October 14th, 2008 Patti Boker Elkon Posted in accessories, artist | No Comments »
Pottery in Nachalat Benyamin
The colorful engraved pottery of Nitzan Gilad has been one of my small pleasures here in Tel Aviv. Not only are these items well made and nicely designed, they are also functional and well priced; a soap dish goes for 40 NIS and larger items start at 70 NIS.
*As a matter of fact, I have one of her soap dishes and a toothbrush holder in my own bathroom.
October 14th, 2008 Shira Abel Shvo Posted in color, design | No Comments »
Back in the day a reader wrote to me asking me about cushion shops. She had bought some Natuzzi sofas which turned out to be darker in real life than the sample swatch led her to expect - and she need to brighten up her place. The pictures on the wall were taken by her daughter in India.
The bright happy cushions are from Toot (store review coming soon), an amazing shop in Ramat HaSharon. I would also recommend adding a throw to the sofa, just to cozy it up that much more.
If I had chosen the cushions I think I would have gone for more of the turquoise color in the picture (there’s a hint of it under the yellow veil). I think the blue tone would have matched the gray better, but if you saw my house (or my wardrobe) you would simply say I’m insanely partial to blues (and you would be right). I like the cushions though, and think that the striped one pulls the look together well. Now add a throw in the same colors as the striped cushion and you’re sorted!
October 13th, 2008 Shira Abel Shvo Posted in Tchochkes, accessories, artist | No Comments »
Back in July, Kathy Penn (a regular reader) wrote to me about her friends ceramics. The email has been sitting in the inbox in the back of my mind since and there it stayed, until now. I’m a HUGE handmade ceramics fan and Israel has so many people talented in this arena, I have plenty to fuel my addiction.
Anat Evyatar is one of the many who does work I really like. The photos of her work shown here were taken in the co-op store, Chomer Tov. She has a studio in Kerem Maharal where you can see her work, and now she has also opened pottery classes for small groups (3 people I think) for those in the area that are interested.
What an absolutely gorgeous color.
October 12th, 2008 Shira Abel Shvo Posted in Tchochkes, accessories | No Comments »
Bluedango is an online store with a mission a lot like EthnicWare Ltd. - only on a more global scale. This is a store with a mission - to help save impovershed nations by giving the women and men artisan work. It’s a good mission, a win-win.
The woven pots above are for holding fresh herbs. Store your nana (mint) in there instead of a newspaper to keep it fresh. It’s much prettier.
October 12th, 2008 Patti Boker Elkon Posted in color | 1 Comment »
The Color Wheel
Color can be a very logical thing if you know the rules. Here is an example of a traditional color wheel. This is a tool used to teach color as well as visualize color combinations.
October 11th, 2008 Shira Abel Shvo Posted in accessories, bath, bedrooms, garden furniture | 1 Comment »
I don’t get garden-envy very often. We have a nice size backyard and while it’s not the poshest place in the world, we did it ourselves and we love it. However, this garden has some elements that I would definitely like to encorporate into my backyard.
The step in the back with the flowers is nice. I would lose the flamingo - but that’s just me. Pink flamingos remind me of a rather disgusting John Waters movie…
October 10th, 2008 Shira Abel Shvo Posted in Home Tour, bath, kitchen | No Comments »
Before I start on this post I have to rave about a tomato risotto with saffron I just made. (not kosher - sorry.) We have basil and cherry tomatoes growing in our backyard and I made chicken soup earlier this week (so I had fresh broth). OMG - yum. I just made 2 adjustments, I added 1/4 cup white wine in the beginning instead of the vermouth at the end (because I don’t have vermouth, I’m not even sure what that is) and I added celery with the onion because I had extra from making the soup. Seriously yummy.
Speaking of cooking, the Gerbers had the most amazing kitchen! I’m loving the painted table with the Hafatzim chairs. I’m thinking I need that look (when I finally have a big enough space for a table like that…) Did I mention how much I love those chairs?
October 9th, 2008 Patti Boker Elkon Posted in artist, furniture | No Comments »
When I was growing up we called this art form “Decoupage“, nur-art calls it “Collage“. I came across this product in the window of ”Cotton”, a clothing store at #189 Dizengoff street; they were just setting up the display and for once they had the product information listed clearly in the window along with the art.
I am a firm bliever in the theory that fashion influences art and vice versa. The display in these windows bring these pieces to life.
October 7th, 2008 Patti Boker Elkon Posted in design | 2 Comments »
A Mandala is typically a circle symbolizing completion, community and connection.
early Tibetan Mandala
I was torn between the spiritual aspect of Mandala’s and the sheer beauty of them and how they can be utilized in decorating. Mandala is a Tibetan term of Hindu origin. Read the rest of this entry »
October 5th, 2008 Patti Boker Elkon Posted in design, green, lighting | 2 Comments »
A variety of bulbs
Light is one of, if not THE most important aspects of interior decorating. Without light there is no color… only darkness.
