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SIGNATURE STYLE – FALL DENIM REPORT

September 9, 2021 By kimwheeler 24 Comments

Can you believe it’s September? As much as I love summer, I am ready for the change to-fall and warm clothes. Denim is always uppermost in my mind when I think of my fall wardrobe. Here in California it’s our uniform so much of the time, so I was excited that Cindy and Sarah wanted to do denim for our Signature Style series this month. I do get a lot of inquiries throughout the year from readers who want flattering jean recommendations. Hopefully this post will help and I’ll share my personal favorite brand and a few new discoveries for Fall 2021.

This year it looks like the straight leg is gaining more traction, and as women embrace more comfortable clothes after a year plus at home the momentum for them is just getting stronger. The challenge is finding the right pair that suits your body type. I prefer the straight legs that are cropped and have a more slim cut as a petite person. The ankle flair is also a strong second to the straight leg and that jean shows off your sneakers and booties. Wide legs and mom jeans are also trending, but you have to find what feels good and flatters you. I think we can all agree the skinny is slowly going out.

Before buying any jeans, I urge you to look at what you already own. It takes 1,800 gallons of water to grow the cotton to produce just one pair of denim jeans. The manufacturing processes also use toxic dyes. Many companies, especially those who manufacturers premium denim in the U.S., are using uprecycled cottons and less toxic chemicals and less water in manufacturing. Buy mindfully and consider denim from places like Crossroads Trading and other consignment stores that have great denim collections. Upcycling is what all the young people are doing, and we need to get onboard. I have found one of my coolest pairs of jeans that way.

Take some time and bring all your jeans out, try them on by a full length mirror and see what you still love. Keep only what feels and looks good. You can also have some altered to be ankle length or ankle flair, which is great with booties. If you’re brave, take a pair of sharp scissors and cut them to be ankle grazing if you want a change.

Assesing my jeans I have 12 pairs, including an almost 17 years old pair from Gap. I don’t know how it kept making the cut, but it’s a straight leg, mid-rise and no stretch classic pair. I would say most of my jeans last me at least 5-6 years and are a mix of Frame, Paige, Anthropologie, and a few other premium brands, and some found at consignment.

Right now the pair I love best is from Frame and I have had at them 6 years, and they still sell the style, Le Garcon . They feel great on and don’t have too much stretch, are slim at the lower leg, but not tight at the waist and hips.. That’s a great cut that is slimming, but doesn’t feel like a skinny jean. About a year or ago, I realized they would look more updated with the hem cut and a bit shorter so I carefully cut them.

Here I am wearing them back in 2016 on a trip to SFMoma..

Frame is considered premium denim, is made in California with higher standards and sustainable practices and materials. They have a section of extra sustainable styles- like the straight leg here (below left)and I especially love this slouch pair, (center), and this gorgeous pair made in Italy , (right.)

I also did a trip last weekend to Anthropologie to see what they have as I have bought a few of their house brand denim, Pilcro and like them. I tried three pairs and the Slim Boyfriend Jeans below, were my favorite. I bought these in regular, but they have petite, tall and plus sizes in these.

I appreciate that they are 32% recycled cotton which is good for the earth. If you’re on the short side like me, or are short-waisted, consider petite as the rise is 2.5 inches shorter, so they won’t feel like the waist is too high. The regular size has 9.5 inch rise, which wasn’t extreme. The gauze blouse is new from Cloth & Stone, one of the best brands. I loved this color for fall!

Another way to style these same jeans is with the cuffs pulled up instead of rolled. I especially like this look with boots. Try it if your jeans are usually rolled for a more structured look.

This rose cashmere sweater was another item I fell in love with at Anthro. I’m a sucker for florals.

Also by Pilcro, Anthro’s in house denim brand, is The Wanderer Jean, which I would call a painter’s pant back in the day, and are deemed ‘relaxed’ fit, but they also say ultra high rise. Those two don’t go together in my mind. Still, they are cute and new and will give a updated look to the wardrobe for sure. I’m still thinking about them.

It looks much cooler on the model and I like how they have clogs with it. A perfect transitional autumn look and feel!

This jean comes 3 different washes, and petite and plus sizes, and the cotton is from a special mill in Turkey that is dedicated to environmental practices. Many of the Anthro jeans are coming from places like this. Look at the details in the description before you buy!

I also tried the Selvedge Borrowed Boyfriend Jean by Pilcro and it’s made at a mill in Milan, which is called ‘the greenest mill in the blue world’ and does not use any toxins at all in their process, which can pollute waterways. I love that so much. It comes in tall, petite and plus and is what I would call an old school jean, not much stretch, but won’t sag on you and I think will soften up over time. It’s a classic straight leg and because of this special mill and cotton, this jean is a bit more expensive.

The super soft Pointelle Cardigan was another good find and a classic I’ll wear a lot this fall. I’m thinking of getting another in black while they have them..

Speaking of cost for denim, an Instagram friend read I had my old Gap jeans and she remarked she still had her Guess jeans! Do you remember those? They were quite pricey back in the 80’s, like near $100. I remember saving for them. That was nearly 40 years ago. You know what’s remarkable about that? Costs of denim haven’t gone up much in 40 years. You can still walk into Gap and buy jeans for $50 or less. Is that a good thing? Not necessarily. Beware of cheap denim, the labor may be child labor or people working in horrible conditions for low wages and it may be made with polluting chemicals.

