I keep these cork trivets handy in my kitchen to protect our butcher block counters. Cork insulates and protects against moisture, and is a natural, neutral addition to wood surfaces. I thought it would be fun to give a few of them a little Scandinavian personality to leave on the coffee table as over sized coasters. I used my Lotta Jansdotter stencil set. You can pick one up at most bookstores or at Amazon, or you could always make your own stencil using poster board and an Xacto knife. Use acrylic paint and a hard, flat topped blotting brush to stamp the design. I found the cork trivets at IKEA by the check stand (3 to a pack).
I loved this pillow from Picnic's Etsy shop so much that I bought one for myself and one for a lucky girl in my family . I wonder who will get it?
Black and white is back (did it ever really go away?). My house is certainly seeing a lot more black and white these days. I revamped my housewares this year when we moved and added a lot of impactful black and white accent pieces, including a graphic kilim rug like this one, new throw pillows and ceramics, with a little gold and copper thrown in, to create a vibrant neutral palate. West Elm, CB2,IKEA, even Target all have affordable black and white textiles and accents to help you jump on this trend. And I can't say it enough, check out ETSY for artisan made pieces.
Oh and if you happen to be my husband...I'm loving THIS dress.
My celebration of all things English runs deep. I spent several formative years in a school uniform, sipping tea with milk, trying my hand at the BBC version of an accent, being an exotic American. In the last few years GB has been basking in the limelight with the marriage of Will and Kate and now with the Olympics. While the Keep Calm and Carry On posters are a little tiresome, this collection of housewares called Howcapow is just plain cool.
