5 Tiptop Teapots
It’s no joke that we love tea - morning, afternoon, a comforting pot of chamomile or fennel-mint before bed…. and with this spring weather ripe for cardigans, cozying up with a pot of tea ☕️ sounds just about right.
And if you are joining the Brits this Saturday, May 6th to celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation, you just might need a spot of tea.
We’ve rounded up five teapots to try right now. Pair with Harney & Sons Coronation Tea.
1. Wedgwood Wild Strawberry Teapot
The Pretty Teapot - a classic Wedgwood shape adorned with wild strawberries. A prim and proper English teatime teapot without being too fussy. Wedgwood’s own site describes “Strawberries and cream is an English institution; and the succulence of wild strawberries gave inspiration to the Wild Strawberry Collection.” That’s 22-carat gold around the rim of the teapot and it’s those are hand-decorated leaves, flowers and berries. Pricey but worth it!
“Authentic English Teapot” is the billing on the Price & Kensington model. I’ve owned one in royal blue for years and it’s held up very well. Since spring is coming, this new model is mint might be appealing but it comes in a range of colours to brighten up your kitchen.
Elephant Teapot - we have had this model for years and it makes us smile every time we use it for tea. It’s like Babar is joining you for the afternoon. Fun, functional, easy to clean. And amusing.
The Showstopper - both a kettle AND a teapot. We first fell in love with the olive oil “dispensers” that elegantly dress up any table - now the “Cha” Kettle/Teapot from Alessi brings a bit of mod chrome-like elegance into your evening.
The Original - the “Brown Betty” - the most “basic'“ of teapots has its origins in the late 1600s in England but came into widespread use during the reign of Queen Victoria - when tea became the predominant beverage of the British Empire. Raise a cuppa to…history with your Brown Betty.
The PQ Candle Edit: Spring 2023
Candles became a bit of an obsession during the pandemic. Lighting up the darkness during the winter months; creating new scent trails during the spring months right now in New York City.
We used to light them occasionally. After months and months home the last few years, our “occasional” collection turned into a part-time hobby.
Sometimes burning them together - trying out everything from the much-vaunted pandemic-born brand Flamingo Estate to the now-classic Le Labo Santal 26. Below are our top five favorites this spring.
When we discovered Paige’s Candle Co. which was actually born right here in New York City, we fell in love with her Earl Grey scent. A cozy fragrance for light sweater weather and the springtime, the bergamot and black currant notes smell divine together. We love it so much we’ve gifted it to friends, family, significant others, and well yes, ourselves. Available in 4 oz, 9 oz, and 16 oz here on Etsy.
A bold statement in a candle. A jet black vessel with a soy wax candle that burns clean and strong. We’re a fan. This is on our coffee table right now.
A classic at this point - you may recognize this scent from, well, all over New York City. But it holds up - smells great - a bit smoky, a bit whiskey, like a late evening in a glass…but you can burn it all day.
We love these candles so much, we can’t decide among the three of them for which to recommend. Tomato brings the garden inside; sage smells refreshing and sensational at the same time…and burn the rosemary late into the evening and you’ll almost feel like you’ve transported to your own vacation location.
For more on Flamingo Estate - a bit of an obsession for us at the moment - click here.
Like our faves from Flamingo Estate, Benevolence also hails from LA. Not so much the scents of the garden as it is of just plain relaxation. The rose gold vessel subtly brightens any room or table…perfect outside at dusk as the shadows deepen.
Mad for William Morris
Like Lilly Pulitzer said, “despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.” So we’re turning to William Morris for some of the latest spring sensations by bringing the outside in.
Morris’s influential 19th century patterns and designs have been surging with popularity as of late and we’re seeing them everywhere - on wallpaper, coasters, placemats, purses, and a divine coffee table book!
Coaster set with four different patterns including “Strawberry Thief”. On your coffee table or your desk, you’ll always have something pretty to look at!
