*Image above via Steven Gambrel showcasing a lovely upholstered x-bench similar to the extra-wide custom styles you can commission here.
One of the best home purchases I made nearly nine years ago was a pair of two upholstered x-benches in a fun coral patterns. I initially purchased them to sit at the foot of our master bed. They then migrated down to our living room to double as seating in our living room — they do a great job of filling a vacant space in a living room, or flanking (or stowing beneath) a console, or serving as a kind of coffee table center point when lined up next to one another, or even just anchoring and adding warmth to a space, as seen in the library above.
In our first apartment in Manhattan, we used them as seating in our tiny dining room, tucked beneath our drop-leaf Room + Board table. They now sit in the entryway of our apartment, flanking a bookshelf, and serve as handy seating when removing shoes and a good resting place for an armload of parcels.
In short: benches and ottomans are good, versatile workhorses. (Bonus when they include storage!) A couple of favorite recent styles I like:
FUN BOHO OTTOMAN (10. — COULD BE A COFFEE TABLE WITH SOME TRAYS ON TOP — COFFEE TABLE STYLING IDEAS HERE)
Not shown in collage above, but this Etsy shop does gorgeous custom pieces I’ve seen in many professionally decorated homes, and you can select the dimensions, fabric, style (pillow-top, etc.)! These are probably the most similar to the style seen in the photo at the top.
A couple more recent home finds (can you tell I’ve been saving lots of inspiration for our new house?)…
THIS 7X10 RUG IS UNDER $200 AND SO HANDSOME FOR A STUDY/LIBRARY
*Image above via House & Garden showcasing the astounding Petworth Gardens in West Sussex, England.
A couple of lovely lines about spring that struck a chord with me at the dawn of this season of incipience and seedling:
“The day is fresh-washed and fair, and there is a smell of tulips and narcissus in the air.”
– Amy Lowell, “Spring Day” (1916). “Fresh-washed and fair” — the alliteration, yes, but something about the recurring sibilance of “fresh” and “wash” anoint, and then there is the unexpected meter of that four-word chain, whose shape balloons into spring-like auspiciousness (is “fresh-washed and” a dactyl?) and ends in the breathy though reassuring stressed syllable “fair.”
“I feel the spring far off, far off, The faint, far scent of bud and leaf— Oh, how can spring take heart to come To a world in grief, Deep grief?”
— Sarah Teasdale, “Spring in War-Time” (1917). Lines (an entire poem, in fact) that feel oddly prescient in the shadow of COVID. I wrote more about this general sentiment in my most recent weekend musings.
“What is all this juice and all this joy? A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning”
— Gerard Manley Hopkins, “Spring” (1877). Hopkins was known for his — at the time — unconventional use of sprung rhythm, which many believe more closely approximates spoken English, and which spurns the more traditional use of marching iambic pentameter and other repeating rhyme schemes. Hopkins wrote directly about this matter in the preface to one of his books of poetry, where he stated that “verse written strictly in these [conventional] feet and by these [conventional] principles will become same and tame.” There is something particularly powerful, then, about the use of sprung rhythm in this poem, shown to great effect in “all this juice” and “all this joy,” a line of virtually all-stressed feet, where we feel the full and unbridled force of spring defying that which would “tame.”
“Viewing the logged hill I see the forest, All second growth, but powerful with shade.”
–Maura Stanton, “Spring” (1985). A reminder that though spring can read fragile, there is strength in rebirth.
+Speaking of pretty paper, bought these petite note cards at the last second for my Easter table (loads of spring tabletop decor ideas here), but will eagerly use the leftovers to tuck in with gifts or drop under the door of a neighbor.
I may have over-indexed on florals and embroidery over the past few seasons, but I always balance trends with lots of classic stripes, solids, and denim. Below, a few of my favorite finds in this unfussy vein:
P.P.P.S. Slices of joy: “Happiness doesn’t have to be a constant overarching feeling. It can come as sweet, short moments throughout your day.”
By: Jen Shoop
A high-pitched, whining cry arrested me as I walked down Columbus Avenue the other day. Turning to meet its source, I noticed a small dog sprinting back and forth between two adults, who were crouched on the ground a few feet from one another, arms open, faces radiant. As I approached, I realized it was the dog crying. She was crooning happy-sad yelps as she raced between the two adults, licking their faces, wagging her tail, yipping and skittering. It was, unmistakably, a reunion.
