Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Design Equivalent of Lipstick




Haven't you always heard that when the economy gets shaky, lipstick sales go on the upswing? Women may cut back on buying Manolos, but they are not going to stop purchasing makeup. It's also a matter of treating oneself to something nice. It might be hard to justify at $600 pair of shoes, but a $20 tube of lipstick? That's easy.

I think that many times it's the little details that can make one's home seem well-appointed and even quite luxurious- perhaps even more so than expensive fabric or elaborate curtains, for example. And the good thing is that it doesn't have to cost very much to make you and your house feel special.

Here are some of my recent lipstick purchases. What about yours?



I recently bought a box of monogrammed matchbooks. No, I don't smoke, but I seem to burn a lot of candles, and it's great to place a matchbook with each candle in the house.


Who doesn't love fresh flowers around the house? At times, I like to splurge, but when I'm in a hurry, I just buy a bunch of carnations from Publix. They're cheap and they last forever. The key is to buy only one color and group them en masse. Bright pink, white, or deep burgundy are my favorite colors. (The carnation's best friend is Joe Nye. I can't think of another designer who uses carnations more often than Joe. And they always look fabulous.)


It used to drive me crazy- everytime I was on the phone and needed to write something down, I was always running around my house like a madman looking for a pen. A while back I purchased a bunch of colorful pencils that I display in julep cups or old candle votives, and I color coordinated them to each room. I know, I know, some of you might be rolling your eyes right now, but I swear, it doesn't look too contrived.


If you're sick of ikat, then just skip this photo. These West Elm pillows look great on the chairs of my terrace. And, they're only $19 per pillow. A lot of look for a little money.

(Image at top: Photograph by Leombruno-Bodi, Vogue, April 1960; courtesy of Conde Nast Store. Image of tablesetting by Joe Nye courtesy of joenye.com and House Beautiful)

61 comments:

  1. Carolyne Roehm also loves carnations. They really are not all that easy to find in the markets here anymore. I love the fragrance!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thats a great observation...and so true!
    My latest lipstick would have to be a splurge on soy candle (voluspa) and a great stack of colored paper for notes!
    Leslie

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sophie- Really? Down here you can find them everywhere. Although the ones I find don't seem to have that nice scent!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Maison- The colored note paper is a great idea! I need to remember that when I next need pads and paper.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I knew exactly what I wanted to share & as I scrolled down, I found out it was one of your too - fresh flowers!

    I recently have had a a love for the Iris and displaying them in a big, round glass vase always puts a smile on my face : )

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jennifer,
    As usual you have both practical and beautiful design ideas. Thank you!

    Ellen

    ReplyDelete
  7. Arlynn- You know, I like irises too, but I don't see them often. Their color is so beautiful, though!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you Ellen! I think we've all been forced to be practical lately!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I seem to need to be reminded that "it is all in the details" at least once a week. Thanks Jennifer--flowers and note paper--so simple and so true. Don't forget Trader Joe's Orchids--super affordable and they last forever.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, I forgot to mention. Puppies love to chew on pillows, maybe Alfie shouldn't see the Ikat pillows!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jennifer-A wonderful post. I think in good economies and bad, it is the little details that make a home really lovely. In bad times, these little touches are even more special. I love the beautiful pagoda candles and diffusers from Seda France, and the notepads and matches from Iomoi for my home.

    ReplyDelete
  12. My latest lipsticks? A beautiful coffee cup to use at the office, with a saucer. (Paper cups are so "Mad Men.") Fresh flowers—yes, carnations, so cheap and so chic.

    ReplyDelete
  13. These are such wonderful ideas. I would also say all matching new bistro glasses to drink red wine from and feel as though I have traveled to Paris when I have not.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love the pencil idea!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Lovely post and so true. I love your little Gucci tray and monogrammed candle. May I ask what line the candle is? It's lovely! Okay, I'm off to buy colored pencils. What a great idea. I'll do a grouping for the kitchen and one for the office. Now I have a use for those pretty old glass candle holders. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely ideas, but you forgot the chocolate. And don't forget the Alfie updates.

    ReplyDelete
  17. All great, doable ideas. Sometimes it's the smallest things that can make me happy. I too love to put my pencils in mint julep cups, but have never thought to coordinate with the room palette!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jennifer -- West Elm is going to love you. What an inspired choice for the terrace. It's going to be the chicest condo terrace in our city :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Good point and such nice touches to spread around. My thing is always to have pretty dish towels for a splash of color in the kitchen. I'm always giving them as gifts too, but my family/friends in the States don't hang them up as I do !

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fantastic post! I love the idea. Plus, I have way too many lipsticks.

    What brand candle do you have there?

    Personally, I don't care for Seda because the wicks produce black smoke but I love their packaging!

    ReplyDelete
  21. great suggestions- and i indulge in them all. as w/ style redux- candles are a must- I have always preferred Diptyque- but the Seda, gardenia and the Voluspa- Panjore Lychee-both, good for the summer. I can never pass up a book- abe, alibris are good places to get a better price. la

    ReplyDelete
  22. Mary- Trader Joe's orchids are cheap and last a while. Good suggestion!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Style Redux- I have the Seda France Japanese Quince diffuser. Smells great, but it attracts dust!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Aesthete- A cup and saucer is far more civilized than paper! I just need to remind myself of that when I'm drinking from a styrofoam cup!

    ReplyDelete
  25. LPC- Oh yes, matching glasses. That's a good one!