Red Strawberry Thief-patterned placemats that are easy to clean and the cork backs help them stay in place & protect your table. Also come in blue.
36 blank note cards with six floral patterns perfect for any occasion.
Gold-trimmed rollerball pen packaged in a commemorative tube features Morris’s iconic Blackthorn pattern.
We think this would make for great floor to ceiling wall art in the dining room or behind a bookshelf. Reviewers like this peel & stick wallpaper because it’s “easy to install” and “adheres well”.
How fun would it be to hang this canvas print with the Morris wallpaper as the backdrop!
“The most wide-ranging illustrated book about Morris ever published”, a must for all William Morris fans.
Transform your space with this tapestry inspired by “The Forest”. Also, perfect for the Leo in your life!
Spruce up your kitchen or bedroom drawers with these liners.
Stylish tapestry purse that’s fully lined and zips across the top (we love bags that stay closed).
Note-taking or journaling in (Morris) style! Pair with the Blackthorn pen as a gift.
We think this “old school” way of notating recipes would make a fun gift. Cute recipe box comes with 2-sided recipe cards.
Provence!
From “French Kiss” (who doesn’t want to spend a few hours with Meg Ryan, Kevin Kline and Jean Reno) to “A Good Year” (a learning-to-slow-down Russell Crowe, an ebullient Alberto Finney, a prickly Marion Cotillard), Provence onscreen is a seductive sell for grabbing a little movie glam for your own home.
We watched a lot of movies during Covid times the last few years so consider us inspired. Here are our top picks for right now for you to bring the sights, sounds, textures, textiles, and scent of the French region right into your own home.
This vintage linen hand towel from Couleur Nature is an easy and practical add to your kitchen right now.
This towel hook from Anthropologie is like a small bundle of lavender flowers that will beautify your bathroom wall.
Lavender dots the fields of Southern France - love this tablecloth from Couleur Nature that brings the lavender look right into your home. Hand-printed, machine washable. Every tablecloth we’ve used from Couleur Nature we have been happy with - longlasting and keeps their shape and look.
Peter Mayle spent years chronicling life in Provence ending with his last book “My Twenty-Five Years in Provence: Reflections on Then and Now” which starts at the oldest brasserie in Aix, Les Deux Garcons.
“An American in Provence” is an immersive read about photographer Jamie Beck’s life-changing move to Provence.
Light it up…Our Winter Candle Index
March is coming in a like a lion and we’re still cooped up indoors during the pandemic. Three candles that passed our sniff test for these cold dark nights .
Mister Morgan - Paris. This beauty is very ooh la la in the best possible way. Blue cypress and absinthe combine to scent the room like a little bit Montmartre, a little bit Moulin Rouge.
This Linnea sea salt candle will have you thinking about heading off to the beach the moment Memorial Day Weekend hits. Scents of sand, sun, sea and…driftwood.
M. Baker - Eucalyptus Lichen - we hadn’t ever tried this brand of Colonial Candle of Cape Cod but it envelops you in a forest-like scent overlaid with lilacs and moss. Relaxing. Perfect for the bathroom - but we also enjoyed this outside on some of the warmer nights this winter (not many).
Headed Into The Cocoon...
What we’re loving as the end of summer feels like it might be a little more…isolating…than we thought if the covid variant is on the rise and we are back to staying a little further apart.
It’s still the heat of summer but autumn looms. And the seasons transition from iced tea to hot tea - which means you might need an extra sidetable for the teapot and mug. Love this West Elm side table for all seasons…
West Elm said this is made from naturally fallen cypress trees - each sidetable is solid wood - move it around wherever you want it today.
Terrain has a brand new merino wool herringbone throw the color of a rainy sky.
Pottery Barn out with these throws with a big chunky cable knit to help transition between the seasons.
This chunky throw measuring about 50” by 60” is machine washable, cable knit on one side a polyester sherpa on the other side.
