by Ashley on May 16, 2013

Speaking of our New York apartment…
Pop the champagne: we have finally closed the sale on it. Despite finding a buyer within the first two weeks of listing it last year, and then finding another the week after Hurricane Sandy hit, we endured months of obstacles to get to the point of finally saying “sold!” just over a couple of weeks ago.
Now that I’m sure I won’t jinx anything, I can look back and say aloud what a pain in the arse it is to hold an open house—especially when the entire house you’re selling is visible the moment you walk in the door. It was only two weeks, but during those two weeks the apartment was listed, we had someone coming to see it every day.
Let’s just say that I finally understand why anyone would iron their sheets.

I remember reading in shelter magazines, like Domino, that ironing one’s sheets was something one does—and being a bit shocked. And then, Martha Stewart dedicated a portion of an eponymous episode to showing off an amazing rotary iron
at which she liked to sit and press sheets during restless nights.
My first thought was ‘that sounds like hell.’ Sleeplessness and ironing?! But for years I’ve wondered about the secret to a well-made bed—the kind that you’d find in a fancy hotel (and the kind that someone wants to see in a home they’re considering buying)—and I’m afraid pressed sheets, as unrealistic as they may be, might be the answer.
Sigh…
P.S. We cheated: I took our sheets to a launderer to have them pressed before the photographer came, and then slept without pillowcases, and went over the top edges of the sheets with an iron every morning while Hudson was strapped in his high chair. Did I mention it was a pain in the butt?
[Photos: The NoMad Hotel; The Wythe Hotel, via CN Traveler]
by Ashley on May 16, 2013

Remember the faux-door moulding we created in our New York apartment? We used used a combination of crown moulding and miter cuts to add a little architecture. (You can see the “after” behind Hudson in this photo, and the “before” here.)
R and R Designworks, on Etsy, has created an inexpensive DIY kit that seems like a terrific, alternative solution.

They’ll work with you on walls, too. I’d love to see someone with the proper style of home go all out and do something like this…




P.S. More photos of our NY apartment; and our current bedroom and kitchen.
[Photos from top: HitherandThither/RandRDesignWorks/West Elm/West Elm/Ewering/ArchiExpo]
by Ashley on April 3, 2013


Spotted: Gorgeous air plants at The Gardener in Berkeley, hung simply by their roots. I love the simplicity.
That said, there are some really lovely vessels for displaying these unique, low-maintenance Bromeliads these days.
Read more…
by Ashley on March 28, 2013

I just saw on A Cup of Jo that 20×200 has closed its (virtual) doors. We’ve ordered a few prints from there recently—including the Sharon Montrose Flamingo pictured—and I had half-a-dozen more saved away in a mental pile of consideration. I’d found it to be a great source of affordable art (particularly photography) and had been checking back over the past few weeks hoping that the “we’re taking a break”-notice was not going to become a permanent break. So disappointing!
Some paintings we’ve found at the Alameda Flea recently are my most-treasured purchases thus far, but what are your favorite online sources of art? Who are you noticing on Etsy lately? I’ve pinned a few favorites to my photography and eye candy boards, but am generally slow to commit.
P.S. Funny enough, Joanna mentions Banquet as an alternative to 20×200. I just hung their cacti print this past week! You can see it on my Instagram—a rare non-Hudson photo.
by Ashley on March 14, 2013