.::|TheDish|::.

Ilex Designs | Hybrid Orchid

We stopped into Ilex Designs on Berkeley Street in the South End, and picked up this rare hybrid orchid (click photo to enlarge) and a miniature palm. I was so impressed by the plants, picked flowers, vases, and unique interior decorating pieces in the petite retail store; and co-owner and award-winning Environmental stylist Andrew Anderson was running the show and was super pleasant and knowledgeable. We first learned of Ilex from our friends at Brix, after finally asking where they acquire their unique, resplendent orchids that are so brilliant they look artificial. They also design custom arrangements for weddings & events, office spaces, restaurants, design centers, etc. Definitely worth a trip and consideration the next time you are thinking about buying or sending flowers.

Ilex Designs
73 Berkeley St
(between Chandler St & Lawrence St)
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 422-0300
ilexflowers.com

New Table & First Thanksgiving

Our new dining room table just arrived from CB2! I am so excited. What this means, aside from finally filling the void in our condo and opening the door to multiple dinner parties (oh and the end of my complaining), is that we are also throwing our first Thanksgiving feast. It will be a small crowd - just my immediate family - but we are very excited.

Here is the Envelope Table (seats up to 10!):

The Zebra Chairs will be arriving next week:

If anyone has personal tips on how to be successful at your first Thanksgiving, please let me know!

Peter's Park - Dog Recreational Space Update

For those of you who are wondering when the Peter's Park Dog Park, located on Washington Street in Boston's S End, is going to be complete... its looking like this Fall! I have been eagerly awaiting this day, not because I have a dog here in the city (though my Mom & Dad have in fact indefinitely adopted my dog, Bailey), but because I cannot wait to see the little munchkins frolicking around in their new arena.... my back yard! So, its great news that they have apparently raised over $100K since my last post in April, just $30K shy of their $300K goal.

For those of you who are not familiar with this project, its the first officially sanctioned dog park on city land.

Want to give a little to help them reach their mark? Then donate here!

Also, be sure to check out the events in and around the neighborhood to benefit the dog recreational space; there was a great one tonight with special guest Mayor Menino, and sponsored by local shops and restaurants like my personal favorites The Butcher Shop, Brix Wine Shop, Oishii Boston, and the South End Buttery.

diseño | bos: Our First Purchase

We made our first purchase last evening at diseño | bos, the new Argentinian interior design boutique located 2 blocks from our loft; we have decided to stay in this location for at least another year, so its time to mix things up a bit. We unleashed the oriental rug in our bedroom over the weekend, which just wasn't sitting right to us any more and really didn't jive with the rest of the decor; and, we brought home this dramatic cowhide rug. I love Diseño and the guys that run it; hopefully this will be the first of many purchases we make from them, in the spirit of primo design and of course in support of our local SoWa business owners. Thanks Frank & Mariano!

SoWa Alert: Peter's Park Dog Recreational Space

To all the dog lovers out there (like myself) I recently walked through the new Peter's Park Dog Recreational Space (DRS), and construction is well underway. I came across the Friends of Peter's Park Website (it's a great site, check it out), offering a wealth of information pertaining to this doggie paradise to-be. The park will feature separate sections for large and small dogs, dog water fountains and water spigots peppered throughout the property, a dog "Walk of Fame", and benches, covered trash receptacles, gardens and more.

The DRS ribbon cutting event is slated for the fall of '07, but the organization still needs to raise some additional funding to reach the $300,000 mark & complete the project; DRS is funded entirely by donations from the local community, so if you want to contribute, please make a donation today.

What a fabulous project, so suitable in a neighborhood that really treasures and embraces it's 4 legged friends. Here are some links for additional information on the project:

• DRS Design Plan
• Calendar
• The Rules
• Donate

This is only feeding my temptation to get another dog!!!

Wine Arc

I just love this Wine Arc by Molley Kinney & its just $21! You should check out the Zanisa site for other cool gifts and gadgets, all at great prices.

diseño | bos

More exciting news on the SoWa front! A new Latin-inspired interior design shop has opened at 408 Harrison Ave., called diseño | bos. I haven't personally been into the studio, but the broad-glass storefront and the interior illuminated by colorful furniture and design pieces caught my eye this morning on my drive into the office (a near rubber-necking accident on my part!).

The sleek and simple website defines "diseño" as design, and offers-up the following description:

"Take European Style, a Latin vibe, and artisan traditions and you get a striking mix of Latin inspired interiors. At diseño|bos we bring you art, furniture, accessories, floor covering and lighting."

