Wear What When

New: Anthousa

A special holiday shopping event from a new South Lake Union shop.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 13, 2011 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Click slideshow link to enlarge the invitation.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

Click slideshow link to enlarge the invitation.

Where: Anthousa, a new and charmingly decadent scent shop in the Westlake/South Lake Union area. Imagine a really gorgeously fragranced Kelly Wearstler and you’ve pretty much got the picture.

What: Seattle-based Maria Christofilis is the creative director and founder of Anthousa, a line of home fragrances that you might recognize from shopping at Barneys, Neiman Marcus, or other such stops. Inspired by the Mediterranean and available as candles and diffusers in such scents as “Bougainvillea 1978” and nectarine and red currant, these are that class of expertly made home fragrance that is not too much and not not-enough.

But for this pop-up shop holiday event, Christofilis welcomes local jeweler Francesca Lacagnina (we included her work in our 77 Seattle Essentials Guide), Portland perfumer Miriam Vareldzis, and more.

Can you smell a holiday gift list wonderfully completed?

When: The opening is Thursday, December 15 from 4 to 7; special items will stay in-store through Friday and Saturday.

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Tags: Home Decor, Locally Designed

Give It Up: Seletti Dinnerware

Brilliant. A stylish tabletop piece that really functions as dinnerware, too.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Dec 09, 2011 at 08:15AM 0 Comments

Who gets it: Haute cuisine types, homey comfort food specialists, and whomever else thoroughly enjoys a square meal. Seletti’s Palace series consists of modular non-round plate, cup, and serving dish sets that stack or otherwise easily assemble to form architectural models that look good enough to eat off of.

Why: Imagine, if you will, a condo with limited cupboards. A dinner party in need of a novel approach to tabletop design. The truly two-in-one punch of well-designed, Italian-made, great looking decor and functioning serving pieces makes this a great gift idea.

Where you’ll find it: Velocity Art and Design, which actually has an outlet store, too. Did you know? It was news to me. Check it out on weekends between 10 and 4 at 426 Yale Ave N (that’s two blocks north of their storefront). The discount off-shoot only takes credit cards, will not issue refunds or exchanges, and offers 40 to 80 percent off past season goods. No, you won’t find the Seletti collection there, but who knows what you will find.

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Tags: Home Decor, Gift Guide '11

Meet the Shopkeeper: Rosanna

Get to know Rosanna before you shop this winter’s December 9 tabletop event.

Posted by: Mattie Stager on Dec 05, 2011 at 07:55AM 0 Comments

Rosanna Bowles, president and owner of Rosanna Inc inside her store.

Each year around this time, Seattle’s leading designer of tableware, Rosanna Bowles of Rosanna, hosts her biannual warehouse sale. This year’s event is Friday, December 9 from noon to 6 at the company’s recently opened warehouse store. Anyone shopping for the holiday season, wedding gifts, or their own perfectly laid table would do well to check it out. Just keep in mind: All sales are final, and cash or credit cards (no checks) are accepted.

Bowles will be there signing copies of her book, Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions, and she’s here, answering questions about keeping shop.

WWW: What song or album is playing on your store’s sound system right now?
Bowles: We are always listening to music in the office, and it depends on our mood and the future projects we’re designing—it could be jazz, world, classical, or pop.

What was your first job in retail? What did you love or hate about it and how does it compare to what you do now?
My first job in retail was selling costume jewelry at Meier and Frank in Portland, Oregon. I love all kinds of jewelry and I really enjoyed selling costume jewelry. It’s similar to what I do now because I was selling fashion. It was costume jewelry fashion then, now it’s fashion for the home.

What’s your favorite thing in the store right now?
My favorite item in the store right now is my book, Coming Home. It was a labor of love to write. It reflects who I am and who we are as a company.

Where do you shop when you’re not at your store?
I love to visit the Pacific Galleries Antique Mall. I always get great inspiration for new products there. I also like to explore Susan Wheeler Home for great antique and home accessory pieces. They’ve also got a great selection of vintage costume jewelry. (Did I mention I love costume jewelry?) They are in Georgetown near our store, so I’ll stop by sometimes during lunch.

