A Pop of {Jonathan Adler} | Tips from a Denver Blogger

Last night I attended a designer shop event at the Jonathan Adler store in Cherry Creek North. It was great to be able to talk design with the enthusiastic and knowledgeable shop team. I have been a fan of Adler ever since stumbling upon his small shop packed with pottery in SoHo many many MANY years ago. Known for his sense of design humor and bright pops of color, his pieces find their  influence in the clean lines of mid century  and the richness of Hollywood regency. Some of my favorites were the navy 100% Cotton Velvet Mrs. Godfrey Setee, the Shearling covered Ingmar Chair,  the White Lacquered Louis Chairs in Navy, the Burnt Orange Leather Preston Cocktail Table, and the plethora of colorful Kilim rugs.  Of course, there is no shortage of fabulous pottery, lamps, and accessories as well. Next time you are in Cherry Creek “pop” in for a bit of eye candy and inspiration!

Misha Lulu | Tips from a Denver Stylist

I adore everything about Misha Lulu. The patterns and colors  are perfect for mini fashionistas. The fact that they partner with Hello Kitty – um icing on the double chocolate cake! You can find them locally at Nest located in Cherry Creek & Larimer Square.

Mom’s Day Gift Guide {Day One} | Denver Blog Finds

This week is all about Mom and every day I will help you find ways to make yours feel extra super special. Today’s gifts all can be purchased locally here in Denver!

1. Tom’s Crocheted Classics in Navy – Unity Boutique

2. MZ Wallace: Bianca in Cayenne – Kismet 

3. Gym Punch Card – The Dailey Method 

4. Gift Card – Decade

5. Jane Crow Jewelry – SecondLove Thiftique 

6. Mani/Pedi – UberChic 

7. Jasmine Salt Caramels – Helliemae’s

8. Class – Fancy Tiger Crafts

Nursery Mash Up | Denver Design

I am experiencing a bit of baby fever with friends having babies and getting ready to have babies. So it got me thinking about nursery design. I had so much fun designing my own daughters nursery. I chose lots of artwork from Etsy, vintage pieces from Decade in Denver, and modern goodies from Mod Livin’. I enjoyed mixing up some vintage with the modern pieces to create a whimsical and eclectic space for her as well as for myself. Because lets be honest those first couple of months we are pretty much living in there as well. I also wanted to find pieces that could grow with her. For example, all the art work I chose can very well carry her through into middle school, her dresser which doubled as a changing table she can have forever, and even the accessories are still appropriate for elementary school. I also didn’t want it to feel like a bought a whole room from one store. So, mix it up and have fun play with lots of different colors instead of just choosing one. Creating a space that feels calm, relaxing, and fun will really mean a lot when you are up for the 5th night in a row at 4 am.

Create A Shared Family Room | Denver Designer

When we moved into our 1960’s ranch we were especially stoked to have an awesome finished basement to turn into our media/family room. However, after living in the space for over a year now we have decided that it would be great to also have a family room on the main level which means Sofia losing her play room. So the challenge has become how to make one room work for all of us and serve a multitude of purposes without a lot of clutter. The good news is it will allow us to have a room that we can all hang out in together. When deciding what toys will stay and what will go I made the decision to stick to two areas – one will be her reading nook that already exists in the closet and will remain as is & the other will be an art area with an easel and art supplies. The rest of her stuff will go into her room and perhaps some will be donated (while she is at school) . Do any of you have a shared family space? If so, how do you keep the toy mess to a minimum?

5280 Rolls Out Their Neighborhood Shopping Guide! | Denver Stylist

The April issue of 5280 is full of fabulous shopping gems mapped out by neighborhood. I love that a lot of my own favorites such as Decade, Inspyre, and Tallulah Jones made their list. Checking out all the new spots is going to keep me very very busy.

I was fortunate to be granted a little q & a with Senior Editor, Julie Dugdale about the article and all the wonderful shops they scouted out and here is what she had to say:

How did you go about selecting the boutiques you featured in the issue?
We have our go-to places that we tend to cover frequently in our fashion spreads and Fashion Insider newsletters. So we tried to target some shops we haven’t investigated a lot—just to give our readers a peek at what else is out there. There are so many cool, independent shops that cater to a diverse clientele and deserve a shout out. And we’re not just talking clothing and style. We visited everything from an apothecary to an olive oil and vinegar tasting shop to a fly-fishing outpost. That being said, we did cover some of our longstanding favorites in this issue, like Decade on South Broadway. Couldn’t resist.

