So why did we name our newest collection of animal print peel and stick wallpaper, pillows and fabric “Moxie”?
If we say someone has ‘moxie’ it means they’re bold and adventurous. They’re cheerful and full of energy, moving through life with a larger-than-life stride. You can see moxie coming from a mile away, and you can’t help but smile wide.
And so Moxie is the perfect name for our newest collection of fabrics, wallpaper, pillows and trim in a debut color way of lavender and teal, all featuring a large-scale watercolor zebra. (Yes, her name’s Moxie, too.).
Now, you don’t need us to tell you that animal prints are having a moment. (A decade? A Century?) They’ve been around in their natural form longer than any other pattern. Animal prints are a go-to inspiration for both the interior design and fashion worlds. In fact, insome cases, animals prints could almost be called neutrals, since they’re so spectacularly ubiquitous. A cool colored leopard print is basically beige, right? It goes with everything, whether it's your OOTD or you living room!
Animal prints perfectly translate into classic, modern, preppy – even a coastal aesthetic – whether making a dominant statement on their own or acting as a bridge to other patterns.
We’re thrilled to present our newest version of animal print home decor, in unexpected shades and combinations. We knew we had to honor the design legacy of animal prints, plus push as hard as we could into color and movement, giving the standard zebra print an upgrade that is true to our celebration of maximalist design.
Ta-da! Meet Moxie.
We think the wait was worth it.
In addition to the wallpaper, fabric and trim that anchors this collection, we’re delighted to offer coordinates we feel make the Moxie experience as bold and adventurous as the name promises:
Fancy Pants: This is a coordinating leopard print that’s somewhat masculine, but also a bit of a fashion plate, so we named the color ways Beau and Bob. Beau—for the famous English dandy, Beau Brummel—and Bob, because it’s a cat (Get it? Bobcat? Ha!) Obviously, we had some fun with all of this.
Animal prints are always a mix of timeless and trendy, and by mixing up the colors and patterns, we took this traditional print and made it 100% on-trend. Our Moxie zebra print isn’t a fad, it’s a fixture.
And we absolutely love this initial Moxie colorway of lavender and teal. It feels so ‘right now.’ This color palette is grounded in many worlds. It’s current and modern, yet, due to the subtlety of the depth of colors, it feels old world and worn with time (and love).
Moxie also works great with Vintage Gypsum, a textile that captures the look of centuries of peeling plaster on an ancient wall in Italy, layered with painted brush strokes and random stipples of color. We told you she’s versatile!
Thanks to its timeless aesthetic roots, the Moxie collection can be used in a multitude of ways. With elements that can go both masculine and feminine, it’s unpredictably satisfying; trendy and traditional, playful and classic, ethereal and dramatic – all depending on which coordinates you choose.
And there are so many rooms where it makes amazing sense. It could be the focal point in a globally-inspired nursery. It would be great in a powder room or a laundry room. What about the feature wall in a library? We would love to see it in a young person’s room, because it’s sophisticated enough to grow with them but not something that would feel too mature for them now.
Blue and white is always right! The classic color pairing makes a fresh addition to almost any room, specifically in bedrooms. Blue and white is a favored palette in bedrooms due to its soothing side. The sky’s the limit (pun intended) when it comes to blue and white bedroom design ideas thanks to the wide spectrum of blue shades. From light blue, to an inky indigo and deep navy, there’s a hue to suit every taste.
Explore how to style a blue and white bedroom the SmithHönig way.
Toile wallpaper is as traditional as it gets. Our version, Summer House Navy, embodies this tradition, yet with a modern twist. This pattern is begging to be added to any bedroom’s accent wall.
Shop Summer House Navy Wallpaper >
Shop Square Lucite Tray - Fancy Pants Bob >
Shop Luxe Lumbar Navy with Vintage Gypsum >
Sarisa Munoz of The Indigo Leopard Home on Instagram used our Shibori Indigo Peel and Stick wallpaper to give her guest bedroom a color happy makeover. This wallpaper design is a nod to the ancient Japanese dyeing technique of Shibori and easily adds depth and dimension to any small space.
Shop Handmade Navy Ritz Pillow >
Shop Shibori Peel and Stick Wallpaper >
We love how SmithHonig’s Shibori textile looks in non-traditional colorways as well. The Hyacinth colorway is beautiful as window treatments and bed skirt in this home by design influencer Kathy Baugher of Up to Date Interiors. Now based in Fort Worth, Texas, Kathy loves how the pattern reminds her of the years she spent living in Asia. Visit Kathy’s blog to see how she created these custom drapes and bedskirt with Hyacinth.
Shop Shibori Hyacinth Fabric >
Bring blue and white into your bedroom through SmithHonig’s peel and stick wallpapers, fabrics, pillows, and more.
Interior Stylist, Sarisa M. of Indigo Leopard Home transformed her guest bedroom with SmithHönig’s Peel and Stick Shibori Indigo Wallpaper.
Design Influencer Misty Rain of The Eclectic Haven, used SmithHönig’s Vintage Gypsum Peel and Stick Wallpaper in her eclectic living room makeover. Result? A perfect area for relaxing in style!
Next IG stop! A fearless dining room by Tiffany Brown of My Eclectic Nest, featuring SmithHönig’s Pantera Tundra Wallpaper.
Houston designer Emily June of Emily June Designs transformed her client’s pantry with SmithHönig’s Moroccan Knot Wallpaper. Her goal was to give the space playful personality, while adding some serious function.
Interior Stylist, Shelly of Confetti Style transformed her home office with SmithHönig’s Peel and Stick Bryony Storm Noir Wallpaper. Where did Shelly chose to hang her wallpaper? On the ceiling – aka the 5th wall!
Adding wallpaper to an accent wall in any room, is a great way to bring in color and pattern. Now you’re the designer! Get the unexpected color and pattern you crave, and $5 sample packs to help you decide.
]]>We love a good outdoor pillow mix.
Mixing color and pattern is an art form, but there’s also a “science” to getting that mix right. Putting together a good pillow combo can also be a unique and personal way to revive your outdoor space. That’s what makes it so fun. Kellie Smith, co-founder of SmithHönig, likes to push both boundaries and buttons, mixing color and texture with strategic abandon and always with an eye to glam things up. That’s how she styles her personal outdoor space, too.
Pictured here is the patio of her mid-century glam pad, featuring a personal mix of colors and patterns, including a chindi rug used as a throw.
Here are three of Kellie's design tips for mixing and matching outdoor pillows.
The Sebra Stripe outdoor pillow is a great base for mixing and matching. The abstract stripe helps ground other patterns, and the array of colors can tie various colors together, seamlessly. Try it with blue, pink, lavender, yellow, brown or rust. Used on it’s own, the Sebra Stripe pillow can go completely classic, as seen on simple iron outdoor chaises…
…or, as at SmithHönig co-founder Kellie Smith’s family lake house, the Sebra Stripe outdoor pillow can go unflinchingly bold. Here, it’s mixed with a bright orange Adirondack chair made using recycled plastic bottles. It looks fabulous with navy, too.
For a softer palette of outdoor pillows, mix in a shibori pattern in an unexpected colorway, like moss green or berry. Sarisa Munoz of @myindigoleopardhome created a stunning oasis in her backyard using a variety of SmithHönig patterned pillows. Total desert vibes here!
Designer and influencer Seana Freeman, @bellybaila, shows off a fall outdoor makeover that celebrates color and comfort. “I love that SmithHönig boldly embraces color and pattern and influences from around the world, and actually spends time talking about where they came from,” said Freeman. She featured multiple outdoor pillows in her space and they all worked wonderfully together to create a bold, bright and inviting gathering spot.
Using a palette of blues, orange and pink, Seana created a luxe, layered space on her back deck that's full of pattern and color. Wicker, wood and lots of plants help ground her design.
Want to master an outdoor mix of color and pattern, but in a slightly more subtle way? Choose two or more patterns in similar colors. Select less bold or graphic patterns and a more subtle palette for your outdoor pillows.
Get playful. Create something exotic. Create a sense of place. Be inspired by your favorite indoor patterns. Use leopard outdoors and layer it up! Hot!
Our creativity is continuously sparked by travel, textures, architecture and histories. That’s the inspiration that led us to create the artisanal and luxury wallpapers and fabrics you see on SmithHönig. Each of our 28 wallpaper patterns tell a story, and most have a strong sense of place. And each came to life in its own unique color palette. We’d love to see you get creative with our patterns and wallpapers. Use these creative color palettes to spark your own creativity, whether planning your home decor, your wall colors, your outfit or a graphic design project.
The PANTONE Color of the Year for 2022 is an unapologetically bold combination of blue-violet and periwinkle called Very Peri. You may absolutely love it (we do!) and still feel unsure about how to incorporate it into your home.
SmithHönig’s recent collection, Moxie, pairs perfectly with Very Peri, as do several of our other colorful patterns. We like to think we’re just a little ahead of this trend!
Let’s explore a few ways to play with Very Peri – whether maxing it up or going more neutral.
By nature, Very Peri is bold yet still calming. While you may hesitate in painting an entire room in the color, consider a coordinating wallpaper with bolder trim. SmithHönig’s Moxie Lilac wallpaper exudes the same purple tones found in Very Peri. You can view Moxie Lilac’s coordinates in our 2022 Winter Collection.
Pictured below is SmithHonig’s Bryony Storm Dorian peel and stick wallpaper and Juju Blue aluminum wall art. Various shades of purple flow throughout this moody floral pattern, bringing out pops of Very Peri.
We love the contrast of the blue and white wall art and call this updated guest bathroom a win/win!
An upholstered piece of furniture can add much needed drama to a space. The bed below is covered in SmithHönig’s Andalusia Plum fabric by the yard. We paired it with our Bob leopard wallpaper (because leopard is a neutral, right?) and tossed in some fun pillows.
Here’s a way to go for those bold purple walls without feeling overwhelmed. We kept bedding and drapes neutral (a natural Belgian linen) and accented with layered pillows in blues and purples! From patterned and solid velvets to pillows with fringe and tassels—there are plenty of stylish options that Very Peri would totally approve of.
For areas of your home that could use a little colorful love, introduce a colorful tassel or two to liven things up. You can use tassels as tiebacks for your drapes, as accents on drawer pulls, or as additions to your hanging planters —the options are endless. Decorative tassels add a touch of maximalism to any space.
A new year brings endless opportunities for entertaining family and friends, from al fresco mid-week meals to seasonal celebrations to formal fêtes. Bring Very Peri to the party with our Moxie Lilac fabric by the yard, paper placemats, vintage napkins, and more. See all of our tabletop options here. Bring on the layers!
