Author: StyleCarrot

Marni Elyse Katz is a design writer and editor who lives in Boston and Cape Cod with her husband, two sons, and a cat. She blogs about design at www.stylecarrot.com

Site Spotlight: BookSwim

How would you feel about a Netflix for books? Sure, you could just go to the library to borrow them, but that would require so much energy. There’s always the bookstore, with plenty of comfy chairs and snacks, but really, who has the time?  I’m guessing that was the reasoning behind the creation of BookSwim, a book rental service that provides free shipping both ways complete with handy (and heavy-duty) envelope.

The publicist sent me a note about BookSwim and activated a free three-month account so I could try it. I didn’t find tons of design titles (though really, aren’t those the kinds of books you want to own anyway?), but I did find plenty of up-to-date beach reads (the fluffy pink books you don’t really want to populate your shelves), as well as a number of tempting kids books.

I created a pool, prioritized and yes, the books came to my door. Love that. Read them, popped them back into the envelope and shipped them off. Easy.

Not sure if I’ll renew my membership, but I might.

[tweetmeme source=”StyleCarrot” only_single=false]

Deal Alert: Nordstrom’s Pre-Season Sale

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Friday, July 16  –  Sunday, August 1

In-store and Online

Great chance to get the key pieces for your fall look early and at a discount.   Merch is on sale for two weeks and then marked back up to regular price.

Brands include Rag & Bone, Trina Turk, Kooba, True Religion, Alice + Olivia, Elizabeth and James, Burberry, Chloé, Tory Burch, Vince, and others.

[tweetmeme source=”StyleCarrot” only_single=false]

Shop Alert: Newbury Street Update

I was back in town last week. Here are the changes I noticed on Newbury:

Le Tigre is open. Since when did they become relevant again?

Judi Rotenberg Gallery is closed. It’s too bad; they had some great work.

And right downstairs, Shu Uemura has shuttered too. Probably because they were so rude. [NOTE: A reader was offended by this comment, so I’ll clarify.] I found the service at this boutique to be unprofessional and unresponsive each time I stopped by or contacted them. By contrast, the service at MAC (112 Newbury Street) is always impeccable. PS – I use products from both lines and love them.

Design Diary: Patricia McDonagh for This Old House

Earlier this year interior designer Tricia McDonagh emailed me about a project she had been working on with “This Old House.” To help celebrate its 30th anniversary season, they wanted to help the community where it got its start. The show’s crew worked alongside affordable housing nonprofit Nuestra Comunidad to to renovate a vacant, foreclosed house  in Roxbury. Tricia furnished the interiors in her flawless, clean and elegant style.

The refinished façade of the 1870s Second Empire house.

It was an absolute wreck. Have a look at the “before“pictures. The two units will be sold separately, at an affordable price. The original shingles were replaced with fiber cement siding, and the dilapidated slate roofing (which was salvaged) was replaced with recycled rubber architectural shingles.

The crew restored the hand-carved wood banister and newel post in the entryway.

These plaster ceiling medallions throughout the house were either be restored or replicated.

The rooms all have Tricia’s spare, sophisticated touches, like muslin covered furnishings.

The artwork over the sofa, which looks like a tie dye scarf, is actually beaded porcelain on rice paper by Dharma Strasser MacColl from Walker Contemporary in Boston.

The crew was able to salvage the original marble fireplace surround. They removed it for cleaning and repairs, then reinstalled  it.

It’s absolutely gorgeous. I love the subtle color from the silver cups and plant.

The dark walls make the room look rich and cozy. Love how the white shapes of the furniture pop against it too.

A gleaming white kitchen. The original kitchens were on the second floor; the new ones are in the center of the units’ first floors.

Love the nailhead detail on the bed and muslin upholstery.

The old millwork of the window casings and panels were replaced with replicas featuring the same dimensions and profiles. There were ugly dropped ceilings that were removed. Now the rooms have an airy, lofty feel.

–   –   –   –

All photos by CASEY Photography.

[tweetmeme source=”StyleCarrot” only_single=false]