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Escapes: Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur

I learned about the Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, a heavenly spot on the edge of the earth (or at least the West Coast) from interior designer, Robin Pelissier, who owns a design business and little shop called Robin’s Nest in downtown Hingham, Mass. I had been soliciting suggestions for romantic honeymoon spots for “The Lovers’ Go-To Guide” in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine’s Valentine Day issue. While Big Sur had always connoted the great outdoors to me (i.e., hiking, bird watching, etc.), I was never much interested. But this is a spa, and an altogether different story.

Pacific Suite

Cliff House

Butterfly Room

Treehouse

Jade Pool

Meditation Pool

PUMA Prefab Pop Up

Apparently this is what will be popping up tomorrow on Fan Pier in Boston. It’s called PUMA City and it is an 11,000 square-foot retail and event space made from 24 forty-foot long, reclaimed steel shipping containers. I like the look.

It was designed by PUMA and LOT-EK, and will be standing for three weeks. Why, you ask? Well, to sell shoes, I suppose. But also in celebration of the Volvo Ocean Race, which began in Alicante, Spain on October 11th. See below for their boat shaped like a shoe, Il Mostro.

Trend Watch: A Walk on the Beach

Yes, I know I did a post about rocks recently. But those were fancy rocks, magnificent minerals. These here are just plain old stones. There’s also fan coral, branch coral, birch logs, and basic branches. The images are all from homes here in Boston, curated from interviews I did for interior design stories. Thought you might derive some inspiration, especially since it’s finally nice enough to venture outdoors.

If you have any earthy arrangements in your home, I’d love to see them. Please send pics! And I’ll work on taking shots of the ones I have in Truro.

Looking Back: I Heart Rainbows

My sister just posted this old photo on Facebook. It’s a picture of her and her BFF Vicki on Halloween in my bedroom, circa 1982. (You needn’t do the math – I was 14.) I’m not quite sure what they’re supposed to be, other than examples of atrocious ’80s style. (Come to think of it, are those are my satin spandex Halloween hooker pants?!) The point here isn’t to embarrass them (well, maybe a little), but to showcase my incredible design sense. How sublimely ’80s.

Funny how some things never change. I still love the sky blue. The stripe I could do without. It was inspired by a room on the TV show “Too Close For Comfort.” Anyone remember it? It went around the top of the room, and dips into a V on the bed wall. I still remember issuing (ok, ordering) careful instructions to my dad, who lovingly (grudgingly?) painted it for me.

Gotta love the rainbow comforter too; the pillowcases form the arc. I had a unicorn stuffed animal that sat jauntily beneath it. And here’s a juicy little tidbit: the bed is a waterbed. I swear! The fabric art on the wall reminds me of ones found in pediatrician offices (a great vintage piece, I wonder where it went). Yes, the poly blend curtains are beyond hideous. Surely a Caldor’s purchase. I don’t recall the lovely star mobile, but I do remember the ceramic rainbow and cloud mobile that hung on the other end of the room, by my Technics and Pioneer stereo system. (Yeah, fine, I may have been a tiny bit spoiled.)

Finally, I’d like to point out the white clock on the far right. I still own it. In fact, I’ve used it every day since I bought it, probably in 1981. (I wanted the Sony Dream Cube, but couldn’t afford it. If only Nana had gifted a little more holiday cash.) The clock rocks. The alarm is obnoxious, my husband hates it. But it wakes me up.

Sweet dreams.

Stuff Magazine: Players

The “Players” issue of Stuff Magazine is out. I haven’t actually seen the print version yet, but I was able to sneak a peek online. I wrote five profiles for it, all related to house and home. I love the photos, edgy, with a hint of whimsy and steam. You can click through to Stuff’s site for the actual text, but I’ve included some additional anecdotes (irrelevant ramblings, really) below.

Ricardo Rodriguez realtor

Ricardo is super cute, charming, and, boo hoo, married. I interviewed him and his husband at their South End apartment last year for an Improper Bostonian piece about what couples hate in their mates’ wardrobes. Ricardo is a suave Barneys shopper while his partner is an adorable prepster. They bickered beautifully : ) (Maybe I can get a PDF of the article to post – it was one of my favorites.)

Meichi Peng interior designer

My first awareness of Meichi Peng came through her butter soft, hand-stitched, pebble leather pouches that I wrote about for pricey handbag site, Lux Couture (hi Sari!). Turns out, Meichi Peng is actually an interior designer. Her style is sleek with a subtle Asian infusion. And she just opened a home furnishings shop, PENG, at 450 Harrison.

Nicole Dalrymple interior designer

Nikki’s North End shop, Acquire, is one of my favorites. (And I’ve written about it twice before, in the Globe mag’s “Best of the New” and for Daily Candy.) As interior stylist, Kara Butterfield put it recently, shopping at Acquire is like going to Brimfield without having to pick through everything. I purchased three milk glass vases there that are on my dining table in Truro. Wish I had a picture.

Stephanie Walker gallerist

I believe I first made the acquaintanc of Stephanie Walker of Walker Contemporary through Kristin Gaughan of the design firm Urban Living Studio, (BTW, stay tuned for a post on one of her spaces.) I first wrote about Stephanie for the Globe’s “Best of the New”, and I recently featured the works of one of her artists, Elisa Johns, in an ARTmonday post.

Erin Gates interior stylist

By now you all know Erin Gates, interior stylist and blogger. Click here for my behind-the-scenes tour of her JP condo, or read the Globe article “Small is the New Black”.

Photos by Tim Gray for Stuff Magazine

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