Stay tuned for more color palette fun. We’re bringing all the color inspiration, playful patterns, and textures to the New Year. After all—who says we can’t?
When we wanted to introduce the Pantera collection to the world, we knew immediately who the perfect person would be to help us make that introduction: a longtime friend of SmithHönig, Tiffany Brown. You may know her from her inspiring Insta, My Eclectic Nest, where she has shared how she is transforming a new-build house in New Jersey into a personality-packed home thanks to her amazing eye and carefully curated mix.
And ‘mix’ is the word when it comes to Brown’s style: she doesn’t consider herself a minimalist or a maximalist either—she considers her aesthetic to be what she likes to call “mediumism”—right in the middle of those two design styles. And she loves to use many different design aesthetics or styles in her spaces to both give it a unique look as well as a real sense of the people who live there.
“I love a mix of old and new, vintage and modern,” said Brown. “I think that formula will always balance a rooms’ look if done properly.”
While it became the centerpiece of her design, the pattern is almost the complete opposite of the original direction she planned to go for the dining room.
“I wanted something dark and moody, but when I saw Pantera Tundra, I knew that it was the exact pattern that I needed to bring all the elements in the room together and make it a cohesive space,” she said.
This wasn’t Brown’s first time using our peel-and-stick wallpaper: she hung Ravenswood Mystery to add color and lush appeal to her powder room earlier this year.
“Wallpaper has become my go-to for making a big change with minimal work and I can say that this peel-and-stick wallpaper is SO easy to work with,” said Brown. “I was able to get my wall done in less than two hours’ time.”
“It was easy to reposition if need be which is very important because you don’t always line it up perfectly the first time.”
While Brown says each of the colorways in the Pantera collection is amazing, choosing which colorway to use was a challenge because all three of the wallpapers are stunning in their own right. But she had quite a few large pieces of furniture that were not going to be replaced (primarily her large dark dining room table and glam red chairs) but while she really liked them all, they weren’t working together for her until she saw Tundra. When she saw the leopard wallpaper design in this particular colorway she knew it was exactly what she needed to blend all the styles together for a look that makes the pieces seem as if they all “belonged” there in that space together in the first place.
“I am 100% thrilled with how much interest this wallpaper has infused into our dining room,” said Brown. “The patterns and colors are vibrant and bold.”
Brown kept some of that original dark and moody feeling she wanted by creating a table runner out of our Pantera Night fabric, a lush velvet leopard fabric with a subtle shimmer that compliments the leopard wallpaper. The fabric is perfect for upholstery and drapes, featuring the same daring print. She also layered in our Sebra Stripe pillows on the adjoining loveseat for additional animal appeal.
“For me, animal prints are as timeless and classic as black and white,” said Brown.
And for the final finishing touches in her dining room: tassels. Specifically our Drapery Tieback in Peacock and our Brass top silk tassel in Night.
“The tassels are so elegant and timeless so those are used in my table decor,” said Brown. “I want them to be seen, they bring such a luxe and rich feel to whatever space they’re used in.”
Expertly styled to be wild, the leopard wallpaper patterns and coordinates in SmithHönig's Pantera collection brought new life to Tiffany Brown’s dining room. The end result is a luxe, dramatic space that is anything but tame.
What's the bottom line on leopard wallpaper?
“Well it’s not for the weak at heart,” said Brown with a laugh. “It makes a statement and you need to be okay with that.”
Ready to make a wild statement in your home? Pantera Collection of leopard wallpaper, fabric, pillows and coordinates is the perfect bold and sexy pattern your maximalist side is craving. Shop the collection.
Want to know something even better? All outdoor pillows are currently 20% off!
Let’s get inspired together.
If you love the tye-dye look, you have to snag this moss colored shibori outdoor pillow. Embrace the beauty of nature with this green gem.
Design influencer Seana Freeman, @bellybaila, shows off her a fall outdoor makeover celebrating color and comfort. “I love that SmithHönig boldly embraces color and pattern and influences from around the world, and actually spends time talking about where they came from,” said Freeman. She featured multiple outdoor pillows in her space and they all worked wonderfully together to create an outdoor sanctuary.
The Sebra Stripe throw pillow is our best-selling pillow and for good reason. With its modern animal print pattern and use of balanced colors, the Sebra Stripe pillow begs the question, why not get wild? Animal print is a neutral after all. Read more about our Sebra Stripe pillow, here.
Leopards, botanicals, and florals oh my! This fall pillow pairing is a great example of transitioning from summer decor to fall.
With it’s mixture of blue and green shades, Neela Blue is a perfect print to use during the fall season. Below we paired the square outdoor pillow with the Tabriz Autumn pillow – fall perfection!
SmithHönig’s Crespi Arch and Medina Arch outdoor pillows are matches made in pillow heaven. Even Mabel, Melanie’s beloved cat, approves.
Want to refresh your own outdoor space? Try some colorful SmithHönig weather resistant pillows for a fresh and fun outdoor mix.
]]>Bold, adventurous, cheerful and full of energy. That’s how we define “Moxie”. It’s also how we describe one of the design world’s most glamorous DIY queens Jewel Marlowe of Jeweled Interiors. As someone whose rooms make you stop, stare, and think, “She’s the embodiment of Moxie” — our newest collection of fabrics, wallpaper and trim in a debut color way of lilac, teal, chocolate and gray. The Moxie collection features our maximalist take on animal print, a whimsical, watercolor zebra named Moxie (available as fabric and peel-and-stick wallpaper), a coordinating leopard print called Fancy Pants Bob, and a slightly edgy interpretation of a classic plaid, called Plaidish.
“I think the Moxie collection is fun and chock full of whimsy,” says Marlowe. Among designers, Marlowe is the undisputed champion of whimsy and incorporates animal prints throughout her home. The leopard print makeover she gave two chairs that now reside in her lounge space is darn near legendary. “I love leopard and consider it a neutral; it gives me the ability to mix in other patterns with ease,” said Marlowe. “I have leopard in almost every room in my home.” And the home’s formal dining room, with its magnificent botanical wallpaper—a celebration of lush floral and exotic animals living in paradise—is an animal-centric show-stopper.
In her recent dining room project, Marlowe added our marmalade trim to her skirted buffet. “I love seeing the reaction on people’s faces when they eat at our home for the first time,” says Marlowe. Marlowe has moved thirteen times in nineteen years—yes, she’s a military spouse—so she’s no stranger to giving her home her own spin by mixing patterns and tackling DIY projects, hands on. So, when Marlowe’s friend and artist Candace Heil recently made a one-of-a-kind Geode Table for Marlowe, she knew a simple “Thank You” card wasn’t going to cut it. Instead she found a vintage bench on Facebook Marketplace, stripped the wood and recovered it in our Fancy Pants Bob fabric. Fancy Pants Bob is made from a cotton linen blend, great for window treatments and upholstery." “The weight of this cotton/linen blend works for upholstering because it will hold up to a bit of wear and tear,” says Marlowe. “It is perfect for chairs, benches, and pillows.”
Here’s her process for reupholstering a bench: First, make sure you have these supplies on-hand:
Then follow these 4 simple steps!
Step 1: Remove Old Upholstery The first thing you need to do is rip off the old fabric using a staple remover. You go underneath the fabric and rip it up slightly with the tool. This process is not hard, but it is time consuming. You want to make sure that you get all of the fabric off and each of the staples removed as well. You may need to use pliers to pull some of the staples out. You’ll want to make sure to save the fabric for step 2.
SmithHonig’s Ravenswood Mystery designer wallpaper adds a pop of drama to this fall color palette. With it’s gray background, watercolor ravens, and vibrant foliage – almost any color scheme can pair well with it. Here, we were playful adding in coordinating colors that you may even already have in your home!
On their own, each of these colors represent fall beautifully. Mix them together and you have a stunning, layered fall look. SmithHonig’s Tadelakt Spice peel and stick wallpaper is the perfect backdrop to set the tone for fall. Add to it with coordinating art and luxurious velvet pillows for a complete and stunning fall color palette.
SmithHonig’s Ravenswood Dream fabric is the show stopper of this fall color palette. Watercolor ravens and vibrant foliage makes a grand statement in any home. Pair this look with a purple luxe pillow and a jute brass topped tassel for good measure.
Have you considered using lilac purple, navy, and forest green in your home? We are loving this global nursery using SmithHonig’s Moxie Lilac peel and stick wallpaper and Neela Blue fabric. The Grand pillow in forest green and brass topped tassel in Peacock would be perfect coordinates to this look.
This fall color palette leans towards the traditional fall colors that we’re used to seeing. Adding in layers of different textiles, gives this retro style a modern twist. From Pantera Night peel and stick wallpaper and vintage pillows to tassels – we would rock this look year round!
We hope that you’re inspired to walk on the wild side with us. Which fall color palette spoke to your soul the most? Shop all of the SmithHönig layers, here.
]]>Take a look at this dark and moody Halloween table decor. It’s the stuff of beautiful nightmares. Even if you don’t love Halloween, this Gothic dinner party is gorgeous, and so much fun. From the fabric to the tiny, dark details, the concept is dreamy and quirky and definitely memorable. Celebrate Halloween in style by incorporating home decor into your Halloween dinner party.
We created our spooky-chic Gothic style dinner party in an abandoned barn, using our own Bryony Storm fabric in Dorian for the tablecloth. Place settings featured vintage china, gold chargers and gray linen napkins.
We used bowls of spooky, hand-painted eyeballs and added spiders to the cupcake. Our favorite touch? An over-the-top floral arrangement of fresh tulips, greenery and craft-store black crows for your Halloween dinner party decor.
We hung Halloween inspired art on the barn walls - that's a Sebra Stripe prototype above the bar - and added a Venetian carnival mask to a fancy mid-century bust.
Dark and moody is one of our favorite looks, so we're loving these other Halloween inspired patterns and vibes, as well. One of our most popular is part of the Ravenswood Collection, inspired by eclectic English country houses.
Colorful feathers and sunset-hued branches on a charcoal field mean that Ravenswood peel and stick wallpaper in Mystery will be dramatic and inviting in any room, any time of year. Style the luxurious botanical and bird wallpaper with soft greens or vibrant purples or a mix of jewel tones. So many options - and so many coordinates.
Want even more black, charcoal or dark and moody interior inspiration for Halloween dinner party decor? Check out the block posts below. Want to try out a deep and dark wallpaper that's commitment free? Order a sample pack to see how it looks in your space!
Are you looking for a unique and memorable housewarming gift? Buying a home is a huge accomplishment and worth celebrating any time of year. Whether it’s a first home or a downsized retirement pad, it’s always worthy of celebration. To help congratulate your family, friend or next-door neighbor on their new abode, gift them something that’s out of the box.
