Cocktails in Cincinnati

In June, I visited my friend Sam in Cincinnati, Ohio. When I told her about my cocktail hobby, a new itinerary for my stay was formed - we were to visit Molly Wellmans three bars in the city (Japps, Neons and the Old Kentucky Bourbon Bar) to try out her various cocktail menus. Every drink I had was better than the last. 

Imagine my sheer happiness, when a month later a new cocktail book peppered with recipes arrived at the store where I work written by Miss Molly Wellman herself. In the book she emphasizes making your own bitters and syrups, using freshly squeezed juice and high quality liquors to craft cocktails that are fresh with a nice balance between sweet and sour. Exactly my style. I love this book! It's got great recipes and an apparent love for Cincinnati shines through.  I truly came to appreciate this corner of Ohio while I was there and Molly's bars had a lot to do with it! 

This Before I die wall was right outside Japps. It would have been great if I'd written "go back to Japps". 

(Thanks Mike Morris for assisting with the cocktail photos!)

Kate Spade New York: Things We Love

After a recommendation from A Beautiful Mess, I ordered the book Kate Spade New York: Things We Love from the library. I waited a long time for it even though there weren't that many requests. But the second I held its golden pages in my hands, I understood why. The is the kind of book you hang on to past the due date. The kind of book you want to own. 

The designers behind Kate Spade had a secret part of the website before anything like Pinterest existed, where they collected images that inspired them - a glamorous photo, a restaurant match book, someone's business card, a flea market find. Eventually, they put this book together. Every few pages there is a new chapter based on a theme that they love like the colour red, cocktails, a well placed bow, summer etc. Beautiful photos, quotes and mementos illustrate the theme. 

If you're looking for a well of inspiration, order this book and get thee to the library! 

(all photos are by me. the water pics are not apart of the book!)

Bev Hisey

On Dundas near Ossington there is a little textiles/furniture shop that houses Bev Hisey's carpets, pillows, and some furniture that she's sourced. I love peeking in and checking out the carpets she has displayed on the wall. Not surprisingly, her home in Toronto is as punchy and artful as her designs. I especially love the gem carpets and the unique artwork.

Sigh. This scissor print is by Alanna Cavanagh.

  

These are 10" records from the 50's and 60's that have been put on wooden boxes so they float from the wall. 

How unexpected to have a yardstick in this bathroom. Random but now unwelcome! 

This is my all time favorite element from her house. The original Jansen swim signage. If I ever see one of these I will snatch it up no questions asked! 

More photos of her house can be seen over on Design Sponge! 

Envisioning Eames Chairs

For months I'd been pining after these Eames chairs but I pushed the idea of ownership to the very back of my mind (they weren't in my price range and that was that). But one day, I was on my way to do a mountain of laundry, and I spotted two of the chairs in white at a garage sale. I left my hamper full of clothes with the nice folks and went to the bank to pull out some money, all the while wondering if it was a good idea (to buy the chairs, not leave my laundry with strangers). But now that I own the chairs, I couldn't be happier. They look great and add impact to every nook and cranny of my house which makes it hard to settle on where they should live. These pictures generate a few ideas...

Putting them at the head of the table is a great option considering that I just bought four vintage floral kitchen chairs from the Salvation Army this week. 

I kind of put this picture in because it is the living space of my dreams. But look! There's an Eames rocking chair right smack in the middle (of course there is!)

These chairs are so comfortable they'd make a great office seat. Although, lets be honest, I do most of my work from bed. 

One day I'd like to own an orange one. I'm getting greedy!

FACE PILLOW!