Mismatchérie

White and Whimsical

Anjelica — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 04:12:03 +0000

I stumbled across the above photo of Milla Jojovich on This is Glamorous and fell in love. The little girl in me squeals with excitement when I think about going at an oversized canvas in a whimsical “dress-up” dress. A childhood dream come true? From the colorful doodling to the white feathered fringe, you bet it is.

The collage below gives a bit of a peek into my imagination. It took me some time to get it right, but I think this sums up my girlish fantisies quite well. If I were to throw a party in honor of daydreams, this eclectic and ethereal mix may just do them justice.

Clockwise from top left:

Painted netting installation by Emily Ann Nachison via Design*Sponge
Dreamy tiered coconut cake on Martha Stewart Weddings
Imperial yellow vases by Tozai Home on Organize.com ($324.99, set of 6)
Louis ghost chair by Phillipe Starck for Kartell on AllModern ($410)
Red coral chandelier from 1stdibs featured on Design Milk
Driftwood floral arrangement by Krislyn Meyer-Komarov
White coral sculpture from Basset Furniture ($69)
Tortoise large silver vase from Lamps Plus ($249.91)
Hand-blown glass votives in Cream and Pearl from Glassybaby ($40)
Pyrite cluster from Anthropologie ($38)
White anemone arrangement found on the WeddingBee
Fabric swatch of Marimekko’s signature Unikko design
Verdant Acres dinnerware from Anthropologie ($10-$16)

Spice it up

Anjelica — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:28:06 +0000

Spices! Oh how I love thee. From everyday flavors to fancy-shmancy culinary delights, a kitchen is hardly complete without a collection of herbs and spices. This DIY wall-mounted magnetic spice rack featured on The Kitchn is a great way to store your ingredients in accessible and aesthetically pleasing way. If you’re concerned about the amount of light exposure (which may hasten the expiration of spices), this system would also work well on the inside of a pantry door, or with opaque jars. No patience for gluing magnets to your lids? Try picking up a ready-to-use magnetic spice rack kit with glass honeycomb-shaped jars from Gneiss Spice on Etsy.

If you’re the kind of person (like me) that will go out and buy a new spice just to try a recipe, I’m sure you’ve amassed quite an arsenal by now. Using an entire supply of one uncommon spice can be a challenge if you aren’t sure how else to use it! I did some searching and came up with a bit of inspiration for dusting off the jars in the back of your rack. Below are some ideas for meals and snacks to help you incorporate a little more spice into your life (sorry, couldn’t help myself).

Clockwise from top-left:

Chicken kokkinisto by Jamie Oliver
Moroccan spiced cous cous recipe on All Recipes
Orange cardamom cookie recipe from Gourmet
Smoked paprika shredded pork with orange fennel marmalade from McCormick
Fennel ice cream recipe from Smitten Kitchen
Cumin coriander sirloin steak from Cooking Light on My Recipes
Parsnip spice cake with ginger cream cheese frosting on Epicurious
Shrimp and yellow squash on saffron mint rice from Eating Well
Indian spiced vegetable fritters on Smitten Kitchen
Black sesame seed and sea salt-encrusted salmon on Serious Eats
Onion-herb focaccia bread recipe from Food Network

Dear Doily

Anjelica — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:25:07 +0000

This post is inspired by an artist whose work was featured last month on Design*Sponge. Kristen Wicklund’s doilies, shown here on exhibit at Greenwich House, are hand-crocheted, dipped in porcelain and fired. The cotton yarn burns away to leave behind a hollow porcelain shell, taking the beauty and delicacy of lace doilies to a whole new level.

I love doily patterns and hope to one day have the skill and patience necessary to make my own. In the meantime, I’m thinking of picking up one of Kristen’s creations from her shop on Etsy, called Forest Clearing. If you’re more of a fashion fiend than an art collector, the pieces below might fulfill your need for some doily-inspired fun.

Clockwise from top-left:

DIY vintage doily embellished sweater featured on Country Living

Silver doily pendant by brooke1984 on Etsy ($60)

3.1 Phillip Lim crocheted bib tee on CUSP ($325)

Ivory lace mini skirt by BB Dakota on Ruche ($59.99)

“Snowflakes are falling” gray marle striped tank from perpetual3 on Etsy ($32.95)

Small doily earrings from sodafine ($38)

Hand-crocheted ivory flower mohair shawl in trendyknitting’s Etsy shop ($85)

Tote with silk-screened doily graphic from trackandfielddesigns on Etsy ($52)

Crocheted in-the-clouds scarf from Anthropologie ($168)

Handmade grey sparkle doily collar by sodafine on Etsy ($48)

Lace shift dress by 3.1 Phillip Lim via La Garconne ($750)

Doily-inspired flats from Charlotte Russe ($22.99)

Wooden doily brooch by States of Nature ($35)

A Field of Stripes

Anjelica — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Loved this photo when I came across it on FFFFOUND! (via aspire to enquire). Unfortunately, I can’t locate the original, but it’s a brilliant landscape regardless of the “why?” or “how?”