Here are 18 perfect housewarming gift ideas that are sure to make them feel special. Helping friends discover unique home decor and gifting items they haven’t seen before will add to the thrill, and make your gift one they'll always remember.
SmithHönig also creates beautiful throw pillows from fragments of vintage textiles. They come in multiple shapes and sizes, each one a unique creation designed to showcase the textile in the best way possible.
Candles and a decorative matchbox are a perfect housewarming gift for a new homeowner. Not only are the matchboxes usual, they make a great "where'd you get that" conversation starter when displayed ona coffee table. Choose something unique, like SmithHönig's large leopard matchbox or the classic blue, orange and black Tabriz design.
Another option is a decorative vessel candle such a these by SmithHönig in glass, wood and stone. Combine a candle and a matchbox for real gift-giving impact.
Moving is stressful! Give a housewarming gift that gives the homeowner easy style with minimal work. They'll be able to set a colorful, globally-inspired table with unique paper placemats. No muss, no fuss, just joy and celebration.
For a creative housewarming gift, deliver a bottle of the homeowner's favorite wine or spirits, with a brass-topped silk tassel as an adornment.
Once your new homeowner has settled in, they can use the tassel on drapery tiebacks, drawer pulls, or as a decorative accent on a piece of furniture – the options are endless!
Decorative tassels are a must-have accessory for any maximalist interior. They add the perfect touch of color, texture, and fun to any room. Here Ursula Carmona of Homemade by Carmona decorated a classic glass door knob.
Give a small gift of art for a truly special housewarming gift. We like these gem-like acrylic pieces which are perfect for placing in a bookcase or on a nightstand. A new homeowner can use an elegant piece like this in multiple locations, making it the perfect gift. They work great on open kitchen shelves, on a desk in a home office, or one a coffee table.
Designer Kevin O'Gara used SmithHönig's "Juju" block in blue on a pink nightstand. We love it - and we think a new homeowner would, too.
Some things to consider when selecting a housewarming gift:
What colors and patterns is the homeowner drawn to?
Are their small pieces that jog a memory with your homeowner? Giving something personal makes it special.
Is your homeowner a creative type?
Finding the perfect housewarming gift, especially for your most creative friends and family can be a challenge. We suggest looking for small, memorable and unique pieces that will add joy and color to the new home.
Browse SmithHönig's gift category for even more ideas for housewarming gifts, baby showers, birthdays, and more.
Always unique.
Always colorful.
Always joyful.
For a home as layered as you are.
I lived in Southern California for thirteen years. Driving this time with Mr. H. by my side, I wanted to rediscover my favorite spots.
Of course, I love all the obvious things about LA – the beaches, the weather – but my absolute favorite parts are the canyons. Topanga, in particular.
LA’s tony westside and famous beaches are connected to the San Fernando Valley via a series of curvy, mountainous roads. Each has its own unique personality.
Coldwater connects to the mansions of Beverly Hills, Laurel was once an epicenter for sixties-era folk rock, Malibu Canyon is steep and dramatic.
Topanga Canyon is a hippie hangout with a shady past — as well as amazing hideaways and hidden treasures.
There’s The Inn of the Seventh Ray, a romantic restaurant with white tablecloths set outside next to waterfalls and ancient sycamore trees. There’s an outdoor theater specializing in Shakespeare. There’s a blues festival, a banjo festival and a strawberry festival.
One of our first stops in LA was Jalen Jalen, a Topanga-based import company set into the canyon wall, next to Owl Falls, a three-story, spring-fed waterfall.
Brian Gibson, owner of Jalan Jalan, personally selects every item in the store and on the grounds, and the site draws designers, collectors and architects as well as casual shoppers.
Many of the large Balinese stone carvings and teak root benches are meant for outdoor use. They age gracefully under the elements, waiting to be set into place in a new location. Inside are carved masks, crystals, geodes and jewelry.
Getting to Jalen Jalen can be a little stressful, depending on the time of day. Traffic. Honking horns. Tight curves. But parking and walking into Jalen Jalen, strolling next to the creek, will bring a sense of peace that will last for the rest of the drive. You’ll find a large carved Buddha next to the waterfall, a bit of greenery and the sound of rushing water. Perfection.
From the canyon we dropped down onto Malibu Beach, and stopped for a walk in the sand. In my previous LA life, I’d made a habit of having picnic dinners on one of the closed lifeguard stands at sunset. I’d tried my first boogie board at Malibu. I’d lost my bikini bottoms in a post-earthquake undertow there, too.
The warm sand felt exactly as I remembered. It was good to see that some things had stayed exactly the same.
The Venice Beach area has changed a lot since my days of hanging out at the Rose Cafe and Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center. The boardwalk is still wild on the weekend – but, to my eyes anyway – the mood is more forced and less organic. There are cannabis dispensaries, tech companies and high end apartments where there were once vintage clothing stores and quirky little coffee shops.
We took some time to walk along the canals, where the bohemian color and creativity I’ve always associated with Venice can still be found. You’ll get a glimpse of an LA lifestyle only a few can experience.
The canals are located just off 25th street, but you’ll walk right past them unless you’re looking.
Originally called the “Venice of America”, these man-made canals were dug in 1905 by the community’s developer. Almost every house has a dock, and the sidewalks are linked by bridges. It’s a perfect area for a leisurely stroll after lunch or dinner.
We stopped in at Gjelina for a cocktail and a sea bass sandwich. The entire menu is locally-sourced and definitely delicious.
Then we headed downtown for a splurge-stay at The Biltmore Hotel.
A legendary landmark since 1923, The Biltmore is a grand dame of the West Coast. The look is an opulent mix of Moorish, Spanish Baroque, Neoclassical and Renaissance.
The hotel has hosted six presidents, been seen in countless movies, and was the site of John F. Kennedy, Jr.’s nomination acceptance speech, as well.
Downtown Los Angeles has seen the biggest changes since my time in the city. A walk downtown will lead you to the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Natural History Museum and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, designed by local favorite, Frank Gehry. Upcoming shows at the Disney include classical masterpieces as well as holiday sing-alongs, and a live-music version of Home Alone.
For our next stop, Mr. H. and I headed out to Pasadena for a tour of the Gamble House, one of the finest examples of Craftsman architecture on the West Coast.
Then over to The Huntington – a former grand home turned research library, art museum and botanical garden.
The Huntington has always been one of my favorite LA spots. My collective wanderings through the house and gardens must add up to weeks if not months, and I still feel as if I haven’t seen enough.
The property was developed by railroad magnate Henry Huntington who turned his private home and collections into a public institution. It now houses one of 12 surviving copies of the famous Guttenberg Bible, a 15-century manuscript of The Canterbury Tales and The Blue Boy painting by Thomas Gainsborough, to name just a few.
The 130-acre botanical garden features twelve distinct districts, including a Japanese Garden, an allee of classical statues, a Desert Garden, and a Chinese Garden with a lake, teahouse, stone bridges and pavilions.
When I lived in California, I always ushered in the holidays with a traditional Christmas Tea at the Huntington’s rose-garden-based tea house. There would be savory sandwiches, scones with jam, and lots of little biscuits and sweets. Giant wreaths, red ribbons and a perfectly proportioned Christmas tree gave me the classic holiday vibe I craved in sunny, Southern California.
At the moment, the tea house is closed for renovation – but traditional tea can still be pre-ordered and served outside at a nearby pavilion.
My wander through the Huntington’s gardens had me thinking of home.
The holidays are approaching, yet again. This time I’ll be back in Georgia, hanging my own wreaths and Christmas lights. But first, I’ll be focused on autumn leaves and fall layering. Halloween. Thanksgiving. Our gatherings may be slightly different than in the past – but they can still be colorful.
I’m ready to be home. The good news is – half the fun is getting there!
#JointheJourney
Ravenswood is inspired by English country houses where walls are often covered in chinoiserie or tapestry. Our take is more whimsical, rural and playful. Large watercolor ravens and foliage create a lush repeat that lends itself to multiple decor styles. Part of the Ravenswood collection of wallpaper, fabric, pillows and trim.
We love how the aqua background in Ravenswood Dream pops against this vintage, green dresser.
Jewel Marlowe of Jeweled Interiors added Ravenswood Dream to her hall closet for a mighty punch of playful pattern. With the unexpected addition of wallpaper, this storage space became a stylish showcase. Our watercolor ravens and foliage turn an unassuming hall closet into the equivalent of a jewelry box surprise hidden inside.
Ravenswood Mystery is a more, well “mysterious” colorway of Ravenswood. The gray background looks lovely against the bright pops of large ravens and vibrant foliage. Here, Mystery was hung in a living room – stealing the show against a neutral couch.
Design Influencer, Tiffany Brown of My Eclectic Nest, used Ravenswood Mystery in her guest bathroom makeover. Tiffany isn’t afraid of color or pattern and her entire home is unapologetically beautiful!
We know why this particular print is so popular. It goes with almost everything and adds a unique and creative touch wherever you place it. Freshen up your own space with Ravenswood Wallpaper! Where will you hang it in your home?
Order a $5 Wallpaper Sample Pack, here.
Shop all of our peel-and-stick wallpaper patterns, here.
]]>I was also looking forward to fall – and with that, the idea of journeying home for the coming holiday season began to form. My normal fall traditions include day trips through the Blue Ridge mountains and picking up muscadines, late corn and local squash from farmers markets in the south.
Now, I was experiencing the first days of autumn in a brand new place – Utah. And to be honest, it was perfect timing. Utah is a vibrant fall color palette, come to life. Each stop found us surrounded by rich oranges, purples and yellows and the elevations often make for crisp breezes. The earth itself is decked out for fall in Utah.
Our first stop was Park City, where we were able to get an amazing mid-week and off-season rate at the Stein Eriksen Lodge. This luxury property is known for skiing, Alpine cuisine and a five-star spa.
We love finding unexpected off-season opportunities and highly recommend leaving some room in a relaxed itinerary for them!
Next stop, Sundance.
Robert Redford’s Sundance Institute is inexplicably tied to Park City. My Dutch friend, Martineke, once managed to attend the entire Sundance Film Festival by following her heart on a completely unplanned solo road trip.
We visited the Sundance Mountain Resort on a rainy, early fall day. The weather didn’t dampen our mood.
The resort is built on land purchased by Redford in 1969. His goal was to create a community, inspired by the Ute Indians and Scottish immigrants who had called the area home in the past.
Sundance bills itself as an arts community, a recreational community and a community of people who appreciate the beauty of nature and feel a responsibility to preserve it. It’s also the site of numerous music festivals, author series, sunset lift rides and kids camps.
