StyleCarrot

Shopping Trip: Portobello Road

No, I didn’t pop off to London. I wish. But I did make it to Chestnut Hill and finally (finally!) checked out the Portobello Road boutique. It’s owned by two local women with wanderlust and exquisite taste, Marina Kalb and Kristina Lyons. It’s their private version of Anthropologie. It works.

They hit the trends nicely – Union Jack, succulents, gnarled wood bench, and other on-point picks all made a showing. They even have fresh flowers in inventive arrangements. In addition to home goods (LOVE the John Robshaw bedding), there’s fine art, clothing, jewelry, paper goods, and goodies for kids.

Portobello Road, 47 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617.264.2020

ARTmonday: Tom Baril

Tom Baril is a photographer whose work I became acquainted with at the Bonni Benrubi Gallery in NYC. I love his haunting, and sometimes scientific, black and white still lives of flowers. The first one here,”Dahlias,” is by far my favorite.

“Dahlias”

“3 Poppies #2”

“Open Tulip”

“Peonies”

“Freesia”

“Two Roses”

Photos courtesy of Bonni Benrubi Gallery

Get the Look: Star Light

Here’s to a sparkling New Year. Cheers! xom

SHOPPING GUIDE

Mirrored Star Wall Light Fixture, $79.01 at Direct From Mexico.
Tin Star Light with Star Cut-Outs in Silver, $74 at Danilo.
Red Glass Star Candle Lantern, $12.91 at Amazon.
Capiz Star Lantern, (out of stock) at Target.
Artecnica Starlightz in Taj (purple), $35 at Design Warehouse.
Artecnica Starlightz in Fiji, $35 at Design Warehouse.
Set of 3 Mirrored Star Wall Hangings, $157.50 at CSN.
Moravian Star Fixture in Silver with Marbles and Star Piercings, $84 at Danilo.
Turquoise Glass Star Lantern from India, $12.34 at eBay.
Artecnica Starlightz in Mercury Green, $35 at Design Warehouse.
Origami Star Ornament, $950 at Etsy.
Pair of Capiz Star Ornaments, $20 at Ten Thousand Villages.
Tin Star Light Fixture with Flower Cut-Outs in Bronze, $80 at Danilo.
18-Point Frosted Glass Star Light, $136.29 at Direct From Mexico.
Stained Glass Hanging Star Lantern, $39.95 at Aspen Country.
Paper Star Lantern in Platinum, $13 at Luna Bazaar.

Shopping Trip: Fig in Westport, CT

We always visit family in Westport, Connecticut over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. In addition to catching up with everyone, I manage to find time to shop. This year, in addition to the usual stocking up on staples at J.Crew, I purchased a new duvet for our bedroom, which is in the process of a glorious redesign.

The duvet, by Matouk, is white with a grey border. It’s from Fig Linens, a shop right off Main Street in downtown Westport. Fig is filled with linens and pillows by John Robshaw, Kelly Wearstler, Sferra, Matouk, Missoni, and others. I wound up chatting for a while with the owner, Carlin, who has great taste, and even offered to bring me on a behind-the-scenes tour at the Matouk factory. I may just take her up on it.

PILLOWS

INSIDE THE SHOP

MISSONI SCARVES

Designer Spotlight: David Hicks

I recently worked with Ashley Hicks, designer and son of legendary designer David Hicks, on an article for eBay’s new lifestyle site, The Inside Source, “Ashley Hicks on His Father, David,” to promote his new book, David Hicks: A Life of Design. The book is worth an actual read, rather than a simple flip to look at the pretty pictures.

What struck me most, besides Hicks’ incredibly privileged, glam lifestyle, was how many of his design innovations endured. A number of features seen in his room throughout the ’60s and ’70s, are au courant today.