Foodie Friday: Didriks Dinner Series

The lovely Alexandra Boeri from Didriks just sent over the official photos from last Saturday night’s dinner put on by Didriks at Austin Architects in Cambridge. These images are a lot more clear and well composed than the Instagram photos I posted yesterday. Enjoy the gorgeousness of the flowers by Laura Jean Floral & Design, decor by Nicole Rueda-Watts of Observatory, and table settings and food by Taryn Collins for Didriks.

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Roasted Tomato and Cipollini Onion Crostini with Ricotta
Preserved Lemon Hummus

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Shaved Fennel and Grapefruit

 

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Seared Scallops over Saffron Risotto with Asparagus

 

dessert

Upside-Down Blood Orange Cake

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Laura Jean

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Nicole Rueda-Watts

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Photography by  Nathan Brescia

Designer Spotlight: Laura Jean Floral and Design

Saturday night Didriks and Local Root owner  Jonathan Henke and his team invited me to a dinner where we talked about business and design. It was held in the Observatory Hill neighborhood of Cambridge, near his shops, at Austin Architects.

Didrik’s visual merchandiser, Alexandra Boeri, organized the nuts and bolts of the event and was the force behind its creative vision. She picked out all the tableware, and worked very closely with Laura Jean of Laura Jean Floral and Design, who did the flowers, and jewelry designer Nicole Rueda-Watts,  who provided some beautifully styled decorative vignettes.  Nicole is Laura Jean’s business partner in the new shop Observatory. (Check out Nicole’s old loft here.) Taryn Collins, who works at the shop, cooked the delicious meal. It was a such a nice evening, filled with good food, good flowers, and good company.

Here are some of my Instagram photos of the room, table, and meal, as well as some images from Laura Jean’s floral design portfolio.

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Peek inside the portfolio of Laurel Jean Floral and Design:

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Shop wines & spirits at Fortnum & Mason >

Design Diary: Boston Magazine’s Design Home 2013

Over the summer I worked on a big project that is now up and running— Boston magazine’s Design Home 2013. No, I didn’t decorate any rooms; I wrote the copy for the accompanying brochure, describing the furnishings and decor throughout the space. This year’s home is an expansive condo in The Concordia, a newly developed building right on the water on the North Shore, in Swampscott, Mass.

Design Home is open through Oct. 7. I hope those of you who are local will consider taking drive to see it, since all ticket proceeds ($25/person) benefit Boston Children’s Hospital. (Click here to purchase tickets. 

The 3,600+ square foot unit, done in ocean hues, is furnished with pieces from local businesses, including Landry & Arcari, Lucia Lighting, Didrik’s, Surroundings, Zimman’s, and others. Here’s a taste of what you’ll see, photographed by the ever present (and talented!) Michael J. Lee.

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Entry
Custom bench by 60nobscot; crystal fixture from Lucia Lighting.

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Kitchen
Wood Mode cabinetry by Family Kitchens; backsplash by Tile by Design.

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Dining Room
Place setting from Didriks.

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Deck
Barlow Tyrie outdoor furniture from Didriks.

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Master Bedroom
Barley twist bed and custom paisley bedding from Zimman’s.
Hand-knotted Turkmen rug from Landry & Arcari.

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Sitting Area

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Ladies Dressing Room
Cabinetry by California Closets; clothing from Irresistibles.

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Sleeping Nook
Trundle bed by Family Kitchens.

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Guest Suite
Furnishings, bedding, and accessories from Surroundings.

