a few of our (new) favorite things.

The St. Patrick's Day debauchery in Chicago, complete with 2 parades and a river dyed green, was particularly tolerable this weekend, dare we say enjoyable, due to the beautiful, unusually warm weather. We traded in our usual snow/sleet/rain/cold for 75 degree sunshine. We navigated the crowds of drunken leprechauns and slow-as-molasses tourists and popped into Nordstrom to cash in some notes for a fab Kate Spade watch and gold iPhone handset, Zara to score an amazing pair of pleated puppy-print shorts, and Anthropologie for a few knob options to (hopefully) complete the never-ending bedside table project. All in all, by far our most productive and sober St. Patty's to date.

 

a gray summer.

We were introduced to him by his well-known series of photographs of Marfa's Prada "store," of which I own two gorgeous prints, but I am here to tell you that his newest collection is just as wonderful, if not more so. Strap me into an open helicopter, ask me to take pictures, and we'd probably end up with a roll of film (sorry, memory card) documenting my mental descent into crazy town. Or I'd just drop the camera. Put Gray Malin in a helicopter and you come back with some awe inspiring stuff. Available on both One Kings Lane and his own website, it's worth your dollars. Knowing what to frame is the talent here, and the end results are creative, artistic, and make me happy in the same way that sunshine and warm weather make me happy. "Bondi Beach" will soon be hanging up in my apartment, bringing year-round summer to my corner of Chicago. Now that I've ordered my third print, I'm just going to go ahead and consider myself a collector of Gray Malin art.

Get over to Maison Gray to see the full series.

the process.

the outcome.

Bondi Beach

Miami

Rio de Janeiro

I should also point out that his print sizes are easily accommodated by standard frames, nixing the need to spend a few Benjamins on a custom job.

It's as easy as Googling "44x32 frame" - thank you for that, Gray!

wishlist wednesday: home sweet apartment.

As far as we're concerned, no one is ever truly done decorating. In the same way that there's always a pair of shoes on your lust list, there's always a home decor something on ours. Normally we wouldn't give out personal information, but if you would like to send us one (or all) of the items pictured below, we'd be glad to disclose our address to all willing gift-givers.

• A mirror ball, for no other reason than not having a reason not to. And it's sparkly. Studio 54 is dead, but disco is alive and well.
• Lanterns that look like they came from a faraway land, when in reality they're just from Neiman Marcus. They'd be lovely on my porch once winter goes away.
• Fornasetti always does a great job of attracting my eye, and this tray is no exception. I'd like to wear rings like that, and I'd like to keep those rings on this tray. Simple enough.
• While logistically unable to get a second dog at the present time, a ceramic greyhound will have to serve as Penny's friend and confidant until further notice.
• As if Kate Spade's fashion collaboration with Florence Broadhurst wasn't enough to nearly be the end of me and my bank account, now there are items for the home? Good grief, just sell me everything and get it over with.
• It's no secret that I hate the color orange. Correction: unless it's Hermés. The Avalon blanket has not budged from my list (because I'm not trigger-happy enough to actually buy it for myself), and then I happen upon a photo of it in pink and orange! Now we're talking! The next step is actually finding it. 
• This pillow does the same thing for me as the tray and the vase because it incorporates some non-computer generated artistic skill. It's pretty and I like it.
• Gone are the days that you would get to sit in something as fantastic as this in a therapist's office. I'm almost positive that lounging here for fifty minutes and talking about my feelings would make the day that much better. Unfortunately I don't have a lick of space left in my apartment.. maybe by the time I acquire some additional square footage it'll be on major sale.
• Otomi! On my mind since Apartment Therapy featured it, it'll stay on my list until I buy the white bedspread. Also fits with my accidental decorating theme of animals-in-every-room. 
• If you ask me, an expensive candle and a kitschy match strike are necessities in every home. Not entirely sure I'd invest an extra thirty dollar bills for some black glass, but the peacock may be mine the next time I saunter over to the JA shop.

• Ever since Belle climbed a ladder at the bookstore in the opening scene of Beauty and the Beast, I've dreamed of adding one to a spectacularly tall bookshelf one day. We recently received a beautiful pair of bookcases from J's grandfather.. now cue the rolling ladder!
• Gold flatware. Is there anything more regal? These DVF pieces have a sophisticated design that allows the gold finish to feel modern and fresh, instead of stuffy. I unfortunately see a bit of a princess theme emerging here, which I generally like to avoid, but who can resist?!
• Incorporating gorgeous floral accessories like this Kosta Boda vase and darling Fringe candle remind me that getting rid of J's pool table (which he had in lieu of a dining table), navy blue towels and black bedspread when I moved in were the best decisions I ever made.
• It's no secret that my bedroom needs some design love. I keep saying that I'm waiting until we move, but it's gone on long enough. If nothing more, I have to breathe some life into our bed, and these ethereal voile shams do just that. I'm just a trip to Anthro away from heavenly sleep..
• A completely appropriate piece of GG inspiration, the Prada pop-art that hangs in the entry of the van der Woodsen's Upper East Side home is the perfect homage (to Prada - not GG!).
• I love everything about this Dove of Peace print. The simplicity, the meaning, the brushed gold frame, and of course the artist. It would be perfect for my guest bath, and I need it now.  
• As it turns out, not everything can be gold (Why you ask? Well, because you would have to be Melania, and live with the Donald - no thank you, right?) but these vintage birdcage chandeliers, suspended from our timber ceilings by the thick, textured rope would add just the right amount of rustic glamour. 
• The side tables are a bit of a work in progress, if we ever complete the refinishing project, I promise to share. Either way, a pair of bedside tables in an antique dove grey finish would benefit, again, from a hint of GOLD! But alas, on top of the refinishing, I just can't deal with the price of these gorgeous knobs, anyone for an alternative suggestion???

a dose of dose.

This probably isn't breaking news to any of you Chicagoans, but there is now a great way to inject some variety into your weekend on one Sunday each month, and they call themselves Dose. It's a marketplace with various sellers hawking (not to be confused with 'hocking') their merchandise, be it housewares, fashion, food, or miscellaneous, and it's difficult to walk out empty-handed (yesterday's damage: jasmine tea and French macarons, on the tame side because we were so overwhelmed by the amount of goodness). The line-up changes every month, meaning you can justify going every month. Works for us, since there aren't many things we love more than a good justification!

Vendors of note include Babushka Bakery, Mineralogy Jewelry, Dinner Party Shop, Zora Jewelry, and Industrial Evolution. There was also complimentary beer on hand, but it was 10:45 in the morning and we are no longer those carefree and perpetually tipsy girls in Boulder, Colorado. Cue sad face :( We concluded the morning by taking a short stroll along the river (it was 65! and sunny! in March!), and upon B's arrival home Penny insisted she get some relaxing outdoor time as well, so the little princess claimed a deck chair. And ate a small spider.

And so begins another week.