I have always been a huge fan of West Elm but their newest collection for Summer 2011 is extra chic! They have teamed up with Stray Dog Designs and the ever-talented David Stark to create crisp pieces especially perfect for summer entertaining! I am so sad that I can not get their furniture or accessories here in SE Asia but hopefully you can! I love the blues and white palette and the organic, handmade feel to the new collection. Makes me think of Santorini and Mediterranean sea. . . lovely.

Here are my very favorites - which pieces do you like best? 

xo Allison Egan 

Spicer + Bank

Heartsy!

Calling all Etsy-lovers! I just discovered Heartsy - a site similar to Groupon, which offers discounts on all kinds of beautiful handmade items on Etsy. The way it works is that if a number of people all agree to purchase something from a certain Etsy store then everyone gets a discount! 

Heartsy

Right now they are featuring 60% discounts at Sweet Petula who make lovely bath + body care and innovative scented soy candles. I would love to try the fig and red berries soap - yum! I love their packaging and they are a Seattle company so that always makes me smile! 

But Heartsy has lots of sales-coupons happening all the time. I love this since I am always finding a million things on Etsy I just adore!

Happy Shopping! 

Tabletop of the Week: Spring Garden Party

I am just crazy for this shot of Victoria Pearson's California terrace tabletop! Pearson is a photographer as well as a stylist and I love how she arranged this table, which was featured in House Beautiful. The layers of different shades of green are wonderful as well as those marbleized plates! Love the unexpected centerpiece of succulents instead of flowers - great idea. A perfect spring party!

What do you think she is serving for dinner?

xo Allison

Spicer + Bank

Artist Spotlight: Dannielle Mick

The moody and beautiful works of artist Dannielle Mick are currently showing at Gallery Egan (yes, owned by by lovely sister in law!). I love the contrast between the two medium in which Mick works - pastels and acrylic paints. She used traditional pastels to capture misty tonal scenes from nature and then transforms them into abstracted shape and color in her expressionistic acrylic works. It's lovely to see the pieces together and it feels as if you can see the process in the artists mind! 

{The first two below are pastel, all other works are in acrylic. All images courtesy of the artist and Gallery Egan!}

I especially love the warm orange and pink tones pieces!

Please stop by if you are in the area!! 

Gallery Egan

Dreamy Interior of the Day!

Spotted this in an old issue of Domino - I miss you Domino! Why its dreamy (in no particular order! :)

1. Love the color combo of the buttery yellow with neutrals and the deep charcoal floor!

2. The extra long ottoman-coffee table. Never seen one quite this shape - great idea!!!

3. The lack of window treatments (unless you have a privacy issue!) So airy and open! 

xoxo Allison

Spicer + Bank

Airstream LOVE

I am so in love with this 1955 Airstream trailer! Renovated by interior designer Jane Hallworth, her Spartan aluminum trailer boasts reclaimed redwood and a throughly modern Miele kitchen too! The furniture is from Blackman Cruz. The project was featured in L.A. Times by the talented Meyer Rus (who writes a beautiful column, From Rus With Love). The retro meets luxe feel of the interiors are amazing - I would love to hit the open road in this kind of style! 

{All photos are via L.A. Times via Remodelista, who also did a great story on it!}

Photography Fav: Johnny Miller

Last week I posted a few interiors by photographer Johnny Miller, but I just had to share another series of his which I just love! The mix of the minimalist setting with the mass of texture in the glassware creates an amazing contrast. I am especially awed at his use of lighting - after working on many interior photo shoots, I can certainly say that creating such luminous and mysterious light is no easy feat. 

I love these photos and hope you do too! Ah, just dreamy! 

{Images courtesy of Johnny Miller Photography}

xoxo Allison

Spicer + Bank

Morning Coffee!

As I sip my morning coffee, I always think of home. I adore coffee and as I grew up in Seattle, I feel nostalgic from just the smell inside a Starbucks store - I know its unoriginal and mass marketed but I find it so comforting that every Starbucks from New York to Hong Kong, Dubai and Barcelona feels the same! So I was surprised to discover the new streamlined logo - but I do like it graphically but am a bit conflicted! What do you think? 

First Starbucks coffee shop in Seattle's Pike's Place Market

I heart Starbucks.

Oh, the possibilities . . . 'Before' Interiors!

I came across the beautiful photography of Johnny Miller on Pinterest (which is an amazing site!) All of his photography is lovely but I was especially moved by a series of empty interior spaces he captured. At first I found them a little bit saddening or perhaps lonely, but after a moment I saw them for all their potential! They are the ultimate 'before' shots and I love how untouched these spaces are. Oh, the possibilites! 

{All images courtesy of Brooklyn based Johnny Miller Photography}

I think the shot with cobalt blue door is my favorite space! So exciting to daydream about these interiors . . . what possibilities do you see? 

Happy Weekend!

Spicer + Bank

Allison Egan

Lights On Shore: Film for Japan!

Aspiring filmakers and directors . . . lets film for Japan! This wonderful competition aims to raise money for aid work in Japan while also offering a forum for young filmakers! Please check it out! 

Lights On Shore

On Film for Japan

The recent shocking series of events in Japan has left thousands of people in need for help. Lights on Shore is organizing a fund raising short film contest to support the communities affected by the quake. At the same time, Lights on Shore aims to stimulate increased interest and opportunity in filmmaking for the young and the passionate about the art. The theme of the contest is "Man against or with Nature?"

California Dreaming: A Pad That's Rad

I discovered this beautiful home in the portfolio of designer Jay Jeffers and I just had to share! Who could resist clicking on a project titled A Pad That's Rad - and the interiors were just that: vintage, playful, unexpected and very chic! I love how the spaces have an old Hollywood glamour but still feel modern. The home was designed for a young family in California, where Jeffers is based (he has offices in both L.A. and San Francisco). I also am a total sucker for the large scale chocolate and white wall paper - I thought it might be by Quadrille but I was not certain . . . let me know if you have any guesses! 

I love the unexpected combination of the brown and pink patterns in the same scale!

The emerald green bar cart and brass bird sculpture are fantastic! 

The blue buffet is so lively - what a sunny breakfast room.

This bench is so beautiful and I love how the custom headboard is expansive enough to include the bedside tables!

The family room is cozy and manly but still fresh.

Spicer + Bank

xoxo Allison Egan