I’m all packed and ready to leave for Alt Summit tomorrow! I shouldn’t be congratulating myself for packing a 3-day trip into a carry-on, but I’m very pleased with myself for succeeding. I do wish, however, that my suitcase had a little more class than the Samsonite brick on wheels I’ll be hefting into the overhead. Like this, for example. But with enough room for the four pairs of shoes I’m bringing.
I am dreading holiday travel this year. As if a 5-hour flight with a squirmy baby wasn’t daunting enough, we’ll be fighting holiday crowds and gambling with east-coast winter weather. Browsing suitcases today, I stumbled upon this lovely Diane Von Furstenberg gem and decided that the orange and snakeskin combo might numb the pain. Just a little.
My mom, a interior designer and antique dealer, has always sworn by Ballard Designs. Not so much to furnish your whole home–can you imagine a room filled with those godforsaken beskirted tables?–but for accent pieces and furniture that are useful, attractive, and pretty reasonably priced (one of my friends joked that BD was the place to go in Atlanta when you wanted a white couch, which BD sold in 87 different versions). Then dearly departed Domino Magazine got in on the act, styling some rooms for the BD catalog. But because I spent a large portion of my early life repudiating anything my mother liked, I never paid attention to poor Ballard Designs. My loss, because they’re selling some really good stuff.
1. Porta Luggage Rack–I hate unpacking, but I also hate rifling through a jumbled suitcase on the floor, so this is my perfect solution; 2. Palm Leaf and Fern Needlepoint Pillows–hand-sewn, for $85; 3. Marianna Glass Chandelier–Braveheart meets bistro; 4. Malu Seagrass Square Boxes; 5. Leather-bound Monogrammed Dictionary–Merriam-Webster in sorbet colors, with your name on it; 6. Medallion Panel–thick, graphic, cheap; 7. Horn Mirror–yes, I’m aware of its original provenance, but at this price you can paint it royal blue; 8. Grovesnor Queen Headboard; 9. Courbé Storage Ottoman–imagine the possibilities for hide-and-seek; 10. Burlap Ribbon; 11. the popular Brady Adjustable Sconce–slide the light and bolt as needed; 12. Wire Ferris Wheel–just look at it!