Do you think the number of indie boutiques has grown over the last year?
It’s tough to say. It certainly feels as if it has in some neighborhoods, like South Broadway and LoHi, which seem to be exploding with retail. But it also seems like I’m always finding out about some cute little nook that closed its doors because of landlord issues or financial struggles. Nevertheless, it was fun to discover those new-ish shops that have embraced their own character and identity—like Sewn on South Broadway, or Revampt in Cherry Creek, or Reverie Living in LoHi.

If you had to explain Denver’s overall fashion style to an outsider how would you do so?
Umm…Patagonia layered over North Face with a side of cowboy boots when you’re feeling sassy? Just kidding…kind of. I’d say laid-back trendy, boots over heels any day, with a sense of fun that’s missing in other locales.

Which neighborhood saw the most increase in new boutiques this year?
See #2

What store were you most excited to visit?
Wait, I have to pick one? I shop by mood, so it depends. I love stores where you go in with one specific item in mind, and you leave with something totally different that you never knew you always wanted, like snarky conversation-starter partywares; or a coffee-table book you can’t put down; or a beautiful handmade journal in which you vow then and there to start writing; or a vintage jacket that is irresistible even though you have 10 jackets already. Decade on South Broadway is good for that stuff. Talulah Jones in Uptown is another one. Soul Haus in Uptown is a re-concepted blend of two previously separate shops that’s good for fun all around.

What store do you shop at the most for clothes, home goods, and gifts? 
Gifts: Depends on the occasion. For baby stuff: Firefly Furnishings in Cherry Creek is adorable. For house-warming gifts: Five Green Boxes in Highland is a perpetual favorite, and Hazel & Dewey, a two-year-old newcomer on South Broadway, is the place for special, thoughtful items. For a bridal shower: Equipement de Vin on Larimer Street, which has great wine accouterments like cheese plates, bottle stoppers, glassware, and more. For a lovely scarf or nice gift for a girlfriend: Kismet in Highland. Housewares? I’m loving the stuff at Revampt. The merchandise is all made of reused, recycled, or repurposed materials, but it is really beautiful and very “Colorado.” Clothing-wise: I love me a good spin through Starlet in Highland for super fun (and affordable) sparkly accessories like legwarmers and hats and the occasional party dress; and, I recently discovered Blu in Cherry Creek, which, in my mind, totally gets Denver’s cool, laid-back-yet-sassy style.

Compared to other cities such as Chicago or San Francisco is there a boutique concept you’d like to see open here?
Hm. I’m stumped. I’m all of a sudden feeling a shopping spree in San Fran coming on so I can more adequately answer this question…. Sigh. If I must.

If I had to choose two stores I would be ecstatic to see in Denver…Zara &AllSaints would cause me to do my happy dance (twice)! What stores would bring out your happy dance?

Shop Finds @ Real Baby

Sofia insisted I blogged about her favorite store in Denver – Real Baby in the HIghlands! I love this adorable little store and it’s been my go to for gift giving long before my daughter blew into the universe. I have purchased all our strollers as well as our car seats from them as well as the majority of toys for Christmases and birthday’s. Their products are functional, stylish, unique, and always a hit with the munchkins. Unlike the big box stores – if you purchase a car seat from them come in on Wednesday when they have a certified car seat installer there to put it in correctly for you! I stopped by today to scout their newest finds. The owner, Hilary works tirelessly to bring in the latest and greatest that you cannot find anywhere else. A few of my loves are the Alphabet Posters & Blocks by local graphic designer C. Gregori,  the beautiful heirloom quality jewelry also by a local designer Dear Margot, Shwings shoe wing embellishments which I obviously had to purchase, and the super amazing Chew Beads! And my favorite item are the Colorado tees and onesies that owner Hilary designs herself! Hilary told me that there are a ton of new and exciting things set to hit the store very soon! I will definitely be blogging them when they do.

I am BACK!!!

