Spring Green in DC

We loved Sweetgreen-

loved it! The Green concept wasn't just for show. Wind power, compostable packaging, bring back a bowl idea, bamboo seating, sustainable mission... The best part, though, was the wildflower lined menus that will sprout if you plant them!



We had their yogurt for dessert after going to Afterwords. I swear to you it was THE BEST frozen yogurt I have ever tasted...ever. It was tart and creamy, must have been those delicious little active live cultures. The toppings were perfect. 3 of any thing: fresh berries, nuts, choco chips, coconut, agave syrup, etc. I bought an extra serving, one with blueberries, mango and nuts for breakfast tomorrow. We have a cute little fridge/freezer in our room. I thought this was a brilliant idea...funny, I didn't get any other takers. Just you wait, they'll all want a bite tomorrow. It will be my AM case of brain freeze that will lure them in.

Design Note: The first thing that pops out when you walk into Sweetgreen is the color on the walls. The inexperienced home remodler type might be tempted to match this shade and paint his/her walls in the same paint color. DO NOT DO THIS! I beg you.

The reason the green works so well in this space is:

1. There is actually more white than green

2. The ceilings are huge and light is fantastic

3 The graphic wallpaper pattern eats up a lot of the impact of the color green

4. The wood tone balances the colors and the gaphic print.

If you love this green, accent with it. Use it for that one, two punch not coating your whole room. If you insist on painting all your walls this color, and you are not completely knocked over by the hypnotic, kryptonite like power of the paint, make sure that your wall art or furniture is large and can absorb some of the impact.

It has forces of good when used sparingly...pure evil when abused.

You have been warned. Enough said.

Final note: Our hotel has a great organic line of soaps and other body products. Love the look of the hole in the soap.

Cosmopolitan Dining Here and There

Last week we went to my all time favorite dinner spot in Telluride, Cosmo, for a pre-theatre meal. We saw a fantastic local production of the Sound Of Music. All the kids were spot on- my six year old ate it up. She was completely riveted by the costumes, the songs and the sets. It also helped that one of her classmates was in the cast.
At dinner I ordered their BBQ salmon w/mango/red pepper relish and jasmine coconut rice. It was divine. Never have I had a just so-so meal there. They always out do themselves in the service department, the wines, the fresh offerings and they do it all in their welcoming upscale but casual atmosphere. I'd live there if I could. Their fresh bread is completely out of control. Better than any bread west of PARIS!! I tried to recreate the dish on Tuesday night and I think I came close...my little crew scarfed it down like it was candy. Delish. I had to do the dishes though at home and no one scraped all the little bread crumbs off my place setting when I went all Cookie Monster on the fresh focaccia....


All these gorgeous photos are of Founding Farmers restaurant in Washington DC...we leave next week! I really hope we'll dine here at some point. The rustic modern decor and approach move me to mouth-watering joy!



I need to towel off, the salivating is getting to be too much.

Modern, cold? Not here. Look how cozy these diners look!

So fantastic. I have a pantry at home in which I keep the preserves I made last summer(their number slowly dwindling) but to display them like this, back lit and bold? Yes, I would enjoy that immensely!

Base desires, perfect banquette seating

Banquette table bases are as varied as table designs in general. The interior above by Frank Roop
is a play on the trumpet style base.
I have a client who will be installing a banquette dining table. She will have the typical built in seat in the back and several chairs in the front and at the head of the table. It may not be immediately clear to everyone but certain considerations apply when choosing the perfect table to create comfortable banquette seating.

This Hicks glass top table works beautifully for banquet seating. It's ridiculously affordable and allows adequate clearance to swing one's legs underneath. The proper table base is key to the "scootching" in factor. The worse thing in the world is to bump your knee on a table leg like the modern farm table below -ouch! (Also by West Elm.)

work and design -

Another beautiful table but painfully wrong for banquette seating arrangements. This one needs to float in a room.

I really love the base on this cocktail table and don't see why the gravity defying base would work for a larger scale dining table. It also has that modern rustic, nature inspired, clean design that delights the shazam out of me!

Branch designed by Ruth Livingston

This very architectural number would also work for knee swiveling action!

Context Furniture

Wind be damned!

Several years ago we traveled hundreds of miles to the nearest big blue Swedish store, spent a zillion hours shopping for a home office, two brand new homes, and a friend who collects organizational paraphernalia. I was there long enough to eat not just breakfast but lunch and a snack at the cafeteria.

My poor husband tried loading the trailer we had brought for the occasion while gale force winds almost blew his flat bed cart into the next state.

The rest of us stood at a big window and shook our heads in sympathy. Comic, yet sweet...poor guy. It was like a silent movie- palm trees were whipping in the wind, magazine holders were flying off the cart, his brow furrowed...aah memories.

It was at this particular discount design mecca that I bought a similar napkin holder . Simple enough concept. I thought it would be perfect for casual dining al fresco. Back home, my girlfriends were not only green with envy, they were vocally indignant that I didn't pick one up for them. Who knew it would be such a hot commodity?

Too bad...since they are all married, I guess I can't save this beautiful number from Lunares for wedding gifts.