ARTmonday: Pools in Art

When we’re in Florida, I get to stare out at a pool when I work all day, until my son finally gets me to abandon my computer and venture in. (Mainly so I can throw the football with him. Yes, I can throw and catch a football.) At 92 degrees, it was bath-like and blissful. It’s funny, because until recently, my kids had only been swimming in outdoor pools a couple of times. Now, it’s such a huge treat having one right outside our door a few weeks a year. The condo complex has a bit of a retro feel too. Not exactly Miami Deco, or David Hockney mid-century modern, but with a similar vibe.

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L. Tillman

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Marine Marbleindex

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Theodore Parks

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Lulu DK

Sunday Bouquet: Stems on Caesarstone

Flowers Spread Out On Caesarstone Countertop

While I hardly have a green thumb, one of my favorite parts of summer days on Cape Cod are cutting flowers from the yard (and occasionally, sometimes surreptitiously, snagging a bloom here and there from my in-laws garden). I love spreading them out on the counter, taking stock of what I’ve got, the various stem lengths, and capturing the creatures (spiders! snails! beetles! inchworms!) that inevitably make the journey indoors, then gathering vases, arranging the flowers, and distributing them throughout the house. 

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From wicker rattan garden furniture and Turkish towels, to modern planters and covetable garden tools, shop beautifully designed items that bridge indoors and out.
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Foodie Friday: Cucumber Infused Water

I love the ubiquitous carafe of cucumber water found at spas. Then, why, I think, don’t I ever slice up the veggie to make cucumber infused water for myself? Laziness perhaps. But mostly, making flavored water just doesn’t occur to me. (My 13-year old son, on the other hand, loves to concoct bubbly, fruity drinks, garnish and all.)

Every year we plant tomatoes and cucumbers in our little vegetable garden on the Cape. My 12-year old son revels in the tomatoes, and while we all feel just fine about cucumbers, mostly I plant them because I have success—they grow and the crows don’t steal them. We once re-planted a green bean plant started in a Styrofoam cup in kindergarten. It produced one green bean (yay!), and then the crows swooped in and pulled out the whole plant. Nasty old birds!

Anyway, knowing I’d surely have a surplus of cucumbers, I said sure when a publicist asked if he could send me the new Contigo Autoseal Tritan pitcher with infuser stick and chilling core. I thought, at the least, my son could load fruits into it instead of spilling out of a glass. Plus, I like the shape and the green color goes with everything else I own.

I’ve finally gotten around to testing it out, and it’s actually pretty nifty. The infuser stick slides in and out with ease, and the top clicks on with quite a satisfactory seal. You press a button on the top to allow the water to pour out, it doens’t leak, and the handle has a good, no slip feel. Plus it’s BPA-free and top-rack dishwasher safe. I like it! Maybe next time I’ll try watermelon.

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Cucumber slices.

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Oops, forgot to peel the cucumber. 

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Filled the pitcher’s infuser stick and poured a glass of cucumber water over ice.

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Contigo Autoseal Pitcher With Infuser

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More cucumbers in the garden.

Photos by Marni Elyse Katz for StyleCarrot / Instagram

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Shopping Trip: Serena & Lily East Hampton

Serena & Lily invited me to it “Sign, Sip and See” party at its new “Beach Market” boutique in East Hampton. Domino co-hosted and their were lots of top interior designers on hand to sign their design books. Since I’m no longer a Hamptons-ite, having given it up for the Cape, I sent my friend and colleague, freelance writer/editor Meredith Barnett, her mom, news correspondent Rita Braver, and Meredith’s best friend Cristina Miller, head of North American Dealer Relations at 1st Dibs. (I met Meredith & Cristina through Craigslist when I applied to work for their previous business, Store Adore.)

The Serena & Lily Hamptons boutique, on Montauk Highway in Wainscott, is the company’s second retail store. The other is in San Francisco, and they are planning to open more stores soon. Meredith reports: “It was absolutely beautiful—very beachy and whimsical, but also very sophisticated.”  Lobster-printed beach towels were stacked amidst hand-painted trays, and colorful artwork on the walls. She (half) jokes, “They should have hosted it with a real estate company because being in that store made you want to buy a house in the Hamptons, just so you could fill it with their stuff!”

I’m jealous that they got to go and sip yummy fresh peach vodka cocktails, and thankful they took time out to snap these photos. Let’s take the tour >

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I’ve had my eye on the swirly rattan woven mirrors for a while, not to mention the rattan South Seas bar cart being used here as a side table. Serena & Lily has a ton of aqua bedding, which goes great with that coral Brahams Mount herringbone throw.

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Scandinavian inspired hanging rattan chair works indoors and out on the patio. Handcrafted basketweave wood Bamileke side table from India is modeled after ceremonial stools used by Bamileke tribal chieftains. Peek through the window to see the Riviera bench, made of sustainable rattan and woven plastic.

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Bamboo and nylon Sailing Ship kites are handmade by Balinese artisans. I love the powdercoated steel cobalt blue Avery bed for a boy’s room, and have been coveting those studio task lamps made from oak, with red cords.

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Get creative with fabric by the yard. The store also has items by other designers. Look at the bottom of the photo—Tina Frey resin ice bucket and Champagne bucket with leather handles. J’adore.

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Harbour cane bed has clean lines reminiscent of French antiques. The cheeky sun pillow by Christopher David Ryan  says, “Lovely To See Your Again My Friend.”  The pattern on the dotty pink quilt and shams are made from tiny hearts.

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Throw pillows galore—great for adding a personal touch to a summer rental. The screenprinted cotton canvas leaf pillow covers in coral are my favorite. The coral and blue botanical print pillows up top are Serena & Lily’s palm leaf pillow covers and the neutral geometric print on the bottom right is the diamond pillow cover.

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Cutting boards and trays with colored edges make great hostess gifts.

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As you know, I’m a huge fan of the original artwork curated and sold by Serena & Lily. They’ve got the best dreamy landscapes and cheerful abstracts.

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More abstract artwork.
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Serena & Lily, East Hampton

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Big thanks to Meredith Barnett & Cristina Miller for stopping by!

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