kids: soor ploom fall 2017

September 19, 2017 No Comments

the new soor ploom fall 2017 collection is out, and as always, i am in love. this brooklyn-based brand is one of my most favorites for kids because everything is made from beautiful cotton and linen textiles in classic yet fun styles that really allow for both ease of movement and room to grow. i first bought one of their little tunics for edie when she was a newborn and she was able to wear it until she was nearly a year old!

on the flipside,when adam was born, i bought him tons of clothes from fast fashion brands, and felt pretty bad when i realized how much of it he never even wore. so with edie, we’ve taken a slower approach. i try to keep her wardrobe small and simple with versatile pieces like those from soor ploom so that we still have fun getting dressed, but we know that we’ll get lots of use out of everything we buy. and once she does finally grow out of them, i tuck them away in a box as keepsakes because they truly are so special!

you can shop the new soor ploom collection here.

kids

kids: misha & puff fall 2017

September 14, 2017 No Comments

the misha and puff fall 2017 collection is out today! i’ve been a fan of the brand since before i even had kids, so it’s especially fun for me now that i have two little ones to dress. i usually pick out a few things each season, but the hardest part is trying to decide what to get! everything is so adorable, i wish i could just buy it all! i think the standouts from this collection are the sweaters and rompers fashioned after quilt squares. and of course the ruffle collars are adorable. but you can never go wrong with their classic popcorn sweater.

shop the new misha and puff here!

lifestyle, home

home: staying connected with eero

August 11, 2017 2 Comments

As we continue decorating and renovating our little 1920s home, we’ve been incorporating more and more smart home features into our daily lives. We recently got a brand new smart TV, we have a wireless speaker for listening to our favorite playlists, a home air quality monitor, an app for checking-up on our solar panels, we even have a smart light bulb! Besides that, I split my time between taking care of the kids part-time and running my own business from our home office/studio. But all this technology can be a blessing and a curse. With internet-connected everything, it’s easy to fall into the trap of a 24 hour workday, there are more opportunities for frustrating connection problems, too much screen time, and even scary things like identity theft and malware. It’s a lot to manage when you’ve already got a lot on your plate.

Then we got eero. I recently partnered with the brand to try out their Home WiFi System, and it’s already made a huge difference around the house. It arrived beautifully packaged with the simplest of instructions for getting set up. You literally just connect it to your modem and plug the beacons into outlets around the house. From there, the real magic happens. We have a decent internet connection, but my phone was still getting temporarily knocked-off the network for no apparent reason, and you all know the struggle of watching that little spinning wheel on the Netflix screen when you just wanna chill and watch some TV after the kids have gone to bed. Not anymore. The beacons help extend your connection to parts of the house where the signal may not reach.

And did I mention that I recently started letting Adam use a tablet, and that’s it’s opened up a Pandora’s box of challenges? Well, eero allows parents to create profiles for their kid’s devices, and set schedules for when devices can access the WiFi, as well as pause the internet. It’s a lifesaver when it comes to limiting screen time and keeping Adam safe online. And it’s even been useful for my workaholic tendencies because I can literally turn off the internet at dinnertime or bedtime or even the entire weekend when I need some time to unplug.

Not only that, but the whole system incorporates seamlessly and attractively into the house so that your WiFi can just fade into the background, and you can get on to more important things in life.

Use promo code “CALIVINTAGE” for free overnight shipping (select the overnight shipping option at checkout) with purchase of any eero System!

Edie is confused why the screen is blank– it’s because the internet connection is on pause. Sorry Edie, no screen time for you just yet!

Good ol’ Instagram story filters.

Trying to get some work done with these two around…

This post was sponsored by eero.

In the house: Campaign Sofa in Almond White, coffee table, Coxwain Hand-Woven Rug with Eco Plush Felt Rug Pad, vintage rocking chair found on Apartment Therapy Marketplace, vintage and handmade throw pillows, Grimm’s Large Wooden Stacking Rainbow (here is a link the smaller 6-piece version), vintage lamp, painting by adam, vintage end table, Rock and Pebble Ele Villa, vase found on Fab no longer available (but here is one very similar). Feel free to ask me about anything you see in the room that I may not have mentioned here!