Inside the resort, there’s a timber-walled cafe and a General Store where you can purchase mountain-inspired clothing, gifts and homegoods. Every surface is designed to create a unique sense of place.
After a snack, we started out on a scenic drive south on Route 89, a Utah Heritage Highway that leads to Bryce Canyon and beyond.
Created in 1926, the highway wanders through gorgeous desert vistas, Aspen groves and stone outcroppings full of color and texture.
In addition to the obvious National Parks that have made Utah’s tourism famous, road trips here are full of surprises. One example is Hell’s Backbone Grill & Farm located in Boulder – population 226!
Boulder is one of the most remote towns in the United States – but it features a gourmet restaurant that is Zagat rated and has been a James Beard semifinalist in multiple years.
Hell’s Backbone (named after the terrain) has its own organic farm and a fresh, farm to table menu. A few standouts? Black powder biscuits with sage butter, local smoked trout and zuke-a-mole (guac style zucchini). Oh – and the chocolate chili cream pot!
The best part? Everything on the menu is seasonal and of the place.
Arches National Park and Bryce Canyon are not to be missed and should definitely be a pilgrimage that’s on your travel wishlist.
The other-worldly landscapes of stone arches, giant, precariously-balanced boulders and spiky towers feature colors, shapes and textures you won’t see anywhere else.
And in the midst of it all? The surprise of a perfect German bakery in the most unexpectedly remote place. We discovered Bakerei Forscher along the side of the road and indulged in marzipan-filled pastries on site. Then we stocked up on bread, rolls and pastries for the rest of the trip.
For a culture stop, we pulled into Ivins, Utah for a couple of nights and visited Kayenta, Utah, with its arts village, and the nearby Tuacahn Center for the Arts.
Kayenta is a community nestled into the red rocks and sage of the canyon walls, reminiscent of the ancient pueblos that define the area’s architecture. Homes are not allowed to be of a height or color that detracts from the natural terrain and even outdoor lights are required to be dim and aimed low. As a result, the sky is full of brilliant stars. Kayenta also features a small downtown arts hub with galleries, artists studios, and a stone labyrinth on the desert floor.
At Tuachann, an outdoor amphitheater is built into the reddesert rocks. The theater features Broadway shows and concerts, as well as Saturday markets and a Christmas in the Canyon celebration featuring lights shows, a live Nativity, train rides and more. Check out their website to find out what’s on, and when.
A colorful fall tour of Utah behind us, we headed toward home.
Did we have some unexpected stops along the way? Of course. But our road trip story is coming to an end. Join us as we continue sharing our thoughts on fall decorating, early holiday preparations and spending time in our own spaces.
There’s no place like home — and we’d love to help make yours a colorful expression of who you are!
#JointheJourney
Do you love the idea of confident pattern mixing in your home? Tired of looking at those plain four walls? Ready to spice things up, just as the landscape outside is doing the same? Go for it.
But seriously, where to start?
Pillows are the absolute easiest way to make a quick, personal and dramatic update to a living room, bedroom or other favorite, cozy spot. And let’s add in not just one, but a coordinated mix of patterns and texture.
The exuberant mix in vintage dealer and design blogger Kate Pearce’s retro home is just one option.
You could also think Ralph Lauren in the 80s – plaid skirts, knit cardigans and a paisley printed blouse. Or English cottages overflowing with florals, plaids, stripes and more. These are traditional fall feels – each one perfectly played.
We can tell you how we do things and show you some examples of pattern mixes we love. Ultimately, you gotta do you.
Start Where You Are
Do you already have a sofa that’s going to be with you for a while? Drapes that you love? A rug that has meaning and memories attached? Start there.
Look for a patterned pillow that has just a touch of the same color/s. Once you’ve discovered a few choices that make you happy, look more closely at the patterns. What other, unexpected, colors can be found there? You’ll want to bring larger swathes of those colors into the room, too.
The Blue Sofa
Take a look at how different a navy couch can look with a different combination of pillows. In this first room, by Atlanta designer Kevin O’Gara, the play of jewel-toned solids is quietly elegant. Flattering peach walls and colorful pillow welts add just the right interest.
Option two: start with a bold patterned, one of a kind pillow in silk ikat, pull out the bright fuchsia color in a coordinate, and suddenly the room is full of energy.
We’d love to see this combo accessorized with a colorful vintage saddlebag used as a wall hanging, and a bright, over-dyed rug on the floor.
New Options for Gray or Greige Interiors
Have a solid gray sofa or drapes? We can think of multiple ways to refresh those classic pieces. One option? Add a patterned pillow featuring peach, pink, tan and aqua.. This will still retain the sense of calm that gray can evoke, while adding an unexpected twist.
In this case, we’re highlighting SmithHönig’s Villa Verona vegan, down-alternative pillow in plush velvet, as well as coordinating solids and a crocheted throw.
Another option is this moody, large-scale floral wallpaper called Bryony Storm Noir. Still subtle. Still gray. But such a refreshing statement. And just look at the softness of that luxe velvet shown mid-air!
And while we aren’t necessarily condoning pillow fights, these beauties are exceptionally high-quality. Each is handmade in a durable cotton velvet and filled with the plushest down-alternative we’ve ever felt. So one or two throws probably won’t hurt!
Classic with a Maximal Twist
Grandma’s sofa getting (or needing) an update? We love keeping things in the family, almost as much as we love animal prints. So of course, we adore the way design influencer Tiffany Brown of My Eclectic Nest redid her own existing sofa and accented it with SmithHönig’s popular Sebra Stripe pillows.
Here you see how versatile these velvet pillows are. We’ve seen how the Sebra Stripe pattern works with dark blues and greens. Here we see them blending perfectly into a glamorous, light-colored space .
Do Yourself a Solid
If you’re considering going bolder in your overall color scheme or pattern mix, consider adding solid color velvet pillows to balance things out. In this combination, the large geometric pattern is quieted by solid velvet pillows in complementary colors. A throw keeps things cozy, too.
Add Lots of Texture
And lastly, here’s a cozy winter pillow that’s not velvet, but even more plush. The Nordic pillows by SmithHönig (they come in three bold patterns) are backed with a super soft faux fur that adds instant drama.
Use one on its own, or mix it up with additional solids and patterns. Either way, these pillows are show stoppers.
And of course, they’re filled with SmithHönig’s high-end vegan down alternative that feels silky smooth. Shown here is The Nordic in Bakuba, with a Luxe Velvet pillow in Golden in the background.
Ready to try your hand at mixing and matching? We’ve put together a few combinations to inspire your creativity.
We arrived in Montana via Seattle, Coeur d’Alene and Bonners Ferry, Idaho, through the Kaniksu National Forest.
The two-story, lodge style inn we discovered at Cabin Creek set the tone for this portion of our journey – an American safari full of wildlife sightings, rugged terrain and classic wilderness digs.
Cabin Creek Landing is located on seven acres just outside Glacier National Park, with loads of nature-centric activities just outside the door. Inside, the rooms are huge and the breakfasts are worth waking up for. Shared spaces include a library, a huge stone fireplace and a small workout room.
From this near-perfect basecamp, our first stop was Glacier National Park, known as the Crown of the Continent. The park features over 700 miles of trails, pristine Alpine meadows, forests, mountains and lakes, as well as historic lodges and chalets.
Glacier also features Red Bus tours in historic 1930s roll-top touring cars, an amazing way to take in everything from the Going-to-the-Sun road to Wild Goose Island.
The drivers are called “jammers,” because, when the cars still had manual transmissions, you could hear them jamming their gears going up steep inclines. The buses themselves are sometimes called the “rubies of the Rockies.”
From the park, we headed to the National Bison Range, a 100-year-old preserve now overseen by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes of Native Americans, and situated within the 1,250,000-acre Flathead Indian Reservation. The range itself is almost 19,000 acres of wilderness.
In the 1870s, tribal members brought some of the few remaining wild bison over the Continental Divide and began initial conservation efforts.
Today, around 500 bison share the range with elk, white-tail and mule deer, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, black bear, and coyote. And, in true “safari” style, you can drive a narrow dirt path through the range, stopping when you see wildlife.
Our next stop was Ewam, Idaho and the Garden of 1000 Buddhas. This 750-foot circular monument in a serene valley, is arranged in a pattern called the “wheel of dharma.”
The Confederated Tribes not only gave permission for this unique mandala to be built on tribal land, many of the tribespeople volunteered with casting and placing the 1,000 statues of Buddha.
The purpose of the Garden is to bring about positive transformation within those who visit, in response to the negativity that abounds in today’s world. Standing in the hot sun, surrounded by mountains and Tibetan prayer flags, I did feel a calming energy – and a sense of being transported to another world.
Of course, no Western road trip is complete without a stop in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The iconic arch of naturally-shed antlers perfectly represents the destination, and its proximity to nature.
In Jackson Hole, we stayed at The Wort, the iconic historic hotel downtown. It offers live music in the Silver Dollar Bar, luxuriously rustic decor and the bustle of Jackson Hole’s town square just outside the door. Plus, there’s a teddy bear on every bed!
Grand Teton National Park is a not-to-be-missed part of the Jackson Hole pilgrimage.
The stunning beauty and abundance of wildlife and plants has drawn humans to the area for centuries. In the early days, the nomadic tribes found plentiful berries, bulbs, fish and game during the summers. They generally followed their prey out of the valley in search of milder weather, once winter came.
The rugged beauty of the region is evident at every turn, from the preserved homes and barns of early European settlers (many of them Mormons), to the vibrant local flora.
Nearby is the Museum of Wildlife Art, featuring over 5,000 works of animal art, including a friendly cast-bronze moose. Pieces reflecting Modernism, Impressionism and Romanticism line the interior walls.
We’re wildlife lovers ourselves – with patterns like Ravenswood and Pantera being some of our most popular products.
We often find ourselves inspired by the vistas and cultural attractions of our journeys, no matter where they take us.
Join us September 23rd and 30th for the final segments of our 19,000 mile road trip across America, and see how travel continues to keep us inspired.
#JointheJourney
And, with both indoor and outdoor versions available, this pillow can go anywhere!
The Sebra Stripe outdoor pillow is a great base for mixing and matching. The abstract stripe helps ground other patterns, and the variety of colors can tie various accent pieces together. Try it with blue, pink, lavender, yellow, brown or rust.
Tiffany Brown, designer at My Eclectic Nest, nestled a pair of Sebra Stripe indoor pillows onto her white couch and the results are beautiful. We love how the look balances the space and adds pops of saturated color.
Notice the leopard print lamp shade on the table next to it? I am woman – hear me roar!