Since I called out Gap here, out of fairness I checked out the denim they did have that was made with their new Washwell program which saves millions of liters of water. No initiatives yet for the chemicals or information on factories and labor practices, but it’s something. The Mid-Rise Girlfriend was a decent jean with almost no stretch, but a classic look and unfitted leg. I think these had a lot of extra fabric in the hip area, so you can size down, but actually felt okay on and comes in petite and tall and run $48 (online), or $69 regular price in store.

I liked the wash and with their classic Gap Organic Button-up shirt button down you could do worse. The Deconstructed Mid-Rise Girlfriend (center), is also cute and I like the raw hem. High Rise Vintage Slim Jean (right), which wasn’t at my local Gap, but looks like a chic simple cut too.. All below are using the Washwell technology.

Gap has a lot to choose from, but still had a ton of ‘jeggings’ at my local store. I’m not sure why you would buy those, but they have truck loads. They could also give the store a good vacuum and clean the fitting room mirrors, but I digress..I was kind of saddened the brand is not being cared for like it once was.

In other news, Vogue just has an article that Old Navy will be the first retailer to integrate plus sizes into the regular women’s up to size 30. Old Navy already has done this and so you can shop for the denim in all sizes which will be helpful and more equitable as half of women in America are considered plus and now their sizes will be with all the others, not off in a corner.

J. Crew is also expanding their denim and has up to size 23- 37 in jeans. These Vintage Slim Jeans seen like a perfect straight leg look… I’ve been wearing their white jeans all summer and plan to continue.

Please share your musings on denim in the comments. Do you like the new straight legs or are you still a skinny jean person? What brands are your favorites and have you shopped thrift or vintage for upcycled styles? I’d love to hear.

Please visit Cindy Hattersley and Sarah London with their own takes on Signature Style for denim on their blogs today!

Kim

For more inspiration and more ideas for to style denim, you can follow my Pinterest Board, Jean Love.

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Loving Rattan and Serena & Lily

June 29, 2021 By kimwheeler 10 Comments

I am resharing this post from last fall… If you’re just popping by now in May 2022, use the code GOFORIT with any of these links for the Serena & Lily Sale until 5/31/2022. It’s a great time to get their beautiful things.

I just ordered the Balboa Bookshelf I’ve been dreaming about from Serena & Lily . I won’t get it for a while, but I’m excited to add another rattan piece to my home. I realized I’ve collected many beautiful pieces from Serena & Lily and most of them are rattan!

I can’t wait to style this bookshelf which is going in a niche in my media room, off our our pool deck. I think this has a California feel and will be perfect for the space don’t you?

What makes rattan so appealing?

To me, rattan has a resort feel and a California vibe. The rattan pieces we own have added that fun touch to the house and been durable and versatile. I do love changing things up in the house occasionally and they are easy to move, and work in all my rooms too.

For more rattan beauty, look no further than this fabulous book..I just bought and inhaled Rattan ,about the longevity and charm of rattan furniture and the craft of it. Rattan is a wonderful sustainable product that is actually a vine. It has always been synonymous with resorts and far-flung travel. It has also been in many country homes and estates, especially in Britain. When you choose a rattan piece, it won’t be something that has to decompose or be thrown out. The world is full of rattan pieces that have stood the test of time and still look beautiful.

Inspired by this book, I thought I’d share the rattan pieces I own from Serena & Lily and a few others I think are fantastic. I’ll start with what I have in my home..

The Balboa Counter Stool is rattan built on a mahogany frame with brass accents. Ours are going on two years and with boys and a lot of use, not a strand has even been loose on them. They are comfy and I love the light grey in my home as a contrast to the wood tones.

I also love it in the natural color in a white kitchen like below..

Rattan chairs for the family or living room are a nice way to add some style and also lightness to a room of upholstered furniture. We have two Edgewater Lounge Chairs in my main living space across from our sectional. They are comfy and inviting and everyone wants them when we watch shows. I feel like they add instant style to this room, which was a bit bland before.

We also love the Mattituck Armchair which strikes a more elegant note with it’s brass details and caned back… (Our cat Marlo agrees and so I let her stay in the picture!)

This is the room where my new bookshelf will go. I think with the chairs and the rug it will be a beachy feel. ( My denim rug is from another season, but this is close and also denim.

Serena & Lily has a lot of lovely choices in rattan chairs. Let’s look at my current favorites..

How cool is their Nest Chair made with hand bent rattan? Sweet for reading time with small ones or just to cozy up yourself with an ice tea and a great book? It has that instant relax vibe for a bedroom or family space.

And then there is this Venice Rattan Chair which is most affordable of the chairs and so cute in a pair..

The Yarmouth Swivel Chair is the newest chair and it’s a beauty.. Like the classics in the Rattan book, you can see some serious craftsmanship in this..

Another idea -consider one of Serena & Lily’s coffee tables. to give an oceanside vibe to your home.

Clockwise from top left..the Anguilla Coffee Table, the South Seas Coffee Table, the Balboa Coffee Table, and the Cape Coffee Table . Oh the styling possibilities!

Other lovelies in rattan to consider..

