Seen Around Town

A recent visit to some of our favorite showrooms had us drooling and dreaming .... Now that we've caught up on that hour we lost this past weekend (seriously, isn't it time to give up this whole 'daylight savings time' thing??) we are reveling in the warmer weather that promises springtime is around the corner.  The gardens are starting to wake up and we are beginning to daydream about al fresco dining.  What better place to dine than on a patio outfitted with this beautiful, classic, iron and stone set?

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2016-03-08 13.45.35

Or for indoor dining, how about these unusual sleek leather skirted parsons chairs with this great stitch detailing at the side and back pleats?  As we've mentioned before, we LOVE detail on the back of a dining chair!

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2016-03-08 14.00.04
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2016-03-08 14.00.12

Speaking of dreaming, a few beds caught our eye ...

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2016-03-08 13.43.39

This cushy tufted headboard from Century Furniture begs for a good book,and we love the button detail on these pillows and duvet.

And these sheets!  OH MY!  I've never felt or seen anything like this GORGEOUS embroidered bedding from Muse Bespoke - Italian cotton sateen, completely custom and luxurious - hey, you spend a third of your life in bed, right? Shouldn't the bedding be wonderful?

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2016-03-08 13.58.45
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2016-03-08 13.58.56

Here is a closeup of the one embroidery option ...

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2016-03-08 14.02.48

And this, from the same line but with a more contemporary vibe.

Happy Almost Spring!  Keep dreaming ....

Seen Around Town

Here are some of the highlights from a recent visit to the Boston Design Center. Blue is finally back in vogue in all shades from cadet to periwinkle to midnight .. .but these embroidered fabrics seen at the Lee Jofa showroom are also full of luscious texture that make the blues better than ever!

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2016-02-11 11.41.15
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2016-02-11 11.40.58
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2016-02-11 11.40.44

And speaking of embroidered fabrics ... I just can't get enough of them!  The embroidery and detail is what makes these neutrals anything but bland.

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2016-02-11 11.50.13
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2016-02-11 11.42.30
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2016-02-11 12.24.40

Love, love, love the addition of little wooden buttons in the embroidery on this one from Kravet!

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2016-02-11 12.25.42
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2016-02-11 12.25.22
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2016-02-11 12.25.07

And these gray embroidered linens ... could make me forget that gray is so ubiquitous right now and fall in love anyway.

Toss pillows have reached new heights of creativity too - with contrasting cutouts and unique fabric application, texture and ties, or oversize fabric loop trim, these from FDO can take a sofa or bed from ordinary to extraordinary.

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2016-02-11 12.11.31
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2016-02-11 12.19.55
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2016-02-11 12.19.29
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2016-02-11 12.12.46
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2016-02-11 12.22.00
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2016-02-11 12.12.30
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2016-02-11 12.11.10

And who says end tables should be boring just because they are functional?  This round up from a few showrooms shows some of the variety available for the oh so hard-working end table.

Like this all wood "draped" side table at Lee Jofa

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2016-02-11 11.53.24
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2016-02-11 11.57.39

Or this more contemporary tiny 'spring' one at Brunschwig and Fils

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2016-02-11 12.10.10

This elegantly structured glass and metal one ...

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2016-02-11 12.17.04

Or the subtle texture of two tiers of hammered copper

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2016-02-11 12.55.42

and then there is this - one of a pair of charming rustic wood petite tables seen in the Market Stalls

Speaking of furniture - we loved the covered button detail dressing the back of this dining chair from Kravet - after all you see the BACK of a dining chair far more often than the front!

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2016-02-11 12.07.40
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2016-02-11 12.00.43

and the metal trim detail on the footrest of this barstool

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2016-02-11 12.20.54

The toile applied to the front of this chest complements the beautiful hardware perfectly

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2016-02-11 12.06.47

This slipcovered sofa at Kravet is beautifully tailored - distinctly different from the slouchy slipcover of yore that came with the popularity of 'shabby chic' a decade ago

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2016-02-11 12.02.32

And, of course, nailhead trim still abounds ... here on a rich navy velvet upholstered bed.  A classic furniture detail that has been elevated to more creative uses than just embellishment for a leather sofa!