home

home: a living room refresh

August 9, 2017 8 Comments

it started with the fireplace makeover. then i decided to rethink the entryway. then i decided to build some walls and finally finish this living room! the previous owners of the house made the interesting choice of removing a few crucial walls from the living room to create a more open space. don’t get me wrong, i love open spaces, but this little house was built in 1927 when open concept wasn’t a thing. the lack of wall space was making it really hard for me to pull things together. there was a wall removed between the living room and a tiny side patio/sunroom. in the process, they also removed an exterior door and window from the patio, essentially expanding the size of the living room, but in the most awkward way possible! there was basically a little cave on one end of my living room that i never knew exactly what to do with it. you can see what i’m talking about here. we finally built the wall and it really did change everything. it feels so much more like a proper living room now. that wall (and another once which i’ll share soon) were the missing pieces in the puzzle that have finally brought this room together to really make our house feel like a home.

so when campaign first got in touch with me about their new line of furniture, i was ridiculously excited because my previous sofa did not age well. don’t get me wrong, i loved that green sofa– for the first couple of years. but over time, the textile started getting snags and pulls, and no amount of scrubbing was going to remove some of those kid stains. it just got sad. i started adding ever more throws and pillows in an attempt to cover things up. the time had come.

but of course, i was tentative about a new sofa because it felt like such a commitment, and i was worried that it would meet the same demise as my previous one. the kids really know how to destroy a piece of furniture. and what about the color? how could i commit when they have so many options? but as i started to explore the brand, all of my worries subsided. the whole concept is really interesting and definitely nothing i’d ever heard of before. not that i know a lot about furniture, but i had never seen a sofa built with a steel frame. the idea is that the entire thing can be assembled at home and disassembled for portability when it’s time to move. which means that all of the upholstery– the back, the arms, all of the pillows– can be completely removed and tossed into the wash, or even completely replaced! and the steel frame is basically indestructible. you can even choose from two different wood tones for the legs. and did i mention that their prices range from $595 – $1,195? done deal.

in terms of the room, i’m still in the process of decorating things, but this is what i’m calling the baseline. we got the sofa in almond white. i chose really neutral pieces in different tones of wood, glass, metal, and natural fibers as the foundation because i wanted something really flexible that would allow me to change the decor without having to buy completely new furniture every time i’m in the mood for a change. because if you’ve been following my home decorating journey, you’ll know that i change things around here a lot! with the furniture i’ve chosen, i feel like i can play around a lot with different artwork, throw pillows, different plants, maybe layering a more colorful rug. all things that can be done easily without a complete overhaul. it’s such a calm, relaxing space now, and i can’t wait to play around with it even more!

shop campaign and use promo code ‘CAMPAIGNEH’ for $50 off your first purchase!

lifestyle, home, kids

the frame

July 13, 2017 3 Comments

you may remember a few weeks back, we started the process of redecorating our living room. the whole space got a fresh coat of paint and i started simple with a fireplace makeover. but one thing i forgot to mention is that we completely removed our old television from above the mantle because we just couldn’t figure out a way to make it work in our tiny living room. don’t get me wrong, i like to watch tv as much as the next person, but i don’t really like the way it takes up so much space and has a tendency to become this dominating presence in the room. add in the fact that we don’t have a ton of wall space– and tastefully decorating a functional living room for the family has become a really tricky endeavor.

enter samsung’s latest collaboration with designer yves béhar– the frame. we received this innovative new tv in collaboration with samsung, and i didn’t even know what i was missing before it arrived! you may remember that previously, this wall served as a sort of makeshift foyer (see here and here). our current patio/mudroom is out of commission due to renovations (which is an entirely different story that i’ll have to save for another day!), so we’ve been sacrificing a big part of our living room as a place to store our shoes and drop off the mail. it was cutting the room in half and was creating a lot of wasted space in an already cramped area of the house. after changing things up, i can honestly say that without the frame, there is literally no other way we could have made a television work in here so gracefully.

true to it’s slogan, it is literally the most beautiful tv you’ve never seen. if i hadn’t taken these photos myself, at first glance, i don’t even think i would have known it was a television. the beauty is in the super sleek design coupled with the no gap wall mount so that it hangs flush with the wall alongside all of your favorite framed photos or artwork. the invisible connection is virtually undetectable and eliminates the usual mess of cables so that it truly looks like framed art on display. when you’re not watching your favorite shows, you can leave it in ‘art mode,’ allowing you to select your favorite art from a gallery of 100 professionally curated pieces of art. or you can upload your favorite family photos, it’s up to you. if the black frame isn’t your thing, you can also customize it with three additional bezel options in light wood, walnut, or white metal.