Here, instead of Sebra Stripe popping against a pale interior, it does the same in a rich, jewel-toned space that features our Neela Blue peel and stick wallpaper.
SmithHönig co-founder Kellie Smith featured a Sebra Stripe lumbar pillow on her outdoor sofa. Kellie likes to push both boundaries and buttons, mixing color and texture with strategic abandon and always with an eye to glam things up.
She also used Sebra Stripe at her family’s lake house. Here, it takes center stage on one of our Polywood Adirondack chairs.
Sarisa Munoz of @myindigoleopardhome created a stunning oasis in her backyard using a variety of SmithHönig patterned pillows. Mixing the popular Sebra Stripe pillow with a tie-dye Shibori Moss companion, for a completely different look. We love these desert vibes!
Sebra Stripe is available in two substrates and two sizes, because we all need options, right?
The indoor pillow comes in a plush velvet with a vegan, down-alternative insert for a wild vibe that is 100% cruelty free.
The outdoor pillow is weather resistant and long lasting, and can even be popped in a cool washer if needed. Both come in square and lumbar sizes.
We know why this particular print is so popular. It goes with almost everything and adds a unique and creative touch wherever you place it.
Freshen up your own space with Sebra Stripe pillows! What will you pair with them?
Shop all our patterned pillows, here.
Even in late summer the water was numbingly cold. We discovered – later – that water temperatures run about 53º F here, even in the summer!
The shock didn’t deter Mr. H. from his road trip goal, though. He was determined to find at least one swimming hole in each state along our route. We kept swimsuits and towels in the back seat for just that purpose and, even though we were headed north, we’d keep trying.
The next stop was classic Americana, as we made our way to the Chandelier Tree in Leggett, California. This famous drive-through tree is one of only a few still standing.
In the early 1900s several giant redwood trees were carved out to entice tourists.
The most famous was Wawona, a huge sequoia tree in Yosemite National Park. There, an existing fire scar was expanded in the base of the tree in 1881. Wawona was a popular site for road trip photos until it fell during a snowstorm in 1969.
We made a couple of passes through the Chandelier Tree. Coast sequoias live for 1,200 to 2,200 years, making them among the oldest living things on earth.
Their majesty is best experienced on the 31-mile stretch of Highway 101 known as the Avenue of the Giants.
We stopped at the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree, too, and I made myself at home in the two-story tree house carved into another sequoia.
Our hotel for the night was the Benbow Historic Inn, nestled into the Redwood Coast. (Special thanks to Rochelle Agers-Tannehill, Event Coordinator at the Benbow, for this lovely shot of the Tudor style exterior.
The hotel opened in 1926 and is listed on the National Register of Historic places.
The hotel is currently undergoing extensive renovations, but both before and after, the charm and attention to detail is evident in each room and public space. And of course, the location is perfect.
The hotel was designed by architect Albert Farr, who had built Jack London’s home, The Wolf House. (I love a good literary connection!) The tudor style architecture and unexpected style in the middle of the redwood forest attracted Hollywood Golden-age stars like Clark Gable and Spencer Tracey, as well as dignitaries that included Eleanor Roosevelt and Lord Halifax. For a time it was the only full-service, four diamond hotel in Northern California.
I imagined our Venice Fade wallpaper in Vivaldi on the walls of our room – the soft colors would be perfect!
One unique amenity is the option for “forest bathing,” a scientifically proven practice that improves physical, mental and emotional health. It’s based on the Japanese art of Shinrin-Yoku and is truly a beautiful thing. Research shows it can lower heart rates, increase attentiveness, improve sleep quality and moods. Some call forest bathing the new yoga…and standing or sitting under peaceful, 2,000-year-old redwoods automatically creates a meditative state.
After a walk in the woods, and a relaxed and satisfying breakfast at Benbow we headed north on the 101 to Ferndale, a Victorian era village featuring spectacular architecture and plenty of unique shopping.
Shopping spots to consider? Chapman’s Bookery – which features a “blind date with a book” option, as well as original paintings, hard to find first editions and a few high quality guitars.
There’s also Lost Coast Living for California-casual home decor, as well as Spencer’s Vintage and Golden Gait Mercantile for discovering new or quirky items.
And don’t forget a stop at Sweetness & Light for handmade chocolates and espresso drinks.
Well fortified, we headed to Oregon. The terrain changed almost immediately as we crossed the state line. More rustic, less pristine, more rough edges, and yes, miles of Pacific Northwest forests.
Our first Oregon stop was Crater Lake, with its impossibly blue waters.
Created when a violent volcano caused a peak to collapse almost 8,000 years ago (and witnessed by Native Americans living in the area at the time), the lake is the deepest in America and one of the most pure bodies of water on earth. It’s fed by snow and rain.
Travel tip: check the National Park Service webcam before you go. Sometimes the view is lost in cloud cover.
The park – and sadly, much of the area we visited – is now also the site of numerous regional wildfires. It’s becoming increasingly important to check fire status and air quality before planning a trip. Importantly – follow all fire safety regulations when visiting the area.
From Crater Lake we headed to Bend, Oregon, a vibrant town with a definite Pacific Northwest vibe.
Noisy mobile pubs are a fun attraction. Up to 12 people pedal furiously while being captained by a driver, and served by a bartender. There’s usually loud music with a strong backbeat, and shouts of laughter, especially as the pub rounds a corner!
We settled in for a late lunch at Drake, on one of Bend’s historic corners. The place is part eclectic bistro, part neighborhood cafe and the food is creative and delicious. I loved the mushrooms (try the Sawtooth Toast or the Roasted Artichoke and Mushroom salad).
Mr. H told the waiter that his steak was the best he’d had in 40 states — and as we returned from a last wander through downtown Bend, we laughed at the change to the restaurant’s outdoor blackboard.
From there we headed to The Dalles, another area recently hit hard by wildfires.
Areas of blackened landscape are evident, but pristine views still exist.
Sunshine in the gorge means warmer water temperatures, and Mr. H was finally able to get in a river.
The Dalles boasts almost 300 days of sunshine a year – sadly, however, many of them are now smoke-filled.
The Dalles was, historically, the place on the Oregon Trail where pioneers loaded their wagons onto barges for the final sail to Portland. Now there are wineries and local eateries in a charming downtown area.
We detoured west to Historic Route 30 for another small-road drive, and it didn’t disappoint.
First stop, Multnomah Falls.
There are about a dozen waterfalls along the loop and while we didn’t take them all in, we stopped whenever we felt a need for fresh Pacific Coast air and a short walk.
The views along route 30 are breathtaking, with stunning heights, dramatic curves…
…and small, unexpected sites along the way.
Now, that’s a classic road trip drive.
Join us next week when we visit Wyoming and Utah.
#JointheJourney
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Living in California introduced me to cool night breezes along the coast, even after a scorcher of a day, and I loved it. It was the opposite of Georgia summers where sweltering heat can last all night.
Much of the year, that feeling can be had on a road trip along California’s northern coastline. This drive through the hills and curves of the northern stretch of Pacific Coast Highway may have been my favorite of the entire trip.
After diverting slightly inland from our PCH trip, southern edition, we continued our road trip by skirting San Pablo Bay and making two brief stops in Napa and Sonoma. Both areas were hard hit by fires in 2017, but the rolling vine-covered hills look normal again and there are a number of great restaurants serving excellent food.
In the early days of the COVID pandemic, Chef Thomas Keller of the famous French Laundry restaurant in nearby Yountville, began serving up delicious meals by way of Instagram. He partnered with Farmer Lee Jones and local purveyors to sell fresh-ingredient meal kits and conduct home cooking classes on IG Live. His primary goal was to support the small suppliers that he relied on for his gourmet creations. These days, his personal website leads with donation requests for his Feed it Forward project, which is designed to help restaurant staff in need.
Chef Keller’s dishes include artistic vegetable presentations with names like Oysters and Pearls and White Yam Hummus , as well as tasting menus for omnivores. Before the coronavius, the wait for a reservation could be months.
From Napa, we headed up the Sonoma Coast to Bodega Bay, a moody little inlet town that was the site of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1963 film, “The Birds.”
I can’t say for certain that “The Birds” was the inspiration for SmithHönig’s popular Ravenswood pattern. But aren’t those crows dramatic?
“The Birds” is a kitschy, dramatic and totally fun-filled horror extravaganza. I’ve dressed as the main character “Melanie” for Halloween, more than once. In the film she’s played by Tippi Hedren, mother of actress Melanie Griffith and grandmother to Dakota Johnson and Stella Banderas.
The trip from Bodega Bay to Stewarts Point is one of the most beautiful hour-long drives in the world. Stewarts Point General Store is a great place for breakfast, snacks or general provisioning – and it’s one of very few pit stops for miles.
Here, you can experience the continent’s edge, as you peer out over the Pacific, salt wind flipping through your hair. Inside the store is Two Fish Bakery, renowned for freshly baked bread, muffins, cookies and good espresso.
Our splurge stay for this part of the journey was Timber Cove Resort, a rustic-modern hotel on 23 acres of rugged California coastline. It’s a bit like being at summer camp, with no early revelies or lights-out rules. The scale of the place makes you feel small. The decor features huge, two-story timber beams and simple plaid blankets on the beds. It was designed in 1963 by owner/architect Richard Clements, and meant to be a place of meditation and tranquility. Years later, it still delivers.
Walking along the pristine coastline clears the spirit. The Bufano Peace Statue Monument, soaring 93 feet above the coastline, is an ode to peace and mental clarity. It was created by Clements’ friend, San Francisco artist Benjamin Bufano. Other artists, including Ansel Adams, have been drawn to this place, too.
The sunsets are breathtaking…each one unique.
Timber Cove Resort makes sure you have simple, late summer entertainment well into the night, with a huge fire pit…
…and fun s’mores kits that evoke memories of romantic bonfires on the beach.
The world slows down. The stars are at their brightest. Add in a couple of glasses of local Cabernet, and you’ve achieved summer evening perfection.
The amenities and laid-back vibes of Timber Cove make it hard to leave – and I’d head back in a heartbeat.
We packed up our bags and headed out toward Point Arena, for a view of the iconic lighthouse and another walk in the invigorating coastal air.
Then on to Mendocino for an early dinner at Patterson’s Pub, a local hangout with pub food that includes fries (skinny, steak, garlic, sweet potato or cheese options), Crab Louie and fish and chips.
Mendocino is a quaint seaside village with a population of about 850 people, but its location and scenery have made it a popular tourist destination and artists’ colony.
It’s a site of historic ship wrecks, a burgeoning timber industry and a well-known music festival. The town was settled by New Englanders, Chinese immigrants and Portuguese fishermen in the 1850s. There’s even a historic Taoist temple.