A bench in the entry of your home is not only stylish, but smart for getting your shoes on and holding packages and bags for yourself or visitors. I have one outside my door and one in my entry. The rattan Shore Bench is such a pretty design and has possibilities like the end of a bed or in a den too..

And with entries, you always need a mirror to check yourself!! There are a lot of rattan mirrors at S&L here. My Montara Mirror in our pool bath/powder room can also work in a bedroom or hallway.. I love the nautical feel of this one particularly. Montara also comes in a cute white or with navy accents and in three sizes. Mine here is a medium in natural…

How about a chic table for living room, hallway or bedside? I am very obsessed with the Scallop Side Table.

The Flynn Wall Sconce also adds charm to a bedside or a reading spot.

I have been cyber stalking the Santa Barbara Taper Pendant for my kitchen island. This is pedant comes in two sizes and I do love it next to a bedside as they show.

And the Westbrooke Pendant with a rattan ring on the pretty chain is another appealing option.

Then there are so many lovely basics like the Riviera Counter Stool that would look great indoors or even in a patio bar and is on the lower end price point.

The Freeport Lamp is another classic of theirs I want to add to our guest bedroom/office.

If you only just start with some pretty baskets, you can still beach house feeling. The Summerwood Basket is especially lovely for extra towels or to hold a plant.

The Rattan Magazine Holder is a cool item. I could really use this. My mother had one back in the 70’s and I haven’t seen such a cute one until now..

One more adorable thing in rattan are the Carmel Candlesticks.. I just think these are so perfect for a summer dining table or on a fireplace mantel.

I hope you were inspired a little to add in some rattan to your home. I do love it’s beauty and how sustainable it is. I know that the that the rattan pieces are beautifully made from Serena & Lily and some will likely be collectibles too.

Kim

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Fun Kitchen Styling Tips!

February 10, 2021 By kimwheeler 33 Comments

Today I am joining a talented group to share some ideas for styling your kitchen space. Most of us have had a LOT of time at home and the new year is a great time to change things up. Have you had the same things on the counter for the last month, years- or more? Well maybe it’s time for a lift…

My Top Tips for Styling the Kitchen..

Declutter. You need visual calm and that means less. Store oils, spices, etc out of sight if you can.
Choose 2-3 colors and repeat them in the accessories in this space.
If you’re going to have a lot of things- i.e plants, cookbooks- try to group them together.
Use unusual and pretty catchalls or baskets to bring a little style to utilitarian items.
Replace kitchen towels often, and try to stay in a color way or two.
Add a piece of art to the kitchen to bring a homey feel, less scullery.
A small counter lamp adds a warmth and an ambiance to the kitchen overhead lights just can’t.

First of all, do you have a lot of clutter? Things that you use daily, but you have them on the counter? Try putting some of them away for a while, for some visual calm. Yes I use my olive oils and salts daily, but they are in the cabinet. Less clutter means more zen and less to manage/dust too. If you need those within reach, maybe rearrange cabinets and drawers? The new year is a good time to clean each drawer out, throw away things that haven’t been used in the past few years, (egg slicer I’m looking at you,) and generally rethink the space usage in your kitchen. There are no musts, only possibilities. We get stuck in ruts. Break out and reconfigure the kitchen drawers. You can change!

Start with what inspires you and add it to the kitchen. Maybe it starts with something pretty you see you adore. I fell in love with this vase, brought it home then searched my cabinets and pulled out a cheese board with grey-blue tones, towels in the same color and a pitcher with blue to give the kitchen some cohesiveness. The vase gave me my starting point and got me excited to change things up.

Cookbooks are great and I have a lot, but I usually have just a few out I am currently into. They are good to give height to things with open shelving too. You can place a bowl on them like I did here with an easy air plant, or lemons or a clipping from your yard.

I have a big serving board that is hard to store, so my solution is to keep it on the island. It makes the plant and a bowl with some citrus have more impact and height. The ceramic bowl is a special gift from a dear friend. I think styling the center of an island is tricky. People tend to have large things in the center, but as we eat on here a lot, I like to have something that’s moveable.

I like plants for the natural element.This asparagus fern is what I have now with a pot from my local OSH store. Below I had a plant from a shop in Santa Cruz previously.

I have my utensils corralled in this container from Target. Many of these are olive wood spoons from trips in France and are dear to me. I think finding a unique crock is a way to show some flair in the kitchen. Last year I was using a large black lantern from Crate & Barrel. I have also used pots from the garden section, baskets, garden urns and silver pieces. Whatever holds what you’ve got and works with your decor. I have even seen small waste baskets that could work too. Get creative!

On the open shelving I have plates from the Joanna Gaines collection from Target in black and off white and a set of nested baskets I use frequently for serving bread, etc. The plant picture I think keeps the California feel.

I just added the faux plant to fill in space at the top left where nothing else would work. I am generally not a faux plant person, and intended to rip the plant out and just keep the pot, but it seems to look kind of cute here so I left it. Faux plants are great in those spots with little sun and are hard to reach.

My corner sink has a space for plants and they love the light here and extra splashes of water! I tried to keep them in white and light colored pots to unify the space and make it visually cleaner.

I’ve been using this basket for our paper towels since the day one accidentally fell in there and fit perfectly!