Back to Basics - Six Sofas from $200 to $2000
A sofa is the centerpiece of your living room or - if you live in a New York studio apartment - the place where you’re trying to put the focus so no one notices the bed in the corner. The right sofa can set the tone for the whole room - plus you want to be able to stretch out on it; use it to WFH and even sleep the occasional guest.
Our latest list - curated from our favorite sites and brands - and as always, some things you buy through the links may earn us a commission.
1. BURROW
$1990 with free shipping
One of the pioneers in fallback delivery plus made in North Carolina - Burrow now sells through Amazon. The Nomad is a streamlined beauty that would be at home in any living room - stain-resistant and easy to set up. The sofa itself arrives in a number of boxes that can easily be carried into your home and set up inside. Plus a bonus you don’t usually see - a USB charging port in the sofa. And honestly, we like the ottoman as another way to put your feet up.
2. THE LEWIS
Usually $2136, currently $1495
Credit: Joybird.com
Everything on Joybird is 30% off including this streamlined sofa - “The Lewis.” Shown in gray - there’s a range of fabrics including a very appealing “Tussah Blizzard” in cream and, for a little extra, a golden chenille, the “Bentley Daisy.” As always with Joybird, the 90-day return is priceless. Reviews range from “Bailey” who says “Our (Lewis) couch just a few days ago and we are in LOVE” to Chloe who said her husband wanted something “super comfortable” that he could “lounge on” and she wanted something “stylish and had a mid-century modern feel”…the Lewis turned out to be “the perfect compromise!”
3. THE CELESTE
$899.99 right now
This Wayfair classic is a good deal - the modern and sleek sofa is made from wood from New Zealand with tapered legs and cushions piled on top. Add some cushions to integrate it into your overall color scheme.
4. THE BENJARA
$1322.35
Call this a sofa - or is it more of a “chesterfield.” No sections here - just one sleek sofa that’s 90 inches long with stylish nail head accents. Want a little more style built in the moment it arrives - we’ll find you a humidor or chess set to go with it.
5. US PRIDE
$289.00
Not an error - this punchy little number is a good deal. A little bit Miami; a little bit Mid-Century - all style. And for under $300. It’s faux leather with tapered legs and lovely from top to toe.
6. STONE & BEAM
$530.48
This is like the little black dress of sofas - all depends how you dress it up or just let it speak for itself. Comes as a flatpack that you assemble from Amazon’s in-house brand - change your mind about it and you can return for free for 30 days.
Six Rugs on Sale This Presidents' Day Weekend...
A three-day weekend - especially one this cold in NYC - is a great time to shop. We’ve been looking for just the right rug for the foyer…and the living room…and could upgrade the one in the dining room. So here’s the best of what we’re seeing this weekend that could work for you too.
Overstock.com is having what they call a “blowout” sale this weekend - check out their selection of jute rugs from this 5’ x 5’ in natural to these runners from the 2’ x 12’ to the 2’6” x 14’ depending on your space - all running you under $100 with fast delivery.
From Overstock.com to Wayfair which has loads on sale including this gray area rug which is both practical and a little fanciful from Laurel Foundry Modern Farmhouse - and a great complement to lots of layouts.
Also from Wayfair - this Bungalow Rose take on silvery abstraction in a rug is good for little moodier take on tying a room together. And it looks like you’re walking on clouds.
Pottery Barn is also running a big sale on rugs this weekend - this Persian-style rug in a golden taupe with brick and sage accents could work well in so many rooms. PB touts it as being pure wool with a synthetic latex backing that will help extend the rug’s life.
At West Elm - which is also awash in rug sales this 3-day weekend - this distressed Printed Canopy Rug rocks the frost grey and golden pattern and ties in well with a room already using gold as an accent.
Shag rugs feel superb underfoot in all seasons. West Elm has just put a platinum “glam” shag rug on sale that will warm up the look of any room. Also - doesn’t shed. Try it in the bedroom or the living room.
No Drama, Just Llama in Your Kitchen...and Everywhere Else...
