Best of Etsy: Art

Give the gift of Etsy art this holiday, or all season long!

Hermes handbag watercolor

Prada Marfa photograph

Blue and White Chinoiserie Jar design

Chanel No 5 Perfume Bottle 24K Gold

Custom Pet Portrait Hand Painted Oil Painting

Peonies After Rain photograph

Hunter Boots print

Print of original pencil drawing

Merry Weekend

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May your weekend be merry & bright. Wishing you and yours all the joys of the season.

#26Acts

Net-A-Porter To-Printer

Net-A-Porter is one of my go-to online destinations for luxury items on sale. So, I find it intriguing that the famous shopping site is taking it one step further (or backward?) and going to print. Yep, that's right ... the famed online boutique is launching its own fashion magazine. 

No, NOT a catalog. To clear the air: The new Net-A-Porter would will be a "full-fledged fashion glossy," Fashionista says. A la Vogue, Elle or Harper's Bazaar (currently arriving monthly in your mailbox?). With editorials, articles, exclusive interviews and photo spreads. And probably some of those smelly perfume samples.

"Traditional publishers always say that we are lucky for being born in a digital age and don't have a legacy of print," Net-A-Porter CEO Mark Sebba said. "But we still see it as important. It isn't a secret that Net-a-Porter will be publishing a major fashion magazine within the next 12 months or so."

An online magazine would be one thing, but it's rare for a website to launch a printed magazine. And Net-a-Porter's already boasts a lot of readers and shoppers; they net around six million monthly visitors, and they already have a magazine-style app for the iPad. I, for one, can't wait to see how N-A-P makes its mark on the publishing world! 

What do you think? Will you be picking up a hard copy of Net-a-Porter? Or sticking with the world wide web?

Images via net-a-porter.com

The Preppy Home

I grew up in a home with an all-American, preppy style and feel. Mixed with antiques that my mom collected from near and far, I now know that this is a decorator's look steeped in history and which remains timeless today. While my house was adorned with wood accents and matching mallards, other preppsters might opt for more pastels and paisley. Regardless, here is what I consider essentials for a truly preppy home — even if you don't have a membership to the local country club. 

A set of encyclopedias. We couldn't get our parents to invest in a set of Britannica's - and I'm glad they didn't because they would probably be in the attic today gathering dust - so my brother and I would trek over to our neighbor's house to use their set when our homework required it. 

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Silhouetted portraits. Something about these have charmed me forever. I have long adored silhouettes, especially for kids, and they never go out of style. You can find plenty of Etsy shops that will do this type of artwork, or learn to DIY. 

Country Living

Vintage tennis rackets. Hang them on your walls or add one to your umbrella stand. Nothing says preppy like a vintage tennis racket or golf club. They sure don't make 'em like they used to.

Whitcomb and Company

Tartan throw. A lot of people reserve their red tartan plaid throws for the holidays, but I think they can carry you through the entire winter season. Originating in Scotland, the Dress Act of 1746 attempted to bring the warrior clans under government control by banning this tartan plaid. When the law was repealed in 1782, it was no longer ordinary Highland dress, but was adopted instead as the symbolic national dress of Scotland (Wikipedia). Today, you can find tartan wallpaper, tartan carpet and even tartan bedding. Little boys room anyone? Just don't use all three at once.

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Paisley. When I think of paisley, my brain immediately goes to Lilly Pulitzer. I credit her with making this pattern so chic and timeless. While this isn't exactly paisley, it's Lilly's home line currently at Garnet Hill. Go check it out!

Monogrammed towels. OK, monogrammed anything! Nothing says "preppy" more than monogrammed pillows, bedding, towels, handbags, jewelry, napkins, linen coasters, soaps, and the list goes on. It's e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e. I don't mind monogram initials, but don't particularly care for full monogrammed names on things. There's just something about strangers knowing my name without even talking to me. 

Pinterest

Nautical. I've seen this theme with baby boy nurseries a lot lately (Ahem... Guiliana & Bill Rancic). But beware, it can feel overdone very quickly. These two rooms below have done a nice job at subtlety, yet have kept the nauticalness (don't think that's a word, but you catch my drift) alive.

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Equestrian. Next to dogs, horses are my next favorite animal. Their muscular builds and (usually) calm demeanor make them beautiful creatures. Although I've never understood how they can sleep standing up! Equestrian boots made a huge splash in the fashion world this fall. But carrying that trend over to your home can be a bit more tricky. Here's some inspiration to help you create your preppy equestrian home: utilize accessories like horse statues, book ends and pillows or go big and bold bold with over-sized art. Just no horsing around (sorry, I couldn't resist). 

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Mallards. Well, I call them ducks. We had lots of ducks in our house growing up. Ducks on the mantels, next to the fireplace, duck pillows, drawings of ducks, and other duck artwork. While they are pretty, but I'm not a huge fan, I actually don't see as many these days in homes. If you're in the market though, there are a ton of hand-painted ducks (new and old) over on Etsy, and also these limited-edition cuties at Orvis.com. 

Orvis

Vintage trunks and suitcases. Most pieces of vintage luggage can be turned into a preppy home accent. There are great fabrics and designs in old luggage, and many are still in good shape, so why not showcase it as part of you home decor instead of hiding it in a closet? A vintage suitcase was passed down to me from my grandmother. It's small, yet wouldn't fit into today's overhead compartment (I tried), so now I'm thinking of using it as decoration. Creating a side table, coffee table or entrance table with these treasures is a stylish and functional idea! See???

Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy

Brad Pitt's Debut

Ready for some Brad Pitt in your home? And by that we don't mean on the television. According to Architectural Digest, the actor has made his debut as a furniture designer, presenting about a dozen pieces in New York last month alongside collaborator Frank Pollaro, who is known for his Art Deco-style furnishings.

"Pitt Pollaro" is described by experts as modern, swanky and elegant, and is definitely for the luxurious-seeking... and the prices will reflect that. Brad did just make a Chanel No. 5 commercial (which I think is kinda creepy and doesn't make me want to buy it) for a cool $7 million paycheck, so at least he can afford his own furniture!

In Vanity Fair's words, the collection is "well-thought-out and sophisticated, although, we have to agree, the two-person bathtub does resemble an ashtray—albeit a very classy ashtray that we would be proud to display in our apartment." We second that.

The majority of the collection seems to be tables, but something tells us we'll be seeing more of Pitt's designs in the future. What do you think of the actor's new endeavor?

All photos via AD.com.

Driving Mr. Uber

Image via uber.com

Have you tested out the private car service from Uber yet? If you're not familiar with them, Uber is an on-demand car service that allows you to request a ride through an iPhone or Android app, or from their mobile site at uber.com. Within minutes, a "professional driver" (according to their website; and yes, applications are being accepted) will arrive in a shiny, black sedan or SUV to pick you up. Rides are charged directly to your credit card on file, so you never need cash. You can also get the Uber News from their blog. Visit their website to see if they've arrived in your city yet. Dallas-ite's, click here.

Bon Voyage

So many of my friends are peacing out for Christmas and headed to the beach this year. Their attitude is "enough with expensive presents, decorations and cold weather ... let's go where there's sun." I think they're on to something! Cancun, Cabo, or South America. Who's with me? 

 

Images via Tumblr.

Coca-What?!

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One of the ingredients in Coca-Cola is sodium bicarbonate (A.K.A. BAKING SODA), which is an alkaline substance that can help clean your belongings and take care of your body. Hmmmm. If you're like me and don't typically drink or keep soda in the house (I confess, I may have a Diet Coke once in a while), you might re-think that after reading this. I now keep some in my laundry room at all times. Here are some surprising and unusual ways that Coca-Cola can help out around your home. In some cases, it even works better after it loses its carbonation. Check. This. Out...

Pot Cleaner
The bottom of household pots and pans sometimes become blackened. Pour Coca-Cola into your pots and let it sit. Wash the pot as normal with fixation on the blackened areas and the Coke will likely remove the stains!

Rust Buster
Soak rusted metals in Coca-Cola overnight and then scrub in the morning. The rust will weaken and come off easier.

Toilet Cleaner
Add a can of Coke into the mix to help hasten the cleaning process. Yeah man.

Window Cleaner
Instead of using chemical household cleaners, try wiping down windows with Coke to remove dirt and grease.

Clothing Stain Remover
Pour Coke right on top of a stain and let it soak. Of course the stain will slightly discolor due to the color of the soda, but after you throw your clothes into your washing machine, the shirt will come out clean.

Windshield Defroster
We don't need this much in Texas, but if you live north, save yourself the extra time and muscle in the winter when your car's windshield freezes. Pour a bottle of Coke over your windshield, wait a couple minutes and the ice will come off much easier. And then get a car wash.

Improve Your Lawn
When Coca Cola has lost it's carbonation, it can be added to your compost bin to help out the microrganisms break down the compost into an effective fertilizer for your lawn and garden. Just add one can per week! I've been meaning to become a composter.

Stomach Soother
Coca-Cola helps balance the pH levels in your stomach and will temporarily relieve heartburn and indigestion. 

Pain Reducer
Dab affected area with the beverage to relieve bee stings and mosquito bites. It even works for jellyfish stings! Note to self: add Coke to beach bag.

Hiccup Cure
Gargle on some Coca-Cola to cure your hiccups in an instant!

Remove Gum From Hair
Douse your gum-tangled hair with Coke and let it sit for a few minutes. With some patience, begin to slowly pull it out. Ouch.

Deter Bugs and Wasps
Bugs are attracted to Coke’s sweet aroma, so leave a few open cups (hidden preferably) in a perimeter around your outdoor get together and the bugs will be attracted to them instead of your guests. 

Kill Bugs
If you want to get rid of an ant hill or rid roaches, spray the bugs with Coke. Even though it attracts them, it will also kill them once they're inundated. Lovely thought.

Loosen Bolts
This one's for the men: Because Coca Cola is so helpful in dissolving rust, it can help to loosen bolts that have rusted and once were close to impossible to remove. 

Rid Skunk Odor
I hope you NEVER need this tip, but if just in case you are ever sprayed by a skunk, jump into a shower with a bottle of Coke and pour the soda over the affected area. And then proceed to take many more showers.


Info taken from homesessive.com.

'Tis the Season for Sparkle

It's that time of year. Accessorize accordingly. Here are Bungalow+Sage's picks.

asos

Z Gallerie

Charm & Chain

Nordstrom

Asos

Shopbop

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