What do you love about your store’s neighborhood? What nearby restaurants, coffee shops, etc do you recommend?
I love being in Georgetown! We just moved here about a year ago. It is such a wonderful neighborhood with many unique and creative stores, not to mention a great farmers market on the weekend. After working late, I’ll stop by Via Tribunali for great pizza, or the Corson Building, which has excellent food that celebrates the communal table and imaginative, fresh Northwest cuisine. For that mid-day caffeine fix, All City Coffee is just up the street and there is this great grocery store called Carleton Avenue Grocery that I frequent when I forget my lunch and need something healthy. It’s the oldest operating grocery store in Seattle (since 1911). They’ve got a great selection of organic food tucked away, and it’s a charming store.

What’s the weirdest thing that’s ever happened in your store?
I’m not sure if this is weird, but each year we have a big warehouse liquidation sale with prices slashed 50 percent or more. At the last sale people were lined up an hour before we opened. Once we unlocked the doors, it was a huge rush; everyone looking for the best deals. It felt like one of those midnight after-Thanksgiving sales, and it was absolutely wonderful to share in that excitement.

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Tags: Home Decor, Georgetown, Meet the Shopkeeper, Rosanna Inc

The Wedding eBay: Bravo Bride

Mini top hats? Diamonds rings? A local entrepreneur launched Bravo Bride to help you buy and sell them.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Nov 16, 2011 at 06:50AM 0 Comments

SLIDESHOW: What you can find on Bravo Bride. Here, a diamond and sapphire engagement ring.

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SLIDESHOW: What you can find on Bravo Bride. Here, a diamond and sapphire engagement ring.

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A cathedral-length veil.

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Six sets of white candle pedestals.

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Vera Wang’s Fiona dress.

Well, why wouldn’t you? The wedding’s over, you’ve got no use for the eight damask linens you had to buy because no one rented the exact shade of gray you were set on. So why not sell them to the next couple?

And, why not buy them?

A local bride, Susan Shapiro, started an online resale marketplace in 2008 after her own wedding. Having searched eBay and Craigslist for wedding items, she realized the opportunity to utilize that type of framework, but focus it on ceremony and reception items, dresses, rings, and other things. There are now over 15,000 preowned items listed on bravobride.com.

We chatted with Shapiro about how the site works, and how it can work for you, and the slideshow illustrates a few key offerings.

WWW: We get excited about local businesses around here because we support shopping at home. But I suppose Bravo Bride is a great way to shop the country via a Seattle entrepreneur. Does Seattle factor in at all? Is there a bigger share of regional sellers or buyers? It would actually be great if so, because then the site could function a bit more like Craigslist; brides and brides-to-be could meet in the real world and do the try-before-buy thing.
Shapiro: California and Texas actually have our biggest share of merchandise with the state of Washington coming in fifth in terms of listing volume. The vases a bride just used at her wedding in Savannah, Georgia might be the ones I want even though I live in Seattle. That was actually a problem I had when trying to use Craigslist for my wedding before I began Bravo Bride. That said, we have definitely had brides meet each other before purchasing merchandise. There is an option on the site that allows users to search by location so brides can meet each other. I recently received an email from a bride whose wedding was called off and through our site, she was able to sell her brand new gown to another bride-to-be in her area. She told me it made her feel so much better about everything and that it was a wonderful way to truly move on from a bad experience, especially now that she had made a new friend.

What kinds of things are most popular on your site? Dresses? Decor?
Dresses are the most popular, followed by wedding decorations, table centerpieces, table linens, and bridesmaids dresses.

What item or sale has been the most surprising?
That is a great question! We had one seller list a miniature mannequin torso dressed in a wedding dress to use as a table top decoration. It was a little creepy and not surprisingly, it didn’t sell. I also had another seller list miniature top hats for dogs to wear at a wedding and those were actually really cute.