On the other perimeter counter I have a Serena & Lily tray with towels and lemons, a bust planter from Anthropologie and my lamp. I sometimes move this tray to the top of the stove.. It’s another space we don’t utilize and it can look cute with a tray and a vase of flowers even. Just remember not to use them on a warm stove!

UPDATE: I found a source for these cute towels that were a gift from Ireland. They are by Ulster Weavers and can be bought in the U.S. at British Importer, The Bee’s Knees . Ulster Weavers has a shop on Amazon, but currently the towels are not in stock, yet they have a matching tea cozy.

A small counter lamp adds warmth to the kitchen. When the cooking and cleanup are done, this light is on and the overheads are off. I can’t stand the surgery bright cap lights on, and they destroy any ambiance in the house in the evening too. They are great for tasks and that’s about it. In the early mornings it’s nice to have the warm light and in these dark afternoons as well.. Look for a one that can fit on the counter and find a lower warm wattage bulb to bring a cozy feel to your space. Lots of great small lamps here.

I have tried to generally stay in the same blue-grey and chartreuse type tones with the kitchen towels. I go with the Marie Kondo stacking method when I am motivated!

My two rugs are the hardworking Serena & Lily Seaview Runners in grey. I just ordered the second one for the other side of the island. They clean so easily and take a lot of wear.

One other thing that makes things look cleaner is hiding outlet covers. I do so using vases, cutting boards, etc like below…

This was fun and I hope I didn’t drone on about the kitchen. I’m never sure if I am sharing too much or not enough! I am no expert, but I do enjoy making the space look nice. I am working on a separate page with all the house materials from the remodel coming soon to the blog!

If you have questions about today’s post, here a few of the things I used or are similar to my kitchen…

Lillian Medium Vase, Grey Seaview Runner, Spinnaker Tray, Balboa Counter Stools, Caravan Linen Tea Towels, Gold Utensil Holder, Stonewear Dinner Plates, Bust Planter, Amara Table Lamp , Footed planter ,Teak Spatula and Spoon Set, Ceramic Stoneware Bowl, Braided Handwoven Bread Basket,

More ideas for styling your kitchen today on these wonderful blogs..

CINDY HATTERSLEY DESIGN

Kim

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Earth Day -Why it Matters

April 23, 2020 By kimwheeler 14 Comments

I hope you enjoy this post written on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. As a Californian, this day has a lot of meaning for me. I’ve been excited about ‘saving the planet’ since I was a kid, and each year this day comes around, it gives us a chance to rethink how we are living and what we might do to make a few changes to help!

Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day . Jane Goodall says it’s the decisions we make every day that will save the planet. Small things, done by all of us, can change the the future.

I love some of these images from the first celebration back in 1970. If you are close to my age, you might remember the big things then were pollution and not littering. Now we know there are so many more ways we can help!

Way back when my youngest was in kindergarten, a friend asked me to start a Green Team at our elementary school. I have no idea why they asked me, but I may have been griping about the lack of recycling or something so they figured I was a good candidate! I never have thought of myself as an eco-warrior type, but I later realized that I had been largely raised in what would now be called a green or granola kind of family!

Growing up in Northern California, we always had a garden thanks to my father. I had green beans strung over my windows in the summers as my window overlooked his large vegetable garden. Dad was always growing something and had a greenhouse and compost bin filled with worms.

We grew up eating all kinds of vegetables (not always cool then), and anything dad planted. We even raised chickens and got fresh eggs way before it was a thing. My dad was in 4H and Future Farmers when he was young and his father grew up on a farm in Mt Ayr, Iowa. My grandmother was raised in the depression and never threw things out and showed us how to sew, repurpose things and be thrifty. I figured everyone did those things, eating Swiss Chard for dinner (!) and having my clothes sewn at home by my mom or grandma. Actually a lot of people did this in the 70’s..

I had no idea what I was doing for the school Green Team, but I liked the chance to help my sons be more green and learn how our choices were affecting us all on earth. My friend Aimee, (above with our friend Marico), came on board to help and we hobbled through the elementary years holding fairs at lunchtime with invitees like Whole Foods, the water district and the library.

These Earth Day fairs were ways for families to learn more about things waste free lunches, reusable containers, water bottles, recycling and composting. Sometimes the parents would bring a picnic lunch too.

After a few years we began a school garden with some other wonderful parents. The biggest accomplishment was getting kids to recycle at lunch, which seems like a no-brainer now, but it was a real struggle as the school claimed it was too much to ask! The kids loved helping with the garden and adding pretty plants around the school too.

Eventually, the students got so good at recycling they helped teach the younger ones and even managed the program and when they moved on to middle and high school they demanded better recycling!

That showed we made some progress at least in their mindsets, which was worth it all. I highly recommend doing this at your child’s school if you have young ones. It was a small amount of time, but a good way to get kid’s caring about the planet and think about their choices.

So on the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, it’s great to recognize it’s founder, Gaylord Nelson. Nelson grew up in Clear Lake in Northern Wisconsin and was a three term senator and governor there. He founded Earth Day in 1970 and always wanted it to become a grass-roots movement put in motion by small groups and it has been.