the design is really what sold me because it’s allowed me to ‘hide’ the television in plain view and put it in a place that helps to keep the living room cohesive and functional at the same time, which has totally opened up the possibilities when it comes to the rest of the decor as we continue working on the space. but if you’re more into the technical specs, then you’ll be impressed to know that it is a 4k hdpro tv with four times more pixels than full hd. and it’s no small thing coming in both 55″ and 65″ sizes. it’s like having an art gallery and a secret home theater all wrapped up into one tiny living room. who knew a tv could do so much?

go check out the frame for yourself!

other details: framebridge frames, vintage rocking chair found on apartment therapy marketplace, cb2 stax shelf, monroe workshop toy elephant, vintage baskets, good thing mini container in forest, manhattan toy skwish, areaware balancing blocks, vintage throw pillows, kosas home indoor/outdoor rug (sold out, but this one is similar)

this post was created in collaboration with samsung.

home

a fireplace before & after with true value

May 26, 2017 11 Comments

another little space in our house is coming together! i never say a project is “finished” because there are always improvements to be made, but i’m feeling pretty good about this transformation. if you take a quick scroll past the text, you’ll see what i mean. that photo down there is what it looked like the day we moved in. dirty brown carpet, heavy drapes, cheesy sconces, hotel room artwork. the fireplace was boarded up with a really hideous screen leaning up against it. when it was on the market, i’m sure some people took one look at this living room and turned right around, but i knew that it was just a matter of cosmetics. all it really took was a couple of days work. we peeled away that dirty carpet to reveal the original 1920s hardwood floors, we switched out the light fixtures, added our own decor, and slapped on a fresh coat of paint.

and today i’ve teamed up with true value to share my experience choosing the perfect shades of white for your home. but before i go too far on the subject, i do need to preface this by saying that it is nearly impossible to photograph white and get an accurate depiction. i tried to get as close of an approximation as possible with these photos, but the only way for you to truly see what these colors look like is to get some samples and paint your walls! it even took me a few different tries mixing different shades of white to land on something that i really loved. so if you’re on the hunt, i’ve done a little bit of the legwork for you.

the walls are my absolute favorite shade of white. it is the true value easy care ultra premium flat interior in swiss coffee. the color was actually first recommended to me by my house painter and it is a standard shade that it available though many different brands. but it is still a standout choice and my personal favorite for my home. it’s a really great neutral white that isn’t too stark and clinical or too dark and yellow. it gives you that perfect scandinavian vibe– a nice soft white that serves as a clean backdrop for your decor. if you’ve ever had trouble with whites looking too blue or too dingy, then this color will be like a breath of fresh air.

it’s not as noticeable in the photos, but for the trim, i went with a slightly warmer shade of white– true value easy care ultra premium satin interior in sand dollar. i was going for more of a traditional look with this choice because i think it goes well with my 1920s home. i like it because it’s a nice creamy vanilla shade that helps to give just a little bit of dimension and depth without jumping out at you or competing with the decor. it just looks like it belongs. i actually had to go through quite a few different shades to land on this one, so i’ll share what i learned: look at the undertones of the shade you’re using! i was just plucking colors from the samples that i thought looked nice. but when i got home, they were either too pink or too yellow. i finally figured out that you can actually look at the undertones of the color formula as a guide to help you find a complimentary color. i took a look at the neutral undertones of swiss coffee and it helped steer me in the direction of the right shade to warm things up just a tad.

then it was just a matter of painting! this was the first time i’ve tried true value paints and i was really impressed with how viscous the formulas are. the ultra premium line just came out, and it is a paint and primer in one, so you can literally just slap on a coat or two and you’re done.

details: true value easy care ultra premium flat interior in swiss coffee on the walls and satin interior in sand dollar on the trim, visual comfort right angle sconces in hand rubbed antique brass, rock & pebble ele villa, areawear balancing blocks, vintage rocking chair and throw pillows, kosas home cosuma indoor outdoor kilim rug

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of True Value. The opinions and text are all mine.

