-food contains with the labels off, small tins, etc.

Sculpture adornment- If you happen to have a bust lying around (I actually do! And it really is where I keep my jewelry.), I think this is gorgeous, actually.

Artful displays- I love the idea of making a mobile with sticks from outside gatherings to use to hang jewelry- brilliant.

{images from bluebirdheaven, log home ideas, real simple, gadora wilder}

Every year, Pantone, the international arbiters of color (that sounds so silly but it’s true) pick a color they think will both be everywhere in the upcoming months, and reflect the mood of the times. This year, they picked Honeysuckle, which, apparently, “elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life”. That’s a lot of responsibility for one color. Last year’s color was turquoise, because we needed calming? It was a difficult year for many, so I guess they got it right. While I find it a little astonishing that a color would have its own press release (although, certainly, it should), I do rather like the color. I have had pink rooms before, and I loved them; one extra benefit is that everyone looks lovely! If a whole wall feels like too much, you can use it as little pops of color throughout a room. Or you can just get a new lipstick, of course.

{images from designsponge, elli pop, o magazine, lonny}

thelittlechickadee

Kim Glover

Stephanie Rond

Ryan Agnew

Helma Groot

Eva Ball

Does Central Ohio have a disproportionate number of talented artists? Just lucky, I guess.

As anyone who’s ever met me knows, I am not a fan of winter.  I dread it for months,  complain bitterly about its gifts of pretty snow, and have to be coaxed out of my nice warm bed more than once a day-  the second someone’s back is turned, I’m right back in it, too. Everything is harder in winter- driving, walking, dressing. Fresh vegetables are not so fresh, and I don’t really want a salad, anyway. My nose is cold even while sitting at the table.

But. I am trying to not be miserable- because, how boring, really- so here are the luxuries I am finding to get me through til spring.

Tea- Never having been a coffee girl, tea is my constant companion on a chilly day. I am terribly pedestrian in my home tea drinking, having been addicted to Peppermint Celestial Seasonings since a was a child, and occasionally rising to Stash teas before tumbling back into routine, but going elsewhere for tea is a rare outing that sounds appealing in the winter. My favorite is Zen Cha, a lovely tea boutique in the Short North. Zen Cha serves artisan teas in an elegant, calm environment, and coming here feels like a special occasion. When I was little, Biddie’s Tea House was a huge treat, talked about in anticipation for weeks- I guess I need to start taking my daughter there, to extend the tradition. In addition to tea, they have a high tea menu, with lovely sandwiches and other delicacies. For more everyday tea outings, Cup o Joe has several outposts here in Columbus, one of them right here in my neighborhood, so if we are feeling brave we will walk over for a cup of Earl Grey.

Cashmere- Sweaters, hats, mittens. Blankets, socks, water-bottle covers. Whatever. If it’s cashmere, it will be warmer, softer, and more beautiful than anything else. If you’re feeling flush, go to jinny in the Short North for some really stunning sweaters and coats, including a cape that I feel a little lusty about. Vintage sweaters can be found at Mad4Mod, Flower Child, and other antique and retro shops, and even, if you’re very lucky, thrift stores.

Reading- Of course, reading is pleasure year round. Reading in the winter, however, is a requirement for sanity. Columbus has the best library in the country (not hyperbole- it’s really true); for buying books of your own to keep,  The Book Loft has everything, and Cover to Cover has a great selection of children’s books. You have my permission to get back under the covers now.

Music- When you have to get out of bed, it helps to have something to listen to. Lost Weekend always has a fantastic vinyl selection, and Used Kids and Magnolia’s have plenty of things to browse through. Support your local radio stations, too-  90.5, 102.5, and 89.7.

If that’s all not enough, there’s always whiskey.

{images from Yourself on Fire, Countess de Vintage, Nan Lawson}