He was an amazing human who we have so much to thank for. The University of Wisconsin, Madison has a Nelson Institute for Enviromental Studies named for him and you can read about the history of Earth Day and all Nelson did on their wonderful archive and website . I did not know he did his undergrad at San Jose State, my alma mater. He was ahead of his time and a truly a great American.

As a Californian, being thoughtful about the earth is part of life here! I love that. Still I see so many people being lazy about their choices. It’s killed me during this pandemic to see so many people buying huge flats of plastic water bottles at Costco. They are one the worst thing and the quality of the water in them is questionable. It’s simpler to get a Brita water pitcher and fill reusable bottles for your refrigerator. Even my sons get upset when they see people give out plastic bottles at events and elsewhere.

If we all try to our part, our habits will become second nature and we are giving an example to others. Hope that’s not preachy, but instead of being perfect, do what you can. Each small thing done by us can bring change!

A few places to begin..

Being home during this pandemic, it is the perfect time to start a garden of your own if you don’t already have one. People are calling this the new Victory Garden era. During the past two world wars, people were encouraged to garden to ensure fresh food and 20 million home gardens produced 40% of the nation’s fresh vegetables during WWII!

There are many online tutorials to begin a garden and I also recommend this book, A Garden Can Be Anywhere, which is a guide for design, plants and all different types of gardens. There is nothing better than your own tomatoes and vegetables and if you start now you can have food through the summer and fall. The bonus of having food in your own backyard during this pandemic can not be overstated. Get your kids involved too. My college kid took his own kale and broccoli plants to college, which made me pretty proud.

This website – The Horticult is so inspiring and helpful, also A Way to Garden, The Freckled Californian, Golden Gate Garden, are a few good ones and inspiration from The Conservatory of Flowers, one of my favorite spots, Kew Gardens in London.

Plant a low-water yard with natives and replace grass with easy care plants. This helps the earth with less water use, no fertilizers, pesticides or mowing and blowing- all pollution causing. We recently replaced our large lawn on our front yard with a low water landscape of Mediterranean plants, succulents and California natives. The ground cover is decomposed granite.

It’s been a wonderful change, and though it started out slow, the plants have taken off and our low maintenance yard needs, very little trimming, and minimal watering. The best part to us, is seeing all the birds who love to hop about the flowering bushes and the hummers and butterflies who visit daily. We love never having to mow the lawn and I feel like we’ve built a new eco-system of sorts!

Always carry your own water bottles with you throughout your day. We have multiples here at home and never go on a trip or almost leave the house without our bottles. The Swell bottles are my favorite, last forever and are nearly indestructible. There many great options now, so have a few for each person in your home, and you’ll save money and the planet by never, ever buying plastic single use bottles. If you entertain, instead set up a jug with water and if you must have disposable, then paper cups or ones that you can write names with wine writers that just wash off with soap.

Obviously reusable bags are the thing now. I think it’s the single biggest thing we’ve done in California and I’m so proud of us. Keep bags by the front door and a few in the car and also small ones in your purse.

I have heard people complaining about hygiene with reusable bags. They can be washed in the laundry and also wiped out with alcohol if they are stiffer. I usually also buy my produce with reusable net bags and don’t use a plastic bag – just put my avocados etc on the checkout counter bare. They all have to be washed at home anyway, and who knows who has touched them or if they’ve fallen on the ground previously, so putting them is a plastic bag, isn’t keeping them any cleaner.

The best bags are these by Apolis a great company that is dedicated to improving the lives of those who make their bags. You can see I have two, in my entry-one is four years old. I just bought a new black one.

We now know most plastics aren’t be recycled as we thought, so anytime you can buy things in bulk, in reusable containers or bigger packaging (like a salad or drinks) or no packaging at all, like bulk nuts, oats etc, it is so much better. Packaging is one of the biggest problems with so many plastics ending up in the oceans, chocking sea life and polluting fish and sea life.

While we are at home, convert your yard and home to be free of pesticides and chemicals, if you haven’t already. I am shocked to see people have subscriptions to places like Thrasher and other pest services in this day and age. With all we know, there is no way I’d have any part of my yard or home sprayed with chemicals. Those chemicals linger and get into every living species on your property.

Eliminate pesticides and herbicides and use natural fertilizers. Even yard fertilizers can have things like Round-up in them and even just an occasional spritz on your yard lasts years and flows to the neighbor yards and to the watershed. There are so many non-toxic alternatives out there. Do your research. When you need to kill a bug or weed you can make your own spray vinegar and there is even one you can buy. Also the new weed torches work great and leave to residue to hurt birds, butterflies, and bees.

Use cloth napkins and towels instead of paper. Back in 2014, I made the decision to stop buying paper napkins and instead start using the cloth ones we had amassed unused over the years. It’s been the best decision and I have never looked back. We have one deep drawer with all the napkins by color, un-ironed, and a small basket on the counter for used ones. We do a load of them once a week on hot and everyone folds them when I leave them on the kitchen island. They are useful for kitchen spills and things too. Obviously I have some fancier ones as well, but I have loads of the everyday ones (which some were formerly unused fancy ones) and they just get softer over time. I still get paper towels for the gross things, but we generally use towels most of the time. Only Americans are so obsessed with paper and most other nations use cloths.