I don’t know how long that pooch had been away from her people. My mind meandered across the possibility that there had been some protracted, COVID-related separation, so urgent and free-wheeling were her cries of joy, but I’m wont to such maudlin imaginings and I could have been witnessing a daily occurrence, or a reunification after a mere night or two apart. But time has a way of warping in the hands of love. Sometimes an hour apart from your other half can surge unbearable.
Regardless, it was an ice cream moment, the unabashed kneeling of these people on the sidewalks of Manhattan to indulge their over-joyed pup — delicious in its public open-heartedness.
I think we have all felt, at some point this past year, like that pup, folding herself into the love of family after a too-long break, be it hours or days or the months many of us have surrendered in the face of a global pandemic.
+I love a good pair of flat espadrilles. I have a pair by Chanel (this is the exact style, available used) that look VERY similar to this pair that I’ve been wearing for the past eight (!!!) years straight, including on multiple trips. I just noticed that the sole is starting to give way and will absolutely be buying another pair given how often I sported them. I like them with jeans, shorts, and even white dresses for a casual everyday look.
+I have to say — I usually prefer a shorter hemline on micro, but these slightly longer-length shorts are absolutely adorable on him. I bought him a pair just to try. (A sized down — he’s a 2T but skinny, and the 18 mo fit him OK.)
Nordstrom is running a sale that includes 15% off the best concealer on the planet. It is rare to find Cle de Peau on sale (the best I’ve ever seen is maybe 20% off), so nice to get it at a little price break. Select Clarins items are also 15% off, meaning that if you missed out on the price break on their amazing double serum, now is a good time to snap it up — and if you are expecting, please try their wonderful body tonic oil, which I wore religiously through both of my pregnancies. Wonderfully hydrating.
*I swapped out a heavier winter cream for this lightweight moisturizer, which is a dream. It has a very thin consistency (almost runny) but it blends well and hydrates beautifully with no residual oiliness. It also affords an extra level of glow to the skin. Great warm weather moisturizer!
A girlfriend of mine sent mini the darling basket bag above as a part of her birthday, and I found this nearly identical style on Etsy at a great price. I might buy a couple for little friends in one big order to distribute throughout the year. What a sweet idea!
After a slow reading stretch, I’ve clipped back in. (Thank you for all of your tips on emerging from a reading slump. The most spiriting suggestion was to give myself some grace in the aggressive reading pace I had set for myself. Where’s the fire?!) A couple notes on the books I’ve recently read:
+I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Lauren Bacall’s memoir — that voice! — though the first portion, written earlier in her life, moves much more quickly and interestingly than the second portion, written later in her life, which reads more like a series of obituaries for the beloved friends that preceded her in death. Still, an elegant, bright, generous woman with fetching humility.
+I am now nearly done listening to one of Elin Hilderbrand’s Nantucket series books, which has been kind of the most delightful thing ever. Sort of a thriller-meets-beach-read (thriller with training wheels? not particularly scary or dark), the main attraction here is imagining the spectacular setting and luxe lifestyle. Absolute perfect escape while my mind is spinning with all of the decisions and logistics in front of us. I have loved unwinding to this book while washing the dishes, walking Tilly, showering. Diversion! Next on my audiobook list: intrigued to listen to Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (one of my favorite books from my high school years and I’ve read and loved other Du Mauriers since — a fantastic thriller) and The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse, a newish thriller that seems to have all the markings of a good Gothic novel. (“An imposing, isolated getaway spot high up in the Swiss Alps is the last place Elin Warner wants to be. But Elin’s taken time off from her job as a detective, so when her estranged brother, Isaac, and his fiancée, Laure, invite her to celebrate their engagement at the hotel, Elin really has no reason not to accept.” Someone goes missing, yadda yadda, it looks fun.)