    Yoli- Glad you like the pencils!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Paris Hotel and A.- It's a Porthault candle. I can't remember which scent it is, but it's in pink packaging. I adore the scent, and it lasts forever.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Home- Oh yes, I'll provide Alfie updates. We both have circles under our eyes from lack of sleep last night :(

    ReplyDelete
  28. Karen- I was afraid some people would think the color coordinated pencils are cheesy, but I like them.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Courtney- I wish! I have a long way to go to make it semi-chic.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Le style- Oh yes, how could I forget dish towels?? I love the French ones from Yves Delorme.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Augury- Well, you know how I feel about books!!! Agree 100%

    ReplyDelete
  32. Magazines used to be my lipstick, but the good ones are all falling by the wayside!

    ReplyDelete
  33. My lipstick purchases-blood orange extra virgin olive oil, cire trudon candles and K Hall diffusers in pomegranate!

    ReplyDelete
  34. My lipstick...
    Handmade marshmellows from local ice cream dream Sweet Republic...one is enough to whoosh the drabs away.
    Dont forget Costco for flowers too. You can buy a lovely mass of something for reasonable. I found ginger!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  35. LOVE love love the first picture. Xoxo-BLC

    ReplyDelete
  36. Chocoslovakian9:18 PM

    Great idea getting monogrammed matches. And I love your Hermès chaine d'ancre ashtray. Do they even carry that one anymore?

    ReplyDelete
  37. I had no idea carnations lasted longer...I love that arrangement, the color is Magnifique!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Jennifer - not contrived in the least - and fun to see your picks. I think my "lipstick" lately has been paint!

    ReplyDelete
  39. yep I've been buying lipstick, actually lipgloss and flowers, actually I blogged my rather too abundant flower buying yesterday

    Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hi,
    loved the pencils but with 3 kids mine seem to disappear INSTANTLY! (as do the nice pads!!)
    My latest 'lipstick' purchase (besides flowers, but that's a must-have!) are magazine baskets coordinated to the rooms in which they are, in mock leather & suede from Madura here in France. Gives me the illusion of controlling the clutter!
    Anne-Sophie

    ReplyDelete
  41. brilliant post! i love your idea of colour coordinating a bunch of pencils to each room. i'm convinced that details like that are mood stabilizers.

    ps this post made me realize that roddy's correct. i spend much too much.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Love the colored pencils! So stylish! I also love the notepad. Where did you find it?

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great post -- love the pencil idea; I too am always scambling for a pen. My lipstick pick-me-up for my home environment is a voluspa or seda france candle.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Great post, Jennifer! I especially love your "if you're sick of ikat...." mention! Thanks for the reminder that beauty is in the details.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Kathryn, the notepad was from Mrs. Strong. Too bad we can't buy them anymore!

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love your blog! Thank you for your amazing posts!

    Do you have ideas for mantels?

    Thank you,
    Kathryn

    ReplyDelete
  47. Funny you mentioned carnations...yesterday I threw away a big bunch (still in fairly good shape) I had for two weeks (and Vancouver weather is unusually hot lately)just because of the stems.
    My latest treat was a beautiful old framed B&W print of a pointer (my dog) found in an antiques consignement store for 60 dollars.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I always indulge in wonderful smelling soaps in the bathroom/kitchen. They're something you'll use so frequently during a day but it's easy to forget their impact. Lily and jasmine scents are my favs!

    ReplyDelete
  49. I love the coordinating pencils idea. It is so eye catching. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  50. where did you order the monogram matches from? I just love the idea and have to have some!

    ReplyDelete
  51. Eddie Ross is a huge fan of the carnation, One color grouped en mass. I have been painting(the baths, and I have done the wonderful pencils as well. I used to buy fresh flowers for the house, it is a bit of a luxury after purchasing out door flowers though!

    ReplyDelete
  52. $20 lipstick is always affordable!

    ReplyDelete
  53. Bree- I bought them from foryourparty.com (click on words "monogrammed matchbooks" above and it will take you directly to the product page).

    ReplyDelete
  54. JENNIFER-

    One of your best posts ever today (as evidenced by the enthusiastic response and resounding endorsements of all your ideas).
    Yes, monochrome flowers. No tortured 'arrangements'. Fresh only.
    Yes, as Brillante noted, 'antiques' and old books and monogrammed linens from charity shops and consignment shops.
    Yes, West Elm as a surprise/chic design source.
    Yes, understated monograms are always classic but not all over the house, or in every room and never aggressively on matching towels. On a sweater or shirt or pillow etc as a kind of joke, with nod and wink, perhaps.
    Yes, julep cups for all purposes.
    Happy simple/chic summer to all.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Fresh Linens do the trick for me! Love your choices and i am headed over to check out those west elm pillows! Thanks for the tip!

    ReplyDelete
  56. I love this! You're a real Jackie O! the pencils - are they monogrammed too? wouldn't that be so adorable. I want to do everything you did. seriously - the pencils, the pads, the matches. I 'm in love. do you have a source?

    my flower trick is I buy orchid plants - they last two or three months and always look great.

    ReplyDelete
  57. I really enjoy your blog...a design blog that doesn't get on my nerves.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Thank you so much for the match box details at "for your party". They have exactly what I have been looking for & they ship to Australia!

    ReplyDelete
  59. LOVE this idea of lipstick purchases for the home! And I'm doing it for sure--finding fun prints and vintage items on Etsy instead of splurging on that paulistano chair I've been lusting after for a year now...and flowers, of course! They're the best way to make my messy house look 'stylishly lived in'!

    ReplyDelete
  60. My "lipsticks" are glass oil candles, decorative pillows and towels.

    ReplyDelete