What should brides-to-be know about looking for goods on the site?
If brides-to-be are looking for a wedding dress and they can’t meet the seller in person, I recommend trying on the same dress or a similar style at a bridal shop before they make a purchase. With anything on the Internet you have to be very careful when purchasing items online. At Bravo Bride, if you are purchasing an item over $100 we recommend using escrow.com because they are able to protect both the buyer and seller. PayPal does not offer this same type of protection. There is a section on Bravo Bride that provides helpful tips for buyers and sellers and we use an advanced secure messaging system to prevent spamming and scammers from contacting our website users. We also now allow wedding retailers to sell their sample gowns and discounted merchandise our our site, too.

What should recently married brides know in terms of selling items on the site
Almost all items are free to list on Bravo Bride. There is a one time $19.95 fee for wedding dresses and engagement rings. Items remain on Bravo Bride until they are sold and we never take a commission upon sale. This allows our sellers to get the best possible price for their items. Good photographs, especially professional ones from your wedding are very helpful in making your listings stand out. Also, describing your item in detail is also a great way to get an item sold quickly.

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Tags: Receptions, Home Decor, Seattle Wedding Gown, Seattle Wedding Details

Shop It: Blanc

Seattle’s leading design minds pop up—in white.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Nov 15, 2011 at 09:00AM 2 Comments

Where: Sole Repair Shop at 1001 E Pike St (Friday night) and Caffe Vita Bean Room at 1005 E Pike St (Saturday)

What: Blanc, an all-white winter pop-up shop presented in collaboration by Join Design Seattle and Brite Collective. The two-day, two-location affair culls over 27 leading design minds (most, but not all of them local) and presents their curated selection of limited-edition white, blank, or “otherwise achromous in color or spirit” decor, home and lifestyle implements, and accessories.

The aesthetic is minimal, modern, and unerringly cool; artists and collectives like Iacoli & McAllister, Grain, Ladies and Gentlemen Studio, Meet Me Here, Free Time, Ashley Helvey, and Aleksandra Pollner, represent not just the leading edge in local innovation, but that zeitgeisty voice that says something like the world is small, the universe is vast, it’s time to get ancient, it’s time to be the future. Textures are wooly and steely, materials are meaningful and resourceful, less is most often more.

DJs, live bands, pizza, white cocktails, and you—dressed in the color of the weekend (yes, you’re encouraged to shop in white)—round out this holiday shopping jumpstart.

When: Friday, November 18 from 8 to midnight (at Sole Repair) and Saturday, November 19 from 11 to 5 (at Caffe Vita)

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Tags: Home Decor, Seattle Designer

Introducing State at NuBe Green

You’re invited to see where the new line is going on Thursday, October 13.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Oct 11, 2011 at 06:00AM 0 Comments

Quick review: NuBe Seattle, the locally made line at NuBe Seattle: Two thumbs up. Formerly local artist, sculptor, and remaker (the term “designer” doesn’t totally resonate with her) Adrienna Antonson does a gorgeously Seattle-feeling job (read: organic shapes, worldly references, comfortable without compromising on style) of refashioning vintage and otherwise thrifted goods and textiles into favorite pieces that exist inside a complete and popular line sold exclusively at the all-American emporium in the Oddfellows Building.

Now, we’ve known that line as NuBe Seattle; but because Antonson has left her digs on Vashon to be closer to family in North Carolina (hence that formerly above), the line has been renamed State. As Antonson tours with her artwork, she’ll collaborate with other designers, artisans, and friends around the states (hence the name) and scour thrift stores and antique shops for gorgeous threads to put back into premium circulation.

We’re not losing a skilled and artful craftsperson, we’re gaining an entire country.

And we’re gaining an opening party, too. You’re invited to the Fall/Winter 2011 reveal on Thursday, October 13 from 6 to 9 at Oddfellows East Hall (above NuBe Green) at 915 E Pine St (second floor). I’d encourage all fans of local fashion, sustainable design, and utilitarian art to come enjoy a champagne toast and some bites while Antonson discusses the state of State.

If you miss the party, consider passing by the shop in the days the follow; State joins another new collection at NuBe, a beautifully rendered collection of reupholstered furniture called Home.