+Now onto the meat: No One Is Talking about This by Patricia Lockwood. I found this book exceptionally challenging. I wrote that Shuggie Bain was difficult to read, but Lockwood took “difficulty” to an entirely different level. I found the first half insufferable — irreverent, self-absorbed, inane, occasionally disgusting, and in its free-wheeling, wildly allusive stream-of-consciousness format, unfriendly (though not un-artful) to the reader — and the second half emotionally unbearable, as I wept and wept and wept while reading it. Trigger warning and spoiler alert: it involves a baby born with an ultra-rare and terminal medical condition. In a sense, the second half made the first half worth wading through, as the trauma and grief of the niece’s birth and death incite deep and meaningful reflection. What is life? Are we entitled to expect certain things of it? Why did this happen? But even harder to witness: the raw grief and love that consumes the narrator and her sister as they care for a baby born dying. Because my family lived through a somewhat similar situation, I was profoundly distraught by this and the memories it dredged up. The book was, simply, emotionally untenable for me. Whew. I cannot determine whether I am glad I read it or not. From an artistic standpoint, Lockwood is undeniably talented — brilliant, even. I respected though did not enjoy the intertextual wilderness of the first half of the book, and I admire the sharp, brave intellect and enormous heart she demonstrates as she navigates unthinkable tragedy. But you have been warned: this is about as difficult as reading can be.
+I think I am going to read the heavily-touted Klara and the Sun by Nobel prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro next, which tells the story of “Klara, an Artificial Friend with outstanding observational qualities, who, from her place in the store, watches carefully the behavior of those who come in to browse, and of those who pass on the street outside. She remains hopeful that a customer will soon choose her.” This book is getting a lot of press.
+I also finished Lisa Unger’s Confessions on the 7:45 and Anna North’s Outlawed last month and received both tepidly. Would not recommend either.
+On the TV front, we’ve been watching “Lupin,” a gentleman thief series in which a Bond-Bourne-like protagonist sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family. The series is in French, and I always find subtitles mildly off-putting at first, but I quickly forgot I was reading them and found myself thoroughly absorbed in the clever and fast-paced action. Highly recommend. We also watched the four (!) hour (!!) “Justice League” superhero flick on HBO. Possibly to your surprise, I don’t mind superhero movies — they are endearing in their own way, a part of Americana, and interesting to think about as manifestations of cultural yearning back at the time of their inception in the conformist, lockstep 1950s. Mr. Magpie and I recently talked about whether these movies are counter-cultural or not — interesting to ponder. Anyway, the movie was way too long and we discussed whether it would have been easier or harder to watch if marketed as a four-part series instead of a four-hour movie. (Funny how Mr. Magpie and I often ask each other: “is it a movie night or a TV show night?” when we will end up more or less watching the same out of of screen time regardless of format — it’s either two hour-long episodes or one two-hour long movie, so what’s the difference? But there is a difference!) Still, I didn’t mind the superhero flick — explosions, attractive mega-stars, imminent doom to set the pace, and occasionally amusing script-writing.
What are you reading and watching?
Post-Scripts.
+Adorable pearl and wicker bag. I almost prefer it in the black — is that shocking? What is even happening? Has Manhattan gotten to me finally? I also love this $36 basket bag with the little gingham handle!
+Scalloped, pintucked blouse. I’d rate this highly as a Zoom-friendly top. Interesting details but still professional.
+In case you’re new in these parts and haven’t yet heard me blather on about it, treat yourself to this counter spray, which smells like heaven and makes cleaning almost enjoyable.
+If you’re looking for more audiobook recs, all my faves here.
+On a related note: my favorite laundry products. An update to this post: this is the best starch on the planet and these wool dryer balls are just the best for so many reasons, including that they help bulky items like towels and sheets dry much more evenly and quickly, and without as many wrinkles, because the balls keep the fabric from clumping up.
+Tuckernuck now carries Pink City Prints, which I know many of you love (!) — this dress and this dress are dreamy for everyday wear in the summer. Sort of an elevated version of the Amazon nightgown dress we all wore last summer. What I like about this style of loose-fit, blockprint dress is that they are easy to move in, with no straps or cleavage situations or short hemlines to contend with. Great for chasing little ones around.
+I have saved and featured the Etienne furniture series from Frontgate about 10,000 times but I really cannot stop thinking about this seafoam green dresser. Just so interesting and unusual.
+Saw a little girl in our building wearing these rainbow boots. So cute on her! More great Target steals here.
+This rainbow kickball has made us the most popular family at the playground. I don’t know what it is about the design that every single child is drawn to. There was one day we almost gave it away to a little boy, who was crestfallen when we were packing up to head home!
+LaCoqueta continues to reign supreme in the beyond perfect children’s occasionwear category. I have so many precious pieces from here that mini has worn. I adore this gingham baby set and I have my eyes on these for mini for this spring. And this is beyond for the Fourth of July.