One of the most intriguing sites is the statue at the top of the old Masonic Lodge. Carved entirely from a solid block of redwood, it features Father Time braiding a young woman’s hair.
Finally, we were back in the car and headed to our next destination, with a stay at the Benbow Historic Inn, at the edge of the giant redwood forests.
But more about that, when our 19,000 mile road trip across America continues…next Thursday.
#JointheJourney
Yes, they’re gorgeous, but as you bring these colors into your home, don’t go off the deep end. Balance the bold with cooler or more neutral colors, and perhaps add some bling to throw light around the space.
We love how the soft gray rug and the light-colored throw help offset the deep, rich colors of SmithHönig’s Neela Blue wallpaper, in our featured living room. Shimmering golds and silvers mix well with vibrant shades, too. Think of them as settings for your sparkling gemstones.
Of course, you don’t have to limit yourself to emerald, ruby and sapphire. Semi-precious gems like rose quartz, turquoise, amber, opal, and jade might be the perfect starting point for your color palette. A soft peach wall color might complement a bolder counterpart like sapphire, as well.
The goal is drama that’s also luxe and polished.
Personally, we also love when a theme continues throughout the house. One dark, bold room surrounded by otherwise white walls might be jarring. Try adding dark-jewel-toned bedding, art, tiles or cookware in a lighter room to keep the theme going.
Or use extra wallpaper to liven up the back of a bookcase or cover stair risers.
The best part of the jewel-toned living room featured here is that it was transformed with peel and stick wallpaper, which can be easily removed with no damage to the walls. So even a rental could become a modern, jewel-toned kasbah over a weekend!
For a look that’s better than the finest jewels, add SmithHönig’s Neela Blue wallpaper to your space.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I used to drive through the canyon with dinner in a basket, drop down onto PCH and pull into Zuma Beach for a picnic with friends at a lifeguard station.
The Pacific Coast Highway meanders along the entire west coast, through iconic coastal villages like Malibu, Santa Barbara and Carmel by the Sea. It dips and dives into the beaches below Santa Monica and rises up the steep curves of Big Sur. Everywhere, there are stories.
Here is where that famous movie car chase scene was shot…here are the best waves…here is where the swallows return in droves, year after year.
On our own summer road trip, we took the classic PCH route from Los Angeles, headed north. There are dozens of destinations worth mentioning, but we’re focusing on the ones that got our creative juices flowing. We’re making the case for coastal maximalism, one road trip stop at a time!
Our route follows Hollywood drama, politics, history, architecture, Oscar nominations – as well as the sex, drugs and rock-and-roll of the wild West Coast in the 1960s.
First stop – Hearst Castle – perhaps the most Mac Daddy maximalist home of modern times. William Randolph Hearst built his Xanadu in the high rolling hills of San Simeon, overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Architect Julia Morgan was the architect of Hearst Castle, definitely groundbreaking (pun-intended!) for her time. She was one of the first women to receive an engineering degree from the University of California and was the first woman to earn an architectural degree from the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. We love kick-ass women!
Hearst was a flamboyant newspaper publisher, politician and collector. He collected not only art and furniture, but entire carved wooden ceilings from the 1400s, textiles, light fixtures and fireplaces.
He also collected movie stars. His hilltop mansion was the social hub of the West Coast elite. Stars like Cary Grant, Clark Gable, Greta Garbo and Jean Harlow were often found lounging by the opulent pool or dining in the grand hall, mixing in with Winston Churchill and Howard Hughes.
Stars often stayed for weeks or months, making themselves at home in one of the castle’s many guest houses.
Julia Morgan’s invoice for the cost of construction of Hearst Castle (1919-1942) was $4,717,000. She designed, supervised and ran the construction project – definitely not the norm for a woman of her era.
Morgan’s architectural designs can be found up and down the West Coast and beyond. She embraced the Arts & Crafts movement, but believed in mixing things up. Structural innovation was mixed with scholarly references, formalism balanced with playfulness and whimsy.
And, especially with Hearst as a client, she found a way to layer in textures and collections from around the globe, creating a true maximalist’s paradise.
But she wasn’t the first to design eclectic, layered interiors along the Pacific Coast. More about that, in a sec…
Our next stop, Big Sur – is known for its excesses in other ways. For decades, Big Sur was the epicenter of bohemian literary and artistic movements. In the early 1900s, author Henry Miller moved in, and later photographers Edward Weston and Ansel Adams called the area home. Actors Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth came to stay. Jack Kerouac was there, too.
The counterculture was strong here – with nudist colonies and drunken brawls becoming part of the local landscape.
In fact, our soundtrack for this part of the journey, was heavily influenced by this hedonistic vibe. Feeling like a coastal wild child at the moment? Tune in and tune out — with our Spotify playlist.
On a road trip, there are several galleries and bookshops to pull into off PCH in Big Sur. We recommend the Henry Miller Memorial Library and the Hawthorne Gallery. For organic body products and soft t-shirts, check out the Post Ranch Mercantile.
The classic pit stop has to be Nepenthe, the restaurant located on cliffs above the ocean. It opened in 1949 and features simple and fresh California fare. The Phoenix Shop offers unique art, crafts and gift wares. But it’s the miles-long view of the coast below that really takes your breath away. Sit outside at one of the glassed-in counters and you’ll feel as if you are floating in space. In reality, you’re sitting on the very edge of the continent.
On the comfortable terrace, we found inspiration in the deep, rainbow of colorful pillows, set up for star-gazing and just hanging out.
We enjoyed a fresh caprese salad and a walk in the crisp, coastal air, before heading back to the open road.
At our next stop, Carmel by the Sea, we visited the Historic Carmel Mission, founded in 1700 by Father Junipero Serra. The Spanish influence is evident in many of the historic buildings and preserved interiors of the area. Walls are decorated with richly painted borders.
This plaster wall reminded us of our Tadelakt peel-and-stick wallpaper.
Decorative patterns are painted anywhere and everywhere. We fell in love with this simple graphic element next to a heavy wooden door.
Pottery, carved wood and woven textiles create layers of color and pattern in historically accurate rooms.
Even functional items, like protective window grates, get the decorative treatment.
We love seeing historic coastal maximalism in all its glory.
Even the rugged terrain of the California coast offers inspirational color palettes – and not just the expected nautical blues.
No Pacific Coast Highway road trip is complete without a hike to Point Lobos, China Cove and Bird Island. There, you’ll find emerald green waters and a tiny pocket beach, far from the madding crowd.
Climb up the trail for an ethereal view of the coast line…
…and hike to Bird Island for views of harbor seals and pelicans in a relatively untouched environment. Even the stones at Point Lobos offer natural patterns for inspiration.
And yes, I know! Road trips aren’t the best for maintaining pedicures!
Fully inspired by the color and pattern of the natural environment and sea breezes, still ruminating on grand coastal palaces, we filed away images for use in developing our own patterns and products, later.
What did we learn about self expression and maximalist interiors along the way?
First, you don’t have to be a publishing magnate or a world-renowned architect to be bold in your interiors. Do what you want! If it’s in your heart, put it on your walls and on your upholstery.
Add in organic items that reflect your environment. Seashells. Stones. Feathers. Sea glass. Paint on your walls or your furniture. Make things. Collect. Mix it all up in a way that makes sense to you.
Basically – commit to living with what you love.
If you’d like more, modern coastal maximalism inspiration, click here to download our free guide.
For more road trip inspiration, follow along every Thursday as we travel across America.
#JointheJourney
“My education definitely informs what I’m doing now in a huge way,” says Pearce. “When I first started out, I found this authentic Fernand Leger plate buried in the bottom of a kids’ playroom. And I would have never known that if I hadn’t studied art history. The estate sale company had no idea and was like “Here you go!” I paid $1 for it and I was able to resell it for like $850.”
Her knowledgeable eye and eclectic style quickly attracted an engaged Instagram following (27,000 and counting), drawn to her unique ability to layer neutral backgrounds with pieces in vibrant colors and patterns, and her ability to seamlessly style together new and vintage pieces. Pearce’s home is the backdrop for these vintage finds, which are featured as quickly as this busy mother of two can post them.
Even for a vintage dealer, sometimes new is the right choice. Here SmithHönig’s luxurious velvet pillows sit atop a Lulu & Georgia couch.
“One thing that I am really big about, even though I sell vintage — and I’m very committed to vintage — is that I think it’s really important to mix authentically old pieces with newer pieces,” says Pearce. “I think if you have a room that’s just entirely vintage it can look dated a bit. I’m always very careful about that. In pretty much every room of my house you’ll see a combination of old and new.”
For designer Kate Pearce, mixing vintage pieces with newer items makes spaces timely and relevant.
Upholstered pieces are where Pearce usually recommends buying new.
“Most vintage upholstered pieces you see need some love,” says Pearce. “I mean, I have found pieces I have left alone, but it’s rare and most of the time it’s cheaper honestly to just buy the pieces new. The green couch in my living room is from Lulu & Georgia, and the throw pillows are from SmithHönig.” Pearce also added SmithHönig’s Violet Cowrie Shell Tassels to her decor as a unique accent of colors, beads and pom-poms.
“The barstools in my kitchen are vintage, but I just couldn’t resist buying them. Having them reupholstered was more expensive than it would have been to buy them new,” added Pearce.
Pearce’s beloved reupholstered bar stools take center stage in her newly renovated kitchen, which also features custom roman shades made with SmithHönig’s Moroccan Knot / Asilah fabric.
These bar stools are front in center in Pearce’s recently renovated kitchen. For her first One Room Challenge in the spring, Pearce went big, gutting her kitchen and bringing an inspired mix of high and low and new and vintage. The reupholstered vintage cantilever bar stools sit alongside Ikea cabinets, quartz countertops and custom roman shades made with SmithHönig Moroccan knot / Asilah fabric. She brought in additional vintage touches with reclaimed wood shelves and a Boujad runner.
Moroccan Knot fabric, available by the yard, is perfect for large and small DIY and design projects, including pillows, table linens, bedding and roman shades.
Like her living room or kitchen, any space that Pearce designs features a lot of color, pattern, and texture, hand in hand with her signature vintage vibes. And one of her favorite ways to bring that color and pattern into a room is through wallpaper.
“Most of my permanent fixtures are neutral, but I love using wallpaper, especially with all of these new peel and stick lines,” says Pearce. “I think wallpaper has really evolved. I mean wallpaper itself was out for so long, and now that it’s back in style there’s this fresh modern take on it, even if it’s vintage inspired. It’s a great way to bring something fresh and modern into a space that you have a lot of vintage in.”
