I grew up under the impression animal print could be described in one word: tacky. Maybe it was due to Cruella Deville or a mother who just wasn’t into it. Or maybe even, one too many episodes of “The Nanny.” But for whatever reason, I avoided animal print like the plague.
Until a few years ago. I started seeing rooms with zebra print rugs and cheetah print ottomans, and I — I liked them. And the more rooms I saw with animal print, I more I started to really dig it.
Animal print adds an exotic flair to any room. It can be edgy. It can be feminine. It can be chic. It can be hip. It can be bold. It can be subtle. In fact, in some rooms, it’s so subtle you don’t even notice it’s animal print. It just appears to be a really cool texture.
Look below to see what I mean. There are 35 examples of animal print rooms featuring cheetah, tiger, leopard or zebra print. Some are fabulously flamboyant. Others are understatedly elegant. As for the last one, I’ll let you decide.
If you’re a fan of fun colors, cool patterns and artisanal goods, you’ll love block print fabric. Steeped in history, block printing has survived nearly 2,000 years — if not more. It originated in Asia; however, today most pieces come from India where they’re made by hand using a technique that’s been passed down from generation to generation.
To start, an artisan hand carves a pattern — which is often extremely detailed — into a block of wood. The block is then covered in ink and pressed into the fabric over and over again to create the design. Each color in the design must be applied with a different block. As a result, each piece of fabric is stamped anywhere from 500 to 3,000 times — or more.
Given the insane number of times each piece must be stamped and the pinpoint accuracy needed to do so, no two pieces are exactly alike. The mark of the artisan is left in the subtle variations from piece to piece, which is one of the most endearing qualities of block print fabric.
That, and the insane number of colors and patterns in which it’s offered. Blues. Greens. Pinks. Beige. You can find block print in nearly every color of the rainbow, and the patterns vary from extremely intricate — such as paisley and medallions — to simple geometrics.
There’s only one problem. Block print fabric and bedding can be somewhat hard to find, which is why I’ve rounded up a list of the 15 best places to get it. Some offer traditional textiles still printed in India, others offer a more modern take on the art and all are worth taking a look at.
Allem Studio: Offers block print quilts and pillow cases.
Bungalow: Offers block print quilts, pillows, tablecloths, napkins, kitchen towels and toiletry bags. Based in Denmark.
Is the alarm clock dying? There was a time when you could find alarm clocks pretty much everywhere. But now, it seems many retailers are cutting back on the number of styles they offer or eliminating them completely from their inventories.
I guess the rise of the smart phone means the fall of the alarm clock, and in its place we now have chargers and speakers with a tangle of cords.
I’ll be honest, I miss the old-school alarm. It was nice to wake up and not have work sitting within arms reach. Instead of scrolling through e-mails and to-do lists while still blurry-eyed, you could truly enjoy the sunlight and silence — maybe even some in-person laughter and communication — during those first moments of the morning.
So in homage of a simpler time, I’ve rounded up some super stylish alarm clocks perfect for your bedside table.
Looking for the perfect summer towel? Try a Turkish peshtamal.
I first ran across these towels when studying abroad in Wales, and to be honest, I hated them. After a lifetime of being used to the thick, cloud-like plushness of terry towels, the super-thin, flatweave of these towels seemed completely uninviting.
But after a few days, I quickly became a convert. Unlike terry towels, peshtamals dry fast — really, really fast — which makes them perfect for long summer days spent by the pool or beach. You’ll never have to worry about toweling off — or donning — a damp towel again. Plus, they’re super stylish and come in a variety of bright, summery colors.
I’ve come to like peshtamals so much, I use them from time to time as bath and kitchen towels as well.
You can find turkish peshtamals at a number of places. Just be warned, some can be a bit on the scratchy side.
Turkish T: Offers a super-soft Turkish towel I’ve been dying to try.
Bath Style: An Etsy shop that offers a wide variety of styles and colors.
The Anatolian: Another Etsy shop with a wide selection of Turkish towels.
Loovee: Another Etsy shop with a wide selection of Turkish towels.
Turkish Towel Village: An Etsy shop with a small, yet chic collection of Turkish peshtamals.
Laviva Home: A boutique store filled with tons of unique, foreign items.
Ella Lou: For every towel you buy, they make a donation to the Global Soap Project.
Nomadic Thread Society: Started by stylist Nicole Gulotta, Nomadic Thread Socitey offers a variety of unique linens.
Scents & Feel: Offers unique designs and color combinations.
Deck Towel: These amazingly large, linen towels are similar to peshtamals and receive rave reviews.
Side note: This type of Turkish towel goes by a number of names: peshtamal, pestemal, pestamal and hammam.
Except for a brief moment in high school and college when I tried to be like everyone else, I’ve always preferred — no, loved — gold. Yet I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told by designers and sales clerks alike that using gold is the kiss of death. Apparently, it’ll make your home look “dated.”
But guess what. In the past year or so gold has made a gigantic comeback. I’m seeing it everywhere. Fashion. Jewelry. Paper goods. And yes, even in the home.
So, like I emphasize in my book, don’t listen to all those naysayers who tell you to follow the trends. If you do, you’ll miss out on the things you truly love and ironically, end up with a home that’ll be dated in a year or two anyways.
Trends come and go. What you love is timeless.
I hope you enjoy the waterfall of gilded goodness below.