Speaking of cloth, try and air dry and care for your laundry (my usual load of cloth napkins and towels above), with non-toxic products which do go in the water system afterwards. I love this timely post on Beautiful Living With Stefanie Wall on how to care for your clothes and be eco-friendly at the same time! Of course I appreciate the dryer right now for towels and the kitchen things, but some heavier things like denim I lay outside in the sun, and blouses and nicer shirts get hung in the breeze. You can save a lot of energy just by using the sun and wind and your clothes will look better and wear much longer.

Lately I’ve also become a fan of Patrick the Laundry Evangelist thanks to my pal Juliet. Follow him and you’ll find the best way to wash your clothes and things is also using less product, and things like laundry flakes which eliminate a those big plastic jugs filling the planet, and also natural things like vodka and vinegar..

One of the biggest changes that will make an impact is less meat and dairy consumption. This article in The Guardian says that avoiding meat and dairy is the single biggest way to lessen your footprint on the planet. We are not vegans, but I have switched myself to using oat milk and plant butters. Start with small changes if this seems hard, and see how much dairy and meat you can do without. You may be surprised.

Hugely impactful, try to buy less, shop better and buy upcycled clothes and furnishings, as portion of what we consume each year. Fast fashion is fun, but when you survey your closet, most people will tell you it’s those cheaper pieces that end up in the donation pile.

If you have to have a shopping fix get to know stores like Crossroads Trading where you can get upcylcled fashion and Thredup. Those places have some great buys and many are new with tags and not found anywhere else. If you love a particular brand, say Tory Burch, you can put that name in your Thredup search and find all the Tory things in your size. I have gotten some beautiful pieces that way, and it’s one less garment in the world going to waste and one less new one bought. The less new we buy, the less made. Vintage and upcycled is the future of fashion.

We should aim for a closet of things we love for a long time and think quality not quantity. Nordstrom has been really progressive with their sustainable initiatives and has a goal to eliminate plastic bags from all their stores this year, and has long-range goals to 2025, including getting customers in the habit of recycling, not buying and dumping. They now have Rent the Runway in stores and believe that is one of the main ways retail will evolve if it is to remain relevant and survive. Look today at your favorite retailer’s site and see what they are doing for the planet which should be on their main page today. Choose companies that align with your values!

Finding unique things for your home from yard sales, thrift and home consignment, and even on Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor, is another way of doing good for the planet. A well made chest of drawers or set of chairs add loads of character and charm to your home, and are undoubtedly much better made than anything bought at IKEA, or Homegoods. Think how to integrate a mix in your house, and even better -use family hand-me downs if you are lucky. My favorite kind of home is a mix of old, some new and collected and found pieces that give your home a unique character and vibe! There is beauty in the old like this etagere I found a a yard sale..

Vote for representatives who put climate change and the protections of water, clean air and wild life as a priority, over corporate priorities and lobbyists. This list is congress’s top takers of oil and money gas. This list is those who have pledges not to ever take money from big oil. There are people of both parties on these lists. Look for your people and vote accordingly.

Walk, bike, take public transit and buy electric vehicles! I know this sounds old school, but biking and walking is another of one of the single biggest thing that we can all do. Try just one day a week walking to get something – or biking is huge if we could all do it. I would love to see more cities have one day a week designated for just bikes and pedestrians downtowns and more roads closed off on certain days. The more we get people comfortable on bikes, as they are in Europe, the more we will do it.

Also we need more safety lanes built to make people feel secure biking on roads. One day a week taking public transit helps. Take it as a break to work or read if you can. Electric vehicles are wonderful and hugely popular in California and hopefully soon, all over. Having less cars on the road during the pandemic has given the earth a reset, and also the sound pollution is so much better a bonus.

These are just a few ideas and tips- and so many more that I didn’t touch on! I hope this inspires you in some way and I know you might have some great tips and ideas to add in the comments! Please do.

Thanks for being here and I hope you got out and enjoyed our beautiful earth today!

Kim

The Coolest Kitchens

August 28, 2017 By kimwheeler 13 Comments

I know I haven’t been blogging as much as I used to and one reason is some time I’ve been trying to devote to a home remodel we have been planning. The kitchen part is especially stressing and I tend to overthink everything.

I could make it easy and choose all the traditional things -white cabinets, counters…pedant lights, farm house sink, subway backsplash, etc. I love all of those elements! However, after traveling to Europe and also pouring over of kitchen ideas, I have begun to say why not think out of the box? I don’t want trendy, but I want something uniquely mine and kinda cool and something that won’t look dated.

One thing I have been avoiding is Pinterest and a few other sites. The same images or look alike images are shared so many zillions of times and things start to look all the same. The homogenization of Pinterest and somewhat of Instagram, has been a pet peeve of mine. They all look the same…Or variations of the same. It gets really monotonous and I think will look very dated in a short time. Houzz has more variations and ideas, but most adhere to a traditional look or a modern one.

The only solution is to forge your own style and look, so where to get ideas? The MLS is one good spot as real estate listings have such a diversity. I also find European kitchens more inspiring as they seem to appreciate quirkiness, take more chances and don’t care for the model home look as we Americans fawn over.

In that spirit I am sharing some of the more unique kitchens I’ve been loving and I say you only live once…Take chances and dare to be different.

This is one of my favorite kitchens – Sara Ruffin Costello’s home in Saint Louis. Photo is from her website which feature her Garden District home is one of my very favorites.

