Front Door Deliberations

I really had hoped that the door agonies which plagued me when we were searching for that perfect pair of french doors (and all the bells and whistles that come with those) were behind me. I had spent weeks researching and envisioning, only to face the reality that those perfect little details come with a serious price tag attached (goodbye cremone bolts, sadly i never knew you!) I am perfectly happy with the doors that we ended up with, and I am sure that will be the case with our front door as well.… Read the rest

Flea Markets and Vintage Shopping in DC

As they say in Russia, how you meet the new year, is how you will spend it. We have met the new year hosting, which we absolutely love to do. and now we are continuing on, with one of my absolutely favorite people ever visiting us for a few days. projects around the house are on hold, but we may do some sourcing and shopping in the coming days, especially now that we have a red room to decorate.… Read the rest

Mirror, mirror on the wall

Mirror, mirror on the wall – who is the fairest one of all? My kitchen bench! I got an idea for an awesome, high back, leather tufted kitchen bench awhile ago, which visiting friends in New York last fall. We had stopped into Cafe Ost in Manhattan and that’s when I saw my future kitchen bench:

  

I couldn’t quite get the image or the idea out of my head for quite sometime, and decided to recreate in the VIB kitchen.… Read the rest

Exciting News: Ruff and Ready Open for Business

I have blogged about my favorite store in the district multiple times, here, here and then unfortunately here. not sure how we could have ever replaced them, they even have deliver service! well exciting news, Ruff and Read is opening shop again:

 

Not as convenient as being in logan circle/ u st area, though the shop is still on the busy 14th st corridor, up in Brightwood. The address is: 4722 14th Street NW.… Read the rest

BAM! map

with all the time i spend these days in thrift stores and flea markets, its obviously hard for me to resist picking up an extra good treasure when it surfaces. such as this one:

The National Geographic 1966 Map of Asia. $14, Ruff and Ready.

Sergey says that the water damage looks like the iron curtain from the cold war.

I love the map’s color pallet and its the perfect size for the wall.… Read the rest

Dream Fabric Files

Tissus Tartares. “a Eurasian aesthetic for a fabric house, one which would reflect the rich and sophisticated interplay between East and West as it is found in Russian, Persian and Central Asian designs.”

Source: WSJ Magazine (PS – I missed out on the print edition, if anyone has it please please if you are willing to part with it, I would be oh so happy!)

I have been slightly obsessed with Tissus Tartares since Olya Thompson’s brownstone was photographed for Vogue in January 2010.… Read the rest