We've been chatting about getting a funky leather rug to add some pizzazz to our loft and it looks like they have quite a selection; additionally, their furniture has the natural, sleek lines and somewhat modern twist that's exactly our taste. I just noticed that The Daily Candy beat me to the announcement (there's a coffee bar inside?!), but I will be sure to personally check out what I hope to be another neighborhood jewel this weekend.

diseño|bos
408 Harrison Ave
Boston, MA 02118
Wed-Fri 11-7
Sat & Sun: 12-6

The Urban-Country Kitchen

We have been talking a lot as of late about where we'd like to live when we grow up, and its clear that its going to be somewhere a bit closer to nature than the pavement streets and cobblestone sidewalks that we currently call home. But it's tough, as we both love many aspects of urban living, one of which is the architecture and interior design. I've been struggling with how we can successfully and tastefully incorporate our design preferences - simple, linear, natural, practical, minimal, and somewhat modern - into a home that's nestled into the New England woods or farmland.

Well, problem solved. When perusing the pages of a favorite magazine, I came across an ad for the Jenn-Air Floating Glass Kitchen. This is it! This is exactly how to go from urban to the country living! Maybe I'd tone down the Asian influence a tad, but the rest is there. My favorite component is the wine fridge, perfectly positioned within the loft staircase, creating a step. So practical. I love it.

I Toronto

This week, business brought me to one of the most amazing North American cities: Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This was my first visit, and I absolutely LOVED it! Perched on the northern shores of Lake Ontario, it's a cosmopolitan, international metropolis, with trendy fashionistas on the city sidewalks, restaurants galore, high-end retail space, and a flourishing economy.  The city is very New York-like visually, but with more of a Chicago pace.

The coolest feature of Toronto by far is the PATH, a 16-mile network of pedestrian tunnels snaking below downtown office towers. And what's in this immaculate and upscale "tunnel" other than about 100,000 daily commuters? You got it: shopping! There's about 1,200 shops, from clothing stores, restaurants & shoe shiners, to flower shops and fresh produce markets; apparently, about 5,000 people are employed in this underground city.

Just think about what this does for the economy of the city. Take the retail space on the above- ground level, and more than double that! Additionally, it provides Toronto residents and tourists a means to navigate the city in weather-proof conditions (and man, its cold up there). When we commuted with the locals during AM rush-hour, flurries of professionals marched through the PATH hallway like a NYC sidewalk. Above ground, the city bustles still, but in a sleepier state.

I can't wait to go back to Toronto! An added bonus, my #1 favorite store has three locations in the city!

Our Loft Pics

We have been sharing the pics of our loft on TheDish with friends and family, and I figured its time for a refresh as so much has changed since our move-in in May. We have painted, replaced track lighting, and refined our decor with new lamps, rugs, barstools, etc., and finally, we feel settled and love are abode.

Check out the new pics!

Loftcube

I have a true passion for loft-style living. I love the open opportunity to creatively change what at the surface can be quite flat and uninspiring into simple elegance and functionality ... and then change it again, by altering lines, angles, lighting and color.

Well, three German-based engineering, design, and production companies have collaborated and are taking the idea of loft living to a whole new level... quite literally. Loftcube is a fully customizable, modular loft unit home, that is hoisted via helicopter on top a skyscraper or a tall building. Now this is truly loft living, redefined. Fixed or sliding "wall" units allow you to divide the space as desired; appliances featuring simple flowing lines provide a dual purpose: obviously the functional purpose, and secondly, as a partition or divider of open space. Imagine 360 degree panoramic views of the city skyline through your transparent loft home, or diving into YOUR pool 60 stories above city ground. How wild.

The website details some restrictions upon purchase, such as sanitary facilities not included. Also, I am not so sure about the price, but assume its pretty lofty.

The New Digs

I have uploaded a few pics of our new digs. We are not fully set-up yet, still have to hang the art work, do some wiring, and fine tuning, but overall it's quite livable and comfy. Click HERE for pics.

First Co-Purchase: Equino Barstool

So, we made our first co-purchase of our cohabitation plunge: the "Equino Stool" from Exotica Unique; this bar stool ($199/ea) is a reproduction of the original Lem design, which sells for a mere $700/ea (yikes, some day!!!). We purchased it in "wenge" (I love saying that color), a dark brown wood with a straight grain of black and light brown veins - it's sassy. Along with the 3 Italian design couches we are moving (you should see my "storage" apartment right now), I hope these fit well in our new pad! We'll know on the 26th :)