I love the painted brick backsplash, the mix of modern and traditional and the bright feeling.

Another awesome and unique kitchen I love is this Swedish one…

The home of former model and now designer Malin Persson is a great combination of furniture pieces and modern counters, lighting and tiled walls. How gorgeous is her china cabinet?

The whole post originally appeared here on Habitually Chic.

I also love the idea of painting a kitchen a color like this one by English designer Ben Pentreath. Ben and his blog are ground zero for that quirky English vibe. If only California wasn’t so hot, I could have an AGA stove. I just love their old world look.

If you like this, Ben’s blog has more of the parsonage he shares with his husband Charlie in Dorset. I love the way he mixes it all and makes it beautiful.

Some other antidotes to the usual… Yes I love white shaker cabinets and white counters, but it’s good to see other options right?

Cote Maison

Decorpad

This kitchen is the work of the Luigi Fragola design firm in Florence, Italy.

So is this…

I’m crazy about the color of the cabinets and the floor and what wonderful cabinetry.

More of their designs on this post by Desire to Inspire which highlighted their beautiful work.

One thing my designer Debbie says to me is that I would live in glass house if I could and she’s right. I crave light and can never get enough. I especially love a garden outside. This kitchen surrounded by a garden is dreamy.

So is this..

Houzz

I thought I might be able to model the layout of my kitchen after this one. The bank of windows, lamp on the counter (makes it so cozy) and the glass doors to the pantry or office are all things I would hope to do. However, I may now be moving my kitchen to an entirely different space, so the layout would not be like this.

Elements of Style

I also love this, lots of wood, white and steel and windows.

How about rock for the backsplash? Sorry no original link to this so if someone knows please tell me. Originally found on Pinterest.

I also love a mix of modern design and a fancy chandelier…

Remodelista

Jasper Conran’s kitchen has always been a favorite with it’s steel counters combined with the traditional.

Another mix of rustic, modern and classic elements by Rose Uniacke.

The beams look traditional and the dark windows are modern. I’d like a black, natural wood or even a blue hued island. Via Elements of Style.

I’m also partial to the grey blue tones.

If you have to do white, then this mix of tile, painted chandelier and lots of chrome is fun. Both photos above designed by Ilse Crawford.

Another mix here by Kristin Buckingham.

This kitchen by Windsor Smith has been seen everywhere, but I still love it! I believe this is actually a very dark navy paint that is almost black, but with the light of the kitchen, the marble and all her silver it still feels light.

Another color that is just starting to be seen more in kitchens is pink and this tone is almost a neutral.

Apartment Therapy

Veronica Swanson Beard in her New York kitchen in Bazaar. Not everyone could live with this blue, but why not and the lantern is beautiful. The color is very retro and reminds me of our kitchen growing up, until my mom got into cornflower yellow.

Remember those days? My mom had our frig painted yellow. it matched all our appliances and then we had some wonderful orange accents via mushroom hot pads and macrame owls. Around 1973 that was the height of hip. My mom dreamed of getting rust shag carpeting to go with it all!

Searching for these pics I found a nice one of Gloria Vanderbilt in her kitchen around the same era. She was also embracing those tones and the quilted/Holly Hobby look that was getting popular then.

I’m digging her apron too. Oh kitchen trends!

Here I am complaining about trends and choices when I found this gem of Julia Child in her Paris kitchen. I forgot how tall she was! I will not complain about my back hurting when I see what she had to deal with. Apparently it didn’t hinder her cooking abilities.

NYTimes

Anyone have advice about kitchen remodeling- what they would do/not do or wish they did?

The world is full of choices! Sometimes it’s too much.

Watch this space and I’ll share my remodel with you, hopefully something different.

Kim

California Weekends- What to Pack for Carmel and Monterey

May 6, 2012 By kimwheeler 13 Comments

What do I wear- and pack? That is the first thing on my mind is when I am planning a getaway to the Carmel/ Monterey area. It can be tricky as it’s a California coastal area, but more often than not can be cool, though sunny. As we are very casual in California you’ll see a lot of looks like this outfit above, worn by Ashley Olsen which is so Carmel to me, with a laidback luxe feel.

The original post on this was written in 2012, after a little getaway to Carmel to celebrate my husband’s birthday. It has become so popular I have updated it over the years. As a Bay Area and Northern Cal gal we get there a lot, so I feel qualified to advise. The photo above, in Pebble Beach, was from my latest trip there, October 2019. Fall is actually a warmer time than summer often!

You’re going to love this area and if you pack the right things, enjoy it too. This updated post has some newer links and photos to help you plan a trip in 2021 and beyond!

Carmel is one of the most gorgeous places on the planet and I am continually thrilled by its beauty on each trip. I am so fortunate to live here in Northern California and be nearby. When I say Carmel, I also mean the whole Monterey Peninsula area, which encompasses Carmel by the Sea, Monterey, Pacific Grove and Carmel Valley in the hills to the East.

You could be staying in the warm and sunny Carmel Valley, but will most likely end up at some point in the foggier and cooler town of Carmel, too. For this reason you need to pack for two climates! I kid you not . If you don’t believe me try spending a day in town here and you will see how many Carmel sweatshirts are sold to tourists. It’s not unusual to see winter coats and sweaters worn here especially during summer time. Carmel Valley, up the road about 20 minutes from Carmel is a warm wine region and not unlike Napa and Sonoma. So you really have to think before packing.