We can’t help it, we love a llama motif. And even though you might not be able to fit the llama that originally caught our eye here at ABC Carpet & Home…. or this beauty found on Etsy …
Here are 11 ways to “llama up the drama” all over your space…
These American-made dishcloths are a big paper towel saver (written as we’re eyeing the 18 rolls of paper towels we bought and thinking over my new resolution to ONLY use re-usable clothes like these) - in fact, the SWEDEdishcloths description claims what one cloth is equal to 17 rolls of paper towels plus they are 100 percent biodegradable. Rinse after using and air dry. And, plus they’re cute. (Our assessment.)
Como te llama? on the inside - just a good overall feeling on the outside. Perfect for hot chocolate, mint tea, your morning coffee - and a guaranteed smile. Contemplating sets of two as a holiday gift…
Yes, we aLLso LLove this LLots. Seriously, this is adorable. It’s flannel fleece on one side, “super warm polyester sherpa on the other.” It’s freezing in New York right now - we’re ordering this and also delighted it’s machine washable.
Monocle, check. Bowtie and bowler hat, check. We never knew we needed these accoutrements on a llama but now that we’ve seen them… perfect for your the child you know who has a sense of humour and already knows the word “monocle” by age 5.
Honestly, how did we not make this the first item in the post. Everyone needs this sweater for Christmas. Everyone.
Don’t we all…but if we can’t actually be a unicorn, we’ll take being a llama. This is 60 x 39 inches…and if that’s too much llama drama for you, there’s a smaller version at 31 x 20 inches. We think this is perfect pinch of humour on your mudroom floor. Soft and plush on your feet right after the shoes come off.
Speaking of “llama drama” - it’s just right on these house slippers. #1 bestseller right now in the “women’s slipper socks” category and we can see why!
Could not love these adorable measuring cups more. Plus you stack them in the cupboard or on the counter for a fun decorative element that’s also super functional.
Accio llama patronus t-shirt! No matter what house the Sorting Hat has put you in, your patronus still could be a llama. (Ours is an elephant which is a different matter altogether and won’t stop me from wearing this.) One of the many adorable Harry Potter-adjacent purchases that we’ve rounded for superfans. (More here.)
Uhhhh, this is 40"W x 72"H of amazing... Ordering for the office, stat! Could also play well at parties, selfie backgrounds, gag gift delivery to friends…where wouldn’t this work?
A timeless tale of a tyrannical toddler who will not, cannot, go to sleep. Also great fun to read to anyone of any age. Great for a baby shower…or a toddler’s birthday or to give as just an “empathy gift” to any parent struggling with the under-5 bedtimes.
Life is just a bowl of (husk) cherries!
Husk cherries.
They look like small cherry tomatoes wrapped in a tomatillo husk - the seller from Alewife Farm at Tucker Square Greenmarket this morning told me they're related to tomatillos. Physalis pruinosa is the plant name - and they can also be called "strawberry tomatoes," "ground tomatoes," "ground cherries," or "winter cherries." We found once we squeezed the little orange sphere out of it's paper lantern husk - it's delicious. Not sure they what we'll do with them aside from peel the husks off and eat them straight - they're a unique and not-too-sweet late summer snack. @thekitchn has some great suggestions for how to use them - might pop them into salsa...or pie!
More here - The Kitchn - https://www.thekitchn.com/5-reasons-youll-want-to-buy-husk-cherries-at-the-farmers-market-tips-from-the-kitchn-205798
Smithsonian - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/five-ways-to-eat-ground-cherries-98470003/#BpG2WVoj78LCro7b.99
Plate It...
The Laboratorio Paravicini - a Milanese workshop dedicated to tableware - handcrafts beautiful plates, dining set, tea and coffee servers, etc etc
A dream purchase is entire set of the constellation series - which we finally hunted down. It's now going on the wall and picks up the "red thread" of blue and white that runs through one of our apartments.
How to hang it? Simple platehanger here -