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Tags: Design, Home Decor, Fashion, Seattle Designer, Adrienne Antonson

17 Swedish Designers

A small but essential show of gorgeously rendered lifestyle pieces is open now at Nordic Heritage Museum.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Jun 27, 2011 at 07:00AM 0 Comments

SLIDESHOW: 17 Swedish Designers at the Nordic Heritage Museum offers a clean, bright, fresh perspective on home and lifestyle design.

View Slideshow » Illustration:

SLIDESHOW: 17 Swedish Designers at the Nordic Heritage Museum offers a clean, bright, fresh perspective on home and lifestyle design.

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This piece by Anna Kraitz sums up a good chunk of what I love about the show. Simple, classic forms—and just a little bit of fun.

Where: Nordic Heritage Museum

What: What is it about the stylish Swedes, huh? From H&M to Cheap Monday, Acne, Filipa K, and Whyred, everyone’s favorite bargain go-to and some of my favorite boutique brands come from the Scandinavian haven.

The country is also known for smart, minimal home and lifestyle design, as a brief but lovely exhibit in Ballard cleanly, neatly outlines. The show, which features 17 young-ish female designers and was developed by Svensk Form, the Swedish Society of Crafts and Design, in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy and the Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation and launched in the US at the Cleveland Institute of Art, arrived in Seattle earlier this month. I walked through it on a recent Thursday afternoon, marveled at the perfect simplicity of minimal white ceramics by Anna Lerinder, loved the bright aprons and housewares by Lotta Kuhlhorn, and left resolving to get more fresh flowers, multi-functional furniture, graphic patterns, and white space in my home and in my life.

The whole of the show is laid out in three small, neatly styled wood-floor rooms (you can’t help but think of an edited, abbreviated, way cooler Ikea) but the combination of lighthearted wit, fresh perspective, and perfect restraint is worth the trip. Check the slideshow here for a brief preview.

When: Now through August 21

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Tags: Design, Home Decor, Nordic Heritage Museum

NYC Report: Grain, Iacoli and McAllister, Urbancase, Graypants, and More

Video from ICFF in New York shows Seattle designers at work.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on May 27, 2011 at 08:00AM 0 Comments

Earlier this month we wished a whole slew of Seattle designers good luck when they took off for ICFF in New York, thanks to Grain’s James Minola and Seattle-based freelance design writer Charlotte West, we have these videos to show us how well the show went.

Minola shot the first, a sort of overview of the 206 representing, and West supplied us with the three designer interviews that follow. Enjoy!

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Tags: Home Decor, Seattle Designer

Slideshow: Bilinear Art with Krista Kelly

Taking style home and to work.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on May 20, 2011 at 07:45AM 0 Comments

SLIDESHOW: Style Counselor Krista Kelly at work with Bilinear Art. Here, she commissioned a New York-based street artist to create work for a client’s residential game room.

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SLIDESHOW: Style Counselor Krista Kelly at work with Bilinear Art. Here, she commissioned a New York-based street artist to create work for a client’s residential game room.

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The master bedroom of a residential client; Bilinear placed a diptych pyrograph by Japan-born Seattle-based artist Etsuko Ichikawa. The use of blown glass and cotton paper in Ichikawa’s work adds to the natural elements of the national award-winning residence. “My inspiration for the placement came from the idea of the couple dreaming beside each other,” says Kelly.

View Slideshow » Photo: Glassworks Architectural Glass

In the Spring of 2010, Luxe Magazine featured downtown’s Escala building in Downtown Seattle and highlighted the work of five interior designers within the spaces. Bilinear consulted with Jeffrey Lamb of J Lamb Studio; shown here is a triptych and artwork positioned inside the wall and a sleek, minimalist bar.

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For another condo in the Luxe spread, Bilinear selected a piece titled “In the Dream” by a Korean artist for the ceiling of the master bedroom. A portion of the graphic design was blurred to create a triptych which softened the attached master bath and created a unity between the two rooms. In order to activate the color palette and shapes, Kelly commissioned custom-made light boxes for the bathroom.