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2016-02-11 12.44.52

We love the asymmetrical seams and butter soft leather on these ottomans at Webster and Co. 

Beautiful lighting ...

this classic regal chandelier at Webster and Co

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2016-02-11 12.37.01
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2016-02-11 12.41.14

or this one with an interesting mix of rock crystals and flint colored cut crystals

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2016-02-11 12.17.29

Or this great rendition of the currently popular bottle chandelier ... there's that color again!

And finally, a couple of wall treatments that made an impression.

This wallpaper that looks like a woven sisal - you have to touch it to believe it is just an image and not the real thing

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2016-02-11 12.48.36
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2016-02-11 12.43.07
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2016-02-11 12.42.46

or, finally, this wall texture created by the application of individual puzzle pieces - a striking effect worth mentioning for its uniqueness alone!

Hope you enjoyed the armchair sprint through a couple of floors of the Design Center!  Check back for more as "Seen Around Town" becomes a regular feature here at Nestfeathers by JRL.

Around Town

A recent trip to the design center yielded some interesting finds ...

A perfect carpet at Steven King to go with the fabrics for a dining room we are working on

Some luscious new fabrics at Lee Jofa

artisan
artisan
langdale4
langdale4

And some interesting tables and stools in the Market Stalls section of vendors ... a pair of faux bamboo stools and a coffee table base made of a large piece of scrolled metal

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2015-10-08 12.45.37
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2015-10-08 12.43.19
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2015-09-21 14.31.14
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2015-09-21 14.27.35

A pretty coffee table with a metallic finish and a curved loveseat with tailored lines at Ailanthus

Writing this post has reminded me to TAKE MORE PICTURES...so until next time,

Happy November!

World Market has made it to the Northeast!

A sort of Anthropologie meets IKEA with a little Pier One and Crate and Barrel thrown in ... along with some Williams Sonoma gourmet food and a remarkable assortment of beer and wine ... there is something here for just about everyone!  The store is brand new so there are stretches of empty shelves still waiting to be filled with product, but so far, it has an impressive variety of well designed stuff at reasonable and often bargain prices. Let me take you on an iphone tour of the store as seen last weekend ...

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2015-10-10 11.28.54
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2015-10-10 11.29.08
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2015-10-10 11.35.46
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2015-10-10 11.35.24

Dining chairs and stools with great lines in a variety of colors and styles for less than $200 each

and a rainbow of chair pads

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2015-10-10 11.34.08

Adorable bird-adorned teacups

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2015-10-10 11.30.03

A sampling of the large variety of serving pieces and dishware

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2015-10-10 11.30.45
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2015-10-10 11.38.26
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2015-10-10 11.31.30

A fantastic array of sizeable serving trays

Assorted flatware and another bird-decorated piece ...

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2015-10-10 11.33.16
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2015-10-10 11.31.10

this time a cookbook holder

And MORE birds ... on ring dishes, bath trays, and bath canisters

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2015-10-10 12.01.17
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2015-10-10 11.42.00

Some of the unusual beverages for sale as well as all kinds of gourmet sweets and snacks, coffee, tea, beer, and wine ... great gift basket fodder

Office and shelf decor

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2015-10-10 11.47.02
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2015-10-10 11.46.58

A wall of throw pillows as well as some coverlets and, not shown, shower curtains and window panels and rods, and area rugs

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2015-10-10 11.50.19

Glass containers, vases, cloches and candles in every color and flavor

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2015-10-10 11.56.06

A variety of inexpensive furnishings that have interesting lines, if not quality construction ... but great style for the price

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2015-10-10 11.55.18
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2015-10-10 11.52.53
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2015-10-10 11.52.07
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2015-10-10 12.02.57
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2015-10-10 11.57.48