 

After being strongly “urged” to pick this blog back up immediately by my lovely friend Hilary I realized just how much I have missed it. I began this blog to sing the praises of our local talent, eateries, shops, and people putting wonderful energy into the universe. We moved from the Highlands a little more than a year ago to Applewood. We wanted a big yard, more space, 60’s ranch style, and a place to grow as a family. However, after living in the Highlands for over 8 years it will forever hold a very special place in my heart and since Wheat Ridge/Lakewood isn’t exactly know for its culinary choices we head there all the time. It’s become very apparent to me that my quaint little neighborhood is struggling to keep its small business uniqueness in the midst of a hard economy.  Independent store fronts are being pushed out by a rise in rent and a decline in consumer traffic. Moving right in are chains who can afford the cost of doing business at the expense of the neighborhood itself. I wanted this blog to be the voice of all the small business owners who are out there breathing life into all the neighborhoods in Denver. So, now I am calling on you the consumer to be conscious of where your dollars are going. “Showrooming” a store to see a product in person and then shopping it online for a better price is absolutely killing all these little shops you love. We are all out to save a buck – me as much as the next – but consider for a moment what it means to invest in your local economy and in your own backyard. If you don’t want a Starbucks replacing your favorite coffee-house then go there instead of the convenience of the drive-thru, if you are shopping for a new stroller for your baby shop local instead of big box or online, and most of all be an advocate for these businesses by talking them up and encouraging others to do the same. So my first post back is a call to action – lets all help our local businesses to thrive by having their backs no matter how much you may think you are saving elsewhere. Because honestly how much is that savings  really worth when you see shop after shop shutting their doors?  Lets be known as the city with the best restaurants, the best micro brews, and most small businesses per capita  than any other. Please share the love by posting about your favorite store, restaurant, business, coffee-house, etc.. on my Facebook page! Spread the love people!!!

A Peter Pan Moment

There is something about a little girl (or big girl) in a peter pan collar that I am loving.  It’s so Audrey Hepburn inspired and sweet and vintage all the things that make a fashion moment great. Here a just a handful of all the lovely items I found on Etsy – all three I want to incorporate into my daughters wardrobe asap. At 4 years old her biggest fashion influence is Zooey Deschanel … actually Zooey and her music have been all she’s talked about since she was 2. I think all of these are very Zooeyesque and would meet me kiddo’s definite approval. Oh and Zooey if you are reading this – Sofia would like to invite you to her birthday party.

1. Modern Beige Dress

2. Blue Pokka Dot Dress

3. Floral Fox Skirt & Blouse

4. Tweed Coat

Just in Time for the Holidays

My daughter is going through a “horse” phase that most little girls go through, so I was doing a little search on Etsy for ideas for Christmas when this little guy popped up. Why settle for an imitation when you can give your child the almost well kinda sorta real thing? WTF in all caps with a whisper yell because I don’t want to wake my kid up! I have been oddly obsessed with this guy ever since I stumbled across it. I’ve shared him with co-workers hoping someone would say “wow that’s pretty freaking awesome” and then I can breathe a big whopping PHEW someone out their finds this awesome and will take him home. Okay I just realized I have been rambling and you all are probably like WTF is she talking about? THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT VERY LOUDLY IN MY OWN HEAD:

This is one amazing horse. It is a child’s toy and made from real animal skin. The skin is very soft and appears to be in great shape for the age. He has stitching along the stomach and the inner legs. He is a black and white color with a brown tail which I’m pretty sure is horse hair. His ears are intact and his reins are in great shape with tiny, little nails to keep them in place. The most wear I see is on the nose of the horse.
This is a truly wonderful toy and very rare.
He measures 8 inches long and 8.5 inches from head to toe.
Please don’t hesitate to ask me questions. I will do my best to answer.

Oh I definitely have some questions like how much therapy would a kid actually require after being gifted a gift a toy horse made of REAL ANIMAL SKIN?!? Thanks Mommy a real dead toy horse just what I meant when I asked you guys for a PONY! I am probably going to get all sorts of emails about this rant – but really c’mon how could I keep this find all to myself? And for the price of $625 this little guy is a steal. Is it just me or does he/she have a bit of crazy behind the eyes?