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Using whale vertebrae and rib found on shore off the coast of Alaska, native Eskimo artists carved the sculpture here, positioned next to floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Seattle skyline. “The juxtaposition of the city and whale’s architecture signifies the beauty of the Pacific Northwest,” states Kelly.

View Slideshow » Photo: Malcolm Smith Photography

Acting as part of a consulting member of Columbia Tower Club’s arts committee, Kelly organized an exhibition in order to create an opportunity for Seattle’s galleries, curators, and art enthusiasts to gather. The participating galleries in the resulting “Sky Tour” were R E Welch, Cullom, and Woodside/Braseth. The exhibition featured artwork from the first SAM curator, 1800s Japanese woodblock prints, and contemporary European oil paintings.

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In 2009, Bilinear created an exhibition called “Innovative Design: Seattle Architects for the Port of Seattle.” Twelve of Seattle’s top architecture firms were showcased in display cases throughout Sea-Tac International Airport. Some of the firms included: Olsen Kundig, Miller|Hull, Weber Thompson, Sclater, LMN, Ankrom Moisan, Hinthorne Mott, and VIA. Pictured is Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership’s proposed 5th and Columbia building.

I’ve always wanted to explode that whole take-your-daughter-to-work-day thing out a little further. Once a year, we ought to get a free pass to bring and/or tag along with friends, sig others, moms, dads, neighbors, siblings, former college roommates, and yes style counselors and check out each other’s work world.

Until such time as International Here’s What Your Friend Does at Her Office All Day Day, you’ve at least got the chance to see some of the art consultation projects completed by Style Counselor Krista Kelly;. (You’re on your own if you want to actually get inside her office at the old Rainier bottling plant.)

“I find I am excavating and interpreting my client’s style,” Kelly told me when I asked if stylish people live in stylish environments, and vice versa. “Most people have opinions on their taste and just want to be informed about their options.”

To see how that’s worked out in a number of Seattle homes, offices, and public places, take a stroll through the slideshow here.

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Tags: Visual Art, butch blum, Style Counsel, Home Decor

Sale: Repurposed Materials at NuBe Green

Picture saying this to guests, “Please, make yourself comfortable in what used to be cardboard box.”

Posted by: Katie Ormsby on May 19, 2011 at 02:00PM 1 Comments

SLIDESHOW: NuBe Green is taking 30 percent off all recycled cardboard merchandise, which includes chairs, tables, toys, and home accessories.

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SLIDESHOW: NuBe Green is taking 30 percent off all recycled cardboard merchandise, which includes chairs, tables, toys, and home accessories.

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The cardboard shuttle doubles as a playhouse and coloring surface.

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The possibilities for this bit of recycled cardboard include: candle votive, napkin ring, and candy dish.

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The table works both in the office and dining room.

Where: NuBe Green

What: In the market for some sustainable furniture and home decor? Check out Ruth True’s truly green shop as she highlights the creative ways that designers have repurposed recycled cardboard. Dining tables, chairs, candle votives, and, yes, a rocket ship (okay, a playhouse shaped like a rocket ship)—all of which used to be some sort of blah brown box—are 30 percent off.

Take a spin through the slideshow here to preview the possibilities.

When: Now through May 31

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Tags: Capitol Hill, Home Decor, Sustainable Such and Such, Nube Green

In Person: Thom Filicia

Three opportunities to meet one of those Queer Eye for the Straight Guy guys.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on May 17, 2011 at 09:45AM 0 Comments

Photo: Neil Craver

Need tips for creating rooms you’ll love? Thom Felicia wants to help. He also wants you to go to the Pio Square Masins on Thursday, May 19 and the W Hotel and the Masins in Belleuve on Friday, May 20.

Where: Downtown’s W Seattle; 1112 Fourth Ave, Seattle AND both locations of the home store Masins

What: The W Seattle can entice you with Grey Goose cocktails, they can lure you with bites from Earth and Ocean, but DIFFA’s best shot at getting local and area design industry folks to come hang out lies with celebrity designer and product developer Thom Felicia. The former Queer Eye for the Straight Guy star has a new book, Thom Felicia Style: Inspired Ideas for Creating Rooms You’ll Love. He’ll be signing the book at the fundraiser; live DJs and dancing? Yes, those are on the agenda, too.