One exciting component of moving to D.C.? Having our own (!) private (!!) backyard (!!!). Where we can open a door and traipse around in our bare feet without the threats of city sidewalk detritus. Where I can let the children play without needing to trail them by a couple of feet. Where we can send Tilly to take care of business when the weather is inclement without needing to bundle ourselves up for a walk around the block. Where Mr. Magpie can grill, and we can enjoy private dinners al fresco, and I can cut meandering paths while talking on the phone! There will be kiddie pools, sprinklers, coolers of beer, bushels of blue crabs, birthday parties, Easter egg hunts, long and slow conversations with my sisters, sun-kissed afternoons of reading while drinking iced tea, the focused face Mr. Magpie makes when weeding and the preening pride he wears when showing neighbors around his garden (“that’s lacinato kale, actually–“), and all while a couple of footsteps from the rush of cold air, the promise of the fridge, the phone I left inside. I am delirious with joy at the prospect. The privacy! The space! It is all tradeoff, of course, and I know myself well enough to apprehend the imminence of my “new york me manque” reminiscences, but still — I am ready for this shift in gears, this expansion.
I have enjoyed nosing around the backyards and garages of homes we are considering and imagining the options. Below, a few finds for a lovely backyard setup:
+I adore Aerin’s East Hampton collection from Williams-Sonoma. A splurge to be sure but gorgeous. I’m not opposed to the idea of mixing materials, by the way — in fact, I might prefer it. I was pleasantly surprised by the result of mixing woods and styles in our dining room, which is centered by a gray dining table (will not link because I have not in fact been impressed with the quality despite spending a fair amount of money on it) with brass inlay around the edge and flanked by white wood French oval backed chairs. Anyhow, I might buy two of the East Hampton chairs and then pair with a sofa in a metal/iron, like this.
+This pagoda bench! It would totally make a little backyard nook! Such an interesting and artful focus point against a brick wall or hedge. If that’s too ornate for your taste, a classic LL Bean bench in green is timeless.
+For a small patio or even porch, these chairs pack such a big punch on their own!
+Many of the brands above offer tailored outdoor furniture covers, but Amazon also has some attractive, simple outdoor furniture covers from their Basics collection that would meet a range of needs — sofa, chairs, etc. Incidentally, I featured these Amazon Basics covers a few years ago and they were one of the most popular items I posted the entire year!
P.P.P.S. My favorite quarantine cocktail is actually better suited to backyard hanging in the summer. And alllll the glassware you need for all your favorite drinks here.
P.P.P.S. If you’re still stuck on what to wear for the occasion, blue and white never fails and the dresses are suitable for so many other summer and spring occasions…
I caught sight of budless daffodil stalks on a small incline along my running route this past Monday, a surprise of green against dry roots and brittle twigs under one of the beautiful gray bridges arching over the bridle trail around Jackie O. Reservoir. Spring inchoate. Two days later, they’d bloomed yellow. I could see their sunny faces from a good eighth of a mile away. I felt profoundly hopeful as they came into focus. This particular spring — the spring of 2021 — runs metaphorical, emblematic, apotheosized: a spring for all time, or at least for my time, God willing. It is the thaw, the re-birth, the resumption of something. Of everything. We are not yet all the way through this pandemic but we are close to finding our way back into something less alien and isolated and dangerous.
I felt the same way, by the way, about Ash Wednesday — that it was an Ash Wednesday that represented more than it normally does, that seemed to play out against a broader theater — but hesitated to bring those sad thoughts to bear here. Every year, Ash Wednesday is reminder of our mortality, of the thin line between life and death: quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris. Dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return. I did not need to think far or hard to apprehend that truth this year.
But the daffodils, their portentousness, our proximity to Easter — let us live here for a minute.
P.S. A full review here, but trust me — this is one of those products where I feel like the guy from Men’s Wearhouse: “You’ll like the way you look. I guarantee it.” And thanks to the reader who tipped me off to this promotion!
I am always startled by how many of you are shopping for lighting and rugs for your homes when I solicit your shopping inquiries, but it makes sense — I was totally overwhelmed hunting for a desk lamp two years ago. It took me weeks to settle on one! Since then, I’ve been saving good lighting as I find it so that I have a cache of good picks whenever I’m next in the market, which will be…soon! We have not yet bought a house but we will have been down to D.C. for two day trips in a week to consider a range of houses that are well in the ballpark of what we are looking for. Below, some of my favorite lamps…