“Plus, it’s very easy to swap out. It’s kind of game-changing,” added Pearce.
And change is the name of the game for Pearce. After all, she has built her business and brand on constant evolution. Just about every vintage piece featured on her Instagram feed is for sale in her Etsy shop (and if it’s not, just reach out and ask).
Any space that Pearce designs is high on color, pattern, texture, and of course, her signature vintage finds.
“I always tell this story about how I went to this sale early and I waited in line in 10-degree weather for two-and-a-half hours to get this plycraft lounger. There were a few other dealers surrounding it when I got in, but I didn’t waste any time. I did not wait in that line for no reason, I was getting that chair,” says Pearce with a laugh. “And I did. And I was sure I was NEVER going to get rid of it. But here I am, 8 months later, having sold it.”
Pearce is working on another One Room Challenge and even though she loves the vintage pieces she acquired specifically for it, she also knows that she might be ready to part with them in a couple of months. Which only makes sense: Pearce is a treasure hunter at heart, and the thrill is in discovering rare and wonderful finds. She is happy to give these treasures a temporary safe haven while she finds their next owner. And then the pieces and Pearce are both ready to embark on their next adventure.
Embark on your own adventure by adding SmithHönig to your home.
]]>When I’m close to an artist’s personal compound, or any quirky outsider installation, I take a detour to visit. I’m completely fascinated by folk art, craftiness and the commitment to a creative vision that goes on for years. There are several unique folk art destinations in my home state of Georgia, including the Calhoun Rock Garden, Pasaquan and of course, Reverend Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens.
Tinkertown evolved from a hobby in 1962 to a complex universe of rooms, installations, bottle walls and gardens. Artist Ross Ward began carving miniatures while in junior high school. He went on to paint circus backdrops and it shows in his home-turned-museum.
Ward had an offbeat sense of humor, which is evident in the Barbie and Elvis installations, the circus miniatures and animations, and the annotated timeline collages.
From Tinkertown, we hit Route 66, the road once synonymous with road trips. Today, the infamous highway has been chopped up and buried by “progress,” with once booming destinations turned into ghost towns. Still, you have to honor what once was, with a cup of coffee at a diner, or a stay at a wigwam hotel or a 1950s motor inn.
Route 66 once stretched from Los Angeles to Chicago and was named the Mother Road by John Steinbeck. It is immortalized in song, film and literature, but it was almost forgotten after the advent of the interstate highway system.
The American road trip was practically invented on Route 66, in the 1920s, as car culture and newly paved highways enveloped the nation. Route 66 has a built in soundtrack in my mind—from flapper jazz to rock and roll. You can listen to our personal soundtrack for this part of our drive on Spotify, here.
Skirting the El Malpais conservation area, we followed Route 66 through the Laguna Pueblo, a thriving community of Native Americans with a richly detailed history.
The name “pueblo” is a Spanish term which was used to define the homes and people that Spanish explorers found living in the desert southwest in the 16th century. Tribes have been living at these sites since 6500 B.C., well before the Spanish colonized the area.
These tribes have been particularly adept at preserving their languages (Keresan, Tanoan and Zuni, among others), their spiritual practices (despite the Laguna Mission being established by Catholic missionaries in 1699), their lands and their tribal laws and systems.
In modern times, they’ve invited visitors to their villages and to their traditional dances, created a worldwide market for tribal handicrafts and more recently, opened a casino. Interestingly, the tribally owned Laguna Construction Company is also one of the largest U.S. contractors in Iraq.
Our next stop on the journey through eastern Arizona was the Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert, together a celebration of organic color and pattern that has inspired visitors for centuries.
The local visitor centers reflect traditional and native architecture and blend beautifully into the surroundings.
We made a pilgrimage to Winslow, Arizona, just to say we did, and began meandering through the Apache-Sitgreaves and Tonto National Forests and then the desolate mountains just north of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge.
Still, the wide, empty spaces and series of dry dirt roads (15 miles of them) we traveled to get to the Blythe Intaglios were somehow disconcerting. Our cell phones stopped working. I’ve never felt quite so small, and so aware of the vastness of the planet.
The colossal ground drawings known as the intaglios are best seen from the air, but the scale of them can’t be fully appreciated from a photo. This Google Earth ® image shows the edges of one of the best preserved intaglios against a barren landscape.
In real life the human figure’s head (shown above via Google ®) is a vast smooth area scraped into the desert floor. The entire figure is 171 feet long, or about half a football field.
No one knows exactly what the intaglios depict or what their purpose was. Native tribes have sometimes used them for ceremonial purposes, but none claim creating them. The mystery is intact and in that space, you feel a definite sense of the unknown.
We took time to document our existence in the vast desert…
…and then headed toward Twentynine Palms, the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert.
Joshua Tree National Park is over 790,000 acres of preserved wilderness that has featured prominently in western and road trip history. The Joshua tree silhouette is an evocative symbol of the west. The park signifies where two deserts meet. The plant is believed to have been named by Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave.
And then on to our destination hotel – The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs.
Palm Springs is known for mid-century modern style. The annual Modernism Week in February is known as the ‘epicenter of mid-century architecture and design’ and features over 350 events including the world-renowned sale, films, lectures, home tours and the double-decker bus driving tour. There are parties and live music, fashion shows, and a vintage travel trailer show, too.
We chose The Ace Hotel for its rock-and-roll vibe and chic, desert casual style. There’s a minimal aesthetic punctuated with color and texture that is at once beachy, bohemian and California cool.
The rooms feature posters and prints casually clipped to slatted architectural elements, along with patterned rugs and textural pillows.
They’re also equipped with a record player and vintage vinyl to inspire your inner DJ.
My favorite piece was the graphic list of random but meaningful world events clipped above the bed.
The windows are defined with canvas tenting, for a true desert nomad vibe.
We enjoyed a swim and a late lunch at The King’s Highway, the in-house diner. Then another swim. I wandered around with my camera. The day was fading but we were not.
We lit a fire in the kiva-style hearth in our walled patio. There was music and laughter just outside the gate, quietness and crackling twigs in our personal oasis.
I thought about the similarities between desert cultures around the globe, and how the creators and designers of The Ace Hotel had managed to tap into that. They’d supplied djallaba, the hooded robes worn in the Maghreb region of North Africa, instead of standard hotel robes, for instance. And of course, I bought one!
I thought about the adobe structures of the pueblos and the similarity to the polished tadelakt walls of houses in Morocco, a look Kellie and I immortalized in wallpaper.
The veiled desert women in vintage photos of New Mexico and the Bedouin women Kellie and I had purchased embroidery from in the Negev Desert.
I thought about rock and roll and mid-century glitz.
I had a sudden memory of my doctor’s office as a child, the lobby designed with Charles and Ray Eames furniture and a sunburst clock.
I reflected on desert isolation and how a minimalist backdrop can inspire wildness, excess, even maximalism.
The desert was definitely stimulating. Palm Springs has been home to creative types for decades. Perhaps all that exposed and barren land opened up something internally, and emotionally?
But for our next jaunt, we were headed to another source of inspiration – the coast.
Stay tuned.
#JointheJourney
Moxie’s hero pattern is bold, global and whimsical, all at once and fits into rooms both casual and formal.
This vintage townhouse features a high-design nursery with zebra wallpaper, formal window treatments and a Moroccan style chandelier above the classic crib.
The Moxie zebra pattern coordinates with a number of patterns, including the popular Neela Blue fabric shown on the crib’s upholstered headboard.
Since these signature patterns are available as both wallpaper and fabric, you can also design around a zebra-patterned chair and Neela wallpaper.
For a more casual but colorful nursery, add wicker and other organic textures to accentuate the playfulness of the pattern.
Bring out the greens (or blues) with paint and global accents, like a carved wooden rhino.
PRO TIP: Coordinating your wallpaper and paint choices to connecting spaces is a great way to make transitions between rooms feel calming. If your home features shades of gray, blue and white, then Moxie in the Lilac colorway is a great animal print to add into the mix.
Your little one will love the Moxie pattern play and so will you. More good news? The colorful zebra and her coordinates are sophisticated enough to grow with your child.
A teenage girl’s room looks fabulous with Neela Blue and a headboard upholstered in Fancy Pants.
Every home’s decor needs to include something wild and wonderful. See how to style SmithHönig’s animal print fabrics, wallpaper and coordinates, and get inspiration for your next project.
Look how great Neela, Moxie and our leopard print, Fancy Pants, in the Bob colorway, look together!
Every home’s decor needs to include something wild and wonderful. See how to style SmithHönig’s animal print fabrics, wallpaper and coordinates, and get inspiration for your next project.
If you’re curious to see Moxie Lilac wallpaper in your little one’s nursery, order a $5 wallpaper sample pack today!
Our road trip across America took us to Santa Fe, New Mexico, just in time to celebrate again.
I absolutely adore Santa Fe. There’s a storied history and an earthy, rich-hippie vibe that makes me feel creative and a little wild! That, along with a fabulous art scene and delicious local food, makes Santa Fe the perfect getaway.
To get there from Aspen, we headed into the unknown, on backroads that took us through the Ute Mountain Reservation and the outskirts of Navajo Nation trust land.
Along the way, we went down into a gold mine and made a detour into Ouray, Colorado, a postcard-worthy mountain town. We lunched at a half-deserted truck stop, because it was the only thing we could find.
We spent the night in Taos and had dinner at De La Tierra at El Monte Sagrado, where blue corn and green chiles dominate the menu. The restaurant is located in a Heritage Hotel, and features an open courtyard and private wine room.
Breakfast was at Gutiz, a Latin-French fusion cafe where they’re famous for their scrambled egg tower. We browsed a few shops and galleries in Taos — including Kimosabe, Jones Walker and Two Graces — before heading over to the Taos Pueblo, a living Native American village continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. The Pueblo is currently closed as a precaution during COVID, but is well worth a visit when open.
For our anniversary, we had booked three nights at La Fonda on the Plaza in Santa Fe. “La Fonda” means ‘the inn” in Spanish, and since 1609, an inn or hotel has stood at this same site. The main plaza in Santa Fe was once linked to ancient trails that terminated in Mexico City in one direction and Independence, Missouri in another. Who’s to say how many travelers have rested in this spot over the centuries?
The current hotel opened in the 1920s with 180 rooms, a newsstand, gift shop, restaurant and more. Architect Isaac Hamilton Rapp, despite being born in New Jersey, is known as the father of Santa Fe style and the building honors indigenous structures like the pueblos. Smooth adobe walls, exposed beams and Mexican tiles add to the mood.
The rooms are classically southwestern, too, with beautiful attention to detail, from the painted wooden headboards…
…to the embroidered linen window treatments.