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Coastal View

All photographs by  Michael J. Lee

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Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

I don’t actually celebrate Valentine’s Day, as it just seems silly to me, but I’m all for love and all for friendship and all for helping you shop for pretty tokens of appreciation. Here are 28 perfect presents to get and give this Valentine’s Day, from $16 to $3,000. (Don’t hesitate to buy for yourself!) xoxo

 

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S H O P P I N G

1 Rose Gold Lips Necklace, $85 at Samantha Faye.

2 Raw Pink Tourmaline Earrings, $98 at Leif.

3 Polly Wales Large Ruby Band, $2,940 at Clay Pot.

4 Limited Edition iPhone Case, $33.60 at Tory Burch.

5 UrbanEars Plattan Headphones, $65 at ICA Store.

6 Giambattista Valli Dress, $1,860 at Moda Operandi.

7 Archer Earrings, $22 at Need Supply Co.

8 Color Fest Tea Towel by Mae Engelgeer, $25 at Leif.

9 Hera Heart with Gold Studs, € 55 at Denz Herz.

10 Y’A Pas Le Feu Au Lac PIK Vase, $95 at Horne.

11 L’Oiseau by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, $195 at ICA Store.

12 Y’a Pas Le Feu Au Lac Les Perles Candlestick, $75 at MoMA.

13 We’re Young at Heart Sweater, $42.99 at ModCloth.

14 This Love Print, $28 at Lekker.

15 Shanghai Vase by Pols Potten, €123,75 at Bijzondermooi.

16 Paloma Picasso Love Band Ring, $150 at Tiffany & Co.

17 Miu Miu Cat Eye Sunglasses, $390 at Net-a-Porter.

18 Heartbreaker Sweater, $79.99 at J.Crew.

19 Shaesby Noir Cocktail Moonstone Ring, $735 at Clay Pot.

20 Loop Leather Keychain, $16 at Leif.

21 Lanvin Suede/Snakeskin Ribbon-Lac Sneakers, $640 at Ssense.

22 Lonely Grape Cut Out Bra, $64 at Bonadrag.

23 Comme des Garçons Play Heart T-Shirt, $135 at Ssense.

24 Powder-Coated Brass Necklace, $70 by Iacoli & McAllister.

25 Bario Neal Reticulated Band w/Diamond, $524 at Bario Neal.

26 Iitala Small Vitriini Box, $79 at Didriks.

27 Paris Jumper, $68 at Miss Selfridge.

28 Red Dawn Bracelet by Holst + Lee, $145 at Holst + Lee.

 

 

 

 

Get the Look: 72 Green Home Furnishings

The biggest round-up yet: 72 items in all sorts of lovely shades of green. Lighting, wallpaper, chairs, tables , beds, vases, pillows, rugs, racks, kitchen stuff, and more. I sneaked in a few fashion accessories and jewelry too.

