BEDKNOBS & BAUBLES

On the Right Foot: Colorful Glasses, Instagram Photo Dumps, an Unexpectedly Chic Swimsuit Hue & More!

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How fun are these ripple glasses by Sophie Lou Jacobsen? They’re a bit expensive at $25 each, but I could see using one as a bud vase to brighten up your work-from-home desk!

My new favorite Instagram account: @cats_of_brutalism.

Have you taken part in the Instagram photo dump trend?

Inside the pizza culture of Naples.

We have a new pandemic obsession ’round these parts: at-home espresso! We talked about getting an espresso machine for awhile now, but didn’t want to spend a ludicrous amount of money and, yet, didn’t want something as simple as a Nespresso machine. Dave did a lot of research and we opted for the Breville Bambino Plus (in stock here), which has an attached milk frother. It sounds like a robust introductory machine that will last us several years. Of course, my old $40 coffee grinder isn’t going to cut it anymore and now we need to upgrade that before our espresso adventure can truly commence. I’m pretty excited about our in-home café experience, though! If you have any tips, please share!

I enjoyed Emily’s deep-dive into the Shaker style.

I’m tempted to pick up a collection of colorful, sculptural glass candle holders.

The CDFA launched Impact, a talent directory for Black and brown creatives.

The “dark twig” color of this swimsuit is unexpected and yet undeniably chic.

The history of Singapore’s colorful shop-houses.

In case you missed it:

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The Danish-Designed Timepiece You Need to Know

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In collaboration with Nordgreen.

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for Danish design and the latest Copenhagen-based brand to catch my eye is Nordgreen. The Scandinavian watch company began in 2017 with partners Pascar Sivam and Vasilij Brandt who sought to create a timepiece collection that was both beautiful and environmentally responsible. Enlisting the partnership of award-winning designer Jakob Wagner, whose resume includes Hay, B&B Italia, and others, Nordgreen was born.

The name marries those two foundations of the brand: “Nord,” a reflection of its Nordic identity, and “Green,” to reflect its sustainable practices. In addition to partnering with NGOs to support urgent global causes through quarterly corporate social responsibility campaigns, Nordgreen allows the customer the opportunity to give back. Each watch purchased, allows the customer to select a cause you to support: Water for Good, Pratham UK, or Cool Earth.

We believe the right to good health, a clean environment, and a full education are rights for all. The harsh reality, however, is that much of the world does not experience them. Motivated by our Danish values, when we founded Nordgreen, we knew we had to do our part to help to change this in whatever way we could. There was no excuse not to give back.

—  Pas & Vas, Nordgreen’s founders

Nordgreen offers two styles for women (the Infinity and the Unika), two unisex designs (the Philosopher and the Native), and a men’s version (the Pioneer). For many of the watches, you can select your metal color (silver, gold, gunmetal, or rose gold), the face color (black, navy, or white), the face size (32mm, 36mm, or 40mm), and the band type. I opted for the Native because of its elegant, minimalist approach — a hallmark of Danish design — with the slightly larger 36mm face for a borrowed-from-the-boys look, and as you’ll see in the image below, the watch still has a slim profile making it comfortable for everyday wear. And, thanks to its timeless design, it’ll be part of my wardrobe for years to come — buying fewer, better things that’ll stand the test of time is one of the most sustainable things we can do for our wardrobes, which really speaks to the heart of the Nordgreen brand.

“I don’t think so much about the product; I think about the person using it, the context. We all have relationships with our products. I see myself as the one that makes sure that relationship is a good one.”

—  Jakob Wagner

SOURCES:

Watch: Nordgreen (c/o)
Brass Ram: vintage; there’s one on eBay here
Books: In the Name of Gucci; Snoop Dogg: From Crook to Cook; Styled; Wisconsin Supper Clubs; Things Come Apart

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On the Right Foot: Valentine’s Day Cocktail, Zack Morris is Trash, Gossip Shortages & More!

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white tulips
photo by Roman Kraft

Quarantine is wreaking havoc on your body.

This essay from Vogue’s “Growing Up in Style” series is a sweet commentary on the transformative power of clothing.

I adore these graphic black-and-white striped pots.

The pretty pink hue of a classic Clover Club cocktail makes it perfect for Valentine’s Day!