We spent our first day in Santa Fe exploring shops and museums.
First stop, of course, had to be the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. I’ve been a fan of O’Keeffe’s for as long as I can remember, both of her art and her determination to live her own life in a time when that wasn’t the norm.
Over the years, she became a style icon as well, inspiring fashion designers and Vogue photoshoots on numerous occasions. Her love affair with photographer Alfred Stieglitz is well documented, but in her 90s she was also riding around the desert on the back of a motorcycle with her 58-years-younger companion. She definitely played by her own rules!
Just outside the central plaza area in Santa Fe is Museum Hill, where must-sees include the International Museum of Folk Art, founded by Florence Dibell Bartlett. The museum houses one of the top 10 costume collections in the world, among other things. There are also two museums dedicated to Native American art and culture and a museum of Spanish Colonial art on the hill.
The strong graphics of native art often have deeper meaning, and also seem to reflect the surrounding terrain. I’m intrigued especially by the triangle and stair step patterns that appear in the southwest, as well as in the ancient cultures of the Incas, further south. Kellie and I created patterns inspired by these timeless shapes, treating them with layered washes of strong desert-inspired color. These patterns feel intentionally aged, which is a favorite SmithHönig treatment. I especially love our Andean Summer fabric in Sunset, mixed with denim blues and antique wood.
If planning your own trip to Santa Fe, be certain to include a visit to Meow Wolf. This mesmerizing and mind-bending art experience is NOT to be missed. You could easily spend a full day here, wandering the 70 rooms of The House of Eternal Return, opening doors to strange and intriguing spaces or peering into clothes dryers that hold the entire cosmos!
We lunched in La Fonda’s courtyard restaurant, La Pazeula. The ambience is pure southwest hacienda, from tile floors to painted furniture and windows. I feasted on beer-battered chiles rellenos and Mr. H chowed down on chips and carne asada.
After lunch, we headed out to find the iconic turquoise and silver squash blossom necklace I’d always wanted. Turquoise and silver jewelry is ubiquitous in the high desert. It also looks stylish anywhere.
I wanted to buy from a local artist. Eventually I found the necklace for me, at Maverick’s on the Plaza. It was sized a little smaller than some, so as not to overpower. We bought directly from the artisan, who was able to shorten the clasp slightly while we waited.
The next morning – our anniversary – Mr. H and I woke up early to catch the desert sunrise with our photographer, Elizabeth Wells. We wrapped ourselves in a blue serape and said our personal vows for the coming year.
Then it was off to the Santa Fe School of Cooking for a culinary tour. We enjoyed “nouvelle” southwestern tastings on a restaurant walk, then a cooking demonstration in the school’s classroom. Of course, we left with some local spices and salsas, too.
In the late afternoon we wandered through a few furniture and antique shops, including Mediterrania, Camino Real and Santa Kilim. At one stop, a local Indian artisan came in, his arms draped with dozens of handmade turquoise necklaces. The owner turned to us…
“You could get a great deal if you purchase directly”, she said. “This gentleman supports his wife and five children by making turquoise jewelry. And you’ll get it without my markup.”
The jewelry maker offered us a great price and I bought multiple strands as early Christmas gifts for friends and family. Transaction happily completed, we – and the seller – exited the shop and headed in opposite directions. Then suddenly he was behind me again, on the sidewalk, a single necklace in his outstretched hand.
“For you,” he said. “For your anniversary. Or something else.” He put it into my hand, smiled, and left.
I hadn’t told him – or anyone – that it was my anniversary!
Stay tuned for more adventures. We’re heading deeper into the desert as our road trip across America continues.
#JointheJourney
We had left the cowboys and carnivals of Cheyenne behind. Now, our plan was to spend a few nights in stylish digs, with plenty of time to enjoy the culture and cuisine of these upscale mountain villages. (The beauty of road trips is that everything changes, just a few miles up the road.)
First stop – Vail. We checked into The Sebastian Hotel in downtown Vail Village and immediately, we relaxed.
Our first night’s dinner was in-house, at Leonora, the restaurant attached to the hotel. The highlight was blistered shishito peppers served with spicy mango mayo. Perfect with a glass of wine.
There’s a cozy library for after dinner drinks, with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and an extensive art collection. The Sebastian also features a gorgeous pool, hot tub and fire pit area, which is just as inviting in summer as it is après ski.
The next morning, after a leisurely breakfast in our room, we walked into town. Vail is full of chalet-style architecture, stone pavers and, in summer, brilliantly colored flowers. Much of the year, it’s filled with international tourists, cyclists and hikers.
I wandered into the Helly Hensen shop, filled with high-tec active wear from the 140-year-old Norwegian athletic brand. Nearby, the Blitz Boutique has fun dresses and accessories.
But my favorite store had to be Res Ipsa, where all of my heart’s desires collided! Shoes, travel, color, pattern – what more is there? Res Ipsa’s mantra is “fewer lawyers, better shoes” and they can say that – since the founders are both lawyers. The boutique is filled with their signature kilim loafers, rug sandals and vintage denim. I was in heaven! (And if you can’t get to Vail – you can get the same feeling when you shop online!)
After that it was time for lunch and a glass of wine, sitting on a corner and people watching. Even bird watching. This hummingbird made quite a spectacle of himself during our meal.
Our evening plans included an outdoor ballet performance that was part of the Vail Dance Festival. The dance festival is on again right now – July 30 – August 9, 2021.
From Vail it was on to Aspen, where artists, socialites and celebrities gather. Our hotel pick was The Little Nell, a true, Five-Star, Five-Diamond resort that was the perfect road trip splurge.
My SmithHönig business partner Kellie and I had met one of the Little Nell buyers in our showroom, so I was especially looking forward to checking out the hotel’s boutique. As expected, it was chic and chock full of gorgeous goods.
The Little Nell itself is now even more luxe, with a recent redo by Spanish interior designer Luis Bustamante. The space is filled with rich textured velvets and luxurious organic surfaces. Overall, the feel is edited, modern, and very, very Aspen.
The new living art garden wall at The Little Nell is entitled “Love for All; All for Love”. It reminds me of our “All Love” artwork, which we’ve printed on both metal and smaller acrylic blocks. It’s a theme that resonates with us on so many levels.
The Little Nell is named after an old mining claim (which in turn was named after a ‘lady of the evening’), and sits on a site that’s been, over the decades, a hunting ground for the Ute Indians, a silver miners’ retreat, open dairy pastures and a dive bar.
Now, all around the hotel are chic boutiques, cafes and bars.
The truth is, I feel about Aspen a bit the way I feel about Big Sur (more on that later). I’m quieted by it, despite the bustle of shoppers and tourists. I connect to the deep appreciation of and focus on art, literature, and ideas that the community is famous for.
I’m drawn to the fact that Hunter S. Thompson once ran for mayor here, that there’s a renowned contemporary art museum and a literary center that sponsors a community read and donates 200 books to locals for reading and discussion. (This year, first dibs on free books goes to first responders.)
All in all, it was the perfect road trip respite. From elevated dining to chic boutiques to arts and culture, our Aspen and Vail adventure was time well spent.
Next week, it’s on to Taos and Santa Fe. Join us as the summer road trip continues…
#jointhejourney
Our latest cotton/linen blend fabric, inspired by our travels in Peru.
A Chakana or Inca Cross pattern is hinted at in contrasting color. The chakana traditionally represents the three levels of existence; the upper world, the world of everyday living and the world of the ancestors.
Available in two color ways: Sunrise & Sunset Perfect for upholstery, window treatments, and more.
Dress it up with velvet pillows.
How handy are you? Will you be hanging the wallpaper yourself or hiring a professional installer? In general, peel and stick is easier than unpasted to install as a DIY project, since it requires minimal prep work and tools, and does not require messy glues. It does help to have a friend for assistance, but in a pinch, peel and stick can be installed by one person. It can also be handed over to a professional installer.
Traditional unpasted wallpaper sometimes causes stress for new homeowners who prefer paint, and don’t want to tackle the tedious task of steaming and scraping the previous owner’s wallpaper. On the other hand, home stagers often use peel and stick wallpaper to make a statement in listed properties, since it’s easy to remove and won’t damage walls. In both cases, peel and stick provides a commitment-free solution for stylish walls. Even renters can work with peel and stick, since it wears well, but can be easily removed before a move, with no damage.
Are your walls smooth or textured? Newly painted? Plaster? Almost all wallpaper works best on smooth surfaces. With peel and stick, and any non-textured wallpapers, wall surface imperfections are likely to show through. Orange peel walls can create small air pockets that may weaken the overall adhesion. Peel and stick works best on painted drywall – and importantly, new paint should be allowed to cure for at least two weeks before installing the peel and stick.
Wallpaper is often used to enliven small spaces like powder rooms, bathrooms and laundry rooms. How do these utilitarian spaces affect peel and stick wallpaper? In general, peel and stick is the perfect choice for a powder room, where a bold print creates a chic statement. As a guest-friendly room, it’s a fun spot to show your creativity. Laundry rooms and baths can also benefit from the ease of peel and stick application, which, in general, can withstand a bit of occasional steam. When applying peel and stick directly next to a shower that sees daily use, consider adding a drop or two of glue to the edges nearest the shower for added confidence. Peel and stick should NOT be applied above baseboard heating elements, or behind functioning radiators, as the heat will dry out the adhesive.
Are you a committed mix master, a bold color lover or just adding a little splash to a more neutral space? Larger patterns look great in small spaces where you spend less time. Again, think laundry rooms, mudrooms, pantries, powder rooms, etc. For some, a super bold pattern might feel overpowering on every wall in a day-to-day living space. (Others may feel right at home!) In dining rooms, consider a bold pattern above a chair rail to ground the look. In bedrooms, use a bold pattern on a feature wall behind your headboard, and paint your walls in coordinating colors.
Quality wallpaper is definitely an investment and the oohs and ahhs of your completed project will make it all worthwhile. Looking for ways to stretch your dollar? Our top tips for getting maximal drama on a budget were touched on in point five, above. You’ll use fewer rolls of wallpaper if you install a chair rail, and install wallpaper above it, rather than covering the entire wall. Feature walls in bedrooms, living rooms and other spaces help you get the look for less, too. Want to create drama with just one roll of peel and stick? Line the back of a bookcase or hutch.
For ease of installation – and removal – and the wide choice of up-to-the-minute colors and patterns, we recommend peel and stick, all the way! There’s no better feeling than creating a whole new look in a weekend, while knowing you won’t have to deal with messy removal and wall damage, later.
Want to try your favorite pattern on your wall? Purchase a wallpaper sample.