Soaps and lotions with beautiful packaging

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2015-10-10 11.57.16

The obligatory seasonal items - some really charming, some appalling (no pictures of those)

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2015-10-10 12.15.44

Interesting paper goods, gift packaging, and cards

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2015-10-10 12.14.40

A series of clever stocking stuffers

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2015-10-10 12.03.18

A large display of decorative knobs, handles and hooks with great style and great pricing

All in all, very excited to have a new home store kid on the block!  The experience is marred only by the unfortunate fluorescent lighting and warehouse-box proportions of the building itself ... but the merchandise is most definitely worth a visit!

World Market, Shoppers World, Framingham, MA

Happy shopping!

Fabric Love

It is no secret that I LOVE textured fabrics, and that I am especially fond of embroidered fabrics. The lush textures of embroidered patterns on silk or linen or cotton immediately convey either refined or relaxed elegance depending on the fabric, fiber content and pattern.  So without further ado, here are a few current favorites!

DONO-5
DONO-5

Organic florals on silk or linen textured backgrounds

COCO-5
COCO-5
GILC-2
GILC-2
ELOQ-3
ELOQ-3

Curvy geometrics on cotton or linen

ACOR-5
ACOR-5

Embroidered branches add a more transitional feel

Elegant trellis patterns reminiscent of filigreed ironwork lend a European sensibility

NORL-1
NORL-1
COIL-1
COIL-1

Opening Day at Boston Public Market

It was a grand opening day at the new Boston Public Market, the indoor farmers market of locally sourced foods that replaces the Haymarket stalls of yesteryear in an exciting new venue.  Granted, it is not the same as the cranky vendors you had to watch carefully to make sure they bagged the same produce you pointed to instead of grabbing something slightly less perfect from under the table ... and it is certainly pricier than the Haymarket I remember, but the array of beautifully displayed wares is a delight for the senses. After entering with the throngs of  people milling around at the prime  lunch time hour, we sampled gourmet stone ground chocolate at Taza, fresh fruit vinegars at Mange`,

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2015-07-30 12.21.39
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2015-07-30 12.27.56
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2015-07-30 12.19.59
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2015-07-30 12.19.47

salty sweet nuts at Q's Nuts, and cider donuts at Red Apple Farm as we shuffled along with the crowd.  The atmosphere was festive; Siena Farm, with their lavish produce displays including the tiniest baby eggplants, was giving away sunflowers.  Beautiful flowers, fresh produce, gourmet honey, organic meats and fish, fresh pasta, and glorious cheeses abounded alongside a variety of baked goods, lunch foods, beverage vendors, and sweets.

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2015-07-30 12.19.20
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2015-07-30 12.46.53
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2015-07-30 12.19.38
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2015-07-30 12.38.08
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2015-07-30 12.23.46
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2015-07-30 12.50.07
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2015-07-30 12.33.33

After a complete walk thru we decided to divide and conquer for lunch fare - vendors were pleasant and friendly, if a bit overwhelmed by the onslaught.  Lines were quite long, but the grilled cheese sandwich from Jasper Hill was worth the wait and we were equally tempted by the other options of mac and cheese and racelettes (potatoes topped with the melted artisanal cheese).  A sample of their blue cheese was melt-in-your-mouth buttery, tangy perfection.  We also sampled the Vietnamese sandwich along with an outstanding ginger lemonade from Bon Me which was delicious and quite efficient despite the long lines, and an excellent falafel pita sandwich from Inna's Kitchen.  Disappointingly, the Noodle Lab was sold out from the initial lunch rush, but we'll try that next time - along with the luscious looking pastrami sandwiches from the Beantown Pastrami Company.   As we left, we investigated the ginger ice cream from Crescent Ridge Farm and took a bag of those aforementioned irresistible cider donuts from Red Apple Farm to eat on the way home.  

All in all a terrific opening day and an exciting new high quality market worth the visit if you are in the city.