We watched the Saved by the Bell reboot the other week, which then led us down an internet rabbit hole about how Zack Morris is Trash.

Amsterdam is looking to put a stop to weed-seeking tourism.

You can use code “LOVE” to save 20% on Jenny Walton’s site. I’m considering these cuties.

The pandemic has caused a gossip shortage.

Loving this plaid raincoat.

I’m making Instant Pot carnitas for dinner this week.

In case you missed it:

  • Last week’s “The Coveted” is essentially my spring wish list. (I especially love the gingham purse that reminds me of vintage lawn chairs.)
  • The items I bought and loved at the end of December and throughout January.
  • Not a bad place to spend a snow day.

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Things I Bought & Loved Recently

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Bought & Loved: January 2021 Edition

I haven’t shopped very much recently after being terribly spoiled at Christmas with a few pieces that will be well-loved and often-worn this year: a classic cashmere crewneck in the perfect camel hue, another of my favorite turtleneck sweater (this time in olive), an eye-catching mother-of-pearl pendant necklace, and a roomy everyday bag in saddle-brown. I mean, really, what more could I possibly need? Housewares, it turns out, given the collage above! Part of that is also because I’ve been working on losing weight. I’m already eight pounds down since the beginning of the year, so clothing itself isn’t at the top of my list — especially when we’re still deep into quarantine and I’m not seeing anyone. That said, I couldn’t resist a pretty blouse on sale. Read on to see what I bought and loved recently!

IN THE WARDROBE
See all of this year’s sartorial additions here.

  • Tory Burch printed silk twill blouse – Unfortunately the blouse is no longer available, but I’m keeping the link just in case it comes back. I had been wearing the same things on repeat over the past several months and wanted to spruce up my Zoom meetings with a pretty new blouse. I opted for this one when it was on steep discount earlier this month.
  • Vince ‘Preston’ sneakers in blue suede – These will forever be my favorite slip-on sneakers. I purchased these to replace my blue tweed pair that had a irreparable cracked sole. (I tried gluing it to no avail!) They held up well, though, through two full years of wear, and thousands of steps through numerous cities and two countries. I always keep an eye on Nordstrom Rack, which usually carries them on sale. They run true to size for me.

AROUND THE HOUSE

  • Solino Home linen table runner in forest green – I was on the hunt for a table runner I could use at Christmas and didn’t want to spend a lot on it. I found this linen one on Amazon and it turned out to be even prettier in person.
  • West Elm ‘Kaloh’ stoneware pasta bowls in fog – I fell in love with these at the beginning of 2020 when we saw them at the Milwaukee store. We don’t have a lot of available storage in our kitchen, so I tried to stop obsessing over them — unsuccessfully as I ordered them in September. They were backordered until late December, but well worth the wait! They’re generously sized, substantial, and they come in five colors.
  • West Elm ‘Hudson’ drink table in dark walnut – Continuing the backorder trend was this drink table that we ordered in May! It was first scheduled to be delivered in October, then November, and then finally shortly after Christmas. I didn’t expect to wait seven months for it, but I’m glad we stuck it out. It’s beautiful and the smaller scale means it can easily be moved to wherever it’s needed.
  • Shoen Ceramics dip bowl in satin smoke – I discovered Shoen Ceramics on Instagram at the tail end of 2020 and was struck by how simple and refined Liza’s work is. I ordered this small bowl to keep on the coffee table and corral our Instax prints. Her shop is now closed until spring/summer, but you can sign up for shop updates on her site.
  • CB2 ‘Asha’ taper holder – To say I love the aesthetics of this candle holder is an understatement. It’s a gorgeous piece! However, it’s fragile. The first one I received crumbled around the candle opening when I put a candle it with minimal force. CB2 promptly sent a replacement and I carefully whittled down the end of my candle to slide it in with zero resistance. It’s beautiful, but be aware that it’s not the sturdiest thing.
  • CB2 matte white serving bowl – The holiday season always leaves me keenly aware of how little I have in terms of serving pieces. We only hosted Dave’s immediate family after doing a strict 14-day quarantine ahead of time (rest assured no one got sick after either), so I didn’t need much in terms of serveware. However, I thought I’d scoop up a bowl this month so I have it on hand if we’re ever able to host folks again!

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