Taking inspiration from these painted fields, I pulled together the pieces below. Bright, multicolor stripes paired with less dramatic solids make for an interesting combo in the home.

Clockwise from top left:

Striped vase by D&G Design on That’s Arte ($209)

Corona sofa in Pear from Macy’s ($699)

5′ x 8′ stripes rug at Target ($299.99)

Karlstad chair in Sivik dark green by Ikea ($229.99)

Yellow cable throw from CB2 ($49.95)

Al Fresco stripe baskets from Pier 1 ($18 and $24)

Pantone stripe mugs from Heal’s (£8.00)

Purple daisy mum in striped pot by deLa Flowers (via Shop Fresh Flowers)

Panier side table container from Hive Modern ($129)

Adirondack side table in Forest Green from Eon

Stripe multicolor textur tablelamp from Ikea ($29.99)

Striped accent pillow by Crate and Barrel ($21.95)

Linen pillow in Pesto from CB2 ($34.95)

A Post-Turkey Return

Anjelica — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

Didn’t get the chance to post last week, since I was running around prepping for (and ultimately enjoying!) the holiday. Lots of fun crammed into the last 5 days or so… I’m still trying to recover! Not only did I have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family, I played hostess for our 5th annual “friendsgiving” on Saturday, aptly titled Thanksgiving 2 (or T-Givs 2 for short). Flaming marshmallow drama aside, it was a wonderful time spent with my favorite people, sharing my favorite foods.

The photo above is of a little arrangement I put together for the celebration, inspired by found items from the Fall. Shadow boxes and floating frames were used to display various nuts, cinnamon sticks, leafs, feathers and a few fabric scraps that tied in with my palette. Glass bottles wrapped in twine held branches and floral stems, while pine cones and mason jar votives punctuated the display. For the focal point, I affixed unfinished wooden letters (custom made by woodenletters.net) to a 24″ x 36″ canvas and propped up the number 2 in front for added dimensionality.

I didn’t document my work in progress, but everything here is easily DIY-able! The bottles did take a while to wrap, but I love the way they turned out. Super cheap to make, and the end result is something that I’ll get a lot of use from! All of the frames will also be recycled for other projects, or become a part of everyday décor.

Did you host your own holiday get together? What are some of the things you did to dress up the room or table? Feel free to share pictures if you have them!

Magical Stained Glass

Anjelica — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:55:00 +0000

Loving this photo featured on Apartment Therapy from this year’s Bienalle International Art Exhibit in Venice. The colorful reflection on the floor is from American artist Spencer Finch’s ”Moonlight” installation, an ode to stained glass created by applying gel filters to existing windows throughout the space. The hanging incandescent bulbs make up Finch’s “Moondust,” which complement the windows and add a magical feeling to the room. Check out more photos from: Spring Globe’s flickr

The colors and lighting in this picture are absolutely gorgeous. Stained glass is incredibly dramatic, and the idea of creating a simple and temporary stained glass window with colored film is brilliant. Maybe one day I’ll take that up as a DIY project! In the meantime, here are some easy ways to instantly incorporate a stained glass feel into your home décor.

Clockwise from top left:

Aqua stained glass table lantern with metal handle from Glassware Manufacturers

Butterscotch stained glass lamp and multicolor lamp from Charmaine’s Past & Present

Mixed color glass mosaic tiles by EVIT

Stafford wine glasses in amber and Cathedral goblet in blue from Anthropologie

Amber mosaic glass bowl by Glassware Manufacturers

Tree of Life stained glass window from Stained Glass & More

Stained glass leaded mirror by Libby Harri at Tinted View

Glass genie bottle from the large decanter collection by Joe Cariati

Recycled collage made from fused glass dinnerware and bottles, featured on Southern Exposures (similarly amazing work available from Daniel Mahr Stained Glass Studio )

Other worlds kaleidoscope with stained glass wheel from Anthropologie

Turquoise blue gilded glass votive with horizontal and vertical accents from Luna Bazaar

So Much Glitter

Anjelica — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:24:00 +0000

In the process of cruising Etsy for some craft ideas, I came across these awesome items from Judy’s Mosaic Supplies. I’ve always wanted to create mosaics, and these shiny (and cheap!) materials are especially tempting. From left to right: Goldwater Silvercoat Stained Glass Tiles, Silver Metallic Coarse Sand Glitter, and Glass Gems in Electric Black

How can you not love something that shimmers in the light? I have quite an affinity for sparkling items, but rarely take the opportunity to work them into my wardrobe. Glittery clothing and accessories can be borderline over-the-top, but certain pieces in neutral metallic colors can make quite a statement when paired with more modest basics. I’d be proud to rock any of these beauties below..

