So excited to team up with other Boston creatives for this post featuring Kathryn Lee’s Everyday Napkins, as well as tableware from Lekker Home and Greentail Table.

Styling and photography by Kathryn, of Bash Studios, and myself. See full article at Remodelista.

Concept, design, styling, photography by Frieda Mellema = Lab 71, a place of beauty and inspiration, where you can also shop (my favorite kind).

Found via Facebook, the photographs of Frieda Mellema are instantly captivating. Delicate, light, and feminine, they have a wonderful sense of movement. Richly storied, they possess an air of everyday fantasy, that seems to celebrate the joy and adventure in even the smallest thing. Intimate, they draw you in, like a whispered conversion between friends.

The individual goods in Frieda’s shop also have a deeply personal, whimsical feel. They are mini treasures handmade for only you. (I myself am coveting her jolly tablecloths with bouncing orange orbs.)

A beautiful house gift from my friend, Kassy – these exquisite Japanese wash cloths by Yoshii and Kontex. Seeing my delight upon opening the package, Kassy admitted that the person in the store encouraged her to go with a more conservative color. But my friend intuited that, in this case, I would prefer the pink.

They’re perfect. Just the right combinations of raw textures and soft petal hues. Not precious, but small, demure. I love that my pal knew me enough to make this bold choice. And I love how much delight can be derived from something as seemingly humble as the perfect pink wash cloth.

pink and beige flax cloth by Kontex

striped wash cloth by Yoshii

purl knit lambswool in gold

Papa Stour’s summer collection of traditional Scottish wares for the design minded just popped in my inbin. Though all is stunning, these summery throws by Nicola Knitwear in particular caught my eye. Sophisticated stripes, in soft felt or purl knit lambswool, make a perfect lightweight cover for the summer season.

felted blue

felted blanket in lavender

felted lambswool in gold

red purl stripes

anteater and rhino

Discovered via Kickcan and Conkers, MondaysMilk is a Dutch design label featuring simple, natural goods and fabrics for children and the young-at-heart. Founder Rozalinde Innemee believes in products that convey a sense of “freshness, purity and beginning.” In other words: MondaysMilk.

wooden spin top necklace

Grandma’s cat pillow

Boulevard baby bags. You can also purchase pillows and quilts in these fabrics.

star dominos

linen cafe apron by Pamela Tang. See more of Tang in my recent Remodelista feature.

Tomorrow is moving day, so not much time to write this week. Instead I leave you with a few pretty springy things for your home. Stay tuned for new shots of mine.

felted cuff bracelet by Loft Full of Goodies

green planter by Catherine Reece

linen towels from Society Limonata

I wanted to share these sumptuous shots from Society, Limonata, not only because their linens are so lovely, but also because their styling has inspired me to add a little darkness to my home.

To be honest, I’ve surprised myself with the direction that I’ve taken with this blog. When I started out, I was all “bright, white, light.” But as I went along, I noticed more shadows creeping in.

Thinking about plans for the new home, again I find myself longing for a little shade. I don’t believe I’ll go as far as painting my walls a dark hue, or drawing the curtains. (In fact, the first thing I will do is remove the heavy valances in the living room.) But I will be more inclined towards sombre touches. Not so much the bold black accents of Scandinavia – though striking, this look is more dramatic than I’m feeling right now. No, what I crave is a softer, more nuanced, quiet darkness. Just a bit of that which has been deeply stained, to break up all the light.

I particularly love the colors in this photo above (as well as this gorgeous linen slip), and think they would be beautiful in my new, historic home. That antique, creamy/gray wall color, with the deep mahogany chair is breathtaking – spare and modern, and at the same time classic. I’m thinking that unfinished or lye-treated wood floors would be the finishing touch.

Petal pinks and grays are a beautiful bathroom combination.

bone and gray on the table: striking, but still warm

I’ve never been a  fan of curtains because I need to see out my windows or I feel hemmed in. But I love the romantic effect of these heavy, yet light-filled, linen drapes that trail onto the floor.

Above is one of the most fabulous sinks I’ve ever seen. I wonder who makes it.

Might have to rethink a light wood table too.

Marlen’s adorable son holds her penguin doll. All photography by Marlen’s husband and creative partner, Tõnis.

You will no doubt remember the beautiful Easter decorations from Teip that I featured recently. Deborah was kind enough to introduce me to the creative force behind those dramatic shots: the multi-talented Marlen Kärema.

Turns out that Marlen’s textile work is as stunning as her styling. Crisp linens with minimal, but exquisite, detail and maximum character seem to be her trademark. And do I detect a bit of wit as well? I love the way in which Marlen walks the fine line between traditional and contemporary, beautiful and edgy. Her execution is rustic, textured, raw, and yet her pieces are comforting. The fabrics she chooses are classic, but there is always just the right amount of creative flare in her work to make things highly individual and interesting.

You can see more of Marlen’s party styling on Remodelista today.

linen tunic

linen shirt – you can see another of Marlen’s shirts here.

bunnies

quilts

embroidered quilt

pillows

two pillow cases

hand blown glasses at Riija

Another fab find from Kickcan and Conkers, Riija is a Latvian design store right in the heart of Riga. This “lifestyle barn,” as their website puts it, showcases an eclectic mix of beautiful furniture and home goods, all from local designers. Merging “traditional Latvian craftsmanship with a contemporary world view,” all the designs are a wonderful mix of modern and rustic. Both sleek and sensual, they look like they would be as satisfying to hold as they are to behold.

linen bedding

furniture at lamps by the Latvian design firm Rajada

hand blown stemware

table linens

linen loungewear

accessories. for more see all their products

For me, one of the best benefits of internet globalization is that artisans, who may have here-to-fore whittled away in obscurity in their corners of the world, are now being “discovered” and promoted by a voracious online design community. Often with the help of fellow country men who open online shops to showcase goods from their homeland, these artists and designers are reaching consumers across the globe. We Americans can now puts our hands on (or at least gaze longingly at) goods from Scotland, Japan, Brazil… and Lithuania.

Discovered via HvH Interiors, Mano Lietuviski Namai or “My Lithuanian Home” is a beautiful collection of home wares from that region. Its founders, Lithuanian architects and designers Jelena Shauchikoviene and Jovita Pipiraite, clearly have an eye for simple yet striking products. Made from natural, richly textured materials, this earthy collection features hand-woven wool or cotton rugs and blankets, sleek wooden furniture and baskets, fine linens, and molded clay. Impressive and varied, MLN’s extraordinary selections have firmly put Lithuania on the design map.

A selection of goods at the physical shop in Vilnius. Linen loungewear and wool blankets hang above knit cushions as well as a wool and linen dog bed.

cozy cable blankets

a clutch of wool pillows

above: an assortment of the many goods available at Mano Lietuviski Namai