You can also meet Felicia in what might be termed his natural environment. At the interiors shop Masins in Pioneer Square; the party involves cocktails, a wine bar, luxe silent auction, and a fashion and jewelry presentation from Barneys and Alvin Goldfarb Jeweler.

The Bellevue Masins location is hosting, along with Northwest Society of Interior Designers an even more low-key book signing and meet-and-greet.

When: May 19 from 6 to 9 at Masins Pioneer Square. Cost is $40 or $75 (are you a VIP? Pony up for the latter). Tickets can be purchased via DIFFA Seattle.

May 20 from 3 to 5 at Masins on Main Street in Bellevue. RSVP to Bellevue (@) masins.com. This event is FREE.

May 20 from 6 to 9 at the W Seattle. Cost is $30 and includes cocktails and appetizers. RSVP to Christina Madden at rsvpevents.wseattle (@) whotels.com or purchase tickets on dot429.com.

All proceeds from all events benefit DIFFA.

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Tags: Reality TV, Home Decor, Barneys, Celebrity Stalking

Vera Wang, Red Velvet Wedding Cake, Killer App(etizers)s, and More

A local author asks, “How will you build something beautiful together?” and that’s just the beginning.

Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Mar 16, 2011 at 07:00AM 1 Comments

Perfect for someone else’s wedding — or your own? A LulaKate dress marked way down at Bella Bridesmaid.

Where: Bella Bridesmaid

What: For the first time since opening its doors in November of ‘09, the Belltown bridesmaid dress shop is hosting a sample sale. Party dresses from Amsale, Dessy, LulaKate, Queue, and Swoon are up to 50 percent off, and while you can’t necessarily outfit a whole party at the sale (in most cases, just one of each style is available, and the range of colors is limited), you might find just the thing for a pre-wedding party or someone else’s big day.

When: Now. The sale started yesterday—Tuesday, March 15—and continues as long as merchandise does. For the best selection and service, call the shop for an appointment.

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Where: Marcella’s La Boutique

What: A Vera Wang trunk show; the iconic wedding gown designer’s current season frocks in a second story, storybook wedding boutique.

When: Thursday, March 17 through Saturday, March 19. Call 206-264-0700 to make an appointment; space is limited.

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Where: Simplicity Decor in Kirkland

What: Seattle author Dan Zander is a numbers guy. His first book, 5, asked readers to consider where they’ll be in five years. His next, 1, wondered how many people are necessary to make a change. His new book, 2 ought to appeal to those of you on your way down a certain kind of aisle. Says Zander, ‘Life is meant to be shared. If you have found love, you have been given one of life’s greatest gifts.’ He’ll be signing volumes — which you might consider giving as a gift to moms, maids, or mates, or keeping as a reminder of what all the planning and budgeting is for — at the lifestyle and decor shop in Kirkland.

When: Saturday, March 19 from noon to 2

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Where: Knows Perfume

What: Baked, a new special occasion custom cake-baking shop in West Seattle is celebrating its foray into Seattle weddings and events with a Marie Antoinette-inspired cake tasting inside the neighborhood’s sweetest smelling boutique. Sample lavishly decorated red velvet, lavender, dark chocolate, and more while sipping Champagne and contemplating your own dessert spread.

When: Saturday, April 2 from 6 to 9. RSVP by sending a note to baked.seattle@gmail.com or calling 206-307-4847

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Where: Herban Feast’s SoDo Park

What: Sample the food and meet the faces that make this one of the most celebrated celebration locations in Seattle. The new season’s menu offerings are on offer, and you’ll have a chance to see the brand new Herban Design Studio to boot.

When: Wednesday, April 6 from 5 to 8

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Tags: Home Decor, Seattle Real Weddings, Seattle Wedding Details, Seattle Reception Venues, Seattle Wedding Cake, Seattle Vera Wang