my style, cycle chic

outfit: cycle chic with papillionaire

May 18, 2017 1 Comment

since i usually write about fashion and home decor, you may not know that i’m also totally into bikes! i don’t ride around nearly as much as i used to, but i still have a growing collection of bikes! once upon a time, i would go on long bicycle tours, and while i hope to do that again some day when the kids are a little older, these days i’m a lot more focused on city bikes. and by city bikes, i mean casual bikes to get around town. i have a really cute mixte frame with slightly more upright geometry, but i have been itching to get back on a road bike, too! so when papillionaire asked me if i’d like to try out a bike, i went straight for their new remi. i love it because it reminds me of some of the vintage road bikes i used to ride around on back in the day, but it’s shiny and new and not quite as clunky as some of those vintage bikes can be!

the really fun part is that you can completely customize your bike! this particular model comes in this wonderful shade of aloe, or you can choose from coffee, steel blue, or carmine red. you can also choose between whitewall tires for a more vintage look, or a classic gumwall. you can even pick a black or brown leather saddle and grips. it’s all those little details that get me really excited about a new bike!

but of course, if a road bike isn’t quite your style, they have a really nice selection of frames, from a dutch style to a mixte frame to a beach cruiser, a classic hybrid, and a racer. and none of them will come anywhere near breaking the bank, so they’re definitely a brand worth checking out if you’re on the hunt for a bike to ride around in this wonderful spring weather.

wearing:
only child vista linen jumpsuit
papillionaire remi bike
greek sandals
steven alan bryce sunglasses in peach crystal
sylvain le hen xs barrette

giveaways, kids

enter to win $200 to rain people!

May 6, 2017 No Comments

i am so excited to announce my latest giveaway with the canadian-based kidswear line, rain people! as i’m sure you’ve noticed by now, i’m a big fan of hats and bonnets for the kids to protect their precious little heads from the sweltering sun here in southern california. and you know how much i love a good linen textile. well, rain people has both! and they have just released their new spring/summer collection of linen clothes and bonnets, so we wanted to give you a chance to win some new clothes for your little ones!

simply visit this post on instagram and follow the directions to enter!

above, edie wears the linen ruffle harem pant and linen brimless bonnet in matching rose white.

adam is wearing the linen cap with ties.

edie wears the vintage floral cotton printed baby bonnet.

home

a dining room refresh with cb2 x framebridge

May 2, 2017 1 Comment

this is not the first time i’m sharing a glimpse of our dining room, but it is the first time that i feel good about it haha! we’ve officially been living in our house for two years, but it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that we finally pulled together the dining room. for the longest time, i had a pretty cool mid-century dining set that my mom found at the thrift store for $80. it served us well, but it was really rough around the edges. it was this very dark stain with a shiny almost plastic table top. the chairs started falling apart– while people were sitting in them. i replaced them with these vintage cesca chairs that i found on craigslist, but then we had this whole mismatched situation going on because i could not commit to a new table. no, it was not the end of the world, but it feels really good to finally put together this space in a way that i like. i toyed around with a lot of different ideas for how i wanted it to look, but ultimately decided to keep things really really simple because the table and chairs make a statement on their own. and all i really wanted was a big graphic print up on the wall to complete the look.

so as fate would have it, my friends at framebridge asked me if i’d be interested in picking a print from their newest print gallery collab with cb2. together they curated a really great selection of prints by up-and-coming artists, all of which are now available on the site. i chose this print titled “keep swimming” by new york-based artist amber vittoria. i really like the bold colors and exaggerated shapes for my dining room, and the theme is perfect for the spring and summer months. and of course, the frame was handcrafted here in the united states by framebridge.

i’ll share some more photos to show the rest of the room soon, but was so excited that i had to at least give you a peek of how things are shaping up in here. i’m also very excited about our stokke tripp trapp chairs, and i really love the way they blend in with the vintage chairs. but i’ll save that for another day!

shop the cb2 x framebridge print gallery

keep swimming print courtesy of cb2 x framebridge
cb2 silverado chrome dining table
vintage cesca chairs designed by marcel breuer
planter found at home goods
stokke tripp trapp chair

lifestyle, press, home

calivintage on apartment therapy

April 17, 2017 No Comments

i’ve written a few articles for apartment therapy before, but today is especially exciting because the tables have turned and they wrote an article about me! i’m sharing some of my top picks from the new apartment therapy marketplace, where i scored the cute rocking chair in the photo above. it’s a sort of curated classifieds section where trusted users can buy and sell furniture and decor. so a bit like craigslist, but without all the spam! i love vintage furniture, so it’s been a great resource for me to find cool new pieces to add to the house as we continue to spruce things up around here.

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