Clockwise from top left:
Stone color wavy sequin blouse from Topshop ($90)
Crushed glitter minaudiere by J. Crew ($49.50)
Marc by Marc Jacobs faux bow glitter ring on Zappos ($54)
Black Silence & Noise sequin tee from Urban Outfitters ($48)
Sequin brooches by jeweler Joanna Campbell featured via Fingers
Black stingray cuff bracelet in luluka’s Etsy store ($40)
ABS sequined shift dress at Saks Fifth Avenue ($360)
Sequin scarf in iron from Ann Taylor Loft ($29.50)
Christian Louboutin Fred Flat glitter in anthracite at Barney’s ($595)
Glitter shimmer pot in silver by Sephora ($8)
Silence & Noise sequin skirt from Urban Outfitters ($88)
Marni glitter flower necklace on Brown’s
Nude glitter pump by Christian Louboutin at Bergdorf Goodman ($595)

Junk Food

Anjelica — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

This odd little illustration by Jared Stumpenhorst, originally dreamed up as a t-shirt design for Woot, caught my eye mostly because of the interesting selection of snacks. I’ve seen the burger/fries combo on t-shirts, the cupcakes and candy combo, even a family of fruits with faces–but I’d yet to come across such a fine sampling of junk food.

The nervous smiles on their faces make me wonder, are they self-conscious about the way some might look down on them? Or are they about to get eaten by someone more like me?

Let’s face it, these snacks may not be the best for your diet, but there are some benefits to cooking them in your own kitchen. Healthy recipes and fresh ingredients can take out a lot of the yuck-factor from these usually mass-produced treats. Alternatively, making a conscious decision to buy all-natural alternatives to your old favorites can help satisfy a craving without doing any real damage. Everything in moderation, right? Ahh, junk food..

Clockwise from top left:
Really simple homemade pizza from (one of my favorites!) Smitten Kitchen
Copycat Oreo cookie recipe by Cupcake Project
Soft pretzel recipe from Cooking Light via My Recipes
Healthy microwave potato chips from Fat Free Vegan
100% natural GuS (Grown-up soda) available in a variety of flavors
Fried chicken photo from Sweet Tea with Lemon , recipe by Alton Brown
Homemade peanut butter cups from Genesis of a Cook
Glazed donut holes recipe by Diana’s Desserts
Greek lamb burgers with spinach, red onion and Feta from Bon Appétit
Fresh fruit roll-ups recipe by Sugarlaws

Pattern Party

Anjelica — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

If you know that I love packaging and pretty patterns, it goes without saying that I would be completely amazed by these brilliant take-out cups. Graphic artist Sarah Walsh designed these beauties as part of an image overhaul for Mallard Tearooms, a specialist tea company. According to Sarah, “the mix and match branding is inspired by the eclectic feel of the establishment, which is quirky, eccentric and unmistakably English.” Check out more from this project on her portfolio site.

Obviously a bit excited about these cute designs, I took her cue in putting together a quirky, eccentric and unmistakably English tea party that incorporates both the patterns and palettes from the Mallard project. From tabletop to dessert buffet, the details we might normally overlook are an amazing opportunity to incorporate more of your theme–just check out the cookies with stunning houndstooth-print icing!

Clockwise from top left:
Red ranunculus arranged in a teacup from Domino’s, “Unexpected Vases” (via Duet Weddings )
DIY aqua mason jar project via Apartment Therapy
Houndstooth print cookies designed by pastry artist Amber Spiegel
Classic red teapot from Whittard of Chelsea (£17.50)
Dotti red cup and saucer on Living and Giving ($10.99)

Fabric potted plant in black houndstooth by janejoss on Etsy ($28)

Shabby chic English rose napkins on Shabby Chic Rose Interiors (£1.95 for 20)

Picket fences floral plates from Home A La Mode ($24.99)

Sabre red gingham charger plate, found on French Habits
Teal bamboo lattice letterpress note cards from the Garden Aviary collection by Elum Design
Turquoise M&Ms in a candy buffet inspiration photo from Details Event Rental
Strawberry cupcake recipe by Bumbleberry Cakes
Red gingham muffin cups from Fancy Flours ($4 for 40 wrappers)

Cakes inspired by calico-print fabric on Martha Stewart Weddings
Houndstooth table runner from CoCoMalé (£21.00)

Recycled glass votive holders from Target ($49.99 for set of 6)

A Post-less Wednesday!

Anjelica — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:40:00 +0000

No post again? Egads!

We’re working on moving ourselves over to a new host, so updates have been lighter than usual. Excited about getting everything set up in our new home! More features, more functionality, and definitely more posts. Get pumped! I know I am.

Image above is from Dutch fashion photog duo, Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, via Radeville (kinda NSFW).