Most of my visits to Carmel I have wandered around like Jennifer Aniston above, with sandals, yet burrowed up in a big sweater!

Carmel is a cosmopolitan place where people dress very well, but casual. Carmel Valley tends to be a horsier set where as Carmel by the Sea, is a little more luxe. Monterey where the aquarium and Cannery Row are, is super casual.

Bottom line…This is the capital of casual chic. People dress well, even though they are dressed down.

What to pack for a weekend in Carmel and Monterey. . .

White jeans. Even in winter. They look great with heavy sweaters and pea coats.

These white cords from J. Crew are perfect for Carmel, also this thicker white cropped pair, and these vintage straight ones.

I love this look of Linda Wright and her daughter- both making white denim look chic in cool temps..Look at Linda’a Instagram for a lot of inspirational looks with white denim..

Other white denim looks that could work for Carmel…Dressier here like below..

Alternatively, khaki or black jeans ..

These black jeans similar from J Crew are cute and versatile -with sandals or boots and you can dress them up for dinner..And these classic straight legs from Frame are a versatile choice that will feel great too.

Blue jeans of course…

I love this relaxed version and this one .This pair by Frame is a new classic that will flatter all sizes.

I love the mix of straw bag and sweater – and sweater plus sandals..A little summer and winter together works by the sea.

I love this classic straw bag with a leather handle by J. Crew – the perfect tote to pair with your sweater and for travel.

This woven leather bag is another casual tote that’s luxe looking.

Button down shirt in white or denim for day. Great for layering with chunky sweaters. Can also double a a cover-up by the pool if it’s longer.

A great classic white button down here. And great quality by Frank & Eileen.

Comfy flats. I always have a pair of ballet flats and a cute pair of tennis shoes.

I love a good white sneaker and Vejas are so California classic and neutral in all their variations. Perfect for up and down the hills of Carmel and a day of walking. Also more Vejas here and here.

These suede Pumas are another cute option too..

And these New Balance are quite popular..and also a neutral.

Ballet flats are another good thing to have on hand and a good a sneaker alternative. Love the look and shape of these Sam Edelmans, which come in a few colors..and also these classics by Tory Burch and these are a modern update on the ballet flat with many pretty shades.

Flip flops for the pool or beach. I have this pair of Tory Burch that have lasted years. They make everything look California casual chic and upgraded. Great to wear to the spa or breakfast as well.. Right now they have these..

If you want to go a little more luxe this Gucci pair is very Carmel…

Throw in a pair of heeled sandals for evenings if you feel like dressing up. Streets are hilly in Carmel by the sea. Heels can work for dinner only if you aren’t walking there . Heels will look ridiculous during the day and are impractical with the hills here and the beach.

Cozy cardigan or wrap for cool days and around the room as a robe over your night clothes. Any cashmere wrap is also perfect for that and layering! This sweater is similar to below..

Even warmer light quilted or puffer jacket, moto jacket, blazer or trench to layer. These Herno puffers are gorgeous and very popular in Carmel. If you need something less pricey Uniqlo has other great options.

Here I am a few years ago with my son wearing a scarf and my trench coat in late summer!

A cashmere wrap is a wonderful idea for this area to ward the chill off in evenings and for an extra layer. This one by J.Mclaughin is lovely and will be a travel piece you can count on wherever you go.

Swimsuit. I always prefer a tankini or a bikini with a rash guard to layer. This is a flattering tank I love and another by Tory is a classic and beautifully made suit and this is universally flattering and and cute.

Cute cover-up, ( I love this shirt style , in so many pretty prints from J. Crew and also this shorter one ) hat for the beach walk and tote for the pool or spa if there is one. I have this hat I always take to Carmel and a close copy is here.

For dinners dress warmly. Almost all evenings are cool in Carmel, once the fog rolls in. A pretty blouse paired with or soft sweater with nice denim is the norm.

I think you can’t go wrong with a black pant/ sweater combo for dinners – chic and warm.

A chunky cable-knit or similar sweater. Cute with shorts- or jeans, depending on the day.

One casual skirt or shorts should the weather turn warm. One of my favorite looks is denim shorts and a long-sleeved T or sweater. Perfect for places by the coast where the weather is sunny yet cool. This Anthro khaki skirt is cute with sneakers or sandals, as would be this embroidered denim cutie.

One handbag that can go from day to night. A cross-body could do double duty.

Cozy pants and soft T-shirt for lounging around the room. PJs could also work. I do like to have something cute and warm with me to wear to breakfast without getting dressed for the day yet.
Yoga pants or leggings and a wrap sweater could work with a soft T for breakfast. Add boots to your leggings and a swingy sweater or poncho and you have an outfit…

This Barefoot Dreams Coastal Cardigan is a nice option and layering piece, especially for Carmel. This sweater jacket from J. Crew is a chic and warm, also their cashmere poncho.

Boots are worn year-round in Carmel. I didn’t pack mine last August and was so mad at myself. All the gals wear them in summer too. Of course people have Uggs, but a classic tall black boot like this, in black looks chic and preppy too. Also this brown boot is very Carmel Valley.

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