S H O P P I N G

Tank Suspension Light by Alexander Taylor, $1110 at YLighting.
Rubber Vase by Henriette Melchiorsenv for Menu, $23.95 at Fjorn.
Wishbone Chair by Hans Wegner for Carl Hansen, $726.75 at DWR.
Salix Wallpaper, $148 at Anthropologie.
LACK Side Table, $7.99 at IKEA.
Hang On Rack by Normann Copenhagen $96 at The Future Perfect.
Streamliner Classic Wood Car, $47.50 at Fjorn.
Benjamin Moore Lawn Green Paint, $36.95 at West Elm.
Link Task Light by Peter Stathis, $323 at Design Public.
Scheherazade Headboard by Ceylon Portfolio, $1,150 at Dering Hall.
Kastehelmi Dewdrop Bowl by Oiva Toikka for Iittala , $19 at Didrik’s.
Grams 16″ Pillow, $59.95 at CB2.
Key Modular Storage by Scott Bennett for Housefish, $734 at Design Public.
Turquoise Quercus Ring by Lucifer Vir Honestus, $6,400 at Barneys.
Future Vase by Holmegaard , $65 at Fjorn.
Ming Green Steel Side Chair, $199 at Crate & Barrel.
Arrow Hanger by Design House, $39.98 at Fjorn.
FREDRIKA Fabric, $6.99/yard at IKEA.
Baker Sofa by Finn Juhl, Onecollection, $14,620 at DWR.
Banana Leaf Wastebasket by Gail DeLoach, $95 at Gracious Home.
Binic Table Lamp by Ionna Vautrin for Foscarini, $289 at Ylighting.
Untitled #4 by Matthew Tischler (30×40 print), $2400 at 20×200.
Claire Faux Bamboo Mirror by Bungalow 5 $640 at Clayton Gray.
Mandala Rug by Madeline Weinrib at Madeline Weinrib.
Franklin Credenza by Christopher Kennedy, $9600 at Dering Hall.
Ibis Bird by Oiva Toikka for Iittala, $595 at Didrik’s.
Green Balance Steel Ceiling Mobile, $399 at Nova68.
Jacqui Side Table by Bungalow 5, $420 at Clayton Gray.
Scalloped Headboard, $1,100 at Decorator Tag Sale.
Clothes Tree by P’kolino, $109 at Design Public.
Nixon 4 -Piece Setting, $50 at Jonathan Adler.
SOMNAT Crib, $79.99 at IKEA.
Velvet Arm Chairs at Galerie Andre Hayat, 1st Dibs.
Ere-be-Dragons Wallpaper for Paper Boy, $125 at Vertigo Home.
Pitcher by Anu Penttinen for Marimekko, $89 at Crate & Barrel.
Stretch Stool by Jessica Carnevale, $295 at MoMA Store.
Grass Vase by Claydies for Normann Copenhagen, $45 at Vertigo Home.
Acrylic Box by Baron Alessandro Albrizzi, $190 at Moss.
Zebra Llama Wool Rug, $995 at Jonathan Adler.
Tennyson X-Stool by Arteriors Home $775 at Clayton Gray.
Templeton Twin Bed, $2,795 at Jonathan Adler.
Chrysoprase/Diamond Necklace by Irene Neuwirth, $20,100 at Barneys.
Doodle Dog Pillow by Crypton, $40 at Design Public.
Herb Scissors, $9.95 at Chef Tools.
Unikko Tray by Marimekko, $39 at FinnStyle.
Rollerstop by Harry Allen for Areaware, $199 at Fitzsu.
Cheeky Ikat Organic Cotton Pillow Cover, $50 at Fabricadabra.
Walnut Vessel With Green Trim by Matt Pugh, $62 at Gretel Home.
Gorilla Pillow by Ross Menuez for Fauna, $28 at Design Public.
Elan Wedges by Diane von Furstenberg, $395 at Net-a-Porter.
Fluted Contrast Mug by Royal Copenhagen, €20 at Royal Copenhagen.
Grass Flocked Terracotta Pig Bank, $20 at The W Hotels Store.
Silicone Trivet by Sagaform Sweden, $7.95 at Fjorn.
Circles Placemat by Daisy Hill Linens, $58 at Barneys.
POÄNG Birch Veneer Chair, $129 at IKEA.
Tron Sofa by Richard Shemtov, , $4,970 at Dering Hall.
BARNSLIG Mirror, $19.99 at IKEA.
Reed Cover Chair, $149 at CB2.
Raw Candelabra by Jens Fager for Muuto, $250 at A+R.
Suede Passenger Clutch, $78 at Madewell.
Richard Nixon Baby Alpaca Throw, $295 at Jonathan Adler.
Chilewich Spun Grass Placemat, $52/set of 4 at Design Public.
BLOMMIG Vase, $3.99 at IKEA.
Aalto 3.75″ Vase by Alvar Aalto for Iittala, $85 at Fjorn.
BILLY Bookcase with Glass Doors, $79.99 at IKEA.
Taboret Stool/Side Table, $325 at Hudson.
Collapsible Silicone Funnel, $10.49 at Useful Things.
Aquinnah  Cotton Rug by Dash & Albert, $30—$414 at Dash & Albert.
Edge of Belgravia Ceramic Knives, £34.90-£59.90 at Edge of Belgravia.
1970s Gooseneck Desk Lamp, $1,200 at Metropolis Modern, 1st Dibs.
Pear Screen Print by Enzo Mari, $480 at Nova68.
Jacqui 4-Drawer Chest by Bungalow 